2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

  The first thing people notice about the 2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD is the styling.  It is pretty sharp looking, especially with its Mazda Soul Red metallic paint and accompanying black interior. Those were the colors last week’s test drive.  The eye travels over this compact crossover and sees its narrow exterior that shows off a car that has more room overall than one would think.  It looks leaner and with a sporty quality to it.  A power moon roof and 19 –inch alloy wheels add to the smooth exterior. How does the CX-5 Grand Touring perform?  What is it like on the inside?  Let me tell you. Interior Climbing into the Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring, which seats five comfortably, I took notice of the satiny black interior and leather seats.  It is narrow seating in the … [Read more...]

Watcha Wearing Wednesday- Black, White & Blue

Fall is my favorite time of year. The humidity is gone, running feels refreshing and more energized, a new routine emerges as the kids head back to school and I begin to new projects at home and work. I love the colors, the approaching holidays and my personal favorite-Halloween! I plot and plan what we will wear and how I will decorate inside and outside the house while alternately trying not to create and shop for new fall and winter looks that will empty my bank account faster than a duck on a June bug. This is one of my favorite looks for this fall.  All the pieces can be worn together and then used in various other outfits making them great buys. Other looks I'm loving and copying with no shame are this neutral one from Shanna and the classic look with a modern twist by Nicole … [Read more...]

Falling Into Good Things

I'm sorry.  I couldn't resist that horribly cheesy title.  I'm reveling in the fall weather from my sick bed.  Or at least what looks like gorgeous fall weather from the open windows near my sick bed.  I have pneumonia.  It's tiring.  I'm tired of being sick. I'm focusing on the fun, good things going on later this month instead of the fact that I'm laying here in comfy leggings and t-shirts, napping more than my 12 year-old dog. 1.  Leather Leggings.                     I'm at a point in my life where I'm actually comfortable with my body. I like it. It is stronger than it has ever been and I feel better than I have in years. So I bought these faux leather leggings from Forever21. That site is my … [Read more...]

The Wantable Box

I'm sort of in love with that Wantable box logo. Just a little bit. So simple. So chic. So I NEED THIS! But do you really? Is it just like the other monthly box subscription services? I had to find out and gladly accepted a Wantable box for perusal. Clearly, I opted for the make-up version of a Wantable. Accessories and Intimates are available too. First things first, I went onto the Wantable site and created a profile that encompassed all my likes, dislikes and loves. Do I adore red lipstick? Yes! Do I need more eyeliner in black? No. You can pick color preferences, if you like more creams than metallic or liners versus mascara and there is even a section for how much you like pinks, reds, any color you can think of that pertains to make-up. It took about fifteen minutes total. … [Read more...]

Whatcha Wearing Wednesday- Navy Blues

The week started with a scent of fall in the air. I just knew I needed to find some classic old school style colors to wear, if only for a day. Here in the our little world we are still trying to get the hang of school being back in session. While I'm yearning to bake, begin new projects and just plain get out of the summer shorts and tanks it seems it is here for just a bit longer. I'm in love with Essie's Just for the Twill of It collection and felt like I'm showing some off today! … [Read more...]

$100 Language Stars Giveaway

*TMC was paid for this post. Products received are for review purposes only. Opinions are TMC's only.     Not long ago I took my two smallest girls to Language Stars, a full-immersion foreign language school for kids ages 1-10.  There are locations all over this Chicago-based program and is more like fun-immersion learning.  From Mandarin to French there are quite a few languages to choose from and the kids go for games, music time and more all in the language they are studying.  My girls spent an hour in a 2-3 year-old class (classes run about 1-3 hours long) and totally got involved and loved every  minute of it. I would have signed them up it was just too much to add to our already filled schedule each week.  Classes run all year with multiple times and … [Read more...]

Book Review- The 50 Fridays Marriage Challenge

*Disclaimer:  TMC was not paid for this post.  Products are for review purposes only.  Opinions are TMC's only.                      I've discussed in the past how hard marriage can be.  Actual functioning relationships that grow, stay out of stagnation and flourish are almost like jobs.  You have to work at that every day.  H and I celebrated our twelve-year wedding anniversary yesterday.  While it was the first time we didn't have big plans but we did manage to find time together during our kids church event because it was important that we take time out to communicate after what had been a long week with us apart more often than normal.  It is so important to take time away from all the busy parts of … [Read more...]

Entertaining & Educational Reads for Kids

Disclosure:  TMC was not paid for this post.  Products received are for review purposes only.  Opinions are TMC's only.   Back when I was a kid (yaaawn) we didn't workbooks over the summer. At least I didn't.  There was no Summer Bridge series going on in my house.  It was a lot of Love Boat watching, Jetson eyeballing and daily intake of Little House on the Prairie. Most of that with a book in my hand while I multi-tasked my two favorite things.  I spent a ton of time outside on my bike or at the beach too. Now?  I'm full of good intentions each summer scooping up beginners French, cursive tutorials and bridge books for math, reading and science experiments.  Those books end up lasting all year.  However, before school started we did find some really great, fun to read and … [Read more...]

Whatcha Wearing Wednesday- Back to School

The girls went back to school this week! I'm so excited about all the adventures they will be embarking upon and a little amazed that our youngest is already wearing the "pack-pack" and walking through the double doors of preschool. It is a true milestone. Hopefully, this means I will be back on my game when it comes to work and being a bit more stylish than tanks and khaki shorts, which has been my daily look as of late. I did decide to go with the Trend Spin link-up theme of LACE for this week. … [Read more...]

Green Your Way Back to School

I don't know about you all but I have been craving more of a routine the last few weeks.  I'm ready to jump into the new school year!  But not without a little prepping of course.  I mean I can't just open the front door and say, "Ok kids, figure it out from here.  See you at 3!"  It's more of a few weeks of careful planning, budgeting and figuring out the best way to go about getting back to school and then opening that front door... Guest blogger, Ken Myers has a few ideas to help ease us all into the new semester in a simple but green way. What ways do you save or go green for back to school?  … [Read more...]