LimByLim

Martha Does It Again: Martha’s Flowers Review

April 9, 2018 No Comments

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.

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

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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.

Food, Sponsored

Healthier Snacking Options #NewHopeBloggerBox

April 7, 2018 No Comments

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.

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

Saffron Road Honey Roasted Crunchy Chickpeas

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.

Prana Organic Chia Balance (Dark chocolate bark with carmelized coconut & probiotic chia)

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!

I’m Different Pineapple Cacao Nibs Crunchy Coconut Clusters

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.

Giveaways, House, Sponsored

Make Art With Your Memories: Canvas Factory Review + Giveaway

April 6, 2018 80 Comments

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

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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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Vacation

Spring Break: Las Vegas Wrap-Up

April 5, 2018 No Comments

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.

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

Living Statue

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.

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

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

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

Love the thin crust!

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

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!

Book Review, Giveaways, Sponsored

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

April 4, 2018 35 Comments

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.

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

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Family Field Trips, Sponsored, Vacation

Spring Break Las Vegas: Real Bodies at Bally’s

April 3, 2018 No Comments

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.

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!

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.

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.
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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

Family Field Trips, Sponsored, Vacation

Spring Break: Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

April 2, 2018 No Comments

Disclosure: We received free tickets from Madame Tussauds in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

While D was busy at the Adobe Summit, the kids and I had a lot of free time. We decided to check out Madame Tussauds Wax Museum located in The Venetian Hotel. This was the first time we have ever visited a wax museum.

The idea of a wax museum has always sounded kind of creepy, but fascinating at the same time. k is supposed to do a wax museum project for school where she dresses up as a historical figure, so this was a good experience for her.

The likenesses of the celebrities definitely had me doing double-takes.

There are a ton of good photo opportunities! This museum is pretty hands-on; no velvet ropes that you need to stand behind.

Warning: a couple of the scenes were rated PG-13, i.e. not very “family-friendly”. This is Vegas, after all. I quickly scooted the kids to the next scene.

Since our kids are not very aware about celebrity culture, they did not recognize most of the figures. However, if you are into celebrities, this would be a fun place to visit. Where else can you have your picture taken with the likenesses of George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Shaquille O’Neal?

The kids’ favorite part of the museum was watching the 4D Marvel movie at the end. Although it was only about ten minutes long, I thought it was a nice addition that added value to the price of the museum ticket.

Get your selfie sticks ready! Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is the only place with no velvet ropes or barriers holding you back from getting photos with your favorite stars! Located on the Las Vegas Strip, under the Venetian Bell Tower, Madame Tussauds invites you to pose with countless figures of internationally renowned musicians, A-list celebrities, sports legends, world leaders, super heroes and more. With several newly renovated spaces, the world famous interactive wax attraction is bigger and better than ever!

Plus, don’t miss your chance to fight crime alongside Nick Fury and your favorite Marvel Superheros, before immersing yourself in the wild Marvel Super Heroes 4D Cinema Experience, featuring high-impact special effects!
Save $5 Off – Show and save! Get $5 off your admission to Madame Tussauds Las Vegas when you present the box office with this coupon. *Present this coupon at the box office and receive $5.00 off each admission. Coupon valid up to 10 people. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. No cash value. Not for resale. Management reserves all rights. The images show depict wax figures created and owned by Madame Tussauds. 2017 Madame Tussauds. TM & Warner Brothers Entertainment, Inc. Promotional Code: USFAMILY

Book Review, Sponsored

Sage Advice: Always Fall Forward

April 1, 2018 No Comments

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

There are many life lessons that can be learned through playing sports. As I watch my kids play team sports, I see them developing both their skills and their character. In Always Fall Forward, Todd Gerelds recounts the many lessons that his father taught him, as well as all of the football players he coached over the years. His father, Tandy Gerelds, was the football coach featured in the movie Woodlawn. After reading this book, I see why a movie was made about his life.

The book consists of 52 short chapters, Each chapter begins with an applicable Bible verse and ends with additional verses and questions to think about. The advice is practical, yet profound. For example, in the chapter with the same name as the title of the book, the author remembers his dad coaching him and all of the ball carriers to “always fall forward,” in order to get every inch out of every play. He relates this to Paul’s determination to continue on despite adversity and suffering and to not look back. I could see this being a great book to go through over the course of a year for anyone who is interested in sports. It also contains a lot of good teaching points for coaches that want to develop their players on a deeper level. There are also applications to working in the corporate world and life in general. Now I want to go watch Woodlawn!

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.

Vacation

Spring Break: Our Stay at The Palazzo in Las Vegas

March 31, 2018 No Comments

The reason for our trip to Las Vegas was that D attended the Adobe Summit for work. When he told me that he was staying at the Palazzo and that the dates coincided with our spring break, it was a no-brainer.

I was afraid that in between checking out from the Rio and checking into the Palazzo we would be homeless for a few hours. However, we lucked out because the Palazzo let us check in early (before 11:00 a.m.), free of charge and gave us a prime room on a higher level with a view of the Strip. Nice!

Waiting for D to check-in.

We had a Bella Suite, which is 720 square feet. Bigger than our first apartment-ha!

The sunken living room made it feel really spacious. There was also a desk and a dining table so D and I could both be on our laptops.

The kids enjoyed having three televisions, including one in the bathroom!

#1

#2

#3

Three-sided alarm clock–genius!

View from the 35th floor!

Night view. The kids fought over who pushed the electronic curtain buttons.

Kids, don’t get used to this!

Restaurant Reviews, Vacation

Spring Break: Rio + Pho Bosa + Hash House A Go Go

March 29, 2018 No Comments

After our failed attempt at visiting Red Rock Canyon, we drove back to Las Vegas to check into our room at the Rio. The room was super cheap–I think the resort fees were more than the room itself! Sometimes it is nice to be off of The Strip’s hustle and bustle. Our room was a long way from the elevator, which made it really quiet.

Rio is known as an all-suite hotel, and it was nice to have some extra room, although you cannot really tell from this picture.

Spacious bathroom.

The kids quickly made themselves at home.

I looked up restaurants nearby and we ended up at Pho Bosa. We had a prime parking space at the hotel that we did not want to risk losing, so we walked to the restaurant which was about one long block away. The sun was still up and there were no shady people around, so it was fine.

Yelp did not disappoint us! D ordered pho. I tried a little and the broth was really good!

I had the Brisket Banh Mi. The meat was definitely a step above what I am accustomed to in a banh mi.

The kids split a brisket panini. I was wondering if it would be enough for them, and it was.

Especially since we also ordered garlic parmesean tots!

I am a big garlic fan, so this dish was right up my alley.

For dessert, we ordered boba tea to-go.

For breakfast, we ate at Hash House A Go Go in the Rio. According to a quick search of LimByLim, the last time we ate here was pre-kids!

This location is quite more spacious than the one we went to in San Diego.

Knowing about the large portions, we only ordered two entrees for the four of us. We still could not finish our food.

Andys Famous Sage Fried Chicken Benedict served on a fresh split biscuit with tomato, spinach, smoked bacon, griddled mozzarella, chipotle cream scrambled eggs with mashed potatoes. This dish was an explosion of flavors!

We also had the apple cinnamon flapjack. This one was kind of disappointing because it was still dough-y around the apples. I guess it is difficult to cook a pancake when it is this huge!

If we go again, I want to try the chicken and waffles.

Food coma! Hash House A Go Go in Las Vegas has a kid-friendly atmosphere with meals that are perfect for sharing.

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