11/28/15

Canon PIXMA iP8720 Crafting Printer #tech #crafts #klout

Disclosure: I received product from Klout at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
For over 12 years, I've been an avid scrapbooker. I love both hands-on paper scrapbooking and digital scrapbooking, but until now I could never print my 12"x12" digital scrapbook pages. With the new Canon PIXMA iP8720 Crafting Printer, I can print on paper up to 13"x19" and my crafting has taken a whole new turn!
Not only can I print completed digital scrapbooking pages, I can print 12"x12" scrapbook paper, page templates, and so much more. This incredible printer has a 6-color ink system including gray ink and 9600 x 2400 maximum color dpi which gives me incredible detail and fabulous quality.
Even more wonderful is the Canon PIXMA iP8720 Crafting Printer prints wirelessly from any wifi-enabled computer, tablet, or mobile device. But it's not just for scrapbookers! Any crafter is going to love the simplicity of being able to print DIY content, subway prints, coloring pages, beautiful photos, and much more.
It's incredibly easy to set up and use the Canon PIXMA iP8720 Crafting Printer. It takes all kinds of paper, including cardstock, photo paper, printer paper, watercolor paper, and more. I've had a blast getting all my scrapbook printables ready for my holiday photographs!
It measures bit wider than a regular printer since it prints on larger paper, so I opted to put it on my craft table instead of my desk. If you are a crafter, you are going to want to put the Canon PIXMA iP8720 Crafting Printer at the top of your holiday wish list!
Order yours today from Amazon!

11/27/15

Residence Inn for Romantic Getaways #travel

Disclosure: I received a gift card in exchange for my post.
If you need a weekend away with your sweetheart, Residence Inn has locations all over the place and it's a fabulous place to stay. My husband and I decided we were in need of some fun together, so we booked a room at the Residence Inn in San Antonio, Texas. There are actually several locations in the city and we stayed at the North/Stone Oak location to avoid the bustle of the downtown area.
We chose a one bedroom suite with a queen size bed and I absolutely loved the deep turquoise feature wall in the bedroom. It's a bit smaller than the king size suite we stayed in at the Irving, Texas Residence Inn, but just as beautiful. The L-shaped soft was perfect for snuggling to watch tv in the living room.
The room featured a living room, bedroom, dining area, kitchen area, and a desk for working (but we weren't doing any work that weekend, just focusing on each other). Residence Inn offers free wifi throughout the property.
The kitchen in the room was nearly a full-size, with a fridge, microwave, dishwasher, and stovetop. There are lots of cabinets, loaded up with all the dishes and cookware you'll need to whip up a romantic dinner for two. There are also loads of restaurants nearby if you prefer to go out for meals.
Residence Inn goes out of their way to provide nearly anything you'll need to stay for a weekend or a month. The room includes all the little things that make your stay more comfortable, like a coffee brewer and coffee, a stash of microwave popcorn, and even things like paper towels and salt/pepper shakers. They'll even fill your fridge if you ask!
The bedroom in this suite is set off to the back, away from the hallway, which made for a very good night's sleep. The bathroom is through the bedroom, and backs up to the hallway on that side of the suite. The queen bed was super comfortable and there were plenty of pillows available.
There was a full size closet, with mirrored doors, in a vanity area separate from the shower tub and toilet. The room was filled with quality building materials, including ceramic tile floors and granite countertops. Everything was spotlessly clean and looked brand new.
Even the towels were super soft and super fluffy! The lighting throughout the room was bright and cheerful, with a slightly muted light in the shower area. I always leave one light on in my hotel rooms overnight, so the bathroom light was the perfect nightlight.
There is lots of storage in the queen size suite, with cabinets, drawers, and shelves, in the event you're going to stay for longer than a weekend. Although the tub isn't large enough for a bath for two, it is large enough for a shower for two!
The deep turquoise color theme that is on the bedroom wall resonates throughout the room, with touches of turquoise on the shower curtain, the room curtains, and even the sofa's throw pillow. We were very comfortable in this room and loved the location.
The front desk staff were professional and friendly. We walked around outside and discovered a little firepit area, a swimming pool, and a heated whirlpool. Although the weekend was a bit too chilly for a dip in the pool, it was sparkling clean and inviting.
For our official date night, we went to see a movie, play some pool, and have dinner out. We even when shopping nearby. This location offers just about anything you might want to do on a date with your special sweetheart.
Near the lobby area, we found the business center, which is set up like a den. It's a wonderfully warm environment, with a fireplace, and lots of tables and chairs. We also stumbled across a laundry area where guests can do their own laundry, or you can drop it off at the front desk and they'll do it for you.
Residence Inn offers a free hot breakfast and the breakfast room is simply gorgeous. The photo below is just a small part of this huge breakfast room. Breakfast included eggs, sausage, potatoes, toast, bagels, waffles, cereal, fruit, juice, coffee, and much more.
Residence Inn is the perfect place to book a romantic getaway. We had a wonderful weekend away in a clean, comfortable, quality room. When you're booking your hotel for your holiday travel, be sure to find a Residence Inn so you know you're getting the most for your money. We paid just $139 for a Saturday night at the North/Stone Oak location.
Book your stay at Residence Inn!

Ground Pork Fiesta #Recipe

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Ground pork is so much cheaper than ground beef, but I've had a hard time coming up with recipes that really use it well. I finally came up with Ground Pork Fiesta and it's amazing! My husband insisted I write this one down and share it on my blog so I never lose (or forget) the recipe. The links in the directions are the products I actually used. Enjoy!

Ground Pork Fiesta

Ingredients:
1 lb ground pork
8 oz tri-color rotini noodles
2 cans cheddar cheese soup
1 can petite diced tomatoes
2 tbsp jalepeno slices
salt and pepper

Directions:
In a large skillet, brown the ground pork, chopping it into little pieces as it cooks. At the same time, boil water in a saucepan for the tri-color rotini noodles. Add a few dashes of salt and pepper to the pork while it browns. Add a few dashes of salt to the noodle water. When the ground pork is cooked, do not drain it. Turn the heat down to low and add 2 cans of cheddar cheese soup to the skillet of pork and stir. About this time, the water will be ready for the noodles, so add them to the boiling water. Add 1 can petite diced tomatoes to the skillet and stir. Stir the noodles so they don't stick together and cook noodles until tender. Pull out 2 tbsp of jalapeno slices from a jar (the store-bought ones are already soft from sitting in the juice, so I use those) and add them to the skillet. As you stir the jalepenos into the mixture, chop them up a bit. When the noodles are tender, drain the water from the saucepan and add the noodles to the skillet gently so you don't break the noodles. Serve on plates. Serves 4 very hungry people.

Print this recipe HERE.
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11/25/15

Giveaway! Chris Tomlin "Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship" CD

Disclosure: Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. 
Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. 
I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
I absolutely LOVE Christmas music and what better way to enjoy the sounds of Christmas than with one of my favorite Contemporary Christian artists! Chris Tomlin has just released "Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship" on CD and it's filled with inspiring, joyful music.
It features a mix of both his original Christmas songs plus some favorite classic Christmas songs. Adore even features some special guest performances by other familiar Christian artists such as Lauren Daigle, Crowder, Kristyn Getty, and All Sons and Daughters. It's the perfect CD to get me in the Christmas mood!
The song list on this CD includes: He Shall Reign Forevermore, Adore, Midnight Clear, Noel, Hymn Of Joy, Silent Night, What Child Is This?, It's Christmas, A King Like This, Bethlehem, and A Christmas Alleluia. Chris Tomlin has won 19 Dove Awards, and has been nominated for 32. He's sold almost 30 million records!
Grab your CD of Adore for Christmas HERE! You can even download it digitally on iTunes if you want to put it straight onto your music player. Enter below to win the CD!
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Win the Adore CD by Chris Tomlin!
To enter, just fill in the giveaway form below. Giveaway is open to US residents, ages 18 and older. Giveaway ends on 12/4/2015. Good luck!

Enter my other giveaways HERE.
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Mantra Jewelry from Erin Pelicano

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
When I select jewelry, I like to chose pieces that are inspiring and Erin Pelicano has created a gorgeous line of jewelry sentiments that does just that. These timeless bracelets and necklaces are the perfect personalized holiday gift!
I received the stunning Mantra bracelet in rose gold with the message "Faith" stamped on it. The bracelet is dipped in gold and the chain features delicate tiny beads. The Faith charm is ever-so-slightly curved so that it hugs my wrist and is gently hammered for extra bling.
The Mantra jewelry features lots of wonderful messages, so you can choose your own mantra that reflects you. Select from messages like Love, Strength, Joy, Family, Brave, or customize it by providing Erin Pelicano with your own mantra!
You can even choose from rose gold, gold, or sterling silver. Each beautiful piece comes in a gift box, so it's ready to give as a gift. Erin Pelicano jewelry is also made in the USA. I absolutely love this bracelet and highly recommend this jewelry!
Visit www.erinpelicano.com to shop for meaningful, inspiring holiday gifts! Be sure to check out the family sets too, such as mother/daughter and grandmother/mother/daughter sets. One of my other favorites is the sisters necklace. Shop now for the holidays!
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Weekly Giveaway Linky - Wednesday Wealth (November 25-December 1)

Everyone loves winning a prize!
If you're hosting a giveaway, link it up below to drive more entrants to your site.
If you'd like to enter the giveaways, just click on them to visit the giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by today!

11/22/15

Giveaway! $25 Amazon Gift Card #HappyHolidaysHop

Welcome to the 1st Annual Happy Holidays Giveaway Hop hosted by Karen’s Got Mail! I have teamed up with a fantastic group of bloggers to share some awesome giveaways with our readers. Be sure to hop around to the participating blogs listed below and enter some fabulous giveaways, all of which are worth a minimum of $25! Also, make sure to enter the Grand Prize Giveaway!

I'm giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Giveaway is open worldwide, ages 18 and older. To enter, just fill in the giveaway form below. Giveaway ends on 12/7/2015. Good luck!
Enter my other giveaways HERE.
Follow me on Facebook HERE.