Unus Sed Leona

Things I'm Loving This Month-- Asparagus, Luvocracy & Books

2013-04-16T22:22:00.001-05:00

Spring always has a way of putting me in a much better mood-- not a fan of winter. It also has a way of making me fall in love with everything, and there is so much to fall in love with.

A couple of things I'm loving this month....

Loving Luvocracy
Ever find something you fall in love with on Beso, Polyvore or Pinterest only to find its sold out or 3 seasons old? Happens to me all the time, super annoying. Recently joined Luvocracy, its like the love child of Pinterest and Beso, where everything recommended has to currently be for sale! Way better.

Fresh Asparagus
Not sure I am even going to bother vegetable gardening this summer-- its pointless when you live in a shady forest. Going to focus on seasonal cooking more and I love kicking things off with asparagus every spring. On the menu for now, asparagus flatbread, asparagus fritter sticks and asparagus ribbons. Stay tuned for the recipes!

Books, Books and More Books
With so many rainy afternoons I discovered there is such a thing as reading too much (who knew!). My eyes and arms are sore. I've carted home several new to me titles and my own copies of old favorites. Also put up some shelves to house them.

Best thing is, this month I get to give away several copies of my favorite book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo, as part of World Book Night! After participating last year I filled out their survey and commented about the need for bilingual books as well as the addition of Latin American authors. There must have been several of us saying the same thing because Coehlo and Sandra Cisneros were added in English and Spanish! Chevalier also has a title on the list!!

Winter Sale Windfall
Finally, as much as I hate winter, right now is the best time to prep for next winter. I snagged a new Columbia jacket for playing outdoors, an ivory swing coat for special occasions and a new pea coat for everyday all for less than the price of one. Also grabbed warm blankets for cuddling, super cute Vera Wang slippers, boots, scarves for the new coats and almost forgot about the deal on cashmere sweaters I found (you wouldn't believe the prices if I showed you the receipt).

Anything new you're loving this month? Tell me about it!

Celebrate Your Graduate With Tiny Prints Graduation Announcements & Gifts!

2013-03-30T21:40:00.000-05:00

Its seems like every other year we have had a graduation, but each one is as important as the last. I just realized that Joe's graduation from high school will be followed by the twins and then there will be no more childhood graduations. Wow.

With every graduation we have had since we started homeschooling, we celebrate the day and take tons of photos to remember the day. This year Joe will be graduating high school and from boy scouts as an Eagle Scout, which is super big.
He is the only other kiddo in the family, besides myself, to earn the highest award given to a scout!

We always have a dinner and party for the kids' graduations, and this time won't be any different. I have mentioned Tiny Prints a couple times on this blog, and I'm going to mention them again because there are so many great graduation announcements, invitations and gifts.

Having already ordered Tiny Prints announcements for other occasions and events, we know that the quality and designs from this company are some of the best. Because of the girls we went with floral and classic designs in the past, but Joe likes things simple and clean, of which there is plenty to choose from.

I have always said that my brothers are the hardest for me to shop for, because they don't like anything I pick out for them. But, Tiny Prints graduation gifts has a lot to choose from, for both girls and boys at all levels of graduation. Because everything is to order from Tiny Prints, you can even get these gifts personalized.

Tiny Prints has given me the chance to gift one of my readers with a gift card to spend on the website! Leave me a comment in the giveaway widget letting me know what Tiny Prints item you would spend it on.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I have been compensated with product in exchange for posting this information. All opinions are my own.

A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way in #RSVProtection

2013-03-03T23:43:00.000-06:00

When the twins were very young, everyone in the family was the healthiest we've ever been. That's because as preemies, we could not let anyone that was sick near them and we were hyper-active about keeping a clean home. As the twins' overall health improved we let our guard down, stopped reading up about every big virus that came around each year and of course, we started getting sick more.

When it comes to a disease like Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, a little knowledge goes a long way in prevention. Knowing what to look for in children, yours and others, is your first line of defense
when it comes to keeping everyone in your household healthy. Its easy to overlook the symptoms because RSV usually starts out as a mild cold and sniffles before wheezing and sniffles that are caused by a lung infection set in.

Like other viruses, there is no standard treatment, so your best defense is to be proactive as a parent and do what you can to prevent your family from catching RSV. When we had the twins at home, we had a very strict call before coming over policy. This gave us a chance to ask guests about their current health, and how long it had been since they were last sick (diseases like RSV can still spread after infected children have recovered themselves). One of my biggest pet peeves is when parents take their over to family and friends sick, because I know that the next couple weeks are going to be spent caring for the family as they fall like dominoes to the illness themselves.

So, what can you do to prevent your baby from catching RSV?

Always wash yours, and your children's hands, when you are out in public, return home from school or daycare, and periodically throughout the day.
Wash the toys they play with or are introduced to, and their clothes and bedding regularly.
Keep baby away from large crowds of people, or people who are visibly sick. I know everyone wants to play with the cute baby, but November through March is RSV season.

To learn more about RSV, and how you can protect you and your family, check out this website.

Monster Jam Is Coming to Chicago! Discounted Tickets Available

2013-01-16T18:59:00.001-06:00

Monster Jam is coming to Chicago! Ever been? I haven't, but I hear its a lot of fun.

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam is the most exciting form of family motorsports entertainment on the planet. The stars of the show are the biggest performers on four wheels: the Monster Jam trucks! The twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet,
racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over - OR smash through.

The 2013 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement with the celebration of Maximum Destruction's 10th Anniversary providing entertainment tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old. We sold out all 5 shows last year, so get your tickets EARLY! Playing Allstate Arena Feb. 8-10.

CLICK HERE to save 33% off tickets with promo code MOM3.

Celebrating the Return of Downton Abbey #downtonabbey

2013-01-06T19:47:00.001-06:00

Season Three of Downton Abbey is all anyone around here has been talking about. Both Missy and I have several British friends that already saw the season, and blabbed certain details on FB, so we have some ideas about what is coming, but there is nothing like seeing the episodes for yourself the first time. And I totally blocked those FB friends till March, and they know why.

If you're going to be watching tonight, don't forget to tune in early to see, Secrets of Highclere Castle. The castle is on my bucket list of places to see, hopefully get there later this year.

So ready for the two hour episode because I made it through the Downton Abbey inspired book list I put together months ago. You can check that out, here.

Because I just got back from my holiday vacation we don't have a big night planned like last year, but everyone is here to catch it. Who else is watching the season premiere tonight?

Getting Through Cold Season With Mom's Caldo and #KleenexSWS

2012-12-10T20:09:00.000-06:00

There is a lot to enjoy about winter, including the holiday season, but with the colder months comes cold and flu season. Can't stand being sick, and I catch a flu or cold every year without fail. When I'm under the weather I want to be surrounded by the cuddliest, softest stuff I own and everything I eat or sip needs to be hot and soothing. It's the only thing that makes me feel better.

Growing up mom would always make caldo de pollo the second any of us had even the slightest sniffle, because its what her mother did for her. I am convinced that I cannot get better until I have some, and it has to be my moms,
because when I was in college no amount of medicine, vitamins, cleaning, fresh air and other people's soup did the trick. My colds went on for days and weeks and I just kept getting a different flu-- I was miserable without that soup.

I don't know if you've seen it yet, but Kleenex recently launched the Share Pack site, where you can send a box of Kleenex to someone you know to help them get through their own icky days, or just as a way to send a small gift. Everyone I know, myself included, likes a little attention when they are not feeling well so I thought this was a great idea. Kleenex is constantly making their tissues softer, gentler and now they even make Cool Touch tissues. When I need to use tissue frequently, like when I have a cold, I don't want to be using tissues that are going to irritate my skin and leave it red after a while. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it's not very attractive either.

Kleenex recently sent me my own care pack, and even though I knew it was coming I was surprised with how cute it was when it got here. Honestly, its the perfect size for my desk and even better on my nightstand where space is at a premium. I only got to enjoy it for the afternoon though because as soon as the twins saw it they claimed it.

If you have purchased a box of Kleenex lately, make sure you get over to the Kleenex's Softness Worth Sharing site and send a Share Pack off to someone you love!

I get to send a Share Pack to one of my readers so if you want a chance to win, leave me a comment on your tips for getting over a cold and I will draw a winner Friday the 14th.

*This post is compensated and in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and Kleenex. All opinions are my own*

Hockey with the Rockford IceHogs

2012-12-10T13:20:00.000-06:00

Everyone in my family loves a good hockey game. It really is an activity that everyone can get into no matter the age, which is so rare to find.

Rockford IceHogs Hockey Games are not all about hockey, but instead about a great family experience!

Check out Top Shot, an interactive hockey inspired shooting game located on the main concourse, and test your hockey skills, join the IceHogs Runts Club and take your little one down to the tunnel to high-five all the players as they walk off the ice, then escort them out on the ice to help pick up chuck-a-pucks. Don't want to go down on the ice? You can purchase Chuck-A-Pucks and take part in one of the most exciting intermission activities where you have the opportunity to win $500 Oink Outfitters bucks and other prizes.

Every IceHogs game offers tons of contest, raffles, and enter to wins for the whole family! So come check out the Rockford IceHogs, the proud American Hockey League Affiliate to the Chicago Blackhawks. Tickets start as low as $8!

Theology, Art & History: New Books on My Shelf

2012-12-07T12:11:00.000-06:00

A few months ago I made myself promise not to buy anymore books until I got through at least half of the books that I bought and still have to read. I cannot keep promises. At least not when it comes to books. For a while I did okay, but that was because I got a Kindle and in addition to books constantly being sent to me, there are a lot of really great books offered at great prices. When it comes down to it, anytime I am within a few feet of books for sale I end up forgetting my promise and browsing.

Most times I am able to show restraint, and only purchase a couple books that I really, really want to read and know that I am not going to be able to find later.
Then there are times I lose my mind and buy everything that seems interesting. After an entire summer of restraint, I had a mindless couple of days. I'm now left with this stack of books that I really want to read, but really do not have the time to. In order to read any of them I would have to give up sleep and speed read through them-- and I really hate speed reading through anything.

Its okay though, because there are worse things than drowning in books. Right?

And the only other thing I like more than reading books, is sharing the books that I come across. Today I wanted to show y'all three "pretty books" I picked up. I have flipped through each one, but going to have to wait till mid January to really get into each of them. They aren't the kind of books you read cover to cover though so flipping is fine for now.

The first book is, Sacred, and it is a photo and text catalogue of books from the three main faiths: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. I majored in Biology in college, but Theology has always been something that I have studied in depth. I didn't realize that I only needed a senior thesis project to earn a double major in Theo till a month before graduation or I would've gone for it.

The photos included on each text are beautiful, and the largest collection I have seen in one book. Love it.

I got the second book with my mom in mind. She is responsible for my interest in art and since the subject of the book is mothers, this book is headed her way. Till, The Artist's Mother, gets gift wrapped I am going to keep flipping through it because there are a lot of paintings that I am not familiar with and the background info gives me a different side of each artist.

The last pretty book I found is, Maps and Mapmakers of the Civil War. I actually wish I wasn't in my right mind when I bought this book because the reader that I bought it from had an extensive collection of Civil War and history books that I have never come across. I don't know how she managed to part with so many incredible books. I bought this book because its a good reference point for all the other books I have on the Civil War. I like to know where and what places looked like when I am reading.

Hot Mama, Unique Family Heirloom Jewelry for Christmas

2012-12-06T14:47:00.002-06:00

You know how much I love finding a great deal, especially on jewelry. With the holidays looming, I knew I had to share this as soon as it popped up in my email.

Shannon Sunderland & Sahra Cahoon form the dynamic duo of Hot Mama Designs and rejoice in celebrating motherhood, family and the one-of-a-kind feeling of the handmade object. Their inspiring designs are created to tell stories and celebrate life. Celebrate Family ~ Celebrate Motherhood ~ Celebrate You!

"We rejoice in the art of metalsmithing! As artists we are intrigued by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which is (loosely translated) the beauty of things that are unpretentious and unconventional. In our mass-produced world, our jewelry celebrates the one-of-a-kind feeling of the handmade object."

Catherine is a fan of everything Japanese so I was excited to share something with her that she did not already know.

My Readers Get 20% any order of $100 or more . Use Promo Code: mamalove226 #mamajewelry

Shopping For The Hostess, A Gift Guide

2012-12-05T15:01:00.000-06:00

Finding the perfect hostess gift is something I have had to do a lot in life, and it never gets easier. For the holidays I knew I was going to be doing a lot of visiting and that visiting is going to happen with people that I do not know the best, but have opened their doors to me. Shopping for the hostess this year has been the hardest, especially since I need to be able to fit whatever I buy into an already packed suitcase.

Still, I have run across a ton of things that I know just about anyone that loves hosting parties and people will love. Might buy a few of these for myself too!

The first two are for the hostess that enjoys to cook. Who doesn't want a chocolate fondue kit? And this one from Orka is so colorful. From Bella Cucina is a pesto kit complete with a book of recipes.

Source: beso.com via Unus on Pinterest

Source: ruelala.com via Unus on Pinterest

Everyone loves a little pampering, and when products come as part of a kit it leaves plenty of choices to dig into. I love Dr. Hauschka's line of skin care and I am sure this aromatherapy kit would be appreciated. L'Occitane happens to be one of my favorite brands because their lavender line is the best. I picked out the shea butter set because everyone could do with its benefits.

Source: beso.com via Unus on Pinterest

And because I love pretty things and rocks, I totally want these for myself. Check out these gorgeous bottle stoppers and even though I already have a soap holder that looks like these, I want coasters too!

Source: beso.com via Unus on Pinterest

My family has an ornament giving tradition. We give them to each other and other people every year. Love looking back on the different ornaments that make it onto the tree because each one has a memory attached. Most of the time we grab these ornaments when we are traveling or because they remind us of each other. When it comes to folks that aren't close family, I like to pick up gorgeous ornaments to give too. These ornaments from Kate Spade are going to look gorgeous on any tree.

Source: beso.com via Unus on Pinterest

Happy Shopping!

Snoozing at the Hard Rock Hotel #Chicago @HardRockChicago #Travel

2012-12-04T21:54:00.000-06:00

I've been meaning to mention my stay at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago for a while now, a long while. My stay there was packed in between a long series of events-- been meaning to tell you about some of those for a while now too-- and between all that and everyday craziness, I just never got to it. Well, today is the day.

The one crappy shot of the outside of this beautiful building I remembered to take before leaving.

My stay took place towards the end of summer, all kinds of crazy things were happening-- conferences, events, trees falling on houses, family stuff etc. I didn't choose the Hard Rock though, someone did that for me and put me up for the weekend (not at all related to the hotel). It turned out to be an excellent stay and left me wishing I had more time to enjoy it, because I really only ran in and out and then thoroughly crashed in my bed at night.

If you aren't familiar with Chicago or the Hard Rock Hotel, its located in my favorite part of the city right between Millennium Park and the shopping strip known as the Mag Mile. It's here you'll find the greatest concentration of confuzzled tourists and the suits that love to scowl at them. Call me evil, but I love watching these super brief encounters play out.

The best part though, is that the Hard Rock Hotel is located in the Carbide and Carbon building which is my favorite Art Deco building in Chicago & the world. Art Deco also happens to be my favorite type of architecture making this place my Fave building! I love everything about it from the black granite to the gold leafing to the reliefs and even the green terra cotta. So beautiful.

But back to my stay. I was there two nights, over the weekend, busy and out of the room both days, all day. Check in was as smooth as could be. Two things that I did miss at checkout. First was an internet code, the company that was taking care of my stay provided wifi with the room. As a result I was not able to log in right away when I got to my room, but had to call down after unpacking, and then realizing I couldn't use the internet and not finding a code of any sort scribbled down on the little key card holder thingy they give you. When I did get back to my room that evening the code worked fine and internet was fast (yay!), of course by then I didn't need to rely on the free Wi-Fi because I had my own hotspot set up.

The second non issue was keys. I made the reservation for two, because someone was supposed to join me. Because of a last minute accident, I knew I was going to be solo, but at the desk I still requested two keys when asked (a safety thing I always do when traveling solo, because no one else at that desk or in the lobby needs to know that I am alone). They only gave me the one key, which was a non-issue because no one else knew that, and I really didn't need it. Had I been there with a second guest though, I would have had to go back down for a 2nd key since my guest and I would have been separate for the majority of the stay.

Home and office away from home!

I stayed in the standard room, for up to two guests, called the Deluxe King. Plenty of room and since one of my biggest pet peeves about hotel rooms is the one at a time, nose to tail thing you have to do when entering them, I wanted to give someone a sticker for all the door space. :) I was so excited by this that later that night I lined up my bag and things in the room just so I could take a picture and show everyone how much I liked it.

Loved the spacious bathroom too, but I was kinda freaked out about the above the toilet portraits. They weren't exactly above the toilet, but off to the side and looking right at you when you come in. I couldn't help but look up at them while I was um, taking care of business.

What I was really looking forward to was kicking back in the room at the end of the night and just enjoying myself. The first night I spent out, dinner and drinks, and I knew I had an early morning so I planned for a good night's rest. I think I got that, even though I was only halfway in bed, fully dressed, lol. Seriously, I came into my room, dropped my bag on the floor and dropped backwards into the bed. Took a few breaths while staring up at the ceiling and next thing I knew sunlight was hitting my eyes. My phone was still in my hand and I had less than a half hour to be where I had to be-- CRAP!

It was at this point that I developed an appreciation for all those little toiletries hotels put out that I never even bothered looking at before. I jumped in and out of the shower, grabbing at the well placed toiletries because I never even had a chance to unpack. I'm super picky about what I use in my hair, but I loved the way my hair felt that day. Spent that whole day out of my room again, and didn't get back till past midnight. If you get late night munchies, like I did, and nothing in the room is appetizing, there is a Walgreens directly across from the hotel (though it closes early) and a 24 hour CVS right across the street. Just south of the hotel are several fast food restaurants too-- I tried out the Noodles and Company.

Definitely did a much better job getting myself into bed, and since I had to be up early again I appreciated the firm, but still comfy mattress. The last portion of my stay was checkout, pain-free. And even though this is really going to date my stay, and the extremely long passage of time it took to get this up, I gotta mention it. I asked the concierge what bus would get me to the train station, I only had the one small bag, time to kill and was feeling a little bit nostalgic about public trans. He looked it up and sent me off, only many of the buses kept turning and when I finally paid attention to the buses that were stopping I noticed they posted alternate route alerts. Hmm, downloaded the CTAs tracker thing and the bus I was supposed to catch said 2 minutes, then refreshed to 20, and then the next bus that was 5 minutes out also refreshed to 30. Look closer, something the concierge didn't do, and there was an alert on account of the Rock n Roll Marathon going on that morning. Ended up catching my train with a minute to spare and super glad I wore slacks instead of the dress.

All of that said, I would totally recommend Chicago's Hard Rock Hotel if you are visiting the city. I've been trying to string together events in the city so that I have an excuse to book a night or two. Positive the chance will come up again!

Oh, I did want to mention the green initiatives the hotel has taken. I spent the entire week before this weekend holed up in another Chicago hotel just up the Mile, and while it was excellent, the group of Girl scouts from around the world I was with were very concerned about the lack of green initiatives within that hotel. Not sure if they ever got that sit down with the hotel manager that they were gunning for. Anyway, in addition to the many little things the Hard Rock Hotel does, they are partnered with, Clean the World, a global recycler of hotel soaps and ammenities. I have been following the group and its activities on FB since my stay, learning about the people that benefit from their work. Love that the hotel has all the energy saving things going on, and gives each guest the chance to do so themselves-- makes me wonder what all they do behind the scenes too.

If you read through ALL of that, you must really want to stay at the Hard Rock Chicago :)

Shopping for Tea Lovers, a Gift Guide

2012-11-25T22:48:00.001-06:00

There are a lot of fans of tea on my Christmas gifting list, and I always try to get them something unique that I know they will enjoy. Here are just a few of the cool things I have come across and bookmarked over the months.

Super cool DVF teapot

Source: beso.com via Unus on Pinterest

Sneakpeeq has this collection of super cool peek-a-boo cups. But hurry because the sale ends in a couple days! Join here

Source: sneakpeeq.com via Unus on Pinterest

I love tea assortments, and so do most tea lovers because even though they have favorites its always fun to find new combinations.

Source: beso.com via Unus on Pinterest

I love tea towels and I have been collecting them since that first trip to England. The thing is you can never have enough and they serve a purpose. Thought these were cute!

Source: beso.com via Unus on Pinterest

This tea and scones pin is ubber cute!

Source: beso.com via Unus on Pinterest

I have even more tea gift ideas on this Pinterest board so make sure you check it out!

Verizon Giveaway! Nokia Lumia 822 & Verizon GC!! #VZWSM

2012-11-23T21:44:00.001-06:00

Remember when I told you I had an exciting giveaway for y'all?! Well, today is the day I get to share it with you. Verizon is giving one of my readers the chance to win the new Nokia Lumia 822 and a $100 gift card that you can use towards your Verizon bill or for accessories.

A little about the Nokia Lumia 822:

Nokia Drive+ - Voice Guided, Turn-by-Turn Navigation

Nokia Maps allows you to see a broad area or pinpoint your location.

Nokia City Lens uses augmented reality to show you top sights, with review and directions.

Nokia Music gives you access to over millions of tracks with subscription-free streaming.

EXCLUSIVE Nokia preloads (limited time):

– ESPN: access live scores, video content, news and ESPN Mobile.

– Univision app combines their mobile experience into a single hub.

– The Weather Channel for Windows Phone.

Kids’ Corner. Grants your little ones access only to the apps, games, videos, and music you choose for them, so you can relax and let them play. They can open Kid’s Corner on their own, but your Start screen, apps, and info are protected by a password you set.

And, of course…Verizon 4G LTE, America’s Fastest 4G Network (You can checkout this video for even more info.)

Check out this video to learn more about the Lumia 822 on Verizon's 4G network.

I am in love with my Samsung Galaxy S3, but this phone looks like its just as much fun!

Going to keep this giveaway as easy to enter as possible, using Rafflecopter to help with that, so you don't need to have any social networks or be a member of anything to enter. All you need is your name, email and to answer a simple question. Of course, if you want to improve your chances, there will be plenty more ways for you to enter.

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, if it doesn't show up right away, hit refresh. This giveaway ends on November 30th at midnight, winner has 24 hours to respond to me with their shipping info via email or I will have to draw another winner. Entrants must be 18 years of age and reside in the US (or provide me with a US address for shipping). Also, you are only eligible to win this prize from Verizon once.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Midwest Savvy Moms program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product. This giveaway was provided to me by Verizon Wireless as part of this program.*

Playing With the New LG Intuition from Verizon #VZWSM

2012-11-21T11:00:00.000-06:00

Before I received the Samsung Galaxy SIII, I didn't think there was a device that I could become totally dependent on-- not even my laptop is that for me. I have actually gone without a cellphone for prolonged periods of time, on purpose, and if I happened to lose my cell phone I never panicked nor looked for it. The SIII has changed so much about the way I do things, the time in which I get things done and even how I plan things out.

It really has made my life run so much smoother, saved my butt on more than one occasion and introduced me to cool apps and features that make life easier and interesting. Love it!

Well, I just received a new toy in the mail to love, compliments of Verizon!

Meet the LG Intuition

Yes, I now own a Phablet. I just cracked it out of the box, so I don't have much to say yet in terms of what I love, don't love etc, but give me a couple weeks and I'll let you all know how its turning out. I do suspect it will replace the phone and Kindle packing because the screen is large enough to read off of and I can make and take calls with it. I will say that I love the fact that there is a stylus, always wanted a device that used one-- yes, I can use one with my iPad, but it didn't come with one so I never purchased one. I love being able to write on the thing.

This is a two handed device though, I have very small hands. Not sure if that is going to bug me enough to care at this point, but I can hold it with one hand just fine and its slim enough not to feel clunky.

While I'm getting used to the Intuition I have something super fun for you, my blog readers. Verizon has given me a device to give away! Its a super cool device too. Make sure you come back Friday, to find out what it is and enter the contest. Till then, enjoy your Thanksgiving!

*Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Midwest Savvy Moms program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.*

Thanksgiving Dish Makeovers With Unilever Spreads! #Recipes #Good2KnowSpreads #spon

2012-11-19T10:06:00.001-06:00

Getting the whole family together for Thanksgiving is not that hard on account of all the food that's involved. Our Thanksgiving dinner is about 75% traditional Thanksgiving recipes and 25% new or family recipes, but Thanksgiving dinner is really what each family makes of it, right. Every couple years we get really lucky and my mom decides to make her Turkey Tamales for dinner!

The big dinner might be a couple weeks off, but its never to early to start planning the menu. We usually stock our fridge and cabinets with all the basics now, add the turkey, veggies, stuffing and gravy to the menu and then work from there.
The apps and sides are where we like to have fun, adding a new appetizer or side dish to the menu each year and the recipes that got thumbs up from everyone usually get added every year. The only thing is, the new side dish has to be a twist on a traditional Thanksgiving recipe.

Past favorites that are on the table every year:
Cranberry Walnut Cheese instead of Cranberry Sauce
Sweet Potato Crumble instead of plain Sweet Potatoes
Jamon Croquettes when we don't do a spiral ham

So this year we already know what we are going to swap on the dinner table and Good To Know and Unilever Spreads asked me to try and swap the butter out of two Thanksgiving Day dishes with their spreads. Because the apps, or tapas, and sides are such a big part of our dinner, I decided to use Promise in the Buttery flavor. All of the Unilever Spread options looked great (Country Crock, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and Brummel & Brown) but I chose Promise because it was one of the Healthy Heart options, and I always look for that with my dad diet.

The new addition to our Thanksgiving dinner this year is Cornbread Casserole. We got the recipe from a scout family after they brought it to the yearly potluck dinner. We've had it a couple times and everyone already loves it-- tastes incredible.

Cornbread Casserole
1/2 tub of Promise Vegetable oils spread (15 ounce tub)
2 boxes Jiffy Cornbread
1 can cream style corn
1 can whole kernel corn (do not drain)
2 cups sour cream

Allow Promise spread to become soft so that it is easy to mix. In a large bowl combine Promise spread, Jiffy cornbread, cream style corn, kernel corn and sour cream. Mix well. Pour mix into a large baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes until casserole is no longer liquidy.

Note: Because its a hybrid bread & casserole, the fork test won't work, but its not going to be firm and dry like a normal bread will. It should have a firm cornbread crust on top and a creamy center.

Serves 12

For the second side dish, is a favorite Spanish tapa that I make when we decide not to do ham.

Jamon Croquettes
1/4 tub Promise Vegetable oil spread (15 ounce size)
1 pound diced ham
1 large sweet onion diced
2/12 cups all purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
2 cups buttermilk
pinch of salt
2 large eggs
3-4 cups bread crumbs
2 cups extra virgin olive oil

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add Promise spread to skillet and diced onions, cooking for 5 minutes till done. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour to the onions, mix in well till all the Promise spread is absorbed. Add whole and butter milk to skillet and cook, stirring constantly still over medium heat.

Once the mixture has thickened add the diced ham and salt. Keep stirring till a thick paste is made, about 4 minutes. The mixture should be forming a ball and stop sticking to the bottom and sides of the skillet or pan you are using.

Allow mixture to cool, spread flat onto a plate or other dish and place in the fridge for four to six hours.

Once the dough is nice and stiff, not too sticky, you are ready to roll out your croquettes. Heat olive oil in a frying pan. Add remaining flour to a plate and bread crumbs to a second plate. Beat eggs in a bowl.

Use a spoon and scoop a spoonful of the mixture into your floured hands. Roll mixture into a ball, roll in the plate of flour, dip in egg till completely covered and then roll in bread crumbs. Do this for several and then drop all of them into the frying pan for a minute each, flipping over as each side browns. Repeat.

Makes about 35 croquettes

I know the rest of the family is going to love the new addition to the dinner table and I am sure it is going to be there every year.

Do you have any family recipes that you pull out just for Thanksgiving dinner?

Thank you to Good to Know & Unilever Spreads for being a sponsor. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

All Is Right In My World, Or It's Harder to Be Happy

2012-11-14T07:38:00.000-06:00

I'm about to get mushy, folks.

I don't know if its because November is the month we are supposed to do all sorts of reflecting, or if its just because so many of the things/people I have been worried about, concerned for etc. are doing well, but I am just a bouncy, happy mess lately. It's worrying me.

Even when I have things going on around me that I can justifiably be mad about, and angry over, I'm able to bring myself back to that happy place by just removing myself from the source of anger.

Granted, I have always been the optimistic type and I am pretty good at honing in on those things that make me happy. Still, I think its harder to be happy. Most of the things that bring people happiness take a lot of work to achieve and then maintain.

There was a line in a book I read recently, don't remember which one, but it was the only thing that stuck out. Said something about how we only need three things in life to be happy.

     1. Someone to love
     2. Something you are passionate about to work at now
     3. Some goal or purpose to live/work for

I stopped reading at that point because the idea that you can get all three of those from a single source had me mulling over all these ideas, possibilities....

There were a lot of things running through my head when I started writing this two days ago, and I'm sure I had a point, I just don't remember where I was going with it anymore, lol. Wish I had a pause button for my brain because I can't keep up with all the stuff that's rolling around in there anymore. Still in a good mood. Still feel like all is right in my world, or getting there. The things that need getting to are working themselves out.

On account of the unfinished thought that is this post, I am going to share with you an entirely unrelated song that I plan on singing the crap out of all day. That's the other thing I do-- sing, a lot. I have a song on the tip of my tongue for every emotion, situation, conversation, thought. If you're going through something, I'll sing to you too. It either makes people crack up or drives them crazy, my family members hate it when they are in a bad mood and I have a bad mood song ready for them :) I'm good about asking if they want me to sing to them before I start singing to them, but that serves more as a warning.

Anywho, enjoy MANA with me today.

Tiny Prints Celebrates With Their 2012 Holiday Collection!

2012-10-22T22:25:00.001-05:00

Just the other day I told you about Tiny Prints and their super cute Fall Holiday photo gifts, cards and event invitations. If you are someone that likes to plan early and get ahead of the Winter Holiday rush, I celebrate Christmas, then I want to tell you about Tiny Prints 2012 Holiday Collection and a giveaway I get to share with y'all!

This year's collection includes everything from fun and whimsical to traditional and religious. Whether its Hanukkah you celebrate or Christmas, a New Year greeting you are after or just a yearly photo card, Tiny Prints has a style for everyone.

I love the idea of Holiday Photo Cards, but we never seem to get it together early enough to get the cards printed and in the mail before Christmas. They even made a special offer available for Christmas so that you can get the most out of your money.

And now for the giveaway! Tiny Prints has given me a $50 Tiny Prints gift code to share with one of my blog readers. Enter using the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own*

The Coolest Thing, Since the Last Cool Thing Happened to Me, Happened to Me! #NASASocial

2012-10-21T18:37:00.002-05:00

I slept till one in the afternoon today because I haven't been able to sleep since Friday night.....on account of a little email I got. NASA has invited me to attend a NASASocial at Kennedy Space Center!

What's a NASASocial? It's like an ice cream social on asteroids-- big and out of this world (and the ice cream is freeze dried)! And no calling me a nerd, because I already know I'm a nerd. Hello, I'm going to a NASASocial.

Wondering if I can get my Nerd 4 Life shirt in NASA blue

I've been to KSC once before, with the girls. Remember that crazy trip we took to see STS-135, Atlantis' final launch and the final launch of the Space Shuttle Program? The trip that was promptly overrun with mini-hurricanes, Zeus' rage, tent eating-underwear stealing squirrels and was basically an ode to Murphy's Law. I don't think there is anything that can top that day, but this is going to be pretty close and its the perfect addition to my NASA story.

Looked through pics and there isn't one of me in front of the NASA sign cuz I was the one doing the clicking :/

So basically, like anything with NASA is basic, NASASocials are these special events for social media peeps to attend when there is something BIG happening. This time around, its the final journey of Atlantis to its permanent display at KSC. Attendees get to go behind the scenes, ooOOoo and aaahhh with other Spacetweeps and breathe in air true-blue NASA peeps breathed out. We even get to wear hard hats that may or may not have NASA by-product features, like memory foam lining (though that would be kinda pointless considering the point of memory foam) or scratch resistant plastic. Oh, maybe they will be translucent TPA hard hats!

Totally cool, albeit non NASA by-product, NASA product.

Amazing no?! And I'm going! Errr, I think I'm going. The email, and website, I got alluded to some sort of extra security clearance needed before I'm in in. I swear I am a total Girl Scout (for reals, the card says Lifetime Member) and not at all a threat to National Security, or NASA security, so they gotta let me in. Right?

The only bummer, I can't take anyone with me :( The event is only for one, uno, nada mas. I know my sisters would love to come, love to be there, and I feel bad going without them, but everyone here says, "OMG, GO!" So, I'm going. And the beauty of the event is the whole "social" aspect because this means that I can see and do and you can see and do with me-- if all those monkeys can do it, we can do it, y'all.

You can join me on this little journey on Twitter:
Follow Me

And here on the blog, of course.

As soon as I get the green light and figure out all the pesky details like how I'm going to get there and where I'm going to lay my head at night, I'll be back to get some ideas and input from the lot of you.

Off to siesta!

And a big huge THANK YOU to NASA for the invite!

#Chicago Toy and Game Fair 2012 #ChiTAG G!veaway

2012-10-17T12:15:00.000-05:00

Years ago I was able to attend the Chicago Toy and Game Fair, and had a ton of fun getting to see and discover all the new stuff coming out. This year ChiTAG celebrates its 10th year and the biggest event yet!

Since it has been so long, I am looking forward to being able to attend this year and see what's new. When it comes to toys and games, especially science related ones, I don't care what age its intended for, I'm all there. Science based toys are always interesting to me because it takes an extra special effort to create something that is educational and intriguing for children/tweens/teens to want to engage in voluntarily. I always look for things that will get even the most resistant kid into playing with science.

Free admission for boy/girl scouts in uniform!

This year there is going to be everything from world record breaking attempts to giant sized games to a Star Wars themed breakfast! Thousands of toys and games will be on display from over 250 vendors and toymakers. There's going to be an official Illinois yo-yo contest, the chance to meet the Moshi Monsters, and even talk to the toy inventors themselves.

This year's Toy and Game Fair takes place Saturday and Sunday, November 17-18 at Navy Pier.

Click here for ticket info and a $2 off coupon.

Tickets are $10 for adults
$5 for children 3-13

And I have some great news. Every week I will be giving away a free family pass to a lucky winner. This weeks pass will be awarded on Monday, the 22nd. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget. You only need to enter once as I will roll over all the entries each week.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall Holiday Greetings With Tiny Prints

2012-10-15T18:44:00.000-05:00

With Halloween comes the rest of the Holiday season, and the start of the family photo season. I already have an inbox full of Halloween party invites and messages regarding Thanksgiving Dinner plans and it is just a matter of time before we start getting holiday related cards in the mail. Tiny Prints has tons of ways for you to personalize every event in your life, including the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays!

Since scrapbooking and card making is definitely not my forte, and looks downright crappy next to the stuff my cousin puts together, the Fall Holiday collection from Tiny Prints is very impressive. There are plenty of options for Halloween party invitations, Thanksgiving photo cards or Thanksgiving Dinner invitations.

I love the Persimmon design for Thanksgiving photo cards.

And since we almost always host Thanksgiving dinner or a tamale making party, I love the idea of putting one together. Like this one...

It's not too late to get a few cards made up for your own Fall Holiday events! And if you want something for the future, but aren't sure about how it might look, you can get a sample done up to help you decide.

Freaky Fall G!veaway

2012-10-14T02:26:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Freaky Fall Giveaway!

Welcome to the Freaky Fall Giveaway where we have lots of cash, gift cards, jewelry, and other goodies up for grabs!

Welcome to the Freaky Fall Giveaway hosted by Like a Bump on a Blog, and made possible my the contributions of many wonderful writers and bloggers. We have several great prizes up for grabs for one lucky winner, and we'll also be helping to promote the wonderful organization Look Better Feel Better (#LBFB) for cancer survivors and current cancer sufferers.

Before we get into the prizes and entry form, I'd like to take a moment to thank our wonderful sponsors:

-Aaron from Dadblunders made a generous contribution to the prize offerings, and his blog is one of the best parenting blogs around.
-Monica's Rants, Raves & Reviews is a blog with a lot of fun things to check out, including giveaways, reviews, and rants, of course.
-Intricate Knot is a beautiful spirit with a wonderful blog, and she's also quite the artist.
-The beautiul and talented writer, Susan Silver, of Cirquedumot offers advice on blogging, social media, and everything in between.
-Larry at Ireview central offers the best reviews for IOS users to choose the best products without wasting money on bad apps.
-Becca J. Campbell has a wonderful writer blog called Inspiration for Creation, and her posts truly are informative and inspiring. You'll see a couple of those posts syndicated on this blog, and you will love her books.
-A.E. Howard is a Blogger BookFair Awards winner in the Fantasy Category, and her talent is evident in her book ratings.
-Emerson Creek Pottery has gorgeous handmade ceramic pottery made in the USA, and all of their products are lead-free.

Thanks to everyone for making it possible to grant one lucky reader a fantastic head-start on holiday season shopping!

Now to the awesome prizes!

$200 Paypal Cash

A $25 Amazon GC

$10 iTunes Gift Card

One limited edition Oscar de la Renta Scarf for supporting #LGFB

An Emerson Creek Pottery Onion soup bowl in the pattern of your choosing. I chose the Blue Crab pattern, and I love this piece!

3 Mid-finger rings from Merlin’s Apprentice.

Cute, dainty beads compliment these ear cuffs from Merlin’s Apprentice.

A set of small, cute ear-cuffs by Merlin’s Apprentice.

A set of 3 beautiful Artistic greeting cards from Cards for a Gloomy Day.

Foreign Identity by Becca J. Campbell. Click image for more details.

Not the Norm by Becca J. Campbell. Click image for more details.

Flight of Blue by: Keepers of the Key Chronicles by A.E. Howard. Click image for more details.

In order to be eligible for any of the above prizes, you must complete all steps of the Rafflecopter entry or be disqualified. I hate to be harsh, but a lot of effort has gone into this giveaway to make it possible to reward a wonderful and faithful reader and supporter of blogs and books. Thanks for entering and continually supporting various communities and organizations! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and happy winning!

Inspiring Young Women to Know Their Beauty #DoveInspired

2012-10-05T19:24:00.001-05:00

Ever talk to girls and young women about their looks, about what they think is beautiful? I promise you it will be an interesting conversation. With three younger sisters I have had, and probably will continue to have, the opportunity to speak with them about what is beautiful and how they see beauty.

Dove has been behind a push for women and girls to see their beauty for a few years now. Knowing that we are beautiful is not something that many young women and girls will allow themselves, and that's sad because there is beauty in everyone. I remember having heart to hearts with my younger sisters when they were as young as ten, and according to some research Dove conducted its pretty much about the time girls start worrying about their looks.

According to Dove research:

In girls aged 10-17, 72% feel pressure to look beautiful
In the same age range, only 11% use the word beautiful to describe themselves (isn't that sad)

My beautiful baby sisters turn 16 this year, and I remember what it was like being their age. I don't remember being obsessed with my looks or anything, but I definitely remember wanting to change some things. One of the things that definitely made a difference and eased my own worries was my mom, and the other adult women in my life. I've noticed over the years, working with teenage girls through scouting, that just having women in their lives that they can talk to casually and honestly with, really makes a difference. It's why I was so excited to hear about this campaign because I know the mission of scouting well, and I have seen what it does for young women-- the confidence and independence it builds. Dove's Let's Talk program, is exactly what Girl Scouting is all about.

Dove has noticed this too, which is why they are launching “Let’s Talk”, the theme of the third annual Dove Self-Esteem Weekend taking place Oct.5-7 nationwide.
• A kick-off event in New York is set to spark a national conversation, with partner events nationwide, a Kroger sponsored event at Boys & Girls Clubs in Cincinnati and special display areas at Walmart stores

Dove is partnering with Girl Scouts of the U.S.A, Girls Inc, and Boys & Girls Clubs in a silent march to Times Square

• Dove invites women across the U.S. to participate in the Dove Self-Esteem Weekend

Visit ViveMejor.com to access free tools, including a discussion guide, to help the young women in your life
Visit Dove.com to learn more about the partners mentioned

Dove has a goal of reaching 15 million girls by 2015, totally possible in my opinion.

*Disclosure: This post is compensated and in collaboration with Dove and Latina Bloggers Connect, all opinions are my own.*

#Music in #Chicago, Pandora Presents, World Music Festival and Gypsy Jazz Festival

2012-10-02T22:44:00.003-05:00

I am hopelessly behind in sharing all the events, goings on and excitement I have had the chance to take part in. September is always like that though, I try to get every last bit of summer, sunshine and fun packed into every day. Then there is the fact that everyone else tries to push their events at this time of year to coincide with back to school, and you can't forget that its Hispanic Heritage Month which means even more fiestas and cultural events. It can get exhausting, and this weekend I just called it quits and chose to blow off everything, stay home and relax.

Since so much has happened, and I am short on time, I am going to share the last three music events with you in one go!

To start, I went to a Pandora Presents live concert for Theophilus London in Chicago. I have a lot to say about this event, concept, artist. But I guess I should start by saying that I really hope Pandora continues with this concert series and that they help more small bands/artists find the fans that want to hear them-- because I think what they have going is a good thing.

That said, the Chicago concert sucked. Sorry, but it did, and half the people that walked out with us agreed. I feel bad because you know Pandora put a lot into this event. Jeep was a sponsor, they had a whole outside event space set up, street artists, they even brought in a food truck, the people working the event were super nice (that doesn't happen often) and it was by invite only. I was very excited for the event, new artist, new concert series, Tim Westergren, the founder of Pandora, was going to be there and then good music. What's not to love, right?

The problem. Mr. London. I left feeling bad for him, the venue, Pandora and the sleep I was missing. See, that's how bad it was. Even after I sat through JLo's whole set I didn't regret the sleep I was missing at the end of the night.

I spent more time counting how many times people fell on or off the stage, tracking the cute videographer around the club and noting how many people were bailing before we decided it was time to go ourselves. There was no way we were going to stay given London could hardly get through a song without a break and people were getting restless and angry, and drinking. Really hope Pandora continues to use the "tools" they have created to help more bands find pockets of fans on the map that they should be playing for.

Next up was the Chicago World Music Festival. I usually attend at least one or two shows from this event because there is always something interesting, something jazz and some Latin band that I have been wanting to see. Originally I did not think I was going to be around for it, so I didn't even check out the schedule. But then a wonderful thing happened and I was able to stay in town. Even better, I logged onto FB and saw that Canteca de Macao was coming to Chicago to perform in the festival. No way!

The voice behind The Twitter

I honestly could not believe my luck because back in the spring Canteca de Macao was performing in Chicago and then at SXSW in Austin. I thought then that I would have 2 chances to catch them on stage, but I ended up missing both. As soon as I knew I could make it, I called the Old Town School of Folk Music only to be told that all the seats were reserved and got no answer from ICC because it was the weekend. Thought I was all out of luck again but I tweeted the event and my disappointment and this is what I got back.....

@chitownchica Come anyways and we'll get you in there! We're also playing at Cervantes on monday, acoustic #nuncaestarde + Ana's bday
— Canteca de Macao (@cantecademacao) September 22, 2012

We made it to the concert, snagged seats and got to see a great performance. Love the new album, Nunca Es Tarde. It's so different from the Canteca de Macao that I first fell in love with, but a good different. I love bands that grow and improve their sound with every album. Nunca Es Tarde is a little more jazzy and a little more Latin, both things that I love, without losing any of that flamenco feel the group has always had.

The very talented, Enrique

Honestly, I think the trumpet player, Enrique Rodriguez Paredes, makes all the difference in the sound. Not to discount the rest of the band, but that boy can play. I never appreciated brass until I fell in love with jazz, and I didn't fall in love with jazz till I moved to Madrid. Between this concert and the Gypsy Jazz Festival I am determined to move back to Madrid for a bit. The music scene is so different over there and I need some of that for a bit. Anywho, the two concerts, yes I went to both, were the highlight of the week/month/and a close second to the Enrique Iglesias concert.

Finally, there was the Gypsy Jazz Festival with the two groups that I enjoy at the two places I normally go to when I need to hear good music. Alfonso Ponticelli and Andreas Kapsalis at Green Mill and Katerina's. I only made it out to Green Mill, even though I hate that there is never anywhere to sit or stand sometimes.

All in all, a fantastic week of music. Missed out on a lot of sleep, but it was worth it.

Stock Up On Box Tops for Education #G!veaway

2012-09-30T08:17:00.002-05:00

Even though we don't have anyone in a school that collects Box Tops for education, we have always looked for those products that have them, and collected them for family and friends. To celebrate back to school, products at Walmart will be loaded with 4 Box Tops to make collecting more easier!

Did you know that there were more ways to earn money for your school? Box Tops for education has a dedicated website where you can earn and redeem box tops for your school. Visit EarnMoreForMySchool.com to find out how you can earn even more for your school with eBox Tops.

By liking Walmart on Facebook you can earn even more Box Tops for Education. I received a Walmart gift card to go shopping for Box Tops bearing products and usually we just pull them off cereal boxes so I was really surprised by all the products I found them on. To help you get a jump on Box Tops collecting for your schools, General Mills and Walmart through MyBlogSpark, have agreed to send one lucky person a $25 gift card, so I am having a flash giveaway.

To snag this $25 gift card, leave a comment letting me know what General Mills Box Top product is your favorite! Make sure to leave me an email address so that I can get ahold of you if you are the winner. This contest will end at midnight on 9/30 and winner has 24 hours to respond with a mailing address. Luck!

This Month I'm All About.....

2012-09-27T21:56:00.000-05:00

Can't believe summer has come and gone, and now September, the month where I tell myself for thirty days that I can still pretend its summer, is over too. Last year I told myself that I wasn't and didn't have to do another winter, and then winter turned out to be a breeze and I got all soft and make plans and obligated myself to all kinds of things that will keep me here in the cold. Have a lot of decisions to make, plans to hash out, things to either dive into or step away from. And all of those things are kinda what I'm about all about this month......

NanoWriMo
Two years now and something always happens to throw me off. Its not a lack of focus or anything, both times have been very personal, very painful family things that came first and swallowed up all my energy and time. After our trip to Florida I started entertaining the idea of a beach house for a month, away from everything to just write. My calendar is about half full for the month of November, but when I look at all the stuff on there I keep thinking I could just blow it all off and give myself the month. Decisions. Till then though, I have a hefty reading list to get me in the mood to write fiction, something I don't do nearly enough of anymore.

Madrid
Moving back to Madrid has been on my mind every day, all day. See what I mean about big decisions. If I do make the move its going to be a dive, it will also mean walking away from a lot of things, things that I am still considering and things that I am already in the middle of. I also have the option of a shorter, temporary move, three months there, a month or two back in Chicago filled with all those obligatory things, then back to living in Madrid. There is a lot to hash out till then, but I have a friend and some family already helping me find a place in either Madrid or Valencia. No clue where or what neighborhood I will end up in, lived in Recoletos overlooking Retiro and then in Guindalera, but it will be a carless situation so it will have to be central enough to get around easily.

In the neighborhood

Apples
Apples are everywhere, in everything. I know that come Halloween I will be so tired of the things I won't eat another till March, but for now I love them. Gonna make a few pies, dip a few in caramel, buy some apple donuts from Tom's. Yup, gonna be all about apples this month when it comes to the baking.

My Skin & Vitamin E
Lately it seems like everyone is commenting on my skin. Don't know why this is happening more now than before, but I guess I have been fortunate enough to not have to worry about a lot of issues. I seem to have gotten a nice combo of my parent's skin types and aside from daily cleaning, I don't have to do much. Sure, I love finding and trying new products, but 9 times out of 10, when I try something I end up messing with the natural balance and create a skin issue. The only thing I really have an issue with is hyperpigmentation, something that happens when you have darker skin. When I was younger I used to use Vit E religiously, but stopped at some point. I recently started using it again and now am in full on slather mode. The glow and feel of my skin is so different I am ready to go buy my favorite brand in bulk.

Chunky Knits and Cardis
The first time the mercury drops I am all about looking for something warm to wear. As long as I can find the perfect cardigans to get me through fall, I'm good. A couple chunky knit sweaters for cuddling up in keep me content till I can get to warmer weather. Have you seen all the cardigans Banana Republic came out with this season? Too many to choose from, but I already have one hanging in my closet!

What are you all about this month? I find that fall is always the busiest time of year with everything battling for my attention on account of people coming out of their summer daze and getting down to business.