Penne with Arugula Pesto - Fresh Express Salads

Penne with Arugula Pesto - Fresh Express Salads

Product received...I was recently given the chance to sample Fresh express salads and signed up for the 30 day salad swap.  This is a really neat way to incorporate more salads into your daily meals resulting in eating healthier with less calories!!  Next time you are craving one of your favorite dishes, swap it for a salad that recreates the foods flavors but with fewer calories!  It's a new smarter way if you will to yeild to temptation.  Plus an extra incentive, the more salads you swap and enter into the salad swap app, the more coupons you earn for money off your next bag of salad!  There are incredible recipes on this app!  Joining is easy and free!  Just go to www.30daysaladswap.com and sign up today!  You'll get instant acess to the salad swap app...completely compatible and ready for use with any computer, tablet, or smart phone you have!   Try it out!!  You're welcome :)

#LittlePassports

"> Little Passports enables you to teach your child about the hundreds of different cultures around our world and around the USA. Each month, a package addressed to your kids (which they LOVE) arrives full of little goodies like stickers for their own passport, activity sheets that teach them about major landmarks around the world and gets their brain going with fun word scrambles. Little Passports even shares fun recipes that you can cook up with your kids to turn them into little chefs who know all about foods from different cultures. Subscriptions start at just $10.95/month which is another bonus! This is also the perfect resource for anyone who home schools out there. Let me know what you think after you get set up with your own Little Passports subscription. **The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

Whenever I see natural disasters on the Television I always feel so helpless! The first thought that comes to my mind is, those poor people...I wish I could help! Some time goes by and the news starts reporting other disasters and too often times, we forget about the people who are still struggling to pick up the pieces. For most of us who have been fortunate enough to have not experienced the disaster first hand, the concern last as long as the news story. Sad really! For the folks who survived these disasters, their story doesn't stop with the news. These people have lost their loved ones, their friends, their homes, and their jobs. The victims take days, months, and even years trying to repair their lives. I was recently introduced to Laga Handbags. These are handmade by Tsunami victims of the 2004 Tsunami that hit Indonesia. On December 26, 2004, one of the deadliest disasters in history struck Indonesia, killing over 285,000. Survivors were left jobless, homeless and devastated. Seven years later, many still are. Roy and Louise van Broekhuizen launched Laga Handbags to help the people of Indonesia rebuild their lives by selling their hand-made handbags. Roy & Louise do not take a salary. Their goal is simply to end the suffering; to help the survivors rebuild lives torn apart by the tsunami. In Aceh, Indonesia, Laga Handbags is a haven of hope, peace and refuge for the victims of disaster who are slowly rebuilding their homes and lives, one handbag at a time.

Shop St. Patrick's Day Gear

Shop St. Patrick's Day T-Shirts

Pretty Green Shamrock Love Shirts by cutencomfy
Make a unique single custom t shirt at Zazzle

Love Shamrock Trucker Hat by MyRazzleDazzle
Make trucker hats online.

Time to get organized with "A Mom's Guide to Home Organization."

Are you frazzled by your family's hectic schedule and chaotic household? Then try Debbie Lillard's "A Mom's Guide to Home Organization." This book walks you through simple processes and tips for organizing your time, your stuff and your space. The second half of the book addresses how to teach your children the life skill of being organized. Written by a busy mom for busy moms. Do you have a room that you would like to be more organized? With this book you can make your room more organized with simple tips written by a mom just like you! Buy Today at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440324883/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1440324883&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwspacetospa-20

No Instruction manual...

Only when you are in the hospital holding your new baby and starting your family for the first time do you realize, your baby didn't come with an instruction manual! Being a mom is the greatest joy anyone can experience. Being a mom is also the hardest job in the world. A job you can't call in sick if you want the day off! A job that requires you to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year...with no overtime pay. A job you ask yourself over and over again if you are doing it right, and doubting yourself every time! Just this morning I found myself struggling with making the right decision. you see as far as myself is concerned, I have never cared what people thought. I have always been my own free spirit if you will. Never worried about my hair, or my make up. Never worried if someone was going to like my outfit or choice in music. I do however worry about how people see me as a mom. I am no super mom that's for sure! Being a mom is something I chose to do and it effects someone else's life. I need to make the right decisions, not for me but for the well being and growth of another human being. This being said, every morning I pick my kids clothes out for school. I make sure they match, are not high waters, don't have holes in the knees and so forth. I do this so they are not teased at school. I let them get creative on the weekends! My oldest however who will turn thirteen soon started picking her own outfits this school year. I decided she was ready and it was about time where teenagers personalities are blossoming into young adulthood. Sometimes how we put our outfits together is how we express ourselves. Today I looked over my kids to make sure they didn't have milk mustaches and their teeth were brushed properly. My oldest emerged from the bathroom wearing an A-line skirt with two very mismatched socks! My first reaction was, "NO! you can't wear that!" She responded with,"WHY?" I proceed to tell her, "the socks don't match", "I hope you have shorts under that skirt", and "you have mosquito bites on your legs"! She responds with, "so"! Now I am thinking Hmmm, what do I do now? No instruction manual for being a mom! I ask her, "you don't care that you have two totally different wild socks on"? She says, "no, it doesn't matter what people think, I don't care"! As my brain is trying to process everything in this moment, my heart becomes proud! She is right, It doesn't matter what people think as long as she is happy with herself! This is the point she is trying to make by wearing two totally different socks! Today I had to swallow my pride and let my daughter make her own decision on expressing herself! Sure someone may see her at school and think, oh that poor child doesn't have any matching socks. I can't believe her mom let her out of the house that way. Isn't this what is wrong in our world? We are so quick to judge and worry about what others think that we can't just be happy in our own skin. Don't judge a book by the cover! To some who see my daughter walking the halls may think I'm a bad mom, that my child doesn't have proper attire when in reality, my daughter has a cabinet full of socks...all that match. She chose to wear two that didn't! I made the decision to let her! Maybe she will encourage others to be happy in their own skin too! Have a wonderful day today and everyday! Be happy in your own skin, and don't worry what others think! We are all in this world together, living life the best we know how with no instruction manual!

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Dry Winter air and the Humio...

     Ever wonder why your skin drys out, your hair statics, and you get more nose bleeds in the winter?  This is because Cold air can not hold as much moisture as warm air.  Cold air doesn't have as much water vapor in it.  In the winter when air with a low dew point from outside is heated and brought inside the air will decrease in relative humidity. To add moisture to the air some people will buy humidifiers.   I was recently given the opportunity to sample the Humio humidifier by Tribest!  Upon receiving the Humio I was immediately intrigued by its modern sleek design.  The Humio cool mist humidifier is also a night lamp and if that's not cool enough, it also has a pull out aroma oil compartment!!  There are five different scents to choose from offered by Tribest including eucalyptus oil, Peppermint oil, lavender oil, tea tree oil, and oregano oil!  I filled my Humio with water from the tap, put a view drops of lavender oil in the compartment and pushed the on button.  I could not believe how incredibly quiet this little machine is!  Humio utilizes the latest technology in ultrasonic sound vibrations adding moisture to your air silently!  The Humio humidifier and night lamp features, 360 degree rotating mist outlet, a half gallon water tank providing up to ten hours of operation, an aroma oil compartment, removable neck, cleaning brush, and easy push button controls!  The night lamp is soothing in itself, it softly illuminates rotating colors of red, blue, or green.  You can also pause the color rotation with a push of a button.  Humio helps to maintain the relative humidity between 35-55 percent, ultimately preventing physical discomfort, but also reducing static electricity, and dryness of skin and nose.  The Humio covers up to 100 square feet, consumes less power than a light bulb, and is perfect for a single room in any home or office!  I like that the Humio is a cool mist that I can operate without fear of my children getting burned.  I would recommend using distilled water in this humidifier, there was some "powdering" after using tap water, but once I switched to distilled the problem vanished!
     The Humio is available by Tribest retailing for $99.95!  For me that seemed a little pricey at first but after trying out the Humio, I think it is well worth it!  Great little machine!  So if you are in the market for a cool mist humidifier or are tired of this dry air, I recommend the Humio ultrasonic cool mist humidifier and night lamp!!  Have a beautiful day!!

A Mooshy Gooshy Valentine...

     The day is upon us.  February 14th!  Today is the day of flowers, chocolates, and cupid.  The day of pink and red.  The day of conversation hearts.  The day of "LOVE".  School yard kids will bring their little box of Valentines for their classmates, and eat heart shaped cookies covered in Red and pink sprinkles.  Teenagers will go to school in hopes that their crush just might profess their love today and bring a Teddi bear or flower. Today is the day "Bad Boys" will celebrate their one week anniversary of being a bachelor.   The day Hopeless romantics just know cupid will hit them with his arrow this year, and they will find true love.
     Women in relationships plan this romantic evening for days, weeks, and even months.   Men...well lets just say you won't find me going to the grocery store after 3pm today!  The aisles will be packed with men buying up all the flowers and chocolates after work...last minute!  Its the day singles call, "single awareness day" and plan to meet up with other singles to cry over being single.  Today couples will go on a romantic date and hold hands.  Today there will be engagements, and weddings, and babies conceived.  Today there will be tears.  Today is Valentines day!!!
     I myself never been a huge fan of the day!  Never really understood why people wait all year to love someone or worry about being loved!?  I guess it had to do with my upbringing.  Mom always made sure to get me a Valentines gift, sometimes even delivered it to me at school.  I never worried about being single or having a Valentine, because I knew I had people who loved me.  I was loved, I didn't need some boy or Valentine to confirm this.  I enjoyed getting my little box of Valentines as a kid, and making the little mailboxes out of shoe boxes.  I enjoyed having the day off of studying and having Valentines parties.  The whole romantic side of it was not what it was about to me, and shouldn't be to anyone!  I think this world need s a little more love in it...EVERYDAY!  Folks need not worry about having a valentine or a date, but to remember that they are loved! Loved by your kids, Loved by your dog or Cat, Loved by your parents or best friends!  Love is what matters not some silly day on the calendar.
     Every year I follow my mom's tradition.  I get my kids a Valentines gift.  I tell them every Valentines day that I will always be their Valentine ,and that I love them more than anything in this world!  I make them feel special by making their favorite breakfast and having the house decorated when they wake up...all for them! My children know they are loved when they leave my front door so they are not out looking for it. I have already filled them  up with it!
     Today celebrate those who love you everyday!  Your friends, your family, your pets, your GOD.  YOU ARE LOVED!!  HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

The benefits of being a school lunch lady...

     As some of my followers know and many may not, I am a elementary school lunch lady during the day.  Every morning I wake up, like most dread another work day!  The tedious jobs of being a lunch lady are not something to be admired.   Prepping the lunch line, doing dishes, sweeping and mopping floors, wiping down counters, counting food, washing your hands until they are raw, wearing funny hats and aprons, and those darn gloves!   There is however something that keeps us going back year after year!
     A lunch lady salary is not what gets us going back!  Holidays and vacations are pretty cool, but not the reason we go back.  Everyday we have over 650 kids come walking down our lunch line.  You begin to know a lot of their names.  Their favorite movie characters, and favorite colors.  You get to know who likes carrots and who like celery.  Which kids like Ranch on their salad and which like Italian.  You get to know when the kindergartners come down and ask for potatoes, they really mean tomatoes!  When you offer a kindergartner sunflower seeds they ask if they are for planting or eating.  They call raisins grape seeds, and beets mangoes.  Unlike teachers who have to meet teaching guidelines, have to discipline, do lesson plans, and meet with parents.  Us lunch ladies see each of these kids for about one minute of the day as they pass on through.  We get the very best part of school kid interaction!  Never a dull moment, never the same day twice.  That is what gets us going back!  The kids!  Salary is not great but the joy those little ones bring...priceless!!  Now off to work to fill up all those little bellies, and see my 650 little buddies...Have a wonderful day!

Kiss and Cry House Party!!!! #Puffs #housepartyfun

     I hosted my very first House Party last night compliments of Puffs!  We all had a great time!  We had the house set up with Darts, Ping Pong, and Foosball (Our very own House party Olympics if you will).   We had a lot of fun with our photo booth and everyone was excited about the free loot from our party pack!  Everyone went home with some samples of Puffs plus lotion, a compact mirror, and cosmetic bags all provided by Puffs!  We had lots of little snacks and Barbecued some delicious Carne and Pollo asada so party goers could build their own burrito! The whole party was a hit! I want to thank House Party and Puffs for selecting me!  Thank you for this opportunity to host  such a wonderful evening and share your great products with all my friends!

Attention to detail...

     Upon arriving home from working all day, I pull into my drive to find a humongous box on my front porch!  My first thought was that inside this box there must be a flat screen t.v.!  You see the box measures 34x46 inches and is about 4 inches thick!  Assuming it to be a new television is not all that far fetched since ours did break down a couple weeks ago.  I unlock my front door, put my things down, and approach the box.  I bend at the knees and begin to try and lift this box assuming it is going to be somewhat heavy...it was not!  I thought to myself, hmmmm this can't possibly be a television, it's much too light!  I grabbed some scissors and proceeded to carefully open this huge box, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but the hugest framed family photograph I have ever seen!!
     In December we got our family photographed by Tiffany Jeanne photography in Temecula, California while on Christmas vacation.  The proofs have been downloaded on my computer since and I had been meaning to order some prints for our walls.  Our last family picture was seven years ago, so it was important we got current ones done!  While shopping online for a new television I stumbled across Walmart's online photo processing and put in an order for a framed canvas family picture that I downloaded right off my computer!  I did not pay attention to the details of  the picture size and put in my order.  I have to admit I thought it was a little pricey, but figured that's what framed canvas probably runs these days.  I forgot all about ordering this picture...until today!  I had a giant reminder!
     I removed this giant picture out of the box and sat it on my fireplace mantel.  I then began laughing so hard I had tears running down my face!  I wonder what the folks at Walmart photo processing were thinking?  I am sure the workers will recognize my family every time we walk by their booth.  So what am I suppose to do with such a huge family picture?  Hang it of course!

#Giveaway "Love My Bag" Emilie M. Handbag + Essentials Box + 50 $20 2nd Prize Winners!!

No product was received for this post. This post is sponsored by Emilie M. Shop.

Good morning!  I hope this day finds everyone happy , healthy, and fabulous!  Speaking of fabulous, who doesn't love a great handbag?  I know I do!  Emilie M. Handbags has a great selection of handbags available that will coordinate with just about any look. I can really appreciate the different styles available along with the many colors to choose from. I also like that I can complete my handbag when I buy from Emilie M. by adding an essentials box to any of my orders for just $25 right now! When I add the Essentials Box to my order, I can get a wallet with detachable strap, a cosmetic case, scarf, umbrella with pouch, and a key ring, all together $155 value!

Emilie M. would like to show some love and give one of my amazing readers a Emilie M. Handbag of choice along with a Essentials Box, as well as 50 2nd prize $20 gift codes!

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Learning to appreciate the little things in life...

     Sometimes the normal grind of life takes away from the little things we should be more focused on!  Our lives are very short.  Sometimes I find myself waking up, getting ready for work, working all day, cooking dinner and going to bed!  Spending hours on end focused and not paying attention!  We tend to go about our day in such repetition we forget to appreciate those "little things".

     In order to appreciate the "little" things in life we first need to know what they are.  My "little thing" and yours may be completely different but we all have them!  As you stroll through life you become more and more aware what "little" things were personally picked out for you to experience and appreciate.  You need to keep your eyes and ears open at all times, for you wouldn't want to miss a good one!  Here are some little things I have come to appreciate in my life...

• The sun rise
• The sun set
• A wish on a falling star
• a child's eye lashes
• A mothers unconditional love
• The strong hand of a father
• A rainbow in the light of a full moon
• A sincere hug upon greeting someone you care about
• A butterfly fluttering by heading in no apparent direction
• A child's smile reflecting in a Christmas ball
• The rhythm of windshield wipers
• Splashing in puddles
• The unknown secrets of a magician
• a fallen leaf dancing to the rhythm of a gusty day
• The scent of your child
• A glistening fire with a random crackle on a snow covered day
• A naked tree branch balancing a pile of snowflakes
• Chirping birds in the spring time
• The creak of a swing set
• A perfect rose embracing a lone water droplet
• A mountain top emerging from the clouds below
• A newborn baby's cry
• A puppies energy
• A firefighters bravery
• An elderly's wisdom
• A young child's curiosity
• The feel of warm bath water on your skin
• The smell of rain
• Twirling around until you get dizzy
• A good song on the radio
• A child's first steps
• The drumming of raindrops on an umbrella
• The soft glow of a candle
• Knowing what love feels like
• A hundred year old tree
• A gentle kiss in the pouring rain
• Family!!!!!!

Today and everyday try and notice the "little" things because one day you will find those "little" things were really quite BIG!  Enjoy your day!

What are some "little" things you have come to enjoy in your life?

Puffs Party Pack has arrived!!! #Puffs #house party!!

My Puffs party Pack has arrived via UPS!!!  I can't wait to host my Puffs kiss and Cry Party and share all these goodies compliments of Puffs with all my party goers!!  I applied to host this party because My family goes through oodles and oodles of Puffs!  A week does not go by that I don't have a mountain of tissues over flowing our trash cans!  The Puffs with lotion are my favorite!  They are so soft on your nose after having to blow so many times and they help moisturize as you blow!  Which is your favorite Puffs product?  Other ways you can use Puffs Plus lotion is for touch-ups, blotting or other beauty needs!
     Thank you House Party and Puffs for picking me to share your great product!