So Long! Farewell!

A LOT has been happening in my world lately. Job change. Selling our house. Getting ready to build a house. All of which is exciting...but time consuming.

With all the change, I just haven't had the time to devote to the blog AT ALL. And, unfortunately, I don't think it's going to get any better anytime soon.

SO...I'm saying farewell for now. Maybe in the future I'll be able to devote time to a blog and do it right. But right now, my energies have to be focused elsewhere.

My best to you all! And don't forget, to keep it real. :)

Recipe Round-up: Part 1

This week, a co-worker asked for some help finding some quick and easy recipes. Here's a few of my favorites I've gathered from Allrecipes, Hunt's, Southern Living and Kraft.

Frogmore Stew
A spicy combo of potatoes, sausage, shrimp and corn.

Baked Ziti 1
Fancier than spaghetti. Easier than lasagna.

Beefy Skillet Ravioli
Nice and cheesy. (Note: I use frozen ravioli instead of refrigerated.)

Pizza Spaghetti Casserole
Two of my favorite dishes combined into one.

Easy Italian Stew
Hearty mix of Italian sausage, pasta and beans.

Bacon, Cheese and Potato Chowder
Potato soup made soooooo easy with only a handful of ingredients.

Easy Bistro Chicken
Quick and kinda fancy with mushrooms, tomatoes and cheese.

Quit Wasting Your Money

Even if the economy hadn't hit the skids, moms (and dads, too) would still be looking for ways to save money. I think it's just part of being a parent.

A household budget is truly a juggling act and trying to make sure all the family's needs are met is no easy task. (Well, maybe it's easy if you're making megabucks. But I'm not in the same tax bracket as the Monopoly guy, so I can't really speak to that!)

That's why I really liked this Yahoo! Finance article I read today: 20 Ways to Waste Your Money.

If you've ever searched the Net for tips on saving money, I'm sure most of the 20 will sound familiar. (I just put "tips for saving money" into Google and got 37,400,000 results. So a little duplication is to be expected.) But there were a few things in here I hadn't heard before, like:

Save electricity with a Smart Power Strip. Even when all the cool tech stuff in your house is turned off, it still draws power. This handy device helps save you money by not drawing power when the devices plugged into it are off. Pretty cool, huh! This would definitely be great for flat-screen TVs, DVRs, satellite receivers, cell phone chargers or computers.

Don't buy on impulse. The article's author, Erin Burt of Kiplinger.com, suggests giving yourself a cooling-off period before making an impulse purchase. If you're still convinced you need the item a couple of days later, then buy it. Just make sure you do your comparison shopping first!

Those are just a few of the tips that spoke to me. Maybe one of the other 18 will speak to you. Because even one juicy money-saving nugget can be the catalyst to a little financial peace of mind.

Why I Love Being A Mom

After picking up my little one from day care today, the conversation went something like this:

Little One: "Mommy, you know why I had a good day today?"

Me: "No, baby. Why?"

Little One (as loud as she could): "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!"

And that's why I love being a mom.

Stay Polished with Love Letters

As you can tell from my lack of posts, the summer keeps me real busy. So busy, in fact, staying one step ahead of my pedicure becomes nearly impossible.

And that’s not good, because unpolished toes and open-toed shoes are a big no-no in my book.

That’s why I love NYC’s Love Letters. A pale pink shade, it goes on quickly without the need for a lot of touch up. (Unlike my fav dark color, Broadway Burgundy, that I blogged about earlier this year.)

Plus when it’s paired with solid base and top coats, the color stays put for about two weeks.

Add to that the fact that it 1) costs about a buck and 2) can be found at my local Wal-Mart and, well, it’s impossible not to adore it.

For me NYC is quickly becoming my go-to polish brand. Gasp! I know. I’m straying from the salon staple O-P-I.

But the colors I’ve tried have stayed pretty true from bottle to nail. The price is reasonable. And it’s so easy to find. (Don’t worry! I still splurge on O-P-I for gifts. So I’m not giving up the “good stuff” completely.)

So if you’re looking for a quick, easy way to stay polished, try NYC’s Love Letters. I think you’ll be tickled pink.