Do you always get a good night’s sleep every night? Or are you like millions of people who simply cannot stop from tossing and turning all night long?

I’m a horrible sleeper. I always have been. I tend to take naps which makes it hard for me to get to sleep at night because I have already rested a bit. I also have a difficult time turning my mind “off”. I always stress about the things I need to do the following day, or I stress about other things in my life. My husband always says that I need an “off switch” so I can turn my mind off at night.

My husband snores too. Sometimes it’s so load that I think the roof is going to come off. LOL! That also attributes to my poor sleep at night. In addition we sleep on a sofa bed – need I say more? If you have ever had to sleep on a sofa bed night after night you know just how uncomfortable they can be. I wish they could make a sofa bed without that horrible bar in the middle.

Did you know that May is Better Sleep Month? To help YOU get a better night’s sleep I have some great tips from Kerri Walsh Jennings to share with you.

Kerri Walsh Jennings, volleyball Olympian, is a mother of three (just had her third baby) that is constantly on the go. She has teamed up with Tempur-Pedic for Better Sleep Month (May) to bring some advice to other new moms trying to finds some time herself, figuring out the juggle and just making it through the day. She says:

1) Take nothing for granted and don’t assume anything!

• Eat well — the less-processed your food the better (shocker!). I love to snack on fresh fruit, cottage cheese, a raw nut trail mix and a ton of water. I get sick of water alone so I add Nano Greens to my water every day which takes care of my fruit and veggie needs.
• Pack well
• Sleep well on a bed that supports your body - “I absolutely love my Tempur-Pedic. With my first two kids, I remember I would always get achy when doing feeds in bed and then I would be uncomfortable all night. Fortunately, with my Tempur-Pedic, that hasn’t happened once with my little Scout. And believe me, getting a good night’s sleep is more important than ever!” (Kerri owns a California King TEMPUR-Weightless Select)
• Talk things out

2) Preparation is key to “success”. Anything that can be done beforehand is done beforehand. Whether it’s laying out the boys outfits for school, making their lunches, making lists and checking them twice … When we are prepared, it allows us to get things done, adjust to the unexpected when necessary and gives us a sense of security and sanity.

3) Team work: this is our mindset for every little thing we do. Every great team communicates well and this is how we manage all the moving parts. We are all “role” players that make the magic happen. We set a plan, do our parts, work together and get it done.

4) Expect the unexpected. I constantly remind myself of the fact that nothing in life is perfect and that we need to be ready for anything. It’s impossible to stay on top of everything but if my mindset is to be ready for anything, I find I generally am.

5) Smile and breathe. Life is a challenge. Period. Set the tone of your day and of your family by taking the challenges on with a smile. A smile makes everything better. And there is no substitute for some good deep breaths!

I like her last tip. I try to look at life that way but sometimes it’s hard to do it that way.

• I would also like to add to this list…
• No caffeine past dinner time.
• Don’t eat anything heavy before bedtime.
• Try to find something soothing and relaxing to do before bedtime such as reading a book.
• Make sure your bedroom is at a comfortable temperature. If possible make it slightly cooler. People tend to sleep better when it’s cool.
• If your spouse or partner snores try to find ways to get them to snore less (if not at all).
• Get a sound machine (one that has sounds like the ocean or river) to help drown out other noises (such as cars, trucks and noisy neighbors).

I WISH I could have a REAL bed. That is one of my dreams in life (no pun intended). My husband and I have not had a real bed to sleep in for 12 years. It’s either been air mattresses, sofa beds or for a brief time a daybed with trundle. I would LOVE a Tempur-Pedic bed! They look so plush and “inviting”. Plus there is no bar to jab you in the back all night long like we have with a sofa bed.

We’ve thought about one of the Tempur-Pedic mattress toppers for our sofa bed but the only problem is we couldn’t close the bed up with the topper on and if we took it off we would have place to store it until it was bedtime again.

If/When we are ever able to move from here the FIRST thing we are buying is a bed. Everything else can wait. And after years of not having a decent bed to sleep in my husband and I plan on getting the top of the line bed and mattresses (well, at least what we can afford). Tempur-Pedic is our top choice.

If you would like to learn more about Tempur-Pedic products visit www.TempurPedic.com. Their products are carried by many retailers across the country. They are also on Facebook and Twitter.

To help me get a better night’s sleep Tempu-Pedic sent me one of their Tempur-Cloud Pillows.

Here is a little more information about the pillow.

The TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow combines the softness you want in a pillow with the comforting head and neck support you need to relax. Treat yourself to the wonderfully soft feeling of sleeping on a cloud.

Feel: soft

Use: Back sleep, Side sleep, Stomach sleep

Features

• TEMPUR-ES® material sleeve filled with shapeable TEMPUR-ES micro-cushions that adjusts as you need
• Supports head, neck and shoulders, allowing muscles to fully relax for more restful sleep
• Removable and washable cover
• Dust mite and allergen-resistant

This pillow is VERY thick and soft. It’s like a giant (firm) marshmallow. It even comes in a really nice tote. I actually saved the tote and used it to house some of my Winter blouses.

I slept on the pillow for a few nights. It’s very comfy and it cradles your head and neck. It feels unlike any other pillow I have ever tried before. Unfortunately for me my head sinks deep into the pillow. It’s fine for when I am trying to sleep but often I lie up in bed watching TV for a bit until I’m tired. It was hard for me to use this pillow and watch TV because my head would sink into the pillow.

I let my husband try the pillow out. He loved it. In fact he has yet to give it back to me! LOL!

We normally buy pillows that cost around $10 – $20 each (in this case you DO get what you pay for). When I told my husband the pillow retails for $129 he laughed. He said that it was “insane” and that it was “just a pillow“. He ate his words the first time he laid his head on it. He’s in love with the pillow. He says his head just “melts inside the pillow”. I’ve noticed that he tends to go to sleep very quickly now. Instead of tossing and turning to get comfortable he just seems to put his head down and he’s out cold in minutes.

I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not but my husband seems to snore less now that he’s using this pillow. Please DON’T assume that this pillow is a cure for snoring. That has NOT be proven. I’m only saying from my PERSONAL experience my husband seems to snore less. Whether there is a connection or not I don’t know. I’m just happy to get a decent night’s sleep for a change.

I would love to know what it feels like to sleep on a Tempur-Pedic bed. If the pillow is so soft and dreamy (no pun intended), the mattress must be equally as heavenly.

For more information about Tempur-Pedic products visit www.TempurPedic.com. You can also check out the brand on Facebook and Twitter.

Tempur-Pedic products are sold online as well as many retail locations.

Tempur-Pedic would like to help a lucky winner get a better night’s sleep with one of their Tempur-Cloud Pillow.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on May 31, 2013 at  11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number  generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and  will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen in their place.

To enter please comment on this post and tell me what you do personally to ensure that you have a good night’s sleep?

For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget  (below) but you must  complete the initial entry requirement or the additional entries won’t qualify  (I do check). Extra entries are optional.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kimberly

*I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influneced in any way.

If you read my blog on a regular basis you’ll recall how desperately I would love to have a house. Not only because our family needs more space, but also because I have always dreamed of having a house and putting my personal touches on it and making it my own. When you live in a condo you are limited to the things that you can do. We can paint the walls whatever color we want, and put down our favorite type of flooring, but we can’t knock down walls or build on to our place.

I often flip through the pages of catalogs, or do searches online, to find furniture and other kinds of decor and mentally imagine how they would look in my dream house.

CB2 has partnered up with husband and wife design team Robert and Courtney Novogratz to create the CB2 and Novogratz Collection. Their latest collection debuted earlier this month.

I love their designs! The colors are so bold and beautiful. Normally their designs are a playful mix of modern with vintage. Their new line is more whimsical and bold.

Here are some of my favorite pieces from their new collection.

Their latest collection was inspired by their vacation home in Brazil. Their designs feature pops of color mixed in with warm wood. Their product range in price too. For example their fun Luli Table Lamp sells for $129 and their beautiful Dupla Credenza sell for $499.

In addition to the new collection there is a fun sweepstakes going on called the CB2 and Novogratz Brasil Sweepstakes. The winner and three of their friends can win a trip of a lifetime!

The winner will receive a one week stay at the vacation home of CB2 collaborators Bob and Courtney Novogratz in beautiful Trancoso, Brazil. That sounds wonderful !I have always wanted to visit Brazil. It looks so beautiful there, especially the beaches.

That’s not all, 10 other lucky winners will each receive a CB2 giftcard worth $100 along with a personally signed copy of the book “Home by Novogratz”. If I won the gift card I know exactly what I would apply it towards. I really love the Novogratz Botao striped armless sectional and Batoa striped ottoman.

The sweepstakes started on May 2, 2013 and will run through June 3, 2013. Hurry! You won’t want to miss out on entering this sweepstakes.

To enter, or for more information, visit CB2.com/Sweeps.

You can also check out CB2 on Twitter (@CB2Tweets), Pinterested (CB2) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CB2).

Kimberly

Have you been to IHop recently? If not, you are missing out on their delicious new Brioche French Toast menu.

My family and I recently went to IHop and I just had to try out their new Brioche French Toast. The hard part was deciding on which one I wanted to try.

The Brioche French Toast is available in Bananas Foster, Berry Berry and Peaches & Cream. I had a hard time picking out which one I wanted to try. They all looked and sounded so good.

I eventually opted for the Berry Berry because my daughter wanted to try it too and she loves all types of berries. I suggested she get one for her self but she wanted to go a different direction for her meal.

To make it even better I had my choice of other items to go along with my Brioche French Toast. I ordered scrambled eggs, bacon and hash browns. I don’t normally eat bacon. We don’t make it at home but occasionally when we eat out I’ll order it as a treat. We also ordered a side of IHop’s Onion Rings. I so love their Onion Rings!

What makes the Brioche French Toast different that other French Toast is how it’s prepared. IHop’s Brioche French Toast is made with thick brioche bread that has been dipped in a lightly sweetened vanilla batter and then grilled to a golden perfection. As if that wasn’t yummy enough they offer guests different toppings. To make it even better each serving is topped with whipped cream.

I loved the Brioche French Toast. I honestly could have had it without the berries and whipped cream too. On it’s own it was delicious. They should have had a “naked” Brioche French Toast option. I might have chose that one. I’m not saying the berries and whip cream were not delicious (they were!), I’m just saying that on it’s own the French Toast was just as delicious.

You can’t beat the price either. The Brioche French Toast, plus additional side dishes (such as eggs, bacon and/or sausage) range in price from $7.99 – $8.99 (at least that was the price in the NY restaurant we were at). You get A LOT of food for a nominal price. So much food that I couldn’t eat it all. Thankfully I have two growning teenagers and my hubby to help me finish what I was too full to eat.

My apologies for the photo quality. I was using my cellphone camera. I feel weird taking pictures in restaurants and stores with my big camera.

As you can see the Brioche Berry Berry French Toast came topped with big, plump and juicy strawberries and blueberries. It was also covered with a berry sauce, whipped cream and powdered sugar. I could have done without the whipped cream topping. Next time I’ll order it without the cream. My kids were more than happy to help eat the whipped cream for me.

I enjoyed the Brioche French Toast so much that I’m going to try experimenting with vanilla when I try to make French Toast at home. I know I can never make the French Toast the same way IHop does, but it would be tasty to try.

If you find yourself drooling right now why not head on over to your nearest IHop and try a Brioche French Toast meal out for yourself. HURRY! They are only here for a limited time.

To find an IHop location near you visit www.IHop.com. You can also check out the brand on Facebook and Twitter and see what others have to say about the new Brioche French Toasts.

A lucky reader will win a $25 gift certificate to IHop so that they can try out the new Brioche French Toast out for themselves (or whatever else they would like to have). Thank you IHop!

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on May 31, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen in their place.

To enter please comment on this post and tell me which of the Brioche French Toast varieties would you like to try? Or if you have already tried them, which is your favorite?

For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or the additional entries won’t qualify (I do check). Extra entries are optional.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kimberly

*I received a gift certificate in order to try out the French Toast for free to review. There was no other compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.

Now that the summer months are upon us many people are thinking about backyard barbecues, picnics and entertaining.

This time of year fruits and vegetables are plentiful and it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the bounty (not to mention they are less expensive too).

One fruit that is always available year round is the avocado. That is because they are grown year round in Mexico and are always “in season”.

Avocados are more than just an ingredient in guacamole. They can be used in a variety of recipes including main entrees, side dishes, dips and more.

Here are a few recipes from our friends over at Avocados from Mexico (share with permission) for your enjoyment.

The recipes are from master Rick Bayless who says that a summer spread isn’t complete without avocados from Mexico. Here are three of Chef Rick’s favorite, easy, and essential summer dishes that you’ll be making all season long.

Grilled Chicken with Tomatillo-Avocado Sauce.

This grilled chicken is so simple, easy and delicious. The subtle tartness of tomatillo salsa cooked down with buttery avocados makes the perfect addition to tender grilled chicken.  

Ingredients:

• 1 jar (16-ounces) Frontera Tomatillo Salsa
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, each pounded to about 1-inch thick
• 1/3 cup chicken broth
• 1 avocado from Mexico, halved, pitted, peeled and diced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions:

In a baking dish, mix together 1/4 cup of the salsa with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours, if time permits. Prepare a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill to medium-hot. In a large skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the remaining salsa; stir 5 minutes to concentrate slightly. Add broth; boil gently until thick enough to coat a spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; add avocado. Remove chicken from marinade; sprinkle with salt; grill 8 inches from medium-hot coals, turning once, until seared and cooked through, about 8 minutes. To serve, spoon sauce onto 4 plates; top with chicken; garnish with cilantro.

Yield: 4 portions

Grilled Corn and Poblano Guacamole

Smoky corn, charred poblano chile and fresh tomatillos add delicious flavor to creamy avocados. This is a fantastic way to turn your everyday guac into the ultimate barbecue dip.

Ingredients:

• 2 small ears fresh corn, shucked
• 1 small poblano chile
• 8 ounces tomatillos, husked (about 4 large)
• 3 avocados from Mexico, halved, pitted, peeled and roughly chopped
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion, rinsed
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat gas grill to medium or prepare a charcoal grill. Grill corn, turning occasionally, until golden on all sides, about 5 minutes. When cool enough to handle, cut kernels from the cob; remove to a large bowl. Grill the chile and tomatillos, turning until skins are nicely charred, about 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel the charred skin from the peppers with your fingers. Remove stem, core and seeds; chop chile and remove to the bowl. Finely chop tomatillos, capturing juices, and add to the bowl. Add avocado, onion, cilantro and salt. Coarsely mash avocado and gently stir to combine all ingredients.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Avocado Apricot Salsa

The sweet concentrated flavor of dried apricots paired with tangy balsamic, fiery salsa and fresh herbs creates a well-balanced and delicious complement to juicy grilled pork tenderloin.

Ingredients:

• 3 large pork tenderloins (about 2-1/4 pounds total)
• 1 jar (16-ounces) Frontera Roasted Tomato Salsa
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 medium-large red onion, cut into 1/3-inch thick slices
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots, tossed with a little hot water to soften
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped lemon zest
• 1 firm-ripe avocado from Mexico, halved, pitted, peeled and diced
• Salt to taste

Directions:

Trim fat and whitish “silverskin” from pork tenderloins. Cut each in half, making six 6-ounce portions. Mix together 1 cup of the salsa with the Worcestershire and vinegar. Place the pork in a large dish, smear all sides with salsa mixture, cover and refrigerate for several hours or as long as overnight. Preheat a gas grill to medium or light a charcoal fire and let burn until charcoal is covered with a thin layer of gray ash.  Use tongs to arrange the pork in the center of the grill; reserve the marinade. Lay the onion slices on the cooler section of the grill. Cover and cook until the pork is nicely browned underneath and onions are softening, about 10 minutes. Turn pork and onions over.  Baste pork and onions liberally with reserved marinade.  Re-cover the grill and cook until the pork feels nearly firm* when touched or reads 150° on a meat thermometer, about 5 minutes more. Remove pork to cutting board and tent with foil. Chop the onion slices and remove to a bowl. Add remaining salsa, apricots, parsley, lemon zest and avocado; season with salt and stir gently. To serve, thinly slice pork and generously spoon salsa over slices.

Yield: 8 portions

* To learn to test the doneness of pork by touching, fold your thumb into the center of your palm, then wrap your fingers around your thumb, grasping it firmly. With the forefinger of your other hand, press lightly and repeatedly on that bulging nugget of muscle on the back of your hand at the base of your thumb. When you clench your fist with as much strength as you can muster, that little bit of muscle will become very firm, feeling like overcooked pork.  Relax a little bit (but keeping the first clenched) and you’ll feel what deliciously cooked pork should feel like.  Relax your fist completely while keeping it in the same position and you’ll feel what raw pork feels like.

Do you have an avocado recipe that you enjoy making during the summer months (or year round)? If so, feel free to leave a comment and tell me more about it.

Kimberly

*I was nto compensated for this post. I posted this for the enjoyment of my site readers. The recipes are compliments of Avocados from Mexico and shared with permission.

**I received free product samples in order to do this review.**

I am a forty-something year old woman, and I ♥ the Berenstain Bears. That is because I grew up reading their books. Over my childhood years I amassed a rather large collection of their books. I still have many of them that I had saved for my own children. They are now safely tucked away in storage boxes in my father’s basement in hopes that I can read them to my grandchildren some day.

When I was young all I remembered about the books is that they were entertaining. It was fun to see what adventure brother and sister bear got themselves into. I also used to try and think of what their real names would be other than brother and sister bear.

It wasn’t until I was a grown up and read the books to my own children that I realized that each of the stories teach a very valuable lesson. In fact, it was so clear to me as an adult what each episode was about. They were each meant to teach children an important life lesson or moral.

I was excited when the Berenstain Bears appeared on TV. I remember watchin a few of their specials. I remember an old episode about a Chrsitmas tree and another one that was about Easter. I can’t remember them in detail because I saw them so many years ago.

Thanks to PBS Kids the Berenstain Bears can be seen regularly on television, bringing this loving bear family into the lives of a whole new generation.

Thanks to Phase 4 Films you can not only bring the Berenstain Bears episodes into your home, but also also a special edition Brother and Sister plush toy.

Through Phase 4 Films family friendly kaboom! Entertainment line, there are new limited edition Berenstain Bears products are available at your local Walmart.

My personal favorites are the Limited Edition Golden Gift Sets featuring Brother Bear and Sister Bear. Each set retails for $19.99 each and comes with a DVD that includes over TWO HOURS of Berenstain Bears episodes and super adorable plush Brother or Sister Bear.

The Limited Edition Golden Gift Set Brother Bear includes a plush Brother Bear and two hours of special episodes that put Brother Bear into the spotlight.

Brother Bear loves sports of all kinds, especially soccer. He often acts as  protector and stands up for the smaller cubs at school.

The Limited Edition Golden Gift Set Sister Bear includes a plush Sister Bear and two hours of Berenstain Bears episodes that highlight the youngest family member.

Sister Bear is a spirited, spunky third-grader. Outdoorsy and sports-minded she  also loves fairytales, writing and jump rope.

These sets are a fun way to introduce your child (or grandchild) to the wonderful world of Berenstain Bears. These sets are also fabulous for a child (or grandchild) who has already fallen in love with the bear family that lives on the sunny dirt road.

I think adding the plush helps to bring the series to life. Not only that, they make great new “friends”.

If you have a son and a daughter (or grandson and granddaughter) it would be fun to give each one of them a set. The can re-enact scenes from the episodes that they watch from the DVDs.

In addition to the special Limited Edition Golden Brother Bear and Sister Bear gift sets there is also a Berenstain Bears 5oth Anniversary DVD collection.

This special limited edition set comes with three DVDs. Each one has several full length episodes. The episodes are grouped by themes so all the episodes on each DVD have similar subject matter.

Here is a break down of each DVD and whate episodes you’ll find on them.

Celebrations

• The Birthday Boy
• Count Their Blessings
• Double Dare
• Trouble with Money
• Slumber Party

Homework Help 

• Go to School
• Trouble at School
• Homework
• Hassle
• Jump Rope Contest
• The In Crowd

Bear Country

• Go Up and Down
• The Big Election
• The Giant Mall
• Showdown at Birder’s Wood
• That Stump Must Go

I have watched just about all of these DVDs collections (I have a few more episodes to go).

Unlike other shows geared towards children, which can be rather UNentertianing for adults to watch, that is NOT the case with the Berenstain Bears. I enjoy watching each episodes. My husband even said that they are much more enjoyable to watch compared to other kiddie shows, especially the weird shows they offer children these days.

I have to laugh because I see my own children in Brother and Sister Bear. For example, in the episode “Country Your Blessings” my kids are always making it a point of telling us what their friends have – how their friends have the latest tech gadget, or the trendy new outfit. They always make a point of saying what they DON’T have and comparing themselves with what their friends have. Just like the Berenstain Bears parents, we always make it a point of reminding our kids what they DO HAVE, like plenty of food ot eat, a roof over their heads, an education, parents who love them, a warm bed to sleep in at night, and so forth.

Some episodes have some humor in them too. Take for example “Go Up and Down”. Poor Mr. Berenstain wants to take the kids out fishing but the fishing trip gets ruined because he keeps forgetting supplies that they need. Everything is up at the cabin and poor Mr. Berenstain has to walk up and down the steps so many times that he’s exhausted. By the time they get the boat out into the lake the fish are no longer biting.

I can totally relate to his situation. We live on a top floor condo with six flights of steps. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to make numerous trips up and down the stairs because I forget things.

Whether you opt to get the Limited Edition Golden Brother Bear and Sister Bear gift sets, or the Berenstain Bears 5oth Anniversary DVD collection (or all sets!) you are sure to delight the Berenstain Bears fan in your life.

Please note that the sets are LIMITED EDITIONS, so if you want them you need to hurry up to your nearest Walmart and grab them before they are all gone. You could always hold on to these and give as gifts later on in the year (these would make great Christmas or birthday presents).

With summer right around the corner many families are planning on road trips. Taking along the Berenstain Bears DVDs and a plush Brother and/or Sister bear would a fun way to keep your child/children entertained.

Kimberly

*I received free screener copies and other materials for my participation in  this campaign with Child’s Play Communications. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in  any way

This past summer I shared information with my readers about a new series on the Oxygen network called I’m Having Their Baby. If you would like to read my original post you can find it here.

I’m Having Their Baby is one of those shows that gets people talking. Each episode brings you up close and personal with women who have made the painful decision to give their child up for adoption after an unplanned pregnancy.

Here is a synopsis of the series;

Oxygen Media premieres season two of the authentic and powerful docu-series I’m Having Their Baby on Wednesday, June 12 at 10 PM ET/PT, providing an intimate and emotional look at adoption by telling the too-often untold story through the eyes of the birth mother. The hour-long series documents a range of poignant, personal stories of women struggling with an unplanned pregnancy and ultimately deciding whether or not to place their baby in the hands of another family. This season delves deeper into the lives of birth mothers entering the adoption process, their family and friends affected by their decision and in some cases the potential adoptive couples.

I’m Having Their Baby is produced by Hud:sun Media with Michael Rourke and Bryn Freedman as executive producers.

I could not imagine giving my child up for adoption. I think it takes a very emotionally strong person to do that. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact my own biological mother gave me up. Although I wasn’t officially adopted (I was raised by my paternal grandparents) I am grateful that she did that because my “mom” and “dad’ (paternal grandparents) gave me a wonderful life.

I can see “both sides of the coin”, so to speak, when I watch the series. On one hand I’m a mom and I couldn’t imagine giving up my child. On the other hand I was a child that was given up by my biological mother and it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

When a new baby arrives into a family all eyes are on the new life and the ecstatic parents. Sadly no one really thinks about the birth mother and her story. How did she get pregnant? Why did she get pregnant? Why can’t she keep the baby? What was it that convinced her that giving up her child was the best thing she could do? These are the questions (and answers) that I’m Having Their Baby explores in each episode.

Many people might assume that the birth mother is a teenager who can barely support herself, let alone an infant. While that is true in many situations, that is not always the case. Sometimes birth moms are older women and can afford to raise the child, but for whatever reason they feel like they cannot provide the child with the life he/she truly deserves.

What I like about the show is that it really pulls you into the personal stories. Unlike other reality shows, I’m Having Their Baby is more engaging. Their stories are real and they are being played out again and again across the country and around the world. Every day a woman makes a decision to give up her child. This show helps to highlight the many reasons why so that people don’t assume that the birth mother was a foolish teen or a selfish individual who didn’t care about the child.

Although the show does tug at your heartstrings, it is also heartwarming too, especially when you see the joy and excitement in the face of the adoptive parents. It’s a beautiful thing to see someone become a mother (meaning the adoptive mother). A father too for that matter.

The show touches upon the emotions of all those involved, not only the birth mother but also their families, the father of the child, as well as the families who are going to receive the little miracle once he/she is born. As you can imagine there are a lot of tears being shed so I would recommend that you have a box of tissues handy just in case.

Did you know that each year there are 6 million pregnancies in the United States. Of those 6 million, 3 million are unplanned pregnancies. Out of the 3 million, 14,000 babies are put up for adoption. I guess that makes me one of the 3 million because my husband and I didn’t plan either of our children. They just happened. We were more prepared for the birth of our youngest than we were for our first born. Giving her up for adoption was never an option for us.

I think this show is great for teenagers to watch too because the teenager moms that are featured on the series talk about how hard it is to raise a baby and it shows that being a pregnant teen is not easy.

Here are a couple of webisodes from Oxygen’s “I’m Having Their Baby: Raising Baby”. I really like how each one explores what happens after a baby is put up for adoption. Each situation is unique and has its own individual results.

Both stories shown in the webisodes revisit an open adoption from Season 1 of I’m Having Their Baby where the birth mother are still in contact with the adoptive parents and get to see their child on a regular basis. This is certainly an option. Other families opt to have a closed adoption where there is no further contact between the birth parent/parents and the child given up for adoption. Each individual story has it’s own unique situation.

It was great to see what happens after they gave up their babies for adoption and how their lives have changed (or not changed) since then. I also like that each birth mother had their own personal story that lead them to this life changing decision.

Check out the webisodes (below).

“I’m Having Their Baby: Raising Nayamah”

“I’m Having Their Baby: Raising Vivienne”

For more information about I’m Having Their Baby and the web series please visit Oxygen.com/Baby.

You can also follow the show on Facebook and Twitter. To join in on the conversation on Twitter please use the hashtag #ImHavingTheirBaby.

To get you excited about the new season of I’m Having Their Baby I have a $50 Visa gift card giveaway.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on May 31, 2013. The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to respond or a new winner will be chosen in their place.

To enter please check out the webisodes and then leave a comment on this post and tell me what was your favorite part, the most moving part or why you enjoyed it.

For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or the additional entries won’t qualify (I do check). Extra entries are optional.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kimberly

*I am being compensated for my participation however the opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way. 

Seafood Lover’s Linguini

I love seafood. I don’t think there is a seafood I won’t eat, except eel and raw oysters. Eels scare me and raw oysters just look gross and slimy.

When I have the opportunity to eat out at a restaurant I always make sure to check out the seafood menu first and foremost. I’m more likely to order a seafood dish more than anything else.

I’m sure it goes without saying that Red Lobster is one of my favorite restaurants. It’s a seafood lovers dream restaurant. Seafood is Red Lobster’s specialty. They also offer steak, chicken and pork meals for those who don’t enjoy seafood (like my husband – he’ll only eat canned Tuna ).

Going out to dinner can often cost a lot of money. When you live on a tight budget it’s important to keep up to date on money saving options, especially when it comes to eating out.

Red Lobster has a fabulous offer that is taking place right now. They have a Seafood Dinner for Two for only $25.00*! Best of all they are offering non-seafood dishes as part of this offer so that anyone can enjoy the special two dinners for $25.00 offer.

*Offers available at all Red Lobster locations in the U.S. only. Prices higher in Times Square and Hawaii.

Honey Garlic Crispy Shrimp

HURRY! The special 2 for $25 special ends on May 26, 2013!

The special menu created for this offer starts you off with a fresh, crispy salad and unlimited Cheddar Bay Biscuits (my family is crazy about their biscuits!). For the main entree guests can pick their favorite chef inspired entrées.

There are two new entrées that have been added to the menu.

NEW! Honey-Garlic Crispy Shrimp – Hand-battered shrimp fried to a golden brown, drizzled with a honey-garlic glaze and topped with green onions. Served over cilantro rice tossed with broccoli.

NEW! Seafood Lover’s Linguini – Tender shrimp, bay scallops, mussels, roasted tomatoes and green onions in a white wine and lemon-garlic sauce over linguini.

Mmm!!! They both sound so good. I think I might try the Honey-Garlic Shrimp.

To round out your meal you get a choice of appetizer OR dessert. I think I would op for dessert because they have a new Pineapple Upside Down Cake that I can’t wait to try. I haven’t had Pineapple Upside Down Cake in years and it’s one of my favorite cakes.

For more information or to locate a Red Lobster near you visit RedLobster.com. You can also check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

To help you take advantage of this great offer (or enjoy the Red Lobster experience) I have a $30 gift card to give away to a lucky reader.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end promptly on May 20, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be contacted via e-mail and will have three days to respond or a new winner will be chosen in their place.

To enter please comment on this post and tell me what your favorite thing to order from Red Lobster is – or – if you have never been to Red Lobster before, which of the two new entries would you like to try?

For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or the additional entries won’t qualify (I do check). Extra entries are optional.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this for the enjoyment of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.

My family loves barbecues. Sadly we are not allowed to have one in our condo complex. The Fire Marshall made everyone get rid of their barbecues. We were allowed to keep them but we would have to barbecue 200 feet from the nearest building. Since our building is on a steep hill that is not possible. Thankfully my father and stepmother have a barbecue. We try and visit often so that we can enjoy barbecuing as much as possible.

When you think about barbecuing I’m sure you think about things like hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken and steaks. You might even think about garden salads, pasta salad and potato salad. Others “must haves” to make a barbecue perfect are chips and beverages. Frito Lay and Pepsi Next were made for backyard barbecues.

Have you had the opportunity to try out the newest products from Frito-Lay, Cheetos Mix-Ups and Doritos Locos Tacos Flavored Tortilla Chips? They sent me free samples to try out with my family.

Cheetos (made by Frito-Lay) has two new snack mixes available – Cheetos Mix-Ups Xtra Cheezy Mix and Cheetos Mix-Ups Cheezy Salsa Mix.

What was left of delicious grilled ham steak.

My family, as well as my father and stepmother, had the opportunity to try them both out recently. Originally our “game plan” was to have a barbecue with hot dogs and hamburgers, but at the last minute my stepmother thought grilled ham steaks would be better. I had purchased the roll for both hamburgers and hot dogs, as well as picked up things like pickles and other condiments. I wasn’t prepared for grilled ham steaks. Oh well, that is OK. The food was great. Plus we’re having a barbecue with hamburgers and hot dogs this coming Sunday. So it’s all good.

The new Cheetos Mix-Ups Xtra Cheezy Mix features four fun shapes and four different flavors in each bags. My kids loved the new shapes. The Nacho Cheese and Parmesan shapes/flavors were our favorites. Thankfully everything is labeled on the outside of the bag so you knew which shape was which flavor. Also in the bag are double cheddar and cheddar flavors.

The Cheetos Mix-Ups Cheezy Salsa Mix had a bit of a kick to it. The green jalapeno puffs were especially spicy. My personal favorite was the salsa picante flavor. Other flavors included chipotle cheddar and cheddar.

One new chip that we served at our get together was the new Doritos Locos Tacos Flavored Tortilla Chips. Mmm…. they were so good! They were the first chip to disappear from the serving platters. That was a personal favorite of mine and apparently everyone else too. In fact my son asked me if we could pick up another bag the next time we go shopping.

I forgot to take a picture of the bag of Doritos (sorry) but you can see them mixed in with the Cheetos Mix-Ups Cheezey Salsa Mix (the Locos Tacos Doritos are in the middle section).

Cheetos Mix-Ups Cheezy Salsa Mix & Doritos Locos Tacos Chips

Cheetos Mix-Ups Xtra Cheezy Mix

With all these yummy snack mixes to enjoy, not to mention mouth watering barbecued ham steaks and other treats, we needed something to wash it all down with. We had plenty of of Pepsi NEXT on hand.

I have always loved Pepsi but when Pepsi NEXT came along I found my new favorite. It does give you that great cola taste but with less sugar. I like that the soda is not that sweet. In fact I prefer is that way. My family also enjoys Pepsi NEXT.

Did you know that it has a whopping 60% LESS sugar than other colas? That is a huge difference. You would never know it with the taste. It takes like regular cola (just not as sweet).

FYI… You can get a FREE bottle of Pepsi NEXT at www.WheelofLevy.com.

Our little get together was a belated birthday party for my dear hubby. We were going to get him a sheet cake for his birthday but my stepmother ended up making him a cake instead. Interestingly enough this coming weekend we’re not only having the hamburgers and hot dogs we were suppose to have the last time, but my father and stepmother are also picking up a sheet cake for my birthday and my daughter’s birthday.

Since we’re getting together again this coming weekend for a barbecue I’ll have to swing by the grocery store to pick up some more Pepsi NEXT, Cheetos Mix-Ups and Doritos Locos Tacos chips.

Speaking of grocery store, do you live near a Kroger store? If so I’m sure you will be interested in knowing that this coming Friday (May 17, 2013) Kroger is having another one of their fabulous Free For All Friday. This week they will be giving away samples of the new Cheetos Mix-Ups and Pepsi NEXT soda.

Join Frito-Lay, Pepsi and Kroger at the final Free For All Friday event– the third this spring — hosted at Kroger (and its banner) stores across the U.S.. During the event, shoppers can visit their local chain to score free samples of select PepsiCo brands, while supplies last. The last Free For All Friday event is all about taking snacking to a whole new level by offering free samples of some of its newest, boldest and most innovative PepsiCo products which include: Doritos Locos Tacos tortilla chips, Cheetos MIX-UPS snacks and Pepsi Next.

Get ready for summer snacking, and join us for the last Free For All Friday event at Kroger stores on May 17, 4 to 8 p.m. local time!

For more details about Free For All Friday and a list of participating Kroger (and its banner) stores, visit: krogerpepsifritolayfreeforall.com and let us know you’re participating by using #FritoLayFreeForAll.

I wish we had a Kroger near us. I would love to attend the Free For All events.

Make sure you mark you calendar so that you don’t miss out.

Check out the Frito-Lay and Pepsi brands on Facebook and Twitter too.

@FritoLay                  www.Facebook.com/FritoLay

@DoritosUSA           www.Facebook.com/DoritosUSA

@PepsiNext              www.Facebook.com/PepsiNext

@ChesterCheetah    www.Facebook.com/Cheetos

Even if you don’t live near a Kroger store you can still try out these tasty new products from Frito-Lay as well as Pepsi NEXT. All products are available at many retail stores across the country. You can also win a special prize package right here from Frito-Lay.

One lucky reader will win a special Frito-Lay and Pepsi prize package. The package includes;

• Cheetos Mix-Ups (both varieties)
• Doritos Locos Tacos
• Bottles of Pepsi NEXT
• Drinking glasses
• Napkins

The prize package would be PERFECT for your next barbecue or get together.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on May 29, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen in their place.

To enter please comment on this post and tell me which product you are most anxious to try – or – which is your favorite product in the prize package?

For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or the additional entries will not qualify. Extra entries are optional.

When tweeting please include the hashtag #FritoLayFreeForAll.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kimberly

*I received free samples and funds to cover the cost of supplies. There was no other compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way. Frito-Lay and Pepsi will be providing the prize package.

I have mentioned it several times on my blog – I don’t like to clean. Cleaning is my least favorite task. I think I would rather go to the dentist than clean. Especially when it comes to cleaning the bathroom and the kitchen. Those are my two LEAST favorite rooms in our condo that I like to clean. I rather dust and vacuum the rest of our home.

I try and stick with all natural cleaners whenever possible, however there comes a time when you need something a bit stronger especially when you are dealing with hard to clean things like soap scum and grease.

I don’t like cleaning with bleach – EVER! My husband has been known to use bleach to clean the bathroom (especially the tub/shower area). I won’t do that. I cannot stand the smell of bleach. It’s very toxic smelling and its something that I don’t want in my home, especially with my children and pets.

Did you know that you can get the same cleaning power of bleach but without the harsh smell of bleach?

Lysol Power & Free provides you with the same powerful cleaning of bleach, but without the toxic smell. Instead Lysol Power & Free uses hydrogen peroxide. Who knew that you could clean with hydrogen peroxide. I’ve only used it to disinfect cuts and my earrings. I never thought about it as far as cleaning tough grease and soap scum.

The hydrogen peroxide in Lysol Power & Free releases thousands of micro-bubbles which can penetrate deep to remove tough stains, grease and grime. It also kills up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.

I received a free bottle of Lysol Power & Free to try out in my home. So far I am very impressed by it’s cleaning power. Even on surfaces that I normally try to avoid cleaning (I try and bribe my hubby into cleaning them for me ).

Lysol Power & Free provides you with a strong cleaner, but it doesn’t leave behind any chemical residue or that horrible bleach smell. In fact the cleaner even comes in pleasant scents such as Oxygen Splash and Citrus Sparkle Zest.

Unlike cleaning with bleach based products you don’t need to wear gloves, masks or protective eye gear. In addition you don’t have to open up all the windows in your home to let the noxious scent out of your home.

We have a cat with severe asthma and my husband get migraines that are often triggered by scents. The last thing I want in my home is a harsh chemical smell, like the kind you get when cleaning with bleach. That is why I like using the Lysol Power & Free. It’s much more “family friendly”.

Currently Lysol Power & Free is available in a multi-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner and bathroom wipes. I’m especially interested in the bathroom wipes for quick touch ups. You can use Lysol Power & Free to clean a variety of house hold surfaces including the kitchen and bathroom. I’m thinking of picking up some of the wipes to use in my car too to clean off the dashboard and the area in between the front seats where the cup holders are. I like that I can clean and disinfect at the same time.

Look for Lysol Power & Free on a store shelf near you.

If you want to learn more about the product, and see what others are saying about it, check out the Lysol Facebook page.

Lysol® Power & Free uses the cleaning power of a hydrogen peroxide formula for a powerful clean with no bleach harshness! This helps ensure you don’t have to make sacrifices while cleaning, such as opening all the windows or ushering the kids and pets out of the room. Lysol® Power & Free will help you break free from your ordinary cleaning routine- it’s a powerful clean that’s family friendly!

What do you love about a clean home? One of my readers will win a bottle of Lysol® Power & Free Multi Purpose cleaner to try in their own home! Comment below to be entered to win!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Lysol. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules

I have seen every Nicholas Sparks movie. I have yet to read any of his books, but I have never missed any of his films. In fact I have every film ever made that was based on one of his books, from Message in a Bottle to his most current film, Safe Haven. One day I hope to have the time to read one of his books and see how closely they match the movies based on the books.

I have yet to watch a Nicholas Sparks film that DIDN’T make me cry. I have cried watching every film. A Walk to Remember and The Notebook make me cry the most. I have seen both films numerous times but that doesn’t seem to matter. I still cry.

I finally had the opportunity to see Safe Haven, which is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download. I THOUGHT this might be the one Nicholas Sparks film that didn’t make me cry. In fact I made it all the way up to the last minute or two before balling my eyes out.

Safe Haven stars Julianne Hough as Katie and Josh Duhamel as Alex.

One day Katie shows up in the small sea side community of Southport, North Carolina. She arrived in town on a bus and decided to stay.

Katie is harboring a secret that she doesn’t want anyone to know about. In fact Katie does her best to try and keep away from the people who live Southport, a place where everyone knows everyone. Katie doesn’t want anyone to know about her. She also does her best not to get involved with any of the town’s residents.

The wall that Katie has built up around her starts to get chipped away at little by little when she is befriended by a woman name Jo and the local grocery store owner Alex and his two children, Lexie and Josh.

Alex lost his wife many years earlier to cancer. All he really has left of her are some letters that she wrote to her family before she died. Each letter has a specific date written on it such as Lexie’s wedding day and Josh’s graduation day.

Slowly and cautiously Katie and Alex develop a friendship which soon moves on to romance. That is until Katie’s secret catches up to her.

What is Katie hiding from Alex? Will it destroy their delicate relationship, or can the power of love provide Katie with a safe haven? To find out you need to pick up a copy of Safe Haven where ever movies are sold.

Here is the film’s official trailer.

This is a beautiful film. In the beginning I wasn’t too happy about how cold the character of Katie was, especially towards Alex. Once her secret was revealed it made sense why she didn’t want to get close to anyone.

Julianna Hough and Josh Duhamel have a great chemistry together. And the child actors who played Lexie and Josh did a fantastic job.

I thought I was going to make it through the entire movie without shedding a tear, that is until the very end. I NEVER saw that ending coming. I was totally blindsided by it. There is even an alternate ending in the bonus features, but it’s not much different than the ending that was used in the film (It just has a bit more visuals).

Even Nicholas Sparks film I’ve ever seen makes me want to pack my bags and move to North Carolina’s coast. Unlike his other films this film was filmed entirely on location. There really is a Southport, North Carolina.

There are some really nice bonus features included on the Blu-ray. Aside from the usual deleted and extended scenes you’ll also find an alternate ending (as mentioned above) as well as a featurette called Igniting the Romance in Safe Haven with provides viewers with some insight into what it took to bring this movie to life and the cast and crews thought about the film and location.

There is also a set tour which shows you all of the real life locations that were used in the making of this film.

For a little humor the film makers also included a bonus feature where Josh Duhamel learns how to crab. I used to crab when I was a young girl. It’s fun, although I never did catch a crab.

The film is rated PG-13. There is no nudity but there are mild sexual situations. There is also some violence.

If you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks films, or love a great romance, then you need to pick up a copy of Safe Haven where ever movies are sold.

If you want to learn more about this and other Nicholas Sparks films you can check out his official website, www.NicholasSparks.com. The film also has it’s own Facebook page.

Did you see Safe Haven? What did you think of the movie? Feel free to leave a comment.

Kimberly

*I received a free screener copy in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.