Pipeline Pizza - A Restaurant.com #ReviewCrew Review

 As a member of the Restaurant.com #ReviewCrew I was compensated for this review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100% my own. 

A few weeks ago Chris and I decided that we wanted to try out a new restaurant; we hopped onto Restaurant.com to see what we could find. Pipeline Pizza wasn't too far from home and pizza sounded good so we purchased a $15 Restaurant.com gift code for just a few bucks and headed out.

When we arrived, I realized that Pipeline was a brand new place - I was even more eager to try it out then! Once inside, we were greeted by friendly counter staff who helped us with the ordering process. There are menus inside the door - you just order at the counter and choose a seat. Easy peasy. Below is a shot of the menu - it's not the greatest but I wanted to show y'all all of Pipeline Pizza's offerings. You can also view their full menu online. 

We started off our meal with the buffalo wings - Chris' choice ;) Now I'm a fan of wings, but I'm also pretty picky about the flavor and texture also. I can tell you that these were spot on. Trust me when I tell you that I fought for my fair share!

I was craving a salad so I ordered a caesar, my favorite. You might be thinking - "a salad is a salad right?" Well, kind of. The thing that stood about this salad for me was the dressing. It tasted house made - so much so that we asked our server about it. We were disappointed when he informed us that it was not and even more so when he wouldn't tell us where we could find it! 

I chose this Italian Special Sandwich as my main entree. It was loaded down with meats and vegetables and cheese. You guys, it was amazing - fresh, crunchy, with just the right flavors! It was also giant! I only ate half and saved the rest for lunch the following day! 

Chris went with the Chicken Parmesan - one of his favorite meals. This plate was giant; two large pieces of chicken over noodles topped with sauce and a meatball! The chicken was breaded and cooked perfectly with just the right crunch. I hate it when I get a chicken parmesan that is a little soggy! The garlic bread was pretty awesome too.

Between the ambiance, great service, and delicious food - we were really impressed with Pipeline Pizza. Beyond that, the prices were amazing. I'm a little sad that we now live clear on the other side of town from this little gem. If you live in the Houston area, you should definitely look them up! 


“Restaurant.com is the trusted and valued source connecting restaurants and diners nationwide.  The company offers savings at thousands of restaurants nationwide with more than 50,000 gift certificate options.  Restaurant.com brings people together to relax, converse and enjoy well-prepared and served meals at affordable prices.  To date, Restaurant.com customers have saved more than $1 billion through the gift certificate program.”

{This month's advertisement}

New Febreze Sleep Serenity Line (Plus A Giveaway!)

This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Febreze. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

In my house we're crazy about scents. Any time we cross paths with candles (or something similar) the entire family feels the need to stop and catch a whiff. Many times we've gotten distracted in the home fragrance aisle of our local grocery store and all you hear from us is "mmm!" or "ooo!" Yea - I never claimed that we were normal. 

Recently I received an invitation to try out the new Febreze Sleep Serenity collection. Naturally I was excited to test the new products and so was my other half! He is a little "Febreze Happy!" When the package arrived on our door step we ripped into it! We found a bedroom mist, a bedside diffuser, a bedroom diffuser, and bedding refresher! 

What is Febreze Sleep Serenity?

"The Sleep Serenity collection is the latest product innovation from Febreze, designed specifically for the bedroom. Its calming scents help create a soothing bedtime atmosphere ideal for relaxation and a more peaceful night's rest."

How does it work?

"The Sleep Serenity line is the first scent developed by Febreze for the bedroom, and features advanced technology that eliminates odor and fills the bedroom with long-lasting, relaxing scents."

The Febreze Sleep Serenity collection comes in three scents: Moonlit Lavender, Warm Milk & Honey, and Quiet Jasmine. We put the Moonlit Lavender bedside diffuser in the kiddos' bathroom which is also connected to their bedroom. The smell was soft and fragrant and just strong enough that it drifted from their bathroom into their bedroom. Our bedroom mist in Warm Milk & Honey is already gone because we loved it so much! Chris sprayed just about everything in site on a daily basis, but I can't blame him. The warm comforting smell is my favorite! 

My family has been so impressed with the Febreze Sleep Serenity Collection that I have decided to give away a prize pack to one of you! One lucky reader will receive four full size products in Warm Milk & Honey - my favorite scent from the line!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


For more information on the entire Febreze product line visit them on their website or facebook page. 
{This month's advertisement}

Life Update ~ Where I"m At Now

I've been quiet lately and y'all know what that typically means. I've got something on my mind. I've got a story to tell - something personal. I've been pondering on what and how much to share. I've gone back and forth over the details trying to decide on how much is too much - something I know a lot of bloggers struggle with. I tend to not share a lot about my relationships on this space; before now it has been because I really didn't have much to say. Now, I"m being protective over what is mine. I know that for me, I can't keep writing here without telling this portion of my story. 

In October of 2012 I wrote a post about taking a trip down memory lane. A lot of you didn't understand what it was about because I was very vague. Today, I'm going to explain that post & so much more. 

In 2006 I fell in love with a man that I have now known for 16 years. At the time, we had been friends for almost 10 years - really we were more like family. Falling in love with Christopher was completely unexpected - he likes to joke with me that "I never saw it coming!" He is right - I didn't! He texted me out of the blue one night and asked me when I was going to let him take me to dinner - it was so random! I put our dinner date off but invited him to come over and watch a movie a few days later. I fell in love with him that night; he showed  me a side of himself that I'd never seen before. He showed me his heart and how much he cared for me with just a few simple words - he was so honest and sincere. I was a total goner right then and there. 

We eventually made it to that dinner date and 7+ years later I can still point out the table at that Chili's where we ate that night. I can still remember so many of our firsts as a couple - our first kiss, our first Christmas, fireworks on New Year's Eve (he is such a pyro), our 21st (his) and 22nd (mine) birthdays (we're both January babies and there is a damn good story behind his 21st!). We had so many fun times while we were together.

Things between us moved very quickly but being that we'd known each other for so long we really weren't concerned. Besides, we were young and in love and well, you know how that goes! We dated for awhile but then mistakes were made and misunderstandings happened and we went our separate ways. We were both brokenhearted but too stubborn to make amends.

A little time passed and I found out that I was pregnant with Chris' baby and that he was leaving for the military. For a long time I thought that this is where our story would end - but it didn't. I like to say now that someone just pushed pause on my heart.  

I tried to move on with my life and to outsiders looking in - I did. I got married, I had a second child. I lived my life and I pretended to be happy as best I could. However, I never could get Chris off of my mind. I missed him terribly almost all of the time and just when I thought I could stop thinking about him - something would creep in that would remind me of the love we shared. 

The post I wrote in October of last year was about Chris. We started dating in the Fall and ever since our separation that time of year tends to bring me down. I wrote that post because I was missing him and reminiscing over memories made and the things that we shared. I had my little break down moment, picked up the pieces and kept moving forward. 

August 11, 2013

I get a random-out of the blue-completely unexpected facebook message from Chris (YAY FB!). My jaw hit the ground, for real, but that is besides the point. We spent hours, days, and weeks talking and texting back and forth. He was in the process of moving back to Texas after getting out of the army. We decided that we had to see each other immediately and once he got into town, that is exactly what we did. My nerves were so bad that day and I found out later that he had been extremely nervous too. We hadn't seen each other in a long time and even though we still felt really connected to one another we were afraid it would be different in person. All of those nerves were for nothing! The moment we laid eyes on each other it was as if we'd never been apart - and we've been inseparable ever since. If you follow me on instagram or facebook you've probably seen pictures of us and you may have been wondering who this hunky guy is..

So - now you know - that sexy man on my arm is Chris. He is the love of my life - my best friend and my soul mate. My heart is so full of happiness and joy that some days I look around and wonder if this is really my life. I have everything I've ever wanted and I honestly never thought that we would get back to this place. We are building our lives together and the feeling is indescribable. I have the man of my dreams, my daughter has her Daddy, and James has a man in his life whom he looks up to and cherishes. 

Life isn't perfect folks, mine certainly isn't - for a long time I thought I'd have to live forever with my regrets and the consequences that came along with them. I was jaded. While I still have plenty of what ifs in my head, I also have restored faith.

"Good things come to those who wait."  

"If you love someone, let them go. If they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were."  

"True love never fails."

No, this isn't every detail of our story - there is still plenty that I've kept to myself - but what I wanted y'all to know is this: 

I'm in love and I"m happier than I've ever been. 

"He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."  

- Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights

{This month's advertisement}

We Are A #CartersFam #MC

“I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Carter’s. I received a gift card to facilitate my shopping trip and to thank me for participating.”

When I think of Carter's, I immediately think BABY. It seems like when my daughter was a newborn, every piece of clothing she had was Carter's brand (and she had a lot!). 

I've purchased a lot of Carter's over the years, not only for my daughter, but for my son as well. Their clothing has always been functional, durable, and stylish for the little ones. However, as my children have gotten a bit older (4 and 6) the Carter's brand sort of slipped my mind. To be honest, I didn't even know that their clothing line went all the way up to a size 7. I had no idea that I could still buy clothing for my children from a Carter's store! 

On top of that, I'd never even been into an actual Carter's store. I've always purchased the brand from other retailers (and the kids received a lot of Carter's gifts as well). One of the requirements of participating in this campaign was the ability to shop in store. Wouldn't you know it - there is a Carter's located 1.4 miles from my house! I had no idea! Of course, I did just move back to this area recently, but I was still surprised! 

Earlier this week, I, along with my better half went into our local Carter's to see what we could find for our kiddos. We were really excited to see such a great selection in our kids' sizes! The many clearance racks and huge sale that was going on was a total bonus! There were a ton of 50% off racks! That's what I'm talking about! 

For less then $100 we scooped up 3 pajama sets, a dress, a tunic, a button up shirt, a pair of boots, and some bracelets. Our Carter's shopping experience was fun and easy - the store was well organized and was staffed with friendly workers. Of course the best part was that we found high quality, affordable, and cute clothing for our children. We'll definitely be back! 

"Carter’s, a trusted name in children’s clothing, makes it easy to find cute and thoughtful gifts for little ones this holiday season. Available in sizes newborn – 7, Carter’s proves an easy, one-stop shop for adorable outfits this holiday season."

Now through Christmas eve you can shop in store or online and take an extra 25% off your purchase with the Carter's Friends & Family Event! Use the coupon code in the picture below (online) or click on it to download the coupon to your phone or computer for in store use! 

Do you or have you ever shopped at Carter's?

{This month's advertisement}

Holiday Gift Guide - Brought To You By Restaurant.com !

This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Restaurant.com. All opinions are my own.

Confession Time! As much as I like to cook at home - I like to eat out just as much - and I know I'm not alone on that right? However, I'm super cheap and dining out can get expensive. Unless you take advantage of the awesome deals at Restaurant.com! Since I started using their site I've saved a ton of money eating out and I've had the opportunity to try out some new places. 

Confession #2: I'm the world's greatest procrastinator and I'm totally behind on purchasing Christmas gifts for friends and family. 

Restaurant.com to the rescue again (score!)! 

Below you will find an amazing gift guide provided by the wonderful folks at Restaurant.com. If you haven't tried them out yet - you are missing out! 

BUNDLE UP WITH RESTAURANT.COM’S 

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

DELICIOUS IDEAS FOR EVERY BUDGET!

At Restaurant.com, the nation’s largest dining deals site, we love surprising our diners with fun ways to save. This holiday season, we’ve handpicked delicious dining experiences and gift ideas for every budget and compiled them into an exclusive Restaurant.com Holiday Gift Guide. Simply pair any Restaurant.com Gift Card with one of these gift bundle ideas below for the ultimate dining experience and holiday treat:

1. The Movie Buff: For the movie-quoting, obsessed friend, surprise them with two tickets to a movie on their must-see “Oscar” list and a $25 Restaurant.com Gift Card. Enjoy a night of appetizers and plot-dissecting debates! Ready to splurge? Stop at the concession stand for some candy, drinks, and a jumbo popcorn to share! Create your own >>

2. The Workaholic: To help someone on your list find much needed tranquility, pair a $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card with soothing bath salts, lavender mist, and a face mask to create an affordable, at-home spa treatment. Ready to splurge? Add a spa gift card and make Dinner reservations for a nice, relaxing evening post-massage. Create your own >>

3. The Wine Fanatic: Bring Napa Valley to every wine lover on your list! Pair their favorite wine with decadent cheeses, crackers, and of course chocolate. Then, cleanse their palate with some late night dessert and a $25 Restaurant.com Gift Card. Ready to splurge? Instead of dessert, make it dinner and BYOB at thousands of Restaurants nearby! Create your own >>

4. The Romantic: Add some romance into your holiday with a $50 Restaurant.com Gift Card, bouquet of roses, some irresistible chocolate covered strawberries, and a candlelit dinner for two. Ready to splurge? Pick up some bubbly on the way home for a classy touch. Create your own >>

5. The Theatre Lover: Add some dramatic flair to the holidays with two tickets to their must-see show and end the evening with our $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card - perfect for dinner and dessert. Ready to splurge? Buy them a memento from the show and two drinks during intermission! Create your own >>

Be sure to check out Specials by Restaurant.com for more shopping ideas!

Keep up with Restaurant.com on social media!

• Twitter
• Facebook 
• Blog

About Restaurant.com:

The only thing better than going out for a great meal, is getting a great deal. Restaurant.com is your destination for dining whether you like to plan ahead or find a meal on the fly. We love restaurants as much as you do; that’s why we’ve been helping them fill tables since 1999. Restaurant.com helps you discover the perfect dining experience and boasts nearly 50,000 dining deals available every day to use anytime hunger strikes, even on the weekends! And, the deals are easy to use - present your certificate to the server on your mobile phone, or bring a printed copy, and voilà – the savings will appear on your final bill.

{This month's advertisement}

What's Your Healthy? #AetnaMyHealthy

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Aetna. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

Aetna recently completed a survey of 1,800 Americans as part of their “What’s Your Healthy?” campaign looking at exercise, diet, stress management and technology usage. The study asked, “how do you define healthy?” and delved into how Americans are working to achieve their health goals. 

Why is Aetna asking you what's your healthy? Because we want to help you be a healthier you. So no matter what your healthy is, Aetna can help support you with the right tools, innovations and experience.

Visit WhatsYourHealthy.Com for helpful resources and inspiration on healthy living and to learn how others define "healthy." Did you know that most people responded that given an extra hour in their day that they would spend it on fitness? I know I would! That or sleep! 

Aetna also has a mobile app - CarePass - which allows you to connect all of your health & fitness apps and therefore be better equipped to reaching your goals. Programs like FitBit, RunKeeper, MapMyFitness, and GoodRx work well with CarePass. 

If you want more wellness tips or help choosing a plan for your health you can visit planforyourhealth.com.

How would you define healthy? 
{This month's advertisement}

Weight Loss Update

Well, it's not Wednesday, but given the fact that it was last April when I last did a "weigh in" here on the blog I figured you guys would overlook that little detail. 

At my last documented weigh in I was at just over 202 pounds. At my highest (non pregnancy) weight I was 207 pounds. I was fluctuating, up and down, up and down - and it seemed like it would never end. I was frustrated. 

So, I took a little break. I quit checking in on here - I quit logging my food on MyFitnessPal. I quit eating right and exercising. I quit and my weight kept fluctuating.

Four and half months ago I left my husband and my unhappy marriage of 7 years. In those few months I've dropped 17 pounds without even trying. I'm not trying to blame my weight issues on my ex or my marriage - but when you are unhappy - it's really easy to give up and quit.

17 pounds y'all! I'm excited, I feel good, and my clothes are fitting better! However, in my eyes, I still have a long way to go. I'm headed down to the gym here in a bit which will mark the 3rd time this week (GO ME!) and I'm proud of that. 

As a side note - it's so beneficial to have someone who is supportive of you and your goals. It's made all the difference for me. So find someone who has your back - a friend who can cheer you on! 

I plan on updating this portion of the blog more regularly, so y'all stay tuned! 

{This month's advertisement}

Del Monte Fruit Bursts - A Squeezable Snack!

 “The Del Monte products, information, and gift pack, have been provided by Del Monte.”

I'm constantly looking for new snacks to give my kiddos. If you have kids, you probably know what I mean when I say my kids are always hungry! It never ends folks, I'm serious. 

Typically, it's a huge struggle to distract the little ones from all the sugary sweets that they crave. However, every once in awhile I'll discover a delicious new snack that is appealing to them and to me. 

Enter Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers! Recently, I had the pleasure of giving these squeezable snacks a test drive and these little pouches have helped my family turn a corner in the snacking department! 

My two little ones love the Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers; the pouches are "just their size" and let's face it - kids love when they can squeeze or slurp anything. The favorite flavors in my house were strawberry and peach mango but they were all delicious. With five tasty flavors, I'm sure you could find one that you love too!

About Fruit Burst™ Squeezers

Made in the U.S.A., Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers contain 1 ½ servings of fruit or fruit and veggies and are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. In addition, Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers contain no artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup.

         Fruit + Veggie Varieties:

-          Peach-Mango: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, peach puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, carrot juice concentrate, carrot puree, mango puree concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

-          Blueberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, carrot puree, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

Simply Fruit Varieties:

-          Apple Cinnamon: Pear puree concentrate, water, apple puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), cinnamon, malic acid.

-          Mixed Berry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, strawberry puree, red raspberry puree concentrate, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

-          Strawberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, strawberry puree concentrate, natural flavors, carmine, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

Available at your local Walmart, be sure to add these squeezable snacks to your cart while picking up essentials for your family! 

Keep Up with Del Monte:

Pinterest.Twitter.Facebook.

Have you tried Del Monte Fruit Squeezers yet? What is your favorite flavor?

  {This month's advertisement}

Win Money for College & a Trip to NYC w/the Jif Most Creative Sandwich Contest #MC

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Jif. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

Do you ever just get a craving for a good sandwich? I do. I have a favorite from a chain restaurant that has bacon, guacamole, and sprouts on top of turkey all stuffed into a croissant. Gosh, it's good. Sometimes, I crave a peanut butter and banana sandwich...don't knock it til you try it folks. My kiddos - they like chocolate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I can't speak for that combination myself but it's their favorite! 

Currently, Jif is running their Most Creative Sandwich Contest and they are challenging families across the country to create an original sandwich recipe that includes two tablespoons of your favorite Jif products! Parents with children ages 6-12 can submit their original sandwich for a chance to win a $25,000 college fund and a trip to New York City! Hello - that's awesome! Check out this Nutty BBQ Chicken Quesadilla that was a finalist from last year! 

Yea, those quesadillas look delicious! So grab your kids and put on their creative chef hats and let them get to work in the kitchen. Head on over and enter their recipe before the contest ends on 11/8. Don't forget to read the entry rules! 

What's your favorite peanut butter recipe? 

{This month's advertisement}

All Aboard!! The Polar Express is Coming!

I was given a complimentary family four pack of tickets to experience the Polar Express at the Texas State RailRoad in exchange for sharing this information with you. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Y'all, I'M SO EXCITED!!! The Polar Express is coming back to the Texas State RailRoad and this year, I'LL ACTUALLY GET TO GO!!! I had plans to go last year but those plans got foiled - come Hell or High Water I WILL be on that train ride with my little family this year! 

All Aboard! THE POLAR EXPRESS comes to life this holiday season as the Texas State Railroad rolls out of the station bound for the “North Pole!” Come early and climb aboard with your family to cozy-up and enjoy our festively-decorated vintage train cars. Dancing chefs deliver hot chocolate and a cookie to each guest to savor while music from the Polar Express movie plays en route to the North Pole. Make sure to have your tickets handy, because your conductor will be by shortly to punch each child’s ticket.

Before arriving at the North Pole, the iconic book, The Polar Express is read as your Chef turns the pages to share the beautiful illustrations in the original book. With the station far away, THE POLAR EXPRESS magically arrives at the outskirts of Santa’s North Pole village, where Santa Claus himself and his elves joyously welcome the train! As you stay comfortably settled and warm in your seat, Santa and his helper elf board the train! During the return trip, Santa will greet each child with his signature holiday spirit and the first gift of Christmas: a bell cut from his sleigh. It is said that only children and those who still believe can actually hear the bell ring. Join in the singing as your Chef or Conductor lead Christmas caroling on the 30-minute return trip.

For those wanting the magic to last or to do a little Christmas shopping, visit our gift shop in the station for special POLAR EXPRESS gifts and merchandise. Oh, one last thing, children are encouraged to wear their PJ’s; adults who still believe have been known to wear them, too! So, are you coming? All Aboard!

Dates and Times:

Nov 15-17, 22-24, 29-30

Dec 1, 4-8, 11-23, 26-29

3:45pm, 5:15pm, 6:45pm, 8:10pm

Park Road 70, Palestine, TX

All Aboard the Polar Express is coming to the Texas State Railroad, visit https://www.texasstaterr.com/polar-express/ or call 877-726-7245 to climb aboard.

Have you ever climbed aboard the Polar Express?

{This month's advertisement}

A New Beginning

Today, I'm pouring my heart out...

I've been avoiding this space for quite some time. True, I've been distracted, busy, and overwhelmed but I could have made time to write. I did make time to write - but not from my heart. You may have noticed lately that the posts I've been writing are sponsored posts - all of which I feel are meaningful of course - but I haven't been sharing about me and my life. My last real post talked about how all of a sudden everything in my life was changing, but I wasn't yet ready to talk about what was happening. At the beginning of the year I declared that my word for 2013 was change - and all year long I felt like I was letting myself down because I hadn't really changed anything. Well - change has come my friends and it came with a vengeance. 

In August our family was dealt a blow when my 54 year old father in law suddenly passed away. Our entire family was in shock and none of us were prepared to deal with the aftermath. My husband and his father were extremely close and he has had an awful time dealing with the loss of his father. After my father in laws' passing, it seems like everything just spiraled downward.

I've tried to maintain a certain level of transparency when writing this blog - I feel like it is important for those of you who read my nonsense to be able to grasp a real understanding of who I am. I've been lucky to meet some amazing folks through my blog, or blogging in general, and I've always been proud when they've told me that I'm exactly the same in real life as I come across on the internet. However, there are still some things that I don't share in this space for a multitude of reasons. It is a personal choice to keep some things private, but at this point things in my life are changing so much that it would be nearly impossible for me to continue to write here and not explain what is going on.

My almost 7 year marriage to my husband has been rocky at best. I've spent a lot of years being very unhappy for a variety of reasons. I wasn't happy with myself, I wasn't happy with him, I felt trapped and controlled. I made mistakes. He made mistakes. We tried to fix things - three times we talked about the "D" word. I stayed to try to work things out each time - and each time things always stayed the same.

A few months ago I finally decided that it was time to change. I always convinced myself that I needed to stay in my marriage - if for nothing else, for the children. Well, I'm here to tell you folks - that is not always the right thing to do. When my children began to imply that I "never should have married daddy because I'm always frustrated with him" I knew that the time had come. I had always thought that we did a good job of hiding our unhappiness but apparently that was not the case. I could no longer ignore the obvious: my unhappiness was causing my children to be unhappy. 

I made the decision to leave. My husband and I are going through a divorce. The children and I moved out of our home and we have moved in with my mother temporarily. We are adjusting well but life has certainly been chaotic. This transition certainly hasn't been easy on any of us but the amazing part is that it feels like the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders. I'm happier, I have more energy, I'm smiling again. It's been a really really long time since I've felt like myself, but I'm getting back there a little more every day - and it is the most awesome feeling. I'm just taking things one day at a time. I feel lucky that the kiddos are adjusting well and I pray that they will continue to do so. 

The death of my father in law and my pending divorce are just the tip of the iceberg for what has been happening around these parts lately. Luckily all the other stuff is happy! Stay tuned!

If y'all made it all the way through this post - kudos to you! Thanks for being patient and hanging in there with me while I've been pretty much absent for the last two months or so. I've missed blogging so much and I"m ready to jump back in - now that I've gotten this off of my chest maybe I'll be able to do that!
{This month's advertisement}

Pass The Purse & Help Victims of Domestic Violence!

Disclosure: " This post is part of a sponsored campaign with The Allstate Foundation and MomSelect. All thoughts and opinions are my own."

Domestic violence is one of those topics that a lot of people tend to turn away from - it's hard to talk about and even harder to know how to help someone who is going through it. What you might not know is that 1 in every 4 women is affected by domestic violence - thats more women than breast cancer, ovarain cancer and lung cancer combined. Crazy right?  Those statistics are really scary and what is worse is that only half of Americans say that they would know how to help a victim of domestic violence. 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and our friends at The Allstate Foundation are helping to give a voice to this issue with the Purple Purse Campaign. Now in its third year, The Allstate Foundation's Purple Purse campaign has pledged to donate up to $350,000 to the YWCA for programs designed at assisting survivors of domestic violence and other women in need.

As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, The Allstate Foundation is sending more than 1,000 purses carrying domestic violence information throughout the country. The purses will be passed between co-workers, friends, and family, sparking important conversations along the way.  For every purple purse passed through the end of October, The Allstate Foundation will donate $5 to YWCA. You can even pass a virtual purple purse by logging onto Facebook.com/PurplePurse or www.purplepurse.com. (A Spanish-language site is available at www.bolsomorado.com.) Each time a virtual purple purse is shared or re-shared, The Allstate Foundation will make a $5 donation to YWCA. 

The best way to help someone who you think is a victim of domestic violence is to pay attention. Look for warning signs and if you see them, offer up your ear and listen. The best way to show support to someone dealing with domestic violence is to offer them support without judgement or criticism. 
{This month's advertisement}

Soar Through The Sky with A Wings Over Houston Giveaway! {Ends 10/19}

This is a sponsored post and I have been compensated for my participation. All thoughts and opinions belong to me. 

#flyinghigh #Houston #airshow

For 29 years the Wings Over Houston Airshow has been flying high and I'm super excited that for the first time this year, I will be attending the event! I'm always up to try something new and exciting; from what I've  heard about the WOH Airshow, it will definitely deliver on excitement! 

The Wings Over Houston Airshow is a family friendly event with a ton of things for everyone, young and old. I'm most looking forward to the Warbird Ramp Displays, Heroes & Legends Autograph Tent, the United Freestyle Stunt Team, and Oh yea, did I mention Dusty from Disney's PLANES will be there? Beyond that there is a long list of performers, including a tribute to the Korean War 60th Anniversary. The air show is not just fun entertainment but also rich with history. 

I'm anxious to go into the Legends & Heroes Autograph tent; I love that there will be Heroes, Legends and Veterans on hand to tell their amazing stories and to sign autographs. I can only imagine what important lessons there are to be learned from them. 

New to the airshow like me? Check out these tips and FAQs.

 Have you ever wanted to take a ride in an old war plane? Now that would be an experience!! I've teamed up with the Houston Airshow and a group of amazing area bloggers to give you that chance! 

There are some incredible prizes up for grabs:

Grand Prize - Approx. value 650.00  

Airplane ride ($300-400 value), two nights stay at the South Shore Resort and a family pack of tickets which are good for 2 adults and FOUR kids. 

Ride based on day of attendance and availability. 

Second Place:  Family pack of tickets  -- 2 Adults and 4 children - value $45.00. 

Third Place:  Two tickets - General Admission (value $40.00) 

The terms and conditions for this contest can all be viewed here. That’s easy and it’s also your easy entry!  

Enter Below - GOOD LUCK! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep up with the happenings of the Wings Over Houston Airshow on Facebook or Twitter!

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