Owww!  I’m definitely feeling it.

Day 1 – I walked for 30 minutes.

Day 2 – I walked for about an hour.

Day 3 – I walked for about 30 minutes.

WHILE I’m walking, I’m incredibly comfortable.  In fact, it’s almost like the shoes propel me forward.  I’ve learned to use caution as I practice going down steps.  I haven’t fallen yet, but a word to the already-clumsy, use the hand-rails!

So far, I’m feeling it on the front of my thighs and calves, mostly.  –Actually, my thighs have been screaming at me every time I try to sit or lower myself to munchkin-level (so I can talk eye-to-eye to my kids).

(More updates to come!)

Welcome back!

What if you could burn extra calories and tone more efficiently by doing the things you already do – would you do it?

I certainly would!

For the past few months, I’ve heard and seen an influx of advertisements about “shoes that tone” – and, after a lot of searching online, I still didn’t know if they REALLY worked.  I mean, I’d found where people had “reviewed” them and talked about their supposed technology and lab studies, but I couldn’t find any personal in-depth reviews or testimonies.

So, I figured I’d do it myself.

And, here we are.

Today, I received these:

And, in the spirit of full disclosure and honesty, I will tell you that I’m not a big fan of “bulky” shoes.  BUT, after reading the information I had available, I chose these because they had the highest fat-burning score on the Skecher’s website.

The folks at Skecher’s so kindly gave me a choice as to which style I’d like, and from there, I crafted a plan for the ultimate review.

I plan to wear these shoes for 30 days – with the exception of showering and sleeping – and will report back with my findings on how I feel, changes I’ve noticed, etc.

I’ll be updating at the following intervals:

1 day (today)

3 days

7 days

2 weeks

3 weeks

4 weeks

Pretty cool, right?

Day One -

I laced up my new Skechers and wow!  I love the way they feel.  I definitely like them better on better than the photograph online!

I’m pretty amazed at how walking actually seemed a little easier.  I was only able to wear them for about 45 minutes, but could feel a little “extra stretch” and loved how it felt to walk.  These shoes are actually more comfortable than my others (something I’m pretty surprised about)!

I’m pretty curious to see if I’ll be sore in the morning…  (but looking forward to putting them on again.)

DISCLAIMER:  I received free product for this review, however the product (shoes) were not compensation, they are merely necessary so that I may give an honest and complete review.  As always, the opinions contained herein are mine and will continue to be so. 

From the flowing princess dresses to the tiny tiaras fit for little girls’ heads, princesses are everywhere.  And while all women are princesses in their own right (daughters of a high King, God), sometimes the story we take away is that:

-We will meet a perfect man.
- Our life will include horses and sunsets …and then riding off with said perfect man on said horse into said sunset.
- And then we’ll live happily ever after.

But, that’s rarely the way it happens.  As princesses (and men of God), we aren’t really called to live lives of ease and grandeur.  Most of the time, life can be incredibly messy…and sometimes, it’s hard.  And, the only time we get to “live” happily ever after is when we’re dead.  Heaven.

See?  Most stories about princesses are lovely…but not really accurate.

We recently received a copy of the My Princess Bible to review, and I’m really excited for this to be on our shelf for reading.  Lorelei tends to dance around and prance about, arms flowing in the air, pretending she’s a princess…but this book tells her what being a princess (daughter of God) is truly about.  And for me, nothing is more precious than that.

Also, it’s a board book, so if Aurora (my 1 year old) grabs it, it’s safe!!  It gently takes stories about women from the Bible and tells why they were princesses and relates to our daughters a lesson (i.e. A princess is happy to be a good helper (Miriam from Exodus 2:1-10).  It also provides the verse, so if your child is older, it’d be a great lesson to refer back to their bible and let them read the story and tie everything together.  It’d be great as a “Princess” Bible Study for slightly older kids, but is GREAT as a stand-alone book for my 1 and 3 year old.

This book will definitely be read a lot here!

You can get yours here.

**Note.  I did receive this product in exchange for a review, but as always my reviews and opinions are mine and in no way swayed by anyone else.

I get to “test” and “review” a lot of products for this blog, and every once in a while I come across some that are ingenious – products that I think everyone should have in their “just in case drawers.”

So,when I was sent these Perfect Fit Buttons, I knew they’d come in handy.  The picture above shows how they can come in handy when you’ve gained weight, but I’ve thought of even more uses for this great little invention – a “snap-on” button that simply pokes through your pants and has a back cover to keep it on…

Everyone can use the Perfect Fit Button:

• You’re pregnant but not “pregnant enough” to wear maternity clothes just yet.  Or, your budget just doesn’t agree.
• You lost a lot of weight but your bank account doesn’t feel all that celebratory in buying you a whole new wardrobe.
• You’re 5 minutes late and the dress pants you just put on has a missing button (actually, it’s not missing because you know where it is.  On the floor.)
• Your daughter has NO hips (she’s 5) and you aren’t really buying into the whole “saggy pants” look.  Sometimes elastic pants just aren’t appropriate, but the “button” pants are never tight enough if you don’t want her wearing “high waters”.
• It’s “that time of the month” and even your “fat pants” feel a little snug…
• It’s not your time of the month and your “fat pants” still feel a little snug…
• You just like having random buttons on your clothing.
• Your idea of “sewing” often equates to using a stapler.

See?  Perfect!  The buttons come in 4 colors – silver (for jeans), brown, khaki, and black.  You simply poke them through, slip the back on, and cover with your belt or shirt.  How easy is that?

You can buy it HERE.

Now, somebody just needs to invent a Mary Poppins style handbag so I can keep it all of my “necessities” on hand

Want to try Perfect Fit Button for FREE?  They’ve agreed to send one of our readers a free pack!  To enter to win, simply leave a comment on this post (be sure you link it with your email address so I can contact you!)  I’ll pick a winner at the end of this week.

My husband rocks the grill.  It’s not really a secret – he’s great at it and nobody minds eating his cooking.  Ever.

And, while my cooking skills are pretty good too, he definitely has me beat with the whole “grilling” thing.  Yeh, I don’t grill.  Something about little shooty-darty-flames and my attachment to my eyebrows.  Or, maybe it’s just because I recognize that I like catching marshmallows on FIRE for my s’mores so me cooking other food over an open fire might result in… flame throwers.

I digress.

Anyhow, he’s great at grilling.  And, I happen to know a few of his secrets:

Seasoned salt.  Worcestershire sauce.  And, a really bad-A apron.

Yep, that about covers it.

We really like Morton Season All Seasoned Salt… ESPECIALLY with THIS COUPON.  And, the rest basically goes like this:

SUPER AWESOME BURGERS

Mix 1 lb ground beef, 1 tsp Morton Season All Seasoned Salt, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper in a bowl.  Divide and pat out into patties.

Grill.

Serve.

Walk around like the awesomeness that you are as everyone inhales your burgers and wish they were you.

You can see more recipes for the Morton Salt Season-All Salt here.

And, if you’re really bored, you can see photos of our shopping trip for Season All Salt on Whrrl.

This was a compensated post for Collective Bias on behalf of Morton Salt. However, this is an honest and accurate depiction of what I think about this product and was not influenced by the compensation.

It all began with a simple Facebook status update:

“Is seriously thinking about packing some bags and running away (kids included) for a couple of weeks.”

Which, suddenly became the beginning of a very impromptu road trip.

To Michigan.

With 5 kids between 2 mothers and all of our stuff crammed into one minivan.

For 12 hours straight.

In ONE day, we decided that not only would we go, but we would leave at 5:30 AM THE. NEXT. MORNING.

For the kids (all 5 and under), we packed toys, books, and snacks.

For us ( mothers)… I packed this:

–A boxed set of cards made specifically for ROAD TRIPS!  In each snazzy box are cards with thought provoking questions, trivia, and games to play while on the road.  So, after a few hours straight of catching up and talking, we were both ready to go through the box for a change of pace.

The Box Girls ingeniously designs this box (and others) to provide hours of fun, no matter where you are – and it definitely gave us a little something to do on our trek TO Michigan.  While our kids didn’t play along this time (because we had a hard enough time explaining that YES, WE ARE STILL GOING TO MICHIGAN BUT WE REALLY DO HAVE TO STOP REAL QUICK TO GET GAS/GO THROUGH TOLL BOOTHS/ETC), it’s a great deck to play with kids approximately ages 8 and up (although I know a few kids that are younger and would get the gist of the games and questions).

If you’d like to check it out for yourself (or are just curious as to what it’s all about and would like to see some sample cards), you can go HERE.
Pictures of trip to come

Here are some lovely things people have had to say about Simply Fun – A Collection Of Simply Fun Activities For 2-3 Year Olds (ebook):

You can buy your copy HERE.

“Thank you so much for sending it to me!  We printed it last night and I have already begun to mark activities I want to do with our 2 1/2 year old.  As a former kindergarten teacher (now SAHM) I love finding things that are educational and promote memory making with my kids.  It looks great!”   – Melissa

“I love the book its amazing. My family and I are enjoying the various activities. “  – Latanya

“Thank you so much for sending your Simply Fun Ebook.  Liv is a little young for the activities yet, but I enjoyed reading it and can’t wait until I can try out some of the fun idea.”  – Carrie

“Thank you so much for this ebook!  I love that the ideas are so easy and use everyday, inexpensive materials.”  – Charity

“Thanks so much for that Ashley. What a great collection of ideas you’ve put together. My little one is only 10 months old, but I’ve put it in my parenting folder for when she’s a bit older. It’s so great to get ideas from other mums, because so often I just come up blank!  Cheers!”   – Emma

I’ve been trying to pour my energy into something … productive.

SIMPLY FUN – A collection of simply fun activities for your 2-3 year old

LINK HERE.

And, with that said, I’m giving away FREE COPIES to the first 30 people anyone who responds to this by comment or email (today only).  (Although, if you don’t get in with the first 30, you can still buy your own copy for only $2!)

UPDATE:  Due to the GREAT and quick response, I will be giving away FREE copies of this ebook to anyone who responds today, by midnight CST.  (Although, please give me a bit to get it to you – like, between nap times and such – since I’m sending these out individually!)

UPDATE 2:  This giveaway is now CLOSED.  If you would still like to receive a copy, they are available for purchase at only $2!  Those who purchase ebooks should receive them almost immediately.  If you are waiting on your free ebook from the giveaway, please be patient.  I’m sending them out in manageable clusters during my breaks and have sent out approximately 200 so far.  If you absolutely can’t wait, you can get your copy immediately for only $2

As I sit here, nestled into the corner of my porch swing with a glass of iced raspberry tea, I imagine what I hope my life to look like in the next few years as we scramble to “start over” in so many ways.

Images float through my consciousness to the tinkling of wind chimes in the background.  I imagine a charming white home, filled with unique little touches that would leave no need for a name plaque, because it would so obviously be ours.  I imagine a collection of acreage, gently rolling with lush shades of green and speckled with wildflowers, gently dancing in the breeze.  I imagine a handful of chickens, maybe a few goats, and a few other random “farm” animals.  I imagine a small garden, lush with color and a basket at the edge filled with pickings for that night’s dinner.  I imagine a swing hanging from a tree nearby, where the girls are laughing and giggling as we try our best to swing them “Higher, higher!”  I imagine a garden tub where I can escape to worlds of fantasy in my very own thoughts while Steven works on a website that’s been gnawing at his imagination.

I imagine.

But, then I pause and wonder if that’s all it is.  I wonder if I’ll have a place to call my own again, or if our chance has already come and gone.

Recently, while browsing a website, I came across a book titled Be Your Own House Contractor by Carl Heldmann.  They offered to send me a copy to review, and after pondering the idea for a moment, I took it.  I realized that while the book may not be anything I’d use in the near future (unless I can construct a house with a hot glue gun and some lace), it would definitely appeal to a wide range of readers.

I thumb through the pages again and again, and suddenly the dream of my own home doesn’t feel so far away any more.

According to this book, you can save 25% on the cost of a house without lifting a hammer.  (Okay, now you have my attention.  Have you SEEN my nail-driving attempts?  Not pretty.)

In Be Your Own House Contractor, Carl Heldmann takes you through the steps, step-by-step – From where to start to financing to finding your suppliers.  It makes me excited again.  It’s an easy read – no technicalities that non-construction folk wouldn’t understand.  And, while it doesn’t go into detail with house plans, it DOES offer diagrams and lists and other resources that would definitely come in handy.  I love that it offers advice, things to look for, when hiring subcontractors so you can avoid being hoodwinked.  It’s always good to have an idea of what’s going on, even when you don’t know EXACTLY what’s going on.

I’ve seen the books that promise to tell you how to build your own home on a dime.  And, for obvious reasons, I find myself being drawn to those books, but they loose me soon after the front page so often.  Many times, they are filled with information in a language that seems like if you can understand the language, you probably didn’t need the book in the first place!  This book, though, it doesn’t stress me out.

No, it makes me just want to kick my feet up and keep dreaming of the possibilities…

Recently, I received a great book, Raw Energy by Stephanie Tourles. As spring approaches, I find myself looking forward more and more to fresh fruits and vegetables and how we can incorporate them into our daily diet. Unfortunately, when it comes down to daily eating, I tend to come up blank with ideas. The thought of carrot sticks and peanut butter and celery with ranch tend to lose their luster after a week straight of snacking on them. My family is constantly looking for fun, new ideas for fresh foods.

In Tourles’ book, she admits that although she doesn’t incorporate a fully raw diet (think: meats), she does believe there is something great about consuming fresh snacks – fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. And, with full-color pictures, she demonstrates how to make 124 different snacks that are sure to quench any particular craving one might have.

The idea is that by cooking many of our nutrient-rich foods, we destroy many of the nutrients that make them so great. Tourles believes that while some heating (up to 120 degrees Farenheit) is okay, other should be avoided as much as possible (like, for snacking).

For me, my biggest weakness (when it comes to foods) are sweets. Actually, it’s the “dessert” section of the menu that I look at first when going out to eat!

So, I was incredibly excited that Stephanie Tourles included healthy raw desserts in her book. So far, my favorite “dessert” is a rich chocolate treat made with raw cocoa, agave nectar, raw pecans, and raw cashew butter. So yummy!

Other great recipes include smoothies and juices, cold soups, dehydrated goods, and other appetizers and desserts.

I really recommend this book to anyone who is considering a “healthy lifestyle.” This book is NOT a cookbook that includes any sort of raw meats – it’s mostly raw fruits, vegetables, grains, and nut butters. It’s a great way to get out of the “raw carrot and peanut butter” rut that many of us fall into and I look forward using it throughout the summer as more and more foods come into season.

*DISCLOSURE: As with all of my reviews, this review reflects my honest opinions and thoughts.  Review material was supplied by author/company in return for my honest review*