5/18/13

Sausage Cheese Scrambled Eggs #Recipe

Here is a quick, easy, one skillet breakfast full of fabulous protein that everyone will love! In a large skillet, cook one pound of ground sausage (I used Light Sausage) . When the sausage is browned, crack open six eggs into the skillet and stir to scramble, so that the eggs and sausage are blended. Then add one can of condensed cheese soup and stir in until the cheese is melted and steamy. Serve in bowls. Serves 4-6.

5/17/13

Preparing for Your Child's Graduation

  

The time has almost arrived. There are just a few weeks left until my baby boys graduate from high school. I've spent the past week pouring over the scrapbooks I've made of their lives and I am so proud of them. They have accomplished so much and have very promising futures ahead of them. In the midst of all the activity surrounding the last month of school, I've compiled a list that might help you when your child graduates.

- Take out a bank loan because this is going to cost you. I'm serious.
- Get senior portraits done the summer between junior and senior year. Be careful not to over-order photos just because your child is so cute. They are expensive.
- Order yearbooks at the beginning of senior year. The longer you wait, the higher the school will charge you.
- Order graduation announcements in the middle of senior year. Instead of buying the expensive extras offered with the announcements, such as tissue inserts and double envelopes, order colorful images clear address labels online and save money. Most people don't save the announcement anyway.
- Order the cap and gown at the same time you order the announcements.
- Inform out of town graduation attendees of the graduation date no later than February. Give them time to find a hotel deal, unless you have room for them at your house.
- Mail graduation announcements one month in advance. Use a gold foil accent address label with your home address so those who cannot attend can send a congratulatory card.
- Purchase thank you notes in advance of the graduation ceremony so your child can send thank you notes immediately upon receiving a card or gift.
- Plan a graduation celebration party at your home about a month in advance. If you're going to rent a space, start planning when senior year begins. If you're planning on taking a group out to eat, make reservations in advance.
- Arrive early to the graduation ceremony. Bring a camera. Bring tissues because, you will cry.

5/16/13

Throwback Thursday Link Up with #SesameStreet

Includes affiliate link.

Welcome to Throwback Thursday Link Up!
Sponsored By:

Join Us Each Weekly as We Add a New Stroll Down Memory Lane to
Our Weekly Throwback Thursday Link Up.
Each week we will have a quick post about a "walk down memory lane" or "what if" type of post for Throwback Thursday.

Lisa and Bonnie would love it if you would:
Please link back to our blogs or posts. You will find the buttons below.
The "Throwback Thursday Link Up" will benefit those who participate!
Each post should be along the lines of a fond memory our what ever happened...? or even do you remember...? Please do not link to a site other than your own.
Please make sure you use your own photos in your posts, OR make sure to give credit to your photo source.
Also please take the time to visit at least three of the blogs when you add your link, and share upon your visit.
Please do not link to the same post more than once.
All posts must be family friendly!

As an added feature you may add ONE text link (word; not some obvious shout out) to an affiliate link for a product discussed/mentioned in your post. Example: I remember having a favorite pillow that made the rounds to each and every sleepover throughout my youth. Make sure you make you note in your post about the affiliate link for the FCC!

Let's enjoy a stroll down memory lane; maybe a family vacation or a wonderful food from your childhood. Truly the options are endless!
This Throwback Thursday goes all the way back to when I was three years old. My mom took me to see a taping of Sesame Street. Standing on stage is Bob and Susan. I'm that shy little girl in the blue dress who worked her way up from the floor to the steps to the stage. At one point, Bob even kneeled down to sing directly to me. 

Spring Clean Your Life This Year

Spring cleaning your house is easy compared to spring cleaning your life. We can easily sweep the winter decorations into a box, but sweeping away those things that dull our lives isn't so simple. We can take down the curtains and throw them in the washing machine, but we can't so easily take down the negative feelings in our hearts. We can make a simple phone call and get same day carpet cleaning (get more info here), but there is no one but ourselves to call when we know we need to deep clean our lives. Here are some practical tips to spring cleaning your life this year:
  1. Get a new personal phone book and only transfer the names and addresses of the happy, positive people you want in your life. Clean out your electronic contacts in your social media accounts too.
  2. Go alone for an outside walk every day, with no phone, no music player, and no distractions. Listen to your thoughts and every time something negative tries to sneak in, push it away with a positive thought. Instead of "I should be doing laundry right now" think "It's such a beautiful day."
  3. Forgive yourself. We all harbor guilt and shame for things in our past and often in our current situations. Letting go of that takes a huge burden off your heart. Use this new-found forgiveness to forgive others and let those go too.
  4. Drink more water. If you're not fond of water, throw a lemon slice in it. Alternate water with what you usually drink. For example, have a cup of coffee, then a cup of water before you allow yourself another cup of coffee or a soda.
  5. Eat more vegetables. Try to add at least one vegetable to every meal you eat. Focus on fresh or snap-frozen veggies for the highest ratio of vitamins and minerals. Add seasoning to spice up your food.
  6. Read a book once a month. A real book with pages. Sink into a comfy chair or lounge outside on a bench and immerse yourself into some good reading. 
  7. Do something wonderful for someone less fortunate than yourself. Donate the old clothes you found while spring cleaning your closet. Drop off food at your local food bank. Send a handwritten letter to someone you miss. 
  8. Hug everyone in your family every day and tell them you love them. Call your parents or grandparents.

5/14/13

May is Mediterranean Diet Month

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS! With the latest rage of fad diets already making headlines for 2013, it is good to know that there is the tried and trusted Mediterranean Diet which still remains in the top three diets in the world. A healthy diet equals a healthy body, and with the Mediterranean Diet’s focus on naturally healthy foods such as fresh vegetables, olive oil, citrus, and low-fat dairy.
Karoun Dairies award-winning, natural and lower-fat Mediterranean line of quality cheeses and yogurts are only made from cow’s milk free from growth hormones, BGH/rBST, are Real California Milk certified, and fit perfectly within the healthy dairy food group of the Mediterranean Diet.
Labne (often spelled “Labneh”) is a thick and creamy spreadable Kefir Cheese that is a healthier choice for cheese lovers watching the fat and sodium in their diets.
Karoun’s all-natural Kefir Cheeses (Labne) are extremely versatile, and easy to incorporate into any meal or snack. Recently announced as one of the hottest new products of 2012 by Phil Lempert, the Supermarket Guru, Karoun’s Kefir Cheeses (Labne) are also now available in a low-fat version, Labne-Lite.
For years yogurt has been considered an ideal option for those seeking a healthy meal, snack or treat. One 8-ounce cup of yogurt contains 100 milligrams more calcium than a regular cup of milk. Yogurt also contains as much potassium as a banana, and as much protein as an egg or 1 ounce of meat
In Karoun’s Non-Fat Yogurt there are a whopping 13 grams of protein per 8-ounce serving. This means one cup of non-fat yogurt contains the nutritional value of a glass of milk, a banana, and lean meat all rolled up into one!
Karoun Dairies non-fat yogurt makes it easy for individuals to benefit from a hefty amount of nutrients without consuming such a large amount of food. Like kefir cheese, yogurt also contains probiotic bacteria to make for a happy digestive tract.
All these amazing health benefits can be a part of anyone’s diet simply by eating 1 cup of Karoun Dairies Non-Fat Yogurt or Lite-Kefir Cheese (Labne) a day. Who knew so many health benefits could come from such a small change in a diet!
Founded in 1992, Karoun is a family-run business reflecting fulfillment of the American dream. The company has continued to grow from creating hand braided String Cheese for local ethnic and specialty grocery stores, to producing a wide variety of Mediterranean specialty cheeses and yogurt products with nationwide mainstream distribution.
Over the past week, I have enjoyed all these delicious foods from Karoun Dairies. I encourage you to add these delicious Mediterranean cheeses and yogurts to your diet. The Labne makes fabulous dips and the honey yogurt is the best yogurt I've ever had!
Karoun Dairies Labne Vegetable Dip

16 oz. Karoun Dairies Lite-Kefir cheese (labne)
1 medium Persian cucumber
1 medium carrot or red bell pepper
1 T. fresh chopped parsley
1 T. fresh chopped chives
Salt/fresh ground pepper to taste
4 T. extra virgin olive oil
Toasted pita chips

Directions:
Mix Karoun Dairies Lite-Kefir Cheese (Labne) with olive oil.
Dice cucumber and carrot (or bell pepper).
Mix Karoun Dairies Lite-Kefir Cheese (Labne), diced vegetables, and parsley together.
Sprinkle chives on top and serve with toasted pita chips.
Karoun Dairies Mediterranean Yogurt Dip

¾ cup Karoun Dairies non-fat yogurt
2 Tbsp. fresh chopped mint
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. minced garlic

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pita chips or fresh vegetables.

Win $100 Amazon or Paypal - The Enemy Book Blast

The Enemy

A red-hot political thriller from a blue state author. Buried among the thousands of financial transactions he reviews each day, analyst Randy Duncan finds a secret web of laundered money financing the assassination of the President, which, in turn, will lead the country into war. Can Randy and his law-student daughter Clare follow the money and stop the enemy in time? In a political thriller worthy of Dan Brown, Richard Condon, and Allen Drury, award-winning novelist Larry Bograd charts a political thriller sure to keep you reading and leave you sleepless wondering and worried about who really controls America.
Purchase It Here

     
Author Larry Bograd Larry Bograd has published more than two dozen books, primary for children and young adults--and now his first eBook original, "The Enemy." He is also a playwright, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He is president of Roundtable Media Group, which produces documentary films, Web shows, and events.

Book Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/31/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participat author/publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $100 US.

5/13/13

Tasty Tuesday Recipe Link Up

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday Recipe Link Up
Sponsored By:

Join Us Each Week as We Add New Recipes to Our Weekly Tasty Tuesday Recipe Link Up.
Recipes shared need not be 5 star rated restaurant quality to impress. Link up your family's favorites and maybe find a new family favorite among the recipes listed below. I'm always on the lookout for something new to try and share with my family.
Lisa and Bonnie would love it if you would:
Please link back to our blogs or posts. You will find the button below.
The "Tasty Tuesday Link Up" will benefit those who participate!
The recipe needs to be a recipe YOU made. Please do not link to a site other than your own.
Please make sure you use your own photos in your recipes, make sure to give credit to your source.
Also please take the time to visit at least three of the blogs when you add your link, and share upon your visit (having share button on each post is beneficial).
Please do not link to the same recipe more than once.

As an added feature you may add ONE text link (word; not some obvious shout out) to an affiliate link for a product used in your recipe. Example: Add 1 tsp Vanilla. Make sure you make you note in your post about the affiliate link for the FCC!
So, dust off those family treasured recipes and let the sharing begin!

Oatmeal Cookies
An Original Lisa Weidknecht Recipe

1 cup Organic Sugar
1 cup Butter
1 cup Flour
2 cups Quick Oats
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In one bowl, mix all the ingredients together by hand.
Form small cookie balls, place on cookie sheet, flatten cookies by hand.
Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Free Baby Sling

offer expired

5/12/13

Happy Mother's Day

I am so blessed to have three beautiful children who call me Mom. I cannot imagine my life without them! My entire purpose for living changed when God put them in my care. 
Ryan, Heather, Johnathan, I love you all. Thank you for filling my life with laughter and excitement. I am so proud of the young adults you have all become!!!  Love, Mom