Tuesday, May 27, 2014

FREE Blogger Opp

Free and paid links available

Secret Word Pages available

Prize- 1 Set of Cleverfit Stainless Steel Adjustable Collar Stays (ARV $30)

Monday, May 26, 2014

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD Giveaway

Welcome to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD Giveaway

Hosted by: SaraLee's Deals Steals & Giveaways

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Guest: Calm Coat Giveaway

Calm Coat Giveaway

Hosted By: Thoughts of Happiness

Sponsor: Calming Coat

Finally a coat that is stylish and practical to help your dog stay calm! You don't have to go out and buy one, but you can win one below!

Do you have a dog with any of the following issues:

Hyperactivity

Noise Anxiety

Crating Anxiety

Thunderstorm Anxiety

Travel Aniety

Excessive Barking

Calm Coat is the perfect solution!

Calming Coat is giving away one (1) Calm Coat (ARV $29.75) to one lucky reader!

Enter in the Giveaway Tool below!

Beginning Date:   5/22/2014 11:59 pm EST
Closing Date:   6/5/2014 11:59 pm EST
Winners:   1 winner

Must be 18+ yrs of age and a resident of the Continental U.S.

Entry -Form

Guest: Bebe Bella Designs Pillowcase Giveaway

Welcome to the Bebe Bella Pillowcase Giveaway

Hosted by: SaraLee's Deals Steals & Giveaways

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Guest: Purex Crystals Dryer Sheets Giveaway

Welcome to the Purex Crystals Dryer Sheets Giveaway

Hosted by: SaraLee's Deals Steals & Giveaways

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

My kids love tacos and I love making them! Since we are a busy family on the go, portable foods keep us on time and out of the local drive thru. These Taco Pockets are quick, easy and filling. They are so easy to make that I would advise you to make a double batch and freeze some for later like I do.

Prep Time: 25 minutes if you already have taco meat prepared
55 minutes if you need to prepare taco meat
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Total Time: 34-64 minutes depending on meat preparation

Ingredients:
2 cups Taco meat- (I used Jennie-O Ground Turkey & a seasoning packet )
2 cans BIG biscuits (16 total ct)
1/4 cup salsa
2 cups shredded cheese
1 cup black or pinto beans
1 egg

Directions:

1. Prepare taco meat according to packaged directions on taco seasoning or packet.
2. Lightly flour counter or another smooth surface and roll out biscuits.
3. Combine taco meat, salsa, beans and cheese in a bowl and mix together gently.
4. Spoon 2 tbs of mixture onto each biscuit and fold in half, crimping the edges with your fingers or a fork.
5. Take a fork and poke the top of each pocket.
6. Beat egg and 2 tbs water together to make egg wash.
7. Brush each Taco Pocket with egg wash
8. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 9 minutes.
9. Serve with your favorite taco trimmings.

ENJOY!

* I always keep 1lb bags of prepared taco meat in my freezer for quick and easy meals. For that reason this meal was quick and easy for me to prepare.

Guest: Edible Bake-A Bowl Pan Giveaway

Welcome to the Edible Bake-A-Bowl Pan Giveaway

Hosted by: SaraLee's Deals Steals & Giveaways

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

FantabuLESS Mackerel Patties

Growing up with a large extended family, we ate many a meals at Grandma's house. Since she lived next door to the church, we had plenty of company that would just so happen to drop in around supper time on their way to church. We didn't have a lot, but what we had Grandma prayed over it and The Lord saw fit to bless it and stretch it to be more than enough. Here's one of the many recipes that she used to feed a large family for very little.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4-5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients
2- 15oz cans of mackerel ( I only use Sunny Sea)
3 large eggs
1 onion
1 cup corn meal
1 cup flour
1 tbsp baking powder
Vegetable oil for frying

Directions:

1. Heat about a quarter of an inch of oil in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
2. Pour both cans of mackerel in a large mixing bowl and smash the mackerels with your hands until fine.
3. Add in all 3 eggs and continue to mix by hand.
4. Chop and mix in one onion. (I personally only use 1/2 but grandma uses a whole onion)
5. Add in corn meal, flour and baking powder and mix it all in using your hand.
6. Mixture will be a bit runny, but take a good size blob ( about 1/4 cup) and form it into a patty and let
it slide off your fingers into the grease.
7. Cook for 2 minutes or until golden brown, and flip using a slotted spatula.
8. Cook the other side for 2 minutes as well, and drain on newspaper, napkins, or paper towels.
Serve with your favorite condiments. I like Hot Sauce, but my kids prefer tartar sauce.

Why My NEVER ENDING Laundry Basket Is A Blessing, NOT A Chore

Since the birth of my second child, it seems like I have always been behind on laundry. It started with skipping a day here or there and I have yet to catch up! Fast forward 13 years, and I'm STILL behind on laundry. Since I have 6 children, I do more laundry than the average mom. Each night that my kids shed their clothing, that's one load right there. I currently wash 3 loads a day, six days a week. I figured if the Lord told us to rest for a day, the washer should get a rest too!

As the kids got older, their clothing got bigger and so did the laundry. There was a time when the ironing board was a permanent fixture in the living room because from sun up to sun down I was doing laundry. Let's not even start talking about the socks that disappear and leave the lonely mate behind. I FOREVER have a basket of unmatched socks because I know soon as I toss them out, the mates are going to magically appear, lol! I used to dread doing laundry, especially when my kids were still wetting the bed. Back then, wet sheets meant I had additional laundry to do on top of my regular loads. Today I am pleased to say that I consider it a blessing to do my household laundry. Here's why:

1. Dirty gym clothes means I have a hot husband that is working out and sweating to stay hot and sexy for me.
2. Dirty basketball uniforms means Joey Jr. is playing his favorite sport and having fun with his friends.
3. Dirty rugby shorts means my oldest son is a beast on the rugby field instead of hanging out on the street corner.
4. Dirty choir shirts means my girls are making joyful noises and learning music theory at the same time.
5. Dirty Boy Scout Uniforms means my boys are learning life skills and giving back to their community.
6. Dirty potholders and oven mitts mean my kids are experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.
7. Dirty sheets means we are blessed to have a roof over our heads and beds to put those sheets on.
8. Dirty table cloths means we managed to have Sunday dinner and EVERYONE was there.
9. Dirty mittens and beanies means we are blessed and prepared for chills and cold that Winter brings.
10. Dirty towels means I have 8 clean bodies that I am blessed to have as my family.

Shakeolgoy Giveaway

Beachbody & Amazon Giveaway

Time to get your body into shape for Bikini Season! Even if you're not in bikini shape, you can still look your person best this summer at the beach with the help of Shakeology.

Hosted by: Giveaway Goddess & Xtreme Qpon Special thanks to the co-host: Your Strong Tower As summer approaches, many are looking for ways to drop the extra pounds they put on over winter and get ready to put on that bathing suit. There are several products on the market that make this sound easy, but if you are willing to work for that perfect look, Beachbody has an offer you can't refuse! Diet along with exercise is the ultimate way to lose weight, tone, and keep that body year round. My very close friend is a Beachbody coach and wants to share her success story and help anyone who wants to achieve the look they want! Teresa is in her early 40's, has 4 children, the youngest age 3, and never thought she would be able to wear a bikini again. Now she can and looks amazing!

This is Teresa a year ago before she found Beachbody. I think she looked amazing then, but she saw this picture and realized she had let herself go. After searching for ways to get herself into shape and feeling good about herself, she came across Beachbody. She was so impressed with the results, she decided to become a coach! With Beachbody, you choose the workout that best suits you. Teresa chose the TurboFire workout combined with Shakeology shakes. She didn't have to starve herself, didn't have to spend hours a day at the gym. With Shakeology, you Replace one meal a day with Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Greenberry, Tropical Strawberry (vegan) or Chocolate Vegan to help increase your energy, reduce cravings, lose weight, improve digestion and regularity, and transform your health. If you don't feel healthier, more energized, and simply amazing, you won't pay. You can return Shakeology for any reason and get your money back (less s&h)—even if the bag is empty! Turbofire is the intense cardio conditioning program from fitness innovator Chalene Johnson. This 90-day weight loss and body slimming program will help you get that leaner, sexier body you've always wanted, because it burns up to 9x more fat and calories than regular cardio. Turbofire begins with Chalene's Fire Starter Class, which shows you the right form for all Turbofire routines. There are also two low-impact (but intense) workouts to help you get totally up to speed. Chalene keeps you moving all along the way with more than 20 smoking-hot music remixes through all 12 fat-sizzling classes.

Right now through the end of May you can get Shakeology & TurboFire for a crazy low price and be on your way to achieving your Beachbody!

Here are Teresa's 90 day results with TurboFire and Shakeology!

Sign up as a Beachbody member now for FREE and Teresa will help you decide the best approach for you to reach your goals!

Interested in becoming a Beachbody coach? This is a great opportunity to try out the products and make money from home! It is a RISK FREE opportunity, which you don't come across very often! Learn More about becoming a Beachbody Coach HERE!

Teresa has been generous enough to sponsor a giveaway! One lucky winner will receive 7 days of Shakeology and a $15 Amazon Gift Card! Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win. US residents only. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on May 31st.

★ Good Luck! ★

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: Living The Fantabulesslife , Xtreme Qpon, and Giveaway Goddess are not responsible for prize shipment. Prize fulfillment is the sole responsibility of the sponsor. Winner will receive an email and will have 48 hours to respond, otherwise forfeiting their prize in which case a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is not associated with Facebook and is Facebook compliant. No monetary compensation for this post has been received.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Teaching Kids Compassion

Last week when I checked the mailbox I found an advertisement for the National Association of Letter Carriers Annual Food Drive. An ad was attached to a brown paper bag that they were requesting residents to fill with non perishable goods. My youngest son was in the car with me and noticed we received a bag in the mail and was inquisitive as to how it got into the mailbox and what was it for. Right then and there I knew this was the perfect time for a teaching moment.

I explained to my son that even though the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, there are a lot of hungry people and many of them are children. Then I asked him would he like to go grocery shopping for some items to put in the bag, and he said yes. I suggested that he pick out items that he would like to receive if he was in need, because even though the kids are in need they have the same wants that other 10 year olds like him have.

So today after school we headed to the local supermarket and he did his shopping. Since this was a special trip to the store, I allowed him to buy some of his favorite foods to donate. So many people donate pantry staples such as tuna, peanut butter and pasta, and we wanted to make sure that there were some goodies for kids in particular.

We came home and packed up the goods and they are sitting by the door waiting for the mailman to pick them up tomorrow. Hunger is a problem that does not discriminate, and anybody young or old can make a difference and help Stamp Out Hunger.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

FantabuLESS Sausage & Egg Breakfast Bake

My family loves eating breakfast. You can find us eating breakfast in the morning, noon or night. When SaraLee over at SaraLee's Steals, Deals and Giveaways posted a recipe for a breakfast casserole I knew this would be a hit at my house. I adjusted the original recipe to reflect the items that I had on hand at my house. Keep in mind that I cook for a family of 8, so you may need to cut the recipe in half to suit the needs of your family.

Ingredients:
2 dozen eggs
3lbs of Tater Tots or hashbrowns
1lbs shredded cheese
8-10 slices of bread (I used sourdough)
2lbs of sausage

Brown and drain the sausage.

Line your pan with foil or use a disposable one for
easy clean-up.

Cover the bottom of the pan with bread slices.

Sprinkle a little cheese on top of the bread.

Cover the cheese with the mashed Tater Tots.

Cover the Tater Tots or hash browns with sausage.

Sprinkle cheese over the sausage.

Beat the eggs and pour them over the cheese.

Cover the pan with foil and bake in a 400 degree oven
for 35 minutes, then remove foil and cook for another
15 minutes. Serve with your favorite breakfast
condiments.

My Breast Cancer Journey: Radiation Week 1

This week I began radiation treatments for Breast Cancer. Once again I had no idea what to expect. I read all of the literature that they gave me, but until you are actually laying on the table with your arms above your head it just doesn't seem real.

The staff is really nice and they are so happy to have me there. If I didn't know better, it's almost like they are being paid to be extra nice to the patients. I know it sounds weird, but these people actually love what they do, and it shows. What I can't get over is how many senior citizens are being treated for Breast Cancer. Each day that I come in, the lobby is full of them . Nobody ever wants a cancer diagnosis, however I'm really glad that the Lord allowed me to go through it in my youth, rather than in my golden years.

Earlier in the week they placed three little "tattoo" dots on my breast as markers to line up the machine. I have secretly wanted to get a tattoo for a while, but I never imagined it would just be a dot or two. When I look at my breast it doesn't look like a familiar part of my body. The surgical scar, pen markings, tattoos and discolorations almost make it unreconizable to me, not to mention it's square shaped due to the surgeries. Who would have thought that such a soft, nurturing part of the body could cause so much adversity in my life? On a daily basis I bare my naked chest to total strangers to facilitate life saving treatments. Keep in mind I'm the type of gym member that changes in stalls instead of the open locker room so it was very uncomfortable in the beginning. Now when I come in I'm just like Demi Moore in Strip Tease, breaking away the shirt and getting down to business.

Laying there on table as the radiation penetrates my body, all I can do is sing praises unto my God. It's easy to praise Him when you are on top and things are going well in your life. I find it just as easy to praise Him laying on my back being zapped with radiation because I know that He is with me. I know that He wouldn't put more on me than I can bare, and if He gave it to then I can handle it. People are amazed by my lack of worry, stress and uncertainty on this journey. It's not that I don't care what happens, but I gave it to God from the beginning and I allowed Him to carry this weight for me. In His Word He told me to cast ALL of my cares upon Him, and I did. It feels to good to show up to my doctors appointments and treatments and know that my Heavenly Father is in control and has already handled it for me. From the beginning of this journey I made the decision to be a warrior and not a worrier. There's only a one letter difference between them, but a HUGE difference in mentality and thinking. I am a child of The King and I AM a warrior!

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Measure Once Bake Multiple Times

I cook for a family of 8 on a daily basis, and I use shortcuts to cut my time in the kitchen in half. One shortcut that I use is making my baking mixes in advance. I do this for cakes, cookies, pancakes, waffles and cornbread. Not only is it quick and easy, but it also lets me control what is going on to my family's plate because I can spell all of the ingredients and they all come out of my own kitchen cupboards. 5 minutes of prep work easily saves me 25 minutes down the road. The post below is me making cornbread today. I will measure today, and have a month's worth of cornbread mix on hand.

First you want to gather all of your dry ingredients and some plastic bags or containers.

I prefer to use Ziploc bags, but you can use any brand. Since this brand is so sturdy, I reuse the bag and fill it with the same ingredients next time.

Since all of my dry ingredients will be measured out, I write the measurements for the wet ingredients, the baking temperature and the name of the mix directly on the bag.

Now I line the bags up on the counter and carefully measure the ingredients into each bag, one by one.

After all the ingredients have been added in, I squeeze all of the air out of the bags and this is the finished product.

I roll the completed mixes up, tuck them in a bowl and stash them in the cabinet.

FantabuLESS Salad in A Jar

As a busy mom of 6 on the go, it's not uncommon for me to be in my van several hours a day shuttling kids from one destination to the next. As you can imagine I have rolled up to more than my fair share of drive thru windows. I came across tons of recipes in jars over the years and decided that having a salad in a jar would work for me to eat healthy on the go. Not only is this good for my health but it's easy on my wallet as well since I can cut the cost of a store bought salad by over 50%. By no means did I invent this concept, I am only sharing my experience with you.

First gather all of your fresh ingredients and jars together

I used the Ball 1 quart mason jars. Make sure they are clean and dry.

Fill the bottom of the jar with your choice of salad dressings.

Put your hard vegetables on the bottom of the jar.

Layer your vegetables evenly on top of each other.

Generously pile your greens on top. It's okay to smash them down.

Make sure the the rim is clean and put the lid on.

Here's the finished product ready for consumption. Shake it up and lunch is served!

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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Monday, May 26, 2014

Welcome to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD Giveaway

Hosted by: SaraLee's Deals Steals & Giveaways

Sponsored by: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Welcome to the Mini Himalayan Salt Lamp Giveaway

Hosted by: SaraLee's Deals Steals & Giveaways

Sponsored by: YourSaltLamps.com

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Welcome to the Bebe Bella Pillowcase Giveaway

Hosted by: SaraLee's Deals Steals & Giveaways

Sponsored by: Bebe Bella

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Welcome to the Purex Crystals Dryer Sheets Giveaway

Hosted by: SaraLee's Deals Steals & Giveaways

Sponsored by: Purex

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Hosted by: SaraLee's Deals Steals & Giveaways

Sponsored by: Good Cook

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Beachbody & Amazon Giveaway

Right now through the end of May you can get Shakeology & TurboFire for a crazy low price and be on your way to achieving your Beachbody!

Here are Teresa's 90 day results with TurboFire and Shakeology!

Sign up as a Beachbody member now for FREE and Teresa will help you decide the best approach for you to reach your goals!

Interested in becoming a Beachbody coach? This is a great opportunity to try out the products and make money from home! It is a RISK FREE opportunity, which you don't come across very often! Learn More about becoming a Beachbody Coach HERE!

Teresa has been generous enough to sponsor a giveaway! One lucky winner will receive 7 days of Shakeology and a $15 Amazon Gift Card! Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win. US residents only. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on May 31st.

★ Good Luck! ★

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Thursday, May 8, 2014

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