My parents flew down for a long weekend and we sure enjoyed having them.  Lily got a whole day off with her grandparents, and Adam and I enjoyed a date night.  My mom helped with some redecorating ideas, and she cooked us a delicious dinner.  Best of all, my dad and Adam built me a brand new raised vegetable garden!  They dubbed themselves "Dumb and Dumber Construction" but I think they did a fabulous job!



I finally had the opportunity to dump out the compost I had been hoarding in my tumbler, too. (That darned SunChips bag still hasn't fully broken down!)



Our yard is very hilly and rather shaded, but I'm hopefully the seeds my father picked out will take.  I have two types of kale, yellow squash, spinach, radishes, and zucchini.  Can't wait to see how it goes!

VeggieTales presents: The Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men DVD!

Robin Good has a mission - fundraising from the rich and giving to the poor! But when greedy Prince starts stealing the townspeople's hams, donations are down and Robin's band of friends desert him to give robbing a try. Can Robin overcome his hurt, show his friends what's right and restore the townspeople's hope?

Bonus Features:
Leapin' Leap Year Lesson
"Fun"-Raising with Larry
"Things Will Get Better" - Singalong Song
"Prince of Ham" - Singalong Song
Robin Good's Guide to Handling Hurt - Discussion Guide
5.1 Surround Sound
English and Spanish Subtitles

Plus! An all new Silly Song!  Running Time: Approx. 50 min.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a complimentary DVD to facilitate my honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Thanks to Veggie Tales for sponsoring the giveaway!

Hosting a giveaway? You can link it here to promote it! I try to visit everyone who links up since I LOVE giveaways! Please include blog name - prize - end date and link directly to your giveaway. My current giveaways are listed in the right sidebar. Please keep it family friendly or identify it as adult content.

Looking for more giveaways to enter? Check out my friends Dina at Just Another New Blogand Kristi at Moms Own Words! Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

Al dente pasta, savory sauces, hearty meatballs, these are just a few of the delicious ingredients that can be featured in authentic Italian cuisine. When it comes to cooking traditional Italian dishes the possibilities are endless, and you don’t have to travel all the way to Italy to taste the tradition! With Italian Days, available exclusively at Publix, you can find great prices and coupon savings on some of your favorite brands including Progresso, Green Giant, and Muir Glen and purchase everything you need for great Italian recipes like, Meatballs and Twisters.

While visiting Italian Days at Publix from February 16th through February 29th, you can also enter the Taste the Tradition Italian Days Sweepstakes for a chance to be 1 of 500 shoppers that will win a $100 Publix® gift card, sponsored by General Mills.

To enter to win the Taste the Tradition Italian Days Sweepstakes and download great coupon savings and delicious recipes, look in-store or follow the instructions below:

Click – Stay up to date with the latest General Mills promotions happening at Publix, by visiting ClickCallMail.com. Once you’re registered and logged in, you can participate in any the current promotions.  I downloaded my Italian Days coupons already along with some other coupons that were available on the site!

Call – If you’d prefer to enter the sweepstakes and participate in other promotions via telephone, feel free to call the General Mills hotline, at 1.800.627.6059, and be sure to say that you want to enter the 2012 Italian Days Sweepstakes. Please be sure to provide your complete contact information (Full name/address/zip code/phone #).

Mail – If you prefer to participate via mail-in entry, print and mail your complete contact information (Full Name/address/zip code/phone #) to 2012 Italian Days Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 44257, Atlanta, Georgia 30336.



WIN IT
One of my US readers will win a $25 Publix gift card!  Lucky you! To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form. If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

This is an easy and tasty turkey salad.  Perfect for leftover turkey to eat as a side or as a turkey salad sandwich.

Red grapes, cut in half
leftover turkey, chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
3 talks celery, chopped finely
light mayo
almond slivers
curry powder
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together.  Chill, then enjoy!

Chili is a winning choice for wintertime meals, and perfect for a wide variety of gatherings this time of year. Th eChili Appreciation Society International and Bruce Foods are looking for your “Championship” recipe ideas and tips to help us celebrate “Chili Season.”

Mexene® Chili Powder and Chili Seasoning Mix: Created in 1906, Mexene features only the highest quality sun-ripened pre-frost chili peppers blended with cumin, oregano, and garlic. Just take a pinch between your finger and thumb, rub, and smell the delicious aroma. Mexene® Chili Powder is called "The Chili Champions' Choice" and is endorsed by CASI, The Chili Appreciation Society International. Mexene is the secret ingredient used in the past eight winning recipes from the World Championship Chili Cookoff in Terlingua, Texas.

Original Louisiana Hot Sauce: The original cayenne pepper sauce of Louisiana, with an 80-year reputation for quality and perfection. This versatile condiment can pep up almost any meal, especially chili, soups and stews. There's only one ORIGINAL Louisiana Hot Sauce, and this is it!

Check out ChiliCookOffWinner.com for this year’s Championship Chili Recipe from the granddaddy of all cook-offs plus chili history, tips, recipes and more!

Hosting a giveaway? You can link it here to promote it! I try to visit everyone who links up since I LOVE giveaways! Please include blog name - prize - end date and link directly to your giveaway. My current giveaways are listed in the right sidebar. Please keep it family friendly or identify it as adult content.

Looking for more giveaways to enter? Check out my friends Dina at Just Another New Blog and Kristi at Moms Own Words! Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

 From Feb. 9th through Feb. 14th, look for the “Running Out? Run In.”event at your local Publix store and “run in,” to take advantage of the great savings available on some of your favorite brands from General Mills and Procter & Gamble, including Yoplait yogurt, Cheerios, Charmin, and Crest
Also, don’t forget to look in-stores for over $14 in coupon savings – coupons are valid Feb. 6 through Feb. 25
Receive a $5 Publix® gift card to use on your next shopping trip when you purchase $30 or more in participating items during the event (2/8 – 2/25); simply mail in the rebate form found in-store or online at runningoutrunin.com along with your original receipt(s).
a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: The Publix gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.  All opinions are my own.  I received a complimentary Publix gift card - thank you to Publix!

While browsing some home decor ideas online on houzz.com (awesome site!) I saw the kitchen below online.  Slide out spice rack?!  (drool)


I wanted it as soon as I saw it.  And thanks to my fabulous, hard-working Handy Hubby, I am going to have a slide out spice rack of my own.  I can't wait to show you the final result!  Here's the start of the project this past weekend.

Here are some fun recipes for winter drinks you can try.

Chocolate Snowball
2 oz coconut rum
2 oz Irish cream
1 oz hazelnut liqueur
3 1/2 oz melted chocolate
3 1/2 oz cream
1 dash chocolate syrup

Preparation: Place the chocolate syrup around the glass then place the other ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into glass.

Spring Fever
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz mango syrup
1 1/2 oz pineapple juice
2 oz blood orange juice

Preparation: Shake well over ice cubes in a shaker, and strain into a collins glass half-filled with crushed ice.

Winter Breeze
1 oz creme de cacao
1 oz vanilla schnapps
1 oz Irish cream
milk

Preparation: Pour liquors into a beer mug, and fill with milk. Stir, and serve.


WIN IT
One of my US readers will win a Hendrick’s Gin Golf Umbrella and $20.00 Crate & Barrel Gift Card.  Lucky you!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: This is not a compensated post and the prize is being provided by the sponsor directly to the winner.  All opinions are my own - please drink responsibly!

With Valentine's Day around the corner, FedEx Office can offer you a special treat for your loved one - a canvas treat.  Starting at 16x20, the canvas prints are a great addition to your home.  I printed a recent photo and absolutely love seeing it blown up in my kitchen.

For over 25 years, we've been making Farm Rich products with one goal in mind: keep 'em happy. Whether it's the wholesome ingredients in our products you can feel good about serving your family, or the wide variety of our offerings that appeals to everyone, Farm Rich knows how to keep your family smiling.
Farm Rich makes a variety of tasty appetizers and snacks, some of which include: Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, Mozzarella Bites, Philly Cheese Steaks, and Pizza Slices. View the full list of Farm Rich products.







MICHELLE'S THOUGHTS
I love mozzarella sticks; they are by far my favorite appetizer! I was pretty excited to write this review because on several grocery shopping occasions, Farm Rich products (especially their cheese sticks) have caught my eye. Then I noticed that Farm Rich makes Marinara Stuffed Mozzarella Sticks, YUM!  Even better!  My husband and I thought they were delicious and with the marinara sauce already stuffed inside, these mozzarella sticks are convenient too.

BUY IT
You can use the product locator to find out where Farm Rich products are available near you.

WIN IT
Two of my US readers will win a coupon good for a free Farm Rich product (snacks and appetizers).  Lucky you!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: Michelle received a free product coupon to facilitate her honest review.  All opinions are her own.  This is not a compensated post.  Thank you to Farm Rich for providing the giveaway items!

Hosting a giveaway? You can link it here to promote it! I try to visit everyone who links up since I LOVE giveaways! Please include blog name - prize - end date and link directly to your giveaway. My current giveaways are listed in the right sidebar. Please keep it family friendly or identify it as adult content.

Looking for more giveaways to enter? Check out my friends Dina at Just Another New Blog and Kristi at Moms Own Words! Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

Little Caesars HOT-N-READY large pepperoni pizza is just $5 right in time for the Super Bowl!  Have you planned your menu?


Little Caesars offers a  HOT-N-READY  pizza for a quick pick up with no need to call ahead.  What is HOT-N-READY®?  A large 14” pepperoni pizza, hot out of the oven and ready when you are!  No need to call ahead!  No need to wait!  No limit!

Little Caesars also features specialty HOT-N-READY® pizzas from time to time based on regional taste preferences.

Last weekend, the grandparents descended and Adam and I had a date night.  Alone.  Dressed up.  It was nice :)

I remembered to dig out the tripod.  That's Adam's mom and stepfather with us and Lily the ham-face!


Lily loves playing Go Fish with Grandma Debbi!  The art kit divider is so we don't "cheat" since she can't hold her cards well.



I think it is time to upgrade this seating area a bit.  We have our eye on some comfortable arm chairs to replace the wood bench and will relocate the kids table.


Last but not least, who doesn't love making Play Dough cakes?

The Original Baby Bullet™ is safe, non-toxic and BPA-free countertop system was specifically designed for new moms, on-the-go moms and even Dads too. The Original Baby Bullet™ is more than a blender – it’s a 22-piece comprehensive baby food making system designed to make mom’s life easier while ensuring baby begins life eating the healthiest, most nutrient-rich all-natural foods. Jarred baby food is much more expensive than homemade food and typically contains unhealthy sugars, preservatives and fillers (even when it’s labeled organic). With the Original Baby Bullet™, moms are in full control of every ingredient that goes into their baby’s food.

The Original Baby Bullet™ Baby Care System includes:
The Power Base: The heart of The Original Baby Bullet™ Baby Care System. Simply place either the Batchbowl or one of the Short Cups on to the High-Torque Power Base, press down and twist for preservative-free, all-natural baby food in seconds.
a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. Thank you to Baby Bullet for providing the giveaway prize.

I spent most of my life living in "flat" areas - first on my grandmother's farm in Poland as a child, then in Chicago through my early 20s.  An unexpected move to Atlanta changed all that, and we managed to find our perfect home in the city of Mountain Park.  Our house is literally built into a hill, with two sides of our main living area left windowless.

As new home owners, we did not fully understand or appreciate the issues involved with living on a hilly, wooded lot.  We quickly learned about erosion and dug a lot of ditches to bury drainage tubes.  We also quickly realized that we did not have the typical backyard.  Our outdoor living space was a concrete patio the builder had put in.  The patio was not large.  Growing grass on the few flat areas we had was not a possibility due to the towering shade trees and uneven terrain.

Determined to make it work we contacted local landscapers.  We received an absurd quote of over 20K from a landscaper to terrace and level out the yard.  Needless to say, we did not have an extra $20,000 sitting around.  So we took matters into our own hands (OK, OK, into my husband's hands, he gets the full credit!!).  Our solution?  A custom deck, built into the hill.

This beauty took Adam a good several years to finally complete on the weekends and weeknights.  I believe we started in 2004 and finally finished in 2008.  The end result?  It nearly doubled our usable backyard space.  We eat there.  We relax there.  We bird watch there.  The deck flows downward in stages to accommodate the land and I love that this is a structure that adds both value and function to our property.  I dug up these old in-progress photos to show you the transformation of the sloped backyard.






















This is an entry for PartSelect's G.E. Appliances contest.

Leo Stickers are colorful and creative wall decals that designed by Italian artists, illustrators and designers to decorate kids’ rooms. Leo Stickers decals are created with young children in mind. By applying these stickers on the walls, a simple bedroom can be transformed into a fantastic world, allowing your child to grow in a fun, stimulating and creative environment! They have everything from cuddly characters to jungle kits to pirate ships, and more! There are so many different choices to personalize your child's room and if you need a little help, you can even search the room ideas!

What's more, LEO stickers are created using only the best materials. The printed section is protected by a pvc film, making them safe and resilient against even the most lively children! They are non-reflective and free of white borders, avoiding the appearance of a "picture card" and appearing instead to be painted directly onto the wall. Leo Stickers decals are available in kits or can be purchased separately, and you can even customize the size of each decal!



MICHELLE'S THOUGHTS
For the purpose of this review, I had the opportunity to review the Sea Minikit, which included nine sea creature decals. I decided to hang them in our kids’ bathroom to make the room a little more colorful and fun. Applying the decals was incredibly easy and none of them ripped or got air bubbles. Additionally, I was very impressed with how vivid the color is on the decals.