Sign Up For Summer Soccer Camp!

If you are looking for summer camps to sign your kids up for, this is a good one!

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Enroll in the most popular soccer camp in North America! British Soccer Camps have programs for all ages and abilities and feature an innovative curriculum full of skills, drills, and thrills! Register now and you will not only get your free British Soccer game jersey (value $34.95) shipped to you for free immediately, but you will also get our brand new skill development App and 20 videos to help your child practice at home. Your soccer ball, T-shirt & poster will be given out at camp. USE CODE BSC18 at check out to get free shipping.
To Enroll: https://www.challengersports.com/british-soccer/

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Paint Without The Mess: Goliath Games Paint-Sation Easel Review + Giveaway

I received this product sample free for review.  All opinions are my own.

I must admit that I am one of those parents who limits messy art projects at home because I do not want to have to deal with the clean-up.  Well, Goliath Games Paint-Sation Easel Set offers a solution to this dilemma.  It claims to eliminate the messiness of painting by using paint pods that will not spill, even if turned upside down!

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We put it to the test!

This is what comes in the box:

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Additional paint pods such as this are sold separately.

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Here is a closer look at the finger stamps that come with the additional paint pod.

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The paint has a gel-like consistency, and truly does not spill when turned upside down!

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I like how the paint pods snap onto the easel.  It creates an all-in-one art station.

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“Hmm…what should I paint next?”

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k actually preferred to use the easel flat on the table.

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The kids had a lot of fun with this set.  The Paint-Sation Easel truly does allow budding artists to paint without the mess, which I appreciate as a mess-adverse mom!


We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Good news: Goliath Games has generously offered to give one of my readers a Paint-Sation Easel set of their own!

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Paper Lantern Dumpling House Review

It has been a while since I have posted a restaurant review.  Last weekend we were in the mood to try something new.  We decided on Paper Lantern Dumpling House in the Diamond Jamboree shopping center.

First off, I like the clean, modern decor of this restaurant.

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Their menu is simple (left is in Chinese, right is in English) and you order at the counter.

Here is what we ordered:

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Chinese broccoli ($4.50).  This is a simple dish, but the garlic and the accompanying sauce made it so good!  The kids liked it too!

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Two orders of Pork Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) ($4.75 each).  We first had these at Din Tai Fung, the gold standard of XLB.  The wrappers here were not quite as delicate, and the dumplings were not quite as juicy but they are less expensive and there are no insanely long wait times to contend with.  Worth a try!

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k, the soup dumpling master!

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Two orders of “beef wrap” ($5.50 for 3 pieces). This was SO delicious!  It is a flaky green onion pancake stuffed with beef, along with cucumber and a flavorful sauce.  This is a “must” order.

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Soup dumplings, that is!

Paper Lantern Dumpling House

2730 Alton Parkway, #101 Irvine, CA 92606

Open Daily, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

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Thoughts On My First Imperfect Produce Box #ImperfectProduce

April is Earth Day month and sustainability seems to be a hot topic.  I must admit, I am guilty of wasting food, especially produce.  A lot of times, I just forget it is in my refrigerator and it goes bad.  On a national level, 6 billion pounds of produce go to waste in the United States, but a lot of this waste occurs before it is even bought by consumers.

I recently decided to try out a produce delivery service called Imperfect Produce.  This company addresses the problem of food waste by using the produce that would otherwise go unsold.  This produce is not rotten or past its prime!

According to the Imperfect Produce website, produce can be considered imperfect because of:

  • Size: too small, too big, or too varied.
  • Asymmetry; too misshapen
  • Scarring: marks on skin/peel
  • Lack of consumer market: too unknown
  • Discoloration: too different in color from average
  • Surplus: too many

Imperfect Produce delivers a box of produce to your doorstep on a weekly basis, or every other week.  The box can also be customized to meet your needs.  You can order a box of various sizes: small, medium, large, and extra large; organic or non-organic, all vegetables, all fruit, or mixed.  I chose a small organic box of fruits and vegetables for my first box.  In my area, deliveries are made on Friday night.  It was on my porch when I checked on Saturday morning.  The Monday before the delivery I received an e-mail with details about what was expected in my box for that week.  You have until Wednesday to make any changes you want.  While I like the element of surprise in trying produce I do not usually buy, I also appreciate not having to pay for something if I already know that our family will not eat it.  You can also put your subscription on hold or cancel at any time as long as you let them know before the customization window is closed.

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This was the contents of my first box: spinach, lacinato kale, onions, braeburn apples, red potatoes, grapefruit and navel oranges (I took out the scheduled cilantro).

I was inspired to make a kale salad and roasted parmesan and garlic potatoes to accompany some chicken.  I was really surprised when my kids gobbled it up!  For some reason, I do not buy potatoes that often since we usually eat rice or bread as our starch.  I also usually do not buy lacinato kale, so it was fun to experiment.  The only disappointment was that the apples were a little softer than I would have liked.  I think next time I will try to substitute more vegetables for the fruit.

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Another reason why I liked this box is that it gives me the push I need to buy organic.  I have good intentions of buying more organic produce at the grocery store, but then I see how much cheaper “regular” (or should I say “pesticide”) produce is, and then I cave.  Knowing exactly how much I spent on this organic produce, I also feel like I have more impetus to use it up instead of letting it languish in the fridge.

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Unlike meal delivery services, there is not a lot of extra packaging waste.  All of the produce is simply placed in a cardboard box.  If you post a picture of your produce with the included googly eyes on social media, they donate five pounds of food to a local food bank.  The expression on this red potato is pretty funny, don’t you think?

Imperfect Produce has an awesome referral program.  If you sign up with this link, you can get $10 credit to Imperfect Produce.  It is worth a try!

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Martha Does It Again: Martha’s Flowers Review

Am I the only one who misses the Martha Stewart television show?  Yes, I heard she was doing another show with Snoop Dogg, but I never watched it since we do not have cable.  I have a subscription to her magazine, but it just does not feel the same anymore.  However, I still consider Martha the homemaker extraordinaire, and she has another book that shows that she still deserves that title.  Martha’s Flowers, A Practical Guide to Growing, Gathering, and Enjoying, showcases Martha’s classic style and is quite informative.  The photographs are gorgeous–this is a lovely book to have on display.  It is currently living on my stack of coffee table books.

This book is divided into sections by season: spring, summer, and early autumn.  Each section is then divided into chapters by flower, such as daffodil, tulip, rose, and dahlia.  There is a good amount of information on each flower, including ideal growing zones, how to plant, water, fertilize, prune, and arrange.  There are also photographs of each flower while they are growing, and featured in various arrangements.

I do not have a green thumb at all, but I found this book very inspiring.  We recently cleared out some overgrown plants in our backyard, so now we have some room for planting.  How lovely would it be to have a cutting garden?  Right now it seems like only a dream, but at least I now have a solid resource to go to when I get serious about it.

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Flowers really do have the power to cheer us up, whether growing outside or inside, in a vase!

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

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Healthier Snacking Options #NewHopeBloggerBox

I received samples of these products as a New Hope Blogger.  All opinions are my own.

I am definitely a snacker.  I personally do not understand how people can go through the day just eating three meals and nothing in between!  I am always on the lookout for new snacks, and lately I have been more focused on trying to find snacks with healthier ingredients.

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I wanted to share reviews of three snacks that I was introduced to through the New Hope Blogger Box.

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You cannot really get any simpler than this ingredient list: roasted chickpeas, sugar, honey and sea salt.  Chickpea snacks seemed to be popular at Expo West, which I will try to share about in another post.  One serving has 4g of protein, which makes them a satisfying snack. The appearance is very similar to honey roasted peanuts, and they even have a subtle nutty flavor.  They are slightly sticky due to the honey, but not overly so.  According to the Saffron Road website, they also have salted caramel and chocolate covered chickpea snacks–yum!  There are also savory flavors such as Korean BBQ if you prefer non-sweet snacks.

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This bark will definitely satisfy any chocolate craving that you have.  It contains probiotic chia, (did not know that there even was such a thing!) which provides 4g of dietary fiber per serving.  Each serving also has 4 grams of protein, which I am always looking to add to my diet.  The coconut strips, pumpkin and sunflower seeds add textural interest.  Their flavor profiles are so interesting.  For example, Matcha Magic also sounds good-chocolate bark with roasted sesame, crispy rice and matcha!

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This snack was the most surprising to me, maybe because I did really know what to expect.  The clusters are reminiscent of a light granola, but the fresh pineapple flavor really comes through.  I did not really taste the cacao, but I liked the fruitier taste.  On the back of the bag, it says “You will find small clusters at the bottom of the bag.  We like to use these as toppings on ice cream, oatmeal, and yogurt. Get creative!”  I think those ideas would be really tasty.  Each serving has 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.  Their fun “I’m different” message really comes across in their marketing.

I like that all of these snacks have no artificial flavors or colors and are made of “real food”.  Although these products still have sugar and fat, etc., they do offer a healthier alternative to mainstream, traditional “junk food”.  I will definitely be on the lookout for these brands when I go grocery shopping so I can try out some of their other products.


We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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Make Art With Your Memories: Canvas Factory Review + Giveaway

I received a free canvas print from Canvas Factory in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own.

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Although we have lived in our house since 2009, we still have a lot of blank walls.  I can be indecisive when it comes to home decor, since I want the things in my home to be meaningful and to reflect my style.  At the same time, I have taken thousands of pictures of my family and places we have visited.  However, most of these pictures live here on the blog; I rarely have them printed.  Well, I had the opportunity to try out Canvas Factory and I have found a solution to my problem!

Before this blogging opportunity came up, I had actually recently ordered another print from Canvas Factory.  This is a picture of me and the kids in Sedona.  I really liked the red rock background.  When D saw it he wanted to know why he was not included.  Well, he was the one taking the picture!  I promised him that I would include him in the next one.

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Canvas Factory makes the ordering process really easy.  You choose the size you want, and then upload a picture from your computer.  The most difficult part for me was choosing which picture I wanted to use!

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The time between placing my order and having it delivered to my home was really quick.

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I am seriously impressed with the quality of the canvas.  The sides are 1.2″ thick and the corners are neatly finished.

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Here you can see that I chose the “wraparound” version for this canvas.  You can also choose to do a mirror effect, or to have a solid color on the sides if you want to preserve more of the photo on the front.  Another customization they offer is to add text, which could be fun.

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The canvases come with hangers, so they can be displayed vertically or horizontally.  I also appreciate not having to worry about frames with these canvas prints.

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I thought these canvases would look nice in our entryway.  Both of these canvases are 16″ x 20″, to give you a sense of scale.

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I really like how these prints give a pop of color to the walls. It is also nice to be greeted with warm family memories right when I walk through our front door.

A canvas print would make a lovely present for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, or any occasion, really.  It seems like Canvas Factory always has a good sale going on, so check out their site.  For our Canadian friends, order here.  I also have an opportunity to win a 16″ x 20″ for yourself!

 

 

 

 

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Spring Break: Las Vegas Wrap-Up

Since D was attending his conference and evening work activities, he was concerned that we would be bored.  As you can see from our previous posts, we kept ourselves busy.  I really enjoyed my extended time with just the kids.  It was also very nice to be on the north end of the Strip.  There was a lot less craziness and it felt more family-friendly than some of our other visits.

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The Canal Shoppes were confusing to navigate, but eventually learned our way around.

Living Statue

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When I read that there was a Paris Baguette located in The Venetian, I put it on my places to check out.  We have one by our house, but we do not go very often.  However, this Creme Brulee Bombolone might have been my favorite food item that I ate during our vacation!  It was filled with custard and the light torched sugar crust was perfection.  We also returned bought some sandwiches that were pretty good as well.

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I really liked the interior spaces of The Palazzo.  Simple, but elegant.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg35r4LnSjk/?taken-by=limbylim

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Our first dinner was take-out pizza from Grimaldi’s, conveniently located in The Palazzo.

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Love the thin crust!

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I really liked the design of this Starbucks, located just outside of Sands Convention Center.

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We did a little window shopping at Fashion Show Mall.

At the Disney store we discovered Ufufys.  Have you heard of them?  I guess they are from Japan, which may be why I was immediately drawn to them!

They are also scented, which I am not sure I would like for the long term, but it was fun in the store.

We watched the Mirage volcano erupt.

Until next time!

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Reach Your Momentum Milestones: Live. Save. Spend. Repeat. Review + Giveaway

 

One of the big financial goals that we set a few years back was to pay off our mortgage by the age of forty.  (I think I will be sharing a post that D has already drafted about that journey in the near future.)  When I read that Kim Anderson, the author of Live. Save. Spend. Repeat., The Life You Want With The Money You Have, along with her husband, paid off their mortgage before they were thirty years old, I was impressed.

Anderson, who has a blog called Thrifty Little Mom, provides solid, practical advice about what to do if you are struggling to get out of debt or are living paycheck to paycheck,  As a couple, we have already implemented many of the money-saving strategies that are offered in this book.  For example, we budget our money into different categories, and we save money through our spending habits (groceries, utilities, eating out and entertainment), etc.  I can personally vouch for these strategies because we have used many of them.

However, what I found the most inspiring in this book was Anderson’s discussion about what she calls “Momentum Milestones”.  She defines momentum as “the strength of a force that grows stronger over time” and a milestone is “an important point in our progress or development”.  Putting these words together can give your life direction instead of “simply surviving the everyday”.  Anderson encourages her readers to evaluate the dreams they have for their lives in the next three years, five years, and ten years.  Then she outlines five steps that are necessary to achieve these milestones.  This section really helped me in thinking about the direction of my life, including with developing this blog!

Finally, I appreciate that Anderson is a Christian, and writes about the importance of investing in your relationship with God.  Although most of the strategies outlined in the book could be implemented by Christians and non-Christians alike, Anderson recognizes that we should always ultimately seek God’s direction in our lives: “We’ll never satisfy our wants until we magnify our need for Christ.”

Live. Save. Spend. Repeat. is now available on Amazon.

 

I am also hosting a giveaway for a paperback copy of Live. Save. Repeat. by Kim Anderson!

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Spring Break Las Vegas: Real Bodies at Bally’s

We were provided with complimentary tickets from Real Bodies.  All opinions are my own.

When I told our kids that we were going to Real Bodies at Bally’s they had mixed reactions.  They seemed both interested and a little grossed out at the same time.  I had seen advertisements for similar exhibits at other science museums, but had never been.

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I am not sure what they were trying to accomplish by making this skeleton the first thing you see, but it definitely piqued our interest.  Maybe it is a warning that if you cannot handle looking at this display, this museum is not for you!

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The human body is so amazingly complex, yet most of the time we take it for granted.  This exhibit explores the various systems of the body, including the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, digestive, nervous and respiratory systems.

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I liked how there were random factoids posted throughout the museum.  For instance, did you know that children grow faster in spring?  There was another parent there that was teaching her child extra facts about everything they saw.  Science was never my strong suit, so we just stuck to reading the informational cards.

There was also a section that was cordoned off that showed fetuses at various stages of fetal development.  We chose to view it, and it was probably the most fascinating part of the exhibit for me.  The kids could not believe that they were ever that tiny!

If you are looking for something interesting and educational to do while in Las Vegas, check out Real Bodies at Bally’s.

REAL BODIES at Bally’s uses real human specimens to explore the complex inner workings of the human form in a refreshing and thought-provoking style. System-by-system, the Exhibition provides an approachable and fascinating insight into what’s happening inside every one of us. Generous group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. Please contact us for more information regarding group pricing for self-guided tours and field trips.
$5 off – YOU’LL NEVER SEE YOUR BODY THE SAME WAY AGAIN! 
EXPERIENCE REAL HUMAN BODIES presented in dramatic and compelling environments. An authentic, original exhibition on human anatomy. 

$5 off
Present this coupon at the Bally’s Box Office to redeem. Good for up to 4 regular adult admissions. Not to be combined with any other discount or offer. CODE: VKG

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