Friday Favorites: A Link Up -School Lunch/Snack Ideas

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Yay!  It’s Friday…It’s Friday!!!  HOLLA!  I hope you join in on our weekly link-up.

This week I’ve just wanted to be like this…

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But unfortunately it’s been anything BUT.  Our lease is up on our apartment.  We still haven’t found a house.  They are all so expensive…like what do these people DO for a living???  They must all be trust fund babies or they live in mansions empty of furniture and only a futon. I don’t want a 5000 square foot house!  I want half the house for half the cash darn it! AND…I didn’t win Powerball yesterday. I was counting on that $191 million dollar cash payout this week.

Seriously.

I volunteered to help teach Connor’s art class today wish me luck with that.  All I know is that it involves paint.  Gulp.  (Note to self don’t wear anything of value)

SOOOOOOOOO….moving on.  This week’s link up topic is school treats and/or lunch ideas.  I need help with this so bad it’s not even funny.  Connor’s lunch revolves around peanut butter and jelly and turkey and cheese sandwiches.  That’s it.  That’s all I got.

I did this fun Halloween treat a few years ago and you can find the info and free printable HERE.

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I love doing crafty things and I’m going to try to find something to do this year for Connor’s class too.  It’s the whole lunch situation I struggle with.  After a couple of weeks of school Connor came home and said “Mom…did you know there is another way to eat lunch…it’s called TRAYS”.  I laughed so hard at that!

I asked if he wanted to try a tray and he said no because the food wasn’t what he liked.  I don’t mind packing his lunch, I actually like it.  The question is what to put in it?

This snack looks awesome, I may try this sometime it looks easy.  Recipe found HERE.

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If you have awesome lunch ideas…help a sista out.

Link up below:



Coming soon:
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The Power of Aroma #DoctorAromas

This post is sponsored by Bloggin’ Mamas & Doctor Aromas. All opinions are my own. 

Essential oils are all the rage these days and so are therapeutic aromas.  Recently I had the chance to try out Doctor Aromas home therapy kit. 

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I love walking into a place and feeling good.  I took the Doctor Aromas therapy kit up to the dental office I work at.  Who wants to walk into a Doctor’s office and have it smelling clinical right?  So, I thought we could try this…whatever helps our patients feel at ease and boosts our spirits!

We tried several of the different oils out and they smelled fabulous!

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The healing properties of the plants and essential oils in Doctor Aromas’ formulas can stimulate the immune system and circulation, improve concentration, alleviate headaches, act as an antiviral and antibacterial agent, provide comfort, fight fatigue, improve memory, and many other benefits.  I use essential oils at home and I definitely believe they have healing effects.

It was super easy to install.  Just insert your batteries:

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Place your aromatherapy kit so that it points towards your handler’s air filter. Be sure to check the instructions for the best placement for your type of air handler.  Doctor Aromas is designed to spread the fragrance through your AC system so it can spread throughout the entire area in your home or office.

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The battery operated Dispenser attaches to the Aromatherapy Fragrance Canisters and automatically sprays onto the AC filter. The kit comes with a remote control that allows you to program the interval between sprays, as well as your preference of fragrance intensity.

Program your remote:

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One Aromatherapy Fragrance Canister lasts a month or more.  That’s a pretty good amount!  I’m looking forward to using ours this month and seeing how it works in our office.  I hope y’all get a chance to try it and you can find out more info HERE.

EASY. PEASY.

Believe me if I can install this you can too!  So, all you have left to do is….

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Celebrate the True Spirit of American Beauty with @Almay #SimplyAmerican

This post is part of a collaboration between Almay and SheKnows. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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We had a great weekend at the Texas State Fair.  There is just something about the start of the Texas Sate Fair that says “fall” even if it is still 95 degrees outside.

This year I had the best time visiting the Almay bus at the fair.  I had a chance to spin the wheel of prizes, get a mini makeover, and recharge my phone on the patio and relax.

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Michelle and I chilling on the patio

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Almay has proudly announced its collaboration with the USO, the only military non-profit organization that has supported our troops and families for more than 70 years. Almay will honor the women of the U.S. military and veterans, and focus on troops as they transition from service back to their communities.

I got my picture taken at the “kissing booth” and put on the big American flag.

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This summer, Almay embarked on the ultimate road trip, creating a custom, Simply American experience that will stop at venues such as state fairs and other festivals. Almay will offer make up touch ups and celebrate the people, places and occasions that best exemplify the American spirit, including service women, veterans, military wives and their families.  This means so much to me because we are a former military family.  Terence and I lived on base for almost 6 years right after we got married 🙂

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The Almay Simply American bus tour is going out with a bang on October 3rd, making its last stop at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.  Texas peeps check it out!  I know a lot of friends who are going to the Music Festival, so don’t forget to stop by the bust and get your free makeup touch-ups with Almay makeup artists, Almay product samples, and giveaways!

Makeup samples from AlmayBBP_7585 Here is my makeup artist and my makeover- makeover selfies 🙂

She put the most moisturizing lipstick on me.  My lips are always dry, so I loved this! She also wrote down all the products we used so I could take it home.  #scoreBBP_7604

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Share your #SimplyAmerican beauty photos for a chance to have it featured on Almay’s hub page HERE.  In addition to contributing $250,000 to the USO, Almay will also donate $1 for each approved share, up to $10,000 max donation until 10/6/15.

Find all the stops for the Almay Simply American tour HERE.

Follow on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram

Just for kicks I’ll share the WORST picture in America!  Ha ha!  I actually suggested we ride the dizzy ladybug roller coaster at the fair.  I can’t tell you how thrilled we all were to be on it.  I look like I have whiplash (because I did!) that ride spins you so hard I could barely stand to get off!  Poor Connor’s face….oh my goodness!  Terence just kept telling me to stop screaming…these are the memories life is made of.  Histerical.

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Pumpkin Crumble Cake #LoneStarEggs

This post is sponsored by Lone Star Eggs. All opinions are my own.

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I shared with you a while ago about Lone Star Eggs.  Well, today I’m going to share a yummy fall recipe featuring Lone Star Eggs found right here in Texas at my local Walmart.

Tis the season for everything PUMPKIN!  So I thought I would share with you a delish recipe for pumpkin crumb cake.

Crumb topping

  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
  • pinch of salt
  • 3/4 cup flour

In a small sauce pan, cook butter, brown sugar and salt over medium heat stirring constantly until smooth- about 6 minutes.  Add vanilla and stir until combined.  Remove from heat.  Whisk in flour.  Set aside and let cool

Cake

  • 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large Lone Star Eggs
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoons ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, brown sugar, oil, eggs and sour cream until smooth and well combined.  In another bowl whisk together flour, and remaining dry ingredients.  Slowly add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture mixing until just combined. Pour batter into 8×8 pan lined with parchment. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.  Sprinkle crumb topping over cake when cooled.

It should turn out looking something like this, mine crumbled a bit…but that is okay because it’s a crumb cake 🙂

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I love shopping at Walmart.  They have everything all in one place.  I also like to support local Texas businesses and foods that are sourced in our great state of TEXAS!  I’m originally from Arkansas, which is actually where Walmart is headquartered.  I married a Texan and now I’ve been here for over 8 years.  Texans have major pride, and I’ll tell you something they are not ashamed to show it!  That’s one of the first things I told my husband when we moved here.

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When I shop at Walmart I feel a little bit of home with me while living in Texas.  I know that sounds silly, but it’s so true!

Now we are raising our own little Texan and we want him to grow big and strong!  That’s why it’s so important to feed him good food.  Lone Star Eggs are a great source of protein 🙂

08172010Check your local paper October 18th for a coupon for $0.75 off a carton of Lone Star Eggs.  It will be in the Dallas/Ft Worth, Houston and San Antonio area newspapers.

Lone Star Eggs is also giving away a year’s supply of eggs on their Facebook page and 52 other winners that will receive 1 dozen free eggs.

Friday Favorites Link Up: Fall TV Shows

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If you’ve ready this blog for any extended period of time you know my love of The Goldberg’s and the crazy Mom Beverly and all her antics.  It’s the funniest sitcom on TV as far as I’m concerned.  It’s set in the 80’s (my favorite era) and everything about it makes me happy!  The hair, the scrunchies, leg warmers, and crazy sweaters oh my!

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Terence and I watched The Blindspot on Monday night and I really liked it!  I love a good mystery and this is going to be one of them…I can tell by the first episode.  We also watched Limitless this week, The Blacklist is a favorite, and Scandal.  On Fridays we like to watch Shark Tank too 🙂

What are your favorite TV shows this fall?  Link up below:


Things that Make My Day

I surprised Connor during lunch today at school and brought Chick-Fil-A.  He had been telling me other parents come visit during lunch time and would really like that so I thought I would go by there.  Until I tried to leave and talk about a MELT DOWN.  Oh my gosh….not a good idea to stop by during the middle of the school day.  Although we did have a great time 🙂

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My new fall bag from Barrington totes.  I have been wanting a tartan bag FOREVER.  When I saw they had this pattern I went nutso.  I have a thing for bags and purses and I just love these totes because I can literally fit my LIFE into them.  I’m ready to Christmas shop ladies and we are headed to the Texas State Fair this weekend….I can fit all my goodies in here!

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Fun mail days are the best.  Leave it to the folks at Dunkin Donuts to make mine.  They sent this fall care package of goodies.  Dunkin Donuts is introducing a Pumpkin Macchiato.  If you know me….then you know Macchiatos are my favorite coffee drink!  National coffee day is this coming Tuesday, September 29th.  Go to any Dunkin’ Donuts store across the country and receive a free medium cup of Dunkin’ Donuts hot or iced Dark Roast Coffee- limit one per guest.  COUNT ME THERE!!!  I don’t discriminate against any kind of coffee- I love it all– especially when it’s FREE 🙂   Thank you Dunkin!

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And last but not least I’ve teamed up with some fabulous bloggers to give away a Toshiba Satellite Laptop.  Holla!  Follow instructions and enter below:

 

Enter for a chance to win a Toshiba Satellite Laptop Computer.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

My Fit Foods: Feel Good & Eat Healthy #PayFitForward #Partner

I’ve partnered with My Fit Foods to bring you this post. All opinions remain my own.

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If you all read my last post I mentioned how I struggle with meals and cooking healthy dinners for our family.  I recently discovered My Fit Foods.  It’s so easy even I can do it!  You can even order online ahead of time and pick up in the store.  I’ve actually been in the store where I live and it’s so easy to find meals that are healthy and the staff is super helpful.  My Fit Foods is like the fairy godmother of “What’s for dinner?” Everything is so simple and laid out for you that all you have left to do is EAT.  It’s healthy too, so that makes me feel even better.

During the month of September, My Fit Foods’ is encouraging people to share healthy lifestyle habits with friends, while simultaneously giving back to those in need. Purchase a meal at My Fit Foods during participating “Pay Fit Forward Fridays” and you will be offered the option to donate a FREE meal either to a friend, or to a local hunger-relief charity.

Here’s how:

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Starting and maintaining healthy habits are better with support.

Buy one of our delicious meals and your second one is free.

You chose where to give your second meal. You can give it to a friend or donate it to a local food bank.

“My Fit Foods is committed to making healthy flavorful meals convenient and accessible for everyone,” said David Goronkin, CEO of My Fit Foods.

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My Fit Foods offers fresh, nutritious portion-controlled meals that are satisfying, convenient, rich in flavor and wholesome.

As part of the “Pay Fit Forward” program My Fit Foods retail stores will guarantee a donation to each of the local charities within the respective markets.

My Fit Foods has been an active contributor to hunger-relief efforts with donations of more than 32,000 meals in Austin alone over the past year.

Donations at local My Fit Foods retail locations will benefit the following charities:

Arizona: Waste Not, a non-profit that collects excess perishable foods from local establishments and delivers the food to more than 100 agencies that feed the hungry.

California: Second Harvest Food Bank, one of the largest food banks dedicated to ending local hunger in the state of California.

Illinois: Lakeview Pantry, one of Chicago’s largest and longest-operating food pantries.

Oklahoma: Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, a private, hunger-relief organization dedicated to feeding the hungry in eastern Oklahoma.

Texas: Keep Austin Fed, a non-profit organization that gathers wholesome and nutritious surplus food and distributes to local charities that feed those in need; North Texas Food Bank, the largest North Texas charity focused on feeding the local hungry; Nourishment for the Needy, a faith-based food pantry in the Texas area “For many Americans battling food insecurity, high-quality and nutritious meals are often out of the question,” said Susan Hensarling Nahkunst, Executive Director of Keep Austin Fed. “Through their donations, My Fit Foods is making healthy eating attainable and convenient for everyone in our community. We are thankful to be part of their ‘Pay Fit Forward’ campaign.”

For more information on the “Pay Fit Forward” campaign or to find the My Fit Foods location nearest you, visit HERE.

Follow My Fit Foods on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook for the latest and greatest!

Let’s make a date for Friday at My Fit Foods shall we???