Spring & Summer Recipes and Simple Meal Ideas for Long Days from Sam's Club

Weather in Wisconsin sucks. There are at least 3 {usually more} super cold months of winter. I'm sure you can imagine our need for nice weather outdoors come spring time after the rain stops.

Once spring hits, we spend quite a bit of time outdoors. It starts with the yard work, then moves on to the planting and just enjoying our yard. We put a lot of time, effort and money into it, so we might as well enjoy it. We grill out at least a couple of times a week.

Sam's Club armed me with $40 to prepare a spring recipe, so yesterday we headed out to our local Sam's Club in search for dinner.

Of course it was packed since it is Memorial Day weekend. I don't know what possessed me to brave any store this weekend!

It was definitely worth it though because they had samples galore, so we were able to try a bunch of different stuff. Lil Man was all excited and kept asking to go to every "try out" station. It was kind of funny. Later we filled him in that they're called samples.

I went there prepared to get everything I needed to make some kind of side dish and I would share the recipe with you. However, as always nothing went according to plan. BUT, that really isn't a bad thing. I think it turned out better!

Earlier, I mentioned all the free sample stations throughout the store. We couldn't resist these chicken, asiago cheese and spinach brat type things we tried. They were absolutely delicious, so we just had to snag up a pack.

The going through the refrigerated section, I found a 5lb container of potato salad for under $4! That is an insane price considering I'm lucky to get 1lb of the stuff at the grocery store for under $3. My guys are shrimp fiends, so we had to grab a double pack of jumbo spring with cocktail sauce. When I saw the Single Square Fresh Strawberry Cake, I couldn't resist grabbing it because I had tried it one of the previous times I was at Sam's Club.

I didn't have my own recipe per say, but I did get a complete meal, that was already thrown together {besides cooking the meat} and it was so simple. We did a ton of yard work after we came home, so I would have dreaded preparing food anyway. There are many times in the summer that's it's just so much easier to grab stuff from the deli and my "Spring Recipe" kind of features that I suppose. The only difference is that I spent a ton less!


Here's the spread of food we had, enough to feed the four of us, my brother and the neighbor with plenty of leftovers. In fact, I will be taking the rest of that potato salad to a friend's house this afternoon for another cookout. That container just saved me another day of cooking, awesome!

I'm sure you're just dying to know how everything was, so I'll tell you. It was delicious! The meat was yum, which we already knew it would be. The shrimp was huge, just look at the size of that thing. it's around half the size of the bun!

But that potato salad is what we were surprisingly raving about! I was a bit skeptical about buying it because you just never know how a salad is going to taste. But, for under $4 I couldn't resist.

I made the kids' plates, so the man starts eating before me. He said "Wow, this potato salad's actually pretty good." So I dug into mine, and said something along the line of "Hmm, it really is". It was not only better than we had expected, but better than the stuff from the deli at the grocery store, which by the way he will not eat.

We will definitely be going back for more of that, and also trying the coleslaw next time!

I did share an amazing meal idea with you. But since I didn't share a recipe, I'll share one from the summer recipe collection on Sam's Club website. Sam's Club carries fresh fruit galore, like shown above at totally reasonable and sometimes super low prices.

Watermelon Salad

* 1/4 c. fresh orange juice
* 2 T red wine vinegar
* 2 tsp. sugar
* 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
* 1 tsp. salt (more if needed)
* 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
* 6 cups Spring Mix
* 4 cups, diced watermelon
* 1/2 cup finely sliced red onion
* 1 cup crumbled feta or chevre cheese
* 1/2 cup sliced almonds or pine nuts

"Add all the dressing ingredients, except for the oil and 1/2 of the cheese, to a blender. Blend until combined. With the motor running, slowly add in the oil and blend briefly until the dressing thickens. To Serve: arrange the lettuce on 4 plates. Top with watermelon, onion slices, remaining cheese and almonds. Drizzle with vinaigrette."

Sam’s Club provided me with a $40 gift card for my participation in this campaign. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

Sunday Feature - Armillata Designs

This weeks feature is with Sarah from Armillata Designs where she showcases gorgeous handmade jewelry with vintage appeal.


Tell us your name and a little about yourself.

I'm Sarah, a bookworm and coffee junkie whose slow migration to increasingly warmer climates has brought me from my native Indiana down to Florida, by way of Texas. Along the way, I've collected a few things, from a degree in classical archaeology to a small assemblage of rescue pets, to a ton (I have a mover's estimate to verify) of books. Since I arrived in Florida about six months ago, life has been very exciting, between launching my jewelry business, exploring a new city, planning my upcoming wedding, and most recently, house hunting. In December, I began selling my own pieces of handcrafted jewelry, drawing on vintage costume jewelry design, and using reclaimed and antique components, semiprecious stones, and vintage style beads.

What led you to start making the things you do, and how long have you been doing this?

I've always loved crafting and art, and I've been fortunate to have the support and encouragement of the people around me from the time I was a child. My father and grandfather are skilled carpenters, and my mom, grandmother, aunts, and great-grandmother established an amazing legacy, from china painting and charcoal to fine embroidery and sewing. I grew up in a “we can make that” world, and my parents made a lot of sacrifices to encourage their children's creativity. I dabbled in all sorts of crafts, and after college, about eight years ago, I found myself particularly drawn to jewelry design (probably because I couldn't afford to buy all the vintage pieces I longed to collect).

What inspires you most?

Geography and history inspire me. I had the good fortune to spend many months living in Italy a few years ago, and anything that suggests the rich color or ancient feel of that place will attract me. More recently, I'm very drawn to ocean colors and themes. This is the first time in my life I've lived near the water and I'm a little giddy about it. Every time I go to the beach, it feels surreal, and that fascination has definitely come through in some of my recent projects.

Tell us one of the most memorable things while creating or selling your art/craft.

My most exciting business moment was definitely my first sale to a total stranger. Despite years of encouragement from friends and family, I was a little awestruck that someone out there liked one of my designs enough to entrust me with their hard-earned money (I'm doubly awed now that I think about how terrible some of my earliest photos and descriptions were, even a few months has made a big difference!). Every subsequent sale has generated the same little shock of wonder, and gratitude. Other memorable moments were my first repeat customer sale (the best feedback you can possibly get about how your work!), and my first Etsy front page appearance a week ago.

Do you have any advice for other artists/crafters?

I'm so new to business that I'm still better at listening to advice than handing it out, but as a crafter, I'd like to encourage others out there to never sell their designs short by denying themselves the quality supplies or tools they deserve. If you're putting your energy and creativity and hours upon hours of your labor into something, don't be afraid to use the kinds of materials that will stand up to time and use, and reflect your skill and craftsmanship. When I was still very new to beading, I spent weeks creating an intricate spiral stitched pearl necklace, then finished it off with a cheap, tacky clasp, because I felt guilty spending a little more for something nicer. I know many of us work on slim budgets, and those of us who sell often like to produce items for a range of price points, but if you can find the means, treat yourself once in a while to quality tools, and look for supplies that are worthy of you and your inspiration.

You can fins Sarah at the following places. Stop by and show her some love!

Armillata Designs on Etsy

Armillata Designs on Twitter

Armillata Designs on Facebook

My Neighbor Totoro DVD Review

Visionary and Academy-Award®-winning* director Hayao Miyazaki has created a heartwarming, music- filled and wonderful world in My Neighbor Totoro: Special Edition, a delightfully animated familyadventure. And now—exclusively in this 2-Disc Special Edition DVD—never-before-seen bonus features reveal even more of Totoro’s fantastic world! Follow the adventures of Satsuki and her four-year-old sister Mei when they move into a new home in the countryside. To their delight, they discover that their new neighbor is a mysterious forest spirit called Totoro—who can be seen only through the eyes of a child. Totoro introduces them to extraordinary characters—including a cat that doubles as a bus!—and takes them on an incredible journey. Bring home My Neighbor Totoro: Special Edition for
your family’s DVD library and experience the timeless classic film critic Roger Ebert calls “one of the very few that come along that are magical for all ages.”

Bonus Features
• The World Of Ghibli – Visit My Neighbor Totoro In This Imaginative Interactive Experience!
• Storyboard Presentation Of The Movie

My Neighbor Totoro is a great story about two little girls who move into a new house. There are little dust spirits in the house and Satsuki is scared of them at first, but not her little sister Mei. She is one brave little girl. Mei wanders off on her own one day while Satsuki is at school and she just happens upon Totoro, a neighbor in the forest.

She later tells her family about Totoro, but of course they do not believe her. Then Satsuki sees Totoro and the crazy cat type bus he hos on and she is a believer. When their mother takes a turn for the worse, Mei takes off on her own and they only way Satsuki can find her is with the help of Totoro.

I think Totoro is a great story about family, togetherness, sticking by each other in a time of need and of course friendship. I think it's a must see for kids!

Buy It!

My Neighbor Totoro (Two-Disc Special Edition) is available for $21.49 at Amazon.com.

I was given a product for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

So Cold the River by Michael Koryta Review & Giveaway {CLOSED}

So Cold the River

By Michael Koryta

It started with a beautiful woman and a challenge. As a gift for her husband, Alyssa Bradford approaches Eric Shaw to make a documentary about her father-in-law, Campbell Bradford, a 95-year-old billionaire whose past is wrapped in mystery. Eric grabs the job even though there are few clues to the man's past--just the name of his hometown and an antique water bottle he's kept his entire life.

In Bradford's hometown, Eric discovers an extraordinary history--a glorious domed hotel where movie stars, presidents, athletes, and mobsters once mingled, and hot springs whose miraculous mineral water cured everything from insomnia to malaria. Neglected for years, the resort has been restored to its former grandeur just in time for Eric's stay.

Just hours after his arrival, Eric experiences a frighteningly vivid vision. As the days pass, the frequency and intensity of his hallucinations increase and draw Eric deeper into the town's dark history. He discovers that something besides the hotel has been restored--a long-forgotten evil that will stop at nothing to regain its lost glory. Brilliantly imagined and terrifyingly real, So Cold the River is a tale of irresistible suspense with a racing, unstoppable current.

I picked up So Cold the River and I could not put it down. I was mesmerized by the places at first, West Baden Springs and French Lick. They seemed like places out of a fairytale and I thought they were, until I read further and realized these were real towns. These were real towns in a state I once resided in! After finishing So Cold the River, I had to hop on Google Maps to see exactly where these little towns are. They are located 4 hours and 20 minutes almost directly south of where I once lived, amazing.

Ok, so we know I get off subject and I just did there. My apologies, but the writing just flows out and that's that. Further into the book, even more interesting than the tiny little towns was the story unfolding. Eric traveled to West Baden Springs and French Lick with a strange bottle, took a drink from it and awakened something so deep, so dark, something long forgotten. He awakened an evil and the twists and turns that followed were just unreal. I was so caught up in the story that I just couldn't put it down. So Cold the River is 500 pages and I finished it within days of opening it. I was sucked in. There was no way I could put it down once I opened it, kind of like Eric and his "spring" water. This book was my crack, and I was addicted.

Michael Koryta did an amazing job with So Cold the River. I've never read any of his books before, but I definitely plan to read them all. He has a way of captivating his audience the way only a few other writers have in my opinion.

Buy It!

You can buy Name Your Link for $16.49 at Amazon.com, saving 34% off the cover price.

The Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of So Cold the River? I have one to give away to three lucky contestants!

To enter the giveaway head over to Michael Koryta's website and tell me another book you'd like to read or something you learned. This step must be done before you can qualify for extra entries.

Extra Entries:

• Follow Hachette Book Group on Twitter
  
• Follow Outnumbered 3 to 1 through Google Friend Connect
• Subscribe to Outnumbered 3 to 1 by email or in a reader {1 entry for each}
  
• Become my Friend on Facebook, "Like" Outnumbered 3 to 1 on Facebook or Follow me through Networked Blogs on Facebook {1 entry for each}
• Post my button on your blog sidebar, leaving a link
• Add my url to your text blog roll, leaving a link
• Comment on any Non-Giveaway post and let me know which post you commented on {1 entry for each post commented on}
• Stumble this post
• Boost this giveaway on Prizey {it's easy!}
• Post this giveaway on a contest linky or contest site, put link to site in comment {1 entry only}
• Vote for Outnumbered 3 to 1 on Top Mommy Blogs {1 vote required per giveaway entered}
  
• Blog about this giveaway, linking to the giveaway post as well as the sponsor. Make sure to leave a direct link {4 Entries, commenting 4 times}
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway using the following tweet and leave a direct link to your tweet {Can be done daily}

Sit back, relax and read this summer with a copy of So Cold the River by Michael Koryta @OutnumberedMama http://goo.gl/fb/CJav8 #Giveaway

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, otherwise it will just be counted as one. Your loss.

Check out a complete list of giveaway rules.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US & Canada until June 11th at 11:59 pm.

I was given a product for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

Aloha Friday

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that you take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So Kailani thought that on Fridays she would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I participated in Aloha Friday! I am such a slacker, huh ;)

My question this week is:

Do you have any Memorial Day weekend traditions?

We usually go camping or have a big cook out. This year, we're going camping next weekend instead. We haven't made definite cook out plans, but I'm sure we'll do one, even if it's just here with a few people. I'll have a recipe to share sometime this weekend, so keep your eyes out!

Target and P&G Team up for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - Swiffer Spring into Summer Prize Pack Review & Giveaway {CLOSED}

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. In 2010, St. Jude was ranked the most trusted charity in the nation in a public survey conducted by Harris Interactive, a highly respected international polling and research firm. For more information, go to www.stjude.org.

I'm sure many of you have heard about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and maybe you even know someone who has been helped there. Since no child is denied because of their parents' financial ability to pay, donations come in handy. Medical care is expensive!

Procter & Gamble and Target stores have teamed up to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Target will be carrying special "red" products from May 10 through June 13. Part of every purchase of these special "red" products will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Besides the donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P&G will also donate P&G products for families and patients to use throughout their stay at Target House and other St. Jude residential facilities in Memphis.

The great thing is that you don't really have to donate money to help out. You can just buy the things that you use in your every day life. Just buy them at Target in the specially marked packages and you will be making a difference automatically!

Procter & Gamble invites consumers to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in its fight to find cures and save children battling deadly diseases by purchasing specially-marked “red” Procter & Gamble products at Target. Target will donate fifty cents for every specially-marked “red” Swiffer® Wet Jet® and Swiffer Sweeper® Starter Kits as well as twenty-five cents for every specially-marked “red” Bounce®, Downy®, and Tide® from May 10 through June 13 at Target stores for a total of up to $250,000. St. Jude is one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.

In addition to the donation to St. Jude, P&G will provide St. Jude patients and their families with these same P&G products to use throughout their stay at Target House and other St. Jude residential facilities in Memphis.

The limited-edition Swiffer, Bounce, Downy and Tide products, with red packaging specially marked with the St. Jude logo will be displayed at Target stores nationwide from May 10 through June 13.

"Families today are making tough choices about how to spend their dollars, but every cent raised by Target guests purchasing limited-edition Procter & Gamble “red” products will help in our fight against childhood cancer so that children in communities everywhere will have a second chance at life,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude.

I received a "red" Swiffer Sweeper and a few samples of must haves for the laundry. I have to say, I never realized how much I missed my old Swiffer until I got this one. We have hardwood floors throughout the house, so naturally there's dog hair in corners and other places we can't easily reach. That's where this baby comes in handy, especially under the beds.

The Giveaway

How would you like to win a set of “spring into summer” cleaning supplies, including: samples of Bounce, Tide Plus Febreze Freshness Sport and Tide Stain Release samples, along with a full-size “red” Swiffer Sweeper Starter Kit? I have one to give away to one lucky contestant!

To enter the giveaway Tell me something you do to help out in your community. This step must be done before you can qualify for extra entries.

Extra Entries:

• Follow Outnumbered 3 to 1 through Google Friend Connect
• Subscribe to Outnumbered 3 to 1 by email or in a reader {1 entry for each}
  
• Become my Friend on Facebook, "Like" Outnumbered 3 to 1 on Facebook or Follow me through Networked Blogs on Facebook {1 entry for each}
• Post my button on your blog sidebar, leaving a link
• Add my url to your text blog roll, leaving a link
• Comment on any Non-Giveaway post and let me know which post you commented on {1 entry for each post commented on}
• Stumble this post
• Boost this giveaway on Prizey {it's easy!}
• Post this giveaway on a contest linky or contest site, put link to site in comment {1 entry only}
• Vote for Outnumbered 3 to 1 on Top Mommy Blogs {1 vote required per giveaway entered}
  
• Blog about this giveaway, linking to the giveaway post as well as the sponsor. Make sure to leave a direct link {4 Entries, commenting 4 times}
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway using the following tweet and leave a direct link to your tweet {Can be done daily}

Win a "Red" Swiffer Sweeper and samples of laundry must haves from P&G @OutnumberedMama http://goo.gl/fb/l1LBJ #Giveaway

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, otherwise it will just be counted as one. Your loss.

Check out a complete list of giveaway rules.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US until June 9th at 11:59 pm.

I was given a product for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

This Frigidaire Oven is So Easy to Clean!

Today, I'm going to share my thoughts on cleaning the stove. I know, I know... not the funnest topic. But hey, they do need to be cleaned whether we like doing the job or not.

My stove has a self cleaner on it and I'm pretty familiar with how to use it since my last stove had one and happened to be a Frigidaire too. This post has been in the works for the past week because I was trying to wait for a cooler day to use it. It hasn't happened yet, and I don't think it's going to any time soon. So I improvised. I'll explain later. First, let me show you how dirty my stove has gotten over the past couple of months. I have purposely not cleaned it because I wanted to share the cleaning process with you all.


Just look at all that gunk at the bottom! Ewww. Can you tell we use the oven a lot? I bet the majority of that stuff down there is burnt up pizza toppings because I use baking pans or casserole dishes for most of the other stuff I cook.

It really wasn't that bad, but bad enough I suppose. It did need to be cleaned. Since it is so hot here and we haven't brought the air conditioners up from the basement yet, I really didn't want to use the self clean option. It would have been so hot in here, someone would have likely found me passed out at my desk from heat exhaustion.

So I improvised. I thought it would be easy enough to just wipe the gunk away with some all purpose cleaner and paper towel. It would at least get the majority of it, I figured.


Well, what do you think? It came pretty clean, didn't it? I was surprised myself actually! I only used All Purpose cleaner and paper towel. I didn't scrub it with a sponge or scrubby one bit. You can see there's still some cleaning that needs to be done, especially right where the oven and door meet. But honestly, that's pretty darn clean!

I really can't believe that the inside came so clean without even scrubbing. That is so awesome because I really hate cleaning the oven. With Summer fast approaching, I don't know that I'll be wanting to use the self clean option anytime soon anyway. So, I'm glad that it's easy to wipe clean. Of course, I will be going in there with a scrubby sponge to get all the spots that didn't come off.

I know everyone hates to clean the oven, so I wonder if you'd like to share your secrets. Do you have any oven cleaning tips you'd like to share?

I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Range/Microwave to facilitate my review.

Freah Pair Lunaire Bra and Underwear Review & $30 Gift Certificate Giveaway {CLOSED}

I love variety when I'm shopping. This is especially true when I'm shopping for bras and panties. I want to see different styles, colors and brands. Freshpair offers all of those things. You can shop for anything from boyshort panties to bridal bras.


I received samples from Lunaire, a lingerie brand that specializes in bra sizes C – DDD. I was able to try the Lunaire Whimsy, Aruba Seamless Bra 16111. I received mine in pink and I just love the color. It's really light, almost peach. The straps almost blend in with my skin. I really like the soft, satin feel of the bra. It's light and airy too, helping to make a great fit.



I also tried the Lunaire Whimsy, Aruba Lace Trim Brief 16132. I'll be honest, I am not a brief person. I don't think I've worn a pair since I was a little girl and my mom still picked out my underwear. I was a little skeptical to try these at first.

I am happy to say that I like them though! They are totally cute for one. I just adore the lace design on them, very sexy! They fit great too, and they don't sit up super high like I was imagining. They're just an all around great fit.

Of course, I like the fact that it's a matching set too. That's always nice. it makes me feel sexier than if they were mismatched.


Buy It!

You can buy the Lunaire Whimsy, Aruba Lace Trim Brief 16132 for $14 and the Lunaire Whimsy, Aruba Seamless Bra 16111 for $26.

The Giveaway

How would you like to win a $30 Gift Certificate for Freshpair? I have one to give away to one lucky contestant!

To enter the giveaway head over to Freshpair and tell me something you'd spend that $30 Gift Certificate on. This step must be done before you can qualify for extra entries.

Extra Entries:

• "Like" Freshpair on Facebook
• Follow Freshpair on Twitter
  
• Follow Outnumbered 3 to 1 through Google Friend Connect
• Subscribe to Outnumbered 3 to 1 by email or in a reader {1 entry for each}
  
• Become my Friend on Facebook, "Like" Outnumbered 3 to 1 on Facebook or Follow me through Networked Blogs on Facebook {1 entry for each}
• Post my button on your blog sidebar, leaving a link
• Add my url to your text blog roll, leaving a link
• Comment on any Non-Giveaway post and let me know which post you commented on {1 entry for each post commented on}
• Stumble this post
• Boost this giveaway on Prizey {it's easy!}
• Post this giveaway on a contest linky or contest site, put link to site in comment {1 entry only}
• Vote for Outnumbered 3 to 1 on Top Mommy Blogs {1 vote required per giveaway entered}
  
• Blog about this giveaway, linking to the giveaway post as well as the sponsor. Make sure to leave a direct link {4 Entries, commenting 4 times}
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway using the following tweet and leave a direct link to your tweet {Can be done daily}

Win a $30 @Freshpair Gift Certificate to spruce up your summer wardrobe @OutnumberedMama http://goo.gl/fb/GPCGv #Giveaway

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, otherwise it will just be counted as one. Your loss.

Check out a complete list of giveaway rules.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US until June 8th at 11:59 pm.

I was given a product for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

Contest Tuesday Giveaway Linky

Make sure to stop by every Tuesday for the Contest Tuesday contest linky where you can link up your contests and find great contests to enter.

Although it's not a requirement, it would be great if you could help spread the word about this contest linky by posting my button, tweeting, etc.

Don't forget to let me know if you have a contest linky too. Tell me the day you host it or if it's ongoing, as well as the url or button code and I will post your button or link in this listing of places to list your contests. There's quite a list compiled already, you might want to check it out.

I've got some great giveaways going on this week, so make sure to check them out!

GE 13.7 CU. FT. Frost-Free Upright Freezer

320 Thread Count Duvet Cover set with Pillow Shams

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song

Thymes Offerings Candles

Starfrit Gourmet 80912-004-0000 Five Inch Ceramic Blade Knife with Protective Cover

Fantasy Jewelry Box - Item up to $35

Flicka 2 DVD

Personalized Book from MyFairyTaleBooks.com

Seventh Generation Disinfectant Line

DownEast Basics Swimsuit

Charice Pyramid CD

The Boys Played Dress Up

I was working on a post Saturday afternoon and everyone was waiting around for me to be done so we could head to grandpa's to till and plant his garden. The man and Big Bro were getting a bit antsy, so the found a way to occupy themselves, be loud with laughter and entertain themselves {and me at times} for awhile.

It started with the sunglasses.

Then they had to make him look cool.

But he was bare, so he needed a shirt I suppose.

They must have thought he was still a little too exposed, so added some sweats.

Yes I know, my guys are strange. Does anyone else have strange boys/men?

Winners 5/24

Softlips Claimed

#246 ferriz

Joshilyn Jackson - Gods in Alabama & Backseat Saints {5 Winners}

#146 janetfaye

#34 Linda Kish Claimed

#122 aledol Claimed

#200 Nickolay Claimed

#177 Isi and Jas' mom Claimed

Pillsbury Family Pizza Night Prize Pack Claimed

#97 Peggy

Marcal Small Steps Claimed

#5 T

Lysol Claimed

#184 Charlene

RubaDub Buddies

#174 Lo

Sunday Feature - Hi Girls

This weeks feature is with Lisa from Hi Girls where she shows off handmade bags, jewelry and items for the home.



Tell us your name and a little about yourself.

My name is Lisa. I live in a small victorian borough in Bucks County, PA. I have a degree in broadcast journalism, but ended up spending many years owning a picture framing and art gallery business. I am now "at home" raising two teenagers, tending to gardens, very involved in my church community and doing an increasing amount of work for my Etsy shop.

What led you to start making the things you do, and how long have you been doing this?

I have been sewing and crafting all of my life. I started making handbags after attending a home bag party of a large company that "custom made" bags. I thought to myself "I could do this, and with more originality". I began working with polymer clay after my then middle school aged son decided to work with polymer clay for an extra credit art project. As soon as we opened the newly purchased book, I was hooked. I then started utilizing clay for beadmaking, as beading was another new craft interest of mine. At some point, the clay became my trademark for embellishing the bags I make.

What inspires you most?

Fabric, art of all kinds, nature and life!

Tell us one of the most memorable things while creating or selling your art/craft.

I turned on my BFF to beading, and when she was going through some very tough times being treated for colon cancer, our beading sessions together were very therapeutic for her. We are having a sale soon to benefit our Relay for Life team.

Do you have any advice for other artists/crafters?

Just as I would tell a young person starting out; do what you love. If you love to do it, others will love to see/buy it.

Summer of Snacking with Nestle Ice Cream Treats and $500 Freezer Giveaway {CLOSED}

Summer time is fast approaching and that means my family and I will be spending more and more time outdoors. We'll be having fun and relaxing in the sun. The summer heat will get to us and we'll be in search of a refreshing summer treat, ice cream!


The Ice Cream truck has already started rolling by our house and of course the kids always have their hand out asking for money to get something. At $2-$5 per treat, that gets pretty costly for us. That darn man robs me blind every summer.

I'm going to outsmart him this year though and make sure my freezer is stocked with tasty ice cream treats. I think as long as I can keep my freezer stocked with items like Nestle Drum Sticks, then I'll be good to go. Maybe, just maybe the kids will dig in the freezer instead of wanting to go spend all of our hard earned cash.

I'll be heading to Sam's Club this summer to stock up on Nestle Ice Cream treats and spend way less money than I would otherwise. I'll even be able to give ice cream treats to the neighborhood kids that come to play with my boys without having to break the bank.

Sometimes one treat is just never enough for them, especially Lil Man my little pig. That's why I'll be sure to grab a box or two of Nestle Snack Size variety packs, which includes 10 Lil' Drums and 8 Dibs Snack Bags.



These tiny little snack size bites are just delicious! Have you tried them? If not, you're definitely missing out!




I know some of you are probably thinking "I can't eat that kind of stuff while trying to stick to a strict diet." Don't worry, I have those same thoughts going through my head at times. That's why The Skinny Cow Ice Cream treats are a great option for us ladies that are trying to stick that.

With low fat ice cream sandwiches in chocolate and vanilla, they're a great choice for any taste bud.

All of the Nestle Ice Cream treats at Sam's Club are individually wrapped so they're easy to store in the freezer. And of course, they all come in bulk, so you get more for your buck and have to stock up less frequently!

Win It!

Win a GE 13.7 CU. FT. Frost-Free Upright Freezer from Nestle!
ARV: $538.00

Click the link above to see an image of the freezer. Please note that the prize is being provided by Nestle. GE and Sam’s Club are registered trademarks and not sponsors of this giveaway.

To Enter the Giveaway

Tell me who in your household is more likely to eat one of the ice cream varieties from Skinny Cow, The Original Drumstick, Lil' Drums and Dibs. This step is required and must be done to gain entry into the giveaway.

Extra Bonus Entries: {May only be done after main entry above has been completed}

• What summer occasion would you incorporate ice cream into to make it more fun for the family? - 1 entry
• Follow or subscribe to Outnumbered 3 to 1 - 1 entry
• Become my Friend on Facebook, "Like" Outnumbered 3 to 1 on Facebook or Follow me through Networked Blogs on Facebook {1 entry for each}
• Post my button on your blog sidebar, leaving a link
• Post this giveaway on a contest linky or contest site, put link to site in comment {1 entry only}
• Blog about this giveaway, linking to the giveaway post. Make sure to leave a direct link {4 Entries, commenting 4 times}
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway using the following tweet {Please leave direct link to tweet} - May be tweeted daily
  

Win a GE 13.7 CU. FT. Frost-Free Upright Freezer ARV of $538 @OutnumberedMama http://goo.gl/fb/JcSUu #Giveaway

Each of the following blogs are offering a freezer giveaway as well. Stop by and enter theirs and I'll give you a bonus entry for each giveaway you enter. Make sure to let me know which site you entered on. {Possible 7 extra entries}

• 3 Kids and Us
  
• My Wooden Spoon
• Accidental Mommies
• MomDot
• Mommy Goggles
• Consumer Queen
• Mom Generations

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, otherwise it will just be counted as one. Your loss.

Check out a complete list of giveaway rules.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US until June 9th. Please not that it will take 6-8 weeks for prize to be delivered.

I have a material connection because I received a cash payment, gift or item of nominal value from a company affiliated with a brand, topic and/or product that is mentioned herein. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song Review & Giveaway {CLOSED}

If you're a normal reader of this blog, then you know that I am a huge fan of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. They are a huge inspiration to me and sometimes we all just need a little bit of inspiring!

The Exclusive Personal Stories behind 101 of Your Favorite Songs

Ever wondered what inspired your favorite songs? What was going on in the songwriter's life at the time? Who those lyrics were really about? Did he really write the song on a napkin? Many of music's most famous names reveal the stories behind their best-known songs. Many of these exclusive stories are told for the first time. Photos and lyrics are included too. You will never listen to these songs the same way again. A great gift for anyone who loves music, any age.

I opened up The Story Behind the Song and for the first time, I started on the first page. Don't ask me why because I really have no clue. I usually open it to the middle of the book and read sporadically because that just seems fitting to me with these books. And just maybe I like the fact that I can do that!

I am so glad I started at the beginning with this one though because the very first one was about Christina Aguilera and her song "Fighter". It is very unfortunate, but the song is written about her father and about how hard of a time she had growing up. I never knew any of that. It was quite inspiring to hear that she got through all of the trouble and heartache and moved on to much bigger and better things.

Here story isn't the only inspiring one though. There are over 400 pages of inspiration from artists like Enrique Iglesias, Huey Lewis,Brenda Russell and so many more. This one is definitely worth a read!

Buy It!

You can buy Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story behind the Song - The Exclusive Personal Stories behind 101 of Your Favorite Songs for $10.17 at Amazon.com.

The Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song? I have one to give away to two lucky contestants!

To enter the giveaway head over to Chicken Soup for the Soul and tell me another book you'd like to read. This step must be done before you can qualify for extra entries.

Extra Entries:

• "Like" Chicken Soup for the Soul on Facebook
• "Like" Chicken Soup for the Soul Teens on Facebook
  
• Follow Outnumbered 3 to 1 through Google Friend Connect
• Subscribe to Outnumbered 3 to 1 by email or in a reader {1 entry for each}
  
• Become my Friend on Facebook, "Like" Outnumbered 3 to 1 on Facebook or Follow me through Networked Blogs on Facebook {1 entry for each}
• Post my button on your blog sidebar, leaving a link
• Add my url to your text blog roll, leaving a link
• Comment on any Non-Giveaway post and let me know which post you commented on {1 entry for each post commented on}
• Stumble this post
• Boost this giveaway on Prizey {it's easy!}
• Post this giveaway on a contest linky or contest site, put link to site in comment {1 entry only}
• Vote for Outnumbered 3 to 1 on Top Mommy Blogs {1 vote required per giveaway entered}
  
• Blog about this giveaway, linking to the giveaway post as well as the sponsor. Make sure to leave a direct link {4 Entries, commenting 4 times}
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway @OutnumberedMama {Must link to giveaway post} and leave a direct link to your tweet {Can be done daily}

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, otherwise it will just be counted as one. Your loss.

Check out a complete list of giveaway rules.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US & Canada until June 4th at 11:59 pm.

I was given a product for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.