Raising a Doodle #BookReview

Doodlemania is taking over the world creating doodle-loving communities that are bringing dog owners and their pups together to create friendlier, fluffier gatherings in parks, neighborhoods, coffee shops and workplaces. Celebrities such as  Bradley Cooper and  Rihanna and  more  have doodles.


In Raising a Doodle,   readers find dog expert interviews from specialists in canine therapy, grooming, veterinary, and training fields, along with practical tips, tricks, how-tos, and advice. Thereas Piasta and Audrey Courchesne have done  a fantastic job collecting all these heartwarming stories from all over.

 But most important are the 100+ stories with adorable  colorful photos of entertaining and heartwarming examples of how these dogs have changed their owners lives for the better. How these pups help cope with many issues from depression & anxiety to chronic illness. The homes are filled with a joy like their owners could never have imagined.

If you are thinking of getting a Doodle or you're a Doodle parent already you will love reading this book.

Here is a list of a few other bloggers who are sharing their thoughts on this book too

You can find it on Amazon HERE

or at Barns and Nobel HERE

One Dish - Four Seasons #BookReview #ODFS

The first of its kind, Jordan Zucker’s debut cookbook, One Dish - Four Seasons: Food, Wine, and Sound - All Year Round  is a thoughtfully laid out  sophisticated labor of love.  It takes a base recipe, and by varying it with seasonal  ingredients, builds four versions of each dish for winter, spring, summer and fall.

 The recipe is then taken to the next level  matched with a complementing wine and   fabulous tunes. To give a full entertaining  experience. 

Along the side of the recipe is the personal touch from Zucker that give you an inside look at how the experience of food,wine and music should feel.

The illustrations alone are a piece of art on each page. I was also  impressed with the selection of appetizers, salads, desserts  and main dishes that are in this book.

  I have pretty basic kitchen skills; not an expert chief - and I found the recipes very easy to follow. 

This  book will bring families and friends together in the kitchen and inspire a creative approach using the base recipes as open canvases to create your own culinary masterpiece.


You can follow along on the visual book tour and read more great reviews

or maybe Jordan Zucker will be in a city near you and you can pick up a copy for yourself. 

The book is available on Amazon HERE.







`

Lotus Trolly Bags REVIEW

If you like food shopping and doing good for the planet  the Lotus Trolley Bag system is for you.

With 2 successful appearances on 'Good Morning America' under their  belts, slated for more shows in the Fall, Lotus Trolley Bag is on pace to eliminating  millions of single-use plastic bags from distribution across the US.

What is the Lotus Trolley Bag you ask.....simply the ONLY bagging system your ever going to need for all your grocery shopping. It is a 4 bag set. Makes packing and unpack groceries, while staying totally organized and reducing needless plastic waste.   

I love that along with the Trolley Bags the company offers Produce bag sets as well 

Farzan Dehmoubed, co-founder of Lotus Trolley Bag, “Produce bags are usually ignored, but more retailers are seeing the value to the environment and their bottom line by investing in reusable, washable, and eco-friendly produce bags.”

Currently, Lotus Trolley and Produce Bags are available on-line HERE and in more than 2,500 different stores in the U.S. including Albertsons, Vons, Acme, Jewel and Safeway. Lotus Trolley Bag also donates 1% of all sales to 1% For The Planet, Plastic Pollution Coalition and Surfrider Foundation.

the bags hang on your cart as you shop

multiple size produce bags for many different foods

insulated bag keeps freezer items cold for  ride home.

A great personal touch...nothing like making some
one do a little dance.

After each shopping trip the bags fit nicely back together, so you're ready for the next trip to the grocery store.
The average American family uses 1,500 plastic bags per year for an average of 12 minutes. And by 2050, researchers found there will be more plastic by weight in the ocean than fish MINDBLOWING!! Making a simple change like to this bagging system is encouragement towards change.

Preacher Lawson Show #Review

 I had the opportunity to see Preacher Lawson -

 He has nearly 10 years of comedy under his belt, although he’s most known for being on Season 13 of #AGT and #AGTTheChampions 

His show is FULL of energy and CLEAN! PTL

Our show had no repeats of AGT material except by request.
Moments of off the cuff banter with the crowd showed how well seasoned he really is.
5⭐️s


Also in the time leading up to seeing him. I started following him on IG, facebook page.anf You Tube  A fantastic choice. He's adventured are so fun.
 He does a "COOKING WITH PREACHER LAWSON" (sometimes his brother also a comedian pops in )   show featuring vegan recipes....I'm not vegan but I have tried a few in my MEATLESS MONDAY rotation PRETTY GOOD!!! 

___





If you ever have the opportunity to see Preacher — DO IT, you will not be sorry. 

Great Gift for the Mom on the Go HumbleBee MINI CHARM BAG #gift #review

It's very important when leaving the house with kids to be organized. Feeling comfortable and  looking stylish is just as important too.
If you're on the hunt for a Mothers Day gift for  First Time or the  seasoned Mom - Both will LOVE  Humble-Bee Bags.

Humble-Bee is a diaper bag company that want the family to get out and get connected with the world. Available in a backpack or tote form, the Humble-Bee diaper bag isn't just a diaper bag.  With several pockets on the inside and the outside, the Humble-Bee diaper bags keep you organized no matter what you are doing.

I was able to review the MINI CHARM BAG. I picked the Olive Green color option, there is also Pearl, Onyx Black and Pebble Gray. All options that work great for Mom or Dad. 

 Humble-Bee Mini Charm Bag is lightweight, expandable and easy to wear, just 0.6 Lbs. you can take this bag anywhere.

Removable Shoulder Strap: included strap clips on to wear as a shoulder bag or cross-body bag.

Stroller Straps: included stroller straps allow you to hook this bag on your stroller and free your hands.

Water Repellent: Vinylon F and Canvas exterior are water repellent and easy to clean. Just check out how the water beads up on the bag.

Expandable: main compartment is expandable for extra room. Just
 un-zip the bottom and stretch!
2 Bottle Holders: one for you, one for baby

Reflective Branding: helps keep you safe in the dark

Mommy Pocket: has a fleece lining for your cellphone and shades. Nice pocket to put your keys while your out on an adventure, it's like having a mini purse with you.

The Measurements   Compact exterior is 14.8" (L) x 4.4" (W) x 6" (H). Expanded exterior is 14.8" (L) x 4.4" (W) x 8.7" (H)

.

Celebrate First Day of Spring The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day #kidcrafts #funforkids

this is an up-dated re-post 


The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day, March 20th, is a celebration of this beloved character and story as well as the first day of spring. 

This year it is the 50th Anniversary of the beloved book!

 Here are a few crafts I've done (or will do) that were inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The character and all the yummy food in the book.

Caterpillar to Butterfly Craft

Supplies:

• Clothespin
• Pom poms
• Glue
• Small wiggly eyes/beads
• Coffee filter
• Markers
• Toilet paper tube
• Streamer
• Tape

1)  Glue pom poms onto a clothespin to make a caterpillar

2)  Glue on eyes...I had to add a small piece of paper  to attach the eyes to the top of the clothespin  

3)  Use markers or watercolor paints to color a coffee filter

4) Slide colored filter into the pin

POOF

Paint Blot Butterfly

The is a very fun craft and turns out differently every time

You need

white paper

paint&brushes

black marker

First step is to fold the paper in half and draw a butterfly body-you can leave the middle blank if you want to add pipe cleaners as the body later.

next let your lil one go to town on one side of the body with paints

the last step is to fold the paper again and let the paint make the same pattern on the other side

REPEAT

REPEAT

REPEAT

Soon you have a whole cluster of butterflies all around

A delicious-looking ice cream cone that won't melt all over this ideal is from Parents.com

This one is going on the make it list!!!!

you will need brown card-stock,tissue paper, colorful paper, red button,  brad, hemp string.

Make It: Roll textured brown card-stock into a cone shape and secure with a brown brad.
 Crumble a piece of tissue paper into a ball, and help your child tape strips of colorful patterned paper around it. Attach to the cone.
 Use red buttons and thread on top with little hemp string for a perfect cherry topper.

photo credit  Parents.com 

 Paper Watermelon shared by The Chirping Moms 

You will need white paper, pink or red paper, green paper, black paper, glue and scissors.


This is a very simple  craft, but it entertains for a while because of  the time to rip/cut  up all of the paper pieces first. 

 Have the child get larger pieces of green and pink/red paper. Then have them rip up the black paper in smaller pieces for making  little seeds

 On the white paper, have them draw the shape of a watermelon. Have them arrange the ripped pieces of green and pink paper inside the slice to form a watermelon and glue. Then glue the black pieces on top as seeds. 

photo credit  The Chirping Moms

OK you have  some ideals & there are many more on my pinterest  boards.

 Ready SET CELEBRATE!!!

Mock-Tails with Sparkling Ice #GetFizzy #ThirstyThurday

Happy Thirsty Thursday  her are some fun mock-tails to try at your next gathering. These are made with delicious Sparkling Ice. Sparkling ICE is a zero calorie beverage.  Made with natural flavors, vitamins, antioxidants and lightly carbonated spring water.  Sparkling Ice is proud to be one of the first brands to successfully transition to natural colors while maintaining the vibrant look and long shelf life that Sparkling Ice is known for.





Easy Daiquiri - Blended 1 cup  frozen strawberries, a big splash lime Sparking Ice, fresh strawberries and lime wedges for garnish

 Citrus Delight - equal parts Pineapple juice, orange juice and Peach Nectarine with a sliced orange

  sweet and tangy

Half Apple Half  Grape Raspberry Sweet Fruit Blend that stimulates your mind to Summer Days 

Sweet Sangria - equal parts cranberry juice, grape juice, orange juice and lemon lime Sparkling Ice.  I froze some grapes to keep drink chilled and topped drink with orange slices. Blueberries would also work great in this drink.

Also as part of this campaign, Sparkling Ice launched a new “Sparkling IceMaker” voice skill with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa to provide consumers with Sparkling Ice cocktail and mocktail recipes to make in the comfort of their own home.


CHECK IT OUT  HERE




I hope you have a SUPER time trying out some cocktails for yourself.