Snyder Has Given Us Cheesy Fingers And It's All GOOD! - OUR REVIEW

 

The 411 by Maria:

We love snacks. I would say 38% of my grocery bill is snack based and I often find myself calculating how low my grocery bill would be if I were shopping for only me. My husband loves his chips and the kids love chips, cookies and ice cream. I prefer a snack once in a while but I am pretty particular not just noshing on anything. 

Last week I received a box of Snyder Cheese Popcorn and Puff-N-Corn. It comes in pretty blue bags and states that it is baked with real cheese. I was also happy to see that the popcorn is only 80 calories per cup! 

Cheesy Popcorn

Puff N Corn

We got White Cheddar and a yellow one that says baked with Real Cheese!  The popcorn is really tasty and my kids and husband who all hate flavored corn love these much to my dismay. I was sure these were all mine.

  

These Puff and Corn have been around since 1947 and will melt in your mouth if you let them. It is really hard to do because they are sooooo good.  They are perfect for those who are afraid to give popcorn to little ones for fear of choking.  The Puff and Corn are only 170 calories for 2 1/4 cups. That is a nice amount of popcorn.

Truly delicious treats. I've spotted both kids eating them in the past two days.

She was like.."what...I'm not doing anything."

This guy's got the life after stealing my office chair.

I highly recommend this delicious treat. We will need to get more the next time we head out to the store.
 

Asian Snack Box Rocked Our World - Fun, Yummy Snacks

Oh man we love trying snacks from all over. This one is a box of 20 snacks from Asian Snack Box. We were so excited with the amount of snacks and the diversity. Sweet and savory treats were in this box. Here are some of them.

Me and my kids love doing taste reviews and this was so much fun to experience all the very different flavors. We were also surprised as we had expected tiny versions of the snacks but there were no samples just regular sized.

The only thing that would make this box better would be a note with more information on each snack for those who are unwilling to try things they don't know. Many of the snacks had no English writing on them. We took a chance and tried everything. There was nothing we didn't like in fact there were many we loved!

Everything was completely sealed, fresh. Nothing was damaged, crushed or stale which I feel is important when ordering snacks.


If you love trying new things or want to give a gift to someone you love perhaps a student away at college, a co-worker, neighbor, or just because check this out. Less than $.05 a snack.
The box is full and comes with all the snacks under tissue paper so it is perfect for gift giving.

A Day Off From School Turned Into The Best Day Ever = Hours Unplugged and Time With Friends

Handsome and I were up before 5 A.M. Goddess on the other hand didn't walk out of her bedroom until 10 but that is typical. I didn't want to rush them since they had the day off from school for a Superintendent day but wanted to do more than watch the kids play online in any way, shape or form.

As I was getting ready to take the kids to a trail for some walking, two kids from the street came by and they all wanted to go to the trampoline. I'm happy they are unplugged and doing someone old time playing with friends. It has become a nightly thing and I love that I can hear them being kids, off their computers, game systems or Kindles so I foster this to the max.

When the boys left the kids were complaining they were hot and DID NOT want to walk. I told them the trail wasn't in complete sun, that we would be walking through a tree lined area with moments of sun and how no one wants to go out of the house unless it is to spend money. Yes, I know mom's know how to throw on the guilt.  My daughter started dressing and informed me that this didn't mean anything. I know she is getting ready for a walk so I ignore. They both show up ready to go. I grab some water and we head out. My son is talking about how it is too far away and he really doesn't want to go but OK we will go. All the while in my head I am thinking hell yes you are going to go. We are walking.

I must admit it was hot. I don't sweat which can lead to heat stroke or at the least being very uncomfortable and was second guessing driving 20 minutes so we could walk in the heat too.  We couldn't find parking right away because after all it was already 12:45 on a gorgeous day. The Park and Ride was jam packed. I found something and had to gross a busy road with the kids and then walk along side it single file which freaked me out (need to research where more parking is for this trail.)

We walked about 2 miles (because it was just to check it out). The kids ran, walked, skipped and hugged me. It was fun!

Then I thought...ice cream...we need the cold stuff. We drove to three places one had no parking, the other had an ice cream brand I am not crazy about so we headed to another town with Handsome grumbling. We walked more which elicited way more grumbling and how he just wanted to go home. I explained that his games would be there. We drove to another town our fourth ice cream stop and just as they were telling me what kind they would want because this place didn't have soft serve and that was what they wanted a friend called asking if we wanted to go to Linner (lunch and dinner). We decided on a place that was back in the town where we went walking the trail. UGH...It's OK I'm down with that but this meant telling my son that we were going to Linner and had to drive back. He was not happy. Since she was 30 minutes away I thought, I could still get them ice cream. They deserve it.

We found a place. The soft serve machine was just being started up and wasn't ready. As they were deciding, the machine was ready and they got exactly what they wanted.

We met my friend at her house and headed out to the restaurant. My son as always after grumbling (you can see from the pic he was not feeling it but she is always ready for a good time) and being there informed me that he had a great time. I hugged him and told him to trust me that we have these conversations way too often and getting out of the house is important and that I will always make sure he has fun. Does anyone else deal with kids like this? I'm sure you are out there too.

He played with friends, the restaurant has sand in the backyard so you can eat and when the kids are done they head over to a fenced in area and play in the sand. He loved it even though at first he had told our little 2nd grade friend that he was too old for sand.

After dinner we headed back to our friend's house and decided to go walking, we walked until we couldn't see the street anymore. We stopped at a friend's house whose cat just had kittens. We all held kittens and finally headed home with my kids.  When we walked in my husband was sleeping on the couch, we said hello and went on and on about the restaurant, the kittens and our walk. It was a great day.

Since Goddess held her first kitten, she is begging even more for one. Daddy isn't ready for a pet. We had them before the kids and now is not the time but I vow she will get that kitten one day.

Candy For Your Eyes

I love make-up. Playing experimenting and doing other people's make-up was always really fun for me. After having kids I did mostly basic eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss. In the past few months I have gotten back into the idea of make-up and remember how much I love it. 

The Hard Candy Eye Def Chrome Eye Shadow is so creamy when you put it on. It has a sparkly fun look that I always associated with partying and good times. 

My 10 year old loves anything sparkly and asked that I use some one her eyes to show off the eye shadow for my blog. She was loving herself.

Last week for Wacky Wednesday at school I use the Hard Candy on my eyes and lips.

 

The Perfect Letter by The Bachelor's Chris Harrison - SPOILERS

The 411:

I was prepared to dislike The Perfect Letter but in a weekend I finished this story that in Chris's words is a cross between Sweet Home Alabama and one of my favorite movies The Notebook.

Leigh's past catches up to her when she returns home to Texas as a successful book editor from New York.

Chris does a great job of outlining an interesting story of a woman on the cusp of knowing who she is and what she wants out of life. A man she loves wants to get married, she isn't sure if it is what she wants. As readers we can't imagine why or where this story is going but thankfully Chris doesn't leave us guessing for long. Leigh has a secret from her past and her heart belongs and may always belong to her first love.

What I loved:

Leigh isn't a dismal in distress.
Her decision is difficult because like the Notebook you can understand why she is torn between these two men who are very different. The underdog isn't made to look like a bad person who usually makes us wonder why our character ever loved them at all.
There is a nice balance between: Sex, Suspense, Mystery, Love, Friendship, Family. It is all in there.

Lessons Learned:

You Can Go Home
You Can Deal With The Past And Move Forward.
Love Hurts Sometimes
Love Heals
Blackmail Doesn't Pay
It Is Better To Tell The Truth From The Beginning
Hire Cute Stable Boys

Good Earth Beauty’s Amazing Products

I am in love with Good Earth Beauty products.  Good Earth Beauty is a natural online beauty and grooming retailer that sells products that are not tested on animals which is important to so many of us.


Two weeks ago I received another package from Good Earth Beauty.

 
The container is silver with a sweet, with the sweet whimsical sticker. The smell of chocolate is definite. You know exactly what it is the moment you open it. A finger swirled around the balm and applied to your lip for kissable, soft lips especially during these cold months AND it's all natural! 

The container is silver with a blue sticker. It smells amazing and like the chocolate heals chapped lips. Both lip balm use all natural ingredients: Organic sunflower oil, organic shea butter, beeswax, organic cocoa butter, natural flavor oils

The last product in the box was the Vanilla Soap which is also made with all natural ingredients like organic olive, coconut and palm oil, Shea butter and fragrance oil. 

It smells amazing and was perfect for shaving or just cleansing. My skin felt soft and no more itch. The last few weeks we have all been scratching from the dryness. Wonderful soap. 

Less chemicals on your skin is best! Use natural products especially if you are like me and have kids with allergies and eczema.  

The NIV Bible for Teen Girls Had My Daughter Asking Me Not To Stop Reading

 

The NIV Bible for Teen Girls is designed just for you, a teen girl living in today's world. This Bible explores how the timeless truths of Scripture relate to your life, your relationships, and the things you care about most. Packed with daily readings, highlighted promises of God, challenging insights, smart advice, and open discussion about life today, this is the Bible for today’s teenage girls.

The 411:

Interesting afternoon. Early Dismissal meant my kids had a nice laid back afternoon rather than the same old homework routine. They did their homework and then while my daughter was re-writing something I decided to start reviewing a book out loud. "The NIV Bible For Teen Girls". I was going to stop 10 mins in and start writing after skimming and reading some passages but I could tell my daughter was listening. She even asked a few questions. I went to start lunch for my son and she asked me not to stop. Just finished Genesis. If that doesn't make for a good review on this book I don't know what will. Interesting is an understatement.

I love the book. Anything that gets my daughter interested in the bible and makes her ask questions is a total win in my book.

Character profiles of woman in the bible and the Growing in Faith, Hope and Love are by far my favorite sections. They are done in pink and apply what the bible is saying to something we can understand and apply to today. LOVE IT!

Beautiful gift for someone. 

Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah & Skye Chatham Is Adorable

The 411:

I read this book in a few hours which thrills me as it's been years since I can say that about a novel. It could have something to do with the layout or the fact that I honestly loved it and spent every free moment of my busy day reading it.

The book is about four different relationships. The beginning of a relationship between two people, and their relationship with their friends respectively. 

Written as if you are reading texts and mostly emails, you get a glimpse into relationships in the current electronic world. Where instead of calling each other you simply shoot out an email or text. We are all leaving paper trails and documenting everything we do. It's interesting, scary but also serves as a journal into our lives. Imagine if you could face the end of a relationship by re-reading  the beginning of it. You could see all the mistakes you made and all the signs you should have seen, but while doing that you take your besties on the roller coaster ride that is your life.  This is exactly what happens with the characters in Read Bottom Up.

It goes something like this:

Boy meets Girl
Boy tells Friend about it.
Boy emails Girl
Girl forwards said email to her friend and they discuss in detail
Girl emails Boy
Boy emails Girl back
Girl forwards email to her friend and they discuss in detail

I loved it!

The relationship between Madeline and Elliot and Elliot and David and Madeline and Emily made me smile.

From the beginning the relationship is on a crash course. I felt it could be a very real story of two people. Madeline wanting more but not asking for more with the occasional passive-aggressive, sarcastic email or text to drive a point home and get information without really being direct and the two friends who keep their crash course friends grounded.

Truly perfect for a beach read. This is chick lit at it's best and I believe you will love it too.

Sage's Eyes by VC Andrews

The 411:


In Sage's Eyes we meet 16 year old Sage and adopted only child one who has an apparent gift of seeing and knowing things that will happen or have happened. She has dreams and feelings that her parents want her to ignore and forgot.  Adopted at 8 months old she has many questions about her past and is confused by her parents constant guard and grilling questions over everything she says and does. It must be confusing for a young girl who has never had reason for them to be so untrusting.  Odd gifts and trinkets, overbearing parents and interesting but elusive relatives have made Sage's life lonely and make her feel awkward let alone moving to a new school.

Life is complicated just when Sage starts stretching her teenage wings a new handsome student named Summer enters her life. Oddly enough he understands her gifts and even has a few of his own. In the end we learn a few things. Not many.. and they are oddly placed. It just seemed like a big build up and then a weird Wiccan story to explain her past and then nothing.  I am not sure there is a part 2 and I will be OK with that.

As a huge VC Andrews fan of the past I found it interesting that books are still being put out after her death by ghost writers.   I am fine with the families continued use of her name (they have every right) and the hiring of Andrew Neiderman to write in this well documented blueprint set forth by Andrews many many years ago however it takes more than a blueprint to write with the same passion for the characters that Andrews did. When you read a VC Andrews book you became family with the characters they were with you long after the sage was over and many of us re-read and re-read again our favorite VC Andrews books. Sage's Eyes may not be one of them.

Ruby Lee and Me by Shannon Hitchcock #scholastic

The 411 by Maria:


This was a wonderful book for 3rd grade to 7th grade reading level.

Based loosely on the author's childhood Sarah is a middle schooler finishing up Summer before the start of 6th grade. When Sarah's little sister Robin gets hit by a car, something Sarah feels is all her fault the family must move in with their grandparents while Robin recover at the hospital. This isn't tough for Sarah, her best friend Ruby lives near by.

Sarah learns Ruby will be one of the first new black students in her school integration and is also excited to learn she is getting the first black teacher. The girls hope to remain friends as their aunt and grandmother have over the years. When Sarah blurts out a "racial slur" to her best friend the relationship changes and life will never be the same for these girls.


What I loved about this book the most was how the author mixes humor, heart, and valuable life lessons into a story about friendship and family.  Friendship and family is one of the most fulfilling things about childhood and the relationships crafted by Shannon Hitchcock were beautiful.  Ruby and Sarah's relationship is changing and maturing with the time and often gets confused by what they see in their own daily lives. In the end Sarah has the opportunity to prove to herself that she is brave and friendship can withstand changes. 

Great book. I wrote questions down while reading for most of the chapters because I want my kids to read it and answer my questions by using the book.  It's a wonderful family read and one I think would be beneficial as part of the literacy programs in school.

Things/Mom Moments I Want To Remember

Sometimes I write on my blog so I can remember when I re-read in the future. I love reading my old blog posts about my kids.

This Morning: 

Proud Mommy moment. I know it's not a big deal to some but I woke this morning to my son sleeping on the couch. I'm a mom so the first thing that came to my mind was that his night light must have been out. I checked. It was.  My son confirmed this for me this morning. The proud part comes with knowing that this shows how he can independently decide what is best for him on his own without waking me at 2:30 in the morning when he finally went to bed. As a child on the spectrum I am never sure what he really understands and always feel like I need to map it all out for him. I love that he did this on his own and I couldn't wait for him to wake this morning so I could tell him.

Yesterday:
My daughter came to me with the measuring stick after I told her that I thought she grew overnight to show me that she indeed has surpassed the measuring stick. UGH...the worst stick ever. I asked my husband to give me a piece of wood so I could measure the kids back when my son was turning one. My son passed the stick about 3 years ago and now my daughter as well. I guess I will have to attach another stick to it myself.

Smithsonian Educational Tools For Kids

The Smithsonian Magnetic Adventures Jungle kit is definitely a winner in my house.

The case is tin and has a carry handle and two clasps.  When you open the tin case you will find two separate scenes. One side has a beautiful waterfall and surrounding areas and the other has a 4 separate, colorful scenes depicting the rain forest (Emergent, Canopy, Understory, Forest Floor. You will also will find two sheets featuring 30 thick, glossy front, foam back animal magnets. A 64 page color photo book about animals of the jungle and two pages of colorful animal clings. The animals included are animals you would find in the Jungle. Monkeys, tigers, piranha, parrots, lemurs, cobra, hummingbird and so much more.

My daughter and her friends have played with this over the past 4 days. They play with it as it is intended by placing the magnets and clings in the case but they also like just playing with the magnets as figurines. I love watching these 10 year olds stay unplugged and off the computer and game systems.

This is a great playset and educational toy. LOVE IT!