Monthly Archives:

March 2017

What I loved in March

 

There’s a lot of work that goes into writing any blog. Everything from research to promotion and beyond, there’s always something going on in my little neck of the woods. There’s a lot of business that goes on behind the scenes of this blog. 

But in all that business I come across some pretty cool finds every month. From brands I love, websites I’m smitten with, other awesome bloggers I admire, and even little moments in time that helped me live a life of intention. Each month there is always something to lament back on each month. So today, I’m bringing you a new category of posts – monthly favorites! All the nook and cranny cool things that I stumble on each month that I think you’ll love, want to make (or buy) and possibly even be entertained by. In other words, tons of good stuff!

So today, I’m bringing you my monthly March favorites! All the things that I stumbled upon this past month that I hope you’ll love, want to make, bake, buy, or possibly just be entertained by. In other words, the good stuff!

So without further ado, my March favorites:

 

 

My favorite new March recipe: 

For the past few months, I have been obsessed with all things Harissa carrots. Those tiny, adorable, ever so yummy little sticks of vegetable magic have graced our plates of the past few months more times than I’d like to share and I just love them! I’ve also been obsessed with a new recipe I’ve found on Epicurious, Maple Glazed Roasted Harissa Carrots. They are super simple to make and even my husband always asks for seconds! This past weekend I popped into my local organic grocery to snag a few bunches and boy am I glad I did! Do your taste buds a favor and try them!

 

 

My favorite March zero-waste tip:

Need a way to visually measure how much water you are drinking throughout the day? Try using 1/2 gallon mason jars to put your daily water out on the counter, then use it to refill pint mason jar glasses until it’s gone. You’ll know for sure whether you hit your water target or not. I’ve been doing this all of March and not only has it helped me lose an additional two pounds, it’s also helped me to keep an additional 120 plastic bottles out of the landfill. It’s a small pre-Earth Day victory for me!

 

 

My favorite new book:

This month I loved reading Roadfood, 10th Edition: An Eater’s Guide to More Than 1,000 of the Best Local Hot Spots and Hidden Gems Across America,  by Jane Stern and Michael Stern. 

First published in 1977, the original Roadfood became an instant classic. James Beard said, “This is a book that you should carry with you, no matter where you are going in these United States. It’s a treasure house of information.”

Roadfood provides descriptions of and directions to (complete with regional maps) the best lobster shacks on the East Coast; the ultimate barbecue joints down South; the most indulgent steakhouses in the Midwest; and dozens of top-notch diners, hotdog stands, ice-cream parlors, and uniquely regional finds in between. It’s a must read!

 

 

My favorite new podcast:

We live life in the fast lane. We race to keep up with The Joneses. We are over-worked, over-connected and over-stressed. But there is also an ever-growing group of people who are saying no to a life lived in the rat race of life. People opting to slow down and savor life. This is what the Slow Your Home podcast is all about. I’ve been loving this podcast over the last month and I encourage you all to check this out as well on Stitcher and iTunes

 

 

My favorite YouTuber this month:

My new favorite Youtuber and Blogger, Linda from Linda’s Pantry is absolutely amazing! She demonstrates video tutorials on everything from simple canning to gardening and solar preservation. Her techniques feature locally grown produce and simple to follow instructions. Forget Netflix in April, her YouTube channel is one you will want to binge, let alone subscribe to! 

 

 

My favorite self-care find this month:

Over the years, I have taken numerous types of NSAIDs. Over time each product has given me some sort of adverse effects on my body. I had to find something safer to take. Something more natural. Something that can help me take on my day. Curamin® is safe, effective, homeopathic, and non-addictive. It works with the power of turmeric and that gives me peace of mind and helps me thrive in my day. I wrote a post this past week on Curamin® for those who may have missed all of my gushings over my favorite self-care find this March! 

 

 

My favorite new find online:

As you may know, I am the adoptive pet parent to three wild, wonderful, loyal, caring pups. They are a source of pride and joy in my world and I couldn’t rightly say whether I truly adopted them or the reverse! And as a minimalist who is slowly adding art and more decorative pieces back into my home, when I found the Dog Rescue Pink Silhouette Watercolor Art, from the wonderfully talented Amy of Charlie’s Merchantile on ETSY I knew I needed this print in my home! 

Each handmade piece from this awesome shop is a work of art and I love them all! I truly love this piece and will treasure it for some time to come. Amy’s art is not only an ETSY seller she also features pieces on her website and Instagram account as well. What’s even more awesome about Amy’s work and the shop is that she has graciously given her time and talent into offering a free copy of the above-mentioned print to one lucky reader, too! 

To enter, use the provided rafflecopter giveaway box below. Please note, this giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents, aged 18 and over, through 4/6/17 at 11:59 CST. Winners will receive a media-mailed, unframed copy of this print to before the following Saturday. Good luck, everyone! 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So that’s it everyone, my favorite things from this past month. So now, I’ve got to ask, what have you been loving this month as well! I’d love to hear about your favorite finds, and if you want to enter my giveaway, that would be just plain groovy too! 

Here’s to things to come,

 

Moms: Save This Month on Luv’s Diapers!

Please note: This post is brought to you in partnership with iConnect and Luvs

 MOMMIES: Save on diapers wit this Luvs coupon! #ShareTheLuv

 

It’s tax time again, everyone! For some, this time of year means money is being taken from your pockets, but for most, it’s an impending payday! But what do you do with your refunds, friends? Are you tax time rich or resourceful and responsible? No matter which camp you reside in I think we can all agree, there’s always room for everyday household savings.

With graduation, wedding, and baby shower season right around the corner, now is the time to take advantage of a new money-saving coupon Luvs.

 

Displaying Luvs March PAH Coupon.PNG

 

You can get $1 off any one Luvs Diaper Pack with this Print-at-home coupon. Use this coupon at any mass, discount, or grocery stores where Luvs Diapers are sold.

Softer and more absorbent than ever before, with large stretch tabs for easy fastening, ultra-leakage protection and a money-back guarantee, Luvs Ultra Leakguards with NightLock Plus™ provide the high-quality features babies and parents need for less cost than the premium brands.

Grab this Luvs coupon while you still can (valid for use within 30 days of printing): http://bit.ly/2kMDv3q

More about Luvs:

Not only is Luvs known as the leading diaper brand, they are constantly improving with more absorbent and more comfortable diapers, like theSuper Absorbent Leakguards and NightLock Plus™, the most absorbent Luvs diaper ever made! The large refastenable stretch tabs make parenting & clean-up a lot easier! Why not make life easier for your family and for your little ones. Busy moms understand how important it is for diapers to leave their little one’s secure, dry, and comfy!

Unsure about using Luvs for the first time? Don’t worry! They offer the Luvs Money Back Guarantee: We feel so strongly about our diapers that we’ve guaranteed them! If you aren’t satisfied with the leakage protection of Luvs, we’ll refund your money. Visit LuvsDiapers.com for more details! www.luvsdiapers.com for more details. 

So, everyone, I encourage you to check out this month’s Luvs coupon while you still can at http://bit.ly/2kMDv3q.

Here’s to savings at home,

 

 

MOMMIES: Save on diapers wit this Luvs coupon! #ShareTheLuv

 

DISCLOSURE: The opinions expressed here are that of  The Lady Prefers 2 Save only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for promotional purposes, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post). Read Full Disclosure Here

Meal Plan Monday (3/27-3/30/2017)

 

 

Happy Monday, everyone! This week is starting off to another sunny and wonderful start here in Dixie. This past weekend has been very eventful for us as a family. From minor plumbing issues to having to purchase yet another dishwasher, this past weekend was anything but boring. Thankfully, with the start of each new week’s, there’s the pleasant certainty of a well planned, money-saving meal plan. A plan I am ever so grateful to have!

This week’s menu again reflects our need to eat down our food stockpile. As we are having to consume everything we have on-hand first, though we did purchase several items food and home consumables, each of which garnered us back online app rebates, which will give us groceries and products that can help us in the weeks to come for our family of three as part of a minimalist meal plan. 

 

what we're having this week

 

Monday
Breakfast: Pecan Cinnamon Muffins with almond milk and grapes.
Lunch: Ham salad spread, with crackers, grapes, and almond milk. 
Snack: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Spiral Honey Crockpot Ham, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and rolls leftovers. 
Dessert: Gluten-free dark chocolate brownies.

Tuesday
Breakfast: Avocado, Banana, and Almond Milk Smoothies.
Lunch: Ham salad spread, with crackers, grapes, and almond milk.
Snack: Grapes and String Cheese.
Dinner: Taco Salad and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Gluten-Free Brownie ice-cream sandwiches.

Wednesday
Breakfast: Pecan Cinnamon Muffins with almond milk and grapes.
Lunch: Ham and cheese sliders, with Crystal light lemonade.
Snack: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Quick & Easy Weeknight Chili and Crystal Light.
Dessert:  Gluten-Free brownie ice cream sandwiches.

Thursday
Breakfast: Avocado, Banana, and Almond Milk Smoothies.
Lunch: Crockpot Chicken Curry; steamed peas, steamed rice, and crystal light leftovers.
Snack: Grapes and String Cheese.
Dinner: Chicken meatballs, green beans, and quinoa.
Dessert: Brownie flurries with leftover brownies.

Friday
Breakfast: Pecan Cinnamon Muffins with almond milk and grapes.
Lunch: Ham, egg, and cheese sliders, with almond milk.
Snack: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Paleo Pizza and crystal light.
Dessert: Brownie flurries with leftover brownies.

Saturday
Breakfast: Granola Cereal, with Almond milk.
Lunch: Grilled cheese and almond milk.
Snacks: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Chicken mole, served with steamed rice, corn, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Brownie flurries with leftover brownies.

Sunday
Breakfast: Granola Cereal, with Almond milk.
Lunch: Paleo Zucchini Pasta with Spicy Shrimp Marinara and Crystal Light.
Snack: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Smoked chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and rolls.
Dessert: Neapolitan Strawberry Trifle.

How to love your plus size body

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for which I will be compensated when purchases are made. Thank you! 

 

 

It wasn’t until my 29th birthday that I realized I hated the way my body looked. That winter morning, I spent an hour struggling to get dressed. It took me less than a minute to choose the khakis, and then 45 minutes trying to find a cardigan and top that would hide my arms, stomach, neck, and anything else I felt was unsavory to the eyes of the world.

After an exhaustive search, I realized I didn’t own that the perfect top nor magical camouflage sweater. Turns out, there is no such thing.

Then while sitting at my kitchen island, waiting for my husband to return home and take me out to my obligatory birthday dinner, I caught a reflection of myself in the window. While others in my neighborhood looked adorable in their plaid, knee boots, and tights, there I was, looking like I was waiting for others to not notice how much of the abdominal snow beast I believed myself to be.

So there’s something you should know about my husband- he’s always late. So the longer I sat waiting for my husband the hotter I became. I pushing the sleeves of my cardigan up to my elbows for some relief, and as I moved my arms, I noticed something. Even though I was wearing a stifling hot cardigan to cover up my arm fat, I could still see my bat wings jiggle inside the fabric. My neck was still visible. As way my stomach. No matter what I did, it was all still there.

 

 

Since becoming a big girl in my teens, I’ve tried to cover my body with everything from baggy clothes to shapewear, even the beforementioned plus-size cardigan trick. But it was in that moment that I realized my cardigan hijinks weren’t fooling anyone. My jiggly bits might be covered in fabric, but every time I moved my arms and stomach were waving a cleverly acted Austin Powers “hello!” homage right along side them. I was trying to hide something that is impossible to conceal. And, my cardigan-come-comfort-blanket was making me hot and uncomfortable. So right there in my kitchen, I cried. I cried for comfort. I cried because I was drowning in fabric. I cried because I hated the way I looked. 

I would like to say that in that very moment I stripped off my cardigan and liberated myself from the chains of self-hatred and suburban soccer mom mediocrity, but it wasn’t that easy. Even though I considered going back to my closet and slipping on an LBD and letting my arms flap in the wind like a flesh-toned flag, I still had my stomach to consider. After all, I had been hiding my body away since the 7th grade! My tangled web of body image issues needed to be unraveled slowly. I mean, would the world truly be ready for all my arm jelly? Worse still, was I prepared to show my stretch marks, fat rolls, and neck fat in all their glory? 

 

 

Over time, I’ve realized that no matter how many cardigans and shapewear I bought, the truth remains: You can’t hide the fat. I’m a big girl with big arms and stretch marks. I can waste an hour each day trying to shield the world from the horror of my arms, or I can just learn to love my body instead. 

It took me about a year to get comfy with sleeveless clothes, and a year longer to start my path to better health. But now, two years later and 61 pounds lighter, I feel pretty liberated. I no longer ruin beautiful dresses with intrusive shawls. I throw on cardigans only when cold. I wear tank tops to workout. I love wearing flowy tops. I even enjoy seeing my reflection in the mirror — a huge accomplishment for me.

 

 

So you may ask, what are my best tips for living your plus size body, just as you are? Well, I’ve got two tips for you: 

Step 1: Get Aware. Stop believing the old lies you have been subconsciously telling yourself about how your body is not special enough, amazing enough, or precious enough to warrant your utmost attention and care right now. If you are telling yourself, “Perhaps someday when it looks better or thinner, and then I will take better care of my body,” you’re telling yourself an alternative fact. The time to love and care for your body is today.

Step 2: Learn to dress for your frame. Learning to find your personal sense of style as a plus size woman is essential. Consider wearing single colors from top to toes. Invest in statement jewelry. Get the right fit of your clothes, you want items that are neither too loose or too tight on your body frame. Scale your clothing to your body size; wear wider belts, bigger prints, and carry equal size handbags totes. Opt for v-neck shirts. Wear chunkier heels. Avoid shoes with ankle straps as they will cut across and visually shorten you. And most importantly, don’t avoid flowy, brightly colored fabrics. You can pull off beautiful, funky, seasonal pieces too! 

 

 

Speaking of beautiful, funky, seasonal pieces, I want to mention one of my favorite new capsule wardrobe finds for this Spring season, the Babydoll Tunic from Cents of Style. Check out how I styled it below, as well as my style tips and inspiration for this plus size look!

 

 

How I styled it:

While being styled means you want to appear as if you’ve barely tried, but this doesn’t give us the liberty to live our lives in clandestine sweat ensembles! You know, the warmer the weather the more effortless and chic the look should be. 

 

 

The easiest way to pull off effortless style is this:

When you wear a dressier top, such as the Babydoll Tunic from Cents of Style, pair it with something super casual and dressed down. A little uptown. A little boho. It’s as simple as that! The juxtaposition of pairing the casual with the formal always looks effortlessly chic. And that ladies, is what will make you look fabulous every single time!

So with that in mind, I paired a the Babydoll Tunic from Cents of Style with distressed Capri jeans and sandals. It’s super easy to dress this way. Just remember opposites always attract!

 

 

Why I selected this gorgeous babydoll tunic shirt:

Flowy tunics speak femininity to me. It just so soft and flirty. But while many of us tend to look at femininity in a way of being soft itself, I associate it with strength, bravery, and power. At least now, I do. Beautiful pieces such as this help me to think of myself as a powerful, passionate woman. In this stage in my life, I want to not only embraced my femininity but to acknowledge that I’m thriving in the skin I’m in. I’ve arrived!

 

 

Shopping this look: 

Shop the Cents of Style Babydoll Tunic (also available in a keyhole variety) this Spring! These awesome tunics are available in fitting sizes 0 – 18, are available in fun, warm, seasonal shades that look amazing on a variety of body types, capsules, and styles!  

 

 

Use the code:

Use the code is TOPSTORY and it will make each tunic only $19.95 + FREE SHIPPING. Please note, the code is valid 3/24 – 3/26 only. 

So, everyone, I have to ask, with Summer right around the corner will you begin the journey of learning to accept, respect, and love your current body 100%, right now, extra weight and all? Will you embrace your inner diva and let those perfect just-as-you-are frames come out to sparkle this season? And will you indulge yourself this weekend with a little something from Cents of Style? I hope so.

Happy shopping,

 

 

Why I’m a Roto-Rooter Ambassador

Disclosure: I am being compensated for sharing this information. Opinions remain my own. 

 

 

We’ve all been there. Whether you own or rent your home, I’m sure that you’ve dealt with plumbing problems, including those pesky clogged, gunky drains. As a homeowner, I’ve had to deal with my share of pipe problems. Costly and high inconvenient plumbing problems. Which is why I’m excited to announce that I’ve been chosen as a Roto-Rooter ambassador!

I am by no means any sort of plumbing expert, but I’m always on the hunt to find new ways to maintain my home’s plumbing, which is why I am excited about learning ways to take care of my home through this new ambassadorship.

 

Screen Shot 2016-05-26 at 10.32.47 PM

 

While I’m sure you already know Roto-Rooter’s reputation for being the #1 company for their in-home plumbing services, however, did you also know that they offer a line of consumer products that you can use at home? This means that instead of calling someone out to the house, I can do some of the jobs myself. Including unclogging drains. While I’m simply a homeowner and not a professional, I still want products that I can depend on to provide the fastest performance while remaining safer for all of my home’s pipes and plumbing.

What’s truly awesome about the Roto -Rooter’s Clog Remover products is that they are able to clear clogs 50% faster than other national brands. As they are also formulated with a patented gel formula that penetrates deeply to the clog’s source. 

What’s even better? With all Roto-Rooter products, it works — or its free. You heard that right. Roto-Rooter is so confident in their products that they offer consumers a satisfaction guarantee on their entire line of consumer products. Plus, if the clog persists and you need professional help, just give the bottle to a Roto-Rooter services technician and receive 10% off of your service call. How awesome is that? Be sure to visit rotorooter-products.com/our-guarantee.html for more details on Roto-Rooter’s consumer products satisfaction guarantee.

 

ML Roto Rooter BA Option 1 REV 21616 wo frame

 

And for these reasons and more, I am so excited to tell you that I have partnered up this year with Roto-Rooter as an ambassador! So the next time you have a clog or need to maintain your septic tank, be sure to visit your favorite grocery and mass retailer to pick up Roto-Rooter products. Products that will have your plumbing in tip-top fast!

Also worth noting, over the course of the next year, I’m excited to introduce you to even more of the products and services Roto-Rooter has to offer as well as some at-home plumbing fixes. Stay tuned for next my next post in this series where I will share with you several easy at-home plumbing fixes that you can do for yourself! 

So, everyone, how do you currently deal with all your weekend warrior and DIY plumbing emergencies at home? I’d love to hear about them below! 

Here’s to all things plumb,

 

How to recycle your broken toys for free

Disclosure: These tips on how to reduce waste at home are part of a sponsored conversation with Tom’s of Maine.  All opinions are my own.

 

 

Did you know that according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average person in the United generates 4.3 pounds of waste per day? This is 2.6 pounds more than most produced back in 1960 and 1.5 more pounds generated than a mere decade ago.

So you may wonder, where does all of this trash go? Approximately 55% of the 220 million tons of waste generated each year in the United States ends up in one of the over 3,500 landfills. With the growing amount of trash filling up our landfills, learning how to live a more sustainable lifestyle is paramount for green living in our communities.

In my own home, we are a zero-waste family. We start the ball rolling by decluttering our home and eliminating excess purchases from our home, life, and business. We also began to phasing our plastics and single-use products for more sustainable options, including glass, metal, and bamboo products. We refuse single use items at grocery stores and when dining out as well. We also upcycle products, compost, and for all other items, we recycle, or as it’s more properly known, downcycle, just about everything else we can. Particularly through curbside recycling.  

 

Image result for recycling bin

 

While we make every effort to recycle most items we purchase, there is always a myriad of items that my community recycling center will not accept. This is especially true for common plastic household items including used and broken toys, which as most parents can attest, always seem to accumulate before your eyes, making toys one of the harder items to declutter on an occurring basis at home.

While it’s easy to assume that toys are not a great environmental blight, consider this: Only 4% of the world’s children live in the US, but Americans buy and throw away 40% percent of the world’s toys each year. So even if you opt for more sustainable toys, purchase second-hand versions, and pass down the toys you do purchase to others there will probably still be a great deal of currently broken toys in your home that need proper recycling.

 

Currently, Tom’s of Maine is partnering with the recycling experts at TerraCycle, the world’s leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, to offer the #LessWasteChallenge toy recycling program, a program which allows families to recycle toys and keep additional plastics out of landfills, all for free! 

When I was asked to join the Toms of Maine to offer the #LessWasteChallenge toy recycling program, a program which allows families to recycle toys and keep additional plastics out of landfills, all for free! So when I was asked to join the Toms of Maine #LessWasteChallenge, I jumped at the chance as Tom’s of Maine is a company with more than 45 years developing natural personal care products with a focus on natural, responsible and sustainable practices, while giving 10% of its profits back to helping people and the planet. Products that I buy for my own family at home since beginning our zero-waste lifestyle.

 

Image result for tom's of maine recycling

 

Families can send in their broken toys directly to TerraCycle by following four simple steps:

  • Visit Tom’s of Maine Challenge Site.
  • Enter contact information to receive a free UPS shipping label via email, printed at home.
  • Fill an old box with up to ten pounds of broken toys.
  • Attach the free shipping label to the box and drop it off at any UPS location nationally
  • Collected broken toys are broken down, turned into new consumer goods or donated to charity.

 

Toms of Maine Less Waste Challenge

 

Beyond toys, families can also help their communities and the environment by taking the #LessWasteChallenge pledge, which asks families to reduce their household waste by one pound per week and lead healthier, more zero-waste lives at home. To date, American families have pledged to keep more than 200,000 pounds out of landfills since 2016 as over 8,590 participating locations nationwide.

Moreover, Tom’s of Maine has a goal of zero waste to landfills by 2020 at its manufacturing facility in Maine. It’s a lofty goal and I applaud their efforts! And like Tom’s of Maine, I encourage you to get involved, get your children involved, by recycling your used and broken toys at home as part of the #LessWasteChallenge, and to take the pledge as well! 

Here’s to reducing our waste at home, one toy at a time,