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Home Chef Unboxing-What’s In The Box? And A Giveaway

I received product from Home Chef, but all opinions are my own.

When Home Chef asked me to review one of their meal delivery boxes, I was happy to do it, because I had already been looking at their ads and their website. I absolutely hate going to the grocery store week after week. I bring the same things home every week, and we get tired of eating the same old things. Also, some days I am just too exhausted to cook. I have often thought that if all the stuff to make a recipe was already prepped, and in one bag, so that all I had to do was grab the bag out of the refrigerator and start cooking, without having to do the chopping, peeling, mincing, and all that other stuff, then I could do it, tired or not. Take a look at my un-boxing video, and you will see that to me, this is my idea of a dream come true. Food, delivered to my front porch, already prepped, and ready to cook! After viewing the video below, scroll on down to enter the giveaway!

Here are some of the things I like about Home Chef:

Home Chef Variety:

Home Chef offers 13 new meal delivery opting each week. You can choose from gluten free, low carb, vegetar-free, and nut-free meal plans. They truly do have something for everyone.

Home Chef Flexibility:

You can change your delivery day, change the number of meals or servings you get, or skip a week. You can also pause your account when you won’t need to make an order for a while. I love this part, because if I have plans to be out of town, I sure don’t need a food delivery sitting on the porch for days!

Home Chef Simplicity:

You don’t have to go to the grocery store, or make a meal plan. Just order from the menu on the website, an they deliver everything you need to make home cooked meals. From Scratch. In about 30 minutes. All the chopping, dicing, mincing, peeling, done. You don’t have to buy full size bottles of ingredients you have never used before. If a recipe calls for Marsala wine, they include it, in just the amount you need. No waste. I love it.

Home Chef Makes A Great Gift!

Home Chef Meal Delivery would make an excellent gift for grandparents, aunts, uncles, Moms and Dads, just about anyone on your holiday shopping list. I know I woud love to get this as a gift. Receiving a home meal delivery package like this would give me time because I wouldn’t have to go to the grocery store, or do all the prep for the meals, and it would give me good food. My husband really loved the meals I have made so far.

Home Chef BUY IT:

Enjoy 3 Free Meals with Home Chef!
If you want to try Home Chef, use my affiliate link to order, and I will get free food. It will NOT make your order cost more. As a matter of fact, you can save $30 on your first order from Home Chef

Home Chef WIN IT:

One lucky reader will win a Home Chef Delivery consisting of 2 meals for 2 people (a total of 4 servings) As the winner, you can choose which meals you want in your box. You will also be able to purchase additional meals if you wish. Use the Giveaway Tools entry form to enter. Thanks, and good luck!

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Welcome A Cure Pink Ribbon Mat Giveaway!

Karen · 81 Comments

I received product in exchange for this post.

Carpet One Floor & Home, a cooperative of 1,000 locally owned flooring stores nationwide, sells these Welcome a Cure Pink Ribbon Mats, which help raise money for Breast Cancer research.

The Welcome A Cure Pink Ribbon Mats feature 19 different designs, including four selections created by noted interior designers Lisa Mende, Traci Zeller, Melissa Davis and Kelli Ellis. Carpet One Floor & Home’s exclusive Welcome A Cure Pink Ribbon mats are machine washable, backed with rubber and capable for use both indoors and out. Each mat is made in the USA and proudly marked with a pink ribbon, the internationally recognized symbol for breast cancer awareness. For each $24.99 ($34.99 CDN) mat sold, 25 percent of the proceeds directly support the five-star rated Breast Cancer Research Fund, with a million dollars raised to fund a cure.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRFCure.org) is an independent 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization. BCRF’s mission is to advance the world’s most promising research to eradicate breast cancer in our lifetime.

These Welcome A Cure Pink Ribbon Mats look so nice on your front porch, or even as a mat for your pet’s food and water. One of my readers will win one of their choice from the ones shown below:

Enter to win a Welcome A Cure Pink Ribbon Mat using the Giveaway Tools form below.

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Are You Low In Vitamin D? 5 Symptoms To Consider

Karen · 2 Comments

Vitamin D is a workhorse in the human body.

It tackles its most well known purpose: Working with calcium to strengthen bones. But its function is much more than that. Vitamin D has been linked to disease prevention from head to toe and holds links to the management of conditions like:

· Multiple sclerosis

· Heart disease

· Influenza

· Mood regulation

· Depression

· Diabetes

· Fibromyalgia and more

Despite data supporting the need for healthy vitamin D levels, nearly ¾ of American teens and adults are deficient. Often called the “sunshine vitamin,” your body does produce a certain amount of vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, but many people make the mistake of believing that sun alone is enough—or that drinking a glass of milk will keep them covered. This is especially true for African Americans whose dark skin means they need many times more sun exposure to generate vitamin D compared to fair skinned people. Are you getting enough vitamin D? To know for sure, see your doctor for a simple blood test. And of course, remember to always talk to your healthcare provider before adding any supplements to your routine, but here are 5 symptoms of low D you should explore further:

· You battle depression or are feeling down.

Serotonin, a brain chemical that supports positive mood rises with sun exposure and drops without it. In one study, elderly patients with low levels of vitamin D were 11 times more likely to battle depression.

· You have bone or muscle pain/weakness.

Some types of vitamin D deficiency are misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome when the deficiency causes a defect in how your body absorbs calcium into the collagen matrix of bones—causing them to ache.

· You are sleepy during the day.

Of course not all cases of daytime sleepiness can be linked to vitamin D deficiency, but if you’re doing other things right—sleeping at night, eating well and exercising and still battle daytime fatigue, talk to your doctor.

· You wear out fast.

If you’re panting after a light workout or just can’t seem to endure the physical feats of the past it may not be in your head. Some studies have shown a decrease in aerobic capacity and endurance in athletes who have low D levels.

· Your blood pressure is too high.

Vitamin D helps regulate heart health in a variety of ways. When there’s not enough vitamin D on board you may see your blood pressure rising slowly over time. However, other factors than vitamin D may be at play, so talk to your doctor.

The power of vitamin D is often overlooked. If you’ve been wondering about your levels, talk to your doctor and consider looking beyond the blood work and at your body’s unique genetic tendencies to learn more about how you process vitamins like D and others. A simple nutrigenomic test can tell you what’s happening deep inside your cells and help take the guesswork out of what your body needs to maintain optimum nutrition and fitness levels.

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Fabgrandpa Has COPD, But What Is That Exactly?

Karen · 5 Comments

Fabgrandpa was diagnosed with COPD about six years ago. We were working at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, at an elevation of nearly 9,000 feet. Every Spring when we went back to work, it took longer and longer for him to acclimated to the elevation. He had a hard time breathing, felt short of breath most of the time, and coughed a lot. He wound up in the emergency room in Flagstaff for a breathing treatment, and got prescriptions for an antibiotic and a steroid to help open up his airways. Bronchitis was a regular thing for him.

At the time of his diagnosis with COPD, he was still smoking cigarettes, about a pack a day. His doctor and the other medical professionals he saw all told him he needed to quit, because smoking exacerbated his condition. While they all told him he had COPD, none of the doctors actually told him what COPD was. He seemed to always be asking “What is COPD?”

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory, or not-reversible, asthma, and some forms of bronchiectasis. That is a lot of big words used to describe disorders that make breathing difficult. Most people start to develop COPD when they are around 40 years old, but they don’t notice the symptoms at first. You begin to see the symptoms when the more developed stages of the disease. Symptoms include increased shortness of breath, frequent coughing with and without sputum, wheezing, and tightness in the chest. Fabgrandpa had all of these symptoms. COPD affects about 24 million people in the United States.

There are many risk factors and causes of COPD. It can be caused by inhaling pollutants, including cigarette smoke, and second hand smoke. Fumes, chemicals, and dust found in work environments contribute to the development of COPD. Genetics can also play a role in an individual’s development of COPD—even if the person has never smoked or has ever been exposed to strong lung irritants in the workplace. Fabgrandpa tested deficient in Alpha–1 antitrypsin, which is a genetic disorder that causes COPD and liver disease.

If you have shortness of breath, or have a hard time keeping up with people your age, you may want to ask your doctor to test you for COPD if are a smoker, if you have a history of COPD in our family, or if you have been exposed to harmful chemical fumes for a long period of time. It is important to get tested because leaving symptoms misdiagnosed, untreated, or undertreated may cause them to worsen faster than if they were treated with proper medication and therapy. Many adults are incorrectly diagnosed with asthma. Providing a proper diagnosis means individuals will receive the right treatments and follow up monitoring. There’s no cure yet for COPD but treatments are available to help individuals live better.

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How To Choose Bridesmaid Dresses

Karen · Leave a Comment

Are you looking for the perfect bridesmaids’ dresses for your wedding? Regardless of your wedding theme or style, you need to find the perfect dress for your girls. Here are some tips that will come in handy during your dress shopping:

Start by browsing

You can start by researching online for different stores that carry bridesmaids’ dresses in your area. When searching online, you need to save images of your ideal dress to help you zero in on the colors and themes that you prefer.

Keep the cost in mind

Have any of your friends been in a bridal party before? Then they must know that a bridesmaid pays for her own dress. However, reminding them is not a bad idea. When looking at dresses, you need to consider the pockets of your bridesmaids, not yours.

You do not want your wedding to be a financial burden to anyone. Focus your search on affordable Azazie-made dresses. Alternatively, you can choose a color and let them pick their own styles. You should also consider renting them, as it might be cheaper.

Stick to one theme

To ensure that your wedding colors match with those of the bridal party, you need to set a theme. This means that you need to decide on a wedding theme before choosing bridesmaid dresses.

Shop accordingly

Which is the best shopping experience for your personality? If you have very strong opinions, you need to shop alone or bring one friend. However, if you would like to have more input, it would not hurt to bring your friends along for a better choice.

Find the right fit

Bridesmaid dresses are usually ordered in a bigger size to allow for growth. If a bridesmaid wants to order a size smaller, remind her of this fact: larger dresses can be altered before the wedding but you cannot do much about a small dress. Nobody wants to spend more money on a new dress.

Ordering etiquette

It takes up to three months for the bridesmaid dresses to arrive and up to 6 weeks for alterations to be made. The 6-month period allows you and your bridal party to find and order the right dresses. Make sure that you start ordering early to prevent delays.

Select a shade

The easiest way to pick the perfect shade for your bridesmaid dresses is to play off the color scheme of your wedding venue. For example, if your wedding is to be held on a vineyard with a wine-red décor, you should rule out neon yellow dresses. Lighter shades work well in the summer and spring while rich colors are ideal for fall and winter.

Consider lingerie

Your girls need to find the right undergarments. Therefore, depending on the dress style – one-shoulder or strapless – bridesmaids need the right supporting garments. Even the most flattering dress can look average when paired with the wrong bra.

Aside from buying the right bra, your girls might also need to purchase specific panties or a body shaper.

Find complementary colors

When choosing colors, make sure that they complement most skin tones. Colors such as sand, greige, and beige, are universally flattering while jewel tones such as sapphire and amethyst go well with fairer complexions. Bolder shades like hot pink complement darker hues quite well.

If you want to choose a print design, ensure that the dominant colors work well with your full bridal party. On the other hand, your maid of honor can don a print design while the rest of your girls stick with a solid color. Whatever you choose, make sure it flatters everyone.

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Eli’s Cheesecake: Salted Caramel Cheesecake Giveaway

Karen · 72 Comments

Don’t you just love the combination of caramel and salt? Wouldn’t you just be in heaven with a Salted Caramel Cheesecake from Eli’s Cheesecake? The Salted Caramel Cheesecake from Eli’s is made with gluten free ingredients, but it is cooked in the same kitchen that other cheesecakes are made in, so they are not certified gluten free. If you can eat this cheesecake, though, it is one of the most marvelous tastes ever!

This elegant cheesecake features the sophisticated and modern combination of salt and caramel. Creamy caramel cheesecake baked on a sweet and salty almond crust topped with a thick bed of buttery caramel and a sprinkle of more almonds. Made with gluten free ingredients.* *This product is made in a bakery that uses ingredients that contain gluten. Manufactured on equipment that processes Wheat and Peanuts.

Eli’s Cheesecake in Chicago has been in business since 1980. They are a family owned business, and slow bake their cheesecakes in small batches, taking the time to allow the ingredients to develop to their optimum flavors…the key to achieving Eli’s unique taste and texture. Eli’s prefers using regional ingredients from local farms and producers who share Eli’s commitment to quality.

Buy It!

In addition to a wonderful selection of Cheesecakes, Eli’s products include Layer Cakes; Tira Mi Su; and Tarts. The Layer Cake Club brings you a full size layer cake every three months for a year.

WIN IT!

To help me celebrate my 10 years of blogging, one lucky reader will win a Salted Caramel Cheesecake from Eli’s Cheesecake. Use the Giveaway Tools form to enter. Good luck!

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Acu-Rite Announces My Acu-Rite Smart Home Environmental Monitoring System

Karen · 103 Comments

I received product in exchange for this post.

AcuRite has been well known for many years for bringing you the weather in your area with their many products, such as Personal Weather Stations, Barometers, Thermometers, and more. I have had one of their Personal Weather Stations for over a year now, and I really love it! I can look online with I am away from home, and see exactly what the weather is doing at home. I can see at a glance any day, any time, what the temperature is, how much rain has fallen, and what direction the wind is blowing. I can think of many reasons to know what the weather is going to be doing at any time of the day. For things like party planning, planting flowers, mowing the lawn, washing the car and many more activities, the Personal Weather Station is a great thing to have. Now, they are introducing their Smart Home Environmental Monitoring System.

Acu-Rite Smart Home Environmental Monitoring System

AcuRite asked me to tell you about another great system they have: The Smart Home Environmental Monitoring System. With the Smart Home Environmental Monitoring System, you can access your indoor and outdoor environment from any computer or mobile device. You can receive alerts about changing conditions for things you care about so you can stay one step ahead of changes that could affect loved ones and pets, the structure of homes and buildings, as well as belongings.

Here are just a few of the things you can monitor with your Smart Home Environmental Monitoring System:

Minimize potential for water damage with water leak detection
Monitor air quality to prevent mold and allergens with high indoor temperature and humidity alerts
Protect musical instruments and collectables with low indoor humidity alerts
Prevent frozen pipes with low temperature alerts
Prevent flood damage with excessive rainfall alerts
Prevent wind-related damage with high wind alerts
Properly water lawn, flowers and garden with rainfall tracking
Know the best time to plant with soil temperature monitoring
Prevent frost damage to plants with low outdoor temperature alerts
Remotely monitor pool, hot tub, pond, fountain and aquarium temperature
Ensure ideal sleeping conditions for bedrooms and nurseries
Save on energy costs by making sure heating and cooling systems are operating efficiently, and checking for drafts and leaks
Plan outdoor activities with reliable weather forecasts and conditions measured right in a user’s back yard

All New My AcuRite Features

Customizable alerts include email and phone notifications about conditions you want to track
Ability to connect up to 10 indoor and outdoor monitoring sensors
Compatible with a full range of environmental sensors, including water leak detectors and liquid and soil temperature sensors
Expandable to track additional locations or properties
Current conditions dashboard with 12-hour trend charts
Charting and graphing of historical data for analysis and download
My AcuRite mobile apps for Android and iPhone
Integrated five (5) day and 36-hour weather forecast
Share home conditions to keep family, friends and even neighbors informed
Rapid Fire updates to Weather Underground

What this all means to me is that I can monitor the temperature of the water in my new pond, and take the necessary steps to weatherize it long before it has a chance to freeze. I can also monitor the temperature on my back porch, so that I can make sure the water pipes back there don’t freeze. There is so much more you can do with this Smart Home Environmental System. What would YOU monitor?

AcuRite Temperature and Humidity Station with 3 Sensors + Spot Check

AcuRite HD Temperature & Humidity Station with 3 Sensors + Liquid & Soil Temperature

AcuRite Color Multi-Sensor Display with 4-Zone Capability (Display ONLY)

AcuRite smartHUB with My AcuRite Remote Monitoring

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Fabgrandma Is 10 Years Old!

Karen · 13 Comments

Ten years ago, on September 6, 2006, I decided to start a little blog. At the time, my son was in the Air Force, stationed in England; my oldest daughter was living in Norfolk, Virginia; and my other two daughters were in Georgia. Fabgrandpa and I were living a nomad life. Our home was a 34 foot travel trailer. We worked at campgrounds and resorts, for whatever the season might be, then moved to a volunteer camp host job for the off season. It was a wonderful life.

happy birthday fabgrandma — Me and Fabgrandpa

You, my readers, followed us everywhere we went. From Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; to Urbanna, Virginia; to Helen, Georgia; to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I wrote about all our travels, the places we went on our days off, the food we ate, things we did, our family. You followed along when I got sick and was in the hospital for over a month. I received so many pieces of mail that the volunteer who delivered it each day asked me “Who ARE you?” The fact that I got all that mail made me feel loved and so not alone. You were there when we bought our house, and through all the improvements and renovations that we made while making it our home.

To thank you all for staying with me, through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad, I am going to be hosting some giveaways just for my followers. If you follow me on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, or on Pinterest, you will be able to enter the giveaways. I wish I could give each one of you a prize, because you have been such good fans. Thank you all so much, because without the readers, a blog is nothing. I appreciate you all for helping make my little place on the internet what it is today. Happy Birthday to Fabgrandma.com!

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