Skillet Bacon-Feta Frittata

What You Need

6 slices Smoked Uncured Bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
6 eggs
2 Tbsp. water
4 green onions, sliced
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh basil
4 cherry tomatoes, quartered
3 Tbsp. Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese
 Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Make It

Cook bacon in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 12 min. or until crisp, stirring frequently.

Meanwhile, whisk eggs and water in medium bowl until well blended. Stir in onions and basil.

Remove bacon from skillet, reserving 1 tsp. drippings in skillet. Drain bacon on paper towels.

Heat drippings on medium heat. Add egg mixture; top with bacon. Cook 3 min. or until almost done. When egg mixture is done but top is still moist, top with tomatoes, cheese and pepper; cover. Cook on medium-low heat 5 min. or until eggs are set and cheese is slightly melted.

What is your favorite "Skillet Meal"? Share it with us!

Quick & Easy Chicken Puffs

Ingredients

2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
3 tablespoons chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3/4 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
6 tablespoons butter
3 (10 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough

Directions

In a saucepan over medium heat, slowly cook skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, onion and garlic. Cook until onions are tender and chicken is browned and cooked through.

In a bowl, mix chicken mixture, cream cheese and butter until creamy.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Unroll croissants and divide in half to create 12 rectangles. Put one tablespoon of the chicken mixture on each rectangle. Fold into balls.

Place balls on a large baking sheet. Bake in the  oven 12 minutes, or until golden brown.

Did you try this? Tell us what you think!

Work Wardrobe Basics

If you're getting ready to work in an office where you need a particular work wardrobe, then one of the best ways to start is to create a work wardrobe foundation. This means you'll get basic pieces you can mix and match, and then add to them over the coming weeks and months. As you start making more money in that office job, you can break away from your foundation and buy whole new outfits! But for now, you're just starting out. Here are some tips on creating that wardrobe foundation.

Keep It Simple

Whether you are a man or a woman, keeping it simple as you begin your foundational wardrobe collection is a good mindset.
Here are two simple keys to an effective wardrobe:

* Neutral, solid colors
* A good fit

Neutral colors are important in the beginning. You won't have to worry about clashing colors and patterns if you stick with shades of gray, brown, tan, black, and white. Many include navy in the neutral category too.

For men, a white button-down shirt, gray cardigan, black blazer, and tan pants are a great start. Women can also benefit from a basic white button-down shirt, and a classic pants suit in black or navy. Add a gray knee-length skirt, black cardigan, navy blazer, and tan slacks and you're well on your way to looking great in the office.

You'll want another top to go under those basics. Men can go for a light blue button-down (you can pair it with a navy blazer and tan pants). Women might prefer something a little beyond the button-down, but make sure it's still something basic and neutral, like a solid knit top.

A proper fit is essential to both genders. You can't look good in anything if it doesn't fit right, and you can get away with some less-than-conventional clothing options if they fit well.

Shoes

Creating a work wardrobe foundation includes shoes. Again, think simple, solid, and neutral. Also think all seasons - hold off on boots and sandals just yet. Men might go for a pair of black, navy, and brown loafers and/or dress shoes. For women, the basic pump or flat (or a mix of both) is great for the office - solid black, navy, and brown.

Accessories 

To give your basics a new look as you mix and match, jazz them up with unique accessories. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, hair clips, and pins are fabulous ways to give an outfit a whole new look. Think of a neutral business suit with colorful earrings and matching necklace, or a jazzy pin and matching belt.

Easy Chicken Marbella

What You Need

1-1/2 cups pitted prunes
1 cup  balsamic vinaigrette dressing
¾ cup stuffed green olives, sliced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
3 bay leaves
8 chicken thighs (3 lb.)
½ cup dry white wine
½ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Make It

Combine prunes, dressing, olives, garlic oregano and bay ; pour over chicken in baking dish. Refrigerate 4 hours to marinate, turning chicken occasionally. Heat oven to 350ºF. Drizzle wine over chicken; sprinkle with sugar. Bake 1 hour or until chicken is done (165ºF). Discard bay leaves. Drizzle sauce over chicken; top with cilantro.

What is your favorite chicken recipe?

Super Easy Apple Tart

Ingredients

    1 whole Sheet Puffed Pastry, Cut Into Half Or Thirds
    4 whole Apples, Cored, Halved, And Sliced, But Not Peeled
    1 cup Brown Sugar
    1/4 teaspoon Salt

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 415 degrees.

Place puffed pastry rectangles onto a baking pan that’s been sprayed with nonstick spray. Add sugar and salt to apples. Stir to combine. Allow to sit for a few minutes.

Arrange apple slices on the pastry rectangles in a straight line, overlapping as you go. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until pastry is puffed and golden brown.

Remove from pan immediately and place on a serving platter. Serve plain, with caramel topping, whipped cream, or a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

What is your favorite recipe that calls for apples?

SPOOKtacular Giveaway Hop

The Review Wire will be hosting the "SPOOKtacular Giveaway Hop", which will run from October 1-15, 2012. Come celebrate Halloween 2012 with a hop filled with Spine Tingling, Bone Chilling, Frightfully Frightful Fun! All giveaways must be related to Halloween in some way. The giveaway can be costumes, candy, halloween make-up, clothes, party decor, gift certs to buy halloween products, hand-made decorations, spooky decorations...you name it.

This FREE Event will run October 1-15, 2012 with a Prize Minimum of $25.00.

 For more details or to sign up visit The Review Wire.

Don't miss out on this SPOOKtacular event!

Get Creative with your Back To School Shopping!

It's that time of year again - the kids are going to be heading back to school, and they need new outfits. Many times, it's because they've outgrown last year's clothes. Other reasons include changing fashion trends and tastes. Regardless of the reasons, your kids are going to need new clothes before heading back to school. Are there any other options besides the traditional retail shops? Is there a way to go about this creatively?

The answer is yes. Here are some creative options for back-to-school clothes shopping.

Take Stock

Do your kids come to you complaining that they have "nothing to wear"? It's pretty doubtful that they really have nothing; it just seems like nothing. Take some time to assess your kids' wardrobes and really discern what they have. Chances are, you're going to find some decent clothes that fit that can be worn again. They might even be clothes that have been so long forgotten that they will seem new again!

Break out the Needle and Thread

If you can sew, now is the time to get your sewing machine out. (And if you can't sew, maybe now is a good time to learn!) You can recycle old clothes artfully with some well-places stitches. For example, let hems out or cut and hem worn-out pants to make shorts. If you can do some needlework, you can get creative and cover stains and small holes on clothes that otherwise fit fine.

Give Old Outfits a New Look

While you are going through the bureaus and closets of your kids, try to mix and match and put together new outfits. You can create a whole new look by mixing and matching, especially if your child has items in similar or neutral colors.

Shop for Used Clothes 

Watch for consignment sales in your area, and since it's the end of summer, keep an eye out for yard sales. It's amazing what you can find at these second-hand options, sometimes even name-brand clothes that kids really like. While you're shopping creatively for used clothes, don't forget the internet. Yard sales are moving online these days, so take advantage of the local and larger groups selling used items online.

Watch for Sales

Of course, watching for sales keeps your clothing bill lower; but if you watch for sales creatively, you can combine these events with some of the above options to create a whole new wardrobe for the school year.

Coffee-Banana Tofu Shake

Ingredients

    1 1/4 cups low-fat milk
    1/2 cup silken tofu, (if using a shelf-stable box, choose soft), drained
    1 ripe banana
    1-2 tablespoons sugar
    2 teaspoons instant coffee powder, preferably espresso
    2 ice cubes
    Ground cinnamon, (optional)


Preparation

Combine milk, tofu, banana, 1 tablespoon sugar, coffee powder and ice cubes in a blender. Blend until very frothy. Taste and add more sugar, if needed. Pour into glasses and sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired. Serve immediately.

What is your favorite shake? Share it with us below!

Dressing for work on a budget

So you landed that new job - WooHoo! Now that you have to give back the suit you borrowed for the interview, you'll need some work clothes. Or maybe what you wore to the interview is all you have. Regardless, no one wants to spend their first three paychecks before they even receive them just to look good in the office! So how can you put together a budget-friendly wardrobe?

Here are some tips on decking yourself out without breaking the bank. The key is to go with affordable essentials that can be mixed and matched. Here are some suggestions on how you can get budget-friendly work wardrobe must-haves!

Look at What You Have Already

Go through your current wardrobe and pick out some basics that you can use. Simple shirts and knit tops (especially solid color), dress pants and nice shoes are probably hanging around in your closet, but maybe they don't go together. As you shop for the basic must-haves, keep these pieces you already own in mind.

Basic Pieces

You really don't have to spend a lot to get a few basic pieces. Think neutrals for pants, skirts, and blazers/jackets. Don't shun the suit just because you are on a budget - you may find it's actually less money to buy a suit in a neutral color and then take it apart to mix and match. Remember those clothes already waiting for you in your closet? Think of how they will look with the suit skirt, pants, or jacket.

Generally, you can expect the following must-haves:

* For men, 3 jackets, 3 pants, 4 button-down shirts, 3 ties, and 2 pairs of shoes.

* For women, 3 jackets, 3 pants or skirts, 5 tops such as button-down or solid knit, 1 or 2 twinsets that you can mix and match, 4 pairs of trouser socks and/or pantyhose, and 2 pairs of shoes (yes, ladies can get by with 2 pairs of shoes, too).

If you can, buy 2 suits that you can mix and match, and you are well on your way to being finished with your work wardrobe shopping.

Accessories

If you're on a budget, accessories are an area where you can easily cut back. You don't need different bracelets, necklaces, earrings, shoes, and handbags for every outfit, for instance. Think basic and neutral, as you did with the basic pieces above.

A black, tan, or navy handbag will easily interchange between outfits, as will neutral shoes. Bracelets and earrings do not really have to be worn, but if you want to accessorize, buy an inexpensive set in silver and one in gold. Or go with a set in neutral colors made of ceramic, glass, or wood. These tend to be less expensive than precious metals.

From Drab to Fab -- How to Add Color to Your Work Wardrobe

Corporate black - for many of us, the workplace dress code always meant black, black, and more black. Today, though, it doesn't have to be that way. More and more workplaces are embracing color. Here are some ways to add color to your work wardrobe.

Solid Tops

Colorful knit tops or a jewel-tone silk blouse can add a splash of color to a blazer or suit. It's considered a good idea to go with solid colors here; jazzy patterns may not work too well.

Say It with Shoes

There are so many options for colorful shoes these days, and when you're talking color, the cheap ones are not necessarily more or less colorful than the expensive ones. Go for a pair of colorful pumps or jazzy flats, or even dress sandals (wear colorful toenail polish!). Unlike boots, pumps, flats, and sandals can be colorful without being distracting.

Necklaces and Jewelry

Put some sparkling color around your neck with necklaces. There are so many possibilities here, from polished glass beads to rhinestones on colorful cords. Stay away from tacky or heavy necklaces, but choosing something with a nice pop of color can dress up even a drab outfit.

Bracelets and earrings can be worn for the same reasons, adding a splash of color to business attire.

Handbags

Handbags are where you can bring a bit of whimsy and jazz into the workplace without catching a lot of flak. Patterns and colors can spice up a plain suit and show a bit of your personality. If you like, start small - carry a little handbag with pretty colors. Then, depending on your workplace atmosphere, maybe you can work up to a large, patterned handbag.

Scarves

Scarves were a workplace stand-by not too long ago, but you can bring them back in all kinds of ways. Folded scarves can work as a headband for your hair, or you can find various ways to tie them around your neck. You can also use them as a creative alternative to a belt. Solid colors might be a good place to start, or subtle patterns that match your work outfit.

Belts

Tucked-in shirts and elaborate belt buckles were popular in the 80s, but you can still dress up an outfit with a solid band of color around your waist. Belts can add color to pants or skirt outfits, and you can add a matching handbag for color coordination.

Colored Suits

If you want to really go for it, wear a solid-colored suit. To create the least controversy (if you have that kind of workplace), choose one where the style is fairly conservative and traditional, just colorful.

Back-to-School Shopping with a Picky Teen

You know how it is - you need to do the back-to-school shopping, but your teen is so picky you don't know how you'll get through it. Teens certainly can be picky; peer expectations and their own personal tastes can combine to make them hard to please. Here are some tips for back-to-school shopping with your picky teen.

Let Them Shop

This doesn't mean you should give your teen you credit card and drop him or her off at the mall for a few hours! Actually, there is a method to letting your picky teen do his or her own back-to-school shopping, and it can be a positive learning process. Here's how it works.

Go Through Their Things

With your teen, go through her clothes and determine what she really needs. Get rid of only those clothes that can't be repaired or are stained permanently, then work on mixing and matching what's left. Then determine what clothes she needs and make a specific list.

Budget

Once you both understand what's necessary, you can make a budget for those items. Determine what you are willing to pay for each piece of clothing, total it up, and then give your teen the money. Once it's spent, no more - be firm on this one! You may want to accompany her on this shopping trip to help point out bargains and such, but the point is, she is in charge of planning her purchases and spending the money.

Good Lessons

While you're doing all this, think of the good life lessons you'll be teaching your teen. Your teen will learn how to budget his money, and will get a no-frills introduction into the world of financial planning. Remember, once the money is gone, he is not getting any more, so he will have to plan out how he is going to divide up the money to get all the items he wants. Your teen may also be motivated to shop for things on sale or things at second-hand shops once he realizes how much the things he wants actually cost.

Consider letting your teen keep any money that's left, too. Having a little extra spending money can be a great motivator to find bargains!

Go for Re-Sale

Even picky teens can usually find something at a consignment shop or second-hand store. Name brands are not necessarily hard to come by at these places, and if your teen has a flare for individuality, she might be able to put together a stunning outfit with second-hand clothes and accessories.

Power Walk Much?

Your walking routine might need a bit of a boost. Consider power walking - it's a great way to ramp up your walking routine. Here are some tips for getting your walking routine going with power walking.

Power Walking Form

To get the most out of your power walk, you'll need to follow the correct form. If you feel self-conscious, either get over it or move to a private area! When you power walk, sources say you need to keep your arms swinging and your chin up, and get your toes pointing up with each forward step (some refer to this as keeping your heels up. Either way, the point is to get your legs and feet moving in a heel-ball-toe formation).

Big Steps

One of the keys to power walking is to take lunging steps. When you power walk, you are moving fast but not necessarily taking long strides (in fact, sources say you should aim for quick, small steps as you power walk), but you can intersperse this with extra-long strides or lunges as you go. The lunges give your legs an extra workout and work the muscles a bit differently than the shorter strides.

Tighten Those Muscles

As you boost your walking program and get into power walking, you can amp it up even more by squeezing key muscle groups as you walk. Your rear and tummy are two places where contracting those muscles while you walk can help squeeze the most out of your workout.

Weights

Some fitness experts advocate the use of wrist and ankle weights to add even more challenge to your power walk. You can purchase such weights at most fitness shops or even some major retailers that have a sports section in the store. You strap these weight onto your wrists and ankles, which helps increase muscle exertion and ultimately muscle tone. Some sources also say that the weights increase the number of calories burned per workout.

Think Speed

One way to help you in your power walking efforts is to walk as if you are in a great hurry. Think in terms of hustle, hustle rather than a pleasurable stroll. Listening to upbeat, active music while you walk can help. Sources say you should aim for 4 1/2 miles per hour, but this is not a speed that most people can achieve automatically. So make this a goal and start out walking as fast as you can (with the proper form), and work up to the 4 1/2 mph goal.

Chocolate Velvet Ice Cream

Ingredients

2/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 2/3 cups heavy cream
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips



Directions

In large bowl, stir together sugar and cocoa. Add egg yolks and blend with electric mixer. Add cream a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Chill mixture in refrigerator.

While cream mixture is chilling, grate chocolate chips in blender or food processor or using a rotary grater, until fine. Stir into cream mixture. Freeze in canister of ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.

Have you made any other home made ice cream? What kind?

Twitter Tuesdays with Blogger Media Group

It’s Twitter Tuesday! Participating in Twitter Tuesday is easy peasy! Just complete one of the options below then add your link!

1. Add the Blogger Media Group Twitter Tuesday button to your blog sidebard.
OR
2. Add the Blogger Media Group Twitter Tuesday button into an existing post on your blog.
OR
3. Create a Twitter Tuesday post on your blog (like we did) and including the linky below!

Then all you have to do is add your Twitter Link to the Linky!

See… easy peasy right?

Tutu Momma's Ultimate Girl Prize Package Giveaway!

Alison is a stay at home mother of 4. She started her business, Tutu Momma, in February of 2011, just after she had her first daughter. She wanted to be able to make her cute hair things and tutus without breaking the bank! She makes hair accessories, tutus, custom shirts, and lots of other girly things. Nearly everything she makes is completely handmade. She is giving away an AWESOME girly prize package, valued at over $100.

This giveaway is brought to you by Tutu Momma and Kara's Deals and Steals.

I'd like to thank our co-sponsor, Utah Sweet Savings.

I'd also like to thank Making of a Mom, Momma's Mission, Parga's Junkyard and Swanky Moms Club for their continued support of this giveaway.

One lucky winner will get the following prize package (pictured above):

Petti Skirt
Tutu
Necklace
4 boutique bows
8 shabby rosette character clips (skulls(2), Barbie, Raggedy Anne, Strawberry
Shortcake, Lala Loopsy, Smurfette, and Cinderella's carriage)

These items fit 18 months-4T and she can go up to a 5 or 6 in the pettiskirt or tutu. The giveaway will run from August 14-August 28 and is open to the U.S. only. Please enter on the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this review or giveaway. Swanky Moms Club is not responsible for prize shipment.

Back to School Promotion from Nordic Naturals

Going green is good for the environment, and in most cases it’s also good for your budget. In fact, implementing a few green or environmentally-friendly home habits might save you a little money along the way. Sounds good, right?

Here are a few green business tips to consider adding to your weekly or monthly routine.

#1 Sign Up for EStatements.

How many bank and financial statements do you receive in the mail? Each statement that you receive uses ink and paper. Both contribute to toxins in the environment. And that statement has to travel from the company to your mailbox. That trip produces emissions. When you sign up for eStatments or electronic statements the documents are delivered to you via email.

That means no ink, no paper, and no transportation. If that doesn’t convince you, then know that most financial institutions and utility companies charge a fee for printed statements. If you sign up for electronic statements they waive that fee. You can save around $3.00 per statement.

#2 Reuse Your Paper

You probably consume much more paper than you realize. If you print out your receipts, contracts, documents and other important files, that’s a lot of paper. Whenever possible, use the other side of the paper as well. Either get a printer that prints on both sides or use the other side for scrap paper. When you’re done with the paper, shred it and use it as packing material or recycle it.

#3 Build an Electronic Library

Books are wonderful. They inspire. They educate. And they pile up. Each book on your shelf used ink and paper to be created. Again, this contributes to toxins in the environment and a reduction in the trees which help eliminate toxins from the air.

Also, that book needs to be shipped from point to point, causing emissions and fuel consumption. EBooks don’t need to be shipped and they don’t need any ink or paper – they’re environmentally friendly. (EBooks also generally cost less than a printed book.) If you absolutely need to have a book on your book shelf, consider buying a used one.

Finally, recycle or sell your used gadgets and electronics instead of throwing them away. Open that junk drawer or storage box and hop online. You can sell your collection of old cell phones, MP3 players and cameras. And for those you cannot sell, find a recycler who will take them from you. Or donate them to a worthy cause. It just doesn’t make sense to throw them away when you can help someone out or make money from used items.

Have you ever heard of Nordic Naturals? At Nordic Naturals they believe that omega oils are essential to life. By correcting the global omega-3 deficiency, they give each generation what they need to grow healthy and strong. Through Science and innovation, they are committed to delivering the world's safest, most effective omega oils.


What’s essential to Nordic Naturals? Making a difference in the lives of children!

The Plan: Nordic Naturals and non-profit Healthy Child Healthy World have teamed up this year to help educate families everywhere. They have an important message they wish to share: It is essential that we protect our children from harmful contaminants by creating healthy environments where our children can grow, thrive, and flourish.

The Issue: Our children live in a world that is vastly different from years ago. More than 80,000 chemicals, most of which did not exist fifty years ago, are registered for use in commerce in the United States, and approximately 700 new ones are introduced every year. These chemicals are used in everyday items such as food, shampoo, toys, furniture, electronics, household cleaners, and lawn care products, to name just a few. The effects of most of these chemicals on human health are unknown. Of these high-volume chemicals, only 43% have been tested for potential human toxicity, and only 7% have been studied for their possible effects on child development. Even fewer have been tested for their health effects when they interact with one another. What is this doing to our kids? For the most part, we don’t really know. It’s largely an unregulated experiment—and our children are the canaries in the coalmine.

Here’s just one way that Nordic Naturals plans to help:

Special Back to School Promotion

To raise awareness about this important issue, Nordic Naturals will donate a portion of proceeds from selected Nordic Naturals children’s products to Healthy Child Healthy World during its Back-to-School promotion, which will run from August through October. One dollar of every bottle sold of the following products will be donated to Healthy Child Healthy World:

• Nordic Berries™ – chewy, sweet-and-sour multivitamins provide 100% of the daily value of the most essential nutrients
• Nordic Omega-3 Gummies™ – easy-to-chew, omega-3 tangerine treats for ages 2+
• Children’s DHA™ – chewable, strawberry-flavored omega-3s support brain and visual function for ages 3+
• Baby’s DHA – omega-3s for babies 5-35 lbs. with a measured dropper for easy addition to formula or food

Just Plain Wrong Baby Shower Cakes

Oh no they didn't...

Yes, yes they did.

Swanky Moms Stay at the Floridays Resort in Orlando!

We recently had the opportunity to stay at the Floridays Resort in Orlando, Florida.

One word: AMAZING!

No wonder they are ranked #1 out of 338 hotels in Orlando per TripAdvisor!

Vacations are always super stressful when you have small children but when you stay at a Resort that is like a home, it becomes a lot less stressful!

Floridays Resort in Orlando has super comfortable 2 or 3 bedroom suites with 2 bathroom, a full kitchen and a washer/dryer. That washer/dryer came in super duper handy during the time we were there.

My youngest is two... enough said. :)

We did not arrive until the hotel until almost midnight. When we arrived everyone was sleeping, my husband checked us in and we headed to the room. I was of course exhausted and the kids were wide awake! My youngest is totally addicted to baths. He would bathe half a dozen times a day if I let him so he immediately wanted a bath.

Now I am a little weird about sitting in a bath tub at hotels... actually I never do. I always shower but at this resort I actually took advantage of the big tub in the master bathroom. It was so clean... it was like bathing at home.

Actually... I take that back... it was probably cleaner than bathing at home. Haha...

You will also find:

• WiFi in every suite and all the public areas. Woohoo!
• A State-of-the-art Fitness Center (which is great if your husband is going through a midlife crisis like mine and thinks he has to go to the gym every day.) Love you Nick!
• Kids Playscape Pool
• Daily "Trash & Tidy" maid service
• Nearby Premium Outlet Shopping, Restaurants, Grocery.

The Kid Playscape Pool was absolutely AMAZING! These pictures really don't do it any justice!

They had a Hula Hoop Contest for the kids which my Madison totally loved!

The little man has the best time...

So if you are planning a Florida vacation, now you know where to stay

Floridays Resort

12562 International Drive 

Orlando, Florida 

866-994-6321

Ergonomic Pen Review

I recently had the opportunity to review the UGlee Pen and it really is unlike any other pen! They claim to be mated with the smoothest ink system know, smoother than any roller ball, gel ink or fountain ink pen and I would have to agree!

The overall shape of this ergonomic pen, as well as the detailed contours are perfectly engineered to follow the anatomy of the hand. 

UGlee Pen has been kind enough to sponsor a giveaway! Enter to win one below! 

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... I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Apollo Precision Garden Tool Kit

As the fall approaches your home checklist may grow. In addition to preparing the inside of your home for the colder months, your landscaping needs preparation too. Shrubs need trimming, gardens need harvesting. The exterior of your home needs a bit of maintenance and your lawn needs winterizing.

Each one of those tasks requires tools. In addition to getting expensive, it can be a challenge to store and organize an abundance of yard work tools and accessories. The Apollo Precision Tools 15 Piece Garden Tool Kit provides an inexpensive solution.

The nifty kid contains everything you need to harvest your garden, winterize your lawn, and prepare your yard for winter. In this kit you will find a host nozzle, pruning shears, grass shears, several trowels, rake, hose connectors and couplers too. It also has a knee pad to make you more comfortable during those gardening tasks. A few extras, like twist ties, put the kit over the top.

The added bonus with this kit is that it comes contained in a hard plastic storage container. Each tool has a place where it is locked tight and easy to store. No more cluttered tool boxes or gardening centers. All of your gardening and lawn winterizing materials are in one easy to use location.

Easy to carry around the yard, the Apollo Precision Tools 15 Piece Garden Tool Kit comes in green. I really like the 18 piece tool kit that comes in a pink kit, I though you Swanky Moms might like this one too! :)

Chocolate Covered Banana Smoothie

Ingredients

1 banana
1/2 cup silken tofu
1/2 cup soymilk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon honey

Preparation

Slice banana and freeze until firm. Blend tofu, soymilk, cocoa and honey in a blender until smooth. With the motor running, add the banana slices through the hole in the lid and continue to puree until smooth.

Yum! What is your favorite smoothie?

What are you going to be for Halloween

So who says dressing up for Halloween is just for the kiddos? EdenFantasys.com has some oh so sexy Halloween Costumes for mom too! So maybe you don't want to take your kids trick or treating dresses as a naughty nurse but why not Alice?

What about the "Ship Happens" Marine themed costume?

Or one of my favorites... what Disney Princess does this costume remind you of?

I'm sure your little princess would get a kick out of you being a princess for Halloween! Now there are of course several other costumes that are for his eyes only that you can find at EdenFantasys.com.

I also like the Cave Girl Costume and the Pom Pom Santa halter dress with candy cane leggings is just too stinkin cute!

Also, until August 17th you can get 20% off of your body care and massage item purchases! Order today and save some cash! 

The ultra moisturizing shave cream is absolutely awesome! It is one of my favorites and is on sale for $6.39 right now! I like the pomegranate raspberry scent. I am also a huge fan of the Venus Body Scrub in the Cucumber Melon Scent. It seriously smells good enough to eat.

G & L Clothing

Regular, Big & Tall, they have it all at G & L Clothing! You will find your favorite brands like Carhartt and Dickies clothing! You will find men, women's and kids clothing! This is a one stop shop for the entire family!

You will find winter clothing and clothes that are absolutely perfect for working in like coveralls, overalls and safety clothing. They have free delivery on orders of $100! Customers and able to easily track their order and return if needed! So check out G & L clothing for brands like Carhartt, Levis, Dickies, Timerland and laCrosse!

Check out Tanda

Via: Tanda Skincare

You know, people have been know to go to great lengths to not only get but o also maintain a youthful glow and healthy shine the the absolute largest human organ. You know what that is? The skin!

Human beings have even gone so far as to bathe in sour milk for exfoliation (yuck!) and slather themselves in honey to prevent sunburn. I remember laying out by to pool as a teen covered in olive oil because it gave you that rich, dark tan. You ever do that?

The graphic above from Tanda will shed even more light on the interesting history of skincare and the high costs that people throughout time have paid!

What do you think about Chick-Fil-A?

If you haven't heard about the Chick-Fil-A uproar you might just be living under a rock. For years, Chick-Fil-A has given millions of dollars to organizations fighting same-sex marriage and supporting heterosexual ones.

There have been many small protests but the most recent uproar began in July when Dan Cathy, the companies president and chief operating officer told a Christian news station that Chick-Fil-A supported "the biblical definition of the family unit."

He later said in a radio interview “As it relates to society in general, I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.’ “

Apparently, someone decided to stage a same-sex kiss-in on August 3rd, urging gays and lesbians to show up at their local Chick-Fil-A in protest. Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, got wind of this and declared August 1st as Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day. Mike's call to action that was posted on Facebook last week went viral.

So on August 1st this was the scene at Chick-Fil-A in our local mall.

The other Chick-Fil-A location in town was absolutely insane. People were backed up for what seemed like miles, local police were directing traffic, people were lined up outside and around the building for a chicken sandwich and some waffle fries.

Now let me ask you this, why is everyone so surprised? This fast food chain is based out of Atlanta, Georgia and is owned by a Baptist family. So, you are surprised that its Christian owner is against gay marriage? Really? That was a shocker?

I have been seeing all of these different arguments on Facebook where people say "Who is he to tell me who I can love?" Um... did I miss something? I thought he just said... well you know what he said.

Would it surprise you if you local Christian book store told you they were against same-sex marriage?

Let me just put it this way... would you be shocked if your vegan friend said she doesn't eat meat?

Kind of excepted huh?

When Chick-Fil-A's Vice President, Steve Robinson got wind of the kiss-in planned for August 3rd, his response was "We understand from news reports that Friday may present yet another opportunity for us to serve with genuine hospitality, superior service and great food."

So what are your thoughts?