Holiday Ready with Glade and Ziploc Holiday Collections

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Niche Parent Network. I am a Kmart SC Johnson blogger, though all opinions are my own.

One thing you can count on during the holidays are visits from friends and family.  My first thoughts is, does my house smell inviting?  My second thought is food.  With Glade®  Winter Collection and Ziploc® Brand Holiday Collection I'm off to a great start.

Once the house starts smelling like the holidays I'm off and running. It seems those smells that we relate with holidays, triggers our impulses and the spirit of the season takes over.

Thanksgiving is all about sharing and being grateful for friends and family.  I like to have all kind of treats on hand for unexpected (and expected company).  Ziploc bags are a must to store all my goodies in. I can keep all the different flavors and scents separate without taking up a ton of room.  Not to mention they're the perfect no-return container to send out the door. Don't forget they also have Ziploc containers.

This year I did something a little different.  I bagged up some special treats, with the help of Ziploc®   Brand Holiday Collection, that I'll be delivering to a few of my neighbors today.  I'm grateful for good neighbors and their friendship and what better time than Thanksgiving to let them know it?  

The Holiday Collection adds a little pizzazz! I also love the double zipper to make sure what I put in the bags, stays in the bags with no leaking.

This year's Glade® Winter Collection features four limited editions fragrances.

Sparkling Spruce™ - Gather 'round - it's time! The crisp fragrance of fresh-cut pine is pure holiday magic at any age, evoking the wide-eyed wonder of a 
thousand twinkling lights. I purchased the Sparkling Spruce candle for my living room.  It smells just like the holidays and I love it!
Apple Cinnamon Cheer™ - Brrrr! Wrap those snowy mittens around a mug of steaming cider, and let the fragrance of red apples and spice warm you from head to toe. 
Pure Vanilla Joy - Nothing says holidays like a fresh-baked batch of frosted cookies. Let 
the uplifting scent of pure, creamy vanilla keep you in the spirit all season long. 
Frosted Berry Kiss - Holiday magic is in the air! With ripe 
red berries and fresh green garlands, this festive fragrance captures 
the excitement of a kiss under the mistletoe. 

Ziploc® brand Holiday Collection adds a festive touch to seasonal gift giving. The limited 
editions bags and containers can be filled with your favorite homemade treats for your holiday hostess or favorite teachers. 

At Kmart, Shop Your Way Rewards Members get a $5 coupon to spend on groceries, health or beauty with a 
$15 or more purchase of select Glade® or Ziploc® Holiday collection products. In addition, 0ver $12 of additional savings can be found on Kmart.com for Glade® and Ziploc® Holiday collection products.

Holiday DIY - Gone Wrong

We've all done it.  We've pinned that oh' so easy to do project. It goes into the file and every now and then we even go as far as to try to recreate that "easy" craft.

That's just what I did recently.  Let's take a look at my Thanksgiving dish towel, shall we?

I didn't copy any particular diy tutorial per-say, just the idea in general.  I started out by using this free Count Your Blessing printable from The Graphics Fairy.  I love this website!

Do as I say and not as I do.  I had a package of transfer paper on hand and used that.

Not a good move.  See how it shows up in the photo below. YUCK!  I was so disappointed.  It was old but I don't think that really had anything to do with how it came out.   Next time I will print directly on the fabric or use the wax paper transfer method.  The Graphics Fairy has a wonderful post - 12 Easy Image Transfer Methods for DIY Projects, which gives you 12 links to transfer tutorials. You'll want to check it out.

I had some ticking fabric in my stash that I had tea stained a couple of years ago, so I used it to make a simple ruffle.  After hemming all four sides of the towel I stitched the ruffle at the bottom and covered the seam with black seam tape.  If you don't sew you can purchase press on hem tape to hem your towel.  I'm glad I had everything on hand and didn't spend a dime to make this or I would have been more than disappointed.

So there it is in all is imperfect glory.  Even though it came out the way it did, I was determined to finish it, which is hard for a perfectionist like me, (my life is really hard because I'm a perfectionist without the talent - who never gets it perfect or even close).  I'm trying to make progress against perfectionism, and will use my poor failure of a towel this year and love it as it is.  Don't expect to ever see it again after this year. 

You know, not all projects turn out well but if you don't try you'll never know how to make it better next time. So when you're looking at Pinterest and oohing and aahing over all the perfect projects, try to remember that what you see may not be their first try either.

Come back this week for a good laugh when I show another complete failure.

If you feel the need to see something more uplifting like a successful project you can take a peek at my Pitchfork Welcome Arrangement.

If you've never visited my Pinterest board stop over and check it out.  I've pinned over 5,300 projects.  I'll be lucky to get 20 done.   If you've done a Pinterest copycat - good or bad, I'd love to hear about it.  I'm always looking for diy'ers that would like to be a guest blogger, if your interested please let me know. 

It's all about trying, learning and having fun y'all...

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.  The skies display his craftsmanship.
                                      ~ Psalm 19:1

KissMe Organics Matcha Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Disclosure: I received this product from Tomoson Review Network to facilitate my review.  All opinions are, as always 100% my own.

Have you ever heard of Matcha?  No, well you're not alone, neither had I.  What I have heard of is green tea and how beneficial it is for you.  Bet you've heard about that right.

You don't have to be a fitness junkie to know about green tea, because it's well talked about in media everywhere.  Basically that's what Matcha is - it's culinary grade green tea powder.  When Tomoson approached me about reviewing Kiss Me Organics Matcha two thoughts ran through my head.

1. I've been wanting to find a way to up my energy level.
2. I don't drink a lot of hot tea and I don't like thick drinks.

Sounds like a catch 22 - doesn't it?

Well there were just too many benefits to not say yes.  Keep reading, I'll tell you a little more about the health benefits in a moment.

Lately I've been telling you about how I like to make Orange Smoothies, aka Orange Julius' for Neil and me at night.   They're so good and I thought maybe just a bit better for us than a milkshake or coke.

Well Matcha turned my Orange Julius into a Green Julius, but I still got the same great taste.  Matcha is a very fine green tea powder.  It's basically the green tea leaf.  One little teaspoon per drink is all it takes.  Since I was making enough for two, I used 2 teaspoons.  One cup of Matcha (using 1/2 to 1 teaspoon) is the equivalent of drinking 10 cups of regular green tea!  Can you image all that in 1 teaspoon!

Just take a look at all the benefits:

• All Day Energy
• Metabolism Boost
• Increase Focus
• Improve Skin Health
• 137X Antioxidants of Brewed Green Tea

You can create everything from Matcha Lattes, Cupcakes and Smoothies to Matcha Curry, Pizza, Waffles, and Mojitos.  KissMe Organics has a recipe for it all so in their recipe book to help you add a little Matcha flavor whenever you desire.  

It's easier than you thought, and me too, to add green tea to your daily diet.  Now that I know how easy it is, I'll be adding it to my diet everyday.  It makes me feel better just knowing that I'm taking positive steps to increase my energy naturally with our the jittery effects and crash from caffeine. 

Find many more matcha recipes at www.KissMeOrganics.com/Matcha-Recipe-Guide.php.

You can purchase your own KissMe Organics Organic Green Tea Matcha from Amazon at:

Matcha Green Tea Powder – ORGANIC – Exclusive to Amazon – Green Tea Lattes At Home – Smoothies – Matcha Baking Recipes – All Day Energy – Superior Antioxidant Content – Improved Hair & Skin Health

For more information on KissMe Organics, please visit: http://kissmeorganics.com/

Why not bring a little KissMe into your life as well?

Have a happy, healthy and energetic day y'all...

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Getting My Floors Holiday Ready With Bona Hardwood Floor cleaner

Disclosure: This product was provided by Smiley360 to facilitate my review. As always all opinions are 100% my own.

Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner

I tried a new hardwood floor cleaner last week.  I've been using the same floor cleaner for years and never thought about changing...

That is until I tried Bona.  I'm a Smiley member, and that means I get to review products that are in my realm of interest.

And yes that is a giant lease sign over by there by my game table.  It should be in front of our rental and not in our house "Neil".

Smiley360 sends only the products that I want to review. 

I received a full 32 oz bottle of Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner and and instant $3 coupon on any Bona floor cleaner.

I clean my floors regularly.  With 4 cats and a dog, I have too. Having the pets, I'm also concerned about what I put on my floors because believe me they don't wait for the okay before they start walking on it.  As a matter of fact the cats think me cleaning them is mesmerizing entertainment.  

I can feel good about using Bona floor cleaners because they have passed the more stringent GREENGUARD Children & School's program for indoor air quality criteria and are non-toxic to ensure you have the best for your floors, your family and the environment.

Woodn't (see what I did there, my clever play on words) you know that my hardwood floor mop would break when I started to mop.  Time to get a new one but I didn't let that stop me.  I cleaned my entire floor on hands and knees.  YES, I DID!  You can see how much dirt it got up and really my floors looked clean before I started.

Sorry about the blurry picture but don't my floors look great.  This is in the front entry way where they get the most abuse use.

Spills, scratches, dirt and dust?  No problem, Bona has a solution for all your hardwood floor needs.  You can find Bona products in one of many retailers including Lowe's, Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Kroger, Walmart and Target.

Become a BonaFide Fanatic and be entered to win a $500 shopping spree or SpaFinder Gift Card and get an instant $3 off coupon on any Bona cleaner, as well!  Also, there will be a sweet surprise for all Bonafide Fanatics so don't miss out! Click here to join now.

Hugs Y'all...

Giveaway Treat One -To -One Holiday Card Collection & Personalized Mug

Disclosure:  This giveaway was made possible Resourceful Mom and Treat.  I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate this giveaway, but all opinions are 100% my own.

The end of the year is fast approaching and that also we're in busiest time of the year right now.  There are so many things to do.

One of my  favorite holiday traditions is sending and receiving Christmas cards.  I love getting a card and the feeling of knowing that someone stopped in the middle of their busy schedule to think about me.  I really enjoy picking out just the right holiday card to share with my friends and loved ones too.  Heck I even love sitting down with a cup of cider or coffee and addressing those cards.

During this busy time of year, being able to shop right from home, without the hassle of traffic, parking and crowds is a big plus. This is the reason I love Treat’s one-to-one holiday card collection and gifts.

With Treat's you can stand out from the crowd and make your cards personalized.  I'm talking about really personalized, as little or as much as you want.  Plus, it's a whole new world of card giving out there.   You have choices, like whether you want to go old school traditional with mailing cards or new world electronic, for all your gadget friends.  You can just send theirs to them digitally via email.  Now, how's that for options?

You're invited to a PARTY:  A twitter party that is.  Use the hastag #TreatCheer and join the fun on 11/18 at 2 PM ET with @ResourcefulMom.  Where there's a twitter party there's prizes.  To RSVP go HERE.

Giveaway:  

I'm not gonna leave you hanging.  I promised a giveaway and that's what I'm gonna deliver right here. One of our readers will win one personalized mug and set of stationery! (US only) Ends 11/22

Entry-Form

Remember to just have fun this holiday season 

and good luck Y'all...

Peaceful Sundays & Randomness

Just a few random photos and blah-blah-blahing about my week.

I enjoyed time working in the yard.  Nothing impressive enough to show but the time with nature is worth noting.  Like watching a couple anchor down in a little wooded spot at the corner of our property and fish.

I stopped to talk to them asking if they were sport fishing or catching dinner.  I was relieved to hear them say "sport fishing" since there has been news stories lately saying that it's not safe to eat what's caught in the St. Johns river right now. They said they tell other fishers the same thing.  I love to chat with people I see through the day.

On one of our daily walks this week I saw one of Nature's hearts.  It's a smushed pinecone.  Shhh - don't tell anyone.

Like I said the yard cleaning wasn't really picture worthy. Me clipping two bushes lead to clipping more than two dozen but it's starting to look better.  Now if we could ever finish the outside of the edition we added to the back.  Oh' wouldn't that be nice.

The edition is much bigger than it looks because it goes the width of the whole house and since what you're seeing it the little T view of the house it's a lot deep in the majority.  I know - confusing but it's about 800 sq. ft. of additional space.  The inside walls have finished sheet rock and the ceilings have been finished.  It still only has the subflooring and the pot lights have been installed but the electrical needs to be tied in as does the a/c ducts.  We have a double doorway cut into the room from the living room (hidden by a drop cloth curtain) and I have a single door (actually hung!) between the laundry room and what will become my craft room (that's the area you see in the pic above).  So basically we have a glorified attached garage right now which no immediate plans to finish it.  More on that later.

Hopefully one day it will be what it was meant to be gameroom (Neil collects antiques so it's mostly a place to display all of the large juke boxes, etc.).  We plan on adding lots of built-ins which will include a murphy bed for guest. It's covered in large windows and has lots of beautiful morning light streaming in.  My craftroom will a little less than a third of it but it will be a glorious space to work in.

I love the fall weather we've been blessed to enjoy lately.  It's like coming to life after most of your winter hibernations - except ours is from the summer hibernation of the oppressive heat we get.  We're out walking again.  Which is a real blessing after I was laid up for over a year with foot surgery recovery and then a fractured leg.  I really thought I'd never be back to normal or have any energy at all again.  And even though I still have foot pain, it's way better and I can walk more than a mile now.  We even walked to the store and got my beloved Icee that I crave - A LOT lately.  Oh' it was a good week.

How was your week?  Anything special?  So of the most ordinary things are special.  I'd love to hear about yours.

Before you leave be sure to stop over HERE and enter the giveaway for the Neoteric Advance Healing cream.  I love this cream.  My hands & feet are so soft since I've been using it.

Be Blessed Y'all...

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

~Proverbs 23:17

Neoteric Diabetic Review & Giveaway

This is a sponsored post. Neoteric Cosmetics & Scott's Liquid Gold provided a product to facilitate this review.  As always all opinions are 100% my own.

Sometimes you've just got to pamper yourself.  The photo above shows you my go to pampering when I need a pick me up, minus the masseuse to massage my feet.  I gather all my supplies which include:

• My Conair Paraffin Spa 
• Foot paddle to exfoliate the dry skin 
• Toe separators 
• Nail file 
• A book to relax while letting the paraffin do it's thing
• Neoteric's Advance Healing Cream
• The flowers are a bonus to heighten my relaxing experience
• And soothing background music doesn't hurt either

Our feet are very important.  Hey they are the work horse our body depends on.  They need special attention.  Diabetics really have to take care of their feet but it's really something we all should be doing.  

November is National Diabetes Month.  Makes sense with it being a month celebrating food, right. And November 14th is Nation Diabetes day.  To bring awareness to this epidemic I want to tell you a few facts about Diabetes, as well as share a product I found with you.  Keep reading and find out how you can win too.

Did you know that Diabetes is one of America's leading killers and is the number cause of Kidney failure, lower non-traumatic limb amputations and new cases of blindness among adults in the US? And the epidemic is growing.  According to the American Diabetes Association, if we don't act soon one in three American's will have diabetes by 2005.  Those are some pretty scary statistics!!

I have several family members and even friends and neighbors who are diabetic in various degrees and it scares me.  I worry about them and even start worry about my own sugar.  Not surprising since I'm the sugar craving queen.  I bet you know at least one person affected by Diabetes too.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.

347 million people worldwide have diabetes. In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of fasting high blood sugar. A similar number of deaths has been estimated for 2010. More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Prevention

Simple lifestyle measures have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. To help prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications, people should:

• achieve and maintain healthy body weight;
• be physically active – at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity on most days. More activity is required for weight control;
• eat a healthy diet of between three and five servings of fruit and vegetables a day and reduce sugar and saturated fats intake;
• avoid tobacco use – smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

I have dry and cracked feet (years of going barefoot - I live in Florida for goodness sakes) and I faithfully rub cream on my feet at bedtime.  It helps immensely.  But not all creams are the same.  I like a really thick one that doesn't leave a greasy after feel.  Even though I don't have Diabetes, I do have mild Psoriasis and like I said I like to use cream on my feet.  I can stand any scaley skin to pick at the sheets.  You know that's happened to you.  Yuck!  Well, that's why I more than eager to try Neoteric's Diabetic Advanced Healing Cream.  

Let me just say Neoteric's Advanced Healing Cream is GREAT!  It doesn't take much and it's perfect to use on feet, hands, fingertips, elbows, legs and knees.  The patented TriOxygen is clinically proven to increase skin's own natural defenses.  Their unique blend if therapeutic conditioning agents induce superior deep moisturization to renew and protect.  As their tube of cream states "Provides immediate soothing action as it quickly restores skin to a  healthier, soft, smooth texture".  It does just what it says too.

I've been using this Aloe & Vitamin E enriched cream for a month now and once it's gone you find another tube in my bedside table - that's just how much I like it.   You can readily find it on store shelves everywhere.  I found it here at Publix priced at $9.99.  Worth every penny I tell you!! I find myself going to the bedroom throughout the day just to get a bit for my hands.  It really soothes and makes them feel so good.  Don't let the word Diabetic stop you from using this awesome cream.  If you want soft supple skin - you want to use Neoteric's Advanced Healing Cream.

Neoteric Cosmetics has a whole array of products that you would love.  Visit their website here:

http://www.neotericcosmetics.com/neoteric-diabetic/products.html

• Alpha Hydrox Facial Care
• Alpha Hydrox Body Care
• Alpha Hydrox for Acne
• Neoteric Diabetic
• Montagne Jeunesse
• Batiste Dry Shampoo
• Bath, Body & Haircare

Don't fret y'all.  I'm gonna do y'all a solid too.  I'm giving a super prize pack away to one CPC reader too!  Thank's Neoteric Cosmetics and Scott Liquid Gold!!  They are generously providing the winner with:

• "2" Tubes of Advanced Healing Cream
• and 1 container of Diabetic Shampoo & Scalp Care

If you don't want to wait to see if you win my giveaway why don't you contact Neoteric for a FREE sample.  They're such a great company.  They're offering free sample packets of the Diabetic Cream while supplies last.  Just email them at:  samples@slginc.com.  Be sure to add this to the subject Line: Diabetic Cream and *be sure to include you name mailing address in the email.  It would be nice if you told them I sent you but it's not necessary.

To enter my giveaway all you have to do is enter using the Giveaway Tools form below for a chance to win.

Entry-Form

You'll see in the giveaway form that my friend Julie over at Mamawj's Moment Away is also having this same giveaway.  Be sure to visit her for an extra entry on my giveaway and enter her's so you also have more chances to win.

Good Luck Y'all...

#Neoteric Cosmetics, Scott's Liquid Gold

Fall It Up Y'all

I've fallin' in love with my new pitch fork.

Now I know I'm no florist but most of us DIY'ers aren't.  A florist might know a better way but, hey it's my blog, my project and my way.  After digging through the shed and finding this old rusty pitch fork, I headed up to the attic and dug around and found the most pitiful, forlorn flowers I could find and drug them down. Now if we stopped right there and created the arrangement that would have been a simple project in itself.

But no, I went the hard route because I just can't throw anything away.  The flowers I found in my attic were a little worse for wear but I found a way to refresh them.

They were dirty, grimmie and just smushed up in general.

The secret trick is to hold them over a pot of boiling water for about a minute. Yep the steam relaxes the silk so that you can get them back in shape.  As a side note the steam also cleaned them.  The dirty water proved it and they looked so dang much better.

Excuse the photo being sideways.  I have to stop taking pictures that need to be flipped because this shows up correctly in photobucket but not here and frankly I'm sick of fighting with it.
*Another tip - when holding the flowers over the steam bend the stem so you don't have to have your hand in the steam.

See don't they look so much better.  Just pop them off the stem and lay them out on paper towels so they can dry out.  Shape them up a little with your fingers.  Of course I couldn't just do the few I needed, I had to freshen my whole box full of flowers.  This is what took me so long.

See all my pretty fresh flower heads.  Yes, I put them back on their legs, once I was done.  Then I gathered my pitch fork and set my sights on crafting some fall prettiness.

And this is what you get when you're done.

Even poor little old shaggy Mattie liked it.

She's happy to be outside but she is almost 13 years old, that's 91 years our time, and she poops out on me quick.

I'm pretty pickin' happy with the finished product.  Especially since I didn't spend one shiny penny.  That's right nada and all because I cleaned up my old stinky flowers.  Hey even the wicker settee was free.  Thank you to my neighbors down the road!!  Gotta love FREE....

But I wasn't done.  I had to run out to the shed to hang this...

I love fall and all it's blazin' glory.

Un-hun, that's rain you see at the top of the picture.  See how much I love y'all.  I'll do anything to get the shot and finish a blog post.

I'll be back tomorrow to show off my new-to-me settee tomorrow.

Fall it up y'all...

Nothing is too hard for God.
                                               ~Jeremiah 32:17b