A takeout container is repurposed into a craft organizer - #recycle #repurpose #takeout

Often I get these great plastic containers with my food when I go out to eat. For years now I have hated to just through them in the trash, because I see the value in reusing them. I used to throw them away like everyone else. The other day we went to a very popular eatery and I got the family special. The meal came in this well organized container. It had rice, pita bread, chicken, salad and dipping sauce. It looked so clean, clear and well organized. The container grabbed my attention, because it looked very easy to grab and carry.  I could not resist taking it home. My husband looked at me with surprise. I am sure he thought, "Oh no what crazy idea does she have now!" Soon he would find out that I saved him a few dollars and the kids loved their easy to use craft organizer.

The idea to repurpose this container happened while eating dinner. The light bulb in my head went off and I saw it as a craft organizer/container.  I could see where things would fit and be easily accessed.  It was lightweight and easy to grab, which made it perfect for little hands. The more I thought about it, the more I could not wait to bring it home and test my idea.

Quickly I washed and dried the container to fill it with crafting supplies that had been forgotten and not used. The kids ran over to see what I was doing and looked excited at their new crafting/paint organizer. I added an old cupcake pan as a paint tray and a clear plastic shower curtain to their crafting/painting bundle. Now when they are bored they grab their crafting/painting supplies and entertain themselves. I should warn you that it's messy, but fun. I did add an old clear shower curtain to the mix. They lay the clear shower curtain underneath as a catch-all rug. This way the mess is easy to clean. This is fun for me too, because I get to see some amazing art! My husband is super happy, because it gave life to old forgotten supplies that were collecting dust.

 

What can you repurpose, recycle and reuse in your life? 

 

I wish you a Happy Monday.

 

Things I used to make it a fun afternoon:

Washable paint

Takeout container

An old cupcake pan

Clear Plastic shower curtain

Pom Poms

Glue

Sponges in the shape of fun characters

water

Chalk

Art Paper

Imagination.

 

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. This is a personal blog. All thought and ideas are all my own. 

Movie Review - EpicTheMovie

"Someone once told me if you stand still in the forest you can see the hidden struggle raging between the forces of life and decay That the survival of the forest depends on the out come. The good guys need all the help they can get. If you don't see it, then take a close look. If you still don't see it, take another look." MK Epic

 

The Movie Epic is being released on DVD this week and I received a copy for review. I have to tell you that I found the movie educational. There is the battle between good and evil, The Leafmen and the Boggans, which is happening without the human world knowing. But there is one scientist who has given up his life to prove that there is such a world. He is completely alone until the death of his wife brings his daughter back to visit. The daughter will become the connection between the forest and the human world to re-discover her love of her father. I want to tell you more, but you have to watch the movie to find out the rest.

The movie is loosely based on the book The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs written by William Joyce. I have not read the book, but I might read it after watching this movie. The movie inspire me to want to learn more about our forest.  It is a great story of struggle and finding happiness after the rain has past. I hope you get a chance to watch it. Happy Movie watching!
 

Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. I received a copy for review. All thoughts and ideas are all my own.

My thoughts on Better Oats breakfast Oatmeal. - #OatRevolution #BetterOats

 

Breakfast is sometimes a challenge for me. Mornings usually have 10 things happening all at once in our household. It becomes a juggling act for me. Getting two kids and myself washed-up, teeth brushed, dressed, eyeglasses on and taking care of any unexpected delays leaves little time for me. By the time breakfast needs to be on the table, I am tired from the morning.  On a good day I run out with food in one hand and the kids on the other.  Bad days I get no breakfast, because I was busy making sure my family was feed and ready. So when I was offered to try a quick healthy answer for breakfast, I accepted.

A few weeks ago I received the quick healthy answer in the mail.  A box from BetterOats with their product of Steel cut Oats and Flax Seed. At first I was very interested in tasting it, because a nutritionist had mentioned that a good breakfast with Steel cut Oats and Flax Seed was great for my health. But fear kept me from opening the box for a week. The box sat on the counter and every day I would look at it.  The box looked extremely healthy and I was afraid it would taste funny. I use to think healthy meant giving up taste. Until one day I reached for it. I opened the box and to my surprise it looked like regular oatmeal. In two minutes I had a delicious breakfast for me and the kids. It turns out I love Steel Cut Oats with Flax Seed and so does my family. It was the easiest meal preparation with great taste and lots of whole grain value.  

It's been several weeks now and it has become a regular item on our breakfast menu. One pouch is one serving of only 140 calories. It has become a favorite food of mine and sometimes I change it up a little.  I get fancy and add other ingredients such as almonds, raisins, honey, banana, walnuts, cranberries, strawberries or peaches. This usually keeps me full until lunch time without dropping my sugar level, which is great for my health. This has become my baby step to eating healthier in the mornings. Thank you BetterOats for helping me take baby steps to an easier morning with healthy food.

Stores that carry this item are Walmart, Target and Albertson's.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. This is a product review. All thoughts and opinions are all my own. 

Whale Watching with Aquarium of the Pacific and Harbor Breeze.

We recently got invited to go on an adventurous Field Trip with members of the media and staffers of Aquarium of the Pacific.  The trip was in search of the Endangered Blue Whale off the coast of Long Beach. We rode on the new MV Triumph Vessel operated by Harbor Breeze Cruises. The new vessel is 83 feet long and it seats 150 people. It has a high-efficiency hull design which features a hydrofoil wing lifting system. The ride on it felt as though we were gently surfing through the ocean water, it was a smooth ride.  

 

  

  

Once we reached our destination, we patiently waited for the Blue Whales to appear. They did not disappoint and soon appeared in the far distance. We saw the whale’s blow hole shooting water into the sky. The Captain announced that it was getting ready to dive down to feed. So we rushed to get a closer look before the whale descended below to feed. Once the whale dove down in the ocean to feed, it remains below the water for 10-12 minutes before it returns back up to the surface. We stayed closed by and started watching the time because chances are that it would return in the general area. This would mean we could capture some amazing photos. We were about to give up on the whale when it surfaced after 12 minutes of being down below feeding. Funny thing is that it came up near a fishing boat that was passing by and they looked as though they never saw the largest animal in the planet.  We could see the boat moving forward without even slowing down to see the whale.  In that moment, we all wished we had been a little closer. Okay, maybe it was just me wanting to be closer to the largest animal in the planet. Then, just as sudden as the whale appeared it left.

We were left to wait for a few more moments before we were surrounded by a school of dolphins. They were dancing in the ocean and playing with the waves. We all cheered in awe of the dolphins being so close to our boat. All of us in the boat were taking pictures like we were paparazzi and the sea creatures were celebrities. It was very exciting to see kids and adults enjoy the field trip.

 

There was no dull moment as during our cruise, the staff would announce over the speaker fun facts about the whales, dolphins and the sea lions living in the area. Not only were we able to see for ourselves how whales feed in the ocean, we learned that a mammal that size can grow to be between 100 to 150 tons in weight and have no teeth. Instead of having teeth, whales have bristles used to gulp large volumes of water with food allowing the water to escape but not the food. The favorite food of this giant is Krill or shrimp-like euphausiids that are three inches long.  Blue whales must eat two to four tons of krill a day during the feeding season. We learned so much from one (3) hour trip. My kids and all the people attending that day were fascinated with the entire experience.
  

My family would like to thank Aquarium of the Pacific and Harbor Breeze for making the trip memorable. If you would like to find out more information on how to go on your own adventure, go to the Aquarium of the Pacific's  website and plan your own trip: Aquarium of the Pacific.

Address: 100 Aquarium Way Long Beach, CA 90802. Hours are 9:00am to 6:00pm every day except Christmas Day and During the Grand Prix of Long Beach( April 11-13, 2014)

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. This was a media field trip. All thoughts and opinions are all my own.

Citings: Educational resource guide by Amsel, Sheri. “Discoveries and Inventions.”Blue Whales Speaking Their Own Language. Exploring Nature Educational Resource. ©2005-2013. August 19, 2013. http://exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=10&detID=66 

Marie Callender's $10.00 Gift Card. Closed.

Entry-Form

 

I attended a lunch sponsored by Marie Callender's to try their summer menu along with other friendly bloggers. We were served many yummy dishes. But my favorite was the BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. Tender, slow cooked pork in barbecue sauce on a toasted bun served with fries and coleslaw. I also enjoyed their sweet potato fries with Grilled BBQ shrimp skewers and coleslaw. Those two dishes reminded me of summer cooking. They carry other delicious classic American dishes that make your summer complete. It all depends on what you crave. They have a large menu to satisfy your summer food cravings. Besides a large selection of meals they have the best pies: Strawberry, Banana Crème, Chocolate and Cheesecakes. It's alright to go to Marie Callender's for pie and coffee on lazy afternoon. You have not lived until you have a slice of their strawberry pie. This summer the people at Marie Callender's want you to stop by and taste their American style cooking. They are sponsoring this great giveaway. I am giving away (3) gift cards for my readers. The value of each gift card is worth $10.00 dollars. So excited to be able to share this with you. I am off to getting a bite to eat. All this food talk has made me super hungry. Wishing you a happy summer! 

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I was given a tasting of the summer menu along with other bloggers. The gift cards are sponsored by Marie Callender's. All thoughts and opinions are all my own. 

 

Winners:
Mary Happymommy
Dawn Castro
Jeannine Drenchek-Scavo
Cristina-Colombiana en CA

Wordless Wednesday - NationalParkService BryceCanyon Roadtrip