Finding The #ArtofFashion While Shopping For Holiday Clothing With SearsStyle #Cbias

By Patricia

Over the last year or so, my life has changed a lot. One of those changes included losing over thirty pounds and being able to buy smaller clothing sizes. This change has made me pretty happy, as I'm sure it would most women who want to lose weight. But it also means many of my clothes no longer fit.

With the holidays now here, I found I had nothing pretty or festive to wear that fit me. I've always enjoyed shopping at Sears, and I decided it was time to buy a few new pieces of clothing for myself. I really needed something that I could wear to Christmas parties and holiday family gatherings.

I started looking online at the SearsStyle website and was happy to find a program called "Shop Your Way Rewards". I signed up online for my own Shop Your Way Rewards account, which was very simple to do. The program has lots of great benefits and ways to save money, and lets you earn valuable points.

I also created my very own Fashion Catalog with all the great things I found that I liked, and I could purchase them in the store. With so much great inspiration, and knowing Sears was having fabulous sales, off I went, ready to shop!!

All through the store I saw lots of pretty, holiday inspired clothes. I had never seen so many choices, and so many of the sales were for 40-50% off. I loved these already put together outfits for giving me greats ideas of my own.

I knew I wanted to buy a new pair of really nice black pants to be the foundation of my holiday look. I found lots of styles and prices to choose from, like the ones above. And they were all on sale!

Everywhere I turned, there really were sparkles! Since I knew I was buying black pants, I needed to pick out a couple of great tops or sweaters to go with them. So many of the clothes were appealing to me that I was having a hard time choosing things.

And I really appreciated how Sears great prices helped me stretch my clothing dollars. It's certainly not easy trying to be stylish on a budget.

Of course, when you are buying new clothes, you want new jewelry too, right? There were so many great sales here that I picked up a new silver bracelet to go with my new outfits. At 40% off, I couldn't resist.

After trying on lots and lots of clothes, I finally decided on this sparkly grey sweater and red blouse. I just love the sweater, and I can dress it up or down, depending on the pants and accessories I choose to wear with it. I picked the red blouse because it was festive looking and perfect for fun Christmas family gatherings that we like to share.

I got a paper receipt at the register, and also received this one that was emailed to me. I love the fact that this is one of the benefits of using the Shop Your Way Rewards program, never loosing a receipt again. I always seem to lose my receipts, so this is a feature I really appreciate.

I was also thrilled that my bill was only $67.18 for my black pants, sweater and blouse. I love saving money!!

Here I am in my new sweater, black pants, and silver bracelet. I love that this outfit is sparkly and festive, but still understated and classic. I think it is perfect for Holiday parties and dinner out on the town.

I love the red blouse for our family Christmas party, and other family and friends gatherings. I'm so happy I shopped at Sears for my new holiday fashions. Now it's time to have some fun!!

If you'd like to go see all the great new holiday fashions and sign up for your own Shop Your Way Rewards account, go visit SearsStyle. You can also see my entire shopping trip to Sears by visiting my Google+ Photo Album. You can also visit facebook.com/searsStyle.

 *I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and searsStyle #CBias #SocialFabric All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Community Coffee Review and Giveaway - Holiday Gift Guide

By Patricia

Now that the holidays are here, one of the things I really enjoy is a delicious cup of coffee brewed right at home. While I do love going out to my favorite neighborhood coffeehouse, the crowds and noise of being out during this busy season can be a little overwhelming. So whether in the morning or the evening, I enjoy drinking coffee, and it is always a lot of fun to try different brands and holiday flavors.

I was so happy to be sent the Season's Greetings Variety Pack for our Holiday Gift Guide from Community Coffee. This pack includes four different kinds of coffee including Holiday Jazz, Dark Roast Signature Blend, Bread Pudding, and Cafe Special Medium-Dark Roast blend.

Community Coffee is an excellent coffee, it's taste and aroma is rich, flavorful, and delicious.

On Thanksgiving night after my family and I had eaten ourselves silly, I brewed a pot of the Bread Pudding flavored coffee. It was a huge hit with everyone, and we all agreed it was perfect for the holiday season. And brewing a pot of this flavor will make your whole kitchen smell like you are baking bread pudding in the oven.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I enjoyed sharing the other three kinds of coffee with family and friends who dropped by. We all agreed that Community Coffee was delicious.
Community Coffee offers ground, whole bean, flavored, decaffeinated, seasonal coffee and more. They also offer beautiful Holiday Gift Packs, and gift ideas for the coffee lover on your Christmas List.

This family owned and operated company has been in business since 1919. Based in Louisiana, the Saurage family has made it their mission to produce and sell this high quality coffee for four generations.
Visit their website at communitycoffee.com to see all of the products they sell, and for more information.

 Community Coffee would be a welcome gift for anyone on your Christmas list who enjoys drinking delicious coffee.

Popcorn and Pearls is happy to be hosting a giveaway of the the Season's Greetings Variety Pack.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts Nov. 27, 2012 and ends on Dec.12, 2012 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent an item to review for my post.

I Know It's Cyber Monday, But...

By Patricia

If you are like most people, you will be taking advantage of all the online sales today. After Black Friday comes Cyber Monday, another chance to spend, spend, spend.
I like sales and great buys, and I certainly do shop at the big retail stores and enjoy it. But I also like to shop at small businesses that are unique and offer it's customers a chance to enjoy personal service. I have come to love the toy store called Magic Mouse Toys in Seattle.
I have shopped here for fourteen years now, ever since my youngest child was six years old. Magic Mouse Toys is a wonderland of toys, games, and the most marvelous things that children could ever dream of wanting. If you are ever in the Seattle area, stop in and enjoy this wonderful store for yourself. You will love it like I do.

Getting Ready To Cook Up A Feast

By Patricia

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and cooks all over America are getting ready to make a meal that is the total focus of the day. Of course, Thanksgiving is about being thankful for all the wonderful things in your life, too.

But who are we kidding, we want that turkey!!! So I have been looking through cookbooks at home and at the bookstore for new recipe ideas. That is half the fun for me, thinking about the food.

And I can't wait to eat that turkey.

What Is Your Favorite Sandwich Made With Leftover Turkey?

Via Spoon Fork Bacon

By Patricia

If your family is anything like mine, you will have leftover turkey on the day after Thanksgiving. We always buy a bird that is twenty pounds or more, and we look forward to those day after delicious turkey sandwiches. There are as many different ways to put together those sandwiches as there are the families making them. Do you include stuffing or cranberry sauce?

Via Paula Deen

Sometimes I like to make my sandwich filled with almost everything that was on the Thanksgiving table. But I also sometimes like just a heaping amount of turkey with mayonnaise and the best bread I can find. And lets not forget the hot, open faced classic sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Via Bon Appetit

Lettuce and tomato, mustard, mayo, and more are all a possible ingredient in the making of your favorite turkey sandwich.
 So between Black Friday shopping, football games and visiting family members, I hope you have the time to fix your own fabulously delicious turkey sandwich.

What do you put in your sandwich to make it out of this world delicious?

Serve Healthy Meals With New Kidfresh Frozen Meals #KFHealthyKids #Cbias

By Patricia

I remember when my five children were growing up, it was a frequent battle to get them to eat healthy and nutritious foods. None of them really liked vegetables, and I was always worried they weren't getting all the nutrition that they needed to grow up to be strong and healthy adults. (Thankfully they all did.)
Now that I have grandchildren, I am concerned about them eating a healthy and nutritious diet also. Their Mom ans Dad, my daughter and son-in-law, always try to make sure their meals are healthy and good tasting, but they still have a hard time getting the boys to eat all their vegetables and other healthy foods.

One day last week my daughter and son-in-law needed to do some birthday present shopping without the kids, so I volunteered to watch them. I had recently heard about the new Kidfresh Frozen Meals, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give them to my grandsons for lunch. I read that the Kidfresh Meals contain hidden vegetables, so that not only is your child eating something they love the taste of, it's very healthy for them too. Great idea!

I went to Safeway to pick up some Kidfresh Frozen Kid's Meals. Before I left home I had printed out a $1.00 off coupon from their Facebook page, which I really appreciated being able to use.

The meals come in four varieties, including Spaghetti Loops Bolognese, Wagon Wheel Mac and Cheese, Rainbow Rice and Chicken, and Cheesy Quesadillas.

I love the idea of giving my grandchildren healthy and convenient food when I take care of them. I knew they would love the bright, fun packaging on the meals. I know that one way to get kids to try something new is if they like what the package looks like that it comes in. These are definitely kid friendly looking.

For lunch today I was giving my grandsons the Spaghetti Loops Bolognese, and the Wagon Wheels Mac and Cheese. Both kinds contain hidden veggies. The Spaghetti Loops Bolognese contains carrots, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes. There is half a cup of these hidden veggies in every serving of this variety.

The Mac and Cheese also contains hidden veggies and is an excellent source of calcium and Vitamin A.
I tried a little spoonful of each meal and I thought they tasted great!

I asked my six year old grandson if he liked his Kidfresh Meal and he said it was "really good!". I also asked him if he would like to have them again and he said he would. It definitely met with his approval.

I know that no matter how healthy a food is for kids, if they don't like the taste of it, they won't eat it. I'm so glad this little guy like the meals with 'hidden' vegetables in them. And Kidfresh Frozen Meals contain no preservatives, artificial colors or flavors.

At two years old, my youngest grandson thinks nothing of breaking into a spontaneous "Yay!!", which he is doing here. As a spaghetti lover, he gobbled up his kid's meal without even realizing  he was also eating healthy vegetables.

I had bought two other meals for another time, and I will definitely be buying them again. Kidfresh Meals are such an easy and convenient way to give a child healthy food, whether you are a parent, grandparent, or care  giver.

I looked at the back of the package to read more information about Kidfresh. The company was founded by a Dad who wanted healthier food options for his own kids.

You can go to the Kidfresh Meals website to learn more about them, and you can also visit them on their Facebook page to get your own $1.00 off coupons.

If you would like to see my shopping trip at Safeway where I bought Kidfresh Meals, here is my Google+ photo album. You can learn more about Kidfresh Meals by following them Facebook.

*I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Kidfresh #CBias #SocialFabric #KFHealthyKids

Saturday Thoughts

By Patricia

It is no secret that I adore fresh flowers. I try to pick them up when my budget allows, and whenever I am in Seattle at the Pike Place Market, I always buy a big, glorious bunch.

But sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to buy flowers for someone else. Just as a random, small act of kindness, given purely out of your own kind heart. Is there an elderly neighbor you know who would love a knock on their door and a surprise bundle of pretty flowers? Or someone who does a thankless job for little pay but always has a smile on their face and helps everyone? Or a relative who is going through emotionally rough times?

I'm not talking about spending a lot of money, you can get flowers from the grocery store for about five dollars. It's simply about spreading joy.

My own life is certainly filled with challenges, but it is true that when you take the focus off yourself and place it on to others with the idea of making the world a better place, your own life becomes better.

Will giving someone a bouquet of flowers make a difference in your life? Maybe. But it will certainly make a difference in the life of the person you gave them to.