Thank You My Bloggy Friends!

I just want to take today's post and say Thank You! to all of my blogging friends out there. Shayna from Outside the Box had a post up a few days ago about how no matter what you blog about, all of us bloggers are part of a community. I completely agree, but not only do I see some of you as part of my community, I consider some of you my friends. While I haven't met any of you in person, I've gotten to know you through your posts, emails and Facebook messages. I love to stop by your blogs for a few each day and catch up with what's going on in your lives. I look forward to your posts, and those of you who stop by here always put a smile on my face with your lovely comments. When I first started this blog, I never realized that I could connect with so many people. I feel blessed to know you all :)

Last Monday was a very hard day for my family. I had been gone all day, and by the time I got home I was emotionally and physically exhausted. The last thing I wanted to do was open my laptop, but I knew there were emails that needed to be answered. As I opened my mail I immediately saw an email from one of my dear blogging friends- Renae from Simple Sequins.

Sorry for swiping your pic Renae, but I figured you wouldn't mind since you look fabulous :)

I didn't realize it, but a little note from a friend was just what I needed to help me get through the rest of the day. It made me think that even though we may never meet, it's wonderful knowing that there are friends out there who will reach out when you least expect them to. 

I haven't been online much this past week. I know I am far behind in visiting some of you, but am hoping to get back on track by the end of the week. Thank you for hanging in there with me, being a part of my community and my friend :)

Have you met Renae? If not, you should! She's is quirky, fashionable, and a barrel of laughs all rolled into one. Please stop over there and give her a follow or just say hi :)

 

 

Wordless Wednesday~ Horses!

Here is a perk of having cool neighbors. Their granddaughter just turned 2, so they rented out ponies and horses for the kids to ride at her party. Our girls got to hop aboard for a few rounds around our court.

Mira Kitchen Scale Review

In an effort to eat healthier, I have been doing a lot of cooking from scratch this past year. Thanks to Pinterest and my love of borrowing food magazines from the library, I have found some awesome recipes to whip up. I have been snapping up kitchen gadgets left and right to help my job preparing meals a little easier, but the one thing I didn't own was a kitchen scale. The wonderful folks at MIRA recently sent me one to test out, and now I have no clue how I ever lived without one! I have always just eye balled or guesstimated when a recipe called for a certain amount of pounds or ounces, and I have a feeling that's why some of my recipe attempts have been botched.

I have been using the MIRA ST75 Kitchen Scale to help me accurately weigh out my ingredients.

What I first noticed about the scale was how light and compact it is. It measures 5.5 x 0.7 x 7.1 inches and weighs just 11.2 ounces! Even though I have a fairly large kitchen, I don't like having bulky appliances and gadgets taking up counter or cabinet space. With this scale, that is definitely not a concern!

The scale comes with 2 AAA batteries, which I love that it takes a size of battery that I normally keep stocked in the house! It will automatically shut off after 2 minutes of non use, so you won't find yourself replacing the batteries often because you forgot to turn it off. I also noticed the non slip grippers on the bottom of the scale, so I don't have to worry about the scale moving across the counter as I am trying to weigh out my ingredients.

 

The scale is super easy to use. Only having 2 buttons to work it, learning how to operate it was a breeze! On the left is the On/Off/Tare button, and the right is where you will select how you want your food weighed- oz, ml, lb + oz, or g.  I love the Tare feature because I can place my bowl on the scale, press the on/off/tare button, then add my food to the bowl to get an accurate weight of my food, minus the weight of the bowl. This keeps food off the scale, keeping it clean and bacteria free! I also find that wrapping the scale in plastic wrap is another great way to measure food without having to use the Tare feature. Either way works great!

 As you can see, the digital screen is brightly lit and very easy to read. While the scale itself is small, it can hold up to 11 pounds! The only drawback I have found using this scale is if I use a large bowl, it does cover the display, making it a little hard to see the measurement.

I have been using the MIRA kitchen scale not only for food, but I have also used it for weighing my postage (I have guessed a lot on that too!) and for measuring out my polymer clay when I am crafting. I was making some ornaments and I was able to accurately shape each ball to match the others by weighing them out using the scale! So, not only is the scale great for food, it serves many other purposes as well!

I would definitely recommend this scale to anyone who loves to cook and bake or to anyone who is looking to accurately control portion size. You can purchase the MIRA ST75 Kitchen Scale at Amazon for $15.99.

If you would like to learn more about this kitchen scale or any of MIRA's other home products, you can find them on their website, Facebook or Twitter.


*Disclosure- I was provided the above mentioned product complimentary from the sponsor for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are my own and my differ from yours.

#JackTheGiantSlayer Blu-Ray Giveaway!

                          

I am a sucker for a fairy tale, and adding a twist on a classic gets my attention every time. If it's a movie I can sit down and watch with my kids, all the better! While I haven't seen it yet, Jack the Giant Slayer looks like a fun movie my whole family can enjoy together. It's got action, adventure and romance all rolled into one. The visual effects look amazing too! It is definitely on my summer movie watch list this year! If you haven't had the chance to see it yet, get ready! It's going to be available to own on June 18th!


                         


Warner Bros. is proud to announce the arrival of Jack the Giant Slayer released on DVD & Blu-ray on June 18!

Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack (Nicholas Hoult), into the battle of this life to stop them and rescue the princess!

The question is... are you courageous enough to rescue the princess? Are you brave like Jack?  Take the quiz to find out!

Celebrate this classic story with NEW content exclusive to the Jack The Giant Slayer Blog App!
You have the power! Control the moving GIFs and power the action in the movie with a swipe of your mouse! The Giant Soundboard lets you compose your own mashup of sounds from Jack The Giant Slayer, which your kids will enjoy for hours! Test your bravery and take the How Brave Are You? QUIZ to see if you are as brave as our hero Jack.

• Control the Action! - Move your mouse across the GIFS and take control of action-packed scenes from Jack the Giant Slayer. YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF THE ACTION!

• How Brave Are You? QUIZ - Are you brave like Jack? Do beanstalks and "giant" challenges make you afraid or courageous? Take the quiz to find out!

• Giant Soundboard - Jack the Giant Slayer is filled with epic giant stomps, sword slashes and thunderous sounds! Play with official sound effects from the movie and compose your own "giant hit song"! 


                 

WIN IT!

One lucky Theresa's Mixed Nuts reader is going to win a copy of Jack the Giant Slayer (Blu-Ray, + DVD+ Ultraviolet)! Giveaway is open to residents of the USA and Canada, 18+. No PO Boxes will be accepted. Giveaway will run through 6/30. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Please enter on the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Disclosure- All materials were provided by Warner Bros for this post. I received no compensation.

Bat-Cycle!

 As I was coming home one night, I noticed that my neighbor was throwing out this old Step 2 motorcycle. "Ohhh! I need that! Stop the car!" I said to my husband as we drove past. Know what he said? "Ain't happening!" Oh, the horrors of the neighbors seeing me cart their trash home! He told me to go back when it was dark out. So, I did. And I brought this little gem home. It was roughed up and has definitely seen better days.

I knew that with a little TLC I could have this baby looking spiffy. By a little TLC, I mean a can of spray paint and a little vinyl cut out with my Silhouette Cameo. With a days worth of work (mostly paint drying time), the Bat-Cycle was born.

I knew I wanted to give it to my nephew, so I had to customize it a bit. His nickname is Brockie, so I found some Batman font and put "Brockie-Man" on the back.

He is officially the coolest kid on the block now.

As luck would have it, I found a really cool Little Tikes beetle type car last weekend in someone else's trash. I can't wait to start work on it, but I am still trying to think of the final look I want.

Oral-B Celebrates Dads! #powerofdad

Dads are one of the most important people in a child's life. They are there to support, encourage and love, while making sure their babies are growing up to be responsible adults. I have been very blessed to have my husband as the father of my children. He has been such a positive influence on our girl's lives, and where I fail as a parent, he is always right there to pick up the slack. While he can have a firm tone when need be, he is often seen as the fun dad. Taking the girls on the big rides at the amusement park (the one their mom is too much of a wuss to get on), playing girly games, teaching them to ride a bike, or showing patience as they learn to tie their shoes, and he does it all with a smile.

Dad has always been there for you with a smile, and this year Oral-B wants to celebrate the power of a father's smile. They have made a beautiful video to remind us of all the times our father's smile has meant so much to us.

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Oral-B also wants to encourage you to help dad keep his smile bright, happy and healthy with the gift of a new Oral-B Power Brush this Father's Day. The Oral-B Deep Sweep has a unique combination of sweeping and stationary bristles that removes up to 100% more plaque vs. a regular manual toothbrush, helping to prevent and reverse gingivitis. Dad will thank you with a big smile for helping to keep his teeth clean and his mouth healthy. Oral-B wants to make you happy by saving you $7 off the purchase of a new Power Brush. Click on the banner below for your money saving coupon!

Share your story! How does your dad keep you smiling? Or what do your kids smile about when they are with dad?

I want to wish all the dads out there a very Happy Father's Day! Keep Smiling :)

Disclosure: #spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Oral-B. Oral-B may have provided us with content, product, access or other forms of payment. All opinions are my own. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.