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I’m so excited! When we began the healthy snacking challenge to switch from our regular snacks to Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop popcorn, a few weeks ago, I was convinced I would have an uphill battle on my hands. That I would need some sort of miracle or major force to get my husband and kids [...]
I’m so excited! When we began the healthy snacking challenge to switch from our regular snacks to Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop popcorn, a few weeks ago, I was convinced I would have an uphill battle on my hands. That I would need some sort of miracle or major force to get my husband and kids on-board was a given – something like that line from Star Trek, where the Borg says, “Resistance is futile. You WILL be assimilated.” lol I felt like that was the sort of show-down it would require, but this has been a much easier switch than I could ever have hoped. Why did I wait so long?
That’s right! My family has definitely been won over by Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop popcorn. That comment, “I need some popcorn.” came from my HUSBAND, of all people. The king of all things sugary wanted popcorn! I’m so happy, right now!
As an afternoon snack, whether it’s after school, after fun at the pool or just as a quick “tide me over” until supper, Orville Redenbacher has been a delicious and satisfying substitute for sugary snacks at our house, over the last several weeks. I never would have believed it would happen, but my kids (and my husband) actually just reach for the popcorn, automatically, when they want a snack. It’s also simple enough for my ten-year-old to make on her own, which is a great help. Even I reached for it and popped a bowl when I needed a quick snack for my high school small group Bible study girls. It’s fast, easy and delicious. Top that with the nutritional benefits and it’s the perfect snack food to always have in our pantry!
I’m a long way from never baking cookies or cake, again; but those are no longer what I commonly offer as snacks. Dessert has become a treat and much, much more special, because it’s not something that we eat any time we get the urge for a snack. I love that!
Balance the easy prep, great taste and fast cooking time with the nutritional benefits of popcorn and it’s an easy decision to stick with our switch to healthier snacks. Did you remember that Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop popcorn:
- is 100% whole grain
- is a good source of fiber
- is low in fat
- has 0 grams of trans fat
- has only 100 calories and two servings of whole grain in SIX cups!
- leaves you feeling full and satisfied, without being overstuffed on calories
- requires no messy cleanup! No greasy pan or popcorn maker to wash. It pops in it’s own pop-up paper bowl and you can toss it when you’re finished.
Be sure to check out the Orville Redenbacher Facebook page for the latest info, deals and to play a round of the Pop Cam Game. What would it take to get your family to make the switch? It might just be easier than you think!
I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Orville Redenbacher. I received Smart Pop popcorn to review and test as part of the Healthy Snacking Challenge. I will receive a promotional item as a thanks for my participation. A positive review was not required and as with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product.
. I had the most unique challenge, this week, that I just couldn’t pass up — to spend $100 in the Sears Outdoor Living department, on products to decorate a pool or patio area. We don’t have a pool, but we have a deck, a screen porch and a patio in our backyard and all [...]
I had the most unique challenge, this week, that I just couldn’t pass up — to spend $100 in the Sears Outdoor Living department, on products to decorate a pool or patio area. We don’t have a pool, but we have a deck, a screen porch and a patio in our backyard and all of them are in need of a serious decorating overhaul. I was incredibly excited at the prospect of giving one of them a facelift.
I started my shopping research online, by checking out the Sears Simply Outdoors Online Catalog and our local Sears ad. If you’d like to see the pictures of my online research and my in-store shopping experience, you can see my Google album, here. It was fun to look through the gorgeous outdoor dining sets. There were two or three that I really liked, but they were definitely not within my $100 budget. This proves I have incredible taste, right? 
I love that we could comfortably sit 6 at this table! So pretty.
Woohoo! This one can seat 8! Even better for our large family!
When I was finished dreaming about the perfect outdoor dining set, I decided I should keep looking for things that would actually fit my budget. A firepit would be very cool for the back patio, so I decided to see what Sears had to offer. I was disappointed that most of the really pretty ones were only sold as part of very expensive seating group sets, but I kept digging and found three that were sold separately.
I love this tiled firepit table! It's awesome that it is has a table top outside the firepit ring, so guests have a place to set glasses and mugs. Unfortunately, it's only available as part of the set.
Some firepits that would fit my budget and are sold individually! Yay! I have seen similar ones at other stores that weren't very well made, but they were also less expensive, so I definitely want to be sure and look at these when I get to the store. If they have a deep enough kettle and nice solid welds, we may be roasting marshmallows tonight! (I hadn't really thought about a fountain, but the large red or blue pots would definitely add a fun splash of color and also be just inside my budget. I will look at those in the store, as well. )
The online catalog had a section devoted to nothing but grills and I wanted to check those out since our old one is actually rusting through the bottom and will need to be replaced, soon. Most that would work for our large family, were well outside my $100 budget, but I did find what would be my husband’s ultimate dream grill! I may actually have to save up and get this for his birthday, later this summer! He would be in grilling heaven!
A combination charcoal AND gas grill with a burner, besides! The ultimate grilling machine for my "Grill King" husband! I love that it has a towel bar and the shelf underneath for setting supplies.
Well, I was having a lot of fun browsing the online catalog, but I definitely needed to get serious about making a list of available products that would fit my budget and our family’s decorating style. As I continued through the online catalog, I realized that my options within the $100 limit were going to be limited. I knew I wanted to look at the firepits and though they really weren’t my decorating taste, the catalog showed some decorative solar lights that would also be something I could afford to purchase.
These lights are solar powered and so wouldn't require any special electrical work.
Just when I thought that I wasn’t going to find anything I could afford and also like in the Outdoor Living department at Sears, I realized all the gorgeous dining sets I had looked at were decorated with beautiful pots, tableware and serveware. I quickly switched gears from the patio to the deck and decided to add beautiful planters, decor and tableware in bright colors to make our summer entertaining, even more special! There were several items I would look for when I got to the store.
Bright colors, especially this red (which matches my existing deck chair cushions), and interesting shapes would be good places to start with decorative tableware and decor.
I really love that lantern and blue is my absolute favorite color!
Blues, again! Don't you love that drink decanter with the spigot!
Now, that I had a plan, I was really excited and got ready to make my trip. Our nearest mall (and Sears) are 40 miles away, so when we spend the gas money and time to drive in, it’s a big deal; and I was looking forward to the time away and shopping for some colorful, fun tableware and maybe a firepit! I made sure I had everything I would need — my $100, a list, my camera and my campaign instructions. I knew I needed to track down the print catalog for the Simply Outdoors campaign when I got to the store and I was hopeful it might offer me even more options, than what I had seen online.
When I arrived at Sears, I headed straight to the outdoor living department. It’s been quite some time, since I’ve actually been in the store, since we normally order our appliances from Sears, online, and have them delivered when we need to replace one; so I was pretty impressed with myself, that I remembered right where to go. I immediately approached one of the salesmen and shared one of my business cards, explaining who I was and what I was doing. (It makes people a little uneasy when you start snapping pictures in their place of business, if they don’t know why you’re there.) He said ok and then gave my business card to the department manager, who visited with me for a second or two and then both left me to look around. I wandered back and forth for about fifteen minutes in a display area that had many, many grills on the floor and two walls with some grill accessories and a few decor items. Across the aisle, next to tools, there was also a small display area of patio dining tables. Since, I already knew I couldn’t afford any of those, I snapped a few pictures and wandered back to the grill/patio area.
The first of two narrow walls that ended up being the only available patio decor in the store.
The second wall of patio decor.
Sadly, the blue box where the print catalogs were supposed to be displayed was empty. When I asked for a catalog, the salesman pointed at the box and then said he guessed they were out.
More dining tables and patio sets in the same area.
I knew I was probably missing another portion of the department, so I sought out an employee, again, to ask if there were other Outdoor Living items displayed in different parts of the store. He told me that they might have some more stuff in the back, but they didn’t have room to put it out and then he left to talk to another salesman. Needless to say I was getting a little frustrated, so I walked back, once again to the area with the banner that said Outdoor Living. I really hadn’t missed anything, grills, charcoal, grill accessories and the two walls of “decor”.
Suddenly, I remembered that pools were also part of the campaign. I was so excited, because I was sure if I found where the pools were, I would find the rest of the department. I approached a salesman, one more time, and asked where the pool displays were. He pointed to a back corner of the tool department and told me they were back there, but they didn’t have any accessories. I walked in the direction he pointed and found some pool boxes standing in a display in the aisle. That was it. No other pool or patio anything.
The swimming pool display. Unfortunately, there were no other patio or Outdoor Living items with them.
My disappointment had reached its peak, by this point and I knew I still needed to spend the $100, before I could finish my work. I went once again to the two walls of “decor”, hoping to find some of the beautiful tableware or vases I had seen in the online catalog displays. As, I stared at the meager offerings on the walls, one more time, I looked up and noted that at the very top, next to the ceiling there was a box with a firepit in it and a box with a fountain that was more than I could afford. I couldn’t bring myself to approach the unresponsive and unhelpful sales staff for a fifth time to ask them to get down the firepit box, open it and let me see it’s quality. I walked to the wall and grabbed two folding end tables and two planter stands that would meet the budgetary requirements. I was so flustered at the prices of these items and the disappointment of the experience that I forgot to use my Shop Your Way Rewards #, to accumulate savings points for a future purchase, and the clerk didn’t ask for it; so that was another disappointment, recognized too late. I hopped in the car and started the 40 mile trip back home.
The firepits in boxes on the shelf near the ceiling.
The end tables I ended up purchasing.
I also bought two of the metal, three-tiered plant stands, stacked in the right-hand corner.
I recognize that Sears is a big company and not all stores or their employees are the same, so I will leave this experience with the idea that this particular location is not a place that I will be shopping in again. I DID find items online that I really liked and as I mentioned, previously, we have bought several appliances from Sears through their online store and always had a good experience. For me, I prefer to save time and gas money shopping the wider selection available in the online store. I can still use my Shop Your Way Rewards points and save money on my purchases when I shop online, too. That’s a feature I really appreciate!
I wasn’t able to do the Memorial weekend patio decorating I had hoped for and introduce those pops of color to my outdoor tablescape, that I was so excited about, but I’m sure I will find some great frugal options for doing that, soon, and be able to share them with you. In the meantime, if you are in the market for grills, pools or patio furnishings I would recommend checking out the online options Sears has to offer you. You’ve gotta love being able to shop from the comfort of home, save with their Shop Your Way Rewards program and have products delivered right to your door! It would be a good idea to check out the Sears Facebook page and follow them on Twitter, too, so you are always up-to-date on the best deals.
I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric #Sears As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product and company.
There’s something you should know about me. I mean, we’ve known each other over two years, now, so I think it’s okay to tell you….I spend the majority of my life barefoot. Now granted, if company is coming over, I’ll put some socks on, but normally; if I’m at home, I am not wearing shoes. [...]
There’s something you should know about me. I mean, we’ve known each other over two years, now, so I think it’s okay to tell you….I spend the majority of my life barefoot. Now granted, if company is coming over, I’ll put some socks on, but normally; if I’m at home, I am not wearing shoes. And though my husband does not suffer from this condition (He rolls out of the bed and into his shoes each morning and they never leave his feet.), our kids and grandkids are mostly barefoot-types, as well. If it’s raining, I might slip on some flip-flops to head out to the garden, but otherwise, even outside (and some will say, “even in the snow”), I don’t usually waste time putting on shoes if I need to run outdoors for something. I don’t have a problem with this. As a matter of fact, I think I probably have some of the happiest feet, I’ve ever known. It does, however, create a bit of a dilemma when it comes to carpet.
The soiled area of the carpet, in front of the sofa, where feet rub when we sit. Tell me you get this, too, so I don't feel like a TOTAL slug. Thanks!
Even if we never tracked anything in, (and even shoes can do that, right?), the natural oils in skin are deposited in carpeting as we walk back and forth. That attracts and holds dust and those areas are naturally soiled more quickly than other areas in the room. The other spot that seems to show wear and dirt more quickly than others is right in front of a piece of furniture, where feet hit the floor as we’re sitting. As a matter of fact, that was probably the dirtiest area I noted in our living room carpet.
All the pieces from the box. My son had this together in minutes!
I hate renting, lugging and returning carpet cleaners and I’m not a fan of having to pay someone else to do what I can do myself and on my own schedule, so when I received the opportunity to test Bissell’s Lift Off Deep Cleaner, I was thrilled! When the box arrived I unloaded it immediately and had my son assemble it. Since the handle was the only piece detached (so it would fit in the box), he had it together in minutes and I was ready to do some carpet cleaning magic.
Fully assembled and ready to tackle the soiled carpet in front of the couch. My husband says it's very "space age" looking.
The easy lift off water and cleaning solution tank goes right to the sink to be filled. Simple!
Filled and ready to go back in the machine.
The carpet in our living room is that loopy stuff, that I don’t care for, (I’m more of a deep pile, plushy kind of girl.) but it was what was here when we bought the house and it does the job. Day-to-day it appears to wear well and so it wasn’t high on the list of things I HAD to replace when we bought the house (like the pure WHITE, deep pile plushy carpet in the DINING room, in the parlor and on the stairs and hallway leading to every bedroom – oy!). Anyway, though I don’t find the loopy carpet aesthetically pleasing, it’s doing it’s job. I have been noticing those tell-tale dark spots on it, in front of our couch, though. My new carpet cleaner had arrived in just the nick of time and so I set out to show you what a fine job it did of lifting the stains and getting my carpet back to normal. I was just going to snap the picture of the “before” stain, quickly clean that area and a couple spots on the stairs to demonstrate the cool lift-off canister feature, then snap the “after” pictures and write my post. When I used this whiz-bang marvel of a machine to clean the single-wide strip in front of our sofa, however: I discovered what is difficult to admit, but I have often suspected — I live with pigs and animals. Just sayin’! Not only did this fantastic carpet cleaner lift the dirty foot stains from in front of our sofa, it cleaned the strip so well, that I could see just how dirty the ENTIRE carpet, actually is. Guess who’s moving furniture and shampooing her whole house over Memorial weekend?
The clean stripe in front of my sofa is something to celebrate. Foot prints are completely gone and I'm ecstatic. Problem is, now I can see how dirty the whole carpet actually is! I'm happy and grossed out all at the same time!
I’m not complaining, though. What a blessing the Bissell Lift Off Deep Cleaner will be to have around the house! It’s much more light-weight than I expected so it’s easy to move it, anywhere I need, to do a thorough cleaning of whole rooms. Plus, it has that awesome lift off canister feature, that makes cleaning stairs, upholstery and hard to reach areas a cinch! Our car upholstery and floors will be the next project I tackle and that should be simple, thanks to the lift off canister. I’m pleased with the results and I’m pleased with the quality of the machine, as well as the features it has to offer.
- Built-in hot water heater for maximum cleaning power on your carpets (The heat feature does not function when using the lift off canister, but comes on automatically when the canister is seated in the carpet cleaner .)
- I love that it has very powerful suction, so my carpets aren’t left wringing wet, but only damp, when I’m done cleaning. Bissell calls it Surround Suction and it gives edge-to-edge cleaning, the full width of the machine.
- There are twelve rows of heavy-duty brushes on the two (That’s right! Not just one.) rollers under the carpet cleaner. (Bissell calls them 2X Dirtlifter Powerbrushes.) The brushes scrubbed stains out of my carpet and lifted the pile, meaning not only is it clean; my carpet is no longer matted and crushed down, even in the heavy traffic areas!
- It includes an on-board hand-tool with a long, flexible hose that can be used while the lift off canister is attached to the machine or being used on it’s own. The Tough Stain Tool attachment that came with my cleaner, snaps right into place at the end of the hose and worked beautifully on both carpet stains and upholstery.
I used the Tough Stain Tool attachment to clean grandbaby fingerprints off the upholstery on the arm of the sofa. It has tough brushes for scrubbing and a button for spraying cleaning solution on the spot. Then, it just sucks the solution right back out of the fabric, bringing the dirty stain with it.
I lifted the portable canister off the carpet cleaner and carried it over to our well-used stairs, next. I made quick work of the spots that had been deposited there and again, lifted the pile in the most worn areas so that it looked fresh and new! Love this machine!
A stair step "before".
Same stair step "after".
At the end of my cleaning tests, I lifted the reservoir from the machine that catches all the dirty water as the carpet cleaner sucks it back in. It has a handle that allows you to easily lift it straight up and off the cleaner. In case you were wondering did the machine actually pull any dirt out of my test areas….
Holy mud slick, Batman! Gross -- I know. Please, please do not dump this down your drain and clog up your pipes and put your marriage in jeopardy. Dump it over the side of the deck, behind those rosebushes, where no one ever looks! Seriously, though - outside is better.
Handle in the front means the lid is locked and sealed tight.
Handle in the back, breaks the gasketed seal and allows the lid to come off for easy cleaning.
Once the tank is empty and cleaned out, replace the lid and snap the tank back into the machine. So simple. Love it, love it, love it! Everything about this carpet cleaner makes me happy.
Right now, Bissell has a fantastic sweepstakes running, called the White Sock Test and all of you can get in on the fun. Just take the White Sock Test to enter: Get a clean white sock and wet it. Then find the most “lived upon” area of your carpet and do “The Twist” for 30 seconds. Give it some attitude! What does your sock look like now? Someone will win a $15,000 home makeover for submitting their “white sock photo”. Many others can play the Instant Win game (no photo required) for chances at cleaning products from BISSELL, like their Lift-Off Deep Cleaner, SpotBot Pet and more. Like Bissell on Facebook and then sign in every day through June 10, to play, and have your chance to win great prizes. Hurry over and check out the contest! I would love it if a Busy-at-Home reader could win!
I’m very excited to be able to have the economical option of cleaning my own carpets with a machine I own, instead of having to rent and haul one; and more than that, I’m thrilled that the Lift Off Deep Cleaner has proven it can do that job so effectively. I anticipate using it for many years to come! And woohoo! No shoes!
I received a Bissell Lift Off Deep Cleaner in order to test the product in my own home and gather information for this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product.
. Thank you COOL WHIP for sponsoring this post. Join us on Facebook for inspiration and recipes for everyday treats. What you add makes it. #coolwhipmoms … Thursday is one of the sweetest days of the week, at my house. It’s “Grandma Day”. I am certainly blessed to live so near to, and be able [...]
Thank you COOL WHIP for sponsoring this post. Join us on Facebook for inspiration and recipes for everyday treats. What you add makes it. #coolwhipmoms
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Thursday is one of the sweetest days of the week, at my house. It’s “Grandma Day”. I am certainly blessed to live so near to, and be able to spend time with, my grandkids, often; but Thursday’s are special. Every Thursday afternoon, the three of them race through the front door with hugs, paper presents and excited stories about everything I’ve missed since we last saw each other. Our daughter hurries off to work and the kids settle in for our visit. Since our youngest daughter is only 10, SHE is usually the center of attention for playing and games; but after some time for fun and frolicking, Grandma in the kitchen, pulls the little ones in like a magnet. Before I know it, there are chairs around my kitchen counter and I have a fresh set of curious fingers to help me with a new recipe. Sometimes, it’s all three at once; but more often, I find that only one is drawn close to learn and experiment and ask questions. I love those times with them!
Smiles to melt a Grandma's heart!!
Tonight, my “one”, was our two-year-old grandson who had to help me dredge, dip and bread the chicken strips for our supper. We were a grand mess of sticky, floury fingers when we were done, but what a glorious time we had in the process.
“Gramma, who dat?” “That’s flour.” “Oh.”
“Dat’s milk.” “Mmm hmmm.”
“Who dat?” “Those are bread crumbs.” “Those are bread crumbs?” “Mmm hmmm.”
“I wanna do it!”
He definitely wanted to be very hands-on with this project and I got such a kick out of working with him and talking to him in the kitchen. I was surprised that his attention had been captured to spend as much time with me as he did, because our time together had actually started about thirty minutes earlier, making dessert. He was content to just watch that process, asking the names of ingredients and telling me random stories about his sisters as I mixed everything together. However, the moment someone else would wander into the kitchen, he would announce in his most excited I-know-something-B-I-G-big voice, “Gramma’s makin’ pudding! Gramma, I yike pudding!”
I love having dessert on Thursday nights, because the kids get so excited, but it doesn’t always fit my schedule to make something elaborate. Fortunately, something as simple and “everyday” as pudding, is still exciting. It’s all about presentation, when it comes to making “simple”, something special. What could make eating pudding more exciting than eating it from Great-Grandma’s china teacups and maybe adding a surprise ingredient. The finishing touch, to take it from “everyday” to something special, would be a dollop of COOL WHIP whipped topping. As I mulled over a dessert recipe, I knew exactly what I was going to do and it was going to score me big points on the Gramma-meter.
Homemade Chocolate Mint Pudding served in Great Grandma's teacups with a dollop of COOL WHIP whipped topping and a mint leaf. Chocolate mint candies melted into the pudding were the special "secret ingredient" in the pudding and COOL WHIP was the "dress up" to make it over the top!
This is a simple homemade pudding recipe, that brings delectable, creamy, chocolate delight every time it’s served. You could certainly dress up canned pudding or a boxed mix with COOL WHIP and make a quick, yummy dessert; but for not much more effort, you can create something truly remarkable. You’ll come back to this recipe, again and again, when you need a delicious dessert in a hurry.
Delicious served just as pudding, or used as filling for cream puffs, pies, tarts or other pastries. This recipe is quick, easy and creamy chocolate satisfaction!
Ingredients
- 3 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 4 cups milk
- 2 1/2 cups heavy (whipping) cream
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 9-12 ounces semi-sweet, bittersweet or unsweetened chocolate (your preference)
Instructions
- In a heavy saucepan, whisk the sugar and cornstarch together.
- Add the milk and stir until the sugar and cornstarch are completely dissolved.
- Stir in the cream, egg yolks and vanilla.
- Over medium heat, and stirring constantly, cook the mixture until it just comes to a full rolling boil and has thickened.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate, whisking until it is completely melted and combined. (You can use the greater or larger amount of chocolate depending on your own particular tastes. If only adding the chocolate, I would normally add the 12 oz, but tonight, as a special treat, I decided to make chocolate mint pudding. I used 9 oz of the semi-sweet chocolate I had on hand and added 2-3 oz (about 1 cup) of Andes mints, as well. The results were spectacular, so I can highly recommend this variation.)
- Once the chocolate has been thoroughly incorporated into your pudding, transfer it to a bowl or container to cool.
- Lay plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding, to prevent a skin from forming on the top and then refrigerate the pudding until you are ready to serve it.
- Spoon into serving dishes and add toppings and garnishes to taste. Serve and enjoy!
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This is a sponsored post, for which I was compensated, as a member of Clever Girls Collective. Sponsored posts are editorial content I have composed myself, which I am happy to present on behalf of a sponsor. None of the content was written by the advertiser. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product.
Summer is always a busy time for our family with gardening, church activities, volunteering, summer jobs and all the fun that comes with warm weather. This year, I’m excited to be adding two trips into the activity and what a blessing to not have to worry about getting everything I will need, back and forth [...]
Summer is always a busy time for our family with gardening, church activities, volunteering, summer jobs and all the fun that comes with warm weather. This year, I’m excited to be adding two trips into the activity and what a blessing to not have to worry about getting everything I will need, back and forth on my journeys. eBags.com sent me their Mother Lode TLS Junior 25″ Wheeled Duffel, which means I’ll have space for everything on my mission trip to New Orleans and my first trip to BlogHer in New York City. To say I’m excited about these trips, doesn’t begin to express the level of emotion I am finding more and more difficult to contain! Having this fantastic piece of luggage means I’m focused on the events, and how I can serve and learn through each of them, instead of worrying about how to have enough space to pack what I’ll need or if the luggage I have is durable enough to withstand the airline baggage handlers.
The most spacious and wonderful, ROLLING duffel bag ever! Look at all the zippered compartments!
For the mission trip, I will definitely need to be able to pack all I need into ONE bag for a week+ stay. That’s not going to be a problem, now, since the Mother Lode TLS Junior 25″ Wheeled Duffel is spacious and loaded with extra compartments. I love that I can access the duffel portion from the zippered front of the bag OR from the inside when the bag is opened up like a suitcase.
The back half of this duffel is about 6 inches deep and hard-sided, like a regular suitcase. It has compartments whose size can be adjusted with the removable velcro walls. It makes being organized so much easier and the incredible depth of this bag means I can pack all I need for my one-week stays, because I have the entire other half (duffel bag side) to use, too.
The duffel half of this bag also has a zipper around the entire circumference, which can be unzipped and adds an additional couple of inches of depth (storage space) to the bag. It’s so well designed and incredibly durable. I love this bag!
I love that if I'm in a hurry, or a public place, the duffel side of this bag can be easily accessed through the zippers on the front of the bag, but I can also get to everything packed in the duffel side of it through the zippered flap inside the bag, when I have everything opened up.
Another great feature is the locking belts that snap closed over the sides of the bag, to keep excess pressure off the zippers if the bag is really full. They also help protect the bag from accidentally popping open when being handled by the baggage carriers and in-flight, while you’re traveling. They really DID think of everything when designing this bag and protecting the zippers is a huge plus for me!
The four locking "belts" on the sides of the bag are an excellent design feature. Helping to relieve pressure on and extend the life of the zippers, they will help to ensure that I get many years of service from this generously-sized luggage.
The hard “shell” back on the duffel gives it stability when standing and when pulling it on the wheels. The handle extends to a comfortable height and makes it a breeze to move this very large bag. I haven’t found a single thing I don’t like about this wonderful duffel bag and I can’t wait to make my trips this summer, with it in tow!
The back side of the duffel bag is a hard "shell". The handle can be raised or lowered, as needed, to easily pull the bag wherever you need.
I will definitely shop at eBags.com in the future, after experiencing the quality of this bag, for myself. I’m going to start pinning some of my favorites and you can too, by visiting the eBags Pinterest page. You can also keep up on the news about new products and offers by following them on Facebook and Twitter. They have tons of sizes, styles and color options to choose from and I encourage you to check out what they have to fit your summer vacation needs! If you hurry, they have a great deal going right now, where you can get 25% off an order of $150 or more. It only runs through May 31, so don’t miss your chance at great savings on high-quality products!
I received the Mother Lode TLS Junior 25″ Wheeled Duffel, from eBags.com through Mom Spark Media, in order to test it myself and gather information for this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product.
What ‘s the dirtiest, yuckiest, most-hated, everyone-hides-when-it-needs-to-be-done job at your house? I’m sure we all have our own “special favorites”, but for our family, it has to be anything involving the need for a PLUNGER. Yikes! They are one of those necessary evils that we have never found a way to happily embrace. Relegated to [...]
What ‘s the dirtiest, yuckiest, most-hated, everyone-hides-when-it-needs-to-be-done job at your house? I’m sure we all have our own “special favorites”, but for our family, it has to be anything involving the need for a PLUNGER. Yikes! They are one of those necessary evils that we have never found a way to happily embrace. Relegated to a dark corner of everyone’s bathrooms, the plunger is one of those tools that you can’t do without, but you really don’t want to have to use. The mess AFTER it’s done being used is often as bad as having to use it at all. So, now the truth has been revealed — I harbor deep-seated feelings of resentment toward large suction cups on a stick!
This unassuming and ordinary-looking device changed my mind about plunger messes forever!
Seriously, though, there HAS to be a better way. Leave it to Rubbermaid to have discovered it! I’m so excited to share this news, and this product, with you! I think it is probably one of the most revolutionary developments in household cleaning products I have seen in recent days. Who would think of using something as techy and exotic as nano technology to create a better plunger? Rubbermaid has developed a Never Wet™ coating to cover the surface of their new Clean and Dry™ plunger. The coating forms a protective shield that water cannot penetrate. Like car wax for your plunger, the water beads up and rolls off instantly. The Clean & Dry™ plunger helps keep your bathroom cleaner and more sanitary. Natural oils in your skin will diminish the performance of the NeverWet™ coating, so be sure not to touch the plunger head or the coated part of the handle (like you ever wanted to. ) Since germs and water won’t stick to it, there really is no need for cleaning the plunger, but if you just HAVE to do it, dunk it in bleach a couple of times. Don’t use soap to wash it, as that could deteriorate the coating.
Close-up you can get a better look at the gray coating on the head and handle. Nothing sticks to it! So cool!
I watched all the videos, looked at all the pictures and read every word of descriptive print I could find about this product. Even then, I wanted to try it for myself to be truly convinced. So, we set up our own food-coloring test, here at home. I dyed a tub of water brilliant blue. If any dripped onto my white paper towels, I would definitely be able to see it! Next to it, I set up the plunger and a thick stack of paper towels to absorb the water that dripped off the plunger. Here’s what happened:
A dishpan of brilliantly blue water, the Rubbermaid Clean and Dry Plunger and a stack of white paper towels.
Swishing the plunger around in the dyed water.
Pulling the plunger out of the dye - nothing is sticking to it. Awe-mazing!
The last bit of water sliding off the plunger as I pulled it from the dishpan. The coating actually REPELS water!
I took the plunger from the tank of blue water and placed it on the stack of white paper towels, expecting to find a blue ring or at least a few spots when I lifted it.
Nothing -- Nada -- The towels were still dry and no evidence of blue dye. Fantastic!
I’m so excited to announce that we haven’t had to use a plunger in quite awhile (just watch, now! oy!), BUT I am definitely more confident that when we do, we will be able to do the job with less mess, transfer of germs, no mess and did I mention NO drippy mess? It may seem like a silly thing, because I hope I never have to use it; but I’m really excited about this product!
One lucky Busy-at-Home reader will get to add a Clean and Dry Plunger from Rubbermaid to their home cleaning tool arsenal, too. Use the Rafflecopter form, below, to enter. As always the mandatory entry is a comment on this post. Tell me the household job you dread the most. After you leave the comment, Click DO IT!, then Enter and you’re registered for the drawing – it’s that simple! That will also unlock several additional optional entries which you are welcome to use to increase your odds of winning this new product. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received a Clean and Dry Plunger to test it in my own home and collect information to write this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product. Busy-at-Home is administering this giveaway and responsible for selecting a random winner. Rubbermaid will ship the prize directly to the winner.
On May 1, I told you about our 30-day healthy snacking challenge and how our family would substitute Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop for our regular sugary snacks. As someone who bakes a couple of times per week, I wasn’t sure how we would fair with this challenge, but I did know that any decrease in [...]
On May 1, I told you about our 30-day healthy snacking challenge and how our family would substitute Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop for our regular sugary snacks. As someone who bakes a couple of times per week, I wasn’t sure how we would fair with this challenge, but I did know that any decrease in sugar consumption would be a positive change. My family is actually reaching for the Smart Pop, as a first course of action, not after being reminded to “put down that brownie!” -lol- I’m impressed! It’s not that our family will completely eliminate sugar from our diets — we won’t. But, making healthier choices on a consistent basis with an occasional treat thrown in IS my goal and without a doubt, Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop has made that possible.
before going in the microwave - flat like other brands
If you’re one of those people who think popcorn is popcorn is popcorn, let me tell you some differences I’ve noticed with O.R. Smart Pop. Whether making popcorn from scratch in a pan on my stove top, in a microwave bag, or in our popcorn maker, we have definitely discovered that not all popcorn is created equal, regardless of how it’s cooked. I guess I could be considered a picky popcorn eater, but I like to think of myself more as “someone who really knows what she likes”. I HATE greasy popcorn (I almost never eat popcorn in theaters and am disappointed, nearly every time, when I do.) Popcorn should be light, airy and crunchy crisp, without being tough. It should be lightly salted and most definitely should NEVER be wet (from oil or butter). Does that seem like an unreasonable request? To be honest, the Smart Pop popcorn is the first microwave popcorn we’ve ever tried that can meet all those requirements, CONSISTENTLY, bag after bag. As a matter of fact, it’s the first microwave popcorn we’ve ever tried that doesn’t come out of the microwave with a giant oil stain on the side of the bag. I really love the taste and texture. When making popcorn from scratch, we can control the oil slick better, but still can experience problems with texture, since popcorn can often be tough, not crisp and I think that can have a lot to do with the actual popcorn kernels. So, how do I know which kernels will pop up perfectly? Can you tell by looking? I can’t. I don’t have that kind of knowledge or time. I’ve found my solution to the consistency issue. The Smart Pop popcorn has popped up crisp and light and crunchy every single time; and that’s after EIGHT bags over the last two weeks!
Other things to love about Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop popcorn:
- 100% whole grain
- good source of fiber
- low in fat
- 0 grams of trans fat
- only 100 calories and two servings of whole grain in SIX cups!
- leaves you feeling full and satisfied, without being overstuffed on calories
- No messy cleanup! No greasy pan or popcorn maker to wash. It pops in it’s own pop-up paper bowl and you can toss it when you’re finished.
- Simple and quick for the kids to prepare on their own.
I’m so excited that you could be one of FIVE lucky Busy-at-Home readers who will win a box of Smart Pop for their own families. Be sure to enter the giveaway, below! And if your kids are looking for something to do while they munch on their healthy snacks, have them try out the hilarious, interactive “Pop Cam Game”, also found on the Orville Redenbacher Facebook page. By using your webcam, they will “enter the game” and catch popping popcorn kernels in their own mouths, by moving their head from side to side to catch them as they fall. (As much fun for the people watching as the ones playing the game!)
To enter the giveaway, you must be 18 or older and a resident of the U.S. Mandatory Entry: What “snack” would you like to see your family eat less of and replace with Smart Pop popcorn, instead? Tell me in a comment on this post, then come back here, click DO IT and then Enter, in the Rafflecopter form, to be entered and to unlock the optional additional entries.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Orville Redenbacher. I received Smart Pop popcorn to review and test as part of the Healthy Snacking Challenge. I will receive a promotional item as a thanks for my participation. A positive review was not required and as with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product.
I’ve mentioned in previous posts how much I love Eggland’s Best and you often see their signature logo stamped on the eggs in my recipe tutorials. I am over the top excited to hear about this recipe contest!!! What will you enter? I’m making my list! EGGLAND’S BEST EGGS ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL RECIPE CONTEST Eggland’s Best [...]
I’ve mentioned in previous posts how much I love Eggland’s Best and you often see their signature logo stamped on the eggs in my recipe tutorials. I am over the top excited to hear about this recipe contest!!! What will you enter? I’m making my list!
EGGLAND’S BEST EGGS ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL RECIPE CONTEST
Eggland’s Best “Your Best Recipe” Contest Provides At-home Chefs A Chance to Win $10,000
May 7, 2012 (Cedar Knolls, NJ) – No longer relegated to only breakfast fare, eggs are taking center stage in dishes across the country, being featured in inventive ways that showcase its versatility and ability to bring new tastes and textures to everything from soups and salads, to pastas and burger toppings.
Eggland’s Best (EB), the No. 1 brand of eggs in the country known for its superior nutritional profile, freshness and quality, wants to recognize the culinary talents of at-home chefs with the announcement of the brand’s first-ever national recipe contest.
Call for entries to the Eggland’s Best “Your Best Recipe” contest is open now through August 12, 2012 and at-home chefs can submit their best original recipe featuring at least two EB eggs online at www.egglandsbest.com/yourbestrecipe. A $1,000 prize will be awarded in each of the following four categories: Breakfast, Appetizer, Main Course, and Dessert and one at-home chef whose dish showcases the most creative use of Eggland’s Best eggs will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize.
Helping to judge recipe entries are chef and cookbook author Candice Kumai, who also serves as a judge on Food Network’s Iron Chef America, as well as Elizabeth Ward, a nationally recognized registered dietitian. Both experts will be evaluating each recipe based on the criteria of taste, presentation, availability of ingredients and creativity.
“The test of a true chef is in knowing how to cook eggs properly, and selecting the best ingredients to cook with,” says Chef Candice Kumai. “I personally use Eggland’s Best eggs because not only are they more nutritious than ordinary eggs, but the yolks are also plumper, creamier and brighter in color. Their freshness and quality ensure my egg dishes turn out consistently every time.”
For official contest rules and to submit your original recipe, visit www.egglandsbest.com/yourbestrecipe or https://www.facebook.com/egglandsbesteggs/app_251842034899170.
Busy-at-Home has teamed up with Jen, from My Crafty Life and a group of awesome bloggers to bring you the third Take the Money and Run! Monthly Giveaway Event. Each month, Take the Money and Run, will bring you a new type of giveaway. You can expect PayPal Cash, Gift Cards (iTunes, Walmart, Amazon to [...]
Busy-at-Home has teamed up with Jen, from My Crafty Life and a group of awesome bloggers to bring you the third Take the Money and Run! Monthly Giveaway Event. Each month, Take the Money and Run, will bring you a new type of giveaway. You can expect PayPal Cash, Gift Cards (iTunes, Walmart, Amazon to name a few) and other fantastic prizes.
May’s Take the Money and Run Prize will be: A $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash, winner’s choice! All you have to do is follow each blogger’s social media link and you will be entered to win an awesome prize!
Rules:
*Follow each blogger/sponsor’s link please. Links are found in the Rafflecopter form. This is mandatory.
*You must have a valid email.
*Please indicate on the form whether you would like your prize emailed or sent via the postal service.
*US or Canada only please. 18+
Sponsors:
This event is brought to you by My Crafty Life Events
As a participant in May’s Champions for Kids Jennie-O Make the Switch Simple Service Project, I gave up drinking soda, to save money and funnel that savings into donating food to help kids in need in our own community. With “Healthy Switch” being the theme, I wanted to be sure the recipes we created and [...]
As a participant in May’s Champions for Kids Jennie-O Make the Switch Simple Service Project, I gave up drinking soda, to save money and funnel that savings into donating food to help kids in need in our own community. With “Healthy Switch” being the theme, I wanted to be sure the recipes we created and used to build our healthy eating food pantry donation, would show kids that healthy food can also taste good and be fun to prepare. We’re going to be saving somewhere between $30 and $40 a month, not buying soda! We’ll be healthier and be able to make better use of the money we’re entrusted with. What an awesome opportunity to be able to do extra giving and involve our kids. Giving up soda has been a real stretch for me and I have to admit to breaking down and having one, Saturday. However, my husband cheered me up and helped me get right back on track, when he reminded me that in the span of time I have gone without, I would normally have consumed nearly 40 cans of soda!!! Only one in that span of time really HAS been a “healthy switch” for me and now I’m inspired to keep going! Even if I never achieve perfection, the dramatic decrease in sugar has got to make a profound effect on my health and weight, over time.
I have had an absolute blast this week, cooking with my daughter, taking pictures and talking about the importance of making choices that make a difference, for ourselves and for others. It’s important to me that my kids develop a servant’s heart and no matter whether we have a little or a lot, it’s critical to be wise stewards of what we do have, so we are able to share with others. The CFK Jennie-O Healthy Switch Simple Service Project has been an awesome opportunity to put that into practice! Since this project is about making a healthy switch that can benefit kids in need, I decided to give up soda and use the money saved to donate to our local food pantry. I wanted to make our donation something that would inspire and encourage kids to make good food choices, so we decided to put together some recipe pages of healthy dishes that kids can make and then include the ingredients to make each one, in our donation. My ten-year-old went through one of our cooking with kids cookbooks and helped me pick the recipes she wanted to make. We chose Turkey Burgers, Dressed Up Baked Potatoes and Fruit Smoothies. It turns out that the meat mixture from the Turkey Burgers also makes some fantastic meatballs, so we included them, too.
Enjoying a cool, refreshing fruit smoothie instead of indulging in the empty calories from soda. Woohoo!!!
Our first step was to make a shopping trip to Walmart for all the recipe ingredients, one set for us to prep for the recipe card pictures and one set for our donation. You can see the shopping trip by visiting my Google+ album. Then we brought everything home and started our fun cooking session. By the time we were finished, our ten-year-old had completed an entire dinner for our family and modeled for lots of pictures, plus prepped a couple lunches for later in the week! She was definitely feeling pretty accomplished and we had a lot of fun!
The recipes we made are below, and the recipe pages we printed out to include with the food pantry donation are here.
This same tasty recipe can be rolled into meatballs. Roll the balls about the size of golf balls and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 - 30 minutes. Serve with your favorite spaghetti recipe, with sweet and sour meatballs or even just as snacks!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 1 lb. ground turkey sausage
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 Tablespoons Spike Seasoning
- 1 apple, grated
- 1 onion, minced
- 1 bell pepper, minced
- whole wheat buns
- pickles
- onions
- lettuce
- sliced tomatoes
- ketchup and mustard
Serving Suggestions
Instructions
- Grate the apple and chop the pepper and onion.
- In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey and turkey sausage with a fork.
- Add the chopped veggies and apple and mix to combine.
- Add the eggs, Spike seasoning and oats.
- The easiest way to mix this is with your hands!
- The turkey mixture will not hold together in the same way that hamburger does. It will be more loose and seem really juicy, but that is good. Your burgers will be moist and delicious!
- Shape the burger patties and lay them on a cookie sheet. (We made six large burger patties and had enough meat mixture left over to make 12 big meatballs to eat with our spaghetti lunch, the next day. )
- Place the cookie sheet in the fridge for at least an hour. This helps your burgers to become a little firmer.
- Cover the top rack of your broiler pan with foil. Your turkey burgers will be very juicy as they cook and this will make cleaning your pan so much easier.
- When the burgers are done chilling, move them to the broiler pan. Broil them on high, on the center rack of your oven, for 8 minutes on each side.
- When your burgers are done, remove the broiler pan from the oven and put it on a wire cooling rack. It's time to build your burgers!
- We had some fresh lettuce from our garden to put on the whole wheat buns and since we couldn’t find large slicing tomatoes, we added cherry tomatoes sliced in half. You could also use onions and pickles or any of your favorite toppings to make your burgers.
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Ingredients
- 10 lb bag of russet potatoes
- diced turkey ham, chicken or turkey
- diced fresh veggies like: tomatoes, onions, celery, kale, carrots, or bell peppers
- grated cheese
- plain yogurt, butter or sour cream
- salt and pepper
Suggestions for Serving:
Instructions
- At our house we like to save money AND save time. We often buy a 10 lb bag of russet potatoes and bake them, all at once, to save electricity and extra baking time through the week. Baked potatoes can be kept in the fridge in a ziptop bag for several days and reheated in the microwave for a minute or two when you’re ready to eat them. That makes them a quick and nutritious lunch option! We even make twice-baked potatoes, occasionally, and then flash freeze them for future lunches.
- Choose enough potatoes to make baked potatoes for your family or bake the whole bag to get a head start on your week's lunches. Scrub the skins clean under cold water and then prick the skins with a fork, so the steam, from baking, doesn’t make them burst in the oven. Place all the potatoes on a cookie sheet, so they are easy to put in, and take out of, the oven.
- Bake them at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until a fork slides into them easily. SECRET TIP: If your baked potatoes are done before the rest of your meal is complete, you can wrap them in a clean dish towel to hold in the heat and keep them warm until your meal is ready.
- Eat your baked potatoes hot from the oven or cool some of them and store for lunches, later on.
- As a side dish we often eat our baked potatoes with just butter or sour cream, but there are some other delicious options that are so much healthier. Especially if you are eating baked potatoes as a lunch, it’s a good idea to dress them up with some nutritious toppings, like the ones listed above.
- For our lunch, today, we had turkey ham, onions and tomatoes in the fridge. So, we diced those up and ate them on our baked potatoes with some salt and pepper. Delicious!!!
- Serve and enjoy!
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Ingredients
- 3/4 cup frozen fruit or berries
- 3 bananas, peeled and broken into pieces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 - 2 cups of almond milk, (varies by how thick you want your smoothies to be)
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in your blender .
- Pulse the blender off and on, until the frozen fruit begins to break up. Then you can turn the blender on medium or high speed and allow the smoothy to blend until it is nice and creamy.
- Pour into glasses and serve! These are so good and they’re good for you, too! Enjoy!
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http://busy-at-home.com/blog/our-cfk-jennie-o-make-a-healthy-switch-donation-and-my-soda-free-progress/Once our cooking and picture taking session was complete, we printed up our recipe pages and slipped them into sheet protectors. Then we were able to pack up the ingredients, for someone else to prepare all the recipes, and make our trip to the Blue Valley Community Action Center Food Pantry in our hometown. Blue Valley Action operates the food pantry, here, as well as through two churches in the community and three FoodNet centers throughout the county. They also oversee the WIC and Commodity food programs for our county.
Blue Valley Community Action Center Food Pantry
We made two plastic bags, one for refrigerated items and one for freezer items. Then we packed the dry goods into a reusable tote and were able to fit one of the plastic bags on top. Adding the recipe pages to the top of the tote finished off the project and it was time to make our delivery. As we got to the Food Pantry, we got so involved in our conversation with the coordinator, I didn’t remember to snap a picture of our daughter actually making the donation. She was so excited because the coordinator was explaining that hers would be a happily-received gift for a family who really needs it. She praised her for being involved in such an important project and told her that the idea of putting a kit together with recipes is such a fantastic idea, because it provides a family with items that work together, instead of them just finding random items that have been donated and trying to figure out how to use them together. I know this has instilled a new desire in my daughter to find ways to make a difference in the community and I’m so grateful to Champions for Kids and Jennie-O for including us.
Our donation packed up and ready to make the trip to our local food pantry.
There’s still lots of time left in May and a fantastic opportunity for you to “Be One of Millions” and get involved with this month’s CFK Simple Service Project! Check out their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter to see what others are doing and get some ideas for your own family. I gave up drinking soda to make my healthy switch and to help provide some healthy food for needy kids. What healthy changes could you make to save money that could be used to impact your community? Check out all the ideas and get started. I can’t wait to hear about your Healthy Switch!
I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #JennieOCFK #CBias #SocialFabric
