Friday, December 20, 2013

Friday Follow Along - Goodbye 2013!


It's PARTY Time!

So grab a hand and follow the leader!
If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 
  • Link up at least 1 post (max of 2) AND 1 social media site so we can all follow along!
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FINAL FRIDAY FOLLOW ALONG LINK UP ON FOR 2013!

Monday, December 9, 2013

WHAT?!?!? McDonald's Fried ARE NOT VEGETARIAN?

Booo....My favorite fast food is NOT vegetarian and I never knew!



Okay, if you are keeping up with the blog, you know that I am all about getting real and organic with my family's food. The bigger part of my family's mission is to  be realistic while living an organic lifestyle. I will never commit to saying absolutely NO to things like fast food, family gatherings, and dinner with friends. Living a healthier lifestyle is JUST like a diet...if it isn't something you can do long term and commit to....then it is never going to work. Allowing for some non-organic meals without beating yourself up will help you stick with a newer healthier living plan!
 
Click here for a list of 9 things from McDonalds that I totally thought were vegetarian...that ARE NOT!

Friday, December 6, 2013

I'm Partyin' TWO TIMES!

This week... I am partying BIG! I am hosting the Friday Follow Along AND the TGIF Link Party with A Peek into my paradise!!!



So grab a hand and follow the leader!

If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Green Beauty onb a Budget!

That is correct, you can do ORGANIC beauty on a budget!

I started my organic journey with foods. So many people complain about how expensive eating organic can be. I think those people just haven't found the tips and tricks to being organic on a budget. Basically, if you want it - you may have to make it yourself! Hate to say it BUT the same rule applies to organic beauty. Honestly, it is easier than you think!

Click here for some tips and tricks!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

CRAP, I invited a vegetarian to dinner!

I know that , "crap, I invited a vegetarian to dinner" is probably something said by everyone in my family when I RSVP.  They love that I will be there but for some hosts, they stress over what I can and can not eat as a vegetarian. The truth is that it is not easy to be vegetarian these days...meat and byproducts are hidden in many of your favorite dishes- even those that you would think are safe. Take for instance something as simple as sweet potatoes...think they are safe.....they are- until you add gelatin filled marshmallows! Knowing how tough it is, I thought I would share 8 tips for cooking for those crazy veggies!

Click here to see what you should look out for!

Friday, November 22, 2013

What is a "Freegan"?


Religous group, Environmentalists, or crazy?


More often than not, I tend to brag about how frugal or cheap I am. I do my best to reduce my ecological footprint by making my own green cleaning supplies, reusing and recycling containers, and making scratch foods when I can. Just the other day, I was introduced to the ultimate "cheapskates" ...or environmentalists...or crazy people, I really am not sure how to define them accurately. I recently learned of a growing subculture called the "Freegans".

Click HERE To learn how to live like a Freegan!

The Friday Follow Along!


It's PARTY Time!

So grab a hand and follow the leader!
If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 
  •  LINK UP!
  • No blog? Just swing by and check out the DIY, crafts, recipes, activities, living tips, and MORE!

Friday, November 15, 2013

I got 2 Blog parties and a microphone!

This week... I am partying BIG! I am hosting the Friday Follow Along AND the TGIF Link Party with A Peek into my paradise!!!


So grab a hand and follow the leader!
If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

DIY Gak! Only 5 minutes to Gooey Fun!

As a cheap mom (yes, I have reduced myself from frugal to cheap) I would like to think that I am teaching my children that ANYTHING we can buy in a store, we can make ourselves! So far....It is working! Now, when they see some new crazy pizza commercial, they don't ask if they can order it...they ask if we can make it - PROGRESS! So when they began begging for GAK...I decided that it was worth the trip to the worldwide web to see if we could DIY - AND WE CAN!
CLICK HERE TO GET THE RECIPE!

Friday, November 8, 2013

HOLY BLOGHOP BATMAN!

This week... I am partying BIG! I am hosting the Friday Follow Along AND the TGIF Link Party with A Peek into my paradise!!!


So grab a hand and follow the leader!
If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Organic - VEGAN Chocolate Sauce that is Low Carb?!?!? YEP!

Yes...you read it right! This chocolate sauce is low-carb, vegan, and ORGANIC!  I NEVER thought I could find a sweet chocolate sauce that was all 3!! It only takes a few minutes to make and is a fantastic frosting for cupcakes, sauce for ice cream,dip for fruits...you get the idea!

You can change up this sauce in ANY way you want! It is a very basic recipe but can be jazzed up with spicy peppers, mint, nuts, booze, etc!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Organic Vegan "Chicken" Salad

I have been a vegetarian for 5 years and I will ALWAYS tell you that I do NOT MISS MEAT! Not one burger looks good enough to eat, not one chicken "chunk" good enough to dunk, nor a hot dog good enough to munch! That being said though...I do miss all of the things that go along with these carnivorous snacks. I do miss sauces, toppings, and condiments. I know that I can eat these on the morning star, boca, and quorn meatless options BUT have you looked at the back of the package? These meatless options are filled with chemicals and additives...things that I am trying to avoid!


But...As always...I FOUND A WAY TO BE ORGANIC AND VEGAN!! If you are NOT vegan or even vegetarian...This still makes an amazing salad for a get together!Click HERE to get the recipe!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Linkups and Bloghops and Giveaways, OH MY! 2 amazing hops!

This week... I am partying BIG! I am hosting the Friday Follow Along AND the TGIF Link Party with A Peek into my paradise!!!


So grab a hand and follow the leader!
If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 

Monday, October 28, 2013

DIY Organic Pumpkin Body Butter and Facial Mask!

Fall is finally here! While I am not a fan of the weather, I am a fan of one thing...PUMPKIN PIE!  Come to think of it, I pretty much love everything pumpkin: Fragrances, lotions, potpourri, cookies, you name it - I love it. Since starting my organic journey, however, I have actually found that not only do I not love the ingredient list on most canned pumpkin purees but I am absolutely against the lotions that I used to love. Just looking at the label at the local store (you know the one..smelly and TONS of stuff) made me dizzy (and it wasn't the mixture of scents)! The ingredient list read like a science experiment and one that I had no plan to take part of.

Click HERE to see how I fixed this problem with a little DIY!

MOTHER's THERAPY ORGANIC HAND SANITIZER - Review and Giveaway

I am going to go right out there and say that I am not a "sanitizing" momma. I sometimes think that people go way too far on how often they sanitize their hands! I have friends who will do it after opening a restaurant door,  after viewing the menu,  after touching the table, and even after washing their hands. Now...while I don't bathe my kids in sanitizer (and think some people go a bit crazy)...I do realize that there ARE situations where hand sanitizer is a must.

Click here to see why I don't like most hand sanitizers and to enter to win one that I LOVE!

Friday, October 25, 2013

8 "HEALTH" foods you should avoid!


This "salad" has over 90 grams of fat and is LOADED with sodium..
I eat "healthy"..... 

Don't I ??!?!

Here are 8 "Health" Foods To Avoid!


Big companies and their marketing teams have caught on to our attraction to items labeled "healthy", "all natural", "low fat", "Multi-Grain", and other terms indicating healthy choices and boy have they risen the charge. Walking through the grocery store, you would assume that healthy choices are easy to spot and that your cart is full of high quality products offering amazing health benefits. This is not always true. Labels can be deceiving and sometimes when a product is altered to meet criteria or a label...it takes away everything that WAS good about it.

Since labels are conusing, I thought I would break down a little about some of the foods that are SUPPOSED to be good for you...BUT MAY BE HURTING YOU! CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!

2 Friday Bloghops ---OH MY!

This week... I am partying BIG! I am hosting the Friday Follow Along AND the TGIF Link Party with A Peek into my paradise!!!


So grab a hand and follow the leader!
If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 

Then....swing by the TGIF Link Party and share too!

CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE PARTY PAGE!!! LINK UP, CONNECT, and PARTY

Monday, October 21, 2013

Easy to do! Homemade Playdough

We were sitting around having a lazy weekend when my kids started asking for something fun to do. My kids are already in front of a computer screen for school, they play computers quite a bit, and watch some tv....so I wasn't wanting to put them back in front of a screen if I didn't need to. I had to think back to what I did as a kid - when screens weren't around (according to my kids)....and finally inspiration struck...PLAYDOUGH!

Luckily for me, it can be made in less than 10 minutes AND uses ingredients that you probably already have in the pantry!

Friday, October 18, 2013

It's BLOGHOP FRIDAY! Two fun bloghops in 1 DAY!!!

This week... I am partying BIG! I am hosting the Friday Follow Along AND the TGIF Link Party with A Peek into my paradise!!!

So grab a hand and follow the leader!
If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 

Then....swing by the TGIF Link Party and share too!

CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE PARTY PAGE!!! LINK UP, CONNECT, and PARTY

Monday, October 14, 2013

Mommy Monday Blog Hop - They let me co-host! Crazy Girls!!


Welcome to our Mommy Monday Blog Hop! Woot! Woot! Let's get this Monday started with posts from all different subjects that come from, that's right, you guessed it, MOMS! Forget Rules!
We just want you to show off whatever you would like! ALSO - enter to win some cloth diapers while you are here!!!

Friday, October 11, 2013

DIY Tea Tree Oil Cleaner - A Must have for cold and flu season!

While growing up, my mom's home remedy for keeping the kids healthy was a teaspoon of bleach in every dish load. Actually, she used bleach for everything! I am probably one of the only people that I know of who absolutely LOVES the smell of bleach and gets a warm and home-y feeling when its aroma fills the air! She also had a jar of lysol in every room (that smell does NOT make me warm and fuzzy) and her cleaning arsenal was filled with TONS of bottles of cleaners.

Well, that was my mom and this is me. There was and is nothing wrong with how my mom raised us but I am taking a more natural and organic approach to life. I also don't need as many different cleaning supplies!




Click here to get my recipe and o find out how you can stay healthy and chemical free with Tea Tree oil!

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Friday Follow Along Bloghop



It's PARTY Time!

So grab a hand and follow the leader!
If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun....  
 
LINK IT UP!!!
 

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

NOT SO WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Bloghop & PARTY!

It's that time of the week again where most people look for completely wordless posts...not us! We are super chatty and LOVE all of your posts - both wordless and not so wordless!!

Link Up and Post you LOVE and enter to win our giveaway for a brand new kitchen aid mixer! The party is happening NOW so swing by and LINKUP!

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Super Easy & Healthy No-Bake Protein Bars!

Over the past few months, my husband has become hooked on a new vice. Of all the addictions in the world; smoking, drinking, gambling, etc....he picks PROTEIN BARS! I should not complain...it is a healthy problem to have BUT it is also a $3 per bar addition. Yesterday, I believe it equated to a $20/day habit.

So...as many of you know, I am a total DIY girl and save money wherever I can. I took to the internet to find recipes and was sad when the first few pages of recipes were LOADED with sugar, processed ingredients, and junk. The other portion I found called for some crazy ingredients that I simply did not have on hand. One part of how I make organic work for a busy (LARGE) family is to keep it simple. These recipes were NOT going to work!


Friends in Chicago can win FREE FOOD from Jerseys Pizza and Grill! and Fundraise there too!

If you live in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago...you HAVE to get to Jersey's Pizza and Grill in Hoffman Estates! They are a family friendly - sports restaurant with a fun and exciting atmosphere and AMAZING FOOD! Trust me...it is not your typical sports bar food!!

I absolutely LOVED our experience there. It was comfortable for the kids and for us. I wish we lived there so we could go more often.

The BEST part is that Jersey's Pizza and Grill DELIVERS their food to surrounding areas!!


They have also launched an AMAZING fundraising program where your group or organization (of any size) can earn 10% of dining events! If you are interested in fundraising with Jerseys...contact their Director of Marketing Catelyn at:  catelyn@wildcatinvst.com

So...I bet you want to know what I thought about the food! To be honest, it is usually hard for me to find food that I like...I am vegetarian and some restaurants give me a hard time about altering items. The staff was so nice and made my food exactly how I wanted it! Thank you Jerseys!

My favorites:
  • Parmesan Balls (like breadsticks only Better!)
  • Green Chili Burger (my hubby's favorite)
  • The Pizzas are outstanding!
  • The Onion rings - TOTALLY MY FAVORITE PART!
  • The habanero mango sauce is awesome on ANYTHING!!
Starting TODAY...They are running an AMAZING contest where you can win FREE food just for taking a picture of you in your favorite sports gear, tagging the picture, and sharing! Check out the contest HERE!

Take a few seconds and and follow Jerseys via social media!

Jerseys Pizza and Grill on Facebook
Jerseys Pizza and Grill on Twitter






 
Click here to check out the CONTEST and WIN FREE FOOD!!!


Thursday, October 3, 2013

Friday Follow Along BLOGHOP!



It's PARTY Time!

So grab a hand and follow the leader!
If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 
  •  There are no real rules-except nothing x rated! 
  • Link up at least 1 post (max of 2) AND 1 social media site so we can all follow along!
  • Visit as many links as you can and leave comments! 
  • Its just like the game Follow the leaders (host &cohosts) and  follow at least the person ahead of you and behind you. Follow others via twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin', etc 
  • Link back if you can and when!   Not required but appreciated!
  • If you have a blog hop today or this weekend...go ahead and link it up

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

NOT SO WORDLESS WEDNSDAY BLOGHOP!?


Are you a chatty blogger who wishes you could join in the Wordless Wednesday Bloghops?!? If so...this hop is for you! We both find it difficult to blog with only pictures so we don't expect you to!


Swing by and link up ANY post that has a picture or two in it! We don't discriminate- link up your DIY, RECIPES, Beauty Tips, Social Media information, BRING IT ALL ON!

We can't wait to see what you have been up to so let the party begin.

Monday, September 30, 2013

12 Easy and All Natural Ways to Detox your body

Are you feeling a bit run down lately?
 Looking for a mood adjustment? 
Been sick and ready to feel better?
Ready to jump start a diet?

If you answered yes to any of these...you may be ready for a detox!



Detoxing is a word that used to be used in extreme cases but now, you are hearing about it everywhere. I attribute this to an increase in the health and wellness community as well as the increase in the amount of chemicals in our foods and systems. You see, we come in contact with chemicals and compounds daily that our bodies simply weren't designed to handle as easily as others. The goods news is that you can help!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

The Friday Follow Along Bloghop is LIVE!!!!



It's PARTY Time!

So grab a hand and follow the leader!
If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 
 There are no real rules-except nothing x rated!

ALL POSTS ARE WELCOME


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Homemade Chocolate Mocha Body Scrub - and 4 other recipes

I recently found a jar of amazing chocolate body scrub-it smelled so good that I thought I could eat it. Then I flipped over the jar and found the ingredient list. After reading,  I found that not only should I NOT eat it....I really shouldn't even be putting it on my skin! It was filled with chemicals that I couldn't even pronounce and not even the chocolate in it was real.

BUT MY VERSION IS TOTALLY ORGANIC! Plus, it uses ingredients you probably already have in your pantry!
Now, I can have my body scrub and eat it too!

Click HERE to get the recipe

Friday, September 20, 2013

Friday Follow ALong Bloghop!

It's PARTY Time!

So grab a hand and follow the leader!

If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 
  •  There are no real rules-except nothing x rated! 
  • Link up at least 1 post (max of 2) AND 1 social media site so we can all follow along! 
  • EVERYTHING IS WELCOME! ETSY SHOPS, OTHER HOPS, GIVEAWAYS, ETC

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR PARTY ON!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

UPDATED LIST OF 20 PAID SURVEY SITES!

ImageI wanted to take a few minutes to update my list of PAYING Survey sites!

Making money with Online Surveys is one of the most asked about topics when talking about how to make money online. There are hundreds of thousands of sites promising to make you RICH if you simply pay $49.95 for their list of survey sites...NEVER PAY for this information! If you simply do an internet search for these types of sites, you will get thousands of results. You will also see tons of reviews directing you to either sign in and make money or to stay clear. How do you know who to trust??

DIY Chocolate Body Paint - Fun for Vegans too!

Okay...I KNOW that this is NOT my typical post. For those of you who don't come to the site often,  I am usually all about organic lifestyles and frugal living but sometimes even I stray into the bizarre! Thank goodness my mom does not read my blog (no joke...she has never been to it and doesn't know the address anyway) and while I am at it - big apology to my mother-in-law who reads religiously. PS. M-I-L...I love you but you may want to stop reading now....


Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The NOT SO Wordless Wednesday Bloghop!


Welcome to another edition of the NOT SO Wordless Wednesday Bloghop put together by the Amazing Cathy from A Peek into My Paradise!

We can't seem to do a wordless post so we certainly don't expect you to! Link up any post that as pictures and you are playing by the rules!   


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

What's your style BLOGHOP!

I am so excited today to be a part of the "What's your Style?" Bloghop!

My girl Brittnei didn't see too many places where bloggers who write about fashion, beauty, hair, design and decor can go and show off their style so that's how she came up with the name for the blog hop.  It's  a place where creative minds could come together, share tips, experiences, gain more followers and make new blogger buddies.  

Click HERE to get your self over to the party!

Monday, September 16, 2013

DIY Weight Loss Wraps!

The train of weight loss programs, supplements, and gizmos will never end. One of these such gizmos is the "it works" weight loss wrap. Have I tried the "it works" wrap? Sure have. I will honestly say that I did like the results of the it works wrap but the price was a bit too much for me to sustain on a constant basis. The true program advises that you do the wrap a few times a week for best results and at $25 a wrap....it's a small fortune to wrap only one body area.


So...I decided to make my own weight loss wraps. I was pleasantly surprised that they WORKED!


Friday, September 13, 2013

Friday Follow Along Linkup and Share-a-thon!

It's PARTY Time!

So grab a hand and follow the leader!

If you have a blog or website with any article pertaining to family, fitness, being cheap (I mean frugal), crafting, recipes, or is just plain fun.... 
  •  There are no real rules-except nothing x rated! 
  • Link up at least 1 post (max of 2) AND 1 social media site so we can all follow along!
  • Visit as many links as you can and leave comments! 
  • Its just like the game Follow the leaders (host &cohosts) and  follow at least the person ahead of you and behind you. Follow others via twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin', etc  

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Beginner's Tips for Eating Healthy!

I am quickly realizing that this is a post that I should have done long ago. You see, my family and I began a healthy eating journey almost a year ago and made the transition seamlessly. We began by eliminating as many prepackaged foods as we could, ditched chemical laden foods and opted for organic, and I even got my husband to adopt a 98% vegetarian lifestyle (I have been a vegetarian for 6 years now). What I forgot to realize is that the transition to "healthy eating" may not be as easy for everyone- Routines and habits are hard to break! It is also difficult to encourage people to see the benefits of what eating healthy can do for you -when it may take a few weeks to see the results (sound familiar?!?).

So....I thought I would break down some of the tips that I have for Beginners! Don't worry, these aren't about what to buy or what to eat....it is about HOW TO MAKE THIS A LIFESTYLE!

(NOT SO) Wordless Wednesday BLOGHOP & $500 Giveaway!


Can you REALLY do a whole post without words...heck, even with just a few words?



OKAY...Maybe some of you can BUT I CAN NOT!!! That's why this hop is for me--I mean US!

Link up ANY POST! No rules! Wordless...Wordy---WHATEVER!!!

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Get a Personalized Prepaid Visa Card from CARD.com!

Check it out- My name on a PREPAID CARD!




Anyone who has ever used a prepaid debit card before knows that you typically have to carry an ugly card that announces to the world..."hey, I use a prepaid card!!!". If you have ever used one...you know what I am talking about. It's like wearing a flashing sign letting people know that you have bad credit. CARD.com is changing that experience! Now, you can show the cashier a card that reflects your personality and NOT your credit score!

For the same price as those UGLY cards at the big box retailers...you can grab a PERSONALIZED card in one of over 1,000 different designs like Garfield, Popeye, Betty Paige, James Dean, Care Bears, Walking Dead, Star Trek, Autism Awareness, Breast Cancer Research, Shark Week, Where's Waldo, Doodle Jump, Three Stooges, Nancy Drew, etc. AND SO MANY MORE! You can even choose one of 4 designs from "The Walking Dead"! Check them out HERE

Visa prepaid cards from CARD.com
EVERYONE IS 100% APPROVED FOR THESE VISA PRE-PAID CARDS! 
Bad Credit, No Credit - NO PROBLEM! Approval in seconds!

These cards aren't just for those with credit problems? I LOVE using these cards on vacation. It allows me to keep track of our vacation budget without looking at the checking account! It is also a great way to keep your college or high school aged child on a limited budget without worrying about interest or maxing the card out (I know nothing about being a bad kid with my parents credit card....my brothers, on the other hand, were on the receiving end of a few angry credit card bill calls while in college.)

Here are just a few of the perks of the CARD.com Visa Card!
  • Direct Deposit is NO PROBLEM! In fact, Deposit $800 in each 30 day period and the $5.95 monthly fee is WAIVED!
  • Over 22,000 in-network ATMS!
  • There is a FREE APP to check balances and deposits!
  • Did I mention that it is TOTALLY FREE TO ACTIVATE AND ORDER?!?!
  • Shop ANYWHERE visa debit is accepted!
  • The card never goes negative so no overdraft fees! 
  • Safer than cash! 100% FDIC insured, Visa Fraud protection ,and 24/7 support
  • There is NO MINIMUM Balance!

So STOP carrying that ugly prepaid card! Grab a cool Visa Debit prepaid card from CARD.com! It is a smart way to save your money and to look good doing it! 

This post was sponsored by a great company ( CARD.com ) offering a fun and exciting way to use a prepaid debit card. While this post was sponsored, the reviews contained within are totally my own and are not for sale. Please visit the website for more information and as always. purchase responsibly.
 
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