Food Fun Family

Fun and Easy School Day Girl’s Hairstyle #QuickTwist

Lolli — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:00:12 +0000

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. I received the Conair Quick Twist Double-Stranded Braider for my own personal use. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.

I have never been a very creative (or capable) mom when it comes to doing my girls’ hair. French braids? I never could get the hang of it. Ponytails? That was something I could handle…but they’re not always very stylish.

Now that we’re back to school, the kids are focusing on looking their best. If you remember your days in elementary and middle school (and even high school), you’ll remember that it’s incredibly important to look good – and FEEL good. But you’ll probably also remember that school mornings are often rushed and hectic. Or is that just my house?

We don’t always have time to do fancy hair styles before school, so I love that we’ve discovered a new (and super easy) way to create adorable hair-dos for my 12-year-old daughter. In just a few minutes before leaving for the bus, Reese can make cute twisty braids in her hair…and the best part? She can do it herself!

We’re just getting to know the Conair Quick Twist and experimenting with new styles, but there is a ton that you can do with the Quick Twist! Check out tons of adorable ideas on Conair’s Pinterest page (just look for the first board for Quick Twist styles).

A few tips for using the Conair Quick Twist:

Long, smooth hair that is one length works best. We tried on Reese’s long bangs, but a lot of stragglers stuck out and the braid didn’t turn out quite as well.

To make a twisty braid: take 2 equal sections of hair and clamp each section of hair in the Quick Twist.

Taking too much hair will not produce the desired twist; practice with less first.
Once hair is in the Quick Twist, pull it away from the head to make the sectioned hair in the appliance taut, dangling hair or hair that’s loose will not produce the desired style.
Push the button to the ON position and allow the clasps to twist the hair up towards the scalp, otherwise the twist may not work well.

Secure each twisty braid with a hair clip or mini elastic (included).
Experiment with different styles. Make 2 twisty braids on each side of the head and bring them together in the back. Or make multiple twisty braids and pull them all back into fun, twisty pigtails. Or twist your twisty braids into a fun twisty bun.
Use the included accessories to make your twisty braids even more fun – add a silky ribbon to your hair before twisting or “decorate” with colorful hair clips or mini elastics.

Find out more about the Conair Quick Twist

We are loving the Conair Quick Twist? for school day hair styles, but it is also a great litle appliance for slumber parties….and it would make the perfect birthday gift for a preteen birthday girl (they can be SO hard to shop for!!).

Connect with Conair Quick Twist

To learn more about the Conair Quick Twist, visit www.conairquicktwist.com

For more beauty tips, tricks and giveaways,LIKE Conair on Facebook and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!

2015 Hyundai Sonata – The Car That Stole My Husband’s Heart

Lolli — Wed, 20 May 2015 14:50:11 +0000

Last summer I was invited to the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery, Alabama to experience the new 2015 Hyundai Sonata. I loved getting to know the features in the new Sonata in Alabama, but perhaps even more fun was having the opportunity to test drive the 2015 Sonata at home with the whole family. Although I was sent a Sonata to drive for a week, all thoughts about the car are my own (and my family’s). Please note: ignore the snow in these pictures. Yes, we had snow on the ground when I had the Sonata at my house. It’s been a busy few months…

I like to point out at the beginning of each of my car reviews that I am not a technical car reviewer. I am more interested in comfort and drivability than in the technical stats.

And let me tell you – the 2015 Hyundai Sonata scored a perfect 10 in both comfort and drivability for our family. Never before has my husband been so smitten with a car. I am not joking or exaggerating when I say that he commented on how much he loved (I mean…really LOVED) the Sonata every day that we had it parked in front of our house. He stole the keys and took the Sonata out as often as he could during those 7 days…and I dare say he even volunteered for more errands during that week as well, just so he could spend time in the Sonata. I have never seen him fall in love with a car the way he fell in love with the Sonata.

While I have been able to test drive several Hyundais over the last few years, this was the first Hyundai I’ve had the chance to bring home. ONE day was all it took for my husband to seriously consider adding a Hyundai to our family. Each subsequent day in the car just convinced him even more.

Want to learn a little about the 2015 Sonata…and why I’m sure you will fall in love with it, too?

About the 2015 Hyundai Sonata:

The 2015 Sonata is available in 3 models: The SE, the Sport (more volume), and the Limited (the premium model). The Sport 2.0T (2.0L Turbo) has an even sportier body and feel with its super-responsive turbo-charged engine.

The new Sonata has an incredible 106.1 cubic feet of passenger volume and a total interior volume of 122.4 cubic feet. Since I’m a mom of teenagers (one of whom is 5’8″) I love finding cars that have plenty of leg room. The Sonata was equally as comfortable for the driver and front passenger as it was for the 3 passengers in the back.

Notable safety features:

Standard 7 airbags, including driver’s knee airbag designed to help prevent the driver from sliding down the seat in a collision.
Also standard: electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, traction control, ABS and tire pressure monitoring system with individual tire pressure display.
Forward collision warning, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and lane departure warning system are all available.

Cool convenience features:

High beam assist so you don’t have to worry about blinding oncoming traffic when you forget to turn the high beams off again!
Smart cruise control (SCC) with full stop capability with front-grille-mounted radar sensor so you can maintain safer, consistent spacing with the vehicle ahead.
Smart trunk gives drivers a convenient hands-free way to open the trunk. No feet needed! The driver simply approaches the Sonata’s trunk with the key fob in a purse or pocket and waits 3 seconds. The trunk will automatically open.
Built-in sunshades in rear windows.
Heated AND ventilated (cooled) front seats – the cooled seats were truly amazing in Alabama in June! Plus, heated rear seats.
Heated steering wheel included in Tech package.

The fuel economy on the new 2015 Sonata varies from 23-28 MPG city and 32-38 MPG highway, with a combined 28-32 MPG. The 2015 Sonata begins at $21,150, with the base model $300 less than the previous year model it is replacing.

Multimedia and BLUE LINK

The 2015 model Sonata is the second Sonata to offer the next-generation Blue Link system, but this time it comes with the new Hyundai Assurance Car Care in-vehicle app. You can even control features in your car with your Android Wear smartwatch. Incredible!

“Blue Link is a dynamic and innovative connected car solution that combines safety, car care, remote functionality and infotainment into a complete package.”

Here are a few things you can do with Blue Link:

Automatic Collision Notification: Your car automatically calls for help so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
SOS Emergency Assistance: Help is just a button push away, 24/7 – 365 days a year.
Service Link: You can schedule a Car Care appointment with your preferred dealer from your vehicle without even using your phone.
Monthly Vehicle Health Report: A vehicle health evaluation of key performance systems will be delivered to your email monthly (or you can check it out in the mobile app).

Speaking of the mobile app, here are a few things you can do with the mobile app (including the smartwatch option):

Remotely start the engine
Remotely lock or unlock the doors
Remotely flash the lights and honk the horn in an emergency or to find your car in crowded parking lot
Find your car with the help of Google Maps
Call roadside assistance
Call Blue Link

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata totally wowed our family. I can’t wait to introduce my family to more of the Hyundai family!

The top collage images were taken by me. All other images are courtesy of Hyundai.

Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle #MrCleanMorePower

Lolli — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 19:27:37 +0000

This post is sponsored by Mr. Clean through SheSpeaks but all thoughts and embarrassing messes are my own.

As I was uploading the *before* pictures, my oldest daughter came into my room and peeked at my computer. “You should tell them that we staged these messes. We did that on purpose,” she suggested. Oh yes. These are hard pictures to share.

I used to be a neat freak. I was never necessarily the best house cleaner, but I was always organized on on top of cleaning. I thought keeping my house clean would be easier once my kids got older, but somehow the house has gotten dirtier. The messes are bigger, there is more stuff in the house, and we are all busier. Just a couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about tips for getting kids to clean the house. It’s something we’re still working on.

I stay on top of the basics, like laundry and dishes and vacuuming the carpet. Ok, maybe I don’t stay as on top of it as I should…. But I will readily admit that I neglect the deeper messes. I wipe things down, but I rarely work very hard to get rid of stains and I tend to overlook the dirt that slowly builds up. Oy.

OK, take my microwave as an example. Our microwave gets a LOT of use. Seven people, lots of food to reheat. I grew up with the rule that any food that went in the microwave had to be covered. Although we have a plate cover AND a roll of paper towels next to the microwave, it’s obvious that people forget more often than they remember to use it.

I put off cleaning the microwave because it’s gross. It feels like a chore. But this week, I grabbed the bottle of Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle that had come in the mail through SheSpeaks, added a squirt (yes, just a single squirt) to a big bowl of water, and dipped a sponge into the mixture. In FOUR minutes, this is what my microwave looked like. It was so easy to clean it up with my Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle that I had to laugh at myself for waiting so long.

Another place in my house that I tend to ignore is my makeup counter. It’s a strange little spot in my bedroom right next to my closet – no sink, just a counter and a mirror. Between the powder and the blush and the eye shadow and the hairspray, that counter top gets covered in grime. I have tried cleaning it so many times before, but it always seems like the 30 years of build up have left it permanently stained. I’ve gotten used to it.

This morning, I decided to give Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle a try on it. Instead of diluting it in a bucket or a bowl, I squirted a little bit of Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle straight onto a sponge and scrubbed away. I got ink pen off of the bathroom counter, I cleaned the grout in the shower, and…I tackled the makeup counter. With just a few swipes of the sponge, all of the grime came right off. I was shocked at how WHITE the counter was. Yes, I am a little embarrassed by the contrast here:

In the end, after trying Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle in several different trouble spots in my house (including a few that I was not willing to photograph!), I can tell you – I will be using this stuff throughout my house, top to bottom. It’s perfect for the kitchen, the bathroom, the counters, the floors, the shower…you name it! It could only be better if it did the cleaning FOR me!

Where do YOU need a little Liquid Muscle?

Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle is available at Walmart in 16 and 30 oz. bottles for a suggested retail price of $2.74 (16 oz) and $4.97 (30 oz). You can learn more about Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle on Facebook and Twitter and Online.

Disney’s PLANES Review #DisneyPlanes

Lolli — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 05:00:02 +0000

My family and I were invited to a local screening of Disney’s PLANES earlier this week. Other than the free movie, no compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions on the movie are my own.

If you have kids (elementary school aged boys, in particular) then I’m sure you’ve been eagerly awaiting today’s release of Disney’s newest movie, Planes. I was surprised by how much my older kids, especially my 16 year old daughter, wanted to see it.

About Disney’s Planes

From above the world of “Cars” comes “Disney’s Planes,” an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing — and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps him qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar.

What I thought of Disney’s Planes:

I loved the message in Disney’s Planes…

Director Klay Hall said it well: “I think people will really relate to ‘Disney’s Planes’ because it’s a great underdog story. It has a lot of heart and a message we can all use: If we can believe in ourselves, step out of our comfort zones and get past whatever fear is holding us back, we’d be surprised with the results. And that’s exactly what happens to Dusty in this movie. He’s a crop duster who’s never flown above 1,000 feet, but he dreams of being the fastest air racer in the world. He has a lot of obstacles to overcome and needs to dig pretty deep to find the courage to become more than what he was built for.”

Disney’s Planes was fun, and certainly a kid-pleaser, but there was something about Planes that just didn’t wow me. My first mistake was to expect a Pixar-quality story. Although Planes is set in the world of Cars, unlike Cars 1 and 2 (which I thought were absolutely fantastic), Pixar was not directly involved in the making of Planes.

I have to back up and say that it almost kills me to say anything negative about this movie. The animation is stellar, the story is cute, and I know that kids will love it. Heck, my husband was laughing out loud so much during the movie that my 16 year old and I were driven to a little eye rolling. But…the script was just ok. Like I said at the beginning, the movie just didn’t wow me.

I think part of Planes’ problem is that it gets off to a slow start. I do admit that by the end of the movie I was “feeling it” more. I’m not 100% sure when the shift was for me, but Planes went from feeling like a made-for-DVD movie to a screen quality movie somewhere around the time that Dusty sets off on his race around the world. I even heard rumors that the movie started out with the intention of being released only on DVD (but I have no proof!).

I asked the rest of my family who had joined me that night what they thought of the movie, and they all replied that they enjoyed it. It was good…It was cute…But that’s about the extent of their enthusiasm. And this is coming from kids who get together with their friends on the weekend to watch Mulan (true story…high school seniors still love classic Disney!).

I’m actually eager to hear if parents of younger kids (ages 3-7, maybe?) have a different reaction to the movie. I will readily admit that I support this type of wholesome family-friendly movie much more than the typical garbage in the theaters, even when it’s not up to my personal Disney quality standards.

Should I see Disney’s Planes in 3D?

I saw Planes in 3D and while the scenery and the high-flying action was fun to watch in 3D, I think this is a safe movie to watch in 2D, especially for younger kids. There certainly wasn’t anything that you’d miss out on by skipping the 3D.

PS – be sure to check out my free Disney’s Planes Printable coloring pages and activity sheets (including FUN paper airplanes)?

Opening in Theaters: August 9, 2013
Running time: 92 min
Rated: PG for Some Mild Action, Rude Humor.
Director: Klay Hall
Cast: Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Cedric the Entertainer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, John Cleese, Carlos Alazraqui, Priyanka Chopra, Gabriel Iglesias, Roger Craig Smith, Colin Cowherd, Sinbad, Oliver Kalkofe, Brent Musburger, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer

Connect with Disney’s Planes:

Like Disney’s PLANES on Facebook

Follow Disney’s PLANES on Twitter: @DisneyPictures

Visit the Planes website: Disney.com/Planes

Tapsbook: Turn Mobile Photos Into Beautiful Photo Books

Lolli — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 18:00:04 +0000

Note: I have been compensated for my time to test and review the brand new Tapsbook app, but all opinions are solely my own.

Between my smart phone, my iPad, my Facebook account and (who could forget?!) Instagram, I have thousands of under-appreciated and often forgotten photos. There was a day not too long ago when I had shoe boxes full of photos waiting to be put into scrapbooks. In my family room, I have shelves full of scrapbooks for my children….but somehow I got out of the habit. My life (and photos, especially) became digital, and although I probably have more pictures than I used to have, there’s still something to be said for gathering them all into one place to share and enjoy.

Introducing Tapsbook:

Tapsbook is an visual storytelling iPad app that turns all those photos hiding on mobile devices, computers and social photo sharing services into organized, attractive and automatically updated virtual photo books that can be easily shared with family and friends on the iPad or on any browser.

When I checked Tapsbook out recently, I was impressed with how easy it was to add photos. With one click, I synced with Facebook, iPad, Google+ and my photos were there, auto-filled into a fun photo book format that I immediately got caught up in playing around with the settings, adding backgrounds, cropping pictures and adding captions.

Tapsbook will automatically create photo books based on the photos you add from Facebook, iPad, Google+ and Dropbox

If auto-filled photo books are not your thing, then be sure to check out Tapsbook’s option to manually add photos to a book to create your own, unique story.

If you don’t want Tapsbook to automate your photo book, then its easy to create your own unique book

Within the app, you can edit your photos, add backgrounds, captions and change layouts all with a swipe of your hands. So easy!

One thing I was most impressed about: the clear, easy-to-understand instructions for navigating the app!

Here’s a quick 2 minute video that shows what Tapsbook can do:

Tapsbook is free to download through the iTunes store and users can store up to 500 shared photos for free. If you have more photos, Tapsbook offers 4 GB of storage (about 10,000 photos) for a monthly plan of $2.99 per month or $24.99 per year. All photo books are stored securely on the Tapsbook cloud with the subscription plan. Another option: you can use your own Dropbox or Google Drive storage account and buy 1,000 photos for $1.99 or 10,000 photos for $15.99 (20% discount).

See all of the fun photo books I’ve got to play with and share?

Tapsbook officially launches on iTunes TODAY (July 31)! Remember – the app is free to download and use (but you can also upgrade for more storage).

What mobile pictures would YOU love to see in their own photo book?

Connect with Tapsbook:

Tapsbook website: https://www.tapsbook.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TapsBook
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tapsbook
Blog: https://blog.tapsbook.com/

Estroven Weight Management Giveaway

Lolli — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 19:54:38 +0000

Note: Estroven provided product for review and giveaway in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are, as always, my own.

It seems that menopause is one of those topics that most people would rather gloss over and ignore. But the fact is that, as a woman, all of us will go through menopause at some point, barring any medical reason to the contrary, and we will all go through the discomforts of a changing body, too. Rather than hide away and suffer the changes alone, I firmly believe that being upfront, unashamed, and tackling menopause head on – together – is the way to go.

While I am still on the early end of menopause, I have noticed the signs of perimenopause for several years already. I’ve noticed a drastic change in the way my body reacts – to exercise, to foods, and to hormones. Although waking up with a sweaty back every night is annoying, my most difficult change so far has been my weight gain and changing body. Sometimes I don’t even recognize my own body.

When I was contacted by Estroven recently to write about their new weight management formula, I was intrigued. I know that a big chunk of my weight issue is hormone-related (the other big chunk is, of course, the fact that I spend most of my day sitting at the computer), and I thought it was worth looking into. Here’s what I found out:

As you enter menopause, estrogen levels in your body decrease, which is why many women unexpectedly find their weight more difficult to manage and jeans more difficult to fasten. According to Dr. Shari Brasner, “Estrogen influences energy expenditure as well as food intake, and as levels of this hormone decline, processes in the body that regulate weight also change resulting in a sudden shift in weight. Those processes affected involve insulin, leptin, ghrelin, neuropeptide Y and serotonin.”

New Estroven Weight Management is specially formulated to address the physical changes associated with menopause and to deliver on its core benefit of helping perimenopausal and menopausal women manage their weight. That’s because it’s Synetrim® CQ ingredient – a proprietary, all-natural botanical extract of Cissus quadrangularis – is clinically-proven to balance declining serotonin levels.

NEW Estroven Weight Management with clinically-proven Synetrim® CQ goes beyond relieving hot flashes and night sweats to help you safely manage your weight.

Estroven Weight Management has a suggested retail price of $21.99 for 60 capsules (a 30-day supply). Download a $5 off coupon for Estroven Weight Management today!

Win a 3 month supply of Estroven Weight Management

Estroven has offered 3 boxes of Estroven Weight Management to giveaway to one Better in Bulk reader. Enter in the Rafflecopter form below – giveaway ends on July 28 (end of day) and a winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Connect with Estroven:

Website: EstrovenChangingWays.com/
Twitter: @Estroven
Facebook: Facebook.com/Estroven

VTech Connect to Cell Home Phone System

Lolli — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 20:44:51 +0000

Note: I received a VTech Connect to Cell 2-phone answering system with cordless headset to review from SheSpeaks. All thoughts and opinions included in this post are my own.

We currently have 5 cell phones in our home. One for me, two for my husband (personal and business), one for my oldest daughter who recently got her license, and one that we have nicknamed the “House Cell.” It’s been a few years since we’ve had a landline. With all of our cell phones it seemed like a natural line to drop – we certainly haven’t missed the bill…but we have missed the convenience of having a normal home phone.

Especially when the kids get phone calls on my cell phone.

As convenient and wonderful as smart phones are, they can be quite persnickety in the house. Between losing calls because you happen to be in a dead spot in the house (our dead spot is the basement) or losing the cell phone altogether because someone has set it somewhere and forgotten (when the ringer is set to silent, of course)…sometimes dealing with cell phones at home is a recipe to pull your hair out. Don’t get me started on trying to call the kids when I’m out and they’re home – they are almost always hanging out in the basement and they never, ever hear the cell phone upstairs.

And now that I have a cell phone that I actually love, I am more protective of the times that I hand it over to my kids to wander around the house to chat. My kids may be over the cover-the-phone-with-slobber phase, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to give them free-reign, either.

This past week, we got a package from VTech that solved our home phone woes.

The VTech Connect to Cell phone system is an incredible tool for families like ours. You can pair up to two cellular lines and one landline with your cordless system through Bluetooth. When your cell phone rings, the VTech home phone system rings, and you can take the call on one of the cordless handsets anywhere in the house, leaving your cell phone where you get the best reception.

Some of the other cool features of the VTech Connect to Cell phone system:

Make and receive landline and cellular calls: Connect to BLUETOOTH®-enabled cellular phones to make and receive cellular calls with the ease and comfort of a home phone system.
Download Phonebook From Cell: Store 2000 records from up to two different cell phones; no need to input names and numbers into your cordless phone system.
Virtual Multi-Line Operation: Pair up to two cellular lines and one landline with your cordless system. Then, enjoy the freedom to make and receive calls on all three lines—all at once.

Expandable: Expand your system with up to 12 devices (cordless handsets or pendants) with only one phone jack
Ringtone Share: Set your cordless phone to play your iPhone® (iOS4.1 or later) ringtone.
Eliminate cell phone dead spots at home: Just place the base unit where cellular reception is best, then enjoy the freedom to make and receive cell calls using your cordless handsets anywhere in your home.

We have been loving ours – we keep the base unit in the kitchen, where we’ve got the most family traffic, and the other handset lives in the basement, next to the WiiU and the computers. All I have to do is remember to have my bluetooth enabled and keep my phone safely with me. I love not having to worry about cellular dead spots in the house OR having my kids lose my phone in the house.

Win a VTech Connect to Cell phone system

Does this sound like something that would be helpful in your home? Enter to win a VTech Connect to Cell phone system at SheSpeaks!

How many phones does YOUR family have? Do you still have a landline phone?

Connect with VTech:

Website: vtechphones.com
Facebook page: facebook.com/VtechPhones
Twitter: @VTechPhones and Hashtag: #VTechConnect

Make it a Pizza Night with DIGIORNO Pizzeria! #DiGiornoPizzeria

Lolli — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:14:03 +0000

This is a sponsored post with DiGiorno and SheSpeaks. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 days.

5 days have passed since Summer Break officially started. 5 days and I feel like I’ve been driving kids around for half my day and splitting the other half of my time between trying to get some work done and trying to help my 4 kids who are home all day stave off boredom.

It’s not an easy task.

But I digress. This post is not about how much busier I’ve been since summer started. Actually, a week ago I was looking forward to summer vacation…to the pool and the sunshine and the extra time with my kids. We had a lot to celebrate at the end of the school year, and so we did what any typical American family would do…

We had a pizza party at home.

And I think it may have been the first time in the history of our family that my husband ate frozen pizza without a single complaint. In fact, he ate happily and reached for more.

What is so different about new pizzeria! from DIGIORNO?

DIGIORNO pizzeria! is inspired by the tastes of pizzas cooked fresh in your favorite pizzeria and feature the highest quality ingredients, no artificial flavors and a preservative-free crust.

New pizzeria! by DIGIORNO starts with a crust that’s golden crispy on the outside, soft and airy on the inside and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. The crust is topped with a new flavorful sauce made with vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic and herbs – then finished off with premium quality meats, cheeses and vegetables. This pizza offers the flavor and texture of true pizzeria-style pizza fresh baked right in your own oven.

New pizzeria! pizzas are available in four varieties that bake up hot and delicious in your oven in just over 20 minutes:

Quattro Formaggi/Four Cheese: with the perfect combination of mozzarella, fontina, parmesan and pecorino romano cheeses.
Supreme Speciale: features a blend of premium meats and vegetables including pepperoni, Italian sausage, red and green peppers and caramelized onions.
Primo Pepperoni: a family favorite and American classic, with the perfect combination of savory pepperoni and premium cheeses.
Italian Meat Trio: with a delicious combination of premium meats including pepperoni, Italian sausage and Genoa salami.

We tried Primo Pepperoni and everyone loved it and can’t wait to try the other flavors (buying more pizzeria! pizzas in on my shopping list!). Would you like to try new pizzeria! from DIGIORNO?
—>Download a pizzeria! coupon here!

What flavor would your family love the most?

Connect with DIGIORNO:

DIGIORNO online: https://www.digiorno.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/digiorno
Twitter: @DiGiornoPizza
Hashtag: #DiGiornoPizzeria

Summer Reading For Teens and Tweens: Eoin Colfer’s W.A.R.P. The Reluctant Assassin

Lolli — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:00:44 +0000

I received a review copy of Eoin Colfer’s new book, WARP: The Reluctant Assassin, but all opinions about the book expressed within this post are my own.

In less than 2 weeks, all 5 of my kids will be on summer vacation. While my oldest daughter will be busy with a summer job, the rest of the gang will be stuck in the house with me…or wherever I end up taking them for the day. While the pool is nice on a hot summer day, and movies and Wii games are fun for a while, I certainly don’t want the kids in front of the tv all day. And I can’t spend all of my work hours beside the pool.

The thing that’s worked best for me has been to leave a stack of mom-approved books for the kids. Since I know the kinds of books that capture my kids’ attention the best, I can cater my suggestions and almost guarantee that the books will catch their interests.

Eoin Colfer’s newest book, W.A.R.P. The Reluctant Assassin, is just the kind of Young Adult novel that will keep my 12 year old son and 14 year old daughter glued to its pages.

I know because I’ve been glued to the story for the last few days.

As much as I love to read, I have a hard time sticking with a book because I have so little time. So when I get engrossed in a novel, I know that my kids (who get even more distracted than I do sometimes) will love it, too.

Here’s a little about W.A.R.P….

WARP: The Reluctant Assassin

Riley, a teen orphan boy living in Victorian London, has had the misfortune of being apprenticed to Albert Garrick, an illusionist who has fallen on difficult times and now uses his unique conjuring skills to gain access to victims’ dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his reluctant apprentice along and urges him to commit his first killing. Riley is saved from having to commit the grisly act when the intended victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI’s Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP) Riley is unwittingly transported via wormhole to modern day London, followed closely by Garrick.

In modern London, Riley is helped by Chevron Savano, a nineteen-year-old FBI agent sent to London as punishment after a disastrous undercover, anti-terrorist operation in Los Angeles. Together Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered by his trip through the wormhole. Garrick is now not only evil, but he also possesses all of the scientist’s knowledge. He is determined to track Riley down and use the timekey in Chevie’s possession to make his way back to Victorian London where he can literally change the world.

Who should read W.A.R.P.: The Reluctant Assassin? I definitely think that the recommended ages of 12 and up are most appropriate for this book, especially teens and tweens who love Sci-fi. While the writing style is not too difficult for an advanced younger reader, I might worry about some of the content for younger kids. Don’t worry – there is no inappropriate language or sex in the book – but there is quite a bit of killing by the fairly scary bad guy, Garrick.

I’m excited for the series to continue (yes, this is the first in Colfer’s new W.A.R.P. series!). And judging by the success of Eoin Colfer’s last series for young adult readers (Artemis Fowl) this one is going to be very popular!

You can check out W.A.R.P.: The Reluctant Assassin on Amazon.com or download the kindle version. (PS – if you buy the book through my link, I’ll get a couple of pennies…)

Sleepocalypse? I’m Taking the #BetterSleep Challenge

Lolli — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:01:35 +0000

This post has been sponsored by the Better Sleep Council, in the form of a new bed (yay!). No monetary compensation has been received and, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Did you know that May is Better Sleep Month? Now, that is a holiday I can truly embrace. When was the last time you got consistently good sleep, where you slept sufficient hours at night and woke up refreshed and not sore or tired?

I’m guessing that the last time I had consistently good sleep and enough of it was when I was a child. As a teen, I stayed up late doing homework and woke up extra early to go to a before-school religion class. Then I was off to college (does anyone get enough sleep in college?) and soon on to married life while still living the college life. I went straight from college to being a mom, and everyone knows that moms with babies don’t get enough sleep.

My babies are grown enough now that I technically don’t have a good excuse for not getting enough sleep, other than the fact that I have developed a habit and fallen into a rut. This month I took a sleep survey, answering some basic questions about my sleep environment and habits – and I was both ashamed at times and surprised by some of my answers. Here are a few of the points from the sleep survey (and a few “better sleep red flags”) that stood out to me…

My sleep habits and environment:

I go to sleep around 11:30 pm each night – sometimes later, but rarely any earlier. I wake up at 5:50 am 5 days a week and sleep in until 8 or 9:00 am on the weekends.
I work in my room. I know that having my bed right next to my work desk/computer is a big no-no, but I don’t have another room to put my office.
Some of my most productive work is at night, after 9:30 (ie, after the kids have gone to bed). While I am often tired after dinner, I get a boost of energy and motivation because I am so productive in the evening hours. I have a hard time shutting my brain down for the night.
I keep my iPad and cell phone on my nightstand at night. Checking emails and statuses are usually the last AND the first things I do each day.
I’ve got chargers and an alarm clock that all let off blue or green lights in my room.
I like sleeping with the windows open and often have nature and street noises and lights coming in through my windows (have you ever noticed how bright the moon is?).
I prefer sleeping with some kind of white noise (fan, humidifier, or sound machine). Silence makes my mind go to over-time AND I notice the snoring more. Yes, there’s snoring, too.

The result? I am often tired. I crave naps and hit a wall in the afternoon where I am not productive in my work at all. I don’t exercise enough (I’d rather sleep when I really should be going to the gym).

Within the next week, I’ll be receiving a plan with personalized feedback about my sleep habits from registered nurse and sleep health and wellness professional, Terry Cralle. I admit that I’m a little scared to hear what she has to say about my bedtime routine, my lack of hours in bed, and especially about my bedroom home office space.

As hard as it is to make changes, though, I do recognize that a comfortable and restful night’s sleep (that includes plenty of solid hours in bed) makes a huge difference in productivity, mood and over-all health. When I do, on occasion, get enough sleep, I have more energy and use my time more efficiently. While I know that this is the case, it’s still hard to make changes in my routine. I know I’m not alone in this!

Shopping for a new mattress

About a week ago, we headed out to a local Sleepy’s location to pick out the perfect mattress. The Sleepy’s employee who guided us to the right mattress was so helpful. We started out by taking their Bed Match “test” which helped the Sleepy’s mattress professional find the right kinds of mattresses to show us. In selecting a mattress, she said there are a few basic questions to kick off your search. First, what size mattress? Then, what type of mattress (spring, foam, air, combos)? And, lastly, what sort of mattress top (pillow top, plush, Euro top)?

I am personally drawn to pillow top mattresses (our helper described my preference as “marshmallow beds”). She had us lay on several mattresses for several minutes each, and she pointed out that typically when a customer has found the right bed, she knows it before they do because she can sense it in their face and body language. When you find a bed that fits your body and sleeping preferences, your body instantly relaxes.

Making the final decision was not easy, but Sleepy’s was incredibly helpful in coming to our final choice.

I’m hoping that implementing the personalized tips and suggestions from the Sleep Professional along with the better sleep from sleeping on a new mattress will transform my sleep. I’ll be reporting back in a few weeks to let you know how it has been going.

About The Better Sleep Council

Established in 1979, the Better Sleep Council (BSC) is a non-profit organization supported by the mattress industry. The BSC is devoted to educating the public about the importance of sleep to good health and quality of life and about the value of the mattress and sleep environment in pursuit of a good night’s sleep.

Often, people will make everything else a priority before sleep, but sleep on a quality mattress is quite literally the foundation to be at our best each and every day. It is the BSC’s goal to “wake up” the world, and awaken them to the importance of sleeping 7-8 hours on a comfortable, supportive mattress. We all know how it feels after a bad night’s rest, and conversely, how we feel after sleeping great!

Connect with The Better Sleep Council:

Visit the Better Sleep Council website for a ton of better-sleep tips, quizzes, and resources
Facebook Page: facebook.com/BetterSleepCouncilOrg
Twitter: @sleepocalypse

Win a free mattress for Better Sleep Month!

Be sure to enter the Sleepocalypse Sweepstakes. The prize is something you do not want to miss – a $2000 gift card to purchase a new bed! The sweepstakes runs through June 1, 2013.