Swagbucks Around The World Promotion July 1 - July 8

This post contains my Swagbucks referral link. 

Every once in a while Swagbucks has a promotion where you can win specially designed bills and get extra Swag Bucks for winning them all.


Starting Monday, July 1st, the newest set of Swagbucks Collector's Bills celebrate different places in the world where Swagbucks is available. If you can earn all five bills (available exclusively through search) before Monday, July 8th, you'll get an automatic bonus of 20 Swag Bucks applied to your account. You can track which bills you've got by going to the "My Swag Bucks" area of your account and clicking the "Collector's Bills " tab.

Click here if you're not earning on Swagbucks yet. You earn rewards for doing all of the things online you already do, such as searching, shopping, taking polls and surveys, watching videos, and more. Plus, it's completely free. I've used Swag Bucks for a couple years now and earned numerous Amazon gift cards and Paypal cash. Join today and you can too!

11 Simple Things That Make Me Happy

Sometimes the simplest things can help put a spring in your step or just make your day a little easier. Here are a few really simple things that make me happy:

Morgue File

1.  Being able to park my vehicle in our garage - Our garage has always been reserved for my vehicle. But, sometimes, my husband will have a project of some sort going on and he needs the garage. I am always so happy to get my garage parking spot back, especially in the cold, icy winter-time.

2.  My freshly painted toenails - I just do not feel quite myself if my toes are not painted.

3.  Getting into a good book - Reading is one of my favorite things to do and there is nothing like getting lost in a great story.

4.  Snuggling and petting our dog - Our dog is a little persnickety with her affections and sometimes just does not want to be bothered with us. Those times when she jumps up beside me for a cuddle are nice.

5.  Listening to music on my Ipod - Listening to music always lifts my mood and makes me happy. I love my collection of songs that are on my Ipod -- everything from 80's music to classic rock to classical music.

6.  A good tv night - I have mentioned plenty of times that I am a huge tv-junkie. Those nights when one, two, or even three of my favorite shows are on and I have nowhere to be but settled in front of the tv are great.

7.  Nights with all of my family home and safely tucked into bed - Our kids are 12, 15, 16, and 20. Two of them are driving and they are at an age where they are starting to be out and about and doing more things without us. It is very comforting to go to bed and know that everyone in my family is home safe and sound.

8.  Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - This is hands-down my all-time favorite candy and has been since I was a little girl.

9.  Being caught up on laundry - We are a family of six and I literally do laundry just about every single day. Being "caught up" to me is anytime I have three loads or less. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, it makes me really happy.

10. Going to see a movie - This is another of my favorite things to do. It's just nice to take a couple hours and get away and do something just for the entertainment of it.

11. Fresh, clean sheets on my bed - There's nothing like getting in a bed with fresh, clean sheets. It makes all the difference in the way I sleep.

How about you? What are some simple things that make you happy?

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Are You a Glass "Half-Full" or "Half-Empty" Person?

"The glass is half full" and "the glass is half empty" - I'm sure you've heard those sayings before. But, which one of them fits you?

I have to admit, I'm more of "the glass is half empty" kind of gal. This drives my husband crazy - he says that I am too pessimistic and negative and he thinks I shouldn't be that way. He subscribes to "the glass is half full" notion.

It's not that I'm all doom-and-gloom and negativity - I'm certainly not. "The glass is half empty" to me means I'm just more accepting to any challenges or bumps in the road that may arise. It is not that I automatically expect bad things to happen or want them to happen, but I realize that they could and do happen. This gives me a feeling of comfort and more control over handling these bumps in the road. I tend to have a very analytical personality, wanting to be rational and in control at all times. I think the "glass half empty" just goes along with that. Maybe it's not the best way to look at things but it helps me minimize the stress in my life. It helps me to feel ready for whatever may come.

Does that make sense?

Which saying best describes your personality? How do you handle bumps in the road?

Chocolate Chip Delight Bars

I'm not sure where this recipe for Chocolate Chip Delight Bars originated. But, it was shared with me by a friend over twenty years ago and I've been making it ever since. It is very quick and easy to make and tastes so rich and yummy. I like the bars best served warm, so if I'm not having one fresh from the oven, I usually have one that has been heated up in the microwave.

Chocolate Chip Delight Bars

Ingredients for Crust:

1 Box Yellow Cake Mix

1 Egg

1 Stick Melted Butter

Ingredients for Top:

8 oz. Softened Cream Cheese

2 Eggs

1 Box Powdered Sugar

Small Package Chocolate Chips

Mix together the crust ingredients and press into a 9x13 pan

Combine 8 oz. softened cream cheese and 2 eggs. Beat about 5 minutes until fluffy

Add 1 box of powdered sugar and beat

Fold in small package of chocolate chips 

Pour over crust. Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes

Enjoy!

Family Fun in the BackYard

Last summer, we put a pool in our backyard. It was already well into the summer when we did and we didn't  get a chance (or have the funds) to finish all that we wanted to do (i.e. landscaping, getting new patio furniture, etc.). So, this summer we've slowly been working on some of those things.

A couple weeks ago, my husband built six nice big planter boxes for our pool deck. It is so nice having such a talented carpenter for a husband. I swear, he can build just about anything (he built our house!). Anyway, he built the planters and the kids worked (in the rain) to help him fill them with plants.

We also got our backyard fence stained. That was a chore! It took four to five of us working together for two full days to get it done. My body is not used to so much manual labor and boy, was I sore! 

And, we were finally able to get a little bit of landscaping put in around the gate and our back porch area.

There is still a lot of work to do. We have a covered pavilion right off the pool (hubs built that, too) and it and the pool deck need to be painted. We also want to put a metal roof on the pavilion.  

There are areas of the yard where the grass is pretty sparse so we need to plant grass seed. We want to plant some larger trees in the backyard as well as do more landscaping in general. And, we REALLY need to get new patio furniture...it's killing me to have this pool and all this space but no furniture. It's so expensive, though and it will probably have to wait a little longer. 

So much to do and so little money to do it with, hee hee!

It is definitely a work in progress but we are certainly enjoying our summer in the backyard!

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Junebug

When a big-time art dealer travels from Chicago to North Carolina to meet with a reclusive artist, she also gets the chance to meet her new husband's family for the first time. She soon learns that they come from two very different worlds.

This is a great movie!. It's both funny and heart-breakingly sad.  Amy Adams is amazing as the ditzy, but good-hearted sister-in-law.

Rated R for sexual content and language. Available at Netflix.

 

Happy Father's Day!

Father, dad, daddy, papa, grandpa, papaw....whatever your loved ones call you, here's a very Happy Father's Day wish to all you wonderful guys out there. Enjoy your day!

Hot Beauty Product - Simple Eye Make-Up Remover Pads

There is an affiliate link at the end of this post. This is not a sponsored post, just me sharing a product that I personally buy and love to use.

I may forget to do a lot of things, but, removing my makeup every night is not one of them. I cannot stand to go to bed with makeup on my eyes. It's just a yucky feeling waking up with caked-on, crusty mascara and eyeliner on your face.

Over the years, I've used a lot of different products for eye makeup removal. To be honest, a lot of them worked fine and a lot of them didn't. Some were too oily or greasy. Many burned my eyes. And, some really did not do a thorough job of actually taking off the makeup.

I have used Simple skincare products off and on and have always been impressed. The brand is known for its "simple goodness" as it states on their packaging and is recommended for sensitive skin. When I spotted these Simple Eye Make-Up Remover Pads on the shelf at my local Kroger store, I knew I had to try them out.

The round eye make-up remover pads are 2.5 in x 2.5 in and come in the cutest little resealable package. You could easily slip this in your purse, makeup bag, or just about anywhere. There are 30 pads to a package and one pad is more than sufficient to get the job done. I generally wear eyeshadow, eyeliner, and regular mascara (not waterproof) and the Simple pads work perfectly for me. They do not burn my eyes at all and they have just the right amount of wetness to each pad.

Not only do they work great, but, the Simple Eye Make-Up Remover Pads are modestly priced at just over $5 per package. I often find them on sale at Kroger for $4.99. 

I am so happy that I found this hot beauty product! It works and it's a good value. I was glad to learn that this Simple brand product contains no alcohol, no oil, no artificial perfumes, and no harsh chemicals. It is dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested, hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic, and safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Simple Eye Make-Up Remover Pads are one item that I will always keep in my beauty stash.

Have you tried them? Let me know if you do...

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is a movie that took me by surprise. I'm a fan of Steve Carell but I just wasn't sure if this was going to be funny or more of a serious film. As it turns out, it was a little of both. I laughed (a lot) and I cried (a lot), too.

There's an asteroid on track to crash into and destroy the planet. We follow along and see how the cast of characters decide to spend their last weeks on Earth. Dodge is an insurance salesman whose wife has just left him. He is sad and a little pathetic, not quite sure how to handle dying alone. Penny is a free-spirited young woman who desperately wants to reunite with her family before the asteroid hits. When the two happen to meet, their lives are forever changed.

Rated R for language, sexual references, some drug use, and brief violence.


 

Movie Trailer Tuesday - 28 Hotel Rooms

28 Hotel Rooms is not your usual kind of movie. There is no in-depth plot or clear-cut ending. It follows a man and woman who are having a long-term affair. We never really learn their names or the exact length of time in which this story takes place. We see their story unfold as they meet in secret, in a series of hotel rooms. The characters really draw you in and show a lot of raw emotion and vulnerability. It's an artsy sort of film and the story is told in a very unique way.

28 Hotel Rooms is available on Netflix. This movie is Not Rated. There is much nudity and strong sexuality throughout the entire film.


 

Allstate "Good Hands for the Good Life"

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Allstate for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Allstate’s “Good Hands for the Good Life” is a new motto that aims to covey optimism and celebration rather than fear. Of course, we all face fear and risks every day, but we should not let that hold us back from making our lives the best they can be. Allstate Good Life works hard to help its customers build more of the good life.

As a mom of four kids, I feel that fear every day. Two of my kids are of driving age (20 and 16 years old), and another is just about there (14 years old). When I think about my kids being out on the road in a car on their own – that scares me so much! So many things could happen. As a parent, it’s my job to teach my children the best I can and make sure they are prepared for any situation. Education and instruction, along with lots and lots of practice, ensures that they are actually ready for the responsibility of getting a driver’s license. Driving is a privilege so I also have to make sure my kids know there are consequences if they do not follow the rules – both the rules of the road and the rules set forth by myself and my husband.

It has been difficult for me to hand over the keys and let my kids take the driver’s seat. But, learning to drive is a rite of passage for teens. I cannot let my fears get in the way and hold my children back. I have to trust that everything will be okay and join them in celebrating this milestone in their lives. This is a good and exciting time for our family and just one way that we are blessed to have a good life!

What about you? I would love to hear about your own good life story. Feel free to share in the comments below what’s good in your family right now.