Jeni is 90 Pounds Down with Nutrisystem

Jeni was not always overweight.  In fact, she was trim and athletic in her younger years, and it wasn’t until a significant thyroid problem and a very bad illness took over her health that the pounds started to come on.  Jeni spent years trying to get pregnant with her husband to no avail.  When all seemed hopeless, she began an aggressive regimen of hormone replacement drugs, and this added a significant number of pounds to her once slim frame. 

For all women, fertility issues are a contributor to depression and anxiety, and that coupled with the added weight gain was simply too much for Jeni to bear.  She felt hopeless, and the negative thoughts and emotions seemed to intensify more with each day.  She no longer recognized herself under all those added pounds, and her sense of self was dramatically slipping away.  Family and friends could see the change as well, and everyone was deeply worried for Jeni.

The moment of change

Jeni finally reached the point where she simply couldn’t take one more day of this pain and darkness inside of her.  Something needed to be done to put her on the path to health and self esteem again, and Jeni was now completely focused on figuring out what she needed to do to turn her life around for good. 

That’s when Jeni reinvented herself and her habits.  She joined the Nutrisystem program and began to exercise regularly.  As the pounds began to come off, Jeni could feel herself coming back to life.  With each day she made progress and her outlook on life became much brighter.  Ninety pounds later, Jeni had a completely new lease on life and had rediscovered her true, confident self again.

Jenny in a commercial photoshoot for Nutrisystem after losing 92 lbs

A plan that is simple

Jeni was astonished by how easy and simple the Nutrisystem plan is. This echoes the views of other women who lose weight on Nutrisystem, as documented on the reviews at WeightLossTriumph.com. Backed by 40 years of scientific research, the plan is based upon the glycemic index.  The delicious taste and variety of the Nutrisystem meals was completely satisfying for Jeni, and she found her weight loss experience to actually be pleasurable and inspiring. 

Jeni also claims that she never felt hungry on the diet, and was even surprised by how much food she was supposed to eat.  Carbohydrates were part of every meal, to help her feel even more satisfied and stable throughout the day.  She also found the tracking tools online and community discussion board to be extremely helpful whenever she had questions or needed support. 

New confidence

With her new-found confidence, Jeni took up a passion that she had held at bay for years: acting. 

Playing a mercenary named Bev in a MERCS episode

Now the 46 year old is hitting her stride and being the women that she always dreamed of being.  Watch her play in an episode of Flour called “what is the best way to propose”. For Jeni, Nutrisystem was the catalyst for reclaiming her life and her sense of self-worth.  She feels young again, and has enough energy to get through the day with a smile on her face.  She even looks forward to waking in the morning to sit down to her delicious Nutrisystem breakfast: because every day it’s something new and tasty. 

Photos credit

Bigfoot and Organizing

Have you seen this photo floating around the Internet of me? Well, It is not a stress call and I haven't turned into Tarzan woman. This is actually me doing a Bigfoot call. We had a training hunt on December 5th, and had a couple of news channels show up to interview us- watch my interview here. Since then, the story has been picked up all the way to Michigan and has been posted on sites all over the internet. Well, this is a huge deal to us and its getting attention. We have a big hunt coming up Saturday and we will have the news channels again- so I have had a lot of preparations to tackle. So, I've been swamped.

Although it has been crazy, I still have a ton of awesome stuff for you guys. I have a few more giveaways on my facebook page. There are also tons of reviews and giveaways coming your way.

Living The Organized Life is coming back December 26th. There is going to be an organizing post every day designed to help you get yourself organized just in time for the new year. There will be a post, challenge, giveaway, and free printable each day! So, it will be worth your time. 

This year is going to be different than last and all of the projects are going to focus on things specific to you, the busy woman. These are not household organizing projects, they are personal organizing. 

This is just in time for the release of my new printable planner. You will be amazed! 

So, mark your calenders for December 26- Let's get organized. 

I Am In Love With Cakes Under The Influence

Disclaimer: I received product to review. I was not asked to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

In case you have not guessed yet- my house is looking a lot like Christmas. Most of the decor is out, Christopher Pop-In-Kins is visiting, and we are finally in baking extravaganza mode. I finally got to try out the cookies that have been waiting for me. I just love Cakes Under The Influence.

The Hi-Proof baking mix can be used with any cocktail your heart desires. I even tried some as a "virgin" version and it worked beautifully. Did you run out of mix? Well, that is just fine- the cookie cutters come with recipes and there is even an app dedicated to providing you with amazing recipes for great cocktail cookies and cupcakes. 

What I did was make a cup of strong apple cider. To do this, I used a package of instant apple cider mix, 3oz of water, and added 1 oz of bourbon. To do the virgin ones, use 4 oz of water instead. I followed the directions on mixing and let it sit in the refrigerator for about 2 hours, but you only have to wait an hour. 

Then, roll out the dough on flour, flour the cookie cutters, and cut out the cookies. Be sure to spray your cookie sheet unless you trust that it will not stick. Bake for 6 -8 minutes on 375 and you are good to go. 

Now its time to decorate. You can use any frosting recipe and decorating techniques you want. I didn't realize I was out of powdered sugar, so I mixed a little milk and cinnamon and brushed it on the top of the cookie and used "colored sugars." It worked. 

If you can't tell, I am still learning to bake pretty things. In fact, these are the first cookies I have successfully cut out. Usually they end up a blob. 

These apple cider cocktail cookies may be the best cookies ever, but the orange creamsicle cupcakes were pretty good too. I am just amazed at how well everything from Cakes Under The Influence has turned out. So amazed, that I have a recipe to share with you- Cranberry Cheer Cocktail Cookies

Cranberry Cheer Cocktail Cookies

1 cup butter

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/2 sugar

4 TBSP Whole egg powder

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

3 TBSP Cranberry Ginger-ale (regular will work too)

4 TBSP 99 Cherries (or another cherry liquor)

Cream butter and both sugars together. Blend in whole egg powder until well combined. Then mix in 

Ginger-Ale and 99 Cherries. Mix in baking powder and salt. Gradually mix in flour. 

Chill dough for at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 400 F. Rollout dough on floured sheet and cut with cookie cutter. Place on cookie sheet with parchment paper and bake for 6-8 minutes. Cool and add glaze. 

If you want to use your own sugar cookie recipe, you can, just make the glaze with the alcohol instead. 

Its easy!

Cranberry Cheer Glaze

1.5 cups powdered sugar

1 TBSP Cranberry Ginger-Ale

2 2/3 TBSP 99 Cherries

Red food coloring (optional)

Whisk ingredients together and drizzle on your cocktail shaped cookies. 

Add garnish (Cherry or Cranberry works great!)

*Recipes adapted from Cakes Under The Influence Recipes*

Not only are Cakes Under The Influence products great for Christmas parties, but also 21st birthdays, graduations, birthday milestones, anniversaries, weddings, girls night, poker night, and promotions. 

I cannot wait to try a Chocolate-Tini and a Margarita (you all know how much I love Tequila) 

Visit Cakes Under The Influence and start planning your Christmas Party

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Holiday Gift Guide: Cakes Under The Influence

Disclaimer: I received products to review. All opinions are my own. I was not asked to write a positive review.

I have a recent love for baking and a long time love for cocktails and chocolate. Cakes Under The Influence is the ultimate combination of these things.

I received 2 different kits with plenty of mixes to try. I got the cookie set ($7) and the Margarita Set for 2 ($24.99). The cookie set comes with the cookie cutters and hi-proof baking mix. The Margarita set comes with 2 bags of hi-proof cake mix, cooking molds, baking paper, and serving dishes. 

The hi-proof baking mix is especially crafted for use with alcohol and cocktails. I fell in love. I made the Margarita set with the vanilla cake mix and added cream vodka and orange soda. It tasted just like an orange dreamsicle. 

The cookies are coming this week (if my stove decides to behave itself!)

I am so impressed with this set that I will buy more mix in the future and use it every chance I get. 

Stay tuned for another review and a giveaway! 

Holiday Gift Guide: I Caught Santa

Disclaimer: I received a promo code to try the service for free as well as share with my readers.

I have gotten a chance to try out iCaughtSanta.com for free, and so can you! Just use code #SantaShare when you check out! You get the download for free! The code expires December 10th, but you can use it as many times as you want. 

Just head on over to icaughtsanta.com and upload a photo of your own. No need to take a special picture either. I used a photo from last year after Santa visited. 

Select a Santa (or Rudolph) pose, resize him, rotate your photo, change brightness, and tada- you have a perfect surprise for your kiddos. 

Don't forget to enter code #SantaShare when you check out. 

This would be perfect for your little ones to see that Santa is real and he was caught!

Here are some samples to get your creative juices flowing. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Holiday Gift Guide: Shirts Make Great Gifts

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.

Whoop Tee is not just a cool name! Whoop Tee is my new shirt resource. I used to make t-shirts to sell and for gifts, but I just don't have the time for that anymore, so I have decided to outsource these gifts. 

T-shirts can be great for gifts, fundraisers, family events, and to make your group look more professional. I have worked with a lot of t-shirt companies and I am completely impressed with Whoop Tee! 

  

  

Is there a group you are part of- either formal organization or a group of friends? Think about getting t-shirts made for Christmas or a special event. My paranormal team has t-shirts for wearing during events. 

Does your family have special events like Six-Flags day, family reunion, or parties- you need t-shirts. 

For all those Black Friday shoppers, you needed this shirt. 

 

I have a lot of funny guys in my family. Strangly, they all like math too (I knew there had to be something wrong with them to be so funny). They will receive a funny math shirt for Christmas. It will probably be one that I have no clue what it means- but they will never know that (unless they read this blog!)

Are you planning a big party, conference, or festival? Are you going to be following your favorite band around, do you want to show your favorite little karate master or dance diva support? Its time for a custom t-shirt. 

The point is, whenever I am planning something, buying a gift, or getting together with a group of my favorite people, I always think about t-shirts. You should do the same, it is a quick, cost-effective, and unique purchase. In fact, I will be ordering a lot in 2014 (as well as the 2013 holiday season). I will say "here is your new Whoop Tee" hehe

I would definitely suggest using Whoop Tee for all of your custom shirt needs. The website is easy to use and even provides templates for design assistance. There are tips from professional designers, and even a great customer service team that will assist you the whole way. Thanks Whoop Tee for being so great!

Holiday Gift Guide: Teething Bling

Disclosure: I received a product in exchange for my review. I was not asked to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Now that I am on my second child, I have a better idea of products I love and don't care for. One of those things is teething rings. Its not that there is anything wrong with them- they do their job. What I don't like about them is that they are going to get dropped and you never seem to have it handy when you need it.

That is why Teething Bling by Smart Mom Jewelry is on my list! It is handy, stylish, and the babes love it. My little princess is not teething yet, but she loves chewing on her hands and she doesn't always want her pacifier. Instead, she wants my jewelry when she gets tired of her hands. So, I just put on my teething bling necklace and she chews/ sucks/ slobbers on it instead. In fact, I keep it in my diaper bag- so I have it every where.

I know that once her teeth start coming in, Teething Bling is going to be a sanity saver- I hate giving medicine and I hate washing traditional teething rings every time they fall on the floor.

Its stylish too!

Our Teething Bling products are made from a food-safe, phthalate-free, federally-approved silicone.- smartmomjewelry.com

I'm not one to just pop over and get something because a celebrity said to... but, when Dr. Sears likes something, I usually do! Thanks Dr. Sears for loving Teething Bling!

         

Even better, Teething Bling was developed by 2 moms and it is a mom run company!

Gift Guide 2013: The Man In Your Life

Disclosure: I received a product in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

My husband works hard in construction to provide for me and the kids. He does everything he can for us. I was thinking about all the changes in our lives over the years- especially this year. With his injury, my mom's stroke, the birth of our surprise daughter, and the passing of my Grandfather, he has stayed strong for us all. I wanted to get something really special for him to show him how much we love him. Then, I noticed his wedding ring. He wears it so proudly, but it was so scratched up.

The people from Tristan&Eve contacted me about reviewing a ring, so I jumped at the opportunity to review this gorgeous ring and let my husband test drive it at work- he is very rough with jewelry.

He was ecstatic. The best part is that we started dating just a little over 7 years ago, and this ring has 7 stones in it- must have been fate. 

My knight in shining armor said that it is the most comfortable ring he has ever worn- it is like a comfort fit band. 

The ring is Titanium, so it is harder for him to scratch (Titanium is not scratch proof, but is scratch resistant). If he didn't scratch it in a week at work, that's pretty good! 

He usually has to take his wedding band off when he uses strong power tools or weed eats because the vibrations along with the ring make his hands swell and he cannot get the ring off. He forgot to take it off while weed eating, and his ring was not stuck! 

The cubic zirconia stones look like diamonds- no one will know the difference. 

The best thing about Tristan&Eve is that there is a 12 month money back guarantee on the ring! 

Dear Santa: Mommy wants a shiny new ring!

Qualifying for a Discount on Weight Watchers

To call Weight Watchers a weight loss program is an understatement. It is more of a guide to developing a healthy lifestyle, something which leads to weight loss. You not only learn about what you need to do in order to lose weight but also how to keep it off. After all, weight loss is only effective if you don’t gain the weight you have lost right after completing the program. This is something not every weight loss program offers which makes Weight Watchers a great choice for you.

Weight Watchers offers numerous options with regards to how you want to follow the program. You can check out their official website and learn how you can sign up for it. Also, you can attend their periodic meetings and meet fellow individuals who are also looking to shed extra weight and get into shape. Either way, the choice is yours. You can select the way you want to lose weight on the program based on what makes you feel comfortable.

Being a top of the line weight loss program, you would expect Weight Watchers to be pricey and most of its plans are. A lot of effort and research go into creating the detailed plans for Weight Watchers which is why they charge top dollar for their material. The cost can be a drawback for some, especially as you have to spend $3 to $5 per pound lost on average. However, you don’t need to worry about the cost as you can easily qualify for a discount on Weight Watchers.

You don’t have to work too hard to get a discount. All that is required of you is to go online and find coupons, vouchers, promo codes and deals that promise savings on Weight Watchers. There are so many of them that it is next to impossible to miss out on them. One of the best resources in this regard is Coupons by Answer.com. They have no less than a dozen different deals on offer you can avail. You simply have to click on the deal to avail it.

Another great website you can check out for Weight Watchers’ deals is weightlosstriumph.com. They not only have coupons and vouchers you can use to get a discount on Weight Watchers but also provide answers to commonly asked questions about the program. “What will I eat on Weight Watchers?”, “Is Weight Watchers for Men?”, and lots of testimonials are some of the things the site provides.

Diane and Stephen

If you have any doubts about the effectiveness of Weight Watchers, Diana’s story should dispel them. Diana had been overweight from an early age. She had been struggling with weight problems a long time before she discovered Weight Watchers. Even then she was having a hard time keeping up with the program. It was then that her husband, Stephen, also signed up for the same program. Both of them started seeing the results of their efforts in no time. Being hardcore foodies, they stick to the habits they developed through Weight Watchers. The happy couple is now at a healthy weight level.

Diane and Stephen after losing weight

You will find many such inspiring success stories of people who have tried Weight Watchers. While many people have lost weight successfully, others got tired of counting Points. Regardless, if you decide to give it a try make sure you avail the discounts to lower the cost of the program.

A Change in Semester and A Change In Lives

Disclaimer: I have been compensated for writing this post. All opinions are my own.

I remember my very first semester of college, walking into that bookstore all excited to get my very first college books. I was on cloud nine and finally an adult. Then my total was told to me. I was in shock. for 6 classes, I had to pay over $700. Some were even used! 

It continued that way for the next 3 semesters. I sold my books back and still only got a couple hundred each semester (if that!)

Luckily when I finally return to complete my Bachelor's degree, there are other programs that books can be purchased through. Campus Book Rental is a great one!

Some of the great benefits of using CampusBookRental.com are:

• Feel free to highlight in the book
• Free shipping both ways
• Live customer support
• Largest selection nationwide
• Flexible rental periods
• 21-Day risk free returns
• Save money!

Did you buy your book from the campus bookstore and pay too much money? Are you now concerned about how little you will get if you sell them back? Well, Campus Book Rental has a new service you will love! RentBack allows you to rent your books to other students and make up to 4 times as much as if you sold them back to the college.

My favorite thing about CampusBookRental.com is that every textbook rented, a donation is made to Operation Smile. Lives are saved because of this organization and Campus Book Rental helps make it a reality. These poor kids aren't just born with a "birthmark," but a life threatening condition. 1 in 10 children born with a cleft palate or lip do not live beyond their first birthday. Most that survive cannot talk, eat, socialize, or smile. In addition to having this disfigurement, in some places the children are shunned. 

So, you get to save money with CampusBookRental.com, make money with Rentback.com, and all of that contributes to OperationSmile.org. It truly is a win-win-win situation. 

Keeping Kids Engaged During Thanksgiving Dinner

I have such a huge family that growing up, the kids table was usually bigger than the adults table. This was fun, but sometimes got boring. If Thanksgiving dinner was at someone else's house, my mom always brought coloring books along (enough for all the kids). If Thanksgiving was at our house, mom had us set up with crafts, coloring books, and other fun things to keep us busy. Since I have become a mom, I have been intrigued by some of the things moms come up with to keep the kids busy. I will share some of my favorites.

• My mom always covered our table with wrong side up wrapping paper. It was great because we could write on it, but she didn't have to worry about us messing the table up. Butcher paper will work too! 
• Create a cardboard tree and let the kids write what they are thankful for on leaves and hang those on the tree that doubles as a centerpiece. 

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• I am absolutely in love with this Thanksgiving placemat for kids- I will definitely use this in the future

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• My mom kept a trunk of board games on hand for all occasions. My own little family has started our collection. I love holiday specific printable games like this one. 

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• If there aren't a lot of kids at the event, creating a special gift pack that they can use while at the event, is gorgeous, and can be given to the child as a special treat would be perfect. This is one I will do next year. 

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• I'm always a fan of toilet paper roll crafts

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• I love this idea for an educational activity without feeling like school

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• I am loving a photo booth as well!

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• A great idea for something for the kids to do while preparations are being finished is to let them make hats they can wear for the day

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• Turkey crafts are always a win!

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What are you doing to keep the kids busy this Thanksgiving?