REAL Mac & Cheese

A few days ago I was lucky enough to receive the Mama Voxbox from Influenster. Here's what the box included:

Of all of these things, though, the one I want to highlight is the Aged White Cheddar Mac & Cheese.

I was a little leery to try it because I'm not a huge fan of 'boxed' mac & cheese. But I received it for free, so it was my duty to try it and review it.

Y'all...it was so good. I don't generally care for the tiny macaroni noodles, but the sauce was delicious. I'm a sucker for white cheddar popcorn, and this? This is my new vice. I shouldn't even call it a vice because although it's delicious, it's much better for you than other 'boxed' varieties. Plus, one single serve package is only 220 calories!

Here's a snippet straight from Annie's website:

The best part? My daughter LOVES it! Mac & cheese is her favorite, & this did not disappoint. Run [don't walk] to your nearest Target  & pick up some! It's a little pricier than other brands, but honestly, you get what you pay for. 

My Fitness Pal

Today I'm here to sing the praises of My Fitness Pal. 

 My Fitness Pal is such a valuable resource to those who are looking to lose weight. What initially drew me to it--It's free! On myfitnesspal.com, you can keep up with your caloric intake [separated by each meal!], add your exercises and calories burned, & track your weight loss progress. 

It's more than just a weight loss journal, though. It's a community. You have the ability to add friends and see what they've been up to. This has been a huge motivator for me to be able to connect & interact with my sister & other bloggers who are rocking their weight loss journeys! You can post in forums, print reports, and calculate your BMI. 

Not sure what the calorie count is for a meal you made at home? Easy. Just add all the ingredients to a 'new recipe' and let myfitnesspal calculate the calories for you! What I love about this site is that they also have an app. I have it on my phone and it's so easy to just enter everything I eat as it happens instead of trusting myself to do it later. Don't take my word for it, go see for yourself! And add me as a friend while you're there [username: jakintheb0x] :)

*this post was in no way sponsored by my fitness pal.

Love my Mister

*Disclaimer: This post is not about my husband. I DO love him, though!

A while back, I saw the neatest little kitchen gadget in a magazine. An olive oil mister? How neat! I'm a sucker for kitchen gadgets, and although this peaked my interested, I wasn't interested enough to pay $19.99.

[source]

As luck would have it, I found this nifty little guy one day as I was browsing at Ross. I was shocked that they actually had it, but also shocked that it was only $7! Of course I got it. And I've been using it religiously. Gone forever are the days of spending $2+ on these aresol cans filled with a little bit of oil and God knows what else. I will never look back. Simply fill the can half full with YOUR choice of oil, pump a few times, and spray. Easy Peasy. Do yourself a favor and run [don't walk!] to Ross to get one. You can thank me later :)

Flavorfy Your Life with Dasani Drops

I like to attribute a big portion of my weight loss to the fact that I starting drinking more water. I cut down the sugary drinks like tea and soda [from one or two a day to maybe one a week]. I started drinking 2-3 liters of water each day, which not only flushed out my system & got me back on track, but it also makes me eat less! Did you know that your hunger pains could really just be your body telling you that you're not hydrated enough? True story. But if I'm being honest, I still crave those sugary drinks from time to time. 

When I was contacted by Influenster saying that I qualified for the Dasani Drops challenge, I was so excited! I could hardly wait for the box to arrive. And when it did? I was pleasantly surprised.

Not only did it come with two full size bottles of drops [in grape and strawberry kiwi], but also with a bottle of Dasani water and coupons to give to my friends!

What I like about the drops is that it gives a good flavor without all the sugar or weird after taste that you get from drops like MiO and Crystal Light. It calms my craving for a soda and I don't feel guilty about it after I finish. My daughter even likes it and asks for it in her sippy cup daily.

The only downside I've noticed so far is that it is a little pricey. Compared to some of the other brands it's $1+ more at my local grocery store. I whole heartedly believe that [for us] it's worth it.

Have you tried Dasani Drops or any other water flavor enhancers? What did you like or dislike about them?

Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

Coffee Love

A few weeks ago, Meagan from Local At Last hosted a Java Swap.

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I immediately signed up. 

1. I love swaps. 

2. I love coffee.

3. I love connecting with new bloggers.

For this swap, I was matched up with Jamie from Life in a Southern Town.

This match couldn't have been more perfect. 

1. We are both named Jamie. 

2. We are both from the south.

3. We both have an uncanny love for sweet tea.

Here is what I got from Jamie B:

Flavored coffee, a cute cup with my initial on it, a Starbuck's gift card, and [not pictured] a pink travel coffee mug!

Enjoying the coffee Jamie sent me. Love the mug, love the coffee. Makes for a perfectly relaxing morning!

Thanks, Meagan, for hosting the swap. It was so much fun!

Check Jamie's blog to see what I sent her!

 

September Birchbox

via Birchbox

BVLGARI Mon Jasmin Noir

I love getting perfume samples in my boxes! It's a great way for me to try new scents without pay a fortune and having a ton of bottles taking up space on my vanity. This one, however, was just not my style. It was very...'mature' smelling. As in, it's something I would expect Nanny to wear to church on Sunday. It's not a bad scent, it's just not one that I want to wear. [full size $83]

WEI™ to Go Sleep Over Kit: Real Clean and Ideal Skin

Where was this 8 years ago? You know, when I would actually go over to people's house and stay the night. I needed this then, seriously. The gel cleanser is very gentle, yet effective. The ideal skin perfect finish is awesome and reminds me of a cross between a BB cream and mark.'s matte chance. Obviously my 25 year old self isn't going on any sleep overs anytime soon, so I'm not going to be throwing down the cash for this, but if they sold it in larger portions, I would definitely think about getting the finishing cream. [$19]

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

This product felt like straight up sand paper on my face. I understand the importance of exfoliating, and it's nice to have soft skin, but this? This is not worth it. I tried this product twice, hoping the second time would be a little better, but no. The back of the container even says that your face will be noticeably softer, a result that I didn't feel. If you have tougher skin, give this a try. If your skin is already soft and/or sensitive, don't even think about it! [full size $34]

Birchbox and Color Club® Custom Collection

This was my favorite item in the box! As soon as I saw the color, I couldn't wait to try it! It's such a perfect color for fall, it's neutrally, shimmery heaven. I'm not typically a huge fan of color club, but they did something right with this one! [full size $8]

twistband™ Lace up for Fall

Even though my hair isn't long enough to put in a pony tail, I still loved seeing this cute little elastic hair tie in my box. I can't tell you how well it works, but I can tell you that I'm saving it for when I do grow my hair out again! Too cute. [pack of 12 $22]

The Brush Guard Variety Pack

I was not at all interested in these. I am not huge into make up, so I only have 2 different brushes. And maybe because they were cheap? But don't feel the need to guard them. [variety pack $5.50]

If you're interested in trying birchbox, I definitely recommend it! Also, if you sign up through me, I can earn points!

Also, don't forget to sign up for the Spooktacular Swap!

August Birchbox, a little late!

Obviously, I'm a little late on sharing my goodies from August's birchbox.

Here is what I got:

via the birchbox website

Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25+

I kept hearing about BB's, but was never interested enough to buy one. When I saw this in the box, I gladly tried it. I don't wear make up daily, but I will definitely use this on the days when I need to run to the store but don't feel like doing 'full face' make up. It's just enough to smooth out my skin and still looks natural. [full size $32]

LÄRABAR® über

I'm always skeptical about protein bars, but LARABAR never disappoints! This time, I got the Apple Turnover flavor and it was DElish! I will definitely be picking up a few of these the next time I go grocery shopping! [5 bars for $9]

Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur

A few months ago I received The Original Viva la Juicy sample & fell in love. This new, sweeter scent is equally appealing & will be on my Christmas wish list. It's the perfect date night perfume! [full size $70]

DDF® Brightening Cleanser

I am a face wash snob. Because of my weird skin issues, when I find a cleanser that I like, I stick with it. Lately, I've been wanting something new, and this may be JUST that. It's gentle, but feels like it's working [I hate face washes that are too smooth!]. It doesn't dry me out, and I have noticed  that my skin looks a bit brighter. The best part? Birchbox sent me a HUGE 'sample'! [Full size $38]

LiQWd Professional Volumizing Catalyst

This is the only thing in this month's box that I was less than impressed with. When I saw it originally I was super excited. After my recent [disaster] haircut, I've been needing more volume. It even came in a cute pen style sprayer. The problem? The sprayer didn't work. I even tried taking it apart to see if it was clogged. It didn't work. I then put a little of the product on my fingers & ran it through the roots of my hair before I blow dried. Unfortunately, my hair still looked pretty lifeless. I know it doesn't mean the product sucks, but the packaging did, and that was enough to turn me off. [Full size $22]

If you're interested in trying birchbox, I definitely recommend it! Also, if you sign up through me, I can earn points!

What now?

As a graduation/mother's day present, my husband bought me a nook. I had been wanting an e-reader for quite some time, but I was holding off. For months I did a lot of research comparing the different brands and asking for reviews from my friends who had them. I finally decided that the nook was right for me, so I hinted often to him that that was the one I wanted. I knew he got my hints, but I didn't think he would act on it so fast. But I am SO glad that he did.

I've only had my nook for a little over a month, but I have been reading so much more. I love that they offer a new free book every friday and that you can share books with other nook owners.

Here are the books I've read so far:

The Witches of Santa Anna [Books 1-10] - Lauren Barnholdt

This series is very much teen based. Although I don't think it's all that well written, it's still sort of intriguing. Very easy, short reads. BUT this chick needs to hire a new editor.

My Horizontal Life -Chelsea Handler

Seriously the funniest book I've ever read in my life. Sometimes I wondered how she got herself in those situations. If you are in desparate need of a good laugh, this is the book for you.

Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin

It took me a little while to actually get in to this book. I would read and reread the same chapter trying to remember what I had read because I kept setting it down. Once some action started happening, I couldn't put it down. I heard from several people that they stopped reading because of moral conflicts, but COME ON..it's a book. You watch this stuff on tv and in movies, just read the book [to each his own]. I'm not saying that I agree with what was happening all of the time, but it made for good entertainment. I love the way it ended, so sue me. What I can't decide though, is whether I should read Something Blue. I heard good and bad things about it, but when I found out that the main character is Darcy, it shut me off. I hated Darcy. I know people just like her and I can't stand them. Should I suck it up and read it anyway? I mean, it could still be pretty decent, right?

Currently reading:

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me

Any suggestions on what to read next?

If you have a nook and want to lend a book, let me know, I'm totally up for it.

Movie Reviews

Bridesmaids
I didn't JUST want to see this movie because it has a lot of great actresses/comedians in it, but also because it was produced by Judd Apatow, and I'm pretty much in love with his stuff. My husband was pretty hesitant about wanting to go see it with me until I told him that Matt saw it and liked it. He decided to give it a chance.
His response after the movie
This movie was extremely funny to me, but has what my sister calls 'potty' humor. If you're not into movies like [Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, & The 40 Year Old Virgin], you probably won't like it. If you do like that sort of thing, go see it. Now. Don't wait for it to come on dvd.

Funny People
This movie came via Netflix. I actually forgot that it was even on our que until it came in the mail. I had heard mixed reviews about it, but was determined not to let that ruin it for me. This is probably the only Judd Apatow movie that I've seen that I didn't really like. I mean, it was okay. There were some really funny parts, but there were also parts where I found myself wondering HOW much longer the movie was going to last. It was kind of ridiculous, especially for how it ended. A little more than half way in, Aaron was laying on the couch playing games on his phone not even paying attention to the movie. I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone unless you have something else going on and just want some background noise. It's only good for a few laughs.

The Hangover Pt. 2
I was kind of hesitant about this at first. I had read things online that said it was a lot like the first one, and from the trailers, that seemed pretty accurate. I tried to put that out of my head, though, and went in with an open mind. The opening scene disappointed me. I was like 'Noooooooooooo! It's gonna be the same.' But shortly after, I started laughing...hard. And pretty much laughed the rest of the movie. I've heard people say that they didn't really care for it, or that the first one was better, but I really liked it. If you're hesitant, go to a matinee, if not, then go see it already!

X-men First Class
Let me just start by saying that until this movie, I had never seen any of the X-men movies. I never thought they'd be my cup of tea. However, my hubby asked me to see it with him and my argument of never having seen the others didn't work. So, I went. I wasn't expecting much, but knowing that James McAvoy was playing a lead role kept me pretty interested. Surprisingly, I ended up really enjoying it. Definitely the best action movie I've seen in quite some time. Now I just have to watch the other 3.

Movies I can't wait to see:
The Art of Getting By
Bad Teacher
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Horrible Bosses
Captain America

What movies have you seen lately? Any that you'd recommend?

Take a good look at your face

We're back from our fun filled emotionally exhausting weekend with A's family. I need time to relax before I decide whether or not to post about it.

What I will do tonight though, is review a few movies.

Why Did I Get Married?
I absolutely LOVE Tyler Perry movies. They're always funny and endearing. This one...was very annoying. I kept getting bored, and the boredom caused me to fall asleep. I didn't even have the motivation to re-watch the parts that I missed, and I definitely don't plan on seeing the second one.

Away We Go
I'm not really sure why it took us so long to see this, because Aaron and I both love John Krasinski [Jim from the Office]. Anyway, it finally came in the mail via Netflix. I wasn't expecting much from it because I hadn't heard ANY reviews of it. It ended up being really funny/awkward/sweet. Definitely worth watching.

Iron Man 2
As if Robert Downey Jr. & Scarlett Johansson aren't reason enough to go see this movie, go for the action. Seriously. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat pretty much the whole time. Despite my extreme hatred for Mickey Rourke, I still recommend this to any/everyone. Just make sure you watch the first one, too.

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell
If you have read/enjoyed the book, you will probably NOT like this movie. I expected this movie to basically be reenactments of the scenarios in the book. To me, it seemed completely different. I did read the book over two years ago, so I may be forgetting some things, but the only scene from the movie that was actually IN the book, was at the end of the movie. COMPLETELY ridiculous. In fact, I'm considering re-reading the book just to make sure I'm not totally wrong.

A long time coming

Since Aaron has been gone, I have rented a few movies I know he wouldn't want to see.
Here's what I thought....


Did You Hear About the Morgans?
I was a little disappointed in this movie because I thought it was going to have some kind of thrill, excitement, or at least be DIFFERENT.....but not. It was so cliche. I love SJP, but come on...this movie was lame.

BandSlam
I'm a sucker for nerdy movies. I guess by nerdy movies I mean movies with nerdy boys as the main character [ha!]. I thought this movie seemed fresh, but it wasn't. It was 'okay' at best. I'm not going to lie, I kept falling asleep and it was like 1 o'clock in the afternoon.

Mamma Mia!!!
I know this one has been out for a while, but I recently became kind of obsessed with Amanda Seyfried. I was REALLY excited about it because I lovvvvve musicals. Umm, this one just did not do it for me. I fast forwarded through a lot because I kept getting annoyed. They just don't make 'em like they used to.

An Education
I was really surprised by this movie. I had heard both negative and positive things about it, but I had never heard what it was about. I just went out on a limb and rented it. I actually enjoyed it. Things happened that I didn't expect to happen. The guy who played Doc Ock in the Spiderman movie was the main character's father, so I ALMOST wrote it off to begin with. [I really don't like that guy] But I gave it a chance, and I'm glad I did.

I'm looking forward to renting:

Defendor

The Informant!

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The Blind Side

To press the button, or not to press the button, that is the question.

Sunday night, Aaron and I watched The Proposal. Although it was some-what predictable, I thought it was really cute, and of course I loved it.

Last night, we rented Year One. I had heard pretty good things about it, and from the previews it looked pretty funny, but..........we didn't make it past the first 30 minutes. We kept looking at each other trying to decide if we liked it. I might have laughed once, and it honestly didn't seem to be going in a good direction, so we just turned it off. Just...don't waste your money.

Tonight we went to see The Box. I am not going to lie. I am still a little bit confused. It was very weird, but if you like weird, you'll probably like this movie. It just seemed to progress very slow. I kept thinking to myself 'hurry up, get to the good part' and then it was over.

Movies I am looking forward to seeing within the next few months:
UP
The Ugly Truth
The Blind Side
Dear John [yes, the Nicholas Sparks book!]
Avatar

Hope you guys have a good Veterans day. Enjoy the break!

Can you see up my skirt?

Guess what time it is?
Time for me to procrastinate a little more! HA

And time for me to share my opinions about the movies I watched this weekend.

SPOILER ALERT!

If you haven't seen The Time Traveler's Wife yet, do NOT continue.

Okay, so, like most movies in which I have already read the book, this movie was kind of disappointing. If you haven't read the book, you'll probably really like it. If you're a guy, you'll probably really be confused [not being sexist, just going of the few reviews I've heard from other males]. I almost wish that I had waited to read the book until AFTER the movie. There was so much that was cut out or changed. Mrs. Kim & Ingrid had NO roles what-so-ever. Alba was more like a replica of her mother, than her father. There were very few scenes where Clare was involved in her art. ALL THE JUICY TEENAGE SCENES WERE AXED. When I was discussing this issue with Aaron, he said "But the movie was still almost 2 hours long, could you imagine how long it would have been if they added that stuff?" Yes, I can imagine it would have been several hours longer, but IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORTH IT! I would have thoroughly enjoyed it. I can't believe that Audrey Niffenegger even let them cut so much out of it, I mean come on...MRS. KIM! *sigh* but that is only one of the things I love so much about reading; the details, the drama, the imagery painted in your mind that movies just can't always be live up to. And it's one thing that so many people miss out on because they don't/won't take the time to read.

I've been meaning to get into Tyler Perry's movies. Every time I see a commercial or trailer, I laugh so hard, but I never saw one at the redbox [which is where I rent my movies, since I'm such a cheap-o]. UNTIL a few weeks ago I saw that they had Madea Goes To Jail. I rented it yesterday, and let me tell you; It did NOT disappoint. It was hilarious, and it had some serious parts. The over all conflict/resolution was really touching, and of course Madea was just drop dead funny. I can't wait to get my hands on some of his other movies! Anyone have a favorite you'd recomment I watch first?

I often like to pic movies I've never heard of [Independent films, & such]. This week I decided to get Gigantic. Mostly because I love all things Zooey Deschanel. I'm not sure if it was released in theaters, but I do know for sure that it wasn't released in my area. I really liked this movie. It was different. And I like different [for the most part]. It also kind of tugged at my heart, because in the movie, the lead character is trying to adopt a baby. And, I have a fear that I'm not going to be able to have children myself, which means I'll adopt. Just seeing what he goes through, the uncertainty, and the ultimate surprise/blessing, was all really refreshing to see. I'm posting the trailer here, so if you're interested, go rent it!



Well, I'm out. Gone to finish up these lousy lesson plans, and who knows what else. Hope you all had a good weekend!!

Tale Tell Hearts

This weekend has been filled with reading, sleep, and movies.

I feel like I have kind of fallen off the movie-watching bandwagon, so to speak. Aaron and I used to go to the movies or rent movies weekly, but since he's been gone, I've kind of neglected it. I had all weekend off from work, so I headed to Troy, picked up a few movies, and decided I would let you all know what I thought.

Before I get into that though, I want to take a moment to talk to you about Sunday Secrets. I love reading Post Secret every Sunday, and for a long time I thought about sending in my secrets, but I never did. I just felt like so many people were sending in their secrets, and I didn't see what would make mine so special that they would actually choose mine to post. I know that may sound silly, but if I finally get the courage to reveal something personal about myself, I would like for it to be seen, whether anyone knows that it is about me or not. Recently, the girl started doing her own Sunday Secrets. It's really great. You can send your secrets in to her, and SHE WILL POST THEM. You can do it anonymously or share your identity. I think it is a wonderful thing, and I think you all should check out this Sunday's secrets.

Now, on to my movie reviews.
[Disclaimer...I do not claim to be a movie buff, just a girl with opinions.]

Movie #1: Stop Loss.
If you're at a rental store, and you see this, and you start debating on if you should get it or not...STOP. Seriously. It was a waste of time and energy. It made me 100 times more nervous about the fact that Aaron will most likely have to go to war one day, but other than that, I got nothing out of it. Everyone who goes into the military knows there is a chance they can get stop lossed. It isn't like some big secret. Yea, it sucks, but it's kind of what you signed up for, right? Anyways, the acting was decent, but there was no real plot. Unless you are totally in love with Channing Tatum or Ryan Phillipe, I would say skip this one.

Movie #2: Confessions of a Shopaholic.
I don't want to give away the details, but if you're a girl, you will probably love this. Guys...probably won't like it so much. I thought it was hilarious and the acting was good. I would definitely watch it again.

Movie #3: Revolutionary Road.
I had read such great reviews about this movie, and come on, who didn't want to see Kate & Leo back together again? HA. I was lost from the beginning. I didn't know much about the back story, so I was pretty much confused the whole time. or...Maybe I am too shallow to understand. I thought it was entirely too long. It just seemed like one minute they were in love, the next minute they hated each other, the next they were cheating, the next they were in love. What was the whole point? If you know, please tell me.

Movie #4: Henry Poole is Here.
I won't lie..this movie confused me a bit, too. But it had points, it had a plot, it was going somewhere. It was not hard to follow, and there was fore shadowing, so I was intrigued the whole time. I really got into it, to the point that a few times, my heart actually dropped. It was really endearing. I had never heard of this movie before, and I didn't remember it coming in theaters, but I like Luke Wilson, and so I decided to get it. Turns out it was one of the better movies I'd rented this weekend. I would say definitely give it a shot, it may or may not be your cup of tea, but it's worth it.

So, what movies have you seen recently? What would you recommend going to see or staying away from?

I finally decided to make the caramel monkey bread that I bought Aaron the other day, and according to him, "It's okay, at best." I don't really recommend it. Homemade is sooooo much better.

I also tried the simple pizza recipe from Smitten Kitchen, and I was really impressed. Aaron LOVED it, and we even decided that next time we are gonna try our own spin on it, with a sort of Mellow Mushroom twist. I'll keep you guys updated!

In other news, I've started a new painting. This is just the beginning.



It's going to be a mixed media piece, as well, using acrylic paint and paper colle. I'm excited!! I just hope I have time to finish it soon.

Have a great week!

the old man is snooring

It's a rainy day in Southern Alabama. NOT the way I like it.

Anyways, anyone who knows me knows that I love to cook, and I love to spoil my boyfriend.
So, while I was at Target this weekend, I got him a few special things. Well, they may not seem special to anyone else, but trust me, the way to his heart IS through his stomach.

Aaron LOVES pancakes. Usually, we just buy the pre-made mix at Walmart, and then add bananas, or chocolate chips, but I could NOT pass this up:


APPLE STREUSEL PANCAKE MIX!

We tried them this morning, and they are absolutely delicious. We used whipped cream as a topping instead of syrup though.



Here they are! Sorry for the poor quality of pictures. When I went to grab my camera, the batteries were dead, so I had to use my phone. I'm telling you, if you don't try these, you are really missing out. It cost me about $3.50 for a box [half of the box was plenty enough for two or three people], but they do not disappoint.

I also got him caramel monkey bread mix. I haven't made it for him yet though. He likes my homemade monkey bread, so we'll see if this measures up! I'll let you know! Happy Sunday :)

Rachel Getting Married

For those of you who were thinking about renting 'Rachel Getting Married'....don't. It was seriously a disappointment. It was okay, at best, but there was no defined plot, and when it ended, I was just confused. I mean, if you want to waste time/money on it, feel free, and then let me know what you think :)

mmm, chocolate!

just thought i'd share my new favorite chocolate! ha
i picked it up at target last weekend, and it is AMAZING!

milk chocolate cherry vanilla waffle cone truffle bar



it's choxie! go try it :)