Category Archives: Main Page Post

September 16, 2014 · 1:11 pm

Make Choosing Tile Easier With The Interior Design Tile Style Guide From Drury Design!!!

As someone in the middle of several home improvement projects with extensive tile work involved in 2 of them, I am excited to share a new guide to make choosing tile easier.  One of the most daunting parts of picking out tile is trying to find what you like, staying in your  budget and choosing tile that is right for the application you are using it for.  Walking in a tile showroom can be positively overwhelming!  There are so many patterns, colors, materials and finishes that it may cause your eyes to glaze over or make you have a panic attack.

Tile ModernBath

Last year at this time, I was picking out the tile for our master bath and I remember being so overwhelmed.   I just wanted to be in a room with 3 choices and make a simple decision.  Tile is something you don’t just change on a whim, you know it’s going to be with you for a long time and that’s why picking something that is going to go the long haul for you on style and  durability is paramount.

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If you wished an expert could be with you, holding your hand and guiding you, I may have the next best thing.  The Interior Design Tile Style Guide from Drury Design will help you understand everything you need to know when making a tile purchase. From the basics of whether  to choose glass, ceramic, porcelain, natural stone or exotic tile based on where it will be installed, durability, maintenance and your budget to lots of interior design ideas simple and ornate. Armed with the proper knowledge beforehand makes picking out tile a much easier and pleasurable task.

Tile Steamer_in_kitchen_drury

Tile Steamer_in_kitchen_drury

You can browse great design ideas for bathrooms, kitchens, backsplash trends and more for inspiration.  Check it out today and see what you think.  Let us know your thoughts.


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September 15, 2014 · 2:42 am

Primula Cold Brew Glass Carafe Iced Coffee Maker Review & Giveaway!!!

PRimula Logo

I don’t know about you, but I love iced coffee and I don’t live down the street from a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. If you found when making your own at home it tasted different, it’s was because hot brewed coffee is highly acidic.  Did you know that there are cold brew coffee makers that make coffee concentrate? I recently had the chance to try the Primula Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker.

Primula Website Photo

 

The coffee made in this cold brew way makes coffee concentrate that is 65% less acidic than hot brewed coffee. The 50 oz Carafe will make enough concentrate for 16 cups of iced coffee. You can store the concentrate in the refridgerator for up to 14 days so you will easily be able to whip up a refreshing iced coffee whenever the mood strikes. There are also recipes for other delicious coffee drinks in the instruction guide. The glass carafe is BPA free, stain and scratch resistant and features a non slip silicone bottom ring. The carafe easily fits in the fridge without taking up much room.

The Cold Brew Glass Carafe System has the MyBev Flavorcore that is a stainless steel mesh basket core where you place the ground coffee.  The handle on the Flavorcore makes it easy to maneuver and it rests inside the lid and locks firmly in place with a twist while brewing  After 12-24 hours you simply remove the lid and unscrew and remove the Flavorcore, the coffee grounds are easily emptied from the bottom.

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It’s so easy to make the coffee concentrate. All you do is put freshly ground coffee in the Flavorcore, then cover slowly with one cup of water then continue filling until the grounds in the Flavorcore are submerged by water. Next, put the top on and place in the refrigerator to brew for 12-24 hours.  When the brewing time is over, just remove the Flavorcore and dispose of the grounds.  you can insert the flavor mixer to mix and then use the concentrate for iced coffee, cold brew frappe, iced cappuccino, iced mocha or any of your other favorite iced coffee drinks.

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The concentrate is so handy to have made so that my favorite iced coffee treat is seconds away.  I love this system and the concentrate tastes great mixed with water and flavored creamers.  I had an iced pumpkin coffee today after some extensive yard work and it was what I had my mind focused on as my reward for my hard manual labor 🙂 .  If you are looking for a Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker that’s easy to use and easy to clean then the Primula Cold Brew Glass Carafe System is for you!

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Want a chance to win the Primula Cold Brew System?  One lucky Mommy Ramblings’ reader will win a Primula Cold Brew Glass Carafe System!  Thank you Primula for the review unit and for sponsoring this refreshing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Primula Cold Brew Glass Carafe System Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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September 13, 2014 · 1:10 am

Print Money Saving Coupons & Help Believe In Heroes® Raise Funds To Support Wounded Warriors!!! #BelieveinHeroes

 

 

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My father served our country proudly in the Navy during World War II, my oldest brother was a Captain in the Army during the Vietnam War and my other 2 brothers served in the United States Coast Guard.  My uncles, cousins and other family members also served our country proudly in different branches of the military.  I have nephews who are active members of the military and have already served several tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

My friend’s husband  served several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan but has suffered terribly with PTSD.  They have 2 young children and the trials they face due to his severe PTSD are so stressful. Numerous hospitalizations, the need for help in the home to assist when her husband has an episode prevent them from doing many things families take for granted.  Seeing what she has to go through has really shown me the reality of PTSD and how it affects our veterans.  It is one of the reasons why I was happy to participate in the Believe in Heroes® Campaign.

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Believe in Heroes® was established in 2010 to bring grocery retailers, trusted brands, and shoppers together to raise funds for WWP, a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors.  Most veterans face challenges as they transition back into civilian life, and today’s wounded veterans are meeting extraordinary obstacles including, the physical injuries as well as invisible ones, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s time for EVERYONE to take part in ensuring our injured service members are well taken care of.  The campaign has generated $16 million for WWP to date and has helped enable the expansion of its critical veteran programs that now directly serve more than 40,000 injured service members.

Want to help?  You can easily help Believe in Heroes® raise funds to help our Wounded Warriors while doing something you do anyway, grocery shopping.  You can download over $25 in coupon savings HERE.  Coupons are available through 11/30/14 or while supplies last.  For more information on the campaign and how/where to shop click HERE

You can also show your support by purchasing Believe in Heroes® merchandise in stores or online HERE .

 

 

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I am participating in the 2014 Believe in Heroes Blogger Campaign.  Although I was compensated for this post all of my words and views are 100% my own. #BelieveInHeroes

 


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September 8, 2014 · 9:54 pm

McDonald’s Wants To Perk You Up With 2 Weeks Of Free Coffee, September 16-29th!!! #SipandTell

mccafe

Would you like free coffee?  Who wouldn’t right?  On September 16th McDonald’s USA  wants to perk you up with free coffee!  They don’t just want to perk you up for one day, they are kicking off the Second National McCafé Free Coffee Event that culminates on September 29th-National Coffee Day!

Starting September 16th through September 29th just visit any participating McDonald’s restaurant in the US and get a free small McCafé coffee during breakfast hours! This event builds on McDonald’s first-ever Free Coffee Event launched in March, when the company gave away millions of cups of free coffee during the two-week period.

“We know our guests are busy, especially during the morning, and a free cup of coffee goes a long way in helping get their days started,” said Greg Watson, senior vice president, McDonald’s US Menu Innovation.  “That’s why we want to treat customers once again so they can taste for themselves just how great their mornings can be with a cup of McCafé coffee and freshly made breakfast.”

mccafe free coffee

To celebrate two additional weeks of free coffee, McDonald’s is calling on people across the nation to “sip and tell” their embarrassing pre-coffee moments on social media with @McCafe using the hashtag #SipandTell. Select social media fans with morning mishap stories like missing the last train to work on Monday or leaving the house with mismatched shoes will be surprised by @McCafe with custom gifts and experiences to help start their morning off right.

McDonald’s first launched its McCafé line in the U.S. in 2009. The collection included McCafé signature blend coffee and quickly expanded to include iced coffees, espresso-based drinks, such as lattes and mochas, blended-ice beverages including smoothies and frappes as well as limited-time seasonal offerings.  This holiday season, customers can again enjoy the White Chocolate Mocha, in addition to the new White Chocolate Latte and Hot Chocolate, for a limited-time.

McCafé fans will soon be able to enjoy their coffee whenever they want, including at home. McDonald’s recently announced a collaboration with Kraft Foods Group, Inc. to offer a variety of McCafé ground, whole bean and single cup coffees in grocery stores and other retailers nationwide starting in early 2015.

National Coffee Day 2014


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September 7, 2014 · 11:23 pm

Glazed Lime Blueberry Pound Cake!!!

First weekend after the start of school and a busy one it was!  We have so much going on, sometimes it feels like a three-ring circus!  We had a #FitMadeFun Party to kick off the launch of LeapFrogs new LeapBand Activity Tracker for kids.  It was a lot of fun and there was a huge variety of kids Cliff protein bars but more to come on that soon.

I did some baking too and I want to share with you a lime blueberry pound cake I made.  It really was supposed to be a lemon blueberry pound cake but I  found out I only had limes so I went with that.  It was really good and really tasted like lemon to me.  It must have tasted good to everyone because it did not even last 6 hours before it disappeared.

I found a recipe online that was inspired by the Starbucks’ Lemon Loaf and as I said above I made some changes.

 

lime collage

This is the recipe:

Glazed Lime Blueberry Pound Cake:

Ingredients
Cake:
  • ⅓ cup buttermilk
  • 3 tablespoons of lime juice
  • Zest of 1 lime, finely grated
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoons salt
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup blueberries with 2 tablespoons flour

Glaze:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 to 6 tablespoons of lime juice
  • milk for glaze (add enough to get it to the right consistency for glazing)
Lime

I wash my limes with a toxic free soap to get rid of the wax and any other dirt on the limes.

When grating the zest of lemons or limes just grate the colored rind and not the white pith as that is very bitter.

When grating the zest of lemons or limes just grate the colored rind and not the white pith as that is very bitter.

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Love these Juicers, so great to get every drop of juice out of the limes.

Love these Juicers, so great to get every drop of juice out of the limes.

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Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Spray a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper with the paper hanging over the sides. I sprayed my parchment paper with a bit of coconut oil.
  3. In a small bowl, pour in buttermilk, lime juice, and lime zest. Set aside.
  4. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
  5. In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat the butter and sugar.
  6. Add 1 egg at a time, mixing well in between each egg.
  7. While mixing the batter on low speed, add the flour mixture and then the buttermilk mixture until batter is smooth. Do not over mix.
  8. In a small bowl toss the blueberries with about 2 tablespoons of flour to coat them. (This prevents the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the cake.)
  9. Stir in the flour-covered blueberries.
  10. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Using a spatula spread the batter so it is spread out evenly in the pan.
  11. Bake in a preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool completely.
  12. Prepare the glaze by mixing 2 cups powdered sugar with 4 to 6 tablespoons of lime juice.
  13. If your glaze is too thick (mine was) add milk a tablespoon at a time until it is the desired consistency.
  14. Pour over the top and sides of the cooled cake.

Let me know if you give this recipe a try, remember if you like use lemon instead of lime.  For another great blueberry cake recipe check this one out too! Moist, Delicious Blueberry Pound Cake!


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September 6, 2014 · 12:41 am

Save On Suave Split End Rescue Shampoo & Conditioner At Walmart Now!!!

Do you struggle with split ends?  I sure have and have ended up cutting several inches off my hair to make it look healthier.  Split ends make hair look so unhealthy and really are an eyesore.  It may seem drastic to cut several inches off but that seems to be the only way to get back to healthy looking hair.  However, it will just happen again in most cases and so the scissor may become your best friend.  There is something else you may want to try and that’s Suave Split End Rescue Shampoo and Conditioner.  Right now they are on Rollback at Walmart for only $2.50 each!

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September 5, 2014 · 10:31 am

Pre-Order Train’s “Bulletproof Picasso” Album Now & Watch Them Live Today!!!

Train is back on the music scene with a new album Bulletproof Picasso!  If you’ve missed the band that had you cranking up the volume and singing along to Drops of Jupiter and Hey Soul Sister, you won’t need to wait much longer.  Grammy Winning San Francisco Band, Train will release their 7th studio album on September 16th!!!  I had the opportunity to review the album recently my favorite song was Don’t Grow Up So Fast because as a mom I totally relate to the message of the song.  Angel In Blue Jeans the first single released can be heard now on the radio and you can view the official video below.  You can pre-order the album on iTunes and Amazon for $7.99.  Be sure to watch Train’s hour-long live performance on the QVC channel on Friday, September 5th at 5pm ET.

 

Train, Bulletproof Picasso

1. Cadillac, Cadillac
2. Bulletproof Picasso
3. Angel In Blue Jeans
4. Give It All
5. Wonder What You’re Doing For The Rest Of Your Life
6. Son Of A Prison Guard
7. Just A Memory
8. I’m Drinkin’ Tonight
9. I Will Remember
10. The Bridge
11. Baby, Happy Birthday
12. Don’t Grow Up So Fast

Official Angel In Blue Jeans Video is below:

 

I participated in the Train Bulletproof Picasso album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.


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· 12:40 am

“NEST” By Esther Ehrlich–Book Giveaway!!!

                                                                             Pen ran

NEST by Esther Ehrlich

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Debut author Esther Ehrlich delivers a poignant and genuine middle-grade novel NEST (Wendy Lamb Books / On sale September 9, 2014 / $16.99 US / Ages 8–12), a memorable story about a girl, a tragic change, and the healing power of love and friendship.

 

It is 1972. Home is a cozy nest on Cape Cod for eleven-year-old Naomi “Chirp” Orenstein; her older sister, Rachel; her psychiatrist father; and her dancer mother. But then Chirp’s mom develops symptoms of a serious disease, and everything changes. Chirp finds comfort in watching her beloved wild birds. She also finds a true friend in Joey, the mysterious boy who lives across the street. Together they create their own private world and come up with the perfect plan: Escape. Adventure. Discovery.

 

Esther Ehrlich’s lyrical writing is honest, humorous, and deeply affecting. Chirp and Joey will steal your heart. Long after you finish NEST, the spirit of Chirp and her loving family will stay with you.  READ The first 59 pages of the book HERE by clicking Look Inside.image003

 

«“A stunning debut, with lyrical prose and superbly developed characters, this novel is an emotional roller coaster that effectively conveys a family’s visceral tragedy.” —School Library Journal, Starred

 

«“Ehrlich’s novel beautifully captures the fragile bond shared by Chirp and Joey and their growing trust for each other in a world filled with disappointments and misunderstandings.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred

 

«“A poignant, insightful story of family crisis and the healing power of friendship.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred

 

“Ehrlich writes beautifully, constructing scenes with grace and layers of telling detail and insight.”—The Horn Book

Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a copy of NEST!  Thank you to Penguin Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

NEST by Esther Ehrlich Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

 

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September 1, 2014 · 8:27 pm

FlorastorKids Probiotic Supplement Review & Giveaway!!! #FlorastorKids

Almost every parent of a young child has heard the infamous “my tummy hurts” comment.   The problem with kids and “tummy aches” is that it’s hard for them and parents to know if it’s due to something they ate or to illness.  I have found that with my kids the use of a probiotic is beneficial in keeping their digestive track healthy and results in less tummy problems or issues.  As an adult I take a probiotic daily and feel it is especially beneficial when taking antibiotics.

I am very blessed that my kids have not had to take antibiotics often.  In fact I think my seven-year old has only taken them once at 3 years of age and my younger child once as well. If they do have to take them, using a probiotic is something I would do because I believe it helps derail the side effects of antibiotics.

Finding a probiotic for kids that’s gentle and tastes great can be a challenge.  I recently was introduced to FlorastorKids, a yeast-based probiotic supplement that is gentle enough to use on children as young as 2 months old.  The handy powder packets make it easy to take anywhere and mix into almost any drink or soft food.

florastor original

Each powder packet contains 250 mg of active Saccharomyces boulardii lyo.  Florastor and FlorastorKids are vegetarian and gluten-free and unlike yogurt and other bacterial probiotics do not require refrigeration nor are they compromised by antibiotic use.

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The tutti-frutti flavored powder makes it ideal to mix with juice or in foods like applesauce or other pureed fruits or soft foods.  My kids did not even notice anything different when I mixed it in their juice.  We see a benefit already and they are having less “tummy aches” and seem to be more regular.  I like how convenient the packets are and just how easy they are to mix into drinks and soft food.

Florastor Kids pic

Would you like to win a Florastor and FlorastorKids Prize Pack valued at over $60?  You can by just entering the giveaway below using the Givaway Tool widget.  The winner of the giveaway will receive:

One (1) Florastor 50-Capsule Bottle

One (1) FlorastorKids 20-Packets

“Disclosure: I am part of the PTPA Brand Ambassador Program with Florastor and I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group.  The opinions on this blog are my own.”


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· 12:00 pm

2014 “Spa For Ma” Blog Hop!!! Giveaway For A Mohawk Valley Trading Prize Pack-Enter Here!!!

Welcome to the 4th annual Spa for Ma Giveaway Hop hosted by Measuring Flower and Homemaking Hacks! I have teamed up with some incredible bloggers to bring you prizes that help mom to get some much awaited R&R after the kids head back to school!

If you’re unfamiliar with what a giveaway hop is, here’s how it works. After you enter my giveaway below, you can “hop” on to the next participating blog to enter their giveaway as well. You can find links to all the blogs towards the bottom of this post.

Also, don’t forget to enter to win the grand prize! It is for an incredible $300 gift card to Kohl’s! Enter HERE!

Mommy Ramblings is having a great giveaway prize sponsored by Mohawk Valley Trading worth $125.00

Spa For Ma Collage

This special Spa For Ma Prize Pack will include:

  • Three bars of Handmade Soap ($13.50) consisting of one bar each of:

The total retail price of this prize pack with s/h is $125!!!   Would you like to win it?  If so enter the giveaway below and then hop on over to all the other blogs and enter to win their great giveaways for more chances to win great prizes!!!

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