Share your tea time must haves for a chance to win a year’s supply of Lipton Tea, a tea kettle, a tea box, a mug/saucer set, a travel tumbler and a $50 gift card to Amazon.com! In addition three random comments will be chosen from my post to win their own box of Lipton Green Tea Superfruit.
For Valentine’s Day I thought I would share one of my new finds, the new Lipton Green Tea Superfruit! This isn’t your normal Green Tea by any means, the Lipton Green Tea Superfruit is not at all bitter. The natural sweeteners of the Superfruits like White Mangosteen and Peach, Purple Acai and Blueberry, and Red Goji and Raspberry take out the bitterness normally found in a lot of Green Tea.
My favorite of the teas served hot was the Purple Acai and Blueberry paired with an Oreo Truffle. The perfect iced tea blend for me was the White Mangosteen and Peach (directions for both Hot and Cold tea are on the box).
Oreo Truffles Recipe
1 lb Oreo cookies (3 sleeves)
8 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
½ t vanilla extract
1 lb milk chocolate (we use bark)
½ lb white chocolate (we use bark)
Grind cookies into a fine powder using a food processor. Blend the cookie powder, cream cheese and vanilla extract with mixer until thoroughly mixed making sure no cream cheese is visible.
Form mixture into small balls by rolling and place on cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Refrigerate for 45 minutes.
Line two additional cookie sheets with wax paper. Melt milk chocolate in a double-boiler. Once chocolate is melted dip cooled balls into mixture coating well. With a slotted spoon lift coated balls out of chocolate and let excess chocolate drip off. Place on wax-paper-lined cookie sheet.
Melt white chocolate in a separate double boiler. Using a fork or small spoon, drizzle white chocolate over coated balls.
Refrigerate until cooled and store in airtight container, in refrigerator.
Now that I have shared what I would pair with these refreshing Lipton Green Tea Superfruits, I want to know, how do you enjoy your tea?
Share your tea time must haves for a chance to win a year’s supply of Lipton Tea, a tea kettle, a tea box, a mug/saucer set, a travel tumbler and a $50 gift card to Amazon.com! In addition three random comments will be chosen from my post to win their own box of Lipton Green Tea Superfruit.
I’m serious. My oldest son went to open a bank account when he turned 18 this year and they told him that someone else is using his social security number. Come to find out not only has he (or she) been using my son’s social security number he has set up credit all over the place. It isn’t good credit either, apparently this mystery person has a ton of unpaid bills including utilities.
The part that makes me particularly angry is that we don’t know who this person is because NO ONE will tell us! I contacted the various credit agencies and they need us to verify information under the account, but all the information on the account is the thief’s information (not my sons) so we couldn’t find out whats on his credit we only knew it was bad. We tried the FTC and they were little to no help and the Social Security office wouldn’t help us unless we came in person. It’s a nightmare trying to recuperate from child identity theft! We still haven’t cleared it up and we aren’t sure we will ever be able to at this point.
I’m really not sure how they got my son’s social security number. He didn’t even know his number until he turned 18 and the only places I ever shared it with were his doctors (which I will NEVER do again), government agencies that required it (IRS), and his father. I do know that many companies are not as careful as they should be when it comes to handling SSNs and many times we take it for granted as well when disposing of papers with our SSNs. Below are a couple other places people get SSNs from:
Scams where thieves pose as a business or bank official on the phone and ask for your credit card information.
Old-fashioned pickpocketing, where thieves steal your credit cards and either use them or sell them to other criminals.
Card readers installed by thieves at everyday locations, such as cash machines and supermarket checkout lanes, to steal your information.
Data breaches where your information is accidentally exposed by companies you should be able to trust. (ITAC®, the Identity Theft Assistance Center, recorded 662 breaches last year.)
As part of a ambassadorship I am testing out Identity Guard/KidSure products and services. I have enrolled in the KidSure child identity protection service to ensure that what happened to my oldest son will NOT happen to my youngest son. Through this service I get:
Ongoing visibility into potential exposure of your child’s personal data
A comprehensive “Digital Footprint” report showing detected data
Alerts to certain kinds of activity detected
I love that I get email alerts when there is any activity on my son’s account. I was very impressed with their security as well because I had to verify all my information as the adult parent of the child. I can’t wait to learn more about the company over the next few months and share what I learn with you!
Do you know anyone who has had their identity stolen?
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and unfortunately this year I have a few friends who either got divorced or have separated from their spouse. Dating for parents can be particularly hard, especially if their children are young. Many people are turning to online dating and local agencies that sponsor speed dating events. Fortunately there are far more resources today than there ever were thanks to the internet.
Dating 101
When I divorced my first husband I went years before I ever dated. Although there were a small handful of online dating sites it was still pretty taboo to meet men online. It is a much more acceptable thing today, however if you are worried about safety here are a few tips that might help for your first date:
1. Never let him pick you up at your home. Giving out your home address to a stranger is not a good idea. Meet him in a public place.
2. Never plan a long first date. The general rule of thumb is to keep the date under an hour. Meet for coffee or glass of wine. There is nothing worse than being stuck with someone that isn’t a good fit for hours over dinner.
3. Always leave yourself an exit. Prior to the date let him know you have another obligation in an hour – maybe the sitter needs to leave early or you have a hair appointment. Whatever it is be firm when it comes time to leaving, even if you are enjoying yourself. Leave him wanting more…
4. Watch what you say. Try to resist talking about your ex, children (at least too much info), and sex.
5. Trust your gut. If you are uncomfortable at any time during your date do not be afraid to leave.
This is a featured post for Dating Agency and Just Singles Parents.
I won. I did it. I’m shocked. I am officially 220.4 lbs this morning at weigh-in. My goal was to lose 6 lbs. in two weeks while doing the Special K Challenge and I met my goal. Why am I surprised? Because I just had surgery and I am still healing which means I get very little exercise right now. Honestly, the meal plan was relatively easy to follow and it involved a lot of my favorite foods. The healthy recipes shared on the site not only looked delicious, but tasted really good too.
As I stated when I started the challenge I was hoping to gain the confidence to maintain a healthier lifestyle that would encourage weight loss and it has worked. Although I used the Special K Challenge as a 2-week catalyst I am sure I will revert back to it as needed and use the tips and tricks found on the site. The tools are valuable and I don’t want to become one of those statistics that lose their motivation.
The Special K Plans
The Special K plans are also customizable to women’s lifestyles. There are on-the-go options for busy lifestyles and adventurous recipes for “foodies,” plus vegetarian recipes. After selecting their meal plan and activity level, women are given a personalized Special K plan that is unique to their needs and goals. Women can easily track their progress online via their mobile device.
So, what does the future hold for me? I have set a new goal weight of 200 lbs by Spring 2012. I haven’t totally figured out the plan yet, but it is probably going to be finalized next week so stay tuned!
Facts
The Special K survey also found that 75 percent of women said they aim to gain confidence by managing their weight in the New Year. At the same time, more than 63 percent of women find that personalized meal plans or tracking tools make weight loss programs easier to follow. In addition, 64 percent find a lack of support the reason for getting off track from a weight loss plan.
Disclosure: I participated in this program through a partnership with TheMotherhood on behalf of Special K. I received product and supplies to complete the plan. All opinions and statements are based on my own opinion and experience. (Consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program. Average weight loss when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 4.8 pounds. Weight loss may vary. Average waist circumference reduction when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 1.3 inches.)
Every year I dream build about what I will do with all my lottery winnings and every year I come out a loser. It isn’t so much that I do not have lady luck on my side as it is that I don’t buy lottery tickets. You can’t win if you don’t play, right? In 2012 I am going to change it all. I am going to test out lady luck and I am going to dream big about what to do with my winnings.
My 5 Lottery Winning Purchases for 2012:
1. I am going to buy real estate properties. I will investment property advisors who will provide me with the best overseas property investment advice money can buy. If Angelina and Brad can live all around the globe, why can’t I? I’ve always wanted to travel…now I will travel AND make money.
2. I am going to give money to the poor and set up my own foundation who secretly donates money to families in need. With the anonymous Kmart donating at Christmas this year going on it put me in the mood to give…I will be the new Mrs. Claus.
3. I will pay off my student loans and other debt for me, hubby, and my sister. This alone would make me one of the happiest people in the world….
4. Trust funds for my children are a no brainer. I think everyone has this on their list.
5. New vehicles, but nothing too fancy. Hubby gets a Ford F150, black, 4WD, with all the bells and whistles.
Believe it or not I don’t have big, wild, crazy dreams about how to spend my money. I think charity, investing, and basic needs are all that are necessary. What would you spend your lottery winnings on?
I read today that marriage rates are at an all time low. It doesn’t surprise me. According to report found by CBS the current number of married adults has dropped to a record low of 51% compared to 1960 when 72% of U.S. adults were married. I’m not sure if there is any correlation, but with all the failing marriages (and I’ve seen a TON lately) perhaps people are shying away from tying the knot. If that is the case it is especially important to keep the spark alive in your marriage.
Tips and Tricks
Dating. Yes, setting that one day a week or month even aside for an official date with your spouse. We make an official date, set a specific time, and “meet” downstairs at the specified time for our outing. We also take turns hosting the evening and making the plans – surprising each other. A date can be as simple as walking around the mall talking, going to dinner, having a picnic, catching a movie, or grab a cup of coffee somewhere.
Play Dress Up. This doesn’t have to have a negative connotation and can be as simple as putting on an 80’s fancy dress and spending the night at the rollerskating rink. It can however, include ideas for sexy costumes and a romantic evening in the bedroom. Surprise your spouse every once in a while and remind him/her that you are still a sexy vixen or stud.
Write. Put a note in your spouses lunch or on the steering wheel. Make it sexy or tease them with a sneak peek into what you have in store for them later that night. If that isn’t your style – just let them know you are thinking about them and want them to have a nice day. Whatever you write it is sure to please.
Touch. The power of touch is incredible and if you are within reach – touch him/her. Hold hands. Rub her/his back. Touch! You’ll be surprised.
Unplug. Pick one day a week to unplug and spend time together – you’d be surprised how much you might learn about your spouse.
Regardless if you pick one or two of these things off the list you are bound to see an improvement in your relationship. Don’t expect huge changes over night – remember that marriage takes work. What better way to ensure your child’s future marriage is successful than by setting an example!
Disclosure: This is a featured post from Fancy Dress Ball.
For as long as I can remember Hickory Farms has been a Christmas staple in my family. Seeing the Hickory Farms kiosk in the mall is the true sign that the holidays are officially here. One of my very first jobs was working for Hickory Farms in a local mall kiosk. I learned a lot about cheeses and meats and holiday entertaining during that Christmas break. I never realized, until working there, just how many people other than my family count on Hickory Farms for their holiday gifts and entertainment needs.
This year I was fortunate enough to share my love of Hickory Farms with friends, family, and co-workers through Mom Central. We hosted a small get together right before Thanksgiving and invited my sister, Amy and some close friends. We opened the Orchard’s Bounty Basket (retail $78) and a Home for theHolidays Gift Box (retail $55) to make an elegant tray of various meats, fruits and cheeses. We found the fruit perfectly ripened and the pears were particularly juicy. Although we added Granny Smith Apples the Fuji Apples included in the basket were a much better compliment to the Farmhouse Cheddar. Each of our guests left with either a Summer Sausage & Cheese (retail $40) orParty Planner Gift Box (retail $45) to share with their families and friends to pay-it-forward.
After the holidays I brought a couple Party Planner Gift Boxes to work to share with the guys in the terminal (I work at an airport) and it was such a hit that before I could take pictures they had devoured nearly everything. I left a box with them as a “thank you” for all they do through out the year. The Party Planner Gift Box is a great gifting choice because for every one sold this year Hickory Farms is donating $5 to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry ® Campaign.
As Hickory Farms celebrates their 60th year of holiday traditions our family continues to enjoy the delish meats, mustards, cheeses, and other products. If you are looking for last minute gift ideas for that hard to shop for person think of Hickory Farms signature gift boxes. Many of their gift boxes include FREE shipping to APO/FPO military addresses and all gift boxes are covered under the $3 for 3 day shipping promotion.
Disclosure: “I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central consulting on behalf of Hickory Farms and received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
I’m 45 years old. During my life time I have accumulated a ton of memories on various mediums. I have Polaroid’s (do you know what those are?), VHS, and hundreds of photographs that document my experiences in life. The holidays are here and although it is past the point to order in time for Christmas, it isn’t too late to take all your families holiday memories and convert them all to quality DVDs to share with your loved ones via YesVideo. You can even gather all your old holiday photos and have them made into a movie.
Ethan as a Baby
I recently had the opportunity to try out their services and choose to have my old photographs scanned and saved to a DVD. I was really surprised (because I didn’t research their services) that I also got a screening room code to view and edit my pictures online or to share the movie format with my family. It brought back a lot of memories for everyone.
Me with Santa
As part of my review YesVideo is offering a 15% discount code for my readers that you can use for your order. The code is TRANSFER15 and you enter it during check out. They are also offering to give one of my readers a $60 transfer service credit for their choice of transfer, anything from reels, VHS tapes, printed photos, SD cards, slides, etc.
My mom, sister and me
The process for printed photos was super easy. I went online and choose what I wanted, packaged my photos, and shipped them all in a large envelope (you can either pay shipping or pay a flat rate for a shipping label via the site). Once the photographs were sent and converted I was sent an email to look at my final product, make any changes, and within a week I had my photos returned, my DVD, and the link/code to view my order online.
Want to try it for yourself?
Giveaway: $60 transfer service for YesVideo
Mandatory Entry: Visit YesVideoand tell me what service you will use in the comment section below.
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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by YesVideo and I was compensated to provide an honest opinion about their product and services. Opinions are my own. Giveaway sponsored by YesVideo. Open to US residents, 18+ years old. Drawing will be done randomly on December 16, 2011 after 11:59pm EST.
