Archive for June, 2014
Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. Last Saturday I had the opportunity to attend an outdoor Garden Party hosted by Kim of Design + Life + Kids in West Chester, PA. The theme of the party was “A Radiant Orchid Summer” and the sponsors really pulled out all stops with their Swag Bag (Bucket) Giveaways.
GIFT BAG PARTNERS
Bing —— Calligraphy print and Bing Ads + Bing Rewards coupon codes
RitDye —— 2 bottles of liquid dye
ZokuHQ —— Slush/shake maker and ice ball molds
QuirkBooks —— Craft / recipe books
PanacheBox —— Pearl necklace and discount code
TheBouqs —— $10 Gift Card Code
@elizab0623 (instagram only) —— Arbonne samples
It was a beautiful sunny day and we had a good time snacking on tasty treats, enjoying a signature cocktail from the Brandywine Valley Brewing Collective and taking pictures which were posted to our Social Media networks as entries into the various giveaways. Kim was the perfect hostess, she made us all feel welcomed and comfortable at her home which only enhanced the day.
The fun really began when we had a opportunity to make a tie dye picnic blanket and a floral bracelet. Rit Dye was the sponsor of the tie dye project and the beautiful flowers for the bracelets were provided by The Bouqs. Both of these fun activities reminded me of the 60’s, the era of tie dyed clothing and flower power!
The weather had truly cooperated as it was perfect for this afternoon garden craft party and the ability to make your own slushes with a cup from ZokuHQ was an added bonus.
Perfect theme for a perfect day!
Thank you Bing and thank you Kim for hosting this fun event, I look forward to attending others.
To learn more about Kim and to read her awesome blog head over to Design + Life + Kids
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
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Do you have one of these?
Then you need one of these!
May 22nd was a day that we will always remember, but it is now just a memory and it’s time to move on and get him ready to move out!
After 18 years the time has come to get him ready to be out and on his own, leaving the comfort of this town, his house, and yes, his bedroom. We recently applied for a dorm room at Bowie State University and soon we’ll have a list of what he can and CANNOT bring with him on campus.
Our sons have never shared a room so this is going to be a big adjustment for him, but if we plan it right things will go smoothly. Thanks to Best Buy’s Greatest Grad Gift List not only can we find small appliances for his dorm room for under $100, but we can also find gifts that will help him in the classroom.
My son is a gamer yet he knows his education is priority #1, and studying comes first so after checking out the Best Buy Gift list he chose The Asus Transformer T100 Laptop. This laptop would be the perfect grad gift for him because not only does it come with Windows 8.1 and Microsoft Home Office 2013, it’s 32GB internal storage will accommodate movies, music and lots of photos of his family!
So if you are looking for the Greatest Gift for your Greatest Grad who will be leaving home, check the Best Buy’s Gift Center for items such as blenders, coffeemakers, iPhone and Tablet Cases starting as low at $50, so they can start feathering their new nest.
Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.
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Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world and welcome back to another week of “You Choose The Shoes“. Once again, I wish to thank all of you who voted in last week’s contest and in an overwhelming majority the winners were:
JESSICA! I think it was the peep-toe thing that pushed her over the top, sorry Christian, but you were more of a winter shoe anyway. Now on to this week’s contenders, and once again, I chose to step outside of the box with the mixing of patterns but only in one pair.
The pink plaid pumps were purchased a few years ago from Rugged Wearhouse, I remember they also had them in green but only a size 6 was available and that is definitely too small for me!
The Carlos Santana pink sandals were thrifted from Goodwill last winter, which is the best time to thrift summer shoes!
One of my favorite summer sheath dresses is this black and white one because of the design. I have several hanging in my closets and my plan is to do a post on Summer Sheaths, so stay tuned.
The bracelets are also from Rugged Wearhouse, my go-to store for costume jewelry.
Okay, get ready to choose the shoes, will it be the pink sandals thrifted from Goodwill – or –
The pink plaid pumps from Rugged Wearhouse
I can’t wait to read all of your comments.
I’ll be hanging out with the ladies over at Whitney’s Personal Style Linkup, so come on over if you have a chance.
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
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Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. 
Hello Friends, I hope all is well in your world. Now that I am over the age of 50, I have started thinking more and more about the skin I’m in especially my face. We’ve all heard that too much sun exposure is bad for your skin – too late, from 1976 to 1979 I’d bake every summer at Rehoboth Beach and even now I enjoy laying in the summer sun but not as long. Drink more water – I wish I could drink the recommended 32 oz, or is that 64 ounces daily, heck I’m lucky if I drink 8 oz every 3 days, that is of course unless coffee and wine counts.
Get plenty of rest – who me, the person that doesn’t get into bed until after midnight and then tosses and turns because my mind won’t shut down? Don’t smoke – too late, although I am a quitter, 5 years clean, (yeah me) I did smoke for over 30 years. Now more than ever I have to pay closer attention to how I treat my skin to avoid any further damage.
I recently ordered a bottle of Foxbrim 100% Pure Argan Oil from Amazon.com and started using it as a moisturizer for my face. After removing my makeup and cleansing my face, I put 2-3 drops on the back of my hand then using my fingertips apply it to my face, eyelids and lips.
Foxbrim 100% Pure Argan Oil is unbelievably light, easily absorbs into my face leaving it feeling nourished. Now that I’ll be spending more time in the sun, this product will definitely be up front and center as part of my daily moisturizing and makeup routine.
Foxbrim 100% Pure Argan Oil can also be used a hair treatment and pre-shave oil, but I think I’ll let my mini men try it for those purposes then I’ll let you know what they think.
How do you love the skin you’re in?
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.
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Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. Did you know that on average people worldwide are living six years longer than they were 20 years ago? Thanks to improved medical advances and declining tobacco use the average life expectancy for women in the United States is 81 and male life expectancy is 76.
So now that you’ve got more time, what are you going to do with it? If you are nearing retirement or have retired what creative and inexpensive activities would you like to do in your golden years?
Getting together with friends or neighbors visiting cultural sites, libraries, historic homes or museums or how about taking a Yoga or Tai Chi class to increase your flexibility.
Volunteering your services, participating in church or religious groups are also other great options. A lot of people actually fear retirement thinking they are going to be bored, but trying something new or doing something that you’ve always wanted to do can be both fun and exciting.
Have you ever wanted to write a book, sing, act, paint, or learn to play a musical instrument? Perhaps you would enjoy sharing your knowledge by teaching, writing a blog or in specialty cooking and baking. Local travel to neighboring states discovering what is in your own back yard can also be an inexpensive adventure.
No matter what you choose, if you start making a list now while you’re still working you’ll have more to look forward to when that great day actually arrives.
What is the one activity that you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time?
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
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Taking care of grandparents and parents takes its toll on caregivers who are often sandwiched between the activities of children, a busy work schedule and the needs of aging loved ones.
In 2008, when my grandmother’s health began to deteriorate I became her primary caregiver until the day she died in 2009 at the age of 98. Fortunately I was able to work from home most days but trying to keep a normal schedule with both boys in school and the daily grind of running a household oftentimes became overwhelming.
Although hubby and the boys were there to support me, I wish I had know about the resources offered by AARP which would have been a tremendous help. AARP offers several resources to help the nearly 44 million Americans – 1 in 5 adults – who are family caregivers for a relative or friend over the age 50.
THE THANKS PROJECT
The Thanks Project is an online platform that enables caregivers to publically recognize the parents for whom they care. Each individual ‘thanks’ will be integrated into the interactive tapestry, representing the 42 million caregivers in the US. Caregivers everywhere deserve to be recognized for the important work that they do, and Father’s Day remind us why it’s worth it.
CAREGIVING RESOURCE CENTER
The Caregiving Resource Center by the AARP offers articles by experts, answers to pressing questions, the latest in caregiver news and a helpline for caregivers to connect on a daily basis.
PREPARE TO CARE: A PLANNING GUIDE FOR FAMILIES
Prepare to Care is a downloadable pdf e-book that walks caregivers through the steps of starting the conversation with aging parents about upcoming decisions that will have to be made and to form a team and create a plan before an emergency arises rather than waiting until a crisis occurs to act.
At the end of the guide is a both a glossary and two pages of additional resources for caregivers handling a range of issues related parents from Alzheimers care to legal issues affecting older adults.
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Hello friends and Happy Fri-Yay!! This has been a whirlwind week and despite the dreary weather I am so happy that the weekend is right around the corner. Several exciting events occurred this week and I’d like to share a few of them with you, the first was having another DIY article printed in @ParadeMagazine, (click here), Potpourri in a Jar ~ Flameless Fragrance. The second was being featured by Whitney Nic James, (click here) on her blog as a May pick in her weekly Personal Style Linkup.
I have also been very busy doing product reviews and will be heading to AC (Atlantic City) for an overnight stay which was a Perk from Crowdtap, definitely looking forward to that one. Tomorrow I’ll be driving back up to West Chester to attend the Radiant Orchard Summer Party hosted by Design+Life+Kids, so look for that recap on that next week. Sunday I plan on taking hubby to breakfast and then lounging poolside, what are your weekend plans?
Now let’s get this party started with CONGRATULATIONS to our FEATURED BLOGGERS
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Please feel free to copy and paste this button onto your blog and check our Pinterest Page as you are also featured there.
The rules remain the same and we hope that after linking up your own post(s) that you will take the time to visit and comment on 3 others. Please follow your hosts on at least one social media websites and remember sharing is caring!
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Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. Sunday is Father’s Day and the stores have been advertising great gift ideas for dads, everything from ties to tires. However, if you are like me and the father of your children is over fifty, you know there are some gifts that you can give him that are better than anything bought in a store.
Here a just 5 suggestions of Dad’s Day Gifts for Fathers over 50
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Eating Right: as a man gets older, good nutrition plays an even more important role in how well he ages. Hubby and I were in the grocery store and one of the ingredients that we focused on was sodium. The daily recommended amount of sodium should not come from just one meal. Have you checked the sodium content in a can of soup, you’d be surprised just how much there is. I enjoy cooking so when shopping we purchase more fresh fruits and veggies, fish, turkey and less red meat. Hubby still likes his sweets but has cut down considerably since his surgery, so this weekend I’ll make him a little treat like this No-Bake Cheesecake.
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Staying Active: staying physically active is important for everyone, and even more so for men as they age. Whether it’s taking a walk together after a meal, going to the gym, swimming at the Y, lifting weights or playing golf, men need to keep their bodies physically active. Having a healthy sex life is also important for men over the age of 50, not only because it’s a great form of exercise but it could reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Remember ladies, the marital bed is undefiled (Hebrews 13:4), so give him a good workout!
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Looking Good – men enjoy looking into the mirror and seeing a healthy smile, a well groomed face and hair as much as we like seeing them. So give him a compliment when you see him using body washes, lotions, and other grooming products. This not only makes him feel good but it also gives him a boost of confidence that is a gift that keeps on giving!
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Healthy Sleep – turn off that TV, iPod, Tablet, iPhone and the lights for a good night’s rest, which is rejuvenating and slows the aging process. If you have a lumpy mattress or ill fitting sheets, perhaps you may need new set of linen or a new mattress especially if it’s older than half his age!
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Prevention – an annual checkup is definitely vital for a healthy and happy life, so when your man makes an appointment he should ask to have the following tests completed during that visit:
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Blood pressure
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Cholesterol level
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Blood sugar level
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Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
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Testosterone level
What is the best gift you have given your hubby or significant other?
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there, I will be thinking about mine on what would have been his 52nd Dad’s Day
Rest in Peace Pops!
I HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK AT 6:00 FOR THE #WWDPARTY
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014
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Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. Now that the heat of the summer is on, the heat of the oven is now off! That however, does not mean that there will be no more cooking or baking in the Blake household. Nope, it just means that the outdoor grill will be used more often and if the desserts don’t come from the freezer they will definitely be no-bake options.
So just in time for the weekend and in celebration of Father’s Day, this is today’s Foodie Feature
No-Bake Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes made with Reddi-Wip.
I used a box of Jello No Bake Cheesecake mix, fresh strawberries and Reddi Wip to create this easy breezy satisfying no bake dessert.
Following the directions on the box I mixed the Graham Cracker crust with butter and sugar, then using a spoon pressed a little of the mixture into the bottoms of 12 muffin cups.
In a bowl, I poured in 1 1/2 cups of milk then added the filling mix, whipped on low for a minute and then on medium speed for another few minutes until thickened.
Topped each Graham Cracker Crust cups with filling and refrigerated uncovered for an hour
Washed, cored and sliced several strawberries to top each mini cheesecake but not before first topping them with some whooshes of Extra Creamy Reddi Wip. I love the sound it makes coming out of the can and love even more the fact that there are only 15 calories per serving, so I added 2 servings of real cream to each!
What do you think, this was easy right? Do you have a Berry Joyful moment with Reddi-wip and berries that you can share for a chance to WIN a trip to the California Strawberry festival, or weekly prizes!
Now through July 7, 2014, you can share your everyday Reddi-wip berry-licious moments on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook using the #BerryJoyfulSweeps hashtag for the chance to win a trip for two to the 2015 Watsonville Strawberry Festival, Reddi-wip coupons or berry keeper produce containers.
You can enter the #BerryJoyfulSweeps sweepstakes through a tab located on the Reddi-wip Facebook page, found at www.facebook.com/reddiwip – Good Luck!
Disclosure: I am participating in a Vibrant Influencer network campaign for Reddi-wip. I am receiving a fee for posting; however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own. I am in no way affiliated with Reddi-wip and do not earn a commission or percent of sales.
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Hello Friends and Happy Hump Day Wednesday. We are halfway through another wonderful week and so we have two new shoe contenders, but before we begin, let’s take a look at last week’s You Choose The Shoes winners.
Were they your choice?
Now the shoes that I picked for this week are similar in print but different in style and I wanted them to compete with the pattern in my dress, take a look:
animal print Jessica Simpson’s peep toe pumps from a consignment shop
-vs-
The dress was thrifted from Goodwill and like I said, I didn’t want to go with a solid color pump, so I stepped outside of the box with the animal print. What do you think – good choice or not?
Open toe versus closed toe, and they are both equally comfortable.
The extra long beaded necklace was a purchase from Rugged Wearhouse, which is my favorite store for costume jewelry.
Which Shoes Do You Choose?
Will it be Jessica Simpson
or
Christian Sirano?
What are your thoughts on mixing patterns, especially with animal prints.
Guess what, I was featured by Whitney at her Personal Style Linkup, so when you get a chance come on over and check it out!
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
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