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Progresso Bread Crumbs Pasta

September 7, 2015

This post is sponsored by General Mills but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Happy Labor Day! In some ways it feels like summer just began but on the other hand, I am tired of 95+ degree weather! Bring on the fireplace weather! This fall semester, I am challenging myself to cook one to two new recipes every week. I have really been wanting to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone in the kitchen and I have decided I will share a few of my favorite with all of you! After all, fall is about cozying up by the fire with a good book, cup of coffee and food. Lots and lots of food.

Ingredients:
Progresso bread crumbs
2 1/2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 tsp. Minced Garlic
8 oz. Linguine Pasta
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:
Cook pasta according to directions on the package. While pasta is cooking, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add the minced garlic. Stir constantly for 30 seconds and take off of heat and let stand for about 5 minutes. Drain pasta and pour pasta into a large bowl. Toss in all ingredients and serve immediately.

I added a side dish of salad with Kraft Italian Dressing and shredded cheese to complete our Italian meal! It was easy, quick and delicious. Even our toddler loved it! That is an A++ recipe in my book.

Now you can win $10 to try these products for yourself! All you have to do is visit Progresso or Kraft and leave me a comment telling me which recipe you’d like to try! Enter in the Rafflecopter below! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check back here or on Twitter for an amazing coupon starting September 10th! Coupon details here:

• $2.00 off Publix Produce with the purchase of Any Four (4) participating products
Participating products: select Old El Paso items**, Ro*tel Tomatoes, Hunt’s Tomatoes, Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese, Avocados from Mexico
**Items include Dinner Kits, Seasoning Mixes, Enchilada Sauce, Refried Beans
• $2.00 off Publix Chicken with the purchase of Any Four (4) participating products
Participating products: Progresso Bread Crumbs, Progresso Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth, Kraft Salad Dressing, Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese, Hunt’s Tomatoes
• $1.00 off Any Five (5) Ro*tel Tomatoes (10 oz.)
• $1.00 off Any Five (5) Hunt’s Tomatoes (14.5 oz.)
• Save $1.00 on Avocados from Mexico when you buy three (3) Old El Paso products (1-31 oz.)
• Save $1.00 on three (3) Betty Crocker casserole potatoes (4.5-5.1 oz.)
• Save $1.50 on two (2) Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes (12.5-17.9 oz.)

2015 Labor Day Sales Picks

September 4, 2015

Target:
Earn an extra 10% off online through September 7th on clothing, shoes, home items and accessories using code “LABORDAY” at checkout!

Amazon:
Kindle Fire 6% off + Free shipping? Deal! These hardly ever go on sale and I can save $20! I am definitely pulling the “It’s almost our anniversary” card on this one!

For the babies:
We haven’t moved SR into her nursery yet because we need two things: a sound machine and a baby monitor! I was so excited to find these deals on two things we have been putting off buying. Now I know it’s because we were just waiting to save money! I’m also excited to find some Thomas the Train toys that are discounted! They are always so expensive and Hampton has been all Thomas everything for the last 6 months (at least). It will make a great stocking stuffer this Christmas! If you are about to have a baby, you definitely need to snag these Aden and Anias swaddles!

For Bloggers:
If I didn’t just buy a Cannon rebel T3i a few months ago, I’d be all over this deal! Umm, amazing! Also, every blogger needs a good pair of earbuds!

Old Navy:

The entire store is up to 60% off! I am really eyeing this workout tank and these compression tights. They look so comfortable and I love wearing tights during the winter! Oh, and I’m pretty much dying over all of their baby clothes right now. So. Cute.

The Loft:

30% off New Fall Styles and 50% off Summer Sale Items!

I am so excited that corduroy is in again this year! I am a little obsessed with corduroy and I have my eye on this skirt and these pants! I also really love this Henley and this tunic! Tunic + Leggings = my happy place.

Madewell:

30% off fall essentials and an extra 30% off all sale styles

Books A Million:

20% off your purchase of $50 or more with code “WORK20”

Thred Up

Up to 90% off all clothing!

Don’t forget to do all of your shopping through Ebates to earn cash back on all of your purchases! It saved me $200 last year during the holiday season! I will definitely be doing all of my Christmas shopping through them again!

Where are you shopping this Labor Day? What’s on your list?

Life Happens

September 2, 2015

Post contains affiliate links.

Romper: Gap via ThredUp // Vest: Old Navy // Birks // Kendra Scott Cuff: Nordstrom // Bag: TJ Maxx (similar here)

Our cooler weather didn’t last very long. It is back up in the 90’s and I’m back to rompin’ around in my jean vest. Oy Vey. So, last week in our small group, we went around the circle and told what are peaks and pits of the week were. I thought it would be fun to do the same this week because it has been filled with lots of ups and downs.

Pits:

Our house has been on the market for a year and a half now. We have lowered the price several times and continue to update it. It has been a really frustrating process. A couple of weeks ago we noticed a spot on Hampton’s baseboard in his room that looked like the wood had been warped. We had someone come out and look at it on Monday and, we have termites. Wonderful. While you may be thinking, “oh, it’s fine because I’m sure you have a bond”…no. We don’t. Or, we didn’t. Our bond expired a couple of months back and we had not renewed it. I’m not even going to tell you what our bill is costing us. Just know, our bank account is crying harder than that guy who loves Britney.

Sophie’s “acid reflux” has been awful. She isn’t gaining hardly any weight and it is really upsetting me. I feel like she is throwing everything up that she eats and then some. She should be growing and getting chunky, but instead she looks skinnier to me. We are going to the doctor later today for her 4 month check-up and I’m hoping she can give me new advice that will help. I’ve been so desperate that I even tried to give her formula but she still screamed the entire time I tried to give it to her. Any advice, moms?

Peaks:

While the termite thing was awful and hurt our bank account a little bit, we are so thankful that we caught it pretty early and have everything fixed now. It could have been a lot worse if we had waited or not noticed it.

Hampton has had a really good week. His behavior has been so much better and he has been so sweet with SR. I started decorating for fall/Halloween this week and he has loved seeing all of the “punkin’s” all over the house! He is definitely my little pumpkin baby! I hope he loves Halloween as much as I do!

Monday night we celebrated Ryan’s great-grandmother’s 92nd birthday! She told me she is now shooting for 100! I bet if anyone can make it to 100, it’s her! She is so precious and uplifting to be around. I love listening to her stories and being around her is such a calming influence. She has the kindest spirit.

My sister is coming home this weekend and I can’t wait to see her! Her and my mom offered to keep my kids so that Ryan and I can go out on a date! I am so excited! We have been out on one date since SR was born and that was over 2 months ago! With all of the traveling he has been doing, I am definitely ready to have a date with my hubby!

P.S. One of my best friends started a blog and launched it yesterday! Check her out over at Stroll Through the South! You will love her!

What was your pit and peak of the week?

Book Review: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert

September 1, 2015

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
Gallery Books July 2015

Pages: 318

Synopsis from Goodreads: YOU’VE GOT MAIL meets HOW TO EAT A CUPCAKE in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.

In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern.

Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst.

The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?

Set in the lovely, quirky heart of Wisconsin, THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE is a charming love story of misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and the power of food to bring two people together.

My Thoughts: I was so excited to read this book off of my Summer Reading List! It did not disappoint. The cover art is really what caught my attention initially, and the title is just as delicious. Books with some sort of sweet in the title or set in Paris are my weaknesses if you haven’t already noticed. I read this book while on our cruise a couple of weeks ago and it was the perfect vacation read.

I read it very quickly and couldn’t put it down because I wanted to know what happened to Al and Lou! This book kept my attention, and while I did predict the end before I got there, it was still so satisfying and dreamy. I gave this one 4 stars!

Friendship and Gelato

August 31, 2015

Location: Cafe Louisa’s

Since I’ve become a SAHM and quit my day job, I have really learned the importance of friendship and having a group of friends that are in the SAHM club. Being a stay at home mom can be a very lonely job. For example, when my group of friends get together, usually everyone loves to talk about their jobs. It’s what they do every day all day long, so of course that is their go-to topic of conversation. As a SAHM, it can feel really lonely at times.

My dear friend, Lindsey recently moved back to Montgomery and she is also a SAHM. We have started having (almost) weekly play dates together and with other moms and it has been wonderful. Things don’t feel so lonely anymore. She has a son that is Hampton’s age and is currently pregnant with her second child. We have so much in common. Our moms grew up together, we grew up together, and now our children are being raised together. It is so special and our friendship is such a rare treasure.

Last week we packed a picnic and took it to the park. We then walked down to Luella’s Cafe to enjoy some gelato with the boys. It was such a fun day and our little guys enjoyed the time together. Days like these remind me how special real life friends are and how important it is to get away from social media for a little bit and enjoy God’s beauty – whether it is swooning over Old Cloverdale houses, or strolling through downtown with your littles.

How To Fall In Love With Running

August 28, 2015

Let me start off by first stating that you will probably hate running at first, at least, I did. Your body isn’t used to it. You may be overweight or, like me, just had a baby and are starting over which can be very frustrating. What I will tell you is, you will fall in love with your results from running, but this takes time. Here are some things you can do along the way that will help you fall in love with running:

-Entertain yourself. Whether you take this time to pray, meditate, listen to your favorite jams or whatever it is you do, do it. It will make the run more pleasant and enjoyable and may even help the time pass quickly. Oh, I already ran 2 miles? What?

-Eat right. Don’t ever eat right before you run. Give your body time to digest or you will get sick, cramp or your body won’t have enough energy to get through your run because it is busy digesting your food. Also, never ever drink soft drinks if you plan on running in the next couple of days. They cause terrible cramps. I learned this through my years of dance and it is not a fun experience.

-Drink up. Drink lots and lots of water and sometimes Gatorade – especially after a race.

-Warm up very well before every run. I like to do a few jumping jacks or jog in place for a minute to warm my muscles so that I can stretch properly for a few minutes. This will help you feel loose during your run and prevents injury. Don’t ever skip your warm-up.

-Don’t overdue it. Pushing yourself a little at a time is great, but don’t start off with the mindset of a half-marathoner and then be discouraged when you can’t breathe after only one mile. I speak from experience. Take your time. You can work up to your goals, but don’t overdue it. It is important to train properly. I have loved doing the Couch to 5k plan. It helped me start running a few years ago, but also helped me lose my baby weight after my first and second pregnancies. It’s a great plan that will really help you build your endurance and get back into those races!

Do you run? What tips do you have for a beginner?

Coffee and Babies

August 27, 2015

As I sit here and drink my coffee, I can’t help but notice how quickly life has changed. Things have really started calming down here lately. For the first couple of months after having Sophie-Rae, I felt like every day we were in survival mode. Trying to keep Hampton from feeling like the rug had been pulled out from under him was not easy. He was still a baby himself when she was born. He didn’t understand that she was coming home with us from the hospital. Once she was home, he thought she was leaving. He knows now, and he loves her so much. He hugs her and kisses her and I’m not as worried as I was originally when he was acting out.

For a while it was chaotic, loud, 2 babies constantly screaming. Both wanting to be held at the same time. Having to change dirty diapers back to back all day, Feeling helpless most days because I felt like I was getting nowhere. I wasn’t making either of them happy. We were just barely making it through the day. I had time to feed them, clothe them, change diapers, bathe them and very very little time for anything else. I became very good friends with dry shampoos and t-shirts. It was so tough and I was in a complete fog.

Sophie-Rae is almost 4 months old now. My what a big difference a month and a half makes. In some ways, that feels like forever ago, and in some it feels like we just made it out of that cloud. Mornings are now fun and enjoyable. They are filled with my boy screaming “Mama” from his crib, waffles, favorite story books and lots of laughter.We are getting into more of a routine and things are feeling somewhat “normal” again. My baby girl is (mostly) sleeping through the night now and is doing great. Thanks to a bit of acid reflux, she is still really tiny and hasn’t put on much weight, but she is perfect in every way.

I love watching my babies together. Hampton loves to give her Eskimo kisses and she always smiles so big at him. She loves to lay in the floor and watch her big brother play and he has even shared his Thomas the Train toys with her. That’s big, folks!

While those first 2 months were so so hard and tiring, they were worth it. Change is hard. For me, for my baby boy and for everyone. Once you get the hang of it, you begin to forget how things were before. You get accustomed to your new normal and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Fall Vibes

August 26, 2015

I received product for this post, but opinions are my own.

Dress : Glamorous // Boots: Sam Edelman // Bag: Nine West via TJ Maxx // Necklace, Bangle and Earrings: c/o Rocksbox

When I returned from my cruise last week, I came home to my first Rocksbox! I was so excited to see what was in my first box! I had added way too many pieces to my wishlist this month and I refrained from taking a peek at my box online, so it was truly a surprise.

If you aren’t familiar with Rocksbox, it is a subscription box that allows you to rent an unlimited amount of designer jewelry for a limited fee every month. You can keep the jewelry as long as you want, but when you are ready for a different set, you simply send the box back and your personal stylist will send you a brand new box. Pretty neat, right? If you fall in love with any of the pieces you receive, you can buy them at a discounted price.

I wore my new jewelry with this fun long-sleeved dress that I bought back in March. I absolutely love it! I was shocked to wake up to extremely pleasant weather yesterday morning and couldn’t wait to wear it! I feel like this is a great summer to fall transition outfit.

I am SO ready for fall weather and getting this little tease made me dream of pumpkin spiced lattes and Halloween decorations. I may have even ordered Sophie-Rae’s Halloween costume. Not that I’m excited or anything…

Use Code: LoganBFF19 at sign up for your first month’s subscription FREE!

Literary Junkies Book Club: August

August 25, 2015

Here are this month’s questions:

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.

I’m Reading Save The Date by Mary Kay Andrews! I loved Ladies Night and couldn’t wait to read the next book of hers on my list. I feel like she write great summertime books. I am really enjoying this one so far, but I’m only about 60 pages in. I can tell it is going to be a good one, though!

2. What books do you have on request at the library? or What books have you just picked up lately?

I just bought The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street at Target totally on a whim. It looked and sounded great! I love historical fiction and you know how I am with catchy cover art. I noticed it and had to have it. Plus, ice cream. It has to be a good one.

3. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

I used to read several at a time, but lately, I have only had time for one book at a time.

4. What makes you love a book?

Umm… Pretty cover art? A great title and obviously a wonderful story that I can’t put down. They don’t necessarily have to be fast paced, but they do need to be interesting and keep my attention and leave me wanting more. I love a book that makes me think “man I didn’t want it to end. I hope they write a sequel.”

5. This one is totally random but Fall is just around the corner and we want to know…what’s your favorite cookbook?

I love this question! I am not a great cook, but I try! I love to bake, but I am not a great baker either. I actually just talked to my husband about how I really want to start trying a new recipe once or twice a week to expand my menu this fall. I am going to start in the next couple of weeks and will be sure to share the recipes that turn out well. Right now, I love to use a cookbook that my grandmother’s church put together a few years ago. A lot of the women added their own recipes to it and they combined them and put them in a book. My grandmother gave it to me for Christmas one year and it is my favorite go-to!

What is your favorite cookbook? Anyone have a great recipe or book I need to try this fall?

How to Make the Most of Your Cruise

August 21, 2015

I hope you have all enjoyed my week of cruisin’ to the Bahamas with the recap of our trip, cruise fashion advice and Ultimate Packing List. It’s time to set sail to this series, so jump on deck and read my advice on how to make the most of your cruise and have a great experience.

1. Pack Light – otherwise, getting on and off the ship will not be too easy. Also you don’t want to be tripping over your luggage in those tiny rooms.

2. Be Organized – know where your important documents are and have them handy for getting off and on the ship.

3. Book an Excursion – my favorite memory from our cruise was swimming with the dolphins. It was an amazing experience and I wish I could do it again and again. On a previous cruise, I snorkeled and it was also an incredible experience. You don’t want to miss out on these fun memories that could be once in a lifetime experiences.

4. Go to the Shows – Even my 21 month old son loved the shows! The early shows were family friendly and were very enjoyable.

5.Go to the Early Dinner and Show If Traveling with Kids – for obvious reasons. By dinner time, Hamp was worn out from hanging out at the pool or beach all day. He still did great and made it through the shows as well, but I don’t know that he could’ve made it through the later dinner and show and I didn’t care to find out.

6. Make Sure You Make Time for Nap Time – trust me on this. You will want you child to take a good nap every day. Otherwise, you may have a screaming toddler on your hands.

7. Take Lots of Pictures – Pictures are so important to remember things by. My son will probably not remember this cruise, but we will have photos to share and lots of stories to tell him. I even took my Instax Mini so that I could take photos for my family and give them to them right then and there. Everyone really enjoyed that.

Do you have any tips you would add? What is your favorite memory from your cruise?

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