Dear Sandy Hook Elementary Parents,

Many thoughts & prayers are all over our nation right now for the families affected by the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. 

As a mother of young children (one being a 1st grader), I cannot begin to fathom what these families are going through. My heart aches for these families as if they were old friends, despite the fact that they are indeed strangers who live states away. 

Our nation mourns the loss of young lives today, including President Obama who continuously wiped tears from his eyes while addressing this terrible tragedy. Flags all over the country have been lowered to half staff to show respect & sorrow to the victims. Parents hugged their children a little longer, imagining that this could have very well happened where they live. 

Dear Sandy Hook Elementary Parents,

May you one day find solitude from this unmistakable tragedy. May you know that although your loved one had a life short lived, that life has far exceeded possibilities you could imagine. Your loved one has touched the hearts of people across the country & quite possibly in other parts of the world as well. Someone, somewhere, will make sure that this did not happen in vain. 

Countless strangers mourn with you over your tragic loss. Unable to grasp for words, but wanting to reach out. Like me.  

Endless thoughts, prayers & hugs from NE Ohio

Boogie Wipes: My New Go-To

I love finding the products that seem like they were made just for me & my family. Our latest craze, Boogie Wipes.

Made by moms for moms, these saline wipes have yet to disappoint. Made for the purpose of relieving tiny noses of the red soreness that usually comes with a runny nose. But they're not restricted to just kids. I have even grabbed a few here & there.

The perfect size to keep in the car!

I swear I keep them everywhere too! I have a large container in the car, a pack in the bathroom, a pack & sample packs in my purse. Yes, I love passing out my samples to random strangers & friends alike. Need a tissue? Have a Boogie Wipe. Have a messy kid? Have a Boogie Wipe. 

Yes, you read that right, they work great on messy faces & hands too. (Just ask the lady behind me in line, who saw me clean yogurt covered pretzel mess off my 1 year old in just a few quick swipes.)

Another reason why Boogie Wipes are so great? They're fun! You can look into the Booger Facts, jokes, play games & read stories in the Save the Sleeve section. And that's just a few fun things! Select packs also have a What's on your Face Secret Code to enter. You could win one of several coupons or a FREE pack of Boogie Wipes! You can also join the Boogie Bunch for updates & coupons.

Getting excited yet? Good! Check out the rest that Boogie Wipes has to offer. then come back & tell me what you love about Boogie Wipes.

"Boogie Wipes are made with natural saline to dissolve boogies (mucus) caused by the  common cold, allergies or otherwise booger-filled kid moments.

Extra soft, alcohol, phthalate and paraben free, Boogie Wipes are available in Great Grape, Fresh Scent, Minty Menthol and Simply Unscented. Recommended by pediatricians as a gentle, effective alternative to a dry tissue"

BBQ Pulled Pork Stack Recipe & Crock-Pot Seasoning Mixes

It's dinner time!

This is my BBQ Pulled Pork Stack. Super simple to make, filling & delicious. Don't worry, I'll be sharing my recipes later (yes, recipes) to make this. Oh & just as an FYI: this picture doesn't do it justice.

First, let's talk about the pork. Usually I just cook my pork loin in the crock-pot with some basic seasonings & then add some BBQ sauce at the end. It's good, but not great. But the pork I made tonight, wow! Even my kids asked for seconds (usually they don't when I make it). And my picky eater asked for thirds (unheard of!). So what was so special about it? I used a Crock-Pot Seasoning Mix.

I'm a member of Smiley360 & one of my latest missions was for Crock-Pot Seasoning Mixes. I received Pot Roast, Beef Stew & BBQ Pulled Pork. All of which were way better than I expected! Just place your meat (& usually veggies) in your crock-pot. Take your seasoning mix, add a few (if that) ingredients & pour over top. Cover & cook. And let's not forget the taste, so savory! Usually my BBQ pulled pork ends up being weighed down by the BBQ sauce. But using my Crock-Pot Seasoning Mix, it had a nice smoky flavor while still being able to taste the pork. Delicious.

Now, on to the BBQ Pulled Pork Stack...

Start with some toasted bread. I made a loaf of Sally Lunn in my bread machine for this. Any will do though. (Recipe to follow).

Top with BBQ Pulled Pork...

Then mashed potatoes...

And then the shredded cheddar!

Next is coleslaw. I made Creamy Coleslaw from Betty Crocker (my fave).

And lastly, an onion ring. I thought about making some beer battered onion rings, but I had plenty of things on my counter already. Good thing I had some frozen ones left still (seeing as how I love to randomly top things with onion rings).

And it's done! It sounds & looks odd, I know. But the flavors blend together so wonderfully. Hope you enjoy it!

Sally Lunn Bread (made in a bread machine):

*1.5 lb. recipe

1 egg plus enough water to equal 1C. plus 2 Tbsp.

1 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp & 1 tsp. sugar

1/4C. & 2 Tbsp softened butter

3C. bread flour

1 tsp. bread machine yeast

Place all ingredients in bread machine pan in the order recommended by manufacturer.

Select Basic/White cycle. Use Medium or Light crust color. Do not use delay cycles. Remove baked bread from pan, & cool on wire rack.

* Smiley360 is a social community for people who love brands. Be the first to try new products, experiences & offers for free, and share your thoughts online!

**Disclaimer: I received this product to try from Smiley360 & am simply sharing my personal opinion which may vary from yours. I was not compensated for this review.

A Birthday Craft

Yesterday my baby girl, Hayden Tinley, turned ONE! We had a relaxed day of food & friends.

As part of her presents, I had something special for her. Actually, I had hoped to have two somethings, but the second is still on my to-do list.

This is a canvas I painted for her. (The second will be a corresponding night/middle name these.) I'm hoping that by sharing this on my blog, it'll keep me in line to finish up the second.

And no 1st birthday would be complete without...

Chocolate cake!!!

Xlear SparX Candy: A Review

As a mom, you don't really want your kids to eat a bunch of candy. But if your 3 year old son happens to inherit your husband's sweet tooth for it, there's only so much you can do. (Note: Dental issues also run on hubby's side, primarily an early loss of enamel. - Sounds random, but keep reading.)

As a blogger & a member of Moms Meet, I had the opportunity to try Xlear SparX Candy in both Citrus & Fruit flavors. And let me tell you, not only was I pleasantly surprised, but shocked & excited over this product. Here's why...

"Xlear SparX Candy is a growing line of healthy, xylitol-based candies. Xlear SparX is sweetened naturally with xylitol, a plant-based, dentist recommended sweetener that’s been proven to improve dental health and strengthen tooth enamel."

"Over 25 years of clinical testing confirms that xylitol is the best sweetener for teeth. Frequent eating of foods high in sugars and starches can promote tooth decay. Xylitol, unlike other sugars, may reduce the risk of dental caries. Sugar free chewing gums and candies made with this sweetener have already received official endorsements from six national dental associations.

SparX® are naturally flavored little candy "dots" that are rich in Xylitol. Kids love the great taste while parents can feel confident that they are giving their kids a treat which actually helps improve dental health."

Never have I tasted a candy that provided so many benefits & tasted so good!  Between my husband & I, along with our two oldest children (Paige, 6 & Damien, 3) our Xlear SparX Candy seemed like it was gone in no time. And while I still knew the great benefits these little tasty candies provided, I'll admit that I had to remind myself when the kids were enjoying them a couple of times that they weren't supposed to. (Courtesy of hubby's sweet tooth, nonetheless.)

Knowing what I now know about xylitol, along with the possible inheritance of poor dental genes (fingers crossed they get mine instead), I would be a happy mama if this was the only candy my kids ever consumed. But since I know that will probably never happen, occasionally will still work for me.

Want to know more about Xlear products & xylitol? You can find tons of info on their website & facebook page. 

Moms Meet is an online resource that empowers moms to come together in an informal setting and talk about the latest on raising healthy families and living green. Moms Meet offers exciting opportunities for Mom Ambassadors and their groups to sample the latest healthy, green products. Sign up today!

***Disclaimer: I am blogging about this product without compensation from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to review this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product. 

Speedy Supper: Pot Roast Sammies

In a rush for dinner & no clue what to make? Well, with just a handful of items, you'll have your belly full in no time.

Necessity #1: Pot Roast. I've gotten in the habit of sticking my leftover roast (made with carrots, celery, onion & potatoes) in the freezer, just for these sandwiches. If you're like me & rarely have leftover potatoes, that's perfectly fine.

Start by buttering & toasting both sides of your bread on a griddle. I had a bag of wheat open, but really any kind will do.

Top one side with some roast (make sure your veggies are cut up & meat is shredded) & the other side with...how about an onion ring? Yea, an onion ring. Just because I happened to have some & it sounded good. Your call on that one though, although I do recommend it.

Show me the cheddar!

Well look at that! We made a sammich.

The perfect side, a baked potato.

Scrub & pierce your potatoes. Place on a microwave safe plate. Spray with cooking spray & then give a sprinkling of seasoned salt. Wrap with plastic wrap & microwave till done.

If you happen to prep everything you need for salads like I usually do, you can whip up one in practically no time as another side.

Now you can eat & run. But not actually eat & run, you might get a cramp.

Enjoy!

Sears Cheer Headquarters & Smiley360

It's that time of year! Time to decorate for the upcoming holiday. Usually I do everything on Black Friday. But with a soon to be 1 year old in the house, we're dragging it out a bit longer.

   I want my living room to look like the one I found on Sears!

Speaking of decorating, have you started yet? Are you done already? Or are you somewhere in the middle like me? Do you go the traditional route or modern? I know, I know, what's with all of the questions (?)...(like how I did that?) One more & I'm done, I swear. Do you have that one item you want but you just haven't found what you're looking for yet?

Well I do! Mine is the tree topper. But no worries, I think I've found "the one".

This is from Ty Pennington's Winter's Night Collection available at Sears for $9.04. Perfect.

Now I don't normally consider Sears as a go to location for decorations. Until now of course. You see, I received a $15 Sears gift card to spend towards holiday decorations from Smiley360. So I immediately went to the Sears Cheer Headquarters to check it all out.

Ty's Home Sweet Holiday Collection has this little owl ornament for $3.61. Isn't it cute?!

For a classic touch, there is this bird ornament from Ty's Golden Adornment Collection. And at only $2.40, it is gorgeous!

And for a bit of sparkle, a snowflake ornament from Ty's Jewel Jubilee Collection. For $3.01, that's the closest I care to get to the snow.

With so many options to choose from, it's amazing I'm even able to make up my mind. But you don't have to stop there. There's many other holiday items available (I'm just really digging the Ty Pennington Collections). And don't forget to check out the Sears Cheer Tree for exclusive insights & inspiration from Ty Pennington & lifestyle expert George Hirsch.

Oh & while we're at it, be sure that you sign up for Shop Your Way Rewards (can be used at KMart too.) You earn 10 points for every $1 you spend. Then you can redeem your points (1,000=$1) when you're shopping online or in a store. Just an added bonus for being a great customer!

What are you waiting for? head over to your local Sears or shop online for your holiday decorating needs.

* Smiley360 is a social community for people who love brands. Be the first to try new products, experiences & offers for free, and share your thoughts online!

**Disclaimer: I received this product to try from Smiley360 & am simply sharing my personal opinion which may vary from yours. I was not compensated for this review.