Dinner Cheats: With Trader Joe’s Seasonal Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli
In an ideal world, I’d make everything from scratch or grab a vegan snack from Arden’s Garden – but, ain’t nobody got time for that.
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Quick Grilled Salmon + Gingered Carrots with the TECHEF Grill Pan
The new TECHEF Indoor Grill Pan is great for cooking meats and seafood inside the house! I simply put the two piece grill pan onto my gas stovetop and started grilling with my burner heat on high. The process for grilling salmon is very easy.…
2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Practical People
The BoredMom.com Gift Guide is here! The recommended items are good for a wide variety of friends and family, and won’t break the bank. These are THOUGHTFUL gifts that will be used and not tucked away in a cabinet or drawer! Without further ado, here’s the 2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Practical People:
* Please note: Some of the products below are affilliate links. Please read the disclosure at the bottom of this page.
Remember Summer?
Yes, we’re headed into the long winter, but we dream of outside entertaining with our unbreakable drinkware! This set of six shatterproof nautical themed stemless wine glasses are perfect for outdoor entertaining. They will surely get a lot of use and love from your wine-loving friends and no more shattered glass on the back patio!
Reusable, BPA free, FDA approved. You may order these from: http://dajosieco.com BONUS: A portion of the profit will benefit Lollipop Kids Foundation (benefits children living with disabilities).
Sleep Well
If you have a loved one that is having a hard time sleeping, or wakes up with a stiff neck, consider the Bamboo Memory Form pillow. It contours to the head while resting and it’s naturally cool. This is a smaller size pillow which is great for travel as well.
Free Yourself
Still using earbuds with a cord? As if! Bluetooth cordless earbuds are the only way to go, and these Deific sports earbuds are even better as it allows you to be active (run, golf, etc) and not have the buds fly out of your ears! This set comes with adjustible ear bud covers and a USB charger as well. Awesome stocking stuffer!
Skin Splurge!
This Manuka Honey Walnut Natural Face Exfoliator is the perfect stocking stuffer for Mom, daughter or a friend. This natural face and body scrub removes daily build-up so your face can heal and look radiant again. Microdermabrasion at home saves money and helps gently polish away damaged skin, blackheads, stretch marks and a powerful acne scar treatment. It’s also much safer than a chemical peel! Give the gift of fresh vibrant looking skin when dry winter weather takes a toll.
After your skin has been refreshed, cleanse and luxuriate in all natural Lavender & Bergamot Body Wash. This is a nourishing calming body wash that can be used for your daily shower. Great for dry skin.
Beessential’s Beeswax based Lip Balms also make GREAT stocking stuffers! Available on The Beessential Website here.
Ohmmm…
My Mantra Mat is comfy yoga mat that comes with it’s own carrying case. If you know someone who is just starting out with yoga or pilates, or perhaps needs a push to start, this is the perfect gift. This mat is also extra long! I am 5’10” and had plenty of room to do my thing! Years ago, I had a mat that was too short and I was constantly stepping off of it like a #loser! Pair this sleek long mat with a gift certificate to a local yoga class! Namaste!
Got Sleep?
If you have a friend or family member who complains about neck pain or poor sleep, consider this Memory Foam Pillow with Cooling Gel I have personally tested this pillow and am enjoying great sleep, and considering I’ve had a lot of neck issues lately, that is really a testament to how well this pillow works. The memory foam pillow maintains its shape yet molds to your head providing cervical support and keeping your neck level all night long.
When you lay on it, the cervical pillow for sleeping properly supports your neck and keeps it in alignment with your spine all the way down your body. With the cervical pillow, you will forget about night neck and shoulder pain and headaches.
Still Can’t Sleep?
If you have a BFF who has sleep issues coming from noise (cough cough..SNORING….cough cough HUSBAND), then consider a White Noise machine. The Lectro White Noise machine generates consistent realistic sound that drowns out annoying noise like snoring, dogs barking, loud neighbors, airplanes, etc.
The Lectro White Noise machine is also great for nervous pets! I personally have seen how the Lectro machine makes my dog relax and drift off to sleep in minutes! It’s crazy how fast it works on her, and a little fun to watch. 😉 The Lectro White Noise Machine is available here. Your BFF will thank you….immensely!
I’m an affiliate marketer with links to an online retailer on my website. When people read what I’ve written about a particular product and then click on those links and buy something from the retailer, I earn a commission from the retailer.
Barrel Sample Wines by Coomber Family Ranch Winery
Last night I had a small casual dinner party and can honestly say it was probably the easiest gathering I have ever had! I took the night off from cooking (gasp!) and ordered beautiful appetizers and entrees from renown Supannee House of Thai in San…
Making Fresh Chocolate Mousse
I recently received the EurKitchen Whipped Cream dispenser to review and play with and now I’m addicted to this cool tool! This whipped cream dispenser converts fresh whipping cream into beautiful pressurized cool whip, or in my case creamy chocolate mousse. How to Prepare I…
Vintage Syroco Clock
I like Estate Sales. Real ones. 99% of the time, someone has died and the heirs want to liquidate in the easiest way possible, and it quickens the cleanup process. You walk through someone’s home and everything is basically intact as if they were still living there. I feel like a voyeur going back in time to spy on Grandma. Boxes of expired Lime Jell-o are in the cupboard, quilts are stacked in the closets, slightly moldy prosthetic shoes are jammed on old metal shoe trees. Glass Christmas ornaments with vintage lights are stuffed in bags marked $1 each. Treasures that were once sentimental and clearly cared for over decades are now reduced to clearance pennies begging for the taking.
I don’t go into Estate sales looking for anything specific, ever. If anything, I go in with respect and keep my comments to myself, or on the downlow to family. Afterall, it’s not uncommon for a family member of the deceased to be floating around and it would be rude to yell out, “Holy hell, how many quilts with clowns on them do you need?” Yeah, keep it to myself. Today’s house was previously occupied by a woman who loved to sew and knit. A bedroom was dedicated to blankets that she handknit. In the corner of a room, a small vintage tube T.V. flickered black and white snow. An estate worker came in and said she was still looking for another antenna to make it work. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that thing wasn’t going to do anymore than what it was already doing, anytime soon. I sort of liked it like that though. It was a dull ‘old’ light, and I found myself staring at it because it was relaxing.
One of the rooms had thick bright red plaid carpet. The room was smelly, but I had to wonder when that style was in fashion. Perhaps it was her husband’s study? It was probably expensive at that time and it was a strong design statement. I hated it and liked it at the same time. In the living room, I stopped. My ‘like’ button was clicked. On the wall, in all its retro glory, was a vintage 1960’s Syroco Sunburst clock. I am not really into mid-century design specifically, but sometimes certain things just speak to me and this one said, “Take me down off this wood paneling and take me with you!” It wasn’t working and green battery powdery acid leaked from the back. Do I really need this? No, but if I don’t buy this now, it will end up in some landfill. Plus, this clock was in pretty good condition and is a statement piece that some hipster would totally dig. It had to be saved. I put it on my lap in the car, and lo and behold it started ‘ticking’. The battery was clearly corroded, yet tick tick tick it went. Yeah, you’re welcome – you weird old clock.
Back to School Cool 2016
There are so many cool gadgets and gizmos out there, that life is truly starting to look like a Jetson’s episode. With school starting soon, there are some fun new products out that will not only make life easier, but also add a whole new…
Today’s The Day With GooGone!
There are always endless things to clean and fix around my house. The yard needs constant maintenance as we live under a giant Torrey Pine that rains pine needles and sap upon us. My daughter and her friends are in and out of the house…
Celebrate the San Diego Zoo’s Centennial Birthday
As a San Diego Native, I visited the San Diego Zoo on a regular basis while growing up and I’m lucky enough to say that my daughter has had the same benefit. The San Diego Zoo has grown and improved dramatically since I was a kid in the 1970’s. However, the mission for animal conservation to end extinction has always remained. In fact, it has been the San Diego Zoo family visits, summer camps and special events that I have attended throughout my lifetime that have deeply embedded my great love for animals. Going to the San Diego Zoo was like visiting many continents full of interesting animals in several hours, and it was all in my ‘other’ backyard!
The Flamingos have always greeted visitors at the entry for as long as I can remember.
When I was eight years old, my friends and I used to navigate the San Diego beach cliffs and canyons for an afternoon of fun. Upon returning from one trek, we heard loud clucking in the bushes. Off trail, we found a huge white rooster with an injured leg. It had clearly been abandoned and we couldn’t leave him there. No one really wanted to pick it up, so being known as the insane animal lover, I was nominated to do the deed. As we walked home, I remember thinking that for a chicken he was awfully heavy as he strained in my own skinny bird arms. However, the giant white fluffy bird didn’t fuss. In fact, he gently cooed appreciatively all the way back to my home, where I would meet a less than thrilled mother.
The San Diego Zoo has had a love affair with giant pandas ever since two of them came to visit for 100 days in 1987.
The legacy of San Diego Zoo Global also starts with the same tale of abandonment, albeit a greater tale than my chicken rescue story. Nearly 100 years ago, Dr. Thompson, a local San Diego physician, was driving by Balboa park when he heard a great roar. Animals had been essentially abandoned after an international exposition in Balboa Park, and it was that lion’s single majestic roar that stopped Dr. Thompson and fueled his mission to start the fledgling San Diego Zoo. Not only did Dr. Thompson open the Zoo with the abandoned animals from the Expo, but he went on rescue missions of his own. Find out how Dr. Thompson drove a bear in the passenger seat of his roadster!
The Big Cats are still very vocal today!
That solitary single encounter between one lion and one man has echoed through time, creating an unparalleled visitor experience and a historic century of leadership in animal care and exhibition.
The San Diego Zoo is 100 years old this year, and there are many special events to celebrate throughout 2016. Part of the celebration includes special content and performances during Nighttime Zoo, the evening hours through the summer.
There are many baby animals at the San Diego Zoo right now, so make sure to check the website before your visit to see where you may find them. The plant life is also gorgeous and lush throughout the San Diego Zoo, providing cool relief on a hot summer’s day.
No, it’s not real! However, the kid is real and she loves all the educational installments around the zoo!
Now is a great time for local San Diegans and tourists alike to visit the zoo. As the Zoo celebrates it’s 100th anniversary, they are preparing to address the challenges of our rapidly changing world during the next 100 years. The San Diego Zoo Global has adopted a bold new rallying cry that unites their work: End extinction.
What a beautiful and inspiring message to share with your family! I know that I will continue to share it with mine.
Today’s post is sponsored by the San Diego Zoo, but the opinions and experiences of the zoo are that of my own.
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Gluten-Free Brownies Mix
I have several gluten-free friends which means dessert time can be precarious. A gluten-loving guest will inevitably bring a beautiful pie or cookies for dessert, and my gluten-free friends are left looking a little sad. “Here, want some fruit?”, I’ll offer. Not much of a consolation…
Guilt-Free Protein Pancakes
I love pancakes, but Insead of feeling fueled for the day after a shortstack, I feel as if I’ve been hit by a truck! Not OK! The empty carb-fest also makes me feel incredibly guilty. I really try to prepare meals that are high in nutrition,…
Father’s Day Gift Ideas for 2016
Father’s Day 2016 is right around the corner! Here’s some gift ideas that are for Dad, but maybe just an eensy teensy bit for you too, Mom. These are all practical gift ideas and things that Dad will really use an appreciate.
First up, an Electric BBQ Grill Cleaner:
Guys love their grills and cooking up a storm. Some guys baby their grills and spend hours buffing and shining it. Others, meh..not so much. All the fun time is spent grilling and then the yucky grill mess sits afterwards. Remember how I said this gift may be for you as well? By making his BBQ cleaning job easier, he will grumble less when you ask him to go clean the grill! Make his day easier by reducing scrub time. This PureDome Electric Scrubber comes with three different stainless steel brush attachments. It also comes with it’s own rechargeable battery. When I plugged in mine overnight, it had nice solid power the next day when I tested out the attachments. Watch my video here:
This PureDome Electric Scrubber with Stainless Steel brushes is available on Amazon, and if you have Prime – Free Shipping!
Powerbank
If you have kids that constantly borrow Dad’s phone to play a game or take a selfie, why not help the poor guy out with his own power boost. This cool little power bank by Oh-Box also comes with a cell phone holder and LED flashlight.
This unit is compact, portable and has a sleek simple design. This is also perfect for long plane flights and road trips . Remember how I said that these gift ideas benefit Moms an itty bit too? After he juices up his low cell phone battery, there is enough left over for you to top your cell phone off as well. Cheers to that!
Expandable Hose
You’ve probably seen these on T.V., and I myself have been a little skeptical about using an expandable hose. However, after playing with this for awhile now I can tell you that all my heavy lunky hoses are being donated and I’m switching to these! These lightweight hoses are easy to carry, store, fold-up, etc. However, when you turn the water on they expand (usually to twice their deflated size) and are so easy and nice to use! Guess what — Dad hates lugging around the big heavy hose as well! My husband loves ours and agrees that this is quite possibly one of the best recent inventions out there. This set comes with a hose holder and a nice multi-spray setting nozzle. Bring harmony to your home with this easy-to-use hose and best of all, easy to put away so no more excuses of why the heavy trip hazard hose has been left out!
This Hose expands up to 25 feet.
Father of the Freakin’ Century Award
Ok, enough tools and techie toys! This mug is awesome! Dad does a lot for you and this is a fun way to remind him how awesome he is!
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These creative cups are way better than the boring “#1 Best Dad” mugs. Forget the snoozefest and get him this hip and cool instead — afterall, he’s the Father of the Freakin’ Century!! Available on Amazon
I received all of the products listed in this review at a discount or for free in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided. The opinions expressed in this blog are that of my own.
