“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”- Dr. Seuss

March is National Read Across America Month, it is also Dr. Seuss Birthday on March 2nd!  

We have had so much fun as a family over the years celebrating National Read Across America Day.  We have done a variety of activities from making Dr. Seuss snacks and crafts to attending reading events at our local library and more.  

I know this year is different with Covid precautions in place, but you can still celebrate at home.  Here are some ways to celebrate National Read Across America this March. 

1.  Make some of these easy Dr. Seuss inspired treats:

On this blog post here: http://bit.ly/2Tg5MjN you'll find Cat in the Hat Kabobs, One Fish, Two Fish Jell-O Cups, Truffula Themed Cupcakes, and more. 

Easy DIY Cat in the Hat Snack Cup: http://bit.ly/3cplDV0  

Seuss Inspired Pancakes and Thing 1 and Thing 2 Cupcakes here: http://bit.ly/2SZUn7H

Here http://bit.ly/2TUkwTo you'll find Lorax Cuties and an easy after school snack.

2.  Read your favorite books, there is nothing better than curling up with a blanket and great book at home.  You can often find Dr. Seuss books on sale right now in celebration of his birthday.  You can also find the not so popular titles, maybe one you have not read. 

3.  Buy a new book to add to your home library.  Shop together for a new book from your local bookstore, this is a great way to support local small shops as well as add to your home library.  Be adventurous and let the youngest member of the family choose the book or better yet the local bookstore staff member select a family friendly book for you.  

There are so many benefits to reading, it is a great stress reliever as well as great for our brains.  I aim to foster the love of reading in my children and this is a great month of fun surrounding reading, perfect to encourage them to read more. 

4.  Donate books to your kids school or local library. Be sure to check with their policy in regards to donations, you may need to purchase from Amazon and have directly shipped to the school.  

5.  Host a family Zoom Reading event. Read to grandma, read with cousins, invite friends you have not seen to some Zoom reading fun. Have an older cousin do bedtime story time for all the little cousins on Zoom.  

6.  Celebrate with a Green Eggs & Ham breakfast, or any meal inspired by your favorite Dr. Seuss book or any book your family enjoys. Pair food with your favorite book and celebrate breakfast, lunch or dinner!

7.  Listen to Audio Books, during dinner, before bed, make it a family event.  Audio books are an easy way to incorporate the love of books into our children.  Listen to an audio book while you cook, work on puzzles, drive, or for some afternoon quiet time. 

8.  Make bedtime reading extra special! Act out the story, someone can read while other members of the family act out the story.  Be over dramatic with voice inflections, and have fun! If you start early enough you could incorporate a snack that is related to the book theme. 

I would love to see how you are celebrating National Read Across America this March, send me your favorite ideas. Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends.

8 Ways to Celebrate National Read Across America this March

 

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”- Dr. Seuss

March is National Read Across America Month, it is also Dr. Seuss Birthday on March 2nd!  

We have had so much fun as a family over the years celebrating National Read Across America Day.  We have done a variety of activities from making Dr. Seuss snacks and crafts to attending reading events at our local library and more.  

I know this year is different with Covid precautions in place, but you can still celebrate at home.  Here are some ways to celebrate National Read Across America this March. 

1.  Make some of these easy Dr. Seuss inspired treats:

On this blog post here: http://bit.ly/2Tg5MjN you'll find Cat in the Hat Kabobs, One Fish, Two Fish Jell-O Cups, Truffula Themed Cupcakes, and more. 

Easy DIY Cat in the Hat Snack Cup: http://bit.ly/3cplDV0  

Seuss Inspired Pancakes and Thing 1 and Thing 2 Cupcakes here: http://bit.ly/2SZUn7H

Here http://bit.ly/2TUkwTo you'll find Lorax Cuties and an easy after school snack.

2.  Read your favorite books, there is nothing better than curling up with a blanket and great book at home.  You can often find Dr. Seuss books on sale right now in celebration of his birthday.  You can also find the not so popular titles, maybe one you have not read. 

3.  Buy a new book to add to your home library.  Shop together for a new book from your local bookstore, this is a great way to support local small shops as well as add to your home library.  Be adventurous and let the youngest member of the family choose the book or better yet the local bookstore staff member select a family friendly book for you.  

There are so many benefits to reading, it is a great stress reliever as well as great for our brains.  I aim to foster the love of reading in my children and this is a great month of fun surrounding reading, perfect to encourage them to read more. 

4.  Donate books to your kids school or local library. Be sure to check with their policy in regards to donations, you may need to purchase from Amazon and have directly shipped to the school.  

5.  Host a family Zoom Reading event. Read to grandma, read with cousins, invite friends you have not seen to some Zoom reading fun. Have an older cousin do bedtime story time for all the little cousins on Zoom.  

6.  Celebrate with a Green Eggs & Ham breakfast, or any meal inspired by your favorite Dr. Seuss book or any book your family enjoys. Pair food with your favorite book and celebrate breakfast, lunch or dinner!

7.  Listen to Audio Books, during dinner, before bed, make it a family event.  Audio books are an easy way to incorporate the love of books into our children.  Listen to an audio book while you cook, work on puzzles, drive, or for some afternoon quiet time. 

8.  Make bedtime reading extra special! Act out the story, someone can read while other members of the family act out the story.  Be over dramatic with voice inflections, and have fun! If you start early enough you could incorporate a snack that is related to the book theme. 

I would love to see how you are celebrating National Read Across America this March, send me your favorite ideas. Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends.

Read more »
This post has been in my head since two Christmases ago.  The Christmas Eve message at our church was about reaching out to people, calling people to encourage them, and stay connected, and even though it was years ago, that message has stuck with me.  We were encouraged to make a list of ten people to call. 

My husband and I were on a cruise right after that Christmas and I received a phone call that was so special to me from my friend Chrysti over at I Love Fair Oaks.  I did not have service so she left a voicemail that so blessed and encouraged me.  Her calling and checking in on me, was a reminder of what a blessing and difference a phone call can make.  We did chat and get to catch up once I returned home, and I cannot even express how nice it was.  We tried to hang up a few times and we actually joked we should write a blog post about how to end a phone call. 

We talked about our kids, we talked about how our blogs and social media posts were going. There was no agenda or business so to speak, just good old small talk and it was so refreshing.  Too often, when I make a phone call, it is business or project related, make time for calls that are just for catching up, to simply say I was thinking of you.

While it is easier or more convenient to connect with technology and social media, it isn't always true and meaningful connection.  We live in such a fast paced world many times I intend to check in on a friend and even go to make the call or send the text multiple times and get sidetracked. While I am grateful for low maintenance friends who know we are in the thick of #momlife, they are okay with the likes I send them on social media, it really is nice to connect intentionally.  

Fast forward to a global pandemic and being thrust into the Zoom world, I can see even greater the importance of staying connected with friends, family and acquaintances.  Before our world was dealing with COVID-19 on a larger scale, I was living like so many others such a fast paced, hurried, go from one event to the next that I had lost sight of enjoying the simple pleasure of just talking about absolutely nothing.  I was always racing off to the next thing. 

At first, I will be honest it was kind of nice to be forced to slow down, with a lot of things canceled, it was nice, spending more time at home.  As time went on, though I was again reminded of how special connection with others is.  I miss meeting up with friends for a coffee or lunch, I miss going on double dates with other couples.  I though I would never say how much I miss hanging out at the soccer field for my boys practices and games, but I honestly miss hanging out with the other moms and just talking.  

I share all this to say phone a friend, phone just to say hi, just to say I was thinking of you.  Phone someone and tell them thank you for something they did or said, a year ago, five years ago.  

Just like we have to make exercise a priority, just like we have to schedule date night, schedule time to call people.  Once a week or at least once a month, go through your phone contacts and see who you can call.  You know another nice feature is you can send voice messages through Instagram.  I have received voice messages from my friend Britney @YourCreativeCounterPart and it is just so nice to hear her voice.  A phone call is different than a text message, I appreciate both, but there definitely is something special about hearing someone's voice.  
Photo by: @YourCreativeCounterpart

Call your parents, call your grandparents, call friends you have not spoken to in years.  Communicate with people that you would miss if they were gone, make sure you do not have any regrets.  Life is so short and can change in an instant.  Call a small business owner and just thank them for what they do in your community.  Most businesses receive calls about work or complaints, call just to say thank you for being in our community.  

Now that you have just read this, make that phone call you have been meaning to make.  Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends. 

Phone a Friend!
This post has been in my head since two Christmases ago.  The Christmas Eve message at our church was about reaching out to people, calling people to encourage them, and stay connected, and even though it was years ago, that message has stuck with me.  We were encouraged to make a list of ten people to call. 

My husband and I were on a cruise right after that Christmas and I received a phone call that was so special to me from my friend Chrysti over at I Love Fair Oaks.  I did not have service so she left a voicemail that so blessed and encouraged me.  Her calling and checking in on me, was a reminder of what a blessing and difference a phone call can make.  We did chat and get to catch up once I returned home, and I cannot even express how nice it was.  We tried to hang up a few times and we actually joked we should write a blog post about how to end a phone call. 

We talked about our kids, we talked about how our blogs and social media posts were going. There was no agenda or business so to speak, just good old small talk and it was so refreshing.  Too often, when I make a phone call, it is business or project related, make time for calls that are just for catching up, to simply say I was thinking of you.

While it is easier or more convenient to connect with technology and social media, it isn't always true and meaningful connection.  We live in such a fast paced world many times I intend to check in on a friend and even go to make the call or send the text multiple times and get sidetracked. While I am grateful for low maintenance friends who know we are in the thick of #momlife, they are okay with the likes I send them on social media, it really is nice to connect intentionally.  

Fast forward to a global pandemic and being thrust into the Zoom world, I can see even greater the importance of staying connected with friends, family and acquaintances.  Before our world was dealing with COVID-19 on a larger scale, I was living like so many others such a fast paced, hurried, go from one event to the next that I had lost sight of enjoying the simple pleasure of just talking about absolutely nothing.  I was always racing off to the next thing. 

At first, I will be honest it was kind of nice to be forced to slow down, with a lot of things canceled, it was nice, spending more time at home.  As time went on, though I was again reminded of how special connection with others is.  I miss meeting up with friends for a coffee or lunch, I miss going on double dates with other couples.  I though I would never say how much I miss hanging out at the soccer field for my boys practices and games, but I honestly miss hanging out with the other moms and just talking.  

I share all this to say phone a friend, phone just to say hi, just to say I was thinking of you.  Phone someone and tell them thank you for something they did or said, a year ago, five years ago.  

Just like we have to make exercise a priority, just like we have to schedule date night, schedule time to call people.  Once a week or at least once a month, go through your phone contacts and see who you can call.  You know another nice feature is you can send voice messages through Instagram.  I have received voice messages from my friend Britney @YourCreativeCounterPart and it is just so nice to hear her voice.  A phone call is different than a text message, I appreciate both, but there definitely is something special about hearing someone's voice.  
Photo by: @YourCreativeCounterpart

Call your parents, call your grandparents, call friends you have not spoken to in years.  Communicate with people that you would miss if they were gone, make sure you do not have any regrets.  Life is so short and can change in an instant.  Call a small business owner and just thank them for what they do in your community.  Most businesses receive calls about work or complaints, call just to say thank you for being in our community.  

Now that you have just read this, make that phone call you have been meaning to make.  Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends. 
Read more »

Have you tried the Zuppa Toscana soup at Olive Garden? It is my absolute favorite soup! Since we have been cutting back on carbohydrates and eating more Keto style we tried out a keto-friendly version in the Instant Pot.  The biggest swap out, is of course the potatoes for cauliflower.  We absolutely loved the way this turned out!  

We bought an instant pot a little over a year ago and we have since been making this copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana in the Instant Pot quite frequently.  The great thing about making a copycat recipe is you can make it your own and change it up. Over the many times I have made this I have added in diced mushrooms if I had them on hand, and spinach.

What you need:

A whole head of cauliflower

1 lb. Italian Sausage

1/2 a pack of Bacon

Minced Garlic (3-4 cloves)

Kale

1 Onion Diced

Packet of Powdered Chicken Broth or Bouillon 

1 Can of Chicken Broth

1 Cup of Half and Half

1 Cup of Water

Heavy Whipping Cream

1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese

1 Tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes 

Directions:

Cut the bacon into pieces and cook in the Instant Pot on sauté, when done, remove and set aside. While the bacon is cooking, dice your onion and mince your garlic. 

Add the diced onion and minced garlic and cook in the bacon grease.  

Once onion and garlic are translucent and browned a little, add in the Italian Sausage, continue cooking on sauté setting until browned. 

Once the sausage is cooked add in diced celery and and your cauliflower florets. 

I add in powdered chicken broth or bouillon, add in 1 Cup of Water, can of Chicken Broth, 1 Cup of Half and Half, place lid on, make sure the sealing valve is set on sealing and cook on the Manual Setting for 10 Minutes. 

Do a quick release after 10 minutes, add in 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and the Kale, press the Instant Pot setting to sauté, and allow the Kale to cook down. 

Once the soup comes to a bubble, add in 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. 

Finally toss back in your bacon, or top on each individual serving. I also top each bowl with a little more shredded mozzarella cheese, you could do fresh grated parmesan too. 

Serve and enjoy!







This is one Keto recipe that I sincerely don't miss the original, it tastes that good.  Even my boys who are not big soup eaters, will eat this.  The other great thing is how fast this cooks up, in about 30 minutes this soup is done.  

I especially love cooking this soup on a rainy day, it is warm and gives you all the comfort feels, without the usual comfort food carb overload.  

Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends. 

Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana - Instant Pot Keto Version

Have you tried the Zuppa Toscana soup at Olive Garden? It is my absolute favorite soup! Since we have been cutting back on carbohydrates and eating more Keto style we tried out a keto-friendly version in the Instant Pot.  The biggest swap out, is of course the potatoes for cauliflower.  We absolutely loved the way this turned out!  

We bought an instant pot a little over a year ago and we have since been making this copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana in the Instant Pot quite frequently.  The great thing about making a copycat recipe is you can make it your own and change it up. Over the many times I have made this I have added in diced mushrooms if I had them on hand, and spinach.

What you need:

A whole head of cauliflower

1 lb. Italian Sausage

1/2 a pack of Bacon

Minced Garlic (3-4 cloves)

Kale

1 Onion Diced

Packet of Powdered Chicken Broth or Bouillon 

1 Can of Chicken Broth

1 Cup of Half and Half

1 Cup of Water

Heavy Whipping Cream

1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese

1 Tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes 

Directions:

Cut the bacon into pieces and cook in the Instant Pot on sauté, when done, remove and set aside. While the bacon is cooking, dice your onion and mince your garlic. 

Add the diced onion and minced garlic and cook in the bacon grease.  

Once onion and garlic are translucent and browned a little, add in the Italian Sausage, continue cooking on sauté setting until browned. 

Once the sausage is cooked add in diced celery and and your cauliflower florets. 

I add in powdered chicken broth or bouillon, add in 1 Cup of Water, can of Chicken Broth, 1 Cup of Half and Half, place lid on, make sure the sealing valve is set on sealing and cook on the Manual Setting for 10 Minutes. 

Do a quick release after 10 minutes, add in 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and the Kale, press the Instant Pot setting to sauté, and allow the Kale to cook down. 

Once the soup comes to a bubble, add in 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. 

Finally toss back in your bacon, or top on each individual serving. I also top each bowl with a little more shredded mozzarella cheese, you could do fresh grated parmesan too. 

Serve and enjoy!







This is one Keto recipe that I sincerely don't miss the original, it tastes that good.  Even my boys who are not big soup eaters, will eat this.  The other great thing is how fast this cooks up, in about 30 minutes this soup is done.  

I especially love cooking this soup on a rainy day, it is warm and gives you all the comfort feels, without the usual comfort food carb overload.  

Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends. 
Read more »

Happy Valentine's Day! 

With Valentine's falling on a Sunday this year I wanted to share some of my favorite love scriptures and a playlist that will fill your soul with the Father's love. This Valentine's weekend is a great weekend to pause, breathe and meditate on how very loved you are!  I hope you will take the time to read these scriptures and soak in the Father's love. 

I have been reading the Bible since I was fifteen and I am still amazed at how many times, I read a scripture and it seems as if I have never read it before.  The Word of God is inexhaustible, I love that, about God's Word.  No matter how much I think I know Him, I get to walk this journey of life with Him and get to know Him greater.  The Word of God is living and powerful, I am so grateful that His Word floods my soul with peace, joy and love and erases shame, guilt and fear. 

Did you know the word LOVE appears over 300 times in the Bible?  One thing I know for sure is although I know God loves me, I still need to know it even deeper.  When you KNOW without a shadow of doubt that you are loved by God unconditionally you will be able to give love and receive love in a greater fashion.  

When I think of all the insecurities I have had to overcome, when I think of the fears I have to face and acknowledge, it is a reminder that I need to know more of HIS love.  Know that I truly am "fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are His works..." Psalm 139

I am listing the scriptures here below but I also made this FREE printable you can print out to keep in your Bible, or hang on a bulletin board, perfect for when you need a reminder of how very much you are loved by the Creator of the Universe and how big LOVE is. Click here  http://bit.ly/3d1Ot0p or the image below to download. 

God is love and love is God, so often when I read the Bible and I see the word love and will swap it out for God. For example in Ephesians I read and pray this often Ephesians 3:16-17 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love.  Right there at the end "being rooted and grounded in love," can also be prayed being rooted and grounded in God.

Reading the Bible is like reading God's love letter to you! As I read these scriptures below my heart and soul were so blessed, I pray they do the same for you, may they flood your mind and soul with God's love and a peace that surpasses understanding.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Psalm 63:3-4 NIV Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 86:5 NIV You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Psalm 103:8 NIV The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 143:8 NIV Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 21:21 NIV Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Ephesians 3:16-17 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love.

Ephesians 4:2-5 NIV But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

1 Peter 4:8 NIV Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Psalm 33:5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 136:26 NIV Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Psalm 5:11-12 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Psalm 36:5-7 NIV Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 31:7 NIV I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Psalm 94:18 NIV When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.

2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

Romans 8:37 NIV No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Psalm 31:16 NIV Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

Psalm 115:1 NIV Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Isaiah 54:10 NIV Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

Psalm 107:8-9 NIV Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 109:21 NIV But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

Micah 7:18 NLT Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of His special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.

Song of Songs 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 NIV The Lord did not set His heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and He was keeping the oath He had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

John 15:9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

Psalm 119:64 NIV The earth is filled with Your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.

My favorite Christian songs about love: (Add these to your Playlist)

Maverick City "Love is a Miracle" - https://youtu.be/mZMfkmywI5c

Maverick City "Promises" - https://youtu.be/q5m09rqOoxE

Maverick City "Have My Heart" - https://youtu.be/Ch8bLYwc7YE

Chris Tomlin "Good, Good Father" - https://youtu.be/CqybaIesbuA

Cory Asbury "Reckless Love" - https://youtu.be/Sc6SSHuZvQE

Cory Asbury "Dear God" - https://youtu.be/15CGKy3R4Es

Cory Asbury "Sparrows" - https://youtu.be/dqLWnoEKjsw

Matthew West "The God Who Stays" - https://youtu.be/QPwd_TQpsHY

Kari Jobe "First Love" - https://youtu.be/BdUQzOfnIs8

Young and Free "This is Living" - https://youtu.be/tsJEmLkphrI

Chris Renzema "Springtime" - https://youtu.be/p8wRprU4988

TobyMac "Made to Love" - https://youtu.be/cFJ5qCmvPkY

Jesus Culture "Your Love Never Fails" - https://youtu.be/PkooIISRD3g

I have these as favorites on my Spotify account, which makes for easy listening in the car, I hope you'll enjoy these songs. If you are looking for more uplifting and encouraging music, I highly recommend Air 1 and K-Love Radio, fun fact, my husband used to work for Air 1 Radio in our first years of marriage. 

Do you have a favorite song that reminds you of God's love? DM me your favorites over on Instagram or send me an e-mail, I always love hearing from you!

Happy Valentine's Day - 40+ Scriptures on Love

Happy Valentine's Day! 

With Valentine's falling on a Sunday this year I wanted to share some of my favorite love scriptures and a playlist that will fill your soul with the Father's love. This Valentine's weekend is a great weekend to pause, breathe and meditate on how very loved you are!  I hope you will take the time to read these scriptures and soak in the Father's love. 

I have been reading the Bible since I was fifteen and I am still amazed at how many times, I read a scripture and it seems as if I have never read it before.  The Word of God is inexhaustible, I love that, about God's Word.  No matter how much I think I know Him, I get to walk this journey of life with Him and get to know Him greater.  The Word of God is living and powerful, I am so grateful that His Word floods my soul with peace, joy and love and erases shame, guilt and fear. 

Did you know the word LOVE appears over 300 times in the Bible?  One thing I know for sure is although I know God loves me, I still need to know it even deeper.  When you KNOW without a shadow of doubt that you are loved by God unconditionally you will be able to give love and receive love in a greater fashion.  

When I think of all the insecurities I have had to overcome, when I think of the fears I have to face and acknowledge, it is a reminder that I need to know more of HIS love.  Know that I truly am "fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are His works..." Psalm 139

I am listing the scriptures here below but I also made this FREE printable you can print out to keep in your Bible, or hang on a bulletin board, perfect for when you need a reminder of how very much you are loved by the Creator of the Universe and how big LOVE is. Click here  http://bit.ly/3d1Ot0p or the image below to download. 

God is love and love is God, so often when I read the Bible and I see the word love and will swap it out for God. For example in Ephesians I read and pray this often Ephesians 3:16-17 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love.  Right there at the end "being rooted and grounded in love," can also be prayed being rooted and grounded in God.

Reading the Bible is like reading God's love letter to you! As I read these scriptures below my heart and soul were so blessed, I pray they do the same for you, may they flood your mind and soul with God's love and a peace that surpasses understanding.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Psalm 63:3-4 NIV Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 86:5 NIV You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Psalm 103:8 NIV The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 143:8 NIV Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 21:21 NIV Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Ephesians 3:16-17 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love.

Ephesians 4:2-5 NIV But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

1 Peter 4:8 NIV Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Psalm 33:5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 136:26 NIV Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Psalm 5:11-12 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Psalm 36:5-7 NIV Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 31:7 NIV I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Psalm 94:18 NIV When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.

2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

Romans 8:37 NIV No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Psalm 31:16 NIV Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

Psalm 115:1 NIV Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Isaiah 54:10 NIV Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

Psalm 107:8-9 NIV Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 109:21 NIV But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

Micah 7:18 NLT Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of His special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.

Song of Songs 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 NIV The Lord did not set His heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and He was keeping the oath He had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

John 15:9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

Psalm 119:64 NIV The earth is filled with Your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.

My favorite Christian songs about love: (Add these to your Playlist)

Maverick City "Love is a Miracle" - https://youtu.be/mZMfkmywI5c

Maverick City "Promises" - https://youtu.be/q5m09rqOoxE

Maverick City "Have My Heart" - https://youtu.be/Ch8bLYwc7YE

Chris Tomlin "Good, Good Father" - https://youtu.be/CqybaIesbuA

Cory Asbury "Reckless Love" - https://youtu.be/Sc6SSHuZvQE

Cory Asbury "Dear God" - https://youtu.be/15CGKy3R4Es

Cory Asbury "Sparrows" - https://youtu.be/dqLWnoEKjsw

Matthew West "The God Who Stays" - https://youtu.be/QPwd_TQpsHY

Kari Jobe "First Love" - https://youtu.be/BdUQzOfnIs8

Young and Free "This is Living" - https://youtu.be/tsJEmLkphrI

Chris Renzema "Springtime" - https://youtu.be/p8wRprU4988

TobyMac "Made to Love" - https://youtu.be/cFJ5qCmvPkY

Jesus Culture "Your Love Never Fails" - https://youtu.be/PkooIISRD3g

I have these as favorites on my Spotify account, which makes for easy listening in the car, I hope you'll enjoy these songs. If you are looking for more uplifting and encouraging music, I highly recommend Air 1 and K-Love Radio, fun fact, my husband used to work for Air 1 Radio in our first years of marriage. 

Do you have a favorite song that reminds you of God's love? DM me your favorites over on Instagram or send me an e-mail, I always love hearing from you!

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Today February 9th is National Pizza Day! Last year on National Pizza Day I shared about the Protein Pizza by Pieology, which I loved, it was a chicken based crust that is perfect for Keto eaters, read about that here http://bit.ly/3cRzuWz.  This year I thought I would share some fun pizza facts and some of our favorite pizza places.

Pizza is one of our family's favorite meals.  It is said that the average American eats 40 pizza's a year, I can see that, we eat pizza close to once a week. 

My boys are pretty basic and stick to Cheese and Pepperoni, the most popular topping in the United States is pepperoni. My go to order is pepperoni, sausage, onions and mushrooms.  I also love a Chicken BBQ Cilantro pizza if I want something out of the norm. 

The first pizzeria opened in the United States in New York City in 1905 by a man named Gennaro Lombardi. It is reported that New York alone has over 9,000 pizzerias and there are 70,000 across the United States.  My husband and I visited New York on our honeymoon and I sure did enjoy that classic New York style pizza. 

We all know Chicago is famous for Deep Dish Pizza, did you know our very own California is famous for Thin Crust Pizza, which is also the most popular type of pizza. 

Did you know the most popular night for pizza is Saturday?  In our house it is Friday for us. 

The top five pizza sale days are Super Bowl Sunday, New Years Eve, Halloween, Thanksgiving Eve, and New Year's Day, and I must admit I think we have personally ordered pizza on all these days. 

October is National Pizza month here in the United States and another popular day to celebrate with pizza is on March 14th, for Pi Day, you can check out our homemade pie we made in celebration of 3.14 here http://bit.ly/2N6ielF.

My boys recently showed me a video of Mr. Beast eating the most expensive pizza, it rings in at $70,000, WOW! The tab came to over $76,000 with tax, I was impressed that they also donated $20,000 to a food bank.

Here are some of our favorite pizzas. 

Campelli's in Roseville I could not find a picture that I took of their pizza, I took this one below of inside.  They also have a keto friendly option that is a Parm Crisp Crust, that is only like 4 carbs, great option for all the keto and low carb eaters. 


Pre-Covid, one of our Sacramento favorites was Pizza Rock Downtown, unfortunately they have closed. If you are ever in Las Vegas, I believe they have locations their.  I love their Detroit Style Deep Dish and their honey pancetta fries, OMG, heavenly. 

Superb Pizza in North Highlands, is a local favorite, their crust is thick and if you like mushrooms, this is the place to order a pepperoni mushroom pizza, they have thinly sliced almost shaved style mushrooms and they pile them on, one of my favorites. 

Pictured below Pineapple Lava Pork Flatbread from Buckhorn Grill

Pictured below Cauliflower Crust at Pizza Factory in Pollock Pines, we have stopped here on the way to Apple Hill, they have a salad bar and yummy pizza. 


If you are ever visiting Gualala, which is a beautiful scenic drive up Highway 1, check out Upper Crust Pizzeria, they gave my son pizza dough to play with while our pizza cooked and they let the boys help spread the sauce on our pizza.  The pizza was delicious too!


As for Pizza Chains, we probably eat more Dominoes because it is inexpensive and near our house.  We used to eat a lot more Papa John's until the one in our neighborhood closed down.  Round Table is a family favorite and Mountain Mikes too!  I grew up loving Pizza Hut! Did you know Pizza Hut delivered pizza to space?  In 2001 they delivered the first pizza to outer space, paying about $1 million dollars, that was a pricey .  If you are local here, and you remember back in the day the Pizza Hut buffet that was in North Highlands on Watt Avenue, that was my all time favorite, I think because the pans had been used for years, I am convinced the pizza's cooked differently, because while I do love Pizza Hut, none I've recently visited compares to that location, they closed that location and moved down the street but it is just not the same. 



For Valentine's over the years we have frequently bought the heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's as well as made our own heart shaped pizzas.  If you are a Keto eater, I love Papa Murphy's Keto crustless pizza's too, they are loaded with cheese and toppings and although small in size, I can easily get two meals from one and many times three meals if I pair with a salad. 




When people ask if you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, pizza is my answer.  It is great for breakfast, lunch and dinner and there are so many ways you can change it up.  

I will share any Pizza Deals I find in celebration of #NationalPizzaDay on my Instagram Stories, so be sure to follow me over on Instagram @BlogAboutItAll. Cheers to celebrating Pizza, if you have a local Sacramento or Northern California Pizza favorite, tag me or e-mail me at theblogaboutitall@gmail.com, I would love to give it a try.

National Pizza Day - February 9th

Today February 9th is National Pizza Day! Last year on National Pizza Day I shared about the Protein Pizza by Pieology, which I loved, it was a chicken based crust that is perfect for Keto eaters, read about that here http://bit.ly/3cRzuWz.  This year I thought I would share some fun pizza facts and some of our favorite pizza places.

Pizza is one of our family's favorite meals.  It is said that the average American eats 40 pizza's a year, I can see that, we eat pizza close to once a week. 

My boys are pretty basic and stick to Cheese and Pepperoni, the most popular topping in the United States is pepperoni. My go to order is pepperoni, sausage, onions and mushrooms.  I also love a Chicken BBQ Cilantro pizza if I want something out of the norm. 

The first pizzeria opened in the United States in New York City in 1905 by a man named Gennaro Lombardi. It is reported that New York alone has over 9,000 pizzerias and there are 70,000 across the United States.  My husband and I visited New York on our honeymoon and I sure did enjoy that classic New York style pizza. 

We all know Chicago is famous for Deep Dish Pizza, did you know our very own California is famous for Thin Crust Pizza, which is also the most popular type of pizza. 

Did you know the most popular night for pizza is Saturday?  In our house it is Friday for us. 

The top five pizza sale days are Super Bowl Sunday, New Years Eve, Halloween, Thanksgiving Eve, and New Year's Day, and I must admit I think we have personally ordered pizza on all these days. 

October is National Pizza month here in the United States and another popular day to celebrate with pizza is on March 14th, for Pi Day, you can check out our homemade pie we made in celebration of 3.14 here http://bit.ly/2N6ielF.

My boys recently showed me a video of Mr. Beast eating the most expensive pizza, it rings in at $70,000, WOW! The tab came to over $76,000 with tax, I was impressed that they also donated $20,000 to a food bank.

Here are some of our favorite pizzas. 

Campelli's in Roseville I could not find a picture that I took of their pizza, I took this one below of inside.  They also have a keto friendly option that is a Parm Crisp Crust, that is only like 4 carbs, great option for all the keto and low carb eaters. 


Pre-Covid, one of our Sacramento favorites was Pizza Rock Downtown, unfortunately they have closed. If you are ever in Las Vegas, I believe they have locations their.  I love their Detroit Style Deep Dish and their honey pancetta fries, OMG, heavenly. 

Superb Pizza in North Highlands, is a local favorite, their crust is thick and if you like mushrooms, this is the place to order a pepperoni mushroom pizza, they have thinly sliced almost shaved style mushrooms and they pile them on, one of my favorites. 

Pictured below Pineapple Lava Pork Flatbread from Buckhorn Grill

Pictured below Cauliflower Crust at Pizza Factory in Pollock Pines, we have stopped here on the way to Apple Hill, they have a salad bar and yummy pizza. 


If you are ever visiting Gualala, which is a beautiful scenic drive up Highway 1, check out Upper Crust Pizzeria, they gave my son pizza dough to play with while our pizza cooked and they let the boys help spread the sauce on our pizza.  The pizza was delicious too!


As for Pizza Chains, we probably eat more Dominoes because it is inexpensive and near our house.  We used to eat a lot more Papa John's until the one in our neighborhood closed down.  Round Table is a family favorite and Mountain Mikes too!  I grew up loving Pizza Hut! Did you know Pizza Hut delivered pizza to space?  In 2001 they delivered the first pizza to outer space, paying about $1 million dollars, that was a pricey .  If you are local here, and you remember back in the day the Pizza Hut buffet that was in North Highlands on Watt Avenue, that was my all time favorite, I think because the pans had been used for years, I am convinced the pizza's cooked differently, because while I do love Pizza Hut, none I've recently visited compares to that location, they closed that location and moved down the street but it is just not the same. 



For Valentine's over the years we have frequently bought the heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's as well as made our own heart shaped pizzas.  If you are a Keto eater, I love Papa Murphy's Keto crustless pizza's too, they are loaded with cheese and toppings and although small in size, I can easily get two meals from one and many times three meals if I pair with a salad. 




When people ask if you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, pizza is my answer.  It is great for breakfast, lunch and dinner and there are so many ways you can change it up.  

I will share any Pizza Deals I find in celebration of #NationalPizzaDay on my Instagram Stories, so be sure to follow me over on Instagram @BlogAboutItAll. Cheers to celebrating Pizza, if you have a local Sacramento or Northern California Pizza favorite, tag me or e-mail me at theblogaboutitall@gmail.com, I would love to give it a try.
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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. #Sponsored


I may not be a beauty and fashion expert, but one thing I know for sure is that true beauty exudes from the inside out! Kindness is a big buzzword right now and I firmly believe in kindness. In discussing kindness I think we often forget about being kind to ourselves.  Being kind in my self talk and kind to my body are healthy practices that I am determined to be intentional with this New Year.

 

Did you know embracing your natural beauty and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can start with 28 @BlueDiamond Almonds a day.  I love Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds! I also love how convenient they are. A simple, mess free snack. 


If you look in my purse you will find Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds, they help curb those snack attack cravings throughout the day and keep me on track with my health and wellness goals.  An added bonus is all the AMAZING health benefits you receive when eating Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds.


I like to portion out my 28 Almonds ahead of time, using small reusable containers I have and I like to eat them throughout the day.  I actually will eat seven almonds at a time. Usually that looks like this, 7 almonds with breakfast or on the drive to dropping my kiddos off to school, 7 around 10 am, when I have the pre-lunch munchies, 7 in the afternoon around 2-3 pm, and then 7 after dinner, when the night time snack cravings try to come on me.



Here are just a few of the health benefits when adding Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds to your daily routine:

Healthy Skin and Nails: Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds are an excellent source of antioxidant Vitamin E. Vitamin E promotes healthy and smooth skin, nails and hair.

Healthy Hair: Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds are a superfood source of biotin. Biotin supports hair health.

Restfulness: Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds are packed with magnesium.  Magnesium promotes restfulness.


28 Almonds have 5g plant protein per serving and are an excellent source of antioxidant Vitamin E and a good source of magnesium.

You can find Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds in-store and online at Walmart, with FREE pick-up!

Value 30oz size: https://ooh.li/91ed857


I am working on loving myself, and ensuring I feel beautiful.  Some practical ways I do that is by checking in on how I am eating.  As a busy mom to four active boys it is easy to be focused on making sure the family is taken care of, that I forget that I need to fuel my body too so I can continue to love on my family well. When I am eating well, I think clearer, I am better able to flow with everything we have going on and when I eat well I feel beautiful. When I feel beautiful I am confident in my skin.  So many parts of our lives can be impacted by just adding 28 Blue Diamond Almonds to our daily routine!



It is important to check in on how I am resting, and while that does mean sleep, it also means, checking in to see if my mind is at rest throughout the day.  Pre-planning and having my Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds portioned out and ready to go for the day helps my mind be at greater rest throughout the day.  Portioning out my Blue Diamond Almonds is now part of my beauty and wellness routine. 

Part of my morning routine is writing out my affirmations, writing and saying them out loud has made such a difference in my day, it is an added bonus when I have my favorite snack to munch on.


Whether or not you added health and wellness to your New Years goals list I hope you will join me in being kind to yourself and adding Blue Diamond Almonds to your daily beauty routine.  It is a simple and easy way to be intentional, about self-care, simply add 28 Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds to your daily routine. Set them out on your night stand next to your bed so you see them first thing in the morning.  Grab them and have them in your purse, in the car, near your desk, have them near the places you spend your time.


Next time you are at Walmart be sure to add these beauty enhancers to your cart! You can also order them on-line, or right on the Walmart App!

#WholeNaturalAlmonds #FeelBeautyFull #BlueDiamond


Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends. 

Feeling Beauty FULL with Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. #Sponsored


I may not be a beauty and fashion expert, but one thing I know for sure is that true beauty exudes from the inside out! Kindness is a big buzzword right now and I firmly believe in kindness. In discussing kindness I think we often forget about being kind to ourselves.  Being kind in my self talk and kind to my body are healthy practices that I am determined to be intentional with this New Year.

 

Did you know embracing your natural beauty and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can start with 28 @BlueDiamond Almonds a day.  I love Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds! I also love how convenient they are. A simple, mess free snack. 


If you look in my purse you will find Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds, they help curb those snack attack cravings throughout the day and keep me on track with my health and wellness goals.  An added bonus is all the AMAZING health benefits you receive when eating Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds.


I like to portion out my 28 Almonds ahead of time, using small reusable containers I have and I like to eat them throughout the day.  I actually will eat seven almonds at a time. Usually that looks like this, 7 almonds with breakfast or on the drive to dropping my kiddos off to school, 7 around 10 am, when I have the pre-lunch munchies, 7 in the afternoon around 2-3 pm, and then 7 after dinner, when the night time snack cravings try to come on me.



Here are just a few of the health benefits when adding Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds to your daily routine:

Healthy Skin and Nails: Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds are an excellent source of antioxidant Vitamin E. Vitamin E promotes healthy and smooth skin, nails and hair.

Healthy Hair: Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds are a superfood source of biotin. Biotin supports hair health.

Restfulness: Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds are packed with magnesium.  Magnesium promotes restfulness.


28 Almonds have 5g plant protein per serving and are an excellent source of antioxidant Vitamin E and a good source of magnesium.

You can find Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds in-store and online at Walmart, with FREE pick-up!

Value 30oz size: https://ooh.li/91ed857


I am working on loving myself, and ensuring I feel beautiful.  Some practical ways I do that is by checking in on how I am eating.  As a busy mom to four active boys it is easy to be focused on making sure the family is taken care of, that I forget that I need to fuel my body too so I can continue to love on my family well. When I am eating well, I think clearer, I am better able to flow with everything we have going on and when I eat well I feel beautiful. When I feel beautiful I am confident in my skin.  So many parts of our lives can be impacted by just adding 28 Blue Diamond Almonds to our daily routine!



It is important to check in on how I am resting, and while that does mean sleep, it also means, checking in to see if my mind is at rest throughout the day.  Pre-planning and having my Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds portioned out and ready to go for the day helps my mind be at greater rest throughout the day.  Portioning out my Blue Diamond Almonds is now part of my beauty and wellness routine. 

Part of my morning routine is writing out my affirmations, writing and saying them out loud has made such a difference in my day, it is an added bonus when I have my favorite snack to munch on.


Whether or not you added health and wellness to your New Years goals list I hope you will join me in being kind to yourself and adding Blue Diamond Almonds to your daily beauty routine.  It is a simple and easy way to be intentional, about self-care, simply add 28 Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds to your daily routine. Set them out on your night stand next to your bed so you see them first thing in the morning.  Grab them and have them in your purse, in the car, near your desk, have them near the places you spend your time.


Next time you are at Walmart be sure to add these beauty enhancers to your cart! You can also order them on-line, or right on the Walmart App!

#WholeNaturalAlmonds #FeelBeautyFull #BlueDiamond


Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends. 
Read more »

Wondering what to get your spouse for Valentines here are some of my favorite things and some ideas I think your spouse would appreciate.  

1. Mapiful Print - I ordered one of these prints for my husband for Christmas and I love the way it turned out, I have also gifted their prints before there are so many styles to choose from.  You can create a map of the stars of the date you met or were married.  You could do a print of the city you met in.  Click here to design custom wall décor for your special someone.
2. Grazing Cravings - This is a local Sacramento food artist, who makes gorgeous charcuterie boards.  This is a fantastic idea to surprise your honey bear with scrumptious treats. You can see their beautiful creations on Facebook and Instagram, check them out.  Sheila is amazing, tell her BlogAboutItAll sent you!

3. Lush Balloons - A local Sacramento Balloon Company that will deliver right to you! Lush is not your average balloon company, they make beautiful balloon arrangements that make a statement.  Hurry their best sellers are selling out quick!

4. Photo Shoot - This is a unique gift idea that your spouse is sure to love for years to come.  Photo's are priceless, capturing memories for a lifetime.  You can book a couples shoot, when is the last time you have your photo taken together?  Book a family photo session, every mom/wife would appreciate that.  You could also book a solo session just for her or him, especially if your spouse has a business, this is a great gift idea.  
On this blog post here I share 5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Professional Photographer. There are so many great local photographers, feel free to e-mail me or message me if I can help connect you with one. 
5. Date Nights for the Year - Maybe you have not had a Date Night in a while, make a fresh commitment to date your spouse this year and put it on the calendar for the rest of the year.  This will only count as a gift if you actually follow through.  Plan a romantic date, and also gift them a calendar booked with at least once a month dates planned for the year. 

6. Pampering Session - Depending on your spouse, book them the pampering session of their choice, a trip to the hair salon, a massage, a facial, give them cash so they can enjoy a pampering session of their choice. 

7. Kitchen Gadget - Air Fryer or Instant Pot - This depends if your spouse would really enjoy this.  I personally would love a kitchen gadget, I happen to own both of these items and if your husband or wife enjoys cooking and being in the kitchen then this is a great idea.  There are some cute Instant Pot options too, if they are a Disney fan, get them a Mickey Mouse Instant Pot or one of the Star Wars themed ones.  


8. Personalized Photo Ties - These men's ties by 21Rhinos.com, are great gifts for men.  I have purchased these a few time and I love the way they turned out. If your husband wears ties this is a great gift idea. 

9. Apple Airpods - If your spouse is an Apple iPhone user, you can't go wrong with Apple Airpods. 

10. Budget friendly Roses - You can pre-order select 50-Stem Roses for only $39.99 on Costco.com, this is such a great deal to have 50 roses delivered to your love. 

11. Adventure - This Valentine's say I love you with the Adventure Challenge Book.  This book is a scratch off keepsake book with 50 unique adventures to do together.  If you need help with Date Night ideas, this is an excellent gift idea to spur you on in dating your spouse as well as a beautiful keepsake. 
12. Cook or Bake their Favorite Dish - You can't go wrong with food! Cook or bake their favorite dish. If you are not great with cooking and baking, order in their favorite dish or dessert.  

If none of these ideas suit your fancy, I don't think you can go wrong with chocolate and or a hand written letter, how about a throwback to a play list aka "mix tape" of your songs.  Sentimental gifts always outweigh expensive ones.  I speak as a wife, all we really want is to know that some thought went into it.  My husband's love language is quality time, so I know this is true for him too, he just wants some one on one time, my undivided attention, hanging together.

Have another great Valentine's gift idea?  Share in the comments, what are you gifting your special someone?  Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends. 

12 Valentine's Gift Ideas

Wondering what to get your spouse for Valentines here are some of my favorite things and some ideas I think your spouse would appreciate.  

1. Mapiful Print - I ordered one of these prints for my husband for Christmas and I love the way it turned out, I have also gifted their prints before there are so many styles to choose from.  You can create a map of the stars of the date you met or were married.  You could do a print of the city you met in.  Click here to design custom wall décor for your special someone.
2. Grazing Cravings - This is a local Sacramento food artist, who makes gorgeous charcuterie boards.  This is a fantastic idea to surprise your honey bear with scrumptious treats. You can see their beautiful creations on Facebook and Instagram, check them out.  Sheila is amazing, tell her BlogAboutItAll sent you!

3. Lush Balloons - A local Sacramento Balloon Company that will deliver right to you! Lush is not your average balloon company, they make beautiful balloon arrangements that make a statement.  Hurry their best sellers are selling out quick!

4. Photo Shoot - This is a unique gift idea that your spouse is sure to love for years to come.  Photo's are priceless, capturing memories for a lifetime.  You can book a couples shoot, when is the last time you have your photo taken together?  Book a family photo session, every mom/wife would appreciate that.  You could also book a solo session just for her or him, especially if your spouse has a business, this is a great gift idea.  
On this blog post here I share 5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Professional Photographer. There are so many great local photographers, feel free to e-mail me or message me if I can help connect you with one. 
5. Date Nights for the Year - Maybe you have not had a Date Night in a while, make a fresh commitment to date your spouse this year and put it on the calendar for the rest of the year.  This will only count as a gift if you actually follow through.  Plan a romantic date, and also gift them a calendar booked with at least once a month dates planned for the year. 

6. Pampering Session - Depending on your spouse, book them the pampering session of their choice, a trip to the hair salon, a massage, a facial, give them cash so they can enjoy a pampering session of their choice. 

7. Kitchen Gadget - Air Fryer or Instant Pot - This depends if your spouse would really enjoy this.  I personally would love a kitchen gadget, I happen to own both of these items and if your husband or wife enjoys cooking and being in the kitchen then this is a great idea.  There are some cute Instant Pot options too, if they are a Disney fan, get them a Mickey Mouse Instant Pot or one of the Star Wars themed ones.  


8. Personalized Photo Ties - These men's ties by 21Rhinos.com, are great gifts for men.  I have purchased these a few time and I love the way they turned out. If your husband wears ties this is a great gift idea. 

9. Apple Airpods - If your spouse is an Apple iPhone user, you can't go wrong with Apple Airpods. 

10. Budget friendly Roses - You can pre-order select 50-Stem Roses for only $39.99 on Costco.com, this is such a great deal to have 50 roses delivered to your love. 

11. Adventure - This Valentine's say I love you with the Adventure Challenge Book.  This book is a scratch off keepsake book with 50 unique adventures to do together.  If you need help with Date Night ideas, this is an excellent gift idea to spur you on in dating your spouse as well as a beautiful keepsake. 
12. Cook or Bake their Favorite Dish - You can't go wrong with food! Cook or bake their favorite dish. If you are not great with cooking and baking, order in their favorite dish or dessert.  

If none of these ideas suit your fancy, I don't think you can go wrong with chocolate and or a hand written letter, how about a throwback to a play list aka "mix tape" of your songs.  Sentimental gifts always outweigh expensive ones.  I speak as a wife, all we really want is to know that some thought went into it.  My husband's love language is quality time, so I know this is true for him too, he just wants some one on one time, my undivided attention, hanging together.

Have another great Valentine's gift idea?  Share in the comments, what are you gifting your special someone?  Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends. 
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