Life Music Laughter

Michael Buble 'To Be Loved' Album Review

2013-05-24T22:27:00.002-04:00

Michael Buble's latest album, 'To Be Loved' is another good one.

The album includes 4 original songs by Michael. I'm split on these 4. I really like 2 of them, and the other 2, for me, are just so so. My favorite of the 4 is 'It's a Beautiful Day'. I really like it. It has an upbeat, splash of cool water on a bright sunny day kind of sound. This will be a song that I'll add to my 'Monday Morning' playlist.

The other songs on the album are classics which Buble has put his own touch on. He gives them all a new sound with his classically smooth voice. His sound just seems to make you feel good, and you can't help but smile while listening. Some of my favorites include, 'Young at Heart', 'Come Dance with Me' and 'You've Got a Friend in Me'. Of course, the latter one may have your kids screaming to watch a certain movie about toys, but a small sacrifice to make for a good piece of music.

I have to admit I didn't love every song on the album, but then I wouldn't call myself a fan of Michael Buble. However, the majority of the songs are really good. If you're looking for some new dinner party music, or some new relaxing by the pool tunes, then the album is worth the purchase. If you're already a fan of Buble, then I'm sure you'll love this album just as much as his previous 6. It is of consistent quality; smooth feel good songs in the classic songwriter standard.

disclosure: I received the album in order to complete this review. By posting, I'm entering a contest. All opinions expressed are my own.

Win the Perfect Father's Day Gift

2013-05-22T21:47:00.001-04:00

Want to win the perfect Father's Day gift? Dreamworks' Delivery Man has a new sweepstakes. Enter to win a 50" TV or 1 of 10 $250 gift cards.

Make sure to check out the sneak peek below.

Wordless Wednesday, A Dog and his Toy

2013-05-21T21:26:00.000-04:00

We were watching TV when we looked down to find Dublin, (the dog) watching right along with us. The way he's laying it looks like Frankie, (the toy) was also enjoying the show.

Publix Running Out? Run In Event, Giveaway

2013-05-16T21:31:00.001-04:00

So you stocked up at the beginning of the month, but are already running out of the products your family needs? You’re in luck!

From May 15th through May 22nd , look for the “Running Out? Run In.” event at Publix® to take advantage of great savings on some of your favorite brands from General Mills and Procter & Gamble, like Wheaties, Totino’s, Charmin and Crest. Plus, if you buy $30 of participating* items from 5/15 through 5/31, you can mail in to receive a $10 Publix® gift card to use on your next shopping trip! (For more details on this great rebate, please visit www.runningoutrunin.com)

Publix is my "go to" store, and I'm so glad to have one right near my house. Publix really is a one stop shop, but with my memory, I'm there way more than once. It never fails that I forget something in my main shopping trip, so it's so easy to just run in to Publix to grab what I need.

If you want to win a $25 Publix card so you can run in and get what you need, or maybe just something yummy that you want, enter to win in the form below. Good luck!

While you're waiting to see if you've won, make sure to take advantage of the opportunity to get a $10 Publix card just for buying your favorite General Mills products!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: The information, my gift card, and the giveaway were provided by General Mills and Publix through MyBlogSpark.

Oh No! My Tongue is Black!

2013-05-16T09:13:00.002-04:00

"Holy heck! what is wrong with my tongue?! It's black! Oh my gosh! What's wrong with me?!"

That was me this morning, when I woke up with a tongue that was completely BLACK! I mean blackest of night black! So, I'm thinking I brushed my teeth before I went to bed, how did this happen? Was I raiding the pantry in my sleep? (That could certainly explain the extra pounds on me.) How long have I been doing this? What else am I doing in my sleep? Oh crap...sometimes, I sleep naked! AAAAAAGH!

I ran to check the pantry, no food missing...phew, crisis avoided! But...what the hell is wrong with me?! My tongue is still black! ♪once you go black you never go back♪ (Gin Wigmore) Oh no! It's going to be this way forever!

I did the only thing I could do in this emergency situation...

I asked the smartest person I know...GOOGLE!

Google, why did I wake up with a black tongue?

As always, Google knows all...Google had the answer.

I'm not dying...I don't need a doctor...I'm not eating in my sleep (damn! no excuses for not losing the weight!) I don't have some strange exotic disease...

the cause of my black tongue in the morning...Pepto Bismol.

Apparently, the active ingredient in Pepto Bismol can cause a black tongue, and I hadn't taken 2 chewables after dinner yesterday. So that explains it...2 little pink pills make people wake up with a black tongue.

Hmmm Who knew?! Weird.

♪Who knew♪ (Pink)

Pour Your Heart Out, Sometimes A Girl Needs to Vent

2013-05-15T11:20:00.000-04:00

I started blogging to tell my story, share my viewpoint, and make connections. Somewhere along the line, I lost of sight of that, and what was once a great outlet for me became work. I'm trying to get back in touch with me and why I started this.

I've struggled to balance blogging, work, and school, not to mention everything else that comes along with life. The latest life challenge has been my health.

I know that so many people have problems bigger than mine, so I try not to complain about it. But, sometimes a girl needs to vent!

Here's the thing:

I'm tired of: being in pain, lacking focus, feeling week, getting dizzy, relying on energy drinks, wondering if I'm keeping him satisifed enough, and feeling 88 when I'm only 38.

I hate: really being too tired, not feeling like going out, having to ask for help, not staying awake through a movie, and feeling 88 when I'm only 38.

I no longer: wear heels, feel sexy, write as much as I'd like, read as much as I'd like, feel confident, know that I'm enough for him, feel independent, but I still feel 88 when I'm really 38.

I worry: that I won't ever feel better, that I'm a burden, that love is not all we need, that I forgot something reallly important, that things are worse than they seem, that I won't make it to 88 because I feel this way at 38.

but,

I know: that he loves me, every day is a new day and a new opportunity, that I am so much better off than many others, that I have a lot of support, that I'm going to finally start my own business, that I can find time to blog if I try hard enough, that I'm eating healthier, and that today I may feel 88, but I'm only 38 so I have plenty of time.

♪It's a beautiful day♪ (U2)

Wordless Wednesday, On the Sunny Side

2013-05-08T12:28:00.003-04:00

Happy Wordless Wednesday! I hope your week is feeling sunny!

organic sunflowers from my local market

♪Life can be so sweet, on the sunny side of the street♪ (Frank Sinatra)

Spice Things Up with this Subscription Service, Giveaway

2013-05-08T07:28:00.000-04:00

I'm sure by now you've heard of some of the subscription services that send you boxes full of goodies. There's all kinds available from cooking to, fashion to pet toys. Here's one that's hot!

Spicy Subscriptions is a monthly subscription service for romance, intimacy and beauty products. As in things to spice things up in the bedroom. Because even the best of relationships need a little something to keep things interesting!

Each month you get a new collection of items. It could include flirty new cosmetics, massage oils, lingerie and more. Here's your chance to win a 50 Shades of Grey themed subscription. Just enter in the Rafflecopter form below.

If you want to learn more about this service, head to SpicySubscriptions.com or Facebook

If you don't want to wait to see if you win, take advantage of these great promotions with the following coupon codes. But, if you want to use them you'll need to hurry. They expire 48 hours after the end of this contest.

"10off" on all monthly subscriptions (10% off first box)
"get1499" for Premium 4 month subscription ($14.99 for first box)
"get1999" for Deluxe 4 month subscription ($19.99 for first box)

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

disclosure: By posting this I'm entered to win a prize.

Cascadian Farms Crunchy Granola Bars at Publix, Giveaway

2013-05-06T21:58:00.000-04:00

One of the changes that I've made this year is eating more natural foods and cutting out a lot of the processed foods that we used to eat a lot of. And, I mean a lot!

Since we've made this change in our diet, both my husband and I have lost weight. I've lost 20 lbs since January!! Woohoo!!

More important is that we don't feel like we're dieting because we're not really depriving ourselves of anything. When we want something sweet we eat it. It's simple.

Thanks to the great natural products that Publix offers, its even easy to shop for stuff that tastes good but doesn't have chemicals. One of these products is the Cascadian Farms crunchy granola bars. They are sweet, and crunchy, but not so hard that they hurt your teeth like some other granola bars I've tried. As part of this review, I tried the 2 new flavors Peanut Butter, and my favorite Oats & Honey.

I'm not a big fan of Peanut Butter granola, but these were quite good. I really really like the Oats & Honey, and so did hubby!

I especially like that its a quick snack that fits with my goal of eating more naturally. Learn more at CascadianFarms.com

If you want to try these 2 new Cascadian Farms Crunchy Granola Bars, you can enter to win in the Rafflecopter form below.

1 reader will win 2 of each flavor plus a $25 Publix giftcard.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

disclosure: The products for this review and the prize pack were provided by Cascadian Farms and Publix through MyBlogSpark.

Iron Man 3 Opens Today, Buy Your Ticket Now, You're Gonna Want to See This!

2013-05-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today is the day Iron Man 3 crashes into theaters, and let me tell you; this movie is AWESOME!

Iron Man 3 starts on a very lighthearted fun note with the song Blue by Eiffel 65 ♪I'm blue dabadee dabada♪. I couldn't help but seat dance to it with a silly little grin on my face. Within a few minutes that grin got even bigger as we saw some sexy hip shimmy from Tony Stark, played by the total hottie Robert Downey, Jr. The movie could have stopped right there and I would have been happy.

But, it didn't stop there... in fact, from there it sent me flying over a cliff in a nonstop intense free fall of awesomeness! When I say intense, I mean crazy...gripping the armrest...edge of your seat INTENSE! With the first appearance of the Super Villain The Mandarin, played by none other than the great Sir Ben Kingsley, we are thrown into this battle to save the world, and I loved every minute of it!

Along with the great thrill ride that Iron Man 3 is, I also like the continuity from the last time we saw Iron Man in Marvel's Avengers. They did a great job acknowledging the Avengers without taking away from this story line. And, as always the ego and sarcasm of Tony Stark is good for a few laughs.

This is a movie your gonna want to see in the theaters, in 3D, and if you have an IMAX theater pay the extra for it...It is definitely worth it, especially during the in air rescue scene. You'll feel like you're falling right with them.

No one can tell you how to parent, and only you can decide what's appropriate for your child, but it may not be appropriate for very young children because of the intensity of some scenes.

Overall, I'd say Marvel has outdone themselves on this one. It is the best Iron Man movie yet!

disclosure: I attended an advance screening to do this review. I received no compensation. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wordless Wednesday, Springtime Critters

2013-05-01T09:32:00.002-04:00

I just love Springtime and all the little critters! Here's a couple that I spotted on a recent road trip. Aren't they so caayoot!

♪Come on and take a free ride♪ (Edgar Winter Group)

Retro Big G Cereals are Back! Prize Pack Giveaway

2013-04-29T16:01:00.002-04:00

Remember all the fun of breakfast with your favorite cereals when you were a kid? Now you can have it again with "retro" packaging from Big G cereals. Just head over to your local Target and check out all the cool packages from the '60s, '70s, and '80s.

If the "retro" boxes aren't enough to get you excited, how about this? Each box has a coupon for $5 off a Hasbro vintage game!! I just love these games! I own both Scrabble and, thanks to My Blog Spark, I now have Parcheesi. I used to play Parcheesi with my cousins after breakfast on a Saturday morning. What great memories! So much fun! For me, the best part about the Vintage games are that they look like books and sit perfectly on a book shelf.

The thing is, if you want one of these cereals with the retro packaging and $5 Hasbro coupon for the cool vintage games, you need to hurry! They are only available for a limited time.

Don’t forget to go online & print a coupon for $1 off 2 General Mills cereals before you head to Target!
Collect all 5 different throw-back packages that each include a $5 coupon for these vintage Hasbro® board games; available exclusively at Target® from March 15, 2013 to April 30, 2013 while supplies last. Coupon valid at Target stores from March 15, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
Participating Big G cereals include: Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (16.2 oz.), Lucky Charms® (16 oz.), Honey Nut Cheerios® (17 oz.), Cheerios® (18 oz.) and Cocoa Puffs® (16.5 oz.)
Participating Hasbro vintage board games: Clue® Vintage, Scrabble® Vintage, Parcheesi® Vintage or Risk® Vintage

You can also enter to win the wicked cool prize pack I received which contains 2 "retro" Big G cereals, vintage Parcheesi and a $10 target card. To enter, just complete the Rafflecopter form below.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through My Blog Spark.

Music Monday, Remembering George Jones

2013-04-28T23:51:00.005-04:00

Sadly, George Jones has passed, but thankfully, his music will carry on. It's Music Monday, what better than to celebrate the wonderful music of George Jones.

This one is so much fun!

and of course, his signature song...

Thank you George, for these and so many other great songs. RIP

Have a good week and make sure to head over to Dolly's for more Music Monday.

New Monsters University Trailer

2013-04-28T18:45:00.002-04:00

I can't wait to see Monsters University! This new trailer is great! It gives a more in depth look at Monster College life with some rockin' music. Take a look at the next great college comedy.

New Iron Man 3 Movie Poster

2013-04-16T22:33:00.000-04:00

With just over 2 weeks left until Iron Man 3 opens on May 3, I'm really starting to get excited! Thanks to the Iron Man movies, and the hottie that plays the title character, (Robert Downey, Jr.,) Iron Man has quickly become one of my favorite Superheroes!

Check out the new Lego Version of the Movie Poster. Isn't it so cute?!

These Lego figures are available in sets at a store near you.

♪I am Iron Man♪ (Black Sabbath)

New Wallet in Hot Colors Protects You From Thieves with Latest Technology

2013-04-12T19:25:00.000-04:00

As our technology has improved, of course, so has the criminal's. Have you heard the latest way they will steal your money?

They use a scanner that can scan your credit card information right through your purse. This is called RFID scimming. They then duplicate your card, and before you know it, your hard earned money is long gone! The first time I heard about it, was when it happened to a friend of mine. She lost $1500. Luckily the bank credited it back, but not without a hassle...and, she was then stuck with the process of cancelling all of her other credit cards.

The good news is you can protect yourself. an aluminum wallet can block the scanner from stealing your card information. HuMn wallet Minis even come in a wide variety of colors so you can be safe and fashionable.

I was given the poppy red one for this review. I really like the bright color, and I got quite a few compliments while using it. It can hold several cards, and your cash fits perfect under the strap. The best part is that the 2 aluminum plates protect you from electronic theft.

I found that I like using it best when I don't need to have too many things with me. It's perfect to slip in my back pocket with my id, debit card and some cash. This comes in handy for concerts, the park, or just running quickly to the store. It keeps everything together so I don't have to worry about losing anything when I reach into my pocket.

The only down side is that if you carry a lot of cards, or a check book, you may still need an additional wallet to hold everything. In that case I would recommend using the HuMn Mini for your credit and debit cards and put loyalty cards in the drawstring bag that it comes in. That way you know you'll be protected from thieves with scanners, but still have everything you need. There is also the option of adding a third plate to give you more room, and different colored straps for even more customization.

Ultimately, I really like the HuMn Mini wallet, and it will be my go to wallet for concerts so I can rest my mind that I'm protected, and just enjoy the music.

You can get the hottest spring colors that will protect you and learn more about RFID theft at HuMnWallet.com

I received the product for free to do this review.

Music Monday, Vegas Baby!

2013-03-31T23:24:00.002-04:00

Happy Music Monday! I'm heading to Las Vegas on Wednesday. So, I figured why not some Vegas themed music for this week?! So here we go!

Don't worry, I won't be taking any shots on the rooftop. :)

Have a musiclicious week, and make sure to head over to Xmas Dolly's for more Music Monday fun!

Wordless Wednesday, Dog Discovers Pool

2013-03-27T09:06:00.000-04:00

We recently moved to a new house.
With this new house came a pool.
My girls threw their rubber duckies in the pool.
My dog has never seen a pool.
He saw the rubber duckies in the pool.

He fell in the pool.

♪Splish Splash I was taking a bath♪ (Bobby Darin)

Music Monday, Feeling Down

2013-03-25T20:19:00.004-04:00

I haven't been feeling well, so I'm late with my Music Monday post which is really sad because I picked the theme. How appropriate that the theme is the Blues or songs that make you sad.

Make sure to head over to XmasDolly's for more Sad songs.

Dropkick Murphys Provide Soundtrack for Latest Pirate Adventure

2013-03-21T22:20:00.002-04:00

You know how much I love good music, and I love pirates. I am in a Tampa pirate Krewe, after all! So, I was so excited to see the new Captain Morgan commercial. The song in the commercial is Prisoner's Song by Dropkick Murphys. It is from their newest album Signed and sealed in Blood and is the perfect song for Captain Morgan. I just saw the Dropkicks in St. Pete. As always, they put on a great show full of energy. If you get the chance to see them in concert, Do it! They are Wicked awesome!

Check out this commercial, I'm sure it will make you want to throw on a corset, wave your Jolly Roger flag, and throw back some Captain Morgan rum. (My favorite is coconut. Yum!)

Watch for Chapter 2 and 3 later in 2013. Keep up with Captain Morgan's adventures on Facebook.

Want more of the Dropkick Murphys? Listen to SIGNED and SEALED in BLOOD It is a great album all the way through!

Music Monday, Getting Dirty

2013-03-18T00:42:00.002-04:00

Happy Music Monday! I hope you all had a wicked lovely weekend! I certainly did! I went to the movies, had a great parade, and got my Irish on! It was a fabulous weekend!

Now let's get our music on and get this week started off right...with some dirty beats!

I hope you have a great week where everything you hear is music to your ears!

Make sure to head over to Xmas Dolly's for some more music and good times.

Publix $5 Gift Card Rebate, Plus $25 Giveaway

2013-03-15T08:57:00.000-04:00

It never fails at my house that I get all our grocery shopping done, and then I realize that I forgot something. The good news for me is we have a Publix right by my house. So I can run in real quick, get what I need and get back to enjoying our new home. And, with Publix prices I know I'm always going to find great savings!

From March 14th through March 20th, look for the Running Out? Run In. event at Publix to take advantage of great savings on some favorite brands from General Mills and Procter & Gamble, like Cheerios, Totino´s Pizza, Charmin and Crest. Plus, if you buy $25 of participating items during this event, you can mail in to receive a $5 Publix gift card to use on your next shopping trip! To download the rebate form head to runningoutrunin.com

I don't know about you, but I'm gonna stock up on some Multi-Grain Cheerios, and Totino's pizza, 2 favorites in my house! With this rebate, and the great Publix savings, this is a wicked lovely deal!

Thanks to General Mills, someone will win a $25 Publix gift card. Enter to win in the form below. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The information, products and General Mills gift pack were provided by General Mills and Publix® through MyBlogSpark

Wordless Wednesday, Hot Pink Shoes

2013-03-12T23:17:00.000-04:00

One of the worst things about having a bad back...

...I can't wear these awesome pink shoes!

I found these hot new styles at TJ Maxx. I so wish I could wear them! Especially those black and white heels with the pink ankle strap! HOTT!!

♪feeling hot hot hot♪ (Buster Poindexter)

Olay Total Effects Review, $25 Walmart Giveaway

2013-03-08T00:09:00.000-05:00

At the end of this post you can enter to win a $25 Walmart gift card, but first, let me tell you what you're probably going to want to buy with it!

I'm very particular about my skin care because despite being 38 years old, my face seems to get confused and thinks it's a teenager with full on acne. When my skins not too oily, it's too dry, not to mention pores that are large enough to park a small car in! Oh, and did I mention that I'm starting to get wrinkles! Nothing major just a few fine lines, but that's how it starts...next thing you know I'll be pulling my hair back just to pull my skin tight!

Anyway, when I heard about Olay Total Effects CC cream, I was more than a little skeptical , but I figured why not give it a try. I'd use it for a couple days and then give it to a friend because I knew I wouldn't like it. I was SO WRONG! I've now been using it for 3 weeks, and you'd have to pry it out of my hands to take it away! I love it! And more importantly my pores like it!

I can really see improvement in my skin. It's smoother, tighter, my pores are smaller, and the color, wow! Most of my redness is gone, and even when I don't have it on! And the best part is when I'm wearing it, it doesn't feel heavy, and NO BREAKOUTS! Not a 1!

I just put it on in the morning in the place of my normal foundation, and then put my powder over it. I've even left the house in just it. Well I mean, I had clothes on, of course, just no other makeup, because of the natural tint, you don't need it. Oh, and ladies this isn't one of those tints that makes you look like an oompa loompa, it is very natural.

Olay really helps me look and feel my best, and you can try it to if you win the $25 Walmart Gift card giveaway. You can enter below, but first read the official info: It really is very cool!

Introducing Beauty’s Next Big Trend! Olay CC Cream provides instant Coverage plus Correction to fight 7 signs of aging, including uneven tone, age spots, and wrinkles!
This all-in-one triple stream formula combines a daily anti-aging moisturizer, SPF 15 sunscreen and sheer tint for younger-looking skin.
Total Effects fights the 7 signs of aging:

Fine lines and wrinkles: reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Uneven Tone: balances and helps even out tone
Age Spots: reduces appearance of discoloration
Gentle Exfoliation: Improves surface cell turnover
Dryness: provides nourishing moisturization
Moisture Barrier: strengthens skin’s natural defense against moisture loss
Luminosity: recaptures youthful luminosity

So, are you ready to go out to Walmart and pick up your own Olay Total Effects CC Cream? I figured you would be!

Just fill out the form below and enter to win. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

disclosure: I was provided with a free product pack for the purposes of this review along with the information and 2 Walmart gift cards, 1 for myself and 1 to give away. All opinions expressed are my own. NOTE: Olay does not represent or warrant the accuracy of any statements or product claims made here, nor does it endorse any opinions expressed within this blogsite.

Wicked Lovely Deal, iPad Stylus Plug In $1.49 + Free Shipping

2013-03-07T10:56:00.002-05:00

I love finding cool new products and especially cool products with great deals!

Have you ever wished you had a stylus for your iPad, but don't want to worry about carrying one around or losing it in the bottom of your purse?

Then you're gonna love this wicked lovely find from miniinthebox.com It's a stylus that attaches where your charger goes, and it keeps it dust free. It's only$1.49 with FREE shipping That's 32% off the regular price of $2.19 which is still a really great price!

And, if you use Ebates you'll get 4% cash back!

order in March and save $2 off a $20 purchase with code MAR2M

Check out the site they have a whole section of items under $1.99 including charger cords, and more..

With deals like this, you can get 1 for all your friends!