May 21, 2013

Get Moving with Unpakt

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Unpakt lets you find great movers, get exact prices, and book online. Did you know May is National Moving Month? Moving to a new home can have you experiencing a whole range of emotions from nervous and stressed to happy and excited. You either love moving (like me) or loathe it. For me, I look forward to the fresh start - it's a great time to purge useless, unwanted items and start anew. If you are planning to use movers to care for your precious cargo, you'll want to find someone reputable … [Read more...]



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May 16, 2013

Dunkin Donuts Introduces New Seasonal Flavors

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I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Dunkin' Donuts. I received a Dunkin' Donuts Party Kit to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating. LOVE 'EM BEFORE THEY LEAVE I am a major coffeeaholic... tis true. I do not function well in the morning until I've had a good cup of joe or five! Dunkin Donuts has been my go-to brand for many, many years. I usually get the Dunkin Dark or the Hazelnut. Having 5 kids that love sleepovers, we … [Read more...]



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May 15, 2013

Guest Post: Giving Up Shampoo

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Giving Up Shampoo: A How-to Guide to a “No-Poo” Life  The thought of giving up shampoo and conditioner all together seems crazy. Using those products is so deeply rooted in our routine that we don’t even question it. But truth is, lots of commercial shampoos and conditioners are irritating your hair, stripping it from its natural oils, because of harmful chemicals such as propylene glycol, chlorine or sulfates. But thanks to two common, cheap and easy to find ingredients, nearly everyone … [Read more...]



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May 13, 2013

Invisalign: The Cool Braces

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* This is a sponsored post on behalf of SITS girls for Invisalign. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I can remember as a teenager begging my mother to let me get braces on my teeth. Now, for one.. my single mother was not prepared to pay thousands of dollars for this procedure, especially when I was already blessed with rather straight teeth.  But, OH how I wanted braces. At the time, I didn't think twice about the possibility of being called "brace face" or "metal mouth." All I knew was I … [Read more...]



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May 3, 2013

I’m Doing the 5 Day Pouch Test

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If you've followed Mother of Pearl It Is for a while, you are probably aware that I made a life-changing decision to have Gastric Sleeve surgery for weight loss in August 2011. I was a thin chickadee most of my younger life, and ate what I wanted with no problem. Being a gymnast, dance team member, and active overall helped to keep me lean and trim - that is, until I graduated high school and the activities stopped. Then I met my chef hubby, who fattened me up even more with all his delicious … [Read more...]



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Apr 29, 2013

Fried Pickles with Ranch Dipping Sauce

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The hubby and I went to Texas Roadhouse back in February for our Valentine's Day dinner, which also happens to be our wedding anniversary. :) They had a V-Day special going for couples, where you could choose one of several appetizers, one each of several entrees, and a dessert to share. We love their food, but had never tried their Fried Pickles appetizer, so we decided to give it a try. That was it.. I was HOOKED!! I have obsessed over those Fried Pickles since that night. Not the worst … [Read more...]



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Apr 28, 2013

Avocado Veggie Omelet for Two

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Eggs are the perfect food in my book. They're tasty, high in protein and other nutrients, and low in calorie. You can prepare eggs in a variety of ways too, but my favorite (when I have the time) is in an omelet. This morning, I had a hankering for a delicious omelet stuffed with crunchy veggies, fresh herbs, and just the right amount of spice. I prepared an Avocado Veggie Omelet for Two - which my oldest daughter and I shared along with our morning coffee. Very little prep time, and made with … [Read more...]



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Apr 19, 2013

Spring Medley: Chicken, Mango, and Chick Pea Salad

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Salads are probably my very favorite food. I love blending various flavors and textures into my salads .. the more colorful, the better. My daughter has decided that I should open my own specialty salad shop - LOOK OUT SALADWORKS! ;) She will not make her own salad EVER.. says she can't make it like I do. I think that's just her way of manipulating me into making her salad, so she doesn't have to. This is my latest creation - there's just something about the chicken and mango combination. So … [Read more...]



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Apr 16, 2013

Carne Picada – A Budget Friendly #Recipe

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Having 5 children, 4 of which are still in the home, I've had to become an expert shopper! It's nothing for me to be in the grocery store for hours to shop, but I tend to come out with enough food to stretch for weeks, and also spend much less than the norm. Carne Picada is nothing new to our family. We use it for everything from beef stew and shredded beef tacos to stroganoff and stir fry. What is Carne Picada? It's really nothing more than thinly sliced strips of beef, sometimes even more … [Read more...]



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Apr 15, 2013

Who’s Ready to Hit Sahara Sam’s Oasis?

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Indoor water park... here we come! The weather has been gorgeous here in New Jersey the last couple weeks, and now it's time to start thinking about our spring and summer plans! My family's most favorite thing to do to beat the heat is spend the day at a favorite water park! And what could be better than Sahara Sam's Oasis right here in New Jersey?! They boast the LARGEST Indoor Water Park around with 58,000 feet of splashtastic fun!! We can't wait to get there!Want more?! How about the … [Read more...]



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Apr 14, 2013

California Turkey Burger + Wholly Guacamole & Jennie-O #Giveaway

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California turkey burger

* A gift pack was provided to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are my own. It's probably pretty obvious from most of my recipes here that I have a HUGE love for avocados. After all, they ARE the perfect fruit (or vegetable depending on who you're talking to). They're full of good fats ... monounsaturated fat to be exact, absolutely delicious, and the perfect accompaniment to your favorite salad, sandwich, or even on it's own. Words that come to mind when … [Read more...]



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Apr 13, 2013

National Boys & Girls Club Week is April 7-13 #BGCWeek

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* I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.GREAT FUTURES START HERE... When I was growing up in Atlanta, my single mother worked at her job until early evening. This meant that my brother and I were what you would call "latch-key" kids. Fortunately, there was a safe place we could go for the few hours after school until … [Read more...]



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Apr 12, 2013

The Fairy Hobmother is in the House

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Can It Be True?! You're already familiar with the Tooth Fairy... you've heard the Fairy Godmother's name many times before ... but just as famous (in Bloggyland anyway) is the ever-so-flighty Fairy Hobmother. I've been waiting patiently for my visit from this gleeful little sprite! Now, he's not actually "in the house" ... that would be a little freaky if he was actually in my house! But he did make his presence known through my blog email, which was super cool! I kind of imagine that he looks … [Read more...]



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Apr 12, 2013

Conscious Box 3-Month Subscription Giveaway and a Discount

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Devoted to Sustainability, Ethics, and the Best Planet Possible.. I just recently learned of Conscious Box - a company committed to conserving and preserving our home, Mother Earth, by offering only the purest products available. They search for the most ethical, honest businesses that stand above the rest. They are active in the green community and are always looking to reduce waste and increase efficiency by using 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard, recycled tissue paper, and … [Read more...]



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