Sunday Social with KiM & Renee'

Today we Renee' (may or may not make it this Sunday as she may be recovering from Laundry/cleaning shock for Spring Break) and I (Kim) are participating in Social Sunday. 

Thank you to Neely and Ashley for hosting some fun questions.

1. Favorite Type of work out to do?

~ I would have to say Running and BootCamp.  Bootcamp I have been going to since I moved to TeXas and finally I am losing weight and gaining "tone".

2. Favorite Guilty Pleasure Candy or Sweet?

~ Yikes neither mine would be a HUGE Vat of French Fries (preferably from Portillios) with another HUGE Vat of Cheese to dip them in. You can read all about my food sadness since moving to TeXas HERE

3. What is one thing you continuously forget to do?
~ Clean.  

4. Posts its or Phone Reminders? Why?
~ I am sooo a post it/ Note pad kinda gal.  I have lists and lists that I use my cute Erasable pens on. I like to have that physical check list.  Also trying to get off my phone for a bit.  

5. Favorite Picture currently on your phone that always makes you smile?
~ Me (Kim) pulling over on the side of the road late at night to take a picture with the Oscar Mayer Wiener Mobile. This was my second time running into it by pure accident.

Thanks for Stopping by and we hope you will come visit with us at 2 Chatty Crafters again.

~Kim from TeXas

Products KiM Uses to Make LIFE Easier....

I thought I would share a few things that I use almost every day that seem to help make my life a little bit easier.  I am all about easing up my daily chores.  Wait till I do a review on my new Vacuum and Steam mop...Once I buy them.  LOL

Photo from Bed Bath & Beyond

Green Bags I LOVE these things.  Since I have so many veggies and fruit I use them a ton to help keep the stuff from browning or going bad before we eat them.  You so need to give them a try.  They can be purchased just about anywhere...I even saw them at Ace Hardware.

Dry Shampoo - Still love this stuff a TON!! I am currently using Dove Dry Shampoo.  Do you use any? What brands I will try any to see which one I like the best.

Pampered Chef Mix and Scraper ® 

LOVE Them I have a Million of them in all sizes.  I use them for my eggs (well my kids eggs since I don't eat them any more), all the stir fries we are making lately, whipping up any kind of dough.  They are GREAT!!!

Photo Credit

I love these erasable pens by FriXion. I use them all the time to make my pages of to do lists. When I finish each task I can erase it. Or if I make mistake I can just erase it.

Tell me what some of your Products that make your life easier?  Could be something as simple as a water bottle?  

At the End of the Day ~ I am going to be ordering these pens I need MORE ~ Kim from TeXas.

disclaimer: all opinions are my own and nothing was given to me to review. (not sure how these disclaimers work but better have something just in case CraZy comes out)

Thursday Thoughts with KiM and Renee

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We are linking up with Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for Thursday Thoughts. 

(Renee' is having spring break this week up in Illinois she will not be participating today.  :( )

~ I wish people would pick up the phone and call instead of just texting and emailing to death. I feel as if I never talk to anyone, then when I do I go talk CraZy on them and scare them away.  Or I just stare and don't say anything because I am not used to talking.  

~ I am going to be painting/Spray painting my Yucky White craft shelves.  Believe me you I will be blogging all about them.  Renee' is beating me in the Crafting Category.  Her and her Refinishing Beds and all.

~ I am still eating Vegetarian with no Dairy and I hope to one day purchase a scale to see if it has been still working.  Still down 8lb. from two weeks ago.  Need to borrow a scale to see if I have lost any more.  Hope you are enjoying my recipes that I have been posting. 

~ Finally caught up on Grays Anatomy last night. (May be a small spoiler don't read if you have not seen last week yet) Out of all the story lines the teacher one was still in my head this morning. This poor teacher who found out her stomach ache was cancer. The part that got me was when the kids came to visit her. It was so sad. My question was did she not have any family? She seemed so alone besides the kids visiting. Where were the kids parents? These are the questions left unanswered this morning.

This is a shout out to all the Teachers that make a difference in kids lives everyday. That touch a child's inner excitement and help them to love the subject they are teaching. You are my heroes. THANK YOU!!

~ To the woman at the other table who let their child bang the chopsticks on the plate...REALLY?  OMG my honing skills in my head could only hear this and we were sitting outside.  YIKES...That is the one think I never let my kids do in a restaurant was to bang silverware, sticks, toys anything to drive us all crazy.  

It also did not help when the motor cycle went by and my poor friend is telling a story which I could only see her mouth moving but could not hear a word that was coming out.  Why does everything have to be so LOUD....Ooooh that sounds bad..I am GETTING OLD.  UGH

I am off to another day of torture at BootCamp,  getting our Card Swap email for April ready to go out and preparing for Easter...What are you up to today?

At the end of the day I am still really liking living in TeXas who would have thought. ~Kim from TeXas

DeeP ThoughTs by KiM (Not ReaLLy DeeP)

HaHa!

Thought I would scare you with our faces.  I can't figure out how to reduce the size nor can I figure out how to not have the words go across our face.  UGH I hate when I get a bug up my butt and decide to mess with the blog. I think I will leave it for a few days and see if Renee' notices it.  LOL

~ Just figured out how to schedule posts...Yes I am behind the 8ball on that one.  It will make my life so much easier.  Now if I could figure out how to share the posts on all my social media at that same time automatically and not have to do it my self.   I told you I am slow and have too many things going on in life.

~ Also just added the bloglovin' button to the page.  Everyone go to the blog and click on that button to follow us.  :)

~ I am adding an About KiM and Renee' section so you can ask us questions that you are burning to know and we can tell you more about us. :)

Moving on to something more exciting...

~ Good times watching the puberty video for my oldest that they are going to show in school. UGH  Did you have the "Talk" with your son?  How did that go any funny stories to share?

~ I love the Voice and I am enjoying the new judges. So glad it is starting again. DO you watch the Voice?  Are you excited about the new judges??

~ I love selling things on Craig's list. We have listed our kids bicycles and I have gotten hits within the hour. I am always looking for things around the house to hawck (I have created my own spelling for this word) for cash. Sometimes I think I may sell all the stuff in the house.

And those are my not so DEEP THOUGHTs for this week.

At the end of the day I am sad that my little oldest one is getting big.~Kim from TeXas

March Love With Food Subscription Box Review from KiM

I love my Love With Food Box!!

Who doesn't want food REALLY??  

I have to say that the first thing to go was the Wild Berry Flat Fruit from Wacky Apple.

This organic Apple and BlackBerry fruit leather hit the spot when I was having a SWEET Attack.  You know what I am talking about when you can open up a can of Chocolate and eat the whole thing type of Attack.  Thank goodness I walked past this box right at that time and ate it up. Totally helped and I wasn't running for chocolate.

At the time the Chocolate Covered Wasabi Peas from Chocwasabi looked really good but I didn't feel like doing something spicy but thinking back it would have been fine I am sure.  I can't wait to try these or I may just pass them on to Dear H he is always looking for that spicy thing. 


A couple of days later though I did again have another Chocolate Attack and luckily no one had eaten this Dark Chocolate Orange Good Fortune Cookie from Emily's Chocolates.  It was Delicious and helped me off the Chocolate Ledge once again.  This really only happens once in a while I promise.  After there were only a few crumbs left I had a fortune that says "You will be reunited with Old Friends"  HOW AWESOME is that Renee', A, L, J and all my Illinois friends.

I can't wait to pop this Fruit and Veggie Juice from Kids 50 in one of the kiddo's lunches.  I am always looking for other drinks for them.

Who is not excited for some Salted Carmel Baked Corn from Cosmos Creations??  I am dying to try some of the salted caramel that seems to be included in a lot of boxes.  Everyone keeps talking about "Salted Carmel"  Yippe here is my Chance. FINALLY

I too have an issue with Tea included in boxes but at least this one is packaged differently which I really like.  This Green Tea Infuser from Revolution Tea looks YUMMIE because If you don't know I only drink green tea and water for the most part.  I brew the stuff in VATS.  Love green tea and can't wait to try this one.


Wholesome Snacks from Mary's Go Crackers looks great because we have gone Vegetarian and it is "Organic, Vegan, and Gluten-Free Crunchy snacks chock full of whole grains.  These are not going to last long here.

I love granola but can someone make it with less calories. The Granola from Ola! Foods will be used most likely I will add it to spruce up my fresh fruit.

I absolutely love this box because I can honestly say that the whole thing will be used with no leftovers and that is what I am looking for in these subscription boxes. I cannot wait for the next one to arrive Weird, Wild and Wonderful with Andrew Zimmern.

Did you get this box and what did you think??
Kim from TeXas

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links 

KiMs #Vegan #Camping Creations (Recipes)

While camping we had to come up with some creative eating to keep to our CVV (#clean, #Vegan, #vegetarian) eating.  No where could I find any thing easy to show me what I would need for a week of camping.  I have compiled a list of the items we brought to help us eat CVV while Camping.  I have also included some easy Foil Pack Recipes that can be grilled.

Enjoy the iPhone pictures and the bad lighting.

Camping Food List for Vegetarian/Vegan Cooking

1. Many different Vegetables we brought the following:
Sweet Potatoes
Small Yellow Potatoes
2-3 Red Onions
1-2 Yellow Onions
4-5 Zucchini
4-5 Red Peppers
Container of Chopped Carrots & Celery in Sticks to eat and cook
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Cilantro
Edamame


2. Main/Sides for the Veggies
2-3 Containers of Firm/Extra Firm Tofu
ToFurkey Beer Brots
ToFurkey Italian Sausage
Microwaveable Brown Rice (Costco)
Microwaveable brown rice and Quinoa (Costco)
Pre-made Black Beans and Pinto Beans
Frozen Black Bean Burgers

3. Breakfast/Fruit
Strawberries
Pineapple
Mandarin Oranges
Grapes
Bananas
Frozen Breakfast non/meat Sausages
Flax Seed Vanilla Flavored Milk
Kashi Cereal
Coconut Milk Creamer Hazelnut

4. Other
Edamame Popped Chips (CostCo)
Popcorn
Corn Tortillas
Luna Bars
Hummus (Black Bean)
Edamame

Here are the different Tin Foil Packs we Cooked:

Red Onion, Zucchini & Tofu. Cut into pieces. Spray the tinfoil with a non stick spray. Add chopped veggies and tons of spices.  Fold up the packet and grill 30 min and be sure to turn the package.

The next one we cooked was pretty much the same with Zucchini, Red Peppers, Tofu and we ate it with Rice.

This next one was my FAVORITE.  It was the Italian ToFurky Sausage with Small Yellow Potatoes Quartered, Red Onion, Red Pepper, Olive Oil, Spices.  Wrap in foil and cook.

Here are what the tinfoil packs looked like long and skinny to fit on our camping grill.

This Next one was super tasty Beer Brot Tofurkey with Red Peppers and Onions, Added some beer to cook in and spices.  YUM

I hope you can use some of the information for those of you who are new to eating Vegan/Vegetarian and need some help preparing for your next camping trip.

Do you camp and make some Vegan/Vegetarian recipes let me know what some of your favorites are??

At the End of the Day it was not as bad as I thought cooking Vegan while Camping. ~Kim from TeXas

Social Sunday with Kim and Renee'

Today we Renee' (who may or not make it today it is her spring break and she is probably catching up on her laundry) and I (Kim) are participating in Social Sunday. 

Thank you to Ramblings of a Suburban Mom who has been so great helping us along the way.  She has introduced us to Social Sunday with  Neely and Ashley.

If you are new to us Welcome and we hope you will enjoy our blog. 

1. What is your favorite thing about spring?
Kim: I love that since moving to TeXas from Illinois spring has started in February and I have already planted my vegetable garden and may plant my fruit trees today.  Though with spring here it has been tremendously windy.  I thought Chicago was the Windy City but here in TeXas we are giving that phrase a run for their money. 

2. Favorite kind of Flower to grow or receive?
Kim: Not a huge flower person but we did just receive a packet of sunflower seeds to grow.  I kept reading the back of the package and it said 12', and I kept thinking gosh shouldn't they be much taller.  I thought these things get to 12 feet (ding ding ding light bulb went on and the ole brain started working) so I think we will be planting some of these to see how they grow.  Stay tuned because this will be added to Gardening with Kim on our blog as it gets bigger.  Have you ever grown a huge SunFlower?  How did that turn out?

3. Favorite Nail Polish Color?
Kim: This is a tough one because I hate painting my nails.  Every time I paint them the very next day it begins to peal off.  And REALLY who has time to paint their nails every day.  Not me.  But if I did have to pick colors they would be fall looking dark or I just recently purchased a pack from Ulta.  That one was Mardi Gras colors that were a cool Mustard Yellow, Green and cool dark Purple.

4. What is your favorite Out Door activity?
Kim: That would have to be Camping.  We have been camping since the tent ages and have moved up.  Since moving to TeXas we have so many new places to go camping.  Check out our camping spring break adventure. When we are not camping sitting by the pool with a glass of wine because yes you can swim in March here in TeXas.  

5. Do you have any Fun Spring Break Plans?
Kim: Yes we did Camping.  LOL Check it out here and I am working on a blog about the places we camped coming soon.  Hope you will stop by and check it out.

At the End of the Day ~ Thank you for letting us join your Social Sunday and we will be back next week. ~Kim from TeXas

Renee's Newest Project: Refinishing a Day Bed

As I have mentioned a couple of times, my husband and I repainted and made my daughter's bedroom into a "big girl" room.

The latest project I completed was to refinish an old day bed to match her room. My daughter expressed interest in a daybed and it happened that my sister-in-law was getting rid of one. It was a brown color so I spent a better part of an afternoon sanding the pieces of the bed so I could spray paint it a white color.

After sanding, I wiped it down with a wet paper towel to rid it of dust. Then, I put a generous coat of white spray paint on each piece. I waited a day to allow the paint to dry completely then the next day I sprayed another coat of paint and allowed another day to completely dry. At that point it was time to assemble.

The project was pretty easy. The hardest part was sanding especially the rounded pieces. I did find an interesting product by 3m, sanding sponge, that worked pretty well for sanding the rounded parts. It was way more flexible and pretty easy to use compared to a regular piece of sand paper. 

And that's my project for this week...Renee' from Illinois

What is in your bag Renee' & Kim?

I love US magazine and just have to just this once or maybe every once in awhile add a what's in your bag section...... So, the rules are, no preplanning in advance. You need to grab your bag, handbag, whatever it is that you carry your stuff in at the moment and dump it.

This week:

What's in Renee's bag?

First, of all, this is the newest in the collection....love, love, my bag...

1. Chex Mix Muddy Buddies


2. Mac lipstick, love, love, love the smell......

3. Lightening McQueen car

4. Good Housekeeping magazine

5. Assorted colors of Bic pens: green, pink, red. I love them!

6. Bare Minerals compact

7. My Vera Bradley holder that has my license and important essentials

8. A random Kleenex, probably used by my little guy. Ewww!!!

9. Scraps from the cards I made on Saturday

10. My calendar that I write in still....yes, I use a written calendar still.


11. My IPHONE which I love also.

12. Last but not least, a pack of Five gum.


What's In Kim's Bag? (sorry I don't have pictures like Renee' 

1. 50 million receipts...Where do they come from I don't feel like I am out shopping.

2. Mac Lipstick also

3. A plastic filing folder for all my non grocery coupons

4. Wallet that Renee' and I have the same one

5. Inhaler because sometimes I have asthma

6. Empty gum wrappers.

7. My key chain of plastic retail reward cards

8. My to do list notebook and erasable pen

9. Vintage Gucci change purse which holds the Retail Cards that are not up on the Key Chain version.

10. Aviator Sunglasses when they are not on my head used as a head band.

11. All my GraZe snacks..I hide them for me to eat when I am on the RUN.

What's in Your Purse? Let us know.
Kim & Renee'

Thursdays Thoughts ~ Linking Up

We are linking up with Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for Thursday Thoughts.

~ That is why I don't eat cereal.  I just ate a bowl of Kashi something with Flaxseed vanilla flavored milk.  I feel like I just ate NOTHING.  UGH.  Now I will try and wait for the hunger or what I think is hunger pass.  Cereal is not an enjoyable breakfast I will need 5 more bowls to feel like I just ate something.  LOL

I love sugary cereals! It is like one of my biggest weaknesses and I agree Kim that healthy or unhealthy, after you finish one bowl, you want another. This whole losing weight thing is getting on my nerves right now. After turning 40 it is like we have to eat nothing in order to lose a pound!! I miss the good old days. Renee

~ I just shoved a HUGE sleeping bag in my front load washer, from 1927 before front loads were popular. It sounds like I just pushed the washer to maximum capacity.  I wish I new how to post sound because it sounded like a dyeing whale.  Mark my words its just a matter of time before my washer and dryer give out.  If I had to look for another set I will have a breakdown like I did when I had to purchase a new refrigerator.  

Sometimes this world we live in gives me way to many choices example refrigerators.  There are 50 million to choose from and everyone has an opinion on them.  Just give me a choice of 5 or someone just tell me which one to get. Much easier.  I was looking for one for days on line...then I had to go actually look at it to see if I liked it.  And REALLY how can you tell if you are going to like it until you start using it.

No kidding! We are trying to figure out flooring stuff and my gosh, nobody can make it easy! It is like a headache to figure out anything these days...We have made things so difficult now. I agree Kim!! Renee

I feel that if I have to get a new washer and dryer it may push my decision making abilities over the edge.  I am a Libra and already have problems making decisions. 

See here is ALSO the problem, I am worrying about something that has not happened yet.  Moving on.

~ WHOLY Cr@p it was 93 degrees yesterday at 6:00pm when I took my son to his Lacrosse game.  Poor boy he is so sun burnt from Sunday.  Did not know he was running around with out his shirt on no sunscreen and BAM it is now Thursday and he is still Raw. 

I don't want to hear about it!! It was 7 degrees out yesterday morning when I was on my way to school. What is going on here? Global Warming??? Hmmm..... Makes me question whether that does really exist. Renee

~ Can we please make songs that intro the kids shows not so annoying? My kids have been watching Hey Jessy. Ugh that song makes me want to stab my eyeballs and eardrums. Really? I am getting in my car to pick up the oldest at school to take to practice and I find myself singing this horrible tune. I quickly put the radio on and started jamming very loudly to anything to get the "hey Jessie" out of my head. 

Hey Kim, try the Harlem Shake song, now that song really sticks in your head!! All of my students are all about it.....Check out some videos on-line. Some are way inappropriate so try to pick the tame ones! That little diddy will stick in your head all day:)Renee

What kids shows songs drive you insane like me??

~ Just got two subscription boxes that were so small.  Not used to them being that small.  Will post about them soon.

~ I have a "Junking" trip planned in a few weeks to a SUPER Large Antique/Junk Festival that is a week long and is Miles wide with a neighbor.  I sooo can not wait.  I am going to try and find a garden tool table for the back of the yard near my garden.  Plus many other random things that I think I need.  LOL 

Do you go garage sailing or Junking at Antique Fairs?  What do you look for?

I would look for anything that looks cool! I am sooooo excited that you get to do this. I wish I could be there with you. You need to post pictures so I can see what you are seeing!! Renee
 

Thanks for Stopping by and check out some of our other posts.
At the End of the Day ~ I soooo Can not wait to start JUNKING!!

I am here Kim, LOL!! :) Love you, too. My brain cells are dying right now from lack of food and caffine! I need to go and get breakfast and another iced tea:) Love, love, love my iced tea!!
Renee' will post below and let you know about her Thursday Thoughts as soon as she has a moment in her super busy day!!  Love you Ray...-KiM


 

March Bulu Box Monthly Subscription Review

Thanks to a fellow blogger I was given some information to try out the Bulu Box Monthly Subscription.  There were two options that would be normally easy to choose from but me not so much. I remember heHawing trying to figure out if I would choose the regular Bulu Box or the Bulu Weight Loss Box

I ended up choosing the weight loss box because I am on this weight loss healthy eating journey and thought this would compliment that perfectly. As you can see my box came a bit dented and was much smaller than I would have though.

I open the box and the first thing that I see is this.  Wow would like to have her body but that's not gonna happen. 2 kids later and brought up on Portillio's Hot Dogs and Beef Sandwiches.  LOL

She folds out to this which describes the items in the box.

Then folds open again to some exercises that you can do anywhere and a great energy smoothie recipe which I could use some days before my boot camp instructor kicks our butts.

The next thing I took out was this CUTE Sticker.  Now I am just trying to figure out where I can stick it.

  I take fish oil pills every day, which you know how I feel about taking pills.  This is a great way to get that Omega-3 in daily.

Barlean's Omega Swirl Fish Oil would be great because it is a flavored liquid.  Can't wait to try this out tomorrow in place of my swallow pills.

WoW...This is very exciting...I and dear H are so in need of things to help us stretch out our muscles.  Especially since I have been running and boot camp.  I LOVE Stretching and iTRAIN has many options for this so I will be using this card up. 

NRGX Labs Red Stinger I have to say kinda scared me with the big red X but after I read the description I am a little eXcited to try this and see if it helps on those days when I want to eat the whole fridge. 

It was a nice surprise to find these recipes included in the box.  I always like to try new things and these all look really YUMMY.

XyloBurst Xylitol Gum - I am so into drinking green tea that is pretty much all I drink besides water.  I am excited to start trying this tomorrow. Hopefully it will help with any cravings I am having during the day.

Dream Water - This I am definitely passing off to my Dear H.  He always seems to have hard night sleeping and maybe this will help.

Redd Remedies True Energy - This one says it helps to "Improve Mental Focus" well you got me on that one.  I do wonder how effective one sample will be or if you need to take it on a daily basis to work.  I will be trying this out because I NEED tons of "Mental Focus" these days. 

ProLab Quick Fire - I am intrigued by this one because in the booklet it says "When you can't find the energy to work out," this might be a good boost on the days I don't want to go to boot camp.  

All in all Bulu Box was filled with products that I have never heard of and I am excited to start using some of these tomorrow.  I received this box using a free promotion code to try it out.  The code I used was BOX6885 so if you get a chance to try it and it works you too can get your first box for free.  The box is $10 if you do month to month. 

There are two other codes I would like to share with you 

JUMPONIT3 you get one month free when you purchase three months. The other code is JUMPONIT6 where you get three months free when you buy 6 months. 

Did you get this months Bulu Box or Bulu Box Weight Loss if so what did you think of it?

At the End of the Day you are going to fall into my Subscription 

Addiction too. Kim from TeXas.

Disclosure - this post includes referral links