Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Enjoy this video review of MATCHAccino Green Tea Latte/Frappe from RedLeafTea.com
Filed under Cooking, Health, Main Page Post, Recipes, Reviews
Well, the master bath/master bedroom renovation project has officially commenced. We already had the tile floor demoed and removed back in the fall. This week the tile contractor removed the old whirlpool tub, had to tear down the old platform and steps because there was a height and size difference with the new whirlpool. He then ripped out the rest of the 5 foot high tiled walls in that section. He is leaving us the shower, sinks and toilet still useable until the whirlpool section of the bathroom is finished. This week that area should be completed and he can start the rest of the demo and reconstruction/remodel.
Now, I thought about recycling the old whirlpool, since it worked and was in good condition but the color a bit dated. I know the components like the pump etc could be offered for a small fee or free via Craigslist or Freecycle, but what about the tub? What could I do with that? That is when I got a great idea. I wondered if I could use it as a Koi pond. I went downstairs and did some reasearch and indeed I could. It can be covered with a heavy-duty pond liner and set into the ground. So that will be saved and we’re going to take you through that project as soon as the ground thaws. Please tell me that as we brace for yet another snowfall that we will experience spring soon! Now lets talk about the tile, this is some of the tile we choose for the bathroom. It was shipped straight from Italy and was delayed in customs, but finally arrived. The pictures don’t do it justice.
The colors are a gold/ivory color and the wall tile is a subway style, the floor has the same tile but in 12″ by 12″ squares and then the gorgeous mosaics will be installed near the top in a 2 row width and finished with a row of the bullnose subway tile.
Niches, niches, who has the niches? We do, and we have lots of them thanks to Schluter Systems and their prefabricated shower niches. We will be using these in more than just the shower! The largest niche is going in one of the walls surrounding the whirlpool. It is a full tiled to the ceiling wall and will have the 12″ by 28″ niche installed with the subway bullnose tile and the mosaics in the back that will make it pop off the wall. It also has a floating shelf that will be set midway and tiled.
I thought it would be a great accent as well as useful storage that was handy for bath products. A shower niche is an ideal spot to keep shampoos and soaps in a tiled shower. Building a fully waterproof, properly sealed tiled shower niche can be a detailed and time-consuming task. Schluter-Systems has developed four prefabricated and completely waterproof shower niches that are ready to tile. Made of Schluter®-KERDI-BOARD, the shower niches are completely compatible with surface applied waterproofing systems, such as the Schluter®-KERDI and KERDI-BOARD shower assemblies. All four shower niches feature a 1/2″ (12.5 mm)-thick by 2″ (50 mm)-wide integrated bonding flange that sits perfectly flush with the surrounding wall area. The larger sizes include an optional prefabricated shelf that can be installed at any height to create separate compartments within the shower niche.
The preformed shower niche provides installers with increased speed during installation, combined with complete waterproofing dependability. The corners of a traditional shower niche are the most challenging area to waterproof and can be very susceptible to standing water and mold growth. With pre-sealed niche corners this challenge is completely eliminated. The niche complements an already wide array of preformed shower components available from Schluter-Systems, including shower trays, curbs, ramps, and benches. All of these components help installers build waterproof and vapor tight tiled showers more quickly and effectively than with traditional construction materials.
The shower niche is available in four different sizes and we have all of them so we will show you how they not only function so well in the shower but we will install them in areas you might not think for some great design option. For instance the install in the tile wall by the whirlpool and we also plan to install two in the tiled wall above the new vanity to hold soap and other frequently used products neatly off the countertop. We will of course be also using one of the larger sizes in the shower as well as one or two of the smaller sizes. We will take you through the progress of the installation of these great products. To see more about the niches or anf the other great products from Schluter, just visit their website and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Filed under Curb Appeal, DIY, Main Page Post
The American Dream Home is something everyone fantasizes about. Whether it’s a new closet, a larger family room, or simply a place to put all your stuff, there’s always something we want to change about where we live!
What if you could make your home into your Dream Home?
AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS – a new show premiering on NBC March 23 at 8/7c – and Lowe’s want to make your dream a reality.
Hosted by famed interior designer and best-selling author, Nate Berkus, AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS follows the nation’s top 12 designers and home builders as they compete to be crowned the Ultimate Dream Builder and take home a $250,000 cash prize. It’s the home competition that will change everything!
From the producers of Survivor and The Bachelor, don’t miss AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS, Sundays at 8/7c, only on NBC.
You can enter for a chance to win $100,000 in products and services from Lowe’s and a consultation with the winner of American Dream Builders!
Enter for a chance to win your dream renovation at www.nbc.com/lowes.
And starting March 23rd you will have the opportunity to earn 5 bonus entries when you “Dream It Yourself”! Upload a photo and description of a home project you are working on and EARN 5 BONUS SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES.
Finally, follow the show on Facebook and Twitter for a chance to win more prizes from American Dream Builders and Lowe’s!
Would you like to win a $50 Lowe’s Gift Card? If so enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Each household is only eligible to win One (1) $50 Lowe’s Gift Card via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
Filed under Entertainment, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Reviews
First day of spring and it’s getting closer to prom time, graduations and June weddings. Prom and special occasion dresses can be so difficult to shop for. In many stores there’s a limited selection and that leads to duplicates when everyone wants to be the only one wearing their dress at the prom! The other obstacle to prom dress shopping is how much the dresses can cost, some stores prices are just not in the budget especially for a dress that is only worn once.
JJsHouse just may be the solution to those issues. At JJsHouse they carry dresses for weddings, anniversaries, and parties of all kinds. JJsHouse is a trusted global online retailer that gives you the highest quality event supplies—from custom-made couture bridal dresses and unique jewelry to a wide range of elegant party supplies—to make your special moment unforgettable.
The impressive selection of prom dresses at JJsHouse is a welcome change to what is found in local department and specialty stores. All kinds of styles to flatter all kinds of shapes is what you will find when you browse the gorgeous dresses on their site. Choose, strapless, one shoulder, mermaid, A-line, empire waist, ball gowns and more, then shop for shoes and accessories. You really have one stop prom shopping at JJsHouse. Choose regular sizes or custom sizing and have your dress made to order.
Custom sizing is great for getting the right fit if you have different proportions that usually make shopping off the rack difficult. For the best selection of styles, colors, sizes, and accessories when prom dress shopping, check out JJsHouse. It is possible to find a gorgeous gown without breaking the bank! Shop the weekly deals to save up to 55% off the low prices. Follow JJsHouse on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest news and fashion arrivals.
Filed under Main Page Post, Reviews, Uncategorized
The Carafe & Citrus Press has three components, each with a unique functionality. The beautifully shaped plastic carafe is unbreakable and will not crack when he falls. On top of the carafe, the bowl of the Citrus Press can be firmly attached. If the carafe is filled with water with mint leaves, lemon wedges or ice cubs, the filter in the bowl will hold them back when you pour the water. In order to squeeze a citrus fruit, cut them in half and place the fruit in the bowl. By turning the press into the fruit, the juice is released and runs through the bowl and into the carafe. The shell will remain on the press and can easily be thrown away. You can also use the separate press for squeezing a lemon over a salad or baked fish. The carafe and bowl can be closed off with the press making sure that flies or dust will not reach you lemonade.
Filed under Cooking, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Reviews
Shoes are so important for children’s feet. Their feet are always growing and it sometimes can be hard to find the right fit. pediped makes it easy for me to get the right fit for my kids and to get the most wear time from the shoes with the sizing tools on their site and the Flex Fit System. The Flex Fit System allows for additional included insoles to be inserted or removed for a custom fit as your child’s foot grows. These insoles can increase the size by as much as 1.5 inches, greatly increasing the life of the shoe.
I recently selected the pediped Boulder Flex Waterproof hiker for my 6-year-old to review. Right out of the box he could not wait to put them on. With the winter we have been having these were the perfect shoe to wear to school because they were waterproof and warm. They are flexible, comfortable and one of his favorite pairs of shoes to wear. I have the inserts in now so he has lots of room to grow. He is able to run and jump in them and be as active as he wants with them on and they are not stiff or cumbersome.
pediped® Debuts Spring/Summer 2014 Collection with Over 70 New Styles and Color Combinations
Collection highlights Memory Foam Technology™, water-safe Adventure Line
and machine washable athletics
pediped® launches its Spring/Summer 2014 Collection of American Podiatric Medical Association accepted footwear. The collection offers more than 70 new styles and color combinations across its three signature lines: Originals®, Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex®.
The collection highlights over 20 styles designed with a water-friendly material that is machine washable. Two new styles have been added to the water-safe, eco-friendly Adventure Line, Shoreline and Shorebet; and best-selling Sahara is now available for girls. Riddell and Orion, two athletic styles featuring Ultra Light Technology™ debut in both Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex®. Memory Foam Technology™ highlights 10 new styles across Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex®.
Originals®
• Originals® feature flexible, soft-soles recommended by pediatricians and podiatrists as the shoe’s design closely mimics barefoot walking.
• 12 new styles have been added this season. Highlighting the collection is Louisa and Lacee for a brighter wardrobe, and Isabella and Betty cover signature styles. For boys, Martin is an ultra breathable choice for outdoor adventures.
• Originals® will retail at $35 and are available for children in sizes newborn to 24 months.
Grip ‘n’ Go™
• Grip ‘n’ Go™ is made with all the benefits of Originals®, but a special feature G2 Technology™ is added to help a toddler stay balanced while transitioning into a confident stride.
• The collection highlights Memory Foam Technology™ in five new styles: Mirabella, Lacee, Tori, Martin, and Brice. Also new to Grip ‘n’ Go is Riddell and Orion, two athletic styles that are machine washable and water-safe.
• Grip ‘n’ Go™ will be priced at $39 or $48 and is available in EU sizes 19-23, US kids 4-7.
Flex®
• Flex® is the ultimate shoe for confident walkers who have developed a natural stride. Flex® offers more than 50 styles available in a variety of sandals, Mary Janes, ballet flats, athletics, and casual wear that feature a color palette of pastels, bright neon, classic browns and signature black.
• Popular as ever, the water-safe, eco-friendly Adventure Line expands with over 10 new styles and color combinations. Featuring pops of bright colors, the Sahara and Shorebet make their debut for girls alongside Shoreline for boys.
• The innovative line of machine washable athletics, made with Ultra Light Technology™, expands with six new styles and color combinations. Featuring flex grooves to support natural foot movement and heel cushion for added comfort, maximum flexibility is achieved all while remaining light as air.
• Flex® styles range in price from $48 to $57 and are available in EU sizes 20-36, US 5 kids- 4.5 youth (available sizes vary between styles).
The pediped® Spring/Summer 2014 Collection is now available for purchase online at www.pediped.com and in select retail stores.
pediped is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a pair of pediped Originals in their choice of boy or girl. pediped Originals are available in sizes newborn-24 months. The style of the shoe will be chosen by the sponsor. Thank you pediped for the review shoes and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
pediped Boy or Girl Originals Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Filed under Giveaway, Main Page Post, Reviews
Do you have luck finding great deals on Craigslist? I have found some great treasures like my huge, oak roll top desk and some antique furniture for incredible prices. However, it does take some searching and the luck of good timing. While browsing ads, you are bound to run into some ads that truly will have you scratching your head.
There are people selling things who cannot even bother to close a drawer or dust the top off a desk or dresser, take pictures of a mirror showing their shirtless selves in the background, think anything old is antique, vintage or worth a lot of money.
I want to share some recent “What the Heck?” moments with you and let me know if you have found some funnies in your neck of Craigslist. Another brilliant ad are the ones that say something like “curb alert” or state that if this does not sell tody it will be on the curb tomorrow but the asking price is firm. LOL, yes let me come pay you tonight instead of getting it off the curb tomorrow. I am so amused that they are not budging on the price now but in less than 24 hours they don’t care to even get one dollar for it. These had to be the ones who were at the top of their marketing class!
Yeah that looks like the back of an antique! LOL
Filed under Entertainment, Humor, Main Page Post
Okay, let me warn you this might not be a post to read if you are eating. With that said, when you have kids, there is some grossness or a lot of grossness involved. You have to be tough and remember “poop happens” but we are not talking about poop now. We are talking about boogies. If you have ever used a bulb or battery-type aspirator to clear the mucus out of your little one’s nose, you’ve probably said to yourself: “There has to be a better way!”
Well, we just found a better way and it’s called the BabyComfyNose Nasal Aspirator. Here’s the secret: It works so much better because it uses your own suction. Think about it: your own lungs are a strong, natural vacuum cleaner – much more powerful than a tiny bulb or battery-powered motor. And the result is just a more effective method of clearing your baby’s sinuses.
Are you gagging? I will admit I was too, but have no fear; you won’t suck boogies into your mouth because of the design of the receptacle and the tissue filter that you insert into the body of the aspirator. The design of the BabyComfyNose is why pediatricians are recommending BabyComfyNose to moms and dads. Recently, Dr. Sears of The Doctors TV Show recommended the BabyComfyNose as the best way to clear babies’ noses. Take a look at the video ‘How to Use the BabyComfyNose’ here www.babycomfycare.com to see how well it works. Enter USFAMILY at checkout for a 20% discount. Or get the best retail pricing at Walgreens stores and save the shipping!
Filed under Main Page Post, Reviews
I am so thrilled to bring you a great giveaway from The Mohawk Valley Trading Company and Crooked Brook!!!
The winner of the giveaway will win:
Two, 100% Pure Beeswax Taper Candles…10″ – $10.00 Pair
One, Decorative Easter Egg, 100% Pure Beeswax Candle…$13.00
One, Pink colored, 50” x 60”, 100% polyester Personalized Fleece Blanket, embroidered with 1.5″(W) x 4″(H) Easter Bunny and Happy Easter (15,000 stitches) …$30.00
SRV with SHI of the giveaway is $65.00
Cant to wait to see if you won? Receive a 20% discount on all Mohawk Valley Trading Company 100% Pure Beeswax Candles, Raw Honey and Maple Syrup from 3/11/14 to 4/5/14 with the Coupon Code “Mommy Ramblings MVTC Easter Giveaway”.
Receive a 20% discount on all Crooked Brook Personalized Fleece Blankets and a 10% % discount on all Wholesale Fleece Blankets from 3/11/14 to 4/5/14 with the Coupon Code “Mommy Ramblings MVTC Easter Giveaway”.
Mohawk Valley Trading Company & Crooked Brook Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
To enter the giveaway use the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Filed under Giveaway, Main Page Post, Reviews
The other day I was talking with my aunt who is in her 80’s. She is very spry, goes to fitness classes and very active physically and mentally. We were talking about calling someone and I told her the call went straight to voice mail and that maybe the person was on the line. She then said to me, “Wouldn’t that give you a busy signal then?” When she said that I was so surprised, “busy signal” when is the last time I had heard one of those?
I laughed and told her no, that it would just go to voice mail and even wondered if the busy signal still existed. It made me think and since my uncle and her and my family both had vacation homes on the same lake, it made me think back to a time when I was super young and on the lake people had party lines. Can you even imagine?
Our party line was with my Aunt and Uncle and for those that don’t know; a party line is a phone line that people share. They were very popular in vacation areas and one household had a regular ring and the other a variation. We had the regular ring and my Aunt and Uncle had the 2 short rings. When I think about it now it seems surreal. Can you imagine? I remember listening for the phone and either saying it was ours or theirs. You also had to be careful when you picked up to dial out because the other family may be using the phone. I remember stories from other kids on the lake who were on party lines with unrelated families proudly recanting conversations they eavesdropped on.
We had moved to a private line by the time I was probably 5 so I do not have that many memories but when I think of it today, I cringe. What if you were on a party line with someone who received incessant calls at all hours of the night, or that used the phone all time so you could never call out or get calls in?
My kids know nothing of party lines and would probably think I was out of my mind if I told them how it worked. How times have changed! Speaking of busy signals, do you remember how you could click the little disconnect buttons three times to reach an operator? Do you remember how the operator could ring a phone that was off the hook if say a small child was monkeying around with it? Also, how when you reached a number that was busy for so long and you would call the operator to interrupt the line because it was say your home line and you knew a younger sibling was using the phone or your mom doing it to you when she was trying to call home. The operator would click into the line and say, “I have so and so on the line and they say it is an emergency will you give up the line?” Ah good times!
The Rotary Dial was another time saver, NOT! Ever try to call in on a radio station contest with one of those? Then when they had the push buttons with pulse mode you still had to wait but you could push a button. No auto redial and redialing on the rotary dial really gave those fingers that do the walking a workout! Speaking of letting your fingers do the walking, remember the bit phone books that doubled as booster seats? Do you even use a phone book now? I can’t even imagine. Phones and technology have truly come a long way baby!
Filed under Entertainment, Humor, Main Page Post
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Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
