If you aren’t used to living a cost-conscious lifestyle, you might decide not to make any changes to your lifestyle and habits unless it becomes clear you’re spending more than you’re earning and changes are unavoidable. However, there are several small but worthwhile things you could stop doing and be in a better position with your family’s finances — without making major sacrifices. Eating Lots of Meals Away From Home Getting food from a drive-through window is convenient when your two-year-old in the back seat is inconsolable due to hunger and you’re already running a bit late while driving your teenager to soccer practice. Also, when you’ve had a tough day, having a family dinner at a local diner typically sounds more appealing than spending hours in the kitchen handling food preparation duties. However, all those meals out of the house could take a big bite out of your budget. Plus, it’s not as hard as you may think to stop eating out so often as a family. Committing to the ...
Things to Consider Before Planning a Remodel
You’ve looked and looked for the right home for you and your family, weighing all the pros and cons of the properties available in the area where you want to settle down. You know you need to live in an area with a good school system, so that helps you focus on the neighborhood worth considering. Now, it all comes down to what’s affordable for you, and whether you are looking for a house that’s polished and turnkey perfect, with all the latest upgrades, or whether you want to get a place that’s in need of an upgrade, but which will cost you much less. For those who are willing to put in the work, upgrading a home with a carefully planned remodeling effort can be a smart move. Planning A Remodel Remodeling a home is a big project, but done well it can greatly improve the value of a home, while keeping the monthly mortgage at a reasonable level. Yes, it does take planning and creativity, but done right it can be a wise use of time and energy, and very gratifying as well. The smart ...
HORMEL GATHERINGS Party Trays Review and Giveaway [ENDED]
I received a free product in exchange for my honest review. Last week, I was asked to tryout a HORMEL GATHERINGS Party Tray. The trays are typically over in the deli department of grocery stores and have an assortment of meats, crackers, and cheeses. They are a great addition to parties and get-togethers, and are available in assorted sizes. My store had several to choose from, so I grabbed a large one that had salami, peperoni, Colby jack cheese, pepper jack cheese, crackers, and olives. This one was a 39.7oz, and I also picked up a smaller 28oz one as well (it had all the same things minus the olives). I was excited to get the really big one because this is the first time I had seen it at the store (got it at my local Walmart). We opened up the big one up that night to have as a snack while watching a movie. Everything was delicious and the olives added a lot of extra flavor. There were three of us eating on it, so there was plenty left for the next day, which was ...
Enchant Christmas VIP Event Giveaway [ENDED]
Enchant Christmas is coming to Arlington, Texas November 24th! Your world of Christmas wonder awaits at the U.S. debut and VIP premiere of Enchant Christmas Light Maze & Market. Surrounded by millions of dazzling lights and brilliantly lit sculptures, you and your family will be the first to navigate through the world's largest light maze, visit Ole Saint Nick in his one-of-a-kind golden palace, glide around the ice-skating pond, waltz through The Enchant Christmas Market (including Texas Christkindl Market Lane), and toast our opening of with hot cocoa and holiday treats. You’ll find enchantment around every corner! Enchant Christmas is at Lot F at Globe Life Park in Arlington! Visit the website for more information and to order tickets. Enchant Christmas is coming to Arlington, Texas November 24th! One lucky reader will win a 4 pack of tickets to the VIP opening of Enchant Christmas on November 21st from 7 to 9 m, rain or shine. To enter, tell me what you look forward to ...
POTC: Dead Men Tell No Tales Review and Giveaway [ENDED]
Johnny Depp is back as the swashbuckling, rum loving Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tails. Jack is down on his luck with no boat or crew when he meets young Henry Turner. Henry is determined to find the Trident of Poseidon, the anchor of all sea curses, so that he can save his father Will (Orlando Bloom) from the Flying Dutchman. With the help of Carina, a female scientist who is the only one who can read the map to find the trident, they must outrun both Captain Barbossa and the undead Captain Salazar, who has unfinished business with Jack. The previous two entries in the Pirates series had left a lot to desired, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It had the feel and the energy of the first movie. There were some laggy parts, like the unexpected beach wedding, but overall it was neat to see a lot of the loose ends from the previous movies tied up and see a little bit of Jack’s history. One of the bright points of the movies has been seeing Jack ...
Product Review – DawnRaid Latex Underbust Waist Trainer
A few weeks ago, I was asked to try out and review the Latex Underbust Workout Steel Boned Corset Waist Trainer from DawnRaid. This waist trainer has three layers of laytex that helps boosts thermal activity to help burn fat while working out, and is said to be able to reduce your waist size 3 to 5 inches. It is available in several different colors and a wide range of sizes. I have wanted to try a waist trainer for some time and was excited to get this one. The first one I got was way to big. I didn't measure my waist, instead going by my old waist size not realizing how much weight I had lost since I started working. I sent it back and ordered a 4X, which fits a 37 to 40 inch waist. It was insanely difficult to fasten and I never was able to get connect all of the hooks. It was also very loose/baggy in several spots, and there was a gap of nearly two inches between the top of it & my skin just under my bust line. The trainer is a little stretchy, but not much making, it ...