Scotties Tissues!

Starting off with a hello! It is about 40 degrees outside but no snow here in VT! 
Its also cold season so boy was I a happy mom when I received from Scotties a box full of boxes with tissues! haha. I had won through a contest. 

They came just in time. I came down with a head cold a wk later. Hence why this blog post is  about 3 wks after I got them. I wanted to use them and really get to know and love the tissues!  Also truth be told I am usually that mom with the handkerchief,because frankly if I forget one in my pocket it does not break up into a million pieces on my clothes like tissues. But the boxes were so cute... and I entered the contest to win so I could try them out so HERE WE GO! 

I love them!  Its like a commitment.  After I was sick,my boyfriends grand daughter also got sick which then led to my daughter getting sick. Tissues all around!!

The held up in the hands of little ones. They caught sneezes. Left no dry noses and my my kids never complained. Life was alright sickness and all.

They also were used for dog boogers..My boxer is a fan!  (Boxer owners will understand!)

Now that everyone is feeling better,one of the boxes are on the dining room window sill. It looks so pretty there.  Everyone is a fan!

All honesty, they are soft,strong and just wonderful tissues. I am so glad I got to find this out. 

I love finding new products! Thank you Scotties. And please remember all opinions are my own no one paid me to "have them"! 

Vaseline-It's winter people!

As most of you know I live in Vermont and it gets cold here...windy,cold,snowy and just plain awesome!!! I do love all 4 seasons but it takes a toll on my hands and the heels of my feet especially. 

My point being I was stoked when I found out I was picked by Influenster (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SDOdnjGX0s <---A video for you to understand what Influenster is. Not my video,credits go to the maker.) for a voxbox containing Vaseline's Intensive care lotion! 

The lotion is proven to heal "very dry" skin in just 5 days and it does! I normally don't buy lotions because its hard and a waste of money to try and find the one that actually works and blah blah so being able to test this lotion out was fantastic.

What I found is my skin is not as dry as it looks apparently. In the box they gave me a before and after strip that you place on your dry skin to show you how dry your skin is and a after to show you how the lotion is working. Mine was at dry skin which I thought was pretty good. Day 3!!! Yes day three and my hands were at normal!! This thrilled me. I am a honest home making mama so I didn't want to have to write a review on a product that failed, Vaseline lotion didn't!!! 

I am 100% thankful for the chance to test this out. Great product.Great company. I remember my dad always saying to me when I got cut or what not "Put Vaseline on it". It always worked and the products to this day still work!  

 I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Lets talk Campbell's!

I was given the opportunity to sample products through #crowdtap for #campbellstasters. 

All opinions are my own, I was not paid to say anything. I am way to honest to lie to you about anything. I have been apart of crowdtap for 2 years. I was sent a sampling kit to sample. That is all. #sponsored.

Right to the point!  I love Campbell's! I grew up with their soups and products and I was down right over the moon when I was excepted into this #discovercampbells experience. 



I have made and posted my potato soup on here. Every time I make it I make it different. I love to experiment, I do not like to repeat things...lets face it I do that enough as a mom. 

So I was excited to see Swanson Cream Starter-Traditional in my box of goodies. I knew right away this would be the first product I would test out. They gave me a fantastic Loaded potato soup recipe,but being the stubborn person I am I wanted to re create my potato soup using the Cream starter.
And I did. I use half and half in my recipe. In the new one,half and half had no role. I used the cream starter in its place,and for the base of my soup.

I would like to remind you all I am first and fore most a mom and girlfriend not a food blogger. I am a amateur photographer but even that does not come into play. When I am taking photos for the blog its about getting it done so my family can eat! haha. These are in the moment not set up type shots! These bad boys are RAW! =)

Now this time around. No half and half. Less cheese and no milk. 

8-9 Potatoes

Chicken Broth (about 2 cups)

Italian Seasoning

Celery Salt

Garlic Powder

Chives

Salt

Pepper

21/2 Cups shredded cheese

Swanson Cream Starter(Traditional)

Turkey Bacon (4 pieces cooked and chopped)

I cut up my potatoes into chunks,placed them in with the broth and seasonings. They cooked for an hr on high in my crock pot. I then added the Cream starter and 1 cup of cheese. Let cook for another 2 hours,added the remaining cheese. On the 4th hr of cooking I added the bacon. Served about 3 mins later. This recipe didn't take as long because I cut the potato's up smaller then usual. Bite size. 4 hrs total on high in my crock-pot. 

Result: IT WAS DELICIOUS! The cream starter made it thicker so it was just a belly warming bowl of awesome!

I had three kids giving this a shot. Ages 2,5 and 6. Two are picky eaters. They loved it! My boyfriend noticed the thickness and complimented it. Ignore the salt on the table, I sadly am a saltaholic. They all said it had enough salt in it. 

I can think of a hundred things I could do with the traditional Cream Starter and can not wait to buy some to keep on hand. Winter is coming and soups are a twice a week thing and it could be a base for a bunch of diff types of soups,chowders etc. My mind is just going a mile a minute with ideas. I know there will be more posts involving this product!

Keep looking back for reviews on all the products I was given to sample. Again this is thanks to #crowdtap for picking me and thanks to Campbell's! #DiscoverCampbells #Campbellstasters #sponsored 

6 things no one told me about parenting Monday

School starts Thursday and I am sitting here thinking back to everything I have learned over the last 6 yrs. 

I know as parents we have done the unthinkable. Wiped noses,wiped bums,said sentences that even shock us,smuggled toys to the garbage,repeated ourselves 100 times.

Then there is the things that our kids do that we are just simple like "Wait what?" like how can my son hear me take a bite of food when hes outside yet I yell his name and it takes 4 times before he hears me? How come my daughter will scream over something as simple as a bug landed 15 ft from her but she falls off a swing at 6 ft in the air she is fine? How come kids ask for a snack 10 seconds after eating a meal?  Why do they lose their shoes,and other items all the time and need my help but I stash snacks in a difficult spot to find and they find it? So many questions. It all comes with parenting. Each Monday I want to make a short list of things that first time parents should REALLY know.


1. Someone could have told me that things go up in price. I was all set thinking once my kids were out of diapers I was going to be rich. Then I saw the price of underwear. Then I saw the price rises with age. More fabric maybe? No idea but the more they grow the pricier it all gets. 

2. I had no freakin' idea I would be explaining to my son that you can not just pee anywhere.....

3. The words "Invest in a grocery store" would have told me all I needed to know. How can my kids eat a meal or not eat a meal then want a snack 30 seconds after? 

4. You don't want them to talk. Too soon. Honestly.

5. People failed to warn me that I would be saying things like "Get your finger out of your brothers nose" "Do not eat that worm!" "You don't mix flour and strawberry syrup!" "Stop pulling that cats foot!" "Stop throwing a tantrum before I start having one!"

6. You will contradict everything you do. You tell your kids not to yell and you yell. You tell your kids not to watch to much tv yet your on your phone more then you should be. You tell your kids not to name call yet you just totally called that driver that cut you off a BLEEP! Watching everything you do gets tiring! 


Parenting is not easy. Although pinterest and everyone around you makes it seem that way. Its the most rewarding! 

As I send my kids to kindergarten I am reminded that I will miss their antics. Of course only after I do a happy dance in the school parking lot. 

Good luck all teachers and students!! 

Tony Stewart and what doesn't happen with attitude.

I would like to first let those who are a bit confused about what I am talking about,to explain it.
Tony Stewart,a NASCAR team owner,Driver hit and killed Kevin Ward Jr another driver,age 20 when he stepped out of his car to confront what is to be said Tony over crashing. He was bumped and came to a stop,seconds later the video showed Kevin getting out and walking on the track where other drivers were still participating in the race.

The shock hit the social media like a ton of bricks. Many and I do mean many accused Tony of purposely hitting Ward. Now everyone is entitled to their opinion but what was being said was he hit him because of his anger issues. I have anger issues. My ex husband is bi polar. We have never hit and killed someone with our cars. Although this is a theory that out of anger he might have done such a heartless thing,its just that a theory,a thought and a rumor. 

The crash was video taped and there was no sign he purposely hit a hot headed 20yr old. Now I give my deepest condolences to the Ward and extended family of this young man. But experts,not us fans but experts have stated that any driver anyone in this business knows the safest place is in your car (if not on fire of course) and in the pit. Ward sadly should have waited if he felt he really needed to confront someone till he got to the pit. 
Another one was many people avoided him yet Tony hit him. He actually stumbles out of the way of one car by mere seconds..that car didn't try to avoid him, HE avoided the car. Bottom line he should have not been on that track. 
Bless the kids heart because at 20 your adrenaline is pumped and your thoughts are to a place where you are invincible.

Now something I stated just a ways back said that we are fans not experts. As fans we might know a lot about the sport and the being of some of these drivers but that's where it about ends. We have known Tony for years so we can say his anger does show but Ward we really didn't. A lot of us also are not Tony fans. I apologize to his family as it must be so tough dealing with all this. I myself do not follow Tony as I am not a fan. But I do know that if it was someone else everyone would have never said what they did. 

Truth is Tony has been driving for years,why now to hit and kill someone?
Also the media will drag and blow the shit out of this story so if you see where "Tony almost raced the day after killing another driver" then your gullible and that's sad. Media is met to get you all fired up. Just think if that was your driver that you love and admire and watch every race and hoot and holler for I bet your opinion would be very different.

I would like to clarify I don't know what to think about this whole thing,that's up to the detectives and cops to figure out. I do believe it was a unfortunate event that could have been avoided. I at this time believe it was unintentional. I think Ward should have had a cooler stance until after the race or in the pit.

I also know lots of other athletes who have FAR worse anger issues then Tony yet their story was more or less swept under the rug. For example I do not know if anyone heard of the EX UFC fighter, Joshua Grispi beat his wife and ended up siccing his dog on her. His dog is now possibly on death row and his wife is dealing with a lot of mental anguish. That story never hit my fb feed. Tony's did over 10 times. 

Lots of us have the same temper as Tony. We stand up and shout at the football team's who defense is acting like a bunch of morons. We get just as grumpy as fans so what tells you if you were the ACTUAL driver or the quarterback that you wouldn't act the same way. In this case I truly don't think Tony was out to get Ward in any way. In some cases it is the "one with a attitude" fault. We have seen it. We have seen the stupid childish shoving matches on the football field. We have watched the heated yelling arguments in wrestling. We have been or have seen how heated parents get at little league. We have seen just about it all. 

RIP Kevin Ward JR. Let your passion for driving land you fun times up above. 
Let Tony and his family deal with this.
And here to the cops,detectives and more that has helped with the investigation.

Anger issues does not make someone a murderer.

Robin Williams,May Peace find you.

I am only 26 but I have seen my share of celebrity deaths that hit home. Make you feel like you knew them. Unfortunately some were due to stupidity,drugs or recklessness. But last night as I sat on my porch I received a text telling me Robin Williams had been found dead. Then the next line is what stopped me in my tracks. "Apparent suicide". I then hopped on and thankfully have a wonderful network who also loved this man like they knew him. No one put him down for the fact he possibly took his own life.  What is sad is that some people did so I am here to tell you a little about depression and suicide. In honor of a great man. A great comedian who gave us laughs for so many years.

There is no right way to right about this topic because it comes in so many forms. But one thing I keep seeing is fans stating they hope Mr.Williams sees and feels all this love. The thing is where was the love prior? I always see Tatum Channing's photo up and quotes from other people but I must say I never saw much about Robin Williams and I am among those who didn't share. But that does not make it our fault. I doubt what goes on social media had anything to do with his mind set.

Another part of depression is its not that easy to feel love. Its like your heart is on thin ice. 

There's the fake part. Where you put on the act of being fine.

There is the part where sometimes the people around you are in denial themselves. I have been through depression and suicide thoughts more then once in my life. I have had people walk away from me. At the most crucial part,they walk away. They think your just sad,stressed,mad etc. Not always their fault. They are not psychiatrists or even aware sometimes. Its our duty in this world to make people aware and even more so now that someone who was loved by millions might have gone down this ugly path. People don't realize walking away is the worse thing for someone in this state of mind. Some refuse to help. Some don't know how. Some take it as you being selfish and drama like. Some people blame your age. (She is just a teen going through teen stuff for example) We think its so easy to spot someone with these horrible mental anguishes but its not always that way.

There's another side as well. Your fine your fine then BAM your night and that one time you are not is the time you take your own life. There's cases where depression was not even a factor it was about sadness a great anger that couldn't be controlled.  That make us fall off that cliff we call life. Other cases its years of depression. You just never know. Sadly you might never know. Even the closest of people the majority of the time will never be able to come up with those answers. I have been trying for 20 yrs to figure out why my family lost a great man to suicide. There is days the "why's" and "What ifs" put me in a dark place. Trying to get answers that I just can't get. They say committing suicide stops the pain for you but starts it for the ones who loved you,knew you,cared for you and admired you.

"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporarily problem"

There is a million sides to suicide and depression. A million different events,emotions,thoughts,differences and such. All that matters is we lost as a whole,a great man. A wife lost her husband. Kids(although grown) lost their father. The industry lost a talent that won't be found again. 

Its hard to wrap your mind around all this if you have never seen this sad disease up close and personal.  I have walked the ugly path. Let me personally tell you,people put on blinders to you,people do walk away knowing how fragile you are,the love is not always there. People just assume there is always that support there,simply untrue. Some people do but depression blinds them to it. Its a ugly thing,I can not say that enough. You feel so much hurt and sadness. You feel worthless. You can over come it but sadly some people never get to that point. 

The number one thing I want to portray here is something I even did. When I got the text about suicide I automatically said "No way". What would make me say that? because he is a comedian? Because he always had a smile? A heart of gold? Someone like that can't be battling their own demons? That was silly of me. Wrong of me. Anyone can be battling demons. A mom,a deans list student,a comedian,a teen,elderly man...anyone. 
Demons are a every day battle for some people you just don't see it. This might come as a shocker but we don't know it all. 

Rest in peace,Mr. Willams. I hope you found the peace you needed and deserved. You brought so many laughs to so many homes. So many memories. You had a impact on so many. No matter what the reason. You did one of the hardest things,you left your life behind to leave your pain behind. That's not a easy decision no matter what people think. Its not selfish. Its devastating. Let your family find closure. That is hard to do with this topic. This loss.


"No matter what people tell you,words and ideas can change the world." Robin Williams

"Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?" Robin Williams

Taco Layer Pie Bake

A long name for a done in less then 30 min delicious meal!


Taco Layer Pie Bake

What you will need.

9 in or so pie or round pan. Metal or glass.
1 lb of Hamburg
Taco seasoning and the water it calls for.
Shredded Mexican cheese (You can use what you want)
Re-fried Beans
4 Flour tortillas (You can use more if you want more layers. I would double everything for a big family!)
Non stick spray
Cheese sauce.
Tomatoes
Lettuce
And other toppings you want. Taco sauce,sour cream,green onions..Etc.

Heat your oven to 350 degrees. While that is heating up brown your hamburg and  mix in your taco seasoning following the directions on packet. Open your re-fried beans. And spray your pan with non stick spray. Once the hamburg is done you can start assembling. Place a tortilla down then spread evenly the beans on it,add 1/4 of the hamburg,try to eye ball it so you can end with the hamburg on top and have enough for 4 layers. Sprinkle as much cheese as you want and then add another tortilla. Repeat 4 times. Top last tortilla with hamburg and beans combo but this time cover with evenly with cheese sauce. I heat up some from the jar. Place in oven,uncovered for about 10 mins or until cheese is melted and heated through. Mean while cut up your tomatoes,lettuce,avocado,green onion..etc for what ever you want on top. 

When done  serve with fave toppings. I cut mine into pie pieces.

I am not a food blogger. As you can clearly tell. Haha but when I find a good fast meal. I must share!

Next up is 3 recipes that your kids actually might eat! Also how to help them love their veggies! You would be surprised what we do  that might not help.

Thanks for reading!!