It's Gravy, Baby!

No Heat Curls – Process Photos & Result

Whitney — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:33:44 +0000

Now, I’m normally the last person to chat about hair, makeup, or fashion. Thanks for Pinterest, I happened upon this no heat curls tutorial that I just had to try. I’m lazy and I hate messing with my hair, so 10 minutes of work for beautiful curls that last? Yep, I’m sold. I even took photos of the process.

Yes, this is what I look like first thing in the morning. FUN!

The first night I put my hair up right out of the shower. The next morning, it was still soaking wet so I had to use the dryer. I lost my curl, but had a ton of volume. I have super thick hair, so I should have known it wouldn’t dry over night.

The second night, I dampened my hair by running my hands under water and then through my hair. The next morning, I woke up to big, beautiful curls. I used no product on my hair at all and those curls stayed for days.

After trying this out, I just had to share. To achieve these curls with a curling iron takes me at least an hour. If you have an elastic headband and access to some water, you can get these curls with less than 10 minutes of time. The headband does all of the work while you sleep.

Have you tried no heat curls? What are your favorite easy hair styles?

5 Easy Ways to Save Money in the Laundry Room

Whitney — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:37:58 +0000

I am all about saving and stretching a buck. As a one income family, it isn’t just helpful, it’s absolutely necessary. I wouldn’t trade staying home with my children for anything in this world, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t take sacrifice. It means saying “no” more than saying “yes.” For us, it means that if we don’t have the cash for something, it waits.

It hasn’t always been that way. We were once headed down a destructive path as far as money is concerned. Thankfully, we learned our lesson before options like credit counseling or debt consolidation were needed. No matter where you are in this journey, whether you are barely staying afloat or if you are debt free, it never hurts to find new ways to save money.

Use the right amount of detergent for YOUR family.
For us, that is always way less than the manufacturer recommends on the bottle. We use around 1/4 to 1/2 a capful and our clothes come out just as clean.
Cut dryer sheets in half.
You won’t notice a difference, promise.
Get the clothes out of the dryer when it shuts off.
I am so guilty of this. I’ll let the clothes sit in the dryer and wrinkle, then I’ll turn it on and repeat the process. It’s such a bad habit!
Make your own laundry detergent.
I’m not going to give you a recipe, because you can find them everywhere. The basic ingredients are borax, soap, and water and depending upon how you make it (liquid, powder) you can get the price down to a penny per load. No joke!
Use coupons and sales to get the best deal possible.
Almost 2 years ago, I was able to purchase laundry detergent for $.88 a bottle and you better believe I stocked up. We are still working our way through that stockpile. Deals like that are few and far between!

What are some ways you save money around the house?

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Weekly Meal Plan – February 19 – 25

Whitney — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:12:07 +0000

Happy Monday, y’all! I hope you had a great weekend. Justin and I went out on our monthly date night this weekend and we had a blast. We ate dinner at Ruby Tuesday. I checked my e-mail Saturday morning to find a 25% off coupon, so we used that and got out cheaper than ever. The shrimp fondue is delicious, by the way. Then, we headed to a different restaurant/ bar to have drinks and hang out with family and friends. A local band called “Still Kickin” played and they brought a crowd. The place was absolutely packed and it was a much needed adult night. My Gangan stayed at our house and kept the kids. I thought we’d probably call it a night by 9 or 10, but we finally made our way home around midnight. She was so happy to keep the kids and enjoyed them so much that when we got home, her and Bryson were still awake.

Breakfast

-Waffles
-Baked Oatmeal
-Cereal
-Toast & Eggs

Lunch

-Leftovers
-Peanut Butter Sandwiches
-Chicken Fingers & Fries
-Macaroni & Cheese, Peas

Dinner

-BBQ Chicken & Baby Back Ribs
-Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken & Rice
-Garlic Parmesan Chicken
-Chicken and Dumplings
-Chicken Wraps
-Steaks

What are you having this week?

Macy’s Heart of Haiti – Giveaway

Whitney — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 03:20:11 +0000

It’s hard to believe that it has been two years since I sat stunned it front of the TV trying to wrap my mind around the utter devastation in Haiti. Over 300,000 lives were lost. There were stories of sorrow, of pain and loss, but there were also stories of hope. It was like an emotional roller-coaster ride for me and as I tucked Bryson into bed each night, I gave thanks for things I had previously taken for granted- a home, warm beds, food, all of those things that seem to be a part of daily life.

I am so glad to see the Macy’s Heart of Haiti collection come to life. It helps Haitan families rebuild their lives after the 2010 earthquake using some of the most unlikely materials to create metalwork, ceramics, quilts, paintings, jewelry and other home decor items and accessories

From raw materials such as recycled oil drums and wrought iron to papier-mâché and stone, each item is handmade by a Haitian master artisan. By creating art that reflects their rich culture and history, artisans have a sustaining income to provide nutrition, education and health care for their families. The Heart of Haiti collection has led to employment of 750 artists in Haiti providing financial benefits for an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people in the country.

I received two pieces from the Heart of Haiti collection and the details are amazing. I adore that each piece is handmade, unique, and filled with hope. The Song Bird picture frame resides on top of my desk in the kitchen where I sit to type these posts. It’s simply gorgeous. The heart pendant is beautiful too, a piece that goes with anything and brings a message of hope for Haitans wherever it goes.

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Please allow additional time for the form to load.
Please view the full Heart of Haiti collection to complete the mandatory entry.

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I received products to facilitate this post. All thoughts and opinions remain my own, as always.

Graphic Tees for Kids – Hank Player U.S.A.

Whitney — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:39:42 +0000

I think I may be a little odd when it comes to my kid’s clothing. I prefer to dress them in comfortable, affordable, and stylish clothing. I don’t see the point in spending hundreds of dollars on clothing that they will wipe their noses on, spill their drinks on, and cover in food, mud, or whatever the medium of choice for that particular day happens to be. Add in the fact that they are constantly growing and changing sizes and really- why would you buy expensive clothing? My kids have a few nice outfits each, but most of their wardrobes consist of comfortable, easy to manage, mama’s not going to get upset if you ruin it clothing.

Hank Player offers a nice selection of children’s clothing. You’ll find long and short sleeve tees, rompers, diaper covers, hoodies and more. Some of the tee have surprises like glow-in-the-dark ink. I love, love, love the graphic tees. My favorites are the ones that feature a strong message like “I’m Gonna Change the World” and “Knowledge is Power”.

Bella has the “I Am the Future” tee and Bryson has the Retro T-Rex Dinosaur tee. I almost always order short sleeve shirts, because you can layer them in the winter then wear them as-is during the summer. Hank Player tees are super soft and made of supima cotton jersey. They are washed for softness and pre-shrunk for a true fit. Their site states that the girls tees may run large, but I ordered Bella a size 18 months and I would say it’s true to size.

Hank Player also carries adult clothing and accessories. Every order over $50 qualifies for free shipping too! You can connect with Hank Player USA on Facebook and Twitter.

We received products to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own, as always.

Healthy Comfort Food – Pork and Mushroom Quesadillas Recipe – Giveaway

Whitney — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:57:20 +0000

It’s the final week of the Good and Good for You Challenge hosted by the National Pork Board, but “good” just doesn’t cut it this week. Good doesn’t even begin to cover this recipe- more like delicious. My husband cooked these mouth-watering pork and mushroom quesadillas for lunch over the weekend and they will absolutely be on our menu again. We both cleaned our plates and there were no leftovers. I would have never thought to use pork on quesadillas, but they turned out fantastically. The pork sirloin cutlets were perfect for this dish.

Pork and Mushroom Quesadillas

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

12 ounces pork cutlets
1/4 cup olive oil
salt, to taste
6 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/3 cup green onions, sliced
minced jalapeno to taste (optional, we like spice)
8 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded
4 large flour tortillas (9-to-10 inch)

Directions:

Slice cutlets into bite-size pieces or strips. (Justin seasoned the cutlets with a little bit of garlic powder, cumin, and salt before cooking.) Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat; stir-fry pork for 2 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove pork from skillet and season to taste with salt.

Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet. Add mushrooms and onions; stir-fry for 1-2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove from skillet & wipe skillet with paper towels.

To assemble, sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over half of each tortilla. Top each with pork and mushroom mixture. Sprinkle each with 1/4 cup remaining cheese. Fold tortillas in half, pressing gently.

Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet. Cook quesadillas, 2 at a time, over medium heat for 2-4 minutes or until golden and cheese is melted, turning once. Remove quesadillas from skillet; loosely cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and quesadillas.

Cut into wedges to serve.

Nutrition:

Calories: 560                   Sodium: 250 milligrams              Carbohydrates: 18 grams
Protein: 40 grams      Cholesterol: 115 milligrams       Fiber: 3 grams
Fat: 38 grams                  Saturated Fat: 16 grams

Recipe adapted from Pork Be Inspired.

The pork sirloin cutlets are on sale at Publix starting tomorrow (2/16) through Wednesday (2/22). These cutlets are super versatile, so I would suggest picking up a few packs.

To keep up with the “Good and Good for You Challenge”, follow @allaboutpork on twitter and look out for the #PublixforPork hashtag. Connect with Pork Be Inspired on Facebook.

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I have partnered with The Motherhood to bring you recipes, information, and all things pork. As a part of this campaign, I am compensated for my time. All thoughts and opinions remain my own, as always.

3D Glasses & Pig Tails – Wordless Wednesday

Whitney — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:00:08 +0000

Bella’s hair has been long enough for pig tails for quite sometime, but I just pulled it up in them for the first time on Monday. O.M.G. Cutest thing ever. It felt like a rite of passage- I can now call myself a good pig tail stylin’ mama. (haha) She looked so adorable that I chased her around the house with my camera trying to capture the cuteness. It’s just too much for a photograph.

Bryson rediscovered his 3D glasses from when he went to the movies last summer. He wears them around the house and I told him he was stylin’ so then he went up to Justin and said “Dad, I’m stylin’” with his hands on his hips. LOL In this photo, he was getting a sip and said “It’s chocolate milk, mom.” Like of course, I should have totally known that!

Happy Wednesday, y’all!

Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all!

Whitney — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:46:38 +0000

I had no plans to post anything Valentine’s Day related, but when I came across this scripture this morning, I knew it was meant for me to share with you all. As I’ve said before, I don’t think today is just about romance. It certainly isn’t about chocolates and roses, although those things never hurt. (haha) For me, today is about celebrating the love in my life- my husband, my children, my parents, my entire family.

How are you celebrating today?

The Face of Domestic Violence – It’s Not a Joke

Whitney — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:53:33 +0000

I am sitting here stunned and I’m not sure that I’ll be able to make the words flow for this post.

Shocked. Angered. Disappointed.

Disgusted.

I have an entire line of expletives just waiting to rush out of my mouth and onto the screen, but this is a family friendly site.

I didn’t watch the Grammys last night. I have no idea who performed, who won what, etc.

But, I came across an article titled “25 Extremely Upsetting Reactions to Chris Brown at the Grammys” and well, my curiosity got the best of me.

I really, REALLY wish it hadn’t. I wish I wouldn’t have clicked that headline.

If you don’t want to go read it, let me just sum it up for you:

25 different females invited Chris Brown to come beat them.

Any time. Any day. All night.

Oh yes, they did.

Apparently, if you are a good looking superstar, that makes domestic violence not only okay, but welcomed.

Did they not see the photos of Rihanna after her severely beat her?

Not all women get out. Rihanna was blessed that she did.

I’d like to grab each of them and take them to the cemetary with me.

I’d like to show them HER face.

SHE is the face of domestic violence and laying her to rest at 28 years old broke so many hearts, so many lives shattered.

And these women are making fun of domestic violence. Let me just tell you how FUN it is…

It’s holding onto a mother and only being able to say “We shouldn’t be here..” while you look at her dead daughter lying in a casket.

It’s hearing that a life is gone. It’s replaying the scene over and over in your head.

It’s a funeral home full of sorrow. It’s a cemetery full of beautiful flowers for a woman who shouldn’t be 6 feet under.

It’s being so angry that you have no idea what to do with it. It’s having a clouded mind and not being able to think of anything else.

It’s visions of someone you love being beaten. It’s wondering if she died soon or if she was in pain.

It’s wondering if she begged him to stop. It’s wondering why he didn’t.

It’s crying until your eyes are red and stinging, but still crying some more.

It’s wondering if you’ll ever find peace and forgiveness.

It’s knowing that as hard as it is on me, it’s a million times worse for her parents and brothers.

We aren’t supposed to bury our children. We certainly aren’t supposed to get the call that they’ve been beaten, murdered, and stuffed into a duffel bag.

That is what domestic violence is. It’s anger, it’s hurt, it’s loss. It is so many things, but a joke is NOT one of them.

Weekly Meal Plan

Whitney — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:34:42 +0000

This weekend was COLD. I left the house a grand total of once and that was only because I needed to use a microwave. We have been microwave-less (by choice) for almost a year and this was the first time that I actually missed it. It was my own fault though. As part of the pork campaign, I had to cook a pork roast recipe, but I read my e-mails incorrectly and cooked the wrong cut of meat. I didn’t realize my mistake until after 5PM. 5PM on the same day that the post was due. There was no way the pork roast was going to thaw, so I took it to my parent’s house to defrost in their microwave and cooked supper for the entire family. It turned out to be a win-win- they got a great dinner out of it & I didn’t have to clean the kitchen!

Breakfast

-Cereal
-Baked Oatmeal
-Pancakes

Lunch

-Sandwiches
-Hot Dogs (this is practically a food group at our house)
-Macaroni & Cheese with Chicken Fingers
-Leftovers

Dinner

-Fried Chicken
-Sauerkraut & Weenies
-Grilled Chicken Salad
-Spaghetti
-Chicken Fingers & Fries (Chicken Finger Wraps for hubby & I)

What’s on your menu this week?