Beautifully Poor

Well it is here: 2016. Within a few hours we will all be watching the ball drop and celebrating the birth of a new year and the old year behind us. I'm not sure how your year went, but mine was full of ups and downs. From Lawrence making Supervisor at work, to us making a small community impact with the homeless to losing our third child in early pregnancy it has been full of happiness and sorrow. I am very happy to see the year end though it did come and go VERY quickly (am I the only one?). I usually don't make resolutions but due to the depressing nature of the last few months I have decided on a few things. First off, I will be making it a point to have more "me" fun. Time with friends, more time out with my husband and more fun as a family. Overall, I would love to see adventure, even if it isn't anything not worthy. The second, which I have started already, is to FINALLY finish learning the French language. I want to be able to fluently speak and read it.

Celebrating 90 years of providing smiles, sportsmanship and service to millions of people worldwide, the world famous Harlem Globetrotters will bring their unrivaled family show to an arena near you during their 90th Anniversary World Tour. On the court, the Globetrotters' 90-year celebration will feature some of the greatest athletes and entertainers on the planet. With a star-studded roster featuring Big Easy Lofton, Ant Atkinson, Hi-Lite Bruton, Thunder Law, Bull Bullard and Cheese Chisholm - plus female stars TNT Maddox and Sweet J Ekworomadu* - the Globetrotters' one-of-a-kind show is unrivaled in the world of family entertainment. Every game will showcase incredible ball handling wizardry, rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, hilarious comedy and unequaled fan interaction. You won't want your family to miss it - use promo code FAMFUN to save 25% off your tickets. 25% off Harlem Globetrotters 90th Anniversary World Tour - The world famous Harlem Globetrotters will bri

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. The hustle and bustle and excitement always gets me in the mood, sometimes WELL before the Holiday season actually begins. Since I was a kid I've always loved Christmas, even though we knew Santa wasn't real, because it isn't about that, it's about the fun! As I've grown older, my gift list has grown smaller, as we keep our budget tight and giving of time and friendship is much more valuable than little baubles that will just sit on a shelf and eventually be packed away to be forgotten. Unless I have a meaningful gift to give, I usually don't. This year will even be the first year my husband and I don't exchange gifts under the tree; instead we opted for a family gift and filled each others stockings with smaller gifts that were smart and that the person could use. Spending thousands on Christmas is not our thing, let alone hundreds. That's just us, though I know some thoroughly enjoy the big ba

I'm always looking for something new and tasty to add to my favorite Christmas cookies and this is definitely a favorite. The first time I had them was when I was a kid, my mom and I had found the recipe and decided to try them. Here I am revisiting an old favorite. So simple and easy with very few ingredients; they are light and buttery with the crunch from the pecans. SO GOOD! Here's the recipe for you to try: Ingredients 1 (18 1/4 oz) package Butter Recipe Cake Mix 1 (3.4 oz) package instant butterscotch pudding mix 1/4 cup flour 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 egg 1 cup chopped pecans Combine first 5 ingredients in a mixing bowl well. Stir in the pecans; the dough will be crumbly. Roll Tablespoonfulls into balls and place 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 2 minutes then remove from pans onto wire racks. Makes almost 3 dozen.

The Witch of Lime Street  ~ Séance, Seduction and Houdini in the Spirit World by David Jaher is an intriguing historical journey into the 1920's. Curiosity was building into all things spiritual and magic as it was post World War I. People were searching for something bigger; something to make meaning out of our lives. It seems it started with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, none other than the author of the Sherlock Holmes books. He was searching, like most, for answers. What happened to the fallen men after the war?  Plenty of frauds existed, just as it is today and has always been and believe it or not, Houdini was all a part of this. He was a masterful genius who could see beyond the tricks of mediums and self-proclaimed phsyics. He would even call them out during their own shows and prove them wrong, humiliating them in front of their crowds. He disproved many mediums as frauds and even as he became known as one to blow their cover, they would go undercover when he was kno

Submarines, Secrets & A Daring Rescue is a book geared towards children 8-12 years old and is great at bringing history into a fiction book yet making it exciting and interesting for young readers. The authors, Robert J. Skead and Robert A. Skead, take the reader on a journey into the lives of two 15 year old twins during the Revolutionary War. They lead us on exciting adventures like bringing secret messages to special recipients, sailing through the night with the world's first submarine used in combat (fiction) and fight off theives. As the title suggests they also have to rescue someone very close to them whom I won't disclose; you will just have to read it yourself. Personally I found this book exciting from front to back. As it is written for younger children, I finished it within a few hours so it is a very easy read. The fact that it is exciting will keep kids intrigued with no worries of it gathering dust on the bookshelf before it is finished. I am especi

Did you know that thanks to  AdoramaPIX  you can make keepsake photo's made from METAL??? Yes, you read that right, metal. This new way to capture photo's is a breakthrough in printing and keeps photo's longer and safe. The colors are vivid and deep and I am truly impressed with the quality captured in my family's Christmas photo here. The durability of a metal print is unsurpassed as it can survive getting wet unlike other pictures and there is no need to purchase a frame. I am absolutely in love with this! This is an 8x12 Metal Print in White Satin, Designer Shape To create your own, just visit adoramapix.com  and under the wall decor tab choose metal prints. You can choose from 4 different finishes: Glossy White, White Satin (pictured above), Glossy Silver or Silver Satin. There are also 8 shapes to choose from making this so fun to customize: Square, Rectangle, Panoramic, Round, Heart, Oval, Designer Shape (pictured above) and Designer Shape 2

As a child, I have always loved the Nutcracker. The story is magical and the different renditions potrayed in ballet are just beautiful. I have always wanted to go see the live ballet and this year I was extremely lucky to be able to, thanks to USFamilyGuide.com . My mom taught me the love of culture and the beauty in the arts, so naturally I wanted to take her along on this wonderful adventure. As we entered the beautiful Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis - which is gorgeous - there was a beautiful ballerina ready to have her picture taken with you for a fair price (she was also there at the end). Any little girls dream could come true with that! They also had a souvenir table with beautiful posters, trinkets and Russian dolls and Nutcrackers as well as things to be purchased from the show like DVD's and CD's. But this was only the  beginning. We were graciously granted seats very close to the stage with a TERRIFIC view I must say.  We were so close we

Make Christmas magic With Portable North Pole! Portable North Pole is a magical console used by Santa and his elves to send personalized video messages to the folks you care most about. In just a few simple clicks, you can provide Santa with all the information he needs to create a unique, tailor-made video message that would even bring a smile to Scrooge's face! Portable North Pole videos come in 2 main types: Christmas and Birthday greetings. And they're free! Or you can upgrade to a Premium version, with more Santa facetime, extra personalization options, the ability to include more photos and truly incredible scenes from his village in the North Pole PLUS the long anticipated Santa's Verdict, that lets your loved one know if they are one Santa's Naughty or Nice list.  USE PROMO CODE: BLG20PNP and SAVE 20%  To redeem the voucher codes, go to: https://www.portablenorthpole.com/vouchers Save 20% Make Christmas magic With Portable North Pole! - USE PROM

Looking at life from different views ultimately helps a person move on from places they are stuck in, whether that be grief, financial hardship, etc. I have been having to struggle with this child loss and the grief this second loss instills in me, without fully knowing how to do so. I stood before God and screamed and cried like why did you not deliver me from this hardship? WHY!? I stand upright and believe and do what I know is right, what he wills me to do whether that be helping someone in need, someone not in need or just listening to his still small voice. I am by no means perfect whatsoever but I had to struggle through the "What the hell did I do to deserve this!" And let me tell you, it was a huge struggle. As I listened to Christmas music tonight I had a revelation. Maybe it is just me and sometimes I feel crazy when these things happen but I know it is right and true. Just because I am a follower of Jesus and love God and follow him in my life DOES NOT me

Cranberry Fluff is a MUST for our Thanksgiving Dinner table. My mom has made since I can remember and it is the tastiest side that I have ever had with my turkey! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Cranberry Fluff 1 package cranberries, washed and chopped 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 package mini marshmallows 1 tub of Cool Whip (the original size, not the big one) Combine the cranberries, sugar and walnuts in a bowl until very well combined. Add the marshmallows and make sure they are well distributed in the bowl. Cover and let sit overnight in the refrigerator. In the morning, add the tub of Cool Whip and keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Delicious leftover and lasts about a week in the fridge.  Serves 8-10

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This event is hosted by Mom Buzz Media and their network of super spectacular bloggers! Welcome to our very first Annual Holiday Gift Guide :100 Blog Hop Event! Our hard-working bloggers have searched high and they have searched low to find you the BEST and the most UNIQUE gift ideas for 2015. ATTENTION GIFT GUIDE ADDICTS CLICK HERE to be taken to the list of blogs. Start with any blog you choose and simply click the picture. It will take you to that blog where you can view their gift guide. When you are done, simply click the next one. Thank you to our Co-Hosts: Simply Sherryl Rude Mommy and Michelle Unwrapped We were lucky to snag a few absolutely amazing sponsors along the way! Please take a moment and read about each of them below! Then scroll to the bottom of this post for the giveaway where you could be one of several lucky winners! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FAMILOOP The Familoop team helps parents to

A lot has happened in just the last few weeks that it is really hard sometimes to grasp the reality of things. For starters we found out we were pregnant on October 21st which was so very exciting as we have been trying for 2 years now. The excitement waned as Halloween came upon us and I started spotting. A few doctors appointments later and a hospital stay that lasted 4 whole days and we no longer have a baby on the way. What they thought was a miscarriage, then a hetero-ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the tube or ectopic if you will, and a pregnancy in the uterus, so twins) turned out to be an ectopic pregnancy but which made surgery vital to my survival in the ordeal. I have been having a very real struggle with anger at God and a mad amount of frustration because of this ordeal. We have wanted another child for so many years to have the hope and excitement of it to be stripped so suddenly away was rather drastic and personally I feel quite uneccessary, but as most k

$250 Smart For Life Diet Giveaway Hosted by MomJunky and MamaTheFox Sponsored by Smart For Life Co-hosted by Deliciously Savvy , Amy And Aron's Real Life Reviews and Box Roundup Get Smart for the Holidays! Enter to win a $250 Giveaway for the Smart For Life Cookie Diet! This is a HUGE giveaway! The cookies are amazing! I lost 11.5lbs in one month! Check out my review HERE Stay fit this Holiday season with the help of Smart For Life! Enter to win your own today! Giveaway Starts 11/15-12/15 open to the U.S. Must be 18+ Entry -Form The winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond or forfeits the prize.This giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media.All participating blogs are not responsible for prize fulfillment.All entries are optional. Void where prohibited by law

Phoenix Claws and Jade Treees - Essential Techniques of Authentic Chinese Cooking by Kian Lam Kho is just that. I have always loved Chinese food but sometimes restaurants are leary places. For me, I prefer to make my food and once I can make it, I have no need to order out for it again! This book provides me with that and I absolutely love it. This cookbook isn't just a book full of recipes. It contains a whole section on Knife Techniques and even starts off with the history behind Regional Chinese Cuisine. Who doesn't love to learn more about the culture they are cooking? This book goes into details about aromatics used in Chinese Cooking as well as the sauces, starches and spices. Once you start getting into the chapters containing the recipes, I find they are extremely easy to follow and cook. The one recipe I was SO excited to try was the General Tso's Chicken recipe. It is definitely not something I have ever gotten when I have ordered it in a restaurant

*This post contains affiliate links. If clicked and a purchase is made, I may make a small commission. Reebok's NEW FuryLite shoe is the "offspring", as they put it, of the 1994 Instapump Fury. It is a sleek and comfortable shoe with a cutting edge design that will leave you wondering why you don't own a pair yet! The synthetic mesh upper offers a breathable and lightweight full foot comfort design as well as allowing for great ankle freedom. They have a 3D ultralite outsole too making it feel like you are walking on clouds. Well practically anyway. I'm here to tell you that I have partnered up with Reebok to give a pair of these badboys away! A pair of YOUR choice! They have men's, women's, boys and girls styles that are just awesome. Men's FuryLite Chukka Check out all the different styles here Reebok FuryLite shoes Entry -Form *This giveaway starts at 1am on 11-2-15 and runs until 10pm 11-6-15 CST. Beautifully Poor is not responsible

                                 Disclosure: This post was provided by  eAccountable  and contains affiliate links                                                  that may yield commissions earned at no cost to you. Starting your own holiday tradition can begin with a beautiful, custom-designed holiday greeting from MagnetStreet. Connect with family and friends (colleagues, too) with a card that speaks to the season and is easy to personalize. Browse beautifully designed layouts and then change the colors to fit your style or theme (even custom colors). Your photos will print with crystal clarity and you can word your card just the way you want! The perfect holiday greeting: a unique photo and message keepsake plus, a blessing for the season. Two words: custom and quality. Your satisfaction is paramount at MagnetStreet that's why we offer a 100% quality guarantee. Start your own tradition and keep more in your Christmas fund, too. 25% off all Christmas Cards! Code:  LH

I appreciate a good, clean coconut oil that is everything I want it to be. Cocozia does a great job with keeping the quality intact and the flavor so tasty! Coconut oil can be used for so many things, including skincare, hair care and of course, eating and cooking! Extra Virgin is one of the best kinds you can get and it being 100% organic, means you get the best of the best here. Not only that, but for the price you get 2 JARS! Not just one! I was very happy with that! It is also USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Verified. Coconut oil helps speed up the metabolism in a healthy, all-natural way so can help with weight loss. It also boosts the immune system and has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties, which help keep the body healthy and at its best functioning. You can also use it in your hair as a mask to moisturize and as an alternative to lotion. You don't need much and it leaves the skin extremely soft. It is also a great carrier oil for those of you who

AdoramaPix helps people turn their digital photographs from abstract computer files into beautiful keepsakes designed to last a lifetime. Their contemporary metal prints capture memories in rich color and vibrant detail. Because your images are infused right into the metal, and not painted on the surface, their metal prints are extremely durable. Not only will your metal image be water and weather proof, but scratch resistant as well. You can even clean it with glass cleaner. Your memories deserve to live in true, archival luxury with AdoramaPix metal prints. You can find all the fun gift ideas HERE:  http://www.adoramapix.com/app/home/ My readers get to save! 35% off all metal prints. Use code: pxusfam35m expires 12/15/2015

If you are looking for beautiful, softer hair, look no further. Before I started using this, I had split ends like crazy and frizzy, yucky hair. It was hard to brush out after a shower because of all the dead hair and I really don't want to go in for a haircut because I love my long locks. I know, I know; trimming hair helps it grow faster. When I was introduced to this I was very excited, because I know the benefits of Argan Oil are amazing and include strengthening and protecting hair and repairing it from damage already done. I can attest that these two products actually do that for me AND have almost all ORGANIC ingredients! That makes me and my hair extremely happy! First, let me introduce you to the Luxurious Argan Oil Hair Treatment & Elixir. The formula is thin and only a few pumps were needed to coat my long hair. You leave it in for 10 minutes, 2 hours or can leave it in overnight, though if you do it overnight I would recommend a hair cap so your she

Eyewear Giveaway! The winner can choose the frame he/she wants among all Polettes collections, adjusted to his/her eyesight or for fashion. Hosted by: Co-Hosted by: Deals, Freebies, Reviews, Giveaways and Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews Sponsored by Polette check out my review HERE Entry -Form The winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond or forfeits the prize.This giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media. All participating blogs are not responsible for prize fulfillment. All entries are optional. Void where prohibited by law.

Now it may not look like much, but this lunch box and wooden bento box are sure to be handy in every day lunch life. Whether you work in an office or travel while you work, the lunch box is insulated to keep things cold or hot and the wooden bento box is just perfect for those who eat light! Let's start with the wooden bento box. I have never seen anything quite this unique in my life. It is inspired by the Japanese and keeps food inside insulated which I would have never guessed in my life. As you can see it is wood, so you can't soak it or put it in the dishwasher though it comes clean quite easily with warm water and a little soap if needed. This one is made of pure Chinese fir and coated in Chinese lacquer. It is safe and non-toxic as well as safe for the environment. They say to watch for the smell of paint when you first get it but I didn't smell that. To remove they tell you to mix vinegar with water and to wash gently and repeat until the smell is