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Everything Else Reading

BlogHer Book Club: The Magic Room

My most recent BlogHer Book Club pick was Jeffrey Zaslow’s The Magic Room. I read the synopsis in my email & on the back of the book, & I thought I’d enjoy reading about Becker’s Bridal & the families & brides shopping there. That’s quite an understatement. I brought The Magic Room to work one day when I knew I’d be eating lunch alone. I cried just reading the introduction {like big crocodile tears} & had to close the book in fear of being “that girl” reading & crying alone.

I finished The Magic Room last night after reading while in the car with my parents Christmas Eve & while taking chill breaks this weekend. I loved it; I think non-fiction is a new favorite of mine. I loved how Jeffrey weaved individual brides’ stories along with the story of the Becker family. I loved how, just as he wanted, the love of daughters really shined through. If I’m ever in Michigan, I’ll have to make a stop in Fowler & see Shelley & maybe Alyssa at Becker’s. Any Michigan readers ever been there?!

I think The Magic Room is my favorite of the BlogHer Book Club books I’ve been sent to read. I’d recommend this to anyone who’s purchased a bridal gown, or to someone about to or dreaming about their wedding. I’d love for Dads to read it to see the bridal world & what makes that dress just so special from another Dad’s point of view.

This was a paid review from BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are all my own. You can join the discussion on BlogHer’s Now Reading The Magic Room.

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Everything Else

ABBA You Can Dance

I received an email from Clever Girls & Ubisoft a while ago announcing they were looking for UbiChamps {like me!} to try out their new ABBA You Can Dance game for Wii. They recommended the reviewer having a 70s theme party to celebrate at the beginning of December. Since I knew my 30th birthday would coincide with this idea, I jumped at the chance to try the game. Of course at the time, I didn’t know I was pregnant times three & would be pretty exhausted by mid-December.

But when the disco ball & game arrived, I got excited! I planned for a low-key dinner out with friends on my birthday then invited them back here for a Wii ABBA You Can Dance party. My sweet hubby set it all up the night before & later admitted he couldn’t help but try out the game for himself {& set a few high scores}.

I was planning to just sit out & watch {& take photo evidence} of my friends jamming to ABBA’s greatest hits, but I couldn’t resist.

My friends can dance!

The 18 years of dance classes in me couldn’t miss shaking it a little to Dancing Queen {the prom version} as well as a duet with Sarah.

Cheryl & Sarah breaking it down & then the babies & I took a spin.

We took a break for water & birthday cake before playing another couple of rounds.

My house might be messy & tree half decorated, but the disco ball & game made the party!

I was pleasantly surprised how well the game picked up on our moves while just holding the controller in our right hands. And I got so excited when I saw “PERFECT” or “GOLD MOVE” show up on the TV!

After telling my mom about the game, I’m planning to carry it with me up to their house for Christmas. I really can’t wait to see my family shaking it to ABBA too {we might have to organize a four then four challenge to see who gets the highest points}.

If you have a Wii {or maybe hoping Santa brings you one for Christmas}, keep this game in mind. The 26 ABBA hits vary in speed & you can have a great time no matter what dance level or skills you may have. I haven’t tried out the Karaoke setting yet but I know that would be hilarious! I was very blessed to have Ubisoft mail me ABBA You Can Dance for Wii, but you can purchase it online or at your local ToysRUs {a store I’ll soon be very familiar with I suspect!} or on Amazon too.

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

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Everything Else Food

T Marzetti’s Simply Dressed


You can tell form the photo above that these are simply gorgeous dressings. Each one is made with all natural, fresh ingredients~ like you can look at the ingredients section & you can actually read & know what they are! There are no MSGs, trans fats, preservatives or artificial flavors. For my celiac friends, all these dressings are gluten free.

I really had a hard time choosing which one I wanted to try. I walked into the store hungry {always my down fall} & was happily overwhelmed by all the lovely Simply Dressed choices. I couldn’t narrow it down between the Strawberry Poppyseed & the Pomegrante. All the Simply Dressed were on sale last week at my local grocery store & I had the free coupon {thanks Marzetti}, so I brought both home with me.

According to my how-to-grow-big-healthy triplets book, I’m supposed to eat at least five servings of veggies now. I have a hard time getting there. Fruit though, I love! So I thought with both of these dressing options, I could fruit & veggie up salads. I’m trying to incorporate more salads at lunch, as sides with dinner or evening snacks. Because really, doesn’t a good salad dressing make you want salad more than a boring one?!

Sunday night, I took basic bag salad, added fresh mushrooms, sliced red pepper, strawberries, candied pecans & croutons & topped it with the Strawberry Poppyseed dressing. If I’d had some feta or Parmesan cheese to toss in the salad, it would have been divine, but it was a pretty amazing salad as is.

Love a super cold dressing on top of a pretty salad.

The dressing flavor is the perfect mix of tangy & sweet. Not too heavy. Not too light. Perfectly complimented the strawberries in my salad & the poppy seeds so yummy. The dressing showed up perfectly in my bowl without being overwhelming or MIA.

Of course this pregnant chick chose the dressings that stood out most to me but kinda sorta not my husband’s favorites. I think he’d have rather I’d brought home the Ranch or Blue Cheese. I think he’d have liked the Greek Feta or Caesar too. Next grocery store run I’ll try one of those as these Simply Dressed really are my new favorites.

I think the Champagne dressing would be a great way to spice up a sandwich wrap. I’d love to try the Feta one for dipping carrots. I think the Ginger one would make a great chicken marinade. What other ideas or ways do you incorporate salad dressings or Simply Dressed dressings in your meal plans?

You can read more about the other choices as well as pick up some recipe ideas on the Marzetti Simply Dressed site. You can find them in the refrigerated produce section of your local store.

I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Simply Dressed review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.

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Everything Else Reading

BlogHer Book Club: Theodora

BlogHer Book Club TheodoraI was about to type “I hadn’t read historical fiction much recently”, but I have. Although nothing this far back in history {probably since I read The Red Tent years ago}. The name Theodora was familiar to me ~ most likely from a flash back of a quick blip from a high school history book. I loved reading her story {albeit an amp’d up fictionalized version} in Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore by Stella Duffy {doesn’t that title just make you wanna hear more?!}.

As a dancer {although not a great one}, I remember taking classes & being pushed to try to get into the right positions & stay there. I never {thank God} experienced teachers or mentors or the harsh conditions, pain, & discipline like Theodora but that beginning performing part of her life drew me in.

I’ve traveled some, but nothing like the ways she did & what she experienced in those strange lands. The language Stella Duffy used brought those locations to life. I enjoyed the Christian theology discussed & hearing Theodora’s faith journey. The early law & how laws created or done away with during those times effected our laws is kind of mind blowing.

I finished this book Sunday night & was almost sad it was over. I liked it so much I wanted to read more. Hear more about Theodora’s wild life, to know what happened next. Instead, I’m excited to read & comment about this novel with others on the Theodora BlogHer Book Club discussion page.

This was a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

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Everything Else

Label Love {giveaway}

As you know, I’ve been traveling a lot recently. You’ve picked up too that I can be a bit messy since I must unpack my bags as soon as I arrive. This means at the end of a weekend, or as was the case for my work trips, a week, I have stuff everywhere! What’s helped me figure out what’s mine & where it ended up recently are Lovable Labels.

Back in September, I was contacted by Lovable Labels & received one of their back-to-school packs. While some things, like the “this shoe belongs to” stickers, I didn’t think would apply to me, I’ve found more & more uses for the labels. As I kicked shoes off all over my parents house & under the table at the wedding last weekend, I actually wished I’d stuck a label on those too.

They survive the dishwasher & have been a great way to make sure tailgating platters return to me as well as the water bottles & cups I take with me to work. I’ve used them to label all my cords~ perfect for travel so they don’t get mixed up with my parents’ cell chargers.

While I skipped one of their 45 options of icons & went with just my name on their polka dot design, you could choose a star, fish, cat, skull & cross bones or a football. These would be great though to label your family’s or your children’s toys, clothes, luggage & shoes.

I’m behind on this post so I thought the “back-to-school pack” wouldn’t work as well now, but the people over at Lovable Labels are accommodating enough to supply a “Holly Jolly Pack” early {it’s not even available online yet!} for one lucky winner!  This red foil holiday themed package includes 15 multi-purpose stickers, 40 slimline labels, 12 shoe labels, 24 press n’ stick clothing dots {6 large, 6 medium & 12 small}, and 2 mini-metal tags. Everything you need to cover the basics plus more. Thanks, Lovable Labels!

To Enter:  Go to the Lovable Labels website and leave a comment telling me which one of their amazing products is your favorite! Once you’ve entered by leaving a comment, you can gain additional entries:

Follow @mylovablelabels and @suzstreats on twitter and tweet “Win a Holly Jolly Pack  from @mylovablelabels & @suzstreats  http://suzstreats.com/label-love-giveaway” leave us the link for extra daily entries.

‘Like’ Lovable Labels on Facebook for one extra entry and write below that you are a new fan.

Mention this giveaway on your blog and leave us the link for one extra entry.

This giveaway ends just in time for you &/or your child to get prepared for the holidays at 11p EST next Thursday November 3rd.  The winner will be selected by random.org & have 48 hours to respond to my notification email before another winner is selected. This giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents only.

The products in this review were provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed are my own & not influenced by monetary compensation.