CONGRATULATIONS to Our Panera Bread Gift Card Winner!
The name has been drawn for the giveaway!
CONGRATULATIONS to
Elena
for winning a
Panera Bread Gift Card!
Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!
An email has been sent to you with more information*
Enjoy your next trip to Panera Bread!
Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway (the next giveaway will be announced later this morning)!
*Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced. Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize. The actual gift card may or may not be identical to the one pictured above.
Travel & Vacation: Spending Time with Our Family
Someone’s looking pretty chipper first thing in the morning. Karlie loved that her bunk bed was above ours so she would lean over when she woke up to see if we were awake yet. Most days she was up at 6 am and ready to go!
We most of the day in Jamaica but later that afternoon and evening we had fun on the boat. It was a more relaxing day, we played cards by the pool while the kids swam, talked, walked around, did activities, and went to the Love & Marriage show after the kids were in bed for the night.
Relaxing and playing cards with Josh, Dad, Mom, Lee, and Jake on the pool deck while the kids were swimming. The girls realized we were by the “Sprinkles” ice cream machine playing cards and stopped swimming long enough to have an ice cream cone.
Karlie on a mission!
Brina pushing Nicko in the stroller down the hallway
A guy from the table next to us brought over glow sticks for the kids. Nicko loved his!
Sweet Karlie girl
Brina enjoying her dessert
Eeek! There’s a bat in our room! The girls reassured me that it was okay because the bat was really just a folded towel. They thought it was pretty cool!
The Royal Promenade was all lit up at night. It looked beautiful. This is one end of it. It had stores and restaurants on the main level and room balconies overlooking too. They head a couple different dances, parades, and various activities at night in this area too.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Dinner and A Show
Brina listening intently to the conversation…completely forgetting that it is not ladylike to put her knees up on the table!
We spent the day heading over to Grand Cayman, exploring the island, taking a boat ride out to swim with the stingrays and snorkeling. After we were back on the ship for the night we went to the Family Arcade Night, ate dinner, and went to the evening show before officially crashing for the day. It was a fun day packed full of wonderful memories for the entire family!
It was a super fun filled day. Karlie crashed for a power nap in her seat at dinner. Although she did perk up again when they brought the dessert menus around. 🙂
Happy Birthday to my little brother Josh! It was great getting a chance to celebrate with him this year. Earlier that day we went swimming with the stingrays so that’s not something we get to do everyday!
Nicko enjoying his dessert, a chocolate chip cookie. Watch out for Cookie Monster!
Karlie all smiles and now awake!
Nicko decided to try and pick all the chocolate chips out of the chocolate chip cookies. Too funny!
Daddy and his girls heading to the show!
They got front row balcony seats with the birthday boy – Uncle Josh
Travel & Vacation: Adventure Ocean’s Family Arcade Night
Found a fun one to play together!
Earlier today we were able to take a ferry off the boat to visit Grand Cayman Island, explored the island, took a chartered boat ride, swam with the stingrays, and snorkeled. When we got back to the boat later that day we had fun with all the activities on the ship. The older four kids really enjoyed the time they spent at the Adventure Ocean’s club specifically for kids their age. Normally, when we took the kids to the club activities you had to walk through a room full of arcade games (which you had to pay to play).
Tonight they had Family Arcade Night and all the games were free. Yippee! Since the girls had been wanting to play a few of the games we figured it would be a fun activity for them. They had a blast playing the games both by themselves and even a few together. It was a lot of fun having the girls with us on the cruise this year. We were able to do some different activities that we had never participated in while on other cruises. Little activities like this were a lot of fun for the kids and parents both!
Brina concentrating on her game
Look OUT Karlie!
Brina Bee playing a racing game now!
Karlie is concentrating hard and Brina looks concerned (maybe Karlie is about to crash!)
Daddy and Brina playing a game together!
Teamwork!
This one just makes me laugh! Brina and Karlie playing an arcade game together.
Travel & Vacation: Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas
Our ship was the biggest one that stopped at Grand Cayman today
We have been on three Royal Caribbean ships in the past few years. The Independence of the Seas is the biggest one that we have been on. I didn’t realize how big it was until we stopped at Grand Cayman next to several other boats and ours was the biggest one. The girls enjoyed looking at the other boats too, they spotted a Disney one as well as one that had a face. Since we couldn’t dock directly at the Grand Cayman Island we took a ferry over which gave us a chance to look at all the other neat boats that day.
Look Mickey Mouse is in the Grand Cayman Islands! The Disney ship was right next to us when we stopped for the day. It was smaller than our boat, but they did have a pretty neat horn (instead of a horn it played Disney music).
That circular piece in the top left of the picture is actually a hot tub hanging out over the ocean. Yes, when we were in it I was thinking about how far it would be if we dropped!
We were in a water taxi looking up at the boat. You can see how little the people look on the balconies. The yellow items are the life boats. Thankfully we never had to use one!
Our big boat – Independence of the Seas
A view as we are leaving the boat and heading to Grand Cayman. The little ferry boat beside ours holds 200 people and it looks so tiny.
Passing in front of the boat, I wouldn’t want to get in its way if it was moving!
The girls thought this boat was pretty funny next to us at port because it has a face. The eyes and lips are awesome!
A view of our boat next to the Disney one from Grand Cayman’s shoreline.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Save A Lot: Deals for the week of February 27 – March 5, 2013
The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience. It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!
Meat and Seafood
Sugardale Shank Portion Ham – $0.99 lb
Boneless Sirloin Chops – $1.89 lb
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – $1.99 lb
Boneless Beef Chuck Roast – $2.99 lb
Sugardale Center Cut Bone-In Ham – $2.49 lb
Chuck Steaks – $3.99 lb
Shaner’s Boneless Chicken Breasts or Tenders (2.5 – 3 pounds) – $5.99
Hillshire Farms Beef, Smoked or Polska Sausage (12 oz) – $1.99
*Pick 5 for $19.99 promotion on going! Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts or types of meats, vegetables and more.
Fridge and Freezer
Fairgrounds Sliced Lunch Meat (14 oz) – $2.99
Fairgrounds Hot Dogs or Bolgna (12 – 16 oz) – $1.29
Imperial Spread Quarters (16 oz) – $0.99
Colburn Farms Sour Cream (16 oz) – $1.49
Produce
Green Cabbage – $0.39 lb
Bananas – $0.49 lb
Vine Ripe Tomatoes (6 pack) – $1.99
Russet Potatoes (15 pounds) – $3.99
Grocery
General Mills Cereals, Assorted Varieties (11 – 12 oz) – $1.99
Use $1.00/3 coupon from insert 2/3 Smart Source (Expires 3/30/13)
$1.66 each after couponFolgers Country Roast Coffee (34.5 oz) – $6.99
Kaskey’s Cream of Mushroom Soup (10.5 oz) – $0.79
Ginger Evans Granulated Sugar (4 pounds) – $2.29
Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix – $0.49
Payaso Vanilla Wafers (28 oz) – $1.99
White Lilly Flour (5 pounds) – $2.69
Crisco Oil (40 oz) – $2.99
Ginger Evans Chocolate or Vanilla Instant Pudding – $0.55
Libby’s Pineapple (20 oz) – $0.99
Coburn Farms Evaporated Milk (12 oz) – $0.89
Duke’s Mayonnaise (32 oz) – $3.49
Sunny Delight (40 oz) – $0.99
Portmann’s Dressing (16 oz) – $1.69
Wylwood Canned Vegetables (14 – 15 oz) – $0.59
So Cheesy Mac & Cheese (7.25 oz) – $0.39
Save A Lot Today Soda (12 pack – 12 oz cans) – $2.89
Crystal 2.0 Purified Drinking Water (24 pack, 16.9 oz each) – $2.99
J Higgs Potato Chips (10 oz) – $1.69
J Higgs Saltines (16 oz) – $0.99
Kiggins Big Bag Cereals – $2.99
Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals! Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends. For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here. If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list. Please make sure to check with your local Save A Lot store, the ads do vary per region.
Bouquet of Fresh Flowers
Bouquet of flowers from my girls
My girls know how to warm my heart. Last week we spent some time with extended family in Vermont. Jake’s grandpa has a green thumb and when we first moved into our house he brought down some of his iris bulbs from his garden. Every year the girls pick some of PopPop’s flowers and bring them inside to make a fresh bouquet for a counter top. Here is a picture of one of the bouquets they brought to me a few months ago. Thankful for my girls and their little tokens of their appreciation that brightened my day. Grateful for Grandpa for sharing his beautiful flowers so we can enjoy them every year.
Review: L’Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream
I was thrilled to hear that SheSpeaks teamed up with L’Oréal and they were sending me a tube of their L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream to try! It is available in four shades (Deep, Fair, Light, and Medium). I received a tube of the light L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream.
“L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream gives the sheer coverage needed to create a natural bare skin finish, while delivering built-in skincare benefits. With four beautifying actions, this all-in-one innovation primes and smoothes, perfects to hide flaws, hydrates all-day, and corrects and evens skin. The product is infused with skincare ingredients like Panthenol, Vitamin E and Glycerin for 24-hour moisturization.”
- Enhances skin’s 6 dimensions of flawless skin in 1 magic BB (BB stands for Beautifying Beads)
- Encapsulated pigments self-adjust to skin to unify and blend perfectly
- Ultra-light and hydrating for weightless, blends completely in with skin for an invisible coverage
- Micro-infuses your skin with continuous and complete care
To apply, simply dot on and blend with fingertips or a cosmetic sponge. L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream’s self-adjusting beads will instantly transform and blend to your skin tone.
The first time I used L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream I was surprised when it came out white. The little Beautifying Beads (BB) really do transform when you rub them onto your skin to match your skin tone. It does seem to stay on better and moisturizes my skin while not making it oily. The cream is very light weight (almost like your not wearing anything) and it didn’t take very much to do my entire face. I have worn it alone and with a touch of my mineral powder foundation.
I would like to see them add sunscreen to it (if possible). If you are planning on being out in the sun you should probably put on sunscreen first and let it soak in before applying the L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream. The other thing that could have been better for me was that the shade I received was slightly darker than the foundation I was wearing previously, but it wasn’t too dark I couldn’t wear it.
You can learn more about L’Oreal Paris Magic BB Cream by joining their Twitter Party this week! You might even win some awesome prizes like L’Oreal Paris Beauty Baskets and a $250 Target Gift Card!
When: Thursday, March 7 at 9PM ET
Where: Twitter – follow hashtag #MagicBBCream
Tweet Grid: http://bit.ly/TwZyJS
Hosts: @LOrealParisUSA and @SheSpeaksUpYou can find L’Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream at retailers nationwide like Walmart, K Mart, Rite Aid and CVS or online at places like Amazon.
As a member of the SheSpeaks Blogger Society, I was given samples of this product to write an informed review. The opinions expressed in this post are my own. I was not paid to write this post. A special thanks to SheSpeaks and L’Oreal for providing the samples to review!
You Loved Me First by Mikeschair
Was it my broken heart that led me straight to You?
Was it your broken hands that I cannot refuse?
Was it my emptiness or was it Your empty tune?
That pointed me home, pointed me home to YouI should’ve known all along, You’re the one who loved me first
And if I had to save myself, this never would’ve worked
I wouldn’t be in Your arms, I wouldn’t know where to start
But You gave Your life to prove to me what I was worth
You loved me firstYou were pursuing me before the world began
Before there was anything I was in Your plan
What did You see in me? How we understand
The depth of your grace, God, I’m amazed, God, I’m amazedIntentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week we spent some time in Vermont with Jake’s family. The girls had a blast building a fort, sledding in the snow, playing games, doing puzzles and many more fun activities during our time up North. Now that we are back home again hopefully we’ll get back into the normal schedule soon.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls- Read Imagination Station: Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering – haven’t started reading this one yet
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesPlan one special Activity with the FamilyPrepare for the Girls BirthdaySpend Extra Time with Extended Family
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – with the traveling I wasn’t able to get in all 5 days
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayStart with my new YouVersion plan(s)– staying up to date- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – was able to get some of it read this past week
- Finish reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan- going through this book with a group of friends
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – it took me more than one day with work and all the other activities this week
Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attentionWork completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group EmailEmail a meeting reminder for Alms & Legs Ministry Team meeting
Financial Goals
For my January Grocery Budget I am replacing my typical Groceries $40 for 4 with my Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping in order to use up some extra items in my fridge, freezer, and pantry.- Payoff the Van- working on it
- Pay medical bills in full – making payments
- Complete 2012 Taxes – got started
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls
- Read Imagination Station: Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Prepare for the Girls Birthday
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Start with my new YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan- going through this book with a group of friends
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
- Email a meeting notes for Alms & Legs Ministry Team meeting
Financial Goals
- For my January Grocery Budget I am replacing my typical Groceries $40 for 4 with my Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping in order to use up some extra items in my fridge, freezer, and pantry.
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
- Complete 2012 Taxes
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
