Would you be prepared?

I don't know about you, but I have heard so much talk about emergency preparedness lately, it isn't even funny. Now, I am one to "always be prepared," but I also reach my limits and know some who can take things overboard. I do, however, want our family to be ready should anything happen, like a natural disaster, storms, etc. While I could go and stock up on things like beans, canned goods, and the like, I also thought that there must be an easier way. I think I may have found it in eFoods. It makes being prepared easier. eFoods Direct offers packages that can sustain a single person or a whole family for various lengths of time.

Worried about that food going bad if not used in time? 

One thing that I do not like about just stocking canned goods and dry beans is that these things do go bad. Canned goods have a shelf life, and truly it isn't all that long in the grand scheme of things. eFoods' meals have a 25 year shelf life. If you get their pre-mixed foods, they are best used in 15 years. Still, 15 years is a long time. I think that is much better than the two or three years max from canned goods or dried goods. 

How good for you can they really be?

More and more people are finding that they must live with allergies or metabolic disorders. Food limitations are a part of everyday life for so many. Also, we want to be able to eat healthy, even in an emergency. eFoods has this covered as well. 

eFoodsDirect meals are Cholesterol-Free, great source of fiber, vegetarian options, no trans-fats, no hydrogenated oils, no added MSG, not genetically modified, lactose-free, soy-free, gluten-free, oxygen-free packaging and made in the USA.

It seems that they truly have thought of so much to help families be prepared for what can be thrown at us. If you want to try this all out, you could opt to try 6 meals for free, or you could use one of their two current offers.

In remembrance of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Japan a year ago, we've created special family preparedness offers: www.efoodsoffer.com. Don't forget to enter the special coupon codes,Food40 and Food50, when ordering to get this memorial discount. eFoods' mission is to empower every family to have food security in the case of storms, natural disasters, or even financial crises like shrinking income or the loss of a job.

Until next time... Always Be Prepared! 




Disclaimer: I am working with this company on a review of their products. I did not receive other compensation for this post. See my disclosure statement for more information. 

Shame on Me

Here I said I was going to try blogging a little more after the 31 day challenge was over. Then I promptly forgot about blogging and kept moving through our, what now seems the norm, busy life.

Photo by: Markusram

Spring has sprung and in many ways is more of summer before summer ever truly arrives. This week has finally dropped the temps a bit, so playing outside can happen without mommy melting. I do not do well in the heat and retreat quickly when the temps rise. I feel bad that this happens and LJ just wants someone out there to play with him other than his little sister and the dog. But, now we are making our backyard more of our own little oasis, so maybe I can do this a little more often without melting quite so much.
Last year we took the big Black Walnut trees out of our yard. I hated them and they came down. This left our yard with basically no shade. Not cool! We finally broke down and went out to buy one of those fabric gazebos. All of the really nice ones are pretty pricey. I hate spending that kind of money when I don't think the product is worth the inflated pricing. We ended finding and liking one of the portable/foldable gazebos, like really great for camping. It even has optional sun shade sides that can be added, and there happened to be two sides on the next shelf over. I wanted shade sides and not just netting since I need the shade, not all the bug control.
Then while doing some great yard sale searching we found a combo water and sand table for $5. I was excited. LJ was even happier because, well, he loves both of those things. Now, we can have shade, he can play in the sand or water, and I can still position it in the shade of our canopy. Between this and his awesome track, I think LJ is pretty set for the summer months. Of course, BG loves it all too. :)
I think things are shaping up for a fun summer and a great fall. I am excited to see what happens these next few months.

Until next time... Happy Outdoor time!

{31 Days of Blogging} Day 31 - Why do I do what I do?

This was another prompt that I was really looking forward to writing. Warning: This may get to be a long post! :)
Why do I blog? Well, the answer to this question has changed since I began this blog. When I first started blogging, I was entering giveaways galore. So often when entering giveaways, you can get extra entries by writing a blog post. For the giveaways I was entering, I wanted as many extra entries as I could hoping that I could win some cloth diapers for LJ and other nice goodies. So, I started blogging for extra entries. Looking at my first posts, you can see that plain as day.

Free images from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Then I realized that I really liked blogging. I wanted to share my life with others online. I started blogging more about life in our house. This was very therapeutic at times. My love of cloth grew during this time too. I wanted to share cloth with the world. At least the small part of the world that found my blog. I wanted to advocate the products I love. Share my experiences good and bad.
I like love to write. I love the community of people that blogging brings together. I love reading the stories from other moms. I love finding and building relationships with other moms and caregivers out there who have shared in some of the experiences I have had. I love sharing about my life. I have found blogging to be a wonderful outlet for so many different aspects of life. Yes, blogging as made it possible to try out some great products for free, but that is not my main reason for doing so. I am trying to give my family the best life I can. At times, blogging as given me the chance to vent and stay sane, and other times it has offered me other options to problems I face. Blogging has given me a wonderful outlet. I love blogging. I am so glad that I started this and I look forward to keeping at it for some time.

Photo by: planetofsuccess.com

Now, on to closing up this great challenge. I can't believe that it has been a month of blogging ever day. The time did go by quickly. There were days when really, I just wasn't feeling the prompt or did not have the time needed to write the best post possible. There is still one post that I have yet to do even. The Fridge post. Part of me hates the idea of showing off my fridge as it is a disaster. Also, I haven't really had the time to work on the post. It will be up, eventually. Now that I will not be working to keep up with the challenge prompts, I can go back to it and work more on it. Hopefully in a few days you will see it. I hope you have enjoyed the little posts that have come each day. I have enjoyed writing the posts. I do hope to not fall off of the frequent posts quite so much. I know it might not be every day, but I am going to try for posting a few times a week.

Until next time.... Happy Blogging!

{31 Days of Blogging} Day 30 - My Makeup Bag

Let me start by saying that since I stopped modeling, I have hardly ever worn make-up. I have a very large bag (think an over night bag) that is filled with all sorts of make-up from my make-up obsessed days. Yes, I know this is all pretty much expired. I hate feeling like I am throwing away money. 

Anyway, I have a pretty small clutch now that has just what I will actually use in it. I have a sponge on concealer/foundation pressed powder. I have a set of eye shadows that has the high lighting shadow, plus the one pink and neutral tones (light and dark) for the smokey eye. I have a lipstick that will last all day in a pink shade. To be honest, I do not even know if I have blush in there or not. I believe I might since that is something I cannot go without if I am truly putting on my face. That has held on since the modeling days. I do have a brown eye pencil in there as well. 

Between modeling and being in guard in school, make-up and playing with it was a big part of my life in junior and senior high. Then I got over it and didn't wear any make-up for years. I wore very little on my wedding day. Now, I put on a little if I want to feel a bit more dressy when going out with Hubby or getting mommy time away from the kids. I am happy that Hubby loves me when I don't wear any make-up. He doesn't care for it. That makes life much easier, I must say!

Until next time... Happy Face Making!

{31 Days of Blogging} Day 29 - Oh the Places You'll go.

Now, that we have talked about trips we are planning, let's talk about places I have already traveled to. 

Today we are focusing on places we have been to. I have been a few places. Some have been with school, others with family or friends. Each one fun and memorable in its own way.

I have been to US places like:

• Texas
• Maine
• New Jersey
• New York
• Florida - Yes, this will be my 5th time at Disney

I have also been to more international locals:

• London and Harrogate England
• Scotland
• Nova Scotia and St. Catherines, Canada
• The Carribean - Our cruise took us to four different ports of call.

Travelling can be so much fun. The key is to not let yourself stress about the little things. Enjoy the journey and the destination. Fretting about all the little things on your trip will make it no fun at all. Also, leave time for fun, not just plans. 

Until next time... Happy Travels!