tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89361970494714061032024-03-13T01:49:51.701-04:00Sarah Reviews Stuff HereThat's Right. You heard me.Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245659086215969972noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-68097869666365595102014-12-06T12:35:00.002-05:002014-12-06T12:35:32.854-05:00I Love These Socks<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003R7LD6S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003R7LD6S&linkCode=as2&tag=sarahandthego-20&linkId=K4XUA6M5WNB3IIVQ"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B003R7LD6S&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sarahandthego-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sarahandthego-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003R7LD6S" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
I love <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003R7LD6S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003R7LD6S&linkCode=as2&tag=sarahandthego-20&linkId=K4XUA6M5WNB3IIVQ">these socks</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sarahandthego-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003R7LD6S" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
so much I would marry them.Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-35933708900501525742012-11-30T12:19:00.001-05:002012-11-30T12:19:12.339-05:00Sarah Reviews SportsFreak365.com Calendars<!-- SportsFreak365.com: Show Off Your SportsFreak (Content Series) / Clever Girls Snippet --> <script src="http://member.clevergirlscollective.com/track?u=4215&g=341" type="text/javascript"></script><img src="http://assets.clevergirlscollective.com/pixel/p.png?a=campaign&gid=341&uid=4215" style="display: none; height: 1px; width: 1px;" /> <!-- END Clever Girls Snippet -->
I normally use my iCal for everything. I love it because I can set alarms for myself, and let's be honest here, the alerts that pop up on my iPhone are really the only reason I remember anything these days. That being said, when I got the winter basketball schedules for both of my kids last week I almost passed out. I needed a real calendar.<br />
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Sometimes you just need to see everything written out in grid form.<br />
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I am not going to lie to you and say that being a parent of twins is easy, but I can't say it doesn't have its advantages. For the first seven years of their lives I was able to keep them on the same t-ball/soccer/baseball team and it was glorious because it mean one practice and one game. Now that they are in 3rd grade the boys and girls no longer play on the same teams. Take into consideration that each child has two practices (rotating schedule to be fair) and one game each week, plus piano, swimming, choir, scouts and regular life events like birthday parties, sleepovers, Christmas etc., I really, really need some organizational tools to figure out when I am supposed to be where.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0brrbJlY2W_XbPPBQZaR6WgbD1LiPmYwxa6Wh7efEnzzBnvrwFZ3rz2rfD4K_2PBVlfsl5A13JcO5vjI6SDtvXFo1Svq2kJmxEDDjnPUgYST2XWBTDBHgHZL1kbWsHWSjfICVtpmKEWJ8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-11-30+at+11.21.46+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0brrbJlY2W_XbPPBQZaR6WgbD1LiPmYwxa6Wh7efEnzzBnvrwFZ3rz2rfD4K_2PBVlfsl5A13JcO5vjI6SDtvXFo1Svq2kJmxEDDjnPUgYST2XWBTDBHgHZL1kbWsHWSjfICVtpmKEWJ8/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-11-30+at+11.21.46+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Seriously, how do you people with more than two children do this?<br />
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So here is the good news. All of this crazy schedule nonsense coincided perfectly with an opportunity from my friends at the Clever Girls. They asked if I wanted to do a piece about a sports themed calendar.<br />
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DO I? Are you kidding? This is perfect. First of all, I just redid my office and it doesn't have nearly enough Buccaneers paraphernalia and second of all, as you can see, I really, really, really am in need of a calendar.<br />
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The lovely people at SportsFreak365 sent me three.<br />
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A wall calendar.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCUOb0xMx87tPigz2-rr5X91Ta-wpXYzxQETJUqKXIQrOxkyLTHTHNUy-s0c-kfGq8XVWQITTT3FqYBQhjab-H7Wg1E-FVW61tXsxcqUCO9DUeqMLBgiTRWRHpidc4TYKQhZqOEyw81t8/s1600/Bucs+Calendar+McCoy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCUOb0xMx87tPigz2-rr5X91Ta-wpXYzxQETJUqKXIQrOxkyLTHTHNUy-s0c-kfGq8XVWQITTT3FqYBQhjab-H7Wg1E-FVW61tXsxcqUCO9DUeqMLBgiTRWRHpidc4TYKQhZqOEyw81t8/s320/Bucs+Calendar+McCoy.png" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I adore Gerald McCoy</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A daily trivia calendar.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNjQkqYMH1CHFBMNGRWn-wY1yR7pcq4H31qeNeiKhDrphwlpb0QjJ-tuX8wWvnP1j8dKngLt38GhjAKm252NjYl0tBpzhL35bRPRfyJ62PhUnBOTEeaqURbUqfasZwIwnYPcTghOiOwd-/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-11-30+at+12.16.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNjQkqYMH1CHFBMNGRWn-wY1yR7pcq4H31qeNeiKhDrphwlpb0QjJ-tuX8wWvnP1j8dKngLt38GhjAKm252NjYl0tBpzhL35bRPRfyJ62PhUnBOTEeaqURbUqfasZwIwnYPcTghOiOwd-/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-11-30+at+12.16.45+PM.png" width="304" /></a></div>
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And a desk blotter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQXg2SzyAOYluaR7_9LjmXB3VGPO7ZF3AtMxpsuXGLbtZWYOl4a8q_CJ4n8zR7U5uWcUO3aMnrFZ7uIzYEykTE1sXo-r_aj-3BjX0H6PkV9XWgKjapl2nWq0kheO9BqXp33IN2dyiNmIS/s1600/blotter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQXg2SzyAOYluaR7_9LjmXB3VGPO7ZF3AtMxpsuXGLbtZWYOl4a8q_CJ4n8zR7U5uWcUO3aMnrFZ7uIzYEykTE1sXo-r_aj-3BjX0H6PkV9XWgKjapl2nWq0kheO9BqXp33IN2dyiNmIS/s320/blotter.png" width="320" /></a>
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Awesome!!!<br />
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You don't have to have Tampa Bay stuff (although I can't imagine why you would root for any other team). You don't even have to choose football, the <a href="http://clvr.li/Rpqh7z">SportsFreak365 site</a> has NHL, MLB, NBA and NCAA gear in addition to the NFL calendars.<br />
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And the holidays are right around the corner.<br />
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I moved to Tampa in 1984. The Bucs were terrible. TERRIBLE. They also wore that creamsicle orange color. Remember?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Wn6Fn7DSZcrvAxmYGpGLQVOMqF4lGCDS0JxDsfrN6adF5UZJ0MKbwisxA78d7_EbUP07Wn3A_H8u5Id_JOMgNWTQx0rT40rMIYSZ1c3fyOSV-_xSn9j8mk0p-aR3iTnbEnGC6sYqGXgS/s1600/Tampa+Bay+Orange.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Wn6Fn7DSZcrvAxmYGpGLQVOMqF4lGCDS0JxDsfrN6adF5UZJ0MKbwisxA78d7_EbUP07Wn3A_H8u5Id_JOMgNWTQx0rT40rMIYSZ1c3fyOSV-_xSn9j8mk0p-aR3iTnbEnGC6sYqGXgS/s320/Tampa+Bay+Orange.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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We watched the Buccaneers play on TV when the games weren't blacked out locally for poor attendance, but I didn't learn to truly love football until college when somebody finally explained downs to me.<br />
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It is funny how knowing the rules of a game make it vastly more interesting to watch.<br />
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I remember telling my friends that as soon as the Buccaneers changed their colors I would buy a jersey. How could a team possible feel tough wearing light orange with Bucco Bruce on their helmet? Plus I look terrible in orange.<br />
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In 1997 my dreams came true and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers changed their colors to garnet and pewter and you know what? Just a few years later they won a Super Bowl.<br />
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I now own seven Tampa Bay Buccaneer jerseys.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBempSAqv9oqnMGDwfQ6OuEErjEaSTro7ksPVN9YFltTu0c8C6-sO8KKaSSusw8SXQYl4JSuKZ_yyMFXXjU_v8nLAVfny98HKotkQ4PFpPGJAt5Co1KogqyfAixifT4yjghTtb0KVSPiFX/s1600/Sarah+Bucs+Calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBempSAqv9oqnMGDwfQ6OuEErjEaSTro7ksPVN9YFltTu0c8C6-sO8KKaSSusw8SXQYl4JSuKZ_yyMFXXjU_v8nLAVfny98HKotkQ4PFpPGJAt5Co1KogqyfAixifT4yjghTtb0KVSPiFX/s320/Sarah+Bucs+Calendar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I no longer live in Tampa, but I still love my Buccaneers.<br />
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<em style="font-style: italic;">Showing off your team spirit has never been easier! Whatever team you root for and whatever sport they play, find the gear you need at <a href="http://clvr.li/Rpqh7z" style="color: grey; text-decoration: none;">SportsFreak365.com</a>. Just in time for the holidays, you can get 30% off any purchase using the code “Clever30.” And while you’re there, be sure to enter to win $500 toward team gear in <a href="http://clvr.li/TuG31D" style="color: grey; text-decoration: none;">Ditka’s SportsFreak of the Week Contest</a>!</em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 9px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<em style="font-style: italic;">I was compensated for my work but these words and opinions are my own.</em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 9px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<em style="font-style: italic;">I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective. </em></div>
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<br />Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-57295499532935856442012-10-24T15:54:00.002-04:002012-10-24T15:58:51.119-04:00Supporting My Little AthleteFor a person who spends about a third of almost every day either watching, writing about, thinking about or tweeting about sports I am not terribly athletic.<br />
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Yeah, I know it is ironic. So is the fact that I am a tall girl who often gets asked to play basketball even thought I have never mastered the art of dribbling.<br />
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I've said too much.<br />
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I guess I really wanted to tell you that so that I could help explain I passed on no coordination or strength genes to my children. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with my kids, they are very smart, they have quick wits, one of them (no names) has a real musicals gifts, they are creative and they are both good at math.<br />
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The math thing they get from their father, I like to take credit for all of the the other things.<br />
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We signed the twins up for tee-ball and it was okay. They played for a few seasons and then moved up to Single A. Single A is machine pitch and it was a nightmare. One of my children (again who I won't name) didn't get a single hit all season - didn't even get a piece of the ball. It was torture for both of them. The best games were the ones that got rained out.<br />
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The next year they decided that they would rather play soccer. It was a breath of fresh air. They were really seeming to enjoy it, and while neither of my kids was a superstar they both played hard and had fun.<br />
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And then they put my baby in as goalie.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaJ76_bq3fTNC1jeDJHVSpVKF3GlcYH4Awwdkx5ZScUOM-dB29IuEtVZFgS7W-rDqHdOQvQCxF6g65sJ6kojJD-56dxqfVOB6P1MQieAC689_cw5fEf8LvNjqaB2t1zdmsxH66ii3_csx/s1600/My+Little+Goalie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaJ76_bq3fTNC1jeDJHVSpVKF3GlcYH4Awwdkx5ZScUOM-dB29IuEtVZFgS7W-rDqHdOQvQCxF6g65sJ6kojJD-56dxqfVOB6P1MQieAC689_cw5fEf8LvNjqaB2t1zdmsxH66ii3_csx/s320/My+Little+Goalie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm not sure how we didn't see it coming, the coach was rotating all of the children and letting them play all of the positions, but I honestly wasn't expecting it.<br />
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There was my sweet, uncoordinated, unsure of himself son, all alone in that HUGE GOAL. I felt sick to my stomach. How does Hope Solo's mom do it? Martin Brodeur's mother? Peter Schmeichel's parents? I got light headed until I realized I was holding my breath.<br />
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Then they blew the whistle to start play.<br />
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At first everything was cool and the Sparrow offense kept the ball on the other end of the field.<br />
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Oh yeah, we were the Sparrows. Not the toughest name in soccer, but still better than Orangemen, Hokies or Gamecocks, so hush.<br />
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Then the other team (The Owls, there was a bird theme for the 8 and unders) got the ball and kicked it over toward my son.<br />
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I started holding my breath again.<br />
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Then it happened. Some kid made a shot on goal.<br />
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Ian stopped it with his face.<br />
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This is where the needing the Kleenex comes in. We both cried.<br />
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But then we dried our tears and he got back in the goal and even though they scored on him, he hung in there and was a trooper. I was so proud of him.<br />
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See that picture up there? That is what I am putting on my Kleenex oval.<br />
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I think that supporting your little athletes and <a href="http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/2012/05/02/why-youth-sports-are-vital/">team sports are such and important part</a> of growing up. They aren't always easy, but you will always learn new skills, even if those skills are sucking it up and getting back to work. Both of my kids have agreed to play soccer again in the spring, but first, winter basketball. I mean, really, somebody in this family should know how to dribble.<br />
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* * Get a Kleenex custom oval BOGO until 11/15/12, just use the code PLAYOFFS at checkout on the <a href="http://clvr.li/T4jkVS" target="_blank">Kleenex site</a>. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of <a href="http://clevergirlscollective.com/" target="_blank">Clever Girls Collective</a>, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.<a href="http://clvr.li/T4jkVS">http://clvr.li/T4jkVS</a>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-1206302450897546742012-08-07T11:59:00.000-04:002012-08-07T13:40:43.482-04:00Five Reasons I am Considering Buying a ToyotaWell, well, well. It is time for me to buy a new car. Despite a very low cool factor I have loved my minivan since the day I got it. Two sliding doors saved my back and my sanity with young twins and this van has been a workhorse, but my 2003 Honda Odyssey will cost me $3500 to fix and is only worth about $5000 and that math means it is time to look into a new car.<br />
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Now that my kids are both eight years old I think, or at least I hope, they can open and close doors by themselves so I am ready for something a little more stylish. I still need the practicality of a big car that can haul around a bunch of kids and is good on road trips so we are looking at SUVs.<br />
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There are a few cars we are seriously considering, but since I am working with Toyota I will talk about the RAV4 specifically.<br />
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<h2>
Five Reasons I am Considering Buying a Toyota Rav4</h2>
<b>1) They are super cute. Have you seen one?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh11EWFAeqDmw1GdEfbZawJ1QXqWlVDWFXUEcRaTP3hEuuNgUN1TiBr37y49xY9QOU8Y5yYXlSqrMvdg6MzLxL9AZVHt-UFgY3gsC_35ZqBMYmxqRdsoZcw07U1NRO8T-YvaZbvHVLjS4m/s1600/2013+Toyota+Rav4+Red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh11EWFAeqDmw1GdEfbZawJ1QXqWlVDWFXUEcRaTP3hEuuNgUN1TiBr37y49xY9QOU8Y5yYXlSqrMvdg6MzLxL9AZVHt-UFgY3gsC_35ZqBMYmxqRdsoZcw07U1NRO8T-YvaZbvHVLjS4m/s320/2013+Toyota+Rav4+Red.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>2) Optional third row</b>.<br />
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One of the things I really love about my minivan is that we can accommodate guests. There are only four of us in the family, but sometimes my parents visit and we can all fit in one car to go to dinner, or I can comfortably take my kids and some of their friends to a movie or to the pool. Even though I want to downsize a little bit, I don't want to give up a third row.<br />
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<b>3) Complete strangers have raved to me about how much they love their RAV4.</b><br />
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This sounds like a lie, but it is true. When I was picking up my rental car yesterday (which isn't even a Toyota) I told the woman that this car was going to be a test drive since I needed a new car. She told me she had a RAV4 and then she went on and on and on and on about how much she loved it and even though it was seven years old she didn't want a new car.<br />
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Owner testimonials go a long way.<br />
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<b>4) Safety</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.toyota.com/rav4/features.html">LOOK AT ALL OF THE STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES!</a><br />
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I am not kidding when I say that there are too many to type. Seriously, <a href="http://www.toyota.com/rav4/features.html">check these out.</a><br />
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<b>5) The <a href="https://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/">100 Cars for Good program</a>.</b><br />
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A company that does good things matters. A company that does bad things matters (looking at you BP and Chick Fil A). Sometimes good deeds go unnoticed, but not this time Toyota. I am impressed with this program. If you aren't familiar with the 100 Cars for Good watch this.<br />
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Oh, indeed.<br />
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* * *<br />
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<em>I am working with the Clever Girls Collective and Toyota on this campaign. Toyota paid for my trip to their campus and they gave me a video camera, but these words and stories are my own.</em>
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</script>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-42198079655675752332012-07-29T14:26:00.000-04:002012-07-29T14:26:21.848-04:00Sarah Test Drove Some Toyotas<br />
Back in June I took a trip out to California to visit the Toyota Campus in Torrence. As a part of the Toyota Women's Influencer Network, Toyota gave us a chance to test drive a few cars.<br />
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I went in planning on test driving some SUVs and some minivans. Yes, sort of because I am a mom, but also because I am currently in the market for a new family vehicle.<br />
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Unfortunately, due to time restraints and only about 15 cars for about 45 people I ended up driving a few Toyotas that not at all what I was looking for.<br />
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On the upside, it was really fun!<br />
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The first car I test drove was a Toyota Tacoma. It was red and pretty. I thought it handled really well for a little pick up truck, but the only other pickup truck I have ever driven is my husband's work truck and since I am not insured on that vehicle the most I have driven it is that one time I needed to move it out of the driveway and into the street. The Tacoma was better than that.<br />
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The second car I test drove was the Toyota Camry.<br />
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The Camry was lovely. If I were looking to buy a sedan I would definitely consider it. I was very comfortable and it handled well and it was pretty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_sEq0s1K5kPC1OksYwpVZUky2LHSF7IX7OoHeF1JUTAtQCSjbJmShHlxUTW7CcxiMSAVNBkSEhxs44wWC7EP_SkFrsNVNMIvgAvQFotHH8Phis2vZu6ipt01QBS-zOshQl1nKN3YoNmo/s1600/2012-Toyota-Camry-Exterior-Color-Option-Barcelona-Red-Metallic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_sEq0s1K5kPC1OksYwpVZUky2LHSF7IX7OoHeF1JUTAtQCSjbJmShHlxUTW7CcxiMSAVNBkSEhxs44wWC7EP_SkFrsNVNMIvgAvQFotHH8Phis2vZu6ipt01QBS-zOshQl1nKN3YoNmo/s320/2012-Toyota-Camry-Exterior-Color-Option-Barcelona-Red-Metallic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>It was red and shiny like this one. I can't find the camera I took my pictures on. You will have to cut me some slack. We are renovating and I have far fewer walls than normal. Crap. I hope I didn't put my camera in storage. That can't be good for it.</i></div>
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The last car I test drove was my favorite. It was the Toyota Advance Fuel Cell Hybrid vehicle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWbBYGHAAc23Yhyz9vNZy0owCdxcI9pfiksGTsYwtbOn20Q7MW5HFSvQwhtMDmwcLlUI8RYkB3P6Z6lfUhgSyalMXWqQroeHgXFvo01PWZLiua69PNH4lIAO26gBnNEwPhUhxavx1SDuE/s1600/toyota+fuel+cell+FCHV-adv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWbBYGHAAc23Yhyz9vNZy0owCdxcI9pfiksGTsYwtbOn20Q7MW5HFSvQwhtMDmwcLlUI8RYkB3P6Z6lfUhgSyalMXWqQroeHgXFvo01PWZLiua69PNH4lIAO26gBnNEwPhUhxavx1SDuE/s320/toyota+fuel+cell+FCHV-adv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Picture Stolen from my friend Glennia Campbell from <a href="http://glenniacampbell.typepad.com/silenti/2012/06/toyota-women-influencers-network.html">The Silent "I'</a></i></div>
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I KNOW! It is even fancier than it sounds. It drove amazingly well for a two year old prototype. My friends and I joked about taking it off course and going out for cupcakes but we decided that even if we knew our way around Torrence (which we didn't) we would probably be in trouble if we ran out of fuel. We didn't know where the closest fuel cell filling station station is. I don't even know if there is such a thing as a fuel cell filling station.<br />
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I am really glad we didn't take it rouge, as it turned out to be a one of a kind prototype and probably worth over $1 million. I can't speak for my fellow passengers, but I wasn't paying attention when I signed the release form and didn't have $1 million to pay them back if we had to ditch the car on the side of the road and hike back to Toyota.<br />
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Plus, I doubt the Clever Girls would have let me hang around if I stole and abandoned a car from one of their clients.<br />
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I suppose I could have also served some jail time and that would have sucked,<br />
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But it was all cool. I didn't steal a thing and I had a cupcake when I got back home.<br />
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<em>I am working with the Clever Girls Collective and Toyota on this campaign. Toyota paid for my trip to their campus, but these words and stories are my own.</em></div>
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</script>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-45710188608995911702012-06-15T09:34:00.000-04:002012-06-15T14:53:42.146-04:00Every Day Desserts With Cool Whip<div style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
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<i>Thank you <a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;255148463;78377194;x;pc=[TPAS_ID]" style="color: #d91f1f; text-decoration: none;">COOL WHIP</a> for sponsoring this post. Join us on <a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;255148463;78377194;x;pc=[TPAS_ID]" style="color: #d91f1f; text-decoration: none;">Facebook</a> for inspiration and recipes for everyday treats. What you add makes it. #coolwhipmoms</i><br />
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My kids love dessert.<br />
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That might be a crazy thing to say. I supposed it would be equally fair to say that all kids love dessert.<br />
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Lately we have been eating a lot of fruit for dessert. The strawberries this year have been amazing and my son cannot get enough of them. I have been eating strawberries and yogurt for lunch and he just eats them plain for a snack. Strawberries are delicious and wonderful, but after eating them almost every day since February (we don't mess around during strawberry season) we were starting to get bored with plain old strawberries for dessert.<br />
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I had a great idea! Strawberry shortcake. All I needed was those little round cake things, strawberries and some COOL WHIP whipped topping. It is about the easiest thing in the world to make if your grocery store has the little round shortcake shells. Did you know that shortcake shells were a seasonal thing? Me neither!<br />
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Fortunately, I am very resourceful and had a plan B. Strawberry pie! Strawberry pie sounds like a fancy thing that involves work, but it can be as simple as a pre made graham cracker pie crust, strawberries, strawberry gel and COOL WHIP.<br />
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Guess what else is seasonal. If you guessed strawberry gel you win something, but it isn't strawberry pie unless you can wait until February.<br />
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For a moment I thought I was going to have to go to plan C. Plan C was one that <a href="http://www.lauriewrites.com/weblog/">Laurie</a> suggested when I said I was going to make a dessert that involved COOL WHIP. Her recipe included pistachio pudding, fruit cocktail and COOL WHIP. This is a special White family recipe. They call it "The Green Stuff".<br />
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Now - I believe her when she says that it tastes good, however, I have two picky eight year olds and if I said dessert and put something in front of them that I called "The Green Stuff" and that it was White's recipe and when they asked what was in it I said "pistachio pudding and fruit cocktail" they would probably balk now and then continue to bring it up for years to come. Like "Hey kids, one time your Grandmother tried to trick us into eating green pudding with fruit cocktail in it. I think she might be a witch."<br />
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I decided several things: 1) I would come up with a plan D, 2) I would try The Green Stuff next time Laurie or her mom makes it with an open-ish mind, 3) I would never try to sell someone on a dessert by using the words "poor man's ambrosia" and 4) It is true what they say. I really am a snob.<br />
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Plan D. I bought half of a pound cake. I was going to bake one, but when I realized I could just buy a half of an already baked one that seemed like the path of least cake resistance. I still had my strawberries and I still had my COOL WHIP.<br />
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When I got home, I told my husband about my plan. He said "got it."<br />
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When Gabe says "got it" that means he is going to do it. His cooking skills eclipse mine and he started slicing the berries very thin. Then he put a tiny bit of salt and a little sprinkle of sugar on the strawberries and just let them sit. When you do that it leaches out some of the moisture and the berries almost make their own gel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHL3HzFslt6WJEbHOy0ehza9FBUOEionvmnqqtDsLEFfhiGbByc81lYOlieo2vGZ9o45ru6c7k5lPsSMqYAFlI2cxgbVVOkSBJ4TFfEkOot8WaAv1wR9zvD7W6xiuGW7aDsYzjZJoiX_V/s1600/strawbeeries+cool+whip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHL3HzFslt6WJEbHOy0ehza9FBUOEionvmnqqtDsLEFfhiGbByc81lYOlieo2vGZ9o45ru6c7k5lPsSMqYAFlI2cxgbVVOkSBJ4TFfEkOot8WaAv1wR9zvD7W6xiuGW7aDsYzjZJoiX_V/s320/strawbeeries+cool+whip.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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They sat like that until after dinner and when it was time for dessert he sliced the cake and put strawberries and COOL WHIP on top and it looked like we had a very fancy dessert for the kids. There is just something about adding COOL WHIP that makes it seem special instead of just a few things I threw together.<br />
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And by I, I of course mean Gabe.<br />
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And it was delicious.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8CMlXwIVy7clrkEMYAXER_5LE1zINGhBL2S6akr5k9hfDBDuYBL-zBHUWxOHHvI45KktJU3Nz0iYxdMmi7C2g7DHbCRgI5z2Q2dRo1jieEso7qKR7dsQwK7ktc2ZoWA_3BmxUb3SudHd/s1600/strawberry+pound+cake+cool+whip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8CMlXwIVy7clrkEMYAXER_5LE1zINGhBL2S6akr5k9hfDBDuYBL-zBHUWxOHHvI45KktJU3Nz0iYxdMmi7C2g7DHbCRgI5z2Q2dRo1jieEso7qKR7dsQwK7ktc2ZoWA_3BmxUb3SudHd/s320/strawberry+pound+cake+cool+whip.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do you have a special dessert you'd like to share? Enter COOL WHIP's Fan Dessert of the Month Contest for a chance to win $500! Simply make a COOL WHIP dessert, take a photo, and upload it <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#%21/coolwhip/app_279074485512428" style="color: #d91f1f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a>. Enter now!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><em style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content. I was compensated for this post as a member of <a href="http://clevergirlscollective.com/" style="color: #d91f1f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Clever Girls Collective</a>, but the content is all my own.</em> </span></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-3545389162379233462012-05-08T13:46:00.001-04:002012-05-08T13:47:58.682-04:00Molly Maid Contest WinnerCongratulations to Bryana ZT! She won the <a href="http://sarahreviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/sarah-gives-away-100-molly-maid-gift.html">$100 Molly Maid gift certificate</a>.<br />
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Bryana, I just need your e-mail address to get started.Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-45270406848817912082012-04-30T13:50:00.001-04:002012-05-02T15:46:45.808-04:00Sarah Gives Away a $100 Molly Maid Gift Certificate<script src="http://member.clevergirlscollective.com/track/?u=1&g=13" type="text/javascript">
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As Mother's Day approaches people (the internet, not my actual children, they usually make me a craft at school) ask me what I want for Mother's Day. I joke that I want to go 12 hours without anybody touching me (not really a joke) or that I want my kids to clean the garage (also not a joke). What I really, really want is a family dinner where there isn't any fighting and that doesn't involve me cooking or shopping or doing any dishes.<br />
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Of course when Mother's Day really rolls around I will probably spend the afternoon at laser tag because my twins were born on May 12th.<br />
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I know that an 8th birthday is more important than a holiday invented by a greeting card company, and as a mother I am happy to let it slide. Part of the thing about being a mom is knowing this. Another part is taking care of myself so that I don't freak out and lock my kids in the yard (again).<br />
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We figure out tricks. One of my best tricks is hiring a <a href="http://www.mollymaid.com/why-maid/house-cleaning.aspx">house cleaning service</a>. For a while I thought it was out of reach. I thought it was a frivolous waste of money. I was so wrong.<br />
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Here is what really happened. Don't make fun of me, but I was at my brother's house and I watched the documentary on "The Secret". I decided that what I really, really wanted from the universe was a <a href="http://www.mollymaid.com/why-maid/custom-clean/rooms/gift-certificate-mom.aspx">Maid Service</a>. I spent a few moths focusing all of my positive energy on cleaning people. I visualized someone coming over to clean my house. I took time every day to think about this. Somewhere during this time period it occurred to me that I could actually just hire someone and when I priced having someone come in every other week it was shockingly reasonable.<br />
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I don't know if "The Secret" works or I just spent four months convincing myself I needed someone else to clean my house.<br />
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I do know this - my mom fell asleep when we were watching the documentary and when she woke up we told her the secret was something completely different. It was hilarious. I'm probably not supposed to say that on the Mother's Day post, but it is too late now.<br />
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I don't know why it took me so long to do it but I honestly believe that hiring a <a href="http://www.mollymaid.com/why-maid.aspx">Maid Service</a> is one of the keys to maintaining my sanity.<br />
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That might sound like a ridiculously snobby think to say but it is true. If there is something that stresses me out it is cleaning. I don't get stressed by the same things that spaz normal people out, I don't mind flying, I enjoy public speaking, crowds don't bother me and I like it when my in-laws come over. The thought of cleaning my bedroom gives me panicky feelings.<br />
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I still freak out on the Thursday mornings that I forget my cleaning people are coming and all of my dirty clothes are on the bathroom floor but when they leave there is always this great sense of order and the entire house is super peaceful - at least until my kids get home from school.<br />
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But you probably want to know more about the giveaway.<br />
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<strong><u>Giveaway Rules</u></strong><br />
<strong>Win a $100 gift certificate toward a cleaning from Molly Maid!</strong></div>
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<strong>Please note that Molly Maid does not offer service in the following locations: Louisiana, Wyoming, Vermont, West Virginia, Maine, Montana, and Alabama. Also Molly Maid does not have coverage in the following Metro areas: Madison, WI, Green Bay, WI, Buffalo, NY, and Syracuse, NY. If you live in any of these locations, you can still enter to win, but will not be able to have a home in those areas serviced. </strong><strong>Home cleaning estimates will vary. Winner may use gift certificate toward total cost.</strong></div>
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<strong>This giveaway will end May 7 at 11:59PM PT, so enter now! A winner will be selected randomly from the comments on May 8 and contacted via email.</strong></div>
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<strong>Enter up to four times by doing each of the following:</strong></div>
<ul style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">
<li><strong>One Entry - Tweet about the Molly Maid contest (you can even use the handy-dandy Tweet below, if you like) and leave a comment here with either the Tweet or the URL to the Tweet. Please be sure to tag your Tweet with #MollyMaid4Mom.</strong></li>
<li><strong>One Entry - Post about this contest on Facebook, and leave a comment here saying what you posted. Please tag the post with the #MollyMaid4Momhashtag.</strong></li>
<li><strong>One Entry - Write a blog post about the contest and -- you guessed it -- leave a comment here with the URL to the blog post.</strong></li>
<li><strong>One Entry - Just leave a comment on this blog post!</strong></li>
</ul>
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<strong><em>Sample Tweet: I just entered to win $100 toward a cleaning from Molly Maid! You can too! http://sarahreviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/sarah-gives-away-100-molly-maid-gift.html #MollyMaid4Mom</em></strong></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">This contest closes at 11:59PM Pacific Time on May 7th. Leave a comment, post about it on Facebook, tweet away because we are talking about $100 worth of <a href="http://www.mollymaid.com/why-maid/custom-clean/rooms/gift-certificate-mom.aspx">Maid Service</a>. You want this. Make sure I have a way to e-mail you if you win.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><em>Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content. I was compensated for this post as a member of</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://clevergirlscollective.com/" style="color: #d91f1f; text-decoration: none;"><em>Clever Girls Collective</em></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><em>, but the content is all my own.</em></span>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-81068030497884855232012-04-28T12:06:00.000-04:002012-04-29T14:44:46.231-04:00Let's Pretend This Never HappenedIt isn't so much a review as much it is a gushing love fest and admission of what a crappy parent I am.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399159010/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=sarahandthego-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0399159010"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0399159010&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=sarahandthego-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sarahandthego-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0399159010" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a name='more'></a><a href="http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/2012/04/25/why-you-shouldnt-listen-to-the-bloggess-audio-book-with-your-kids-in-the-car/">Read my post about why you shouldn't listen to The Bloggess' book with your kids in the car over at Sarah and the Goon Squad.</a>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-34032295057819205552011-12-08T16:34:00.001-05:002011-12-08T17:38:53.176-05:00Sarah Dares to Tries New Makeup<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v2|3EA6|0|0|%2a|o;243194519;0-0;0;74733139;31-1|1;42896271|42914058|1;;;pc=[TPAS_ID]%3fhttp://www.makeup.com/?cm_mmc=dfa-_-federated_media-_-makeup_dot_com-_-MDC_PHASE_I&utm_source=federated&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="123" src="http://static.fmpub.net/banners/20111128/4ed4021ded4e2mdc_logo_125x123.jpg" title="" width="125" /></a><img border="0" height="0" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/imp;v1;f;243194519;0-0;0;74733139;1|1;42896271|42914058|1;;cs=u;pc=[TPAS_ID];%3fhttp://ad.doubleclick.net/dot.gif?[timestamp]" style="border: none; height: 0; width: 0;" width="0" /><br />
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<i>Thanks to L'Oreal for sponsoring my post about my favorite beauty looks, tips and tricks! Check out <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclick%3Bh%3Dv2%7C3EA6%7C0%7C0%7C%252a%7Co%3B243194519%3B0-0%3B0%3B74733139%3B31-1%7C1%3B42896271%7C42914058%7C1%3B%3B%3Bpc%3D%5BTPAS_ID%5D%253fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.makeup.com%2F%3Fcm_mmc%3Ddfa-_-federated_media-_-makeup_dot_com-_-MDC_PHASE_I%26utm_source%3Dfederated%26utm_medium%3Dbanner%26utm_campaign&k4=3000&k5={banner_id}" target="_blank">Makeup.com</a> for beauty advice from the experts.</i><br />
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After I agreed to write a post about beauty tips I remembered something important - I don't know jack crap about makeup. Well, that isn't exactly true. I know things about makeup I am just really bad at applying it.<br />
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When I was in 8th grade I took a modeling class (shut up) and one of the section was on makeup application. I learned a lot and I can knock a nice late '80s look out of the park, but since it is 2011 and the Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam thing doesn't really play well at PTA meetings I try to mix it up a bit.<br />
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Originally I thought I was going to try something new and show you. I heard that they now offer mascara and lipstick that have collagen in them to plump up your lips and lashes.<br />
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I found the lipstick right away.<br />
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Then I went to find the mascara.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvMSWEehmbulrMCXN82YrLedgUZB-Uja_9P_0S1txr9CiW3wayAQYOKvATJGGXP6qUHGev9l8ehixq-dFP0shBHPHVO_MBvVY_IF601BVYScGFiZfwHAN6_UIr4_ys0Gcmhq0-GCkgsE0/s1600/L%2527oreal+mascara+at+Walgreens.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvMSWEehmbulrMCXN82YrLedgUZB-Uja_9P_0S1txr9CiW3wayAQYOKvATJGGXP6qUHGev9l8ehixq-dFP0shBHPHVO_MBvVY_IF601BVYScGFiZfwHAN6_UIr4_ys0Gcmhq0-GCkgsE0/s320/L%2527oreal+mascara+at+Walgreens.png" width="251" /></a></div><br />
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Holy cow!<br />
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That is just the L'Oreal mascara selection. I was a little overwhelmed but I eventually decided on the Voluminous Extra-Collagen for two reasons. 1) the package says 12x more impact instantly. I really wanted to see if that was true and 2) the bottom says EXTREME VOLUME and that reminds me of EXTREME RICE and EXTREME RICE makes me laugh.<br />
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<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Sf8cM7f6P2I?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Sf8cM7f6P2I?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
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You know, I think that might be my husband's cousin. <br />
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But back to the mascara - these are just your options for black.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcoxocysDlXtfuqoxekBBUQCpKHvnQ_3ItoDIki-wriYg9Q43jr42o5aImfGMlC54QruafmOCevCDqoHkEFYJP_rvRaB3Vjivpt8i4nZXEcdHWUrIM27HFZOPAAUQvIRvoxuq_r7tK8C_/s1600/Just+the+Black.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcoxocysDlXtfuqoxekBBUQCpKHvnQ_3ItoDIki-wriYg9Q43jr42o5aImfGMlC54QruafmOCevCDqoHkEFYJP_rvRaB3Vjivpt8i4nZXEcdHWUrIM27HFZOPAAUQvIRvoxuq_r7tK8C_/s320/Just+the+Black.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I choose Black Noir which sounds French but I believe is just redundant.<br />
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I was going to show you how awesome it made my eyelashes, but I think I broke Photo Booth and also nearly poked out my eye trying to use the monitor as a mirror. Maybe someday when I acquire more RAM I can humiliate myself in front of all of you. Sadly today will not be that day.<br />
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Oh wait. Yes, today <i>will</i> be the day.<br />
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<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BcEVUAoCvgg?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BcEVUAoCvgg?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
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Actually after I did look in the mirror and fixed what I had done the mascara actually looked pretty great. Please ignore my lipstick. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFhCPKAmePM">That was the first video</a>. It wasn't pretty. This is why they never ask me to be on Momversation.<br />
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I do have one trick, and by an absolute coincidence L'Oreal is actually responsible for my trick. Don't tell anybody, but I actually use the little chart on the back of the eyeshadow thing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMK6XDHZSPTz9b0zc3qjuHBBCNWZ8WtJaS2ETDTCpSknHH9HJcV0JETh8p1rV34Ht9lmyRPi0AVLhos7vOM1Y6o1U1ZYTNc1sFdszoNwsnuTG9sYzr0HmGzTwgAujAogS2euAcEM0D62I/s1600/back+of+eyeshadow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMK6XDHZSPTz9b0zc3qjuHBBCNWZ8WtJaS2ETDTCpSknHH9HJcV0JETh8p1rV34Ht9lmyRPi0AVLhos7vOM1Y6o1U1ZYTNc1sFdszoNwsnuTG9sYzr0HmGzTwgAujAogS2euAcEM0D62I/s320/back+of+eyeshadow.png" width="246" /></a></div><br />
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True story.<br />
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And it looks good.<br />
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So, I told you mine. Now you tell me your makeup secrets.<br />
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Clearly I need the knowledge.<br />
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<i>I was selected for this sponsorship by the <a href="http://www.clevergirlscollective.com/">Clever Girls Collective</a>. <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclick%3Bh%3Dv2%7C3EA6%7C0%7C0%7C%252a%7Co%3B243194519%3B0-0%3B0%3B74733139%3B31-1%7C1%3B42896271%7C42914058%7C1%3B%3B%3Bpc%3D%5BTPAS_ID%5D%253fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.makeup.com%2F%3Fcm_mmc%3Ddfa-_-federated_media-_-makeup_dot_com-_-MDC_PHASE_I%26utm_source%3Dfederated%26utm_medium%3Dbanner%26utm_campaign&k4=3000&k5={banner_id}" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about Makeup.com or become a Facebook fan by <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMakeupdotcom&k4=3001&k5={banner_id}" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</i>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-85647569889568579292011-11-27T09:20:00.009-05:002011-11-27T09:49:55.575-05:00Sarah Reviews Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie DipMmmm. Dip.<div><br /></div><div>I love chips and dip. I love vegetables in dip. To be honest, I would probably eat friend onion dip with a spoon, but that is disgusting so let's just pretend I didn't say that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, when my friends at the Clever Girls Collective asked if I would be interested in reviewing the Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie dip I jumped at the chance. I mean, having to review veggie dip for work pretty much rules.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8dYpf44xEcUZ-NHrbV-8o6IAScPdWi8dmd5HSREqn7WqavHLcrmBYpCyVZH_vUSi33OyIIfhEEWRIMGFKSJhc9n2lkJxEhcWXKMBm_EN1kaLN7nIKOUi5jzVU80W9yOTZRr1gTGiT6Kf/s1600/Marzetti_Otria_GreekYogurt_VeggieDip.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8dYpf44xEcUZ-NHrbV-8o6IAScPdWi8dmd5HSREqn7WqavHLcrmBYpCyVZH_vUSi33OyIIfhEEWRIMGFKSJhc9n2lkJxEhcWXKMBm_EN1kaLN7nIKOUi5jzVU80W9yOTZRr1gTGiT6Kf/s320/Marzetti_Otria_GreekYogurt_VeggieDip.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679682561326002162" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><br />It is okay if you are jealous.<br /><br /><div>The deal was that I would get a coupon for free dip and I would go get some at the store and eat it and write about it and then I would get paid for the review. What actually happened was a great deal more complicated than that.</div><div><br /></div><div>I take full responsibility.</div><div><br /></div><div>First I went grocery shopping and like a responsible little blogger I remembered I needed Marzetti Veggie Dip. Unfortunately, I get no cell signal in Wegmans and I forgot to buy the Otria Greek Yogurt kind. I also forgot to present my coupon at check out.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just bought the regular Marzetti French Onion veggie dip. It was delicious. It was good on carrots <i>and</i> potato chips even though chips are not the intended use. I don't care. It was awesome.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I felt stupid. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I went and bought the Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt. I bought the Spinach Artichoke variety.</div><div><br /></div><div>This time I forgot to even <i>bring</i> the coupon. </div><div><br /></div><div>That night my son and husband went camping with the cub scouts and my daughter and I were invited to a girls party next door. At the last minute I realized I was supposed to bring something and I grabbed the dip and a bag of baby carrots. After an hour my daughter threw a fit and we had to leave the party early.</div><div><br /></div><div>I never even got to taste that dip.</div><div><br /></div><div>The third time is a charm and not only did I buy the correct dip, but I remembered to bring my coupon. With the planets aligned so well I splurged and bought precut celery and tried the dip as soon as I got home. It was the Garden Herb Ranch and it was very tasty. It was light, but it still had flavor. I was also proud of myself for eating vegetables and dip for lunch instead of my usual bagel sandwich or box of crackers.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is no method to my madness.</div><div><br /></div><div>But about the dip...</div><div><br /></div><div>(best segue ever)</div><div><br /></div><div>The cool thing about the <a href="http://www.marzetti.com/products/marzetti/dips/otria-greek-yogurt-veggie-dips.htm">Otria Greek Yogurt Dips</a> is that they are only 60 calories per serving. Sixty. That is the same as one Tootsie Pop. </div><div><br /></div><div>Please don't ask how I know that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Normally when I eat veggie dip I cancel out the vegetable goodness with the dip badness but in this case the dip is low calorie and made with greek yogurt, so is isn't even bad for you. It just tastes like it is.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, mmmmm dip.</div><div><br />* * *<br /><br /><i>I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Dhttp://www.clevergirlscollective.com%E2%80%9D">Clever Girls Collective</a> to host a Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip review. They provided me with product to test and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.</i></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-21470350745667768582011-11-22T11:48:00.003-05:002011-11-22T11:55:08.468-05:00The West Wing Complete Series is on Sale<div>Amazon has my very favorite television drama of all time on super sale this week. You can get the complete run of "The West Wing" on DVD for only $111.99.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HC2LI0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sarahandthego-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B000HC2LI0">The West Wing: The Complete Series</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sarahandthego-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000HC2LI0&camp=217145&creative=399373" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HC2LI0/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=sarahandthego-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B000HC2LI0"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B000HC2LI0&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=sarahandthego-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sarahandthego-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000HC2LI0&camp=217145&creative=399373" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>And it isn't even Black Friday yet.</div><div><br /></div><div>This show has the best pilot episode <i>ever</i>. I would watch it once a week if it didn't make me a creepy weirdo.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is a Thanksgiving miracle! </div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><i>Nobody paid me to say this or asked me to write about it, but that is an affiliate link so I will make money if you click that link and buy something - anything really from Amazon.</i></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-15442310099717673952011-11-16T18:06:00.009-05:002011-11-16T18:24:24.940-05:00Sarah Makes Her Own Word SearchesI don't mean to go all Martha Stewart mom on you, but I found something really cool. You can <a href="http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp">make your own word search</a> on the internet.<div><br /></div><div>This morning my son asked me if I would make him a word search for his elective homework assignment. </div><div><br /></div><div>I said yes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back in the day (and by back in the day, I mean back when I lived at my parents house before college and actually had leisure time) I used to make word searches for fun. Yes, I am a geek. I also think writing crostics would be awesome. Let's just accept that and move on.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>What I forgot was that it was time consuming and back then I didn't have to do laundry for four people or cook dinner for anybody. I also didn't have any jobs, deadlines, pets or debilitating twitter addictions.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I did what anyone would do. I searched for a way to make my own word search.</div><div><br /></div><div>And lo and behold. Discovery Education totally had my back.</div><div><br /></div><div>This may be one of the easiest things I have ever done.</div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Hzs22lEruT2FyH688E8pgQBt5l-PDefirUqZzoSmgVQQpOH9-X5oFy1EgO1yLv8Xjg_oIeh0o_yckSKd8GJ3EjLNDU-slGN5Pom7TMR7gjPJqdlCrJhBXeouZ8lzbl7CoCAfBQRH7VqG/s1600/word+search+step+1+and+2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Hzs22lEruT2FyH688E8pgQBt5l-PDefirUqZzoSmgVQQpOH9-X5oFy1EgO1yLv8Xjg_oIeh0o_yckSKd8GJ3EjLNDU-slGN5Pom7TMR7gjPJqdlCrJhBXeouZ8lzbl7CoCAfBQRH7VqG/s400/word+search+step+1+and+2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675737983816563666" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Then I added all of their spelling words from school.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintGk5HecTdiXGyLCKQaDLaJz0evK_9geTkTUZCss5mxLotUgV516mjZUYPkzoskxghLUV1q96lURwYXgfU210Uxw4haGC94R-FWFT0_rUjDc73k5NNasmrDSs4n8QDP3vifB4LGvEGAra/s1600/add+words+step+5.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintGk5HecTdiXGyLCKQaDLaJz0evK_9geTkTUZCss5mxLotUgV516mjZUYPkzoskxghLUV1q96lURwYXgfU210Uxw4haGC94R-FWFT0_rUjDc73k5NNasmrDSs4n8QDP3vifB4LGvEGAra/s400/add+words+step+5.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675738300248913906" /></a></div><div><br />And there it was!<br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaViL_3n4ViiTArpCkBHjAWniUh-t70gur__B8v1pQbscEBL2JvYQrPppBg82TSscGgzPx-yA8u8PcX63xSuq113hytMyHVqs__vYkllDMy2yw4oX-7EToq4ZpnAbmIQKRDzkWdAJbJ8Z/s1600/word+search.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaViL_3n4ViiTArpCkBHjAWniUh-t70gur__B8v1pQbscEBL2JvYQrPppBg82TSscGgzPx-yA8u8PcX63xSuq113hytMyHVqs__vYkllDMy2yw4oX-7EToq4ZpnAbmIQKRDzkWdAJbJ8Z/s400/word+search.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675737649926544770" /></a><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div>It took me more time to search for "make my own word search" than it did to make the thing. </div><div><br /></div><div>And I impressed the children, which isn't easy to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>My kids are <i>still</i> at the table working on their fancy new word search. </div><div><br /></div><div>I bookmarked the page. We're doing this one again.</div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><i>Nobody paid me anything or asked me to write about this. I just thought it was cool and a very useful tool. Hey! I'm a poet and didn't know it.</i></div></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-68948968647648307872011-11-14T08:24:00.003-05:002011-11-14T08:33:01.211-05:00Sarah Reviews SwagbucksYou know how you end up googling things 40 times a day? Do you ever wish you got credit for all of that searching?<br /><br /><a target="_top" href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/GoonSquadSarah"><img alt="Search & Win" title="Search & Win" border="0" src="http://prodegebanners.sitegrip.com/images/swagbucks-468x60Alt1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Swagbucks is kind of like that.<br /><br />You can win "swagbucks" for searching, then you can redeem your swag bucks for actual stuff. Remember Blingo? It is sort of like Blingo except with less free iPods and more of a lot of things.<div><br /></div><div>There are prizes - you can get concert tickets, electronics, games and things like that. You can spend your swag bucks in sweepstakes to try to win things or you can trade them in for money. </div><div><br /></div><div>I almost always spend <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/GoonSquadSarah">my swagbucks</a> on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/gc/?&tag=sarahandthego-20&camp=212333&creative=391189&linkCode=ur1&adid=1XZB9D8T3T2HPR3Z83QT&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fsarahandthegoonsquad.com%2F">Amazon gift certificates</a>, since I spend so much money over there anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm addicted. I've been doing it for years.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/GoonSquadSarah">Check it out. It is free</a>. If you don't like it you never have to do it again.</div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Nobody asked me to write this or paid me anything for this, but if you sign up through my link I get some sort of credit for referring you. </i></div><div><br /></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-1862207171052374772011-11-04T15:59:00.003-04:002011-11-04T16:02:07.295-04:00Why Would I Do This?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZ5CVcuTBBp-2U8g8YRHWDAHNwHES_ZrrDQjxwdCHIhpr41p2FftvXKl4cvd1ej6kmJTkMLIntZPsy-XRlVAKJ-c7DROgQdVCinRaTYmzH5RxbqfV_EB83Pou-9ysXRllmFJ7532Yvy5e/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-11-04+at+3.58.47+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZ5CVcuTBBp-2U8g8YRHWDAHNwHES_ZrrDQjxwdCHIhpr41p2FftvXKl4cvd1ej6kmJTkMLIntZPsy-XRlVAKJ-c7DROgQdVCinRaTYmzH5RxbqfV_EB83Pou-9ysXRllmFJ7532Yvy5e/s400/Screen+Shot+2011-11-04+at+3.58.47+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671233111177767154" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEJjGFQrxtnE7RT07dJYwFstK_VTyhPv7yvd-4EIrw9hlfUjX_vHwJzvoCiARkHaP5EQgtjp8aVG2z2NUoAm2mZWid5eqYd5MupyPqFnxFTbRmH562W-AOiYIB4BeLe29BvLX8nDTWxdY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-11-04+at+3.58.47+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><br />Why would ANYONE allow this?<div><br /></div><div>It can post tweets, update my profile and follow new people!!!<br /><div><br /></div><div>Shame on you Unified and Windows Phone for asking.</div></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-38341691347704189662011-10-22T18:07:00.020-04:002011-10-28T18:19:41.161-04:00The Pork Loin Post (With a Contest!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiHEGKQK574jWZQpgcVM5n1Nk5mpBzKNCOsBozJykWx1_mlvihQcw9mkU6vpaN_7l_UT1BuZsEU5HVc_m73NLGAT9_vuWhIqYQXHNs4nqhSjuvHvZbrBhyphenhyphen4Pbqw4LMw0koErlHtlxqrQN/s1600/Pork+logo+be+inspired.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 168px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiHEGKQK574jWZQpgcVM5n1Nk5mpBzKNCOsBozJykWx1_mlvihQcw9mkU6vpaN_7l_UT1BuZsEU5HVc_m73NLGAT9_vuWhIqYQXHNs4nqhSjuvHvZbrBhyphenhyphen4Pbqw4LMw0koErlHtlxqrQN/s320/Pork+logo+be+inspired.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666481181852917858" /></a><br /><br />In honor of National Pork Month, Costco and The Motherhood asked me to share a recipe with you. <div><br /></div><div>I love eating and I love pork so I readily agreed. Then I remembered I am not much of a cook. I mean, I get by, but when I was faced with an eight pound pork tenderloin I panicked.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then I calmed down because I immediately remembered that I married very wisely and my husband is an outstanding chef. I also remembered that we recently purchased an enormous smoker.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5-WBidCroMwNYTa-N9m-0drEqlYzYMYfdX5KxAIDrHFnLPPv2r8LR7A9WgBud87KxQ3fA7K8lhdPl_NztG0mWJLCR_K2iGwePy0unj85h0WAeiVSD0xGvj7rN7XOzrHUjztXnwzJbGI6/s1600/smoker.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5-WBidCroMwNYTa-N9m-0drEqlYzYMYfdX5KxAIDrHFnLPPv2r8LR7A9WgBud87KxQ3fA7K8lhdPl_NztG0mWJLCR_K2iGwePy0unj85h0WAeiVSD0xGvj7rN7XOzrHUjztXnwzJbGI6/s320/smoker.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666477966144524738" /></a><br /></div><div>Do you know what is better than smoked pork?</div><div><br /></div><div>Me neither.</div><div><br /></div><div>So Gabe took the pork loin and last night he put in in a brine.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Brine Recipe</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><ul><li>water (enough to cover your pork)</li><li>salt</li><li>celery</li><li>lemon</li><li>peppercorns</li><li>white vinegar</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Bring everything to a boil. After it boils, let it cool and then submerge the pork in your brine over night.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY4d9n5VNn2Lo_xW-COaAXAWfkZRKl7Ay359rsmL3IbcfagDzs1yzChfQJBUZYwZz7jnLPCypOYokpnDcLC-JWgiEjUuAGvRAOMvE-kcafD5zCXH_pSewUVyMtuFtpGlB1Pg-T95W806c/s1600/pork+brine.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY4d9n5VNn2Lo_xW-COaAXAWfkZRKl7Ay359rsmL3IbcfagDzs1yzChfQJBUZYwZz7jnLPCypOYokpnDcLC-JWgiEjUuAGvRAOMvE-kcafD5zCXH_pSewUVyMtuFtpGlB1Pg-T95W806c/s320/pork+brine.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666476270563018978" /></a><i>It looks kind of gross, but this is an important step.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Then, this morning around 9:00 am he lit the fire. Yes, 9:00 am. We take our barbecuing very seriously in this house.</div><div><br /></div><div>We take our barbecuing so seriously that we (and by we I mean Gabe) built a home for our smoker so it wouldn't get rusted out like our last one. We call it "The Shanty". I think my neighbors hate it but I secretly love it. It would be right at home in Kingston.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpsTfgoVuyLSvjJRQscrqWyus1IFoqzLi-IabGj0yPTMf_gpoleBqwB6tvkbWWNkcNjF60v6QSn2Td7V9VGKnCXd4skR4PW6q01lwed7ErPMz9gGQIlyFYfEDtCmD-t_Pft-HFmNbRGgp/s1600/smoker+shanty.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpsTfgoVuyLSvjJRQscrqWyus1IFoqzLi-IabGj0yPTMf_gpoleBqwB6tvkbWWNkcNjF60v6QSn2Td7V9VGKnCXd4skR4PW6q01lwed7ErPMz9gGQIlyFYfEDtCmD-t_Pft-HFmNbRGgp/s320/smoker+shanty.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666478142808207378" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>He got the fire to about 225 degreees and then it cooked.</div><div><br /></div><div>And cooked.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLP68xUd7AmKT3LvswgPVs0l3kmTYVm3-icB8D-6Nx0ib9cN_t_Jc2wVh7I8DaT0TwHkTuSmOsgWQh8ovWTpFtObAILVEvo6O7DHVoQU4d_NlwzNtas2CDZbfRoJehgPcJkTkR5rd_tX53/s1600/pork2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLP68xUd7AmKT3LvswgPVs0l3kmTYVm3-icB8D-6Nx0ib9cN_t_Jc2wVh7I8DaT0TwHkTuSmOsgWQh8ovWTpFtObAILVEvo6O7DHVoQU4d_NlwzNtas2CDZbfRoJehgPcJkTkR5rd_tX53/s320/pork2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666480905449854098" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>And cooked.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KFJRelMpiiAroWSysWl_MdrFKK-rcpAVkXPnUUlEhLwxwKzwxtwaOMXyHs9nIYezbbLR_QkJaOHGP95osPpozC1kuj_diHtin0dAU91Q0DQkjW0tS74IVyEqEqobXSFi6hjfJfZWkqSh/s1600/pork3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KFJRelMpiiAroWSysWl_MdrFKK-rcpAVkXPnUUlEhLwxwKzwxtwaOMXyHs9nIYezbbLR_QkJaOHGP95osPpozC1kuj_diHtin0dAU91Q0DQkjW0tS74IVyEqEqobXSFi6hjfJfZWkqSh/s320/pork3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666480255983383570" /></a><br /></div><div>And cooked.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Cq-HSr1x8nDgYPm83ASrK4_WsW_l3nc-vpQ-r5URxwMyLj8gD963DE9UgeYgWHFA_Taht9cdH-qdj5NASYkPD7QYJnPtPwsj9qI7Wy5Aeq64qkI3TKn4dxfc3e2WVaJqKXv1uW5XKNWG/s1600/pork4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Cq-HSr1x8nDgYPm83ASrK4_WsW_l3nc-vpQ-r5URxwMyLj8gD963DE9UgeYgWHFA_Taht9cdH-qdj5NASYkPD7QYJnPtPwsj9qI7Wy5Aeq64qkI3TKn4dxfc3e2WVaJqKXv1uW5XKNWG/s320/pork4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666480699420208754" /></a><br /></div><div>For about seven hours.</div><div><br /></div><div>The goal was an internal temperature of 180 degrees. </div><div><br /><i><br />Note: In May, the USDA reduced the temperature guideline for pork loins, chops and roasts from 160 to 145 degrees F, with a three-minute rest. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Other Note: Gabe says that the 180 degrees isn't about safety (pork is safe at 145 degrees F) it is about the temperature when the connective tissue breaks down when you are slow cooking any animal. Same with beef ribs.<br /></i><br /></div><div>Now at this point Gabe says I need to tell you that he water smoked the pork loin. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had no idea what that meant and so I asked him He says that water smoking is when you put a pan of water in the bottom of the smoker so that the water evaporates and circulates and convects moisture so that you are wet smoking the meat instead of dry smoking it.</div><div><br /></div><div>In this case it made for a very moist, very delicious, pork loin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gabe served our pork loin with a mango relish. (At first he was going to do a chutney which sounded fancier, but probably wouldn't have been as good.)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Gabe's Mango Relish</b></div><div><ul><li>mango</li><li>onion</li><li>red wine vinegar </li><li>chicken stock</li><li>salt and pepper to taste</li></ul></div><div>He usually makes this relish with some spice - generally jalapeños or serranos</div><div> but since the kids were eating with us he took out all of the heat. I was worried that it would be bland, but it was absolutely delicious.</div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzt9sw_27Zl3P1MCPX4V3pwKuOp6QAWp8WeoQ21fGCbL8jUwF0CSYpuG0o1kjUZISf5XyK5qt1JfEZPgZo5krmIJBDXR_1O7tmFS1q0DfkQRXSnYQ1l1qrL8E7T0QVX5lfvCRJMCbRTf5/s1600/pork+loin+mmmm.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzt9sw_27Zl3P1MCPX4V3pwKuOp6QAWp8WeoQ21fGCbL8jUwF0CSYpuG0o1kjUZISf5XyK5qt1JfEZPgZo5krmIJBDXR_1O7tmFS1q0DfkQRXSnYQ1l1qrL8E7T0QVX5lfvCRJMCbRTf5/s320/pork+loin+mmmm.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666478740073519954" /></a><br /></div><div>We paired it with a bottle of 2008 Ledson Legend. The Legend is a Merlot blend and it paired perfectly. </div><div><br /></div><div>To be honest, we just got lucky with the pairing. We only had four choices and it seemed like our best bet.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd tell you about the chocolate flourless waffle he made for dessert, but it would just make you jealous. Also, I'm too full to talk about it.</div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div>So! You probability want to know about this contest.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(50, 50, 50); line-height: 19px; font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><br /></p></span></div><div>Costco is giving one of my readers a $25 Costco Cash Card and a digital thermometer along with more information about pork.<br /><br />To enter, please leave me a comment telling me about your favorite pork dish. The contest is open to U.S. residents only and will end on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 10:00 pm ET. Please make sure you leave me an e-mail address where I can get in touch with you. I will draw a random winner by October 30th. One entry per comment, 5 comment maximum.<br /><br />For more information you can also visit:</div><div><br /><a href="http://www.costco.com/Service/FeaturePage.aspx?ProductNo=11680993">Costco Pork Page</a></div><div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PorkBeInspired?sk=wall">Pork Facebook Page</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/allaboutpork">Pork on Twitter</a><br /><a href="http://www.porkbeinspired.com/Index.aspx">Pork Be Inspired</a><br /><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><br /><i>I am being compensated by The Motherhood and Costco for my participation in this promotion and they are also providing the prize for the contest. All opinions and words are my own. All of the recipes are from my husband.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQeGOkg6kpBVgAk_SRLhSAkcwoFqdAvuX236-amSDLnHHnBYwQrtoTNpXigizAqhsNOZbmyAwaK0_v3K9v2NfQTBT6OkVsS4-4sLF1RW_wPmJi8TZb6PAoYkC8ijHfHNgsiL-FY3bmfPn/s1600/Costco+Logo+.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 89px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQeGOkg6kpBVgAk_SRLhSAkcwoFqdAvuX236-amSDLnHHnBYwQrtoTNpXigizAqhsNOZbmyAwaK0_v3K9v2NfQTBT6OkVsS4-4sLF1RW_wPmJi8TZb6PAoYkC8ijHfHNgsiL-FY3bmfPn/s320/Costco+Logo+.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666477000652296962" /></a>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-50101406287997241642011-10-17T10:08:00.010-04:002011-10-17T10:41:08.393-04:00Be Inspired By PorkIf you are a vegetarian or keep kosher you should probably look away right now.<div><br /></div><div>If you are like me, you should probably get your butt over to Costco because they are having a huge pork sale.</div><div><br /></div><div>October is National Pork Month. To that I say <i>mmmmmm pork</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULFYNveT7LESC6CnPMfAiY6ENxpVg7GoPl-k4-CVhNtaDEq51E9rm-WM6sFMI71yzPuRT7AAFhpAO3hADgu-gpuK4NSuulS12Bnm8DSrqGJYwjYH5s-RakT1vY8Lkjas_b8EowkLh-y-R/s1600/glazed-barbecue-pork-ribs.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULFYNveT7LESC6CnPMfAiY6ENxpVg7GoPl-k4-CVhNtaDEq51E9rm-WM6sFMI71yzPuRT7AAFhpAO3hADgu-gpuK4NSuulS12Bnm8DSrqGJYwjYH5s-RakT1vY8Lkjas_b8EowkLh-y-R/s320/glazed-barbecue-pork-ribs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664471013315220514" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Even if you ignore the fact that my very favorite food in the entire world is bacon there are still so many kinds of delicious pork products: sausage, pork shoulder, pork loin, ribs, pork chops, ham, pork butt, pork belly, bratwurst - I could keep going but I'm making myself hungry.</div><div><br /></div><div>Costco wants to help us celebrate pork month by giving us a <a href="http://www.costco.com/Service/FeaturePage.aspx?ProductNo=11680993">$2 off coupon</a> (if you hurry) and a few recipe ideas. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.porkbeinspired.com/CutsAndCooking.aspx">Need more pork inspiration? Check this out</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you are confused by the <a href="http://www.porkbeinspired.com/Resources/Images/2924.pdf">new temperature guidelines</a> you can <a href="http://www.porkbeinspired.com/Resources/Images/2924.pdf">go here</a> or just memorize this new mantra:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa45vgsJlAj8I_GrWqoud8cH3t-i2rfCPGxyf_-md95y5vAOuPoMscpEdxp9ir_PcQmWcXKrr8daUq5ZohmqGvFs7pJmCclObMFTz62_GM5A1hyDJJUGm6GFKE5CAU2_pe9vM290rPiv9/s1600/be+145+degrees+pork+temperature.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 66px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa45vgsJlAj8I_GrWqoud8cH3t-i2rfCPGxyf_-md95y5vAOuPoMscpEdxp9ir_PcQmWcXKrr8daUq5ZohmqGvFs7pJmCclObMFTz62_GM5A1hyDJJUGm6GFKE5CAU2_pe9vM290rPiv9/s320/be+145+degrees+pork+temperature.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664467374905993442" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />I will be back later this week with my own recipe for pork tenderloin. Ah, who am I kidding? I'll be back later this week with my <i>husband's</i> recipe for pork tenderloin. In the meantime have good pork.<div><br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hzz65TOOiTDya9gOO4zBjIuCnl6PZB3J-MhojXRt_SLsOqW-m7JsNXlPvO2fBDS4YH6GQohwVaYvYniz83FinD-C_ote-pBcOZ_WnREU8PnSPQp08woFReE-F8WtwMM8gx50R58ZgCCm/s1600/Pork+logo+be+inspired.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 168px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hzz65TOOiTDya9gOO4zBjIuCnl6PZB3J-MhojXRt_SLsOqW-m7JsNXlPvO2fBDS4YH6GQohwVaYvYniz83FinD-C_ote-pBcOZ_WnREU8PnSPQp08woFReE-F8WtwMM8gx50R58ZgCCm/s320/Pork+logo+be+inspired.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664468706277781138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTnvIzJ90GJ11fKtNdoEqETuJBXuv-uH8A6qW_4U9tbr7_HtlErN-EUb7F76KGqmx6IMS81gqpVGDuGkMLrpunOun5sJR9mtdllbwu6huP6wyN45EuWmc5f8X6di7vIekWF9AmPVICHjA/s1600/Costco+Logo+.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 56px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTnvIzJ90GJ11fKtNdoEqETuJBXuv-uH8A6qW_4U9tbr7_HtlErN-EUb7F76KGqmx6IMS81gqpVGDuGkMLrpunOun5sJR9mtdllbwu6huP6wyN45EuWmc5f8X6di7vIekWF9AmPVICHjA/s200/Costco+Logo+.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664468617130638498" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>This post is sponsored by Costco and The Motherhood. I have been compensated, but these words and opinions are my own.</i></div></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-2402031554610878362011-08-22T16:28:00.000-04:002011-08-22T16:32:05.171-04:00Sarah Has Another New Blog!The kind folks over at Babble have seen fit to let me have my very own blog over on Babble Voices. I call it <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/babble-voices/sarah-braesch-thats-right-you-heard-me/">That's Right. You Heard Me</a>.<div>
<br /></div><div>Go check it out. They let me say whatever I want.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://blogs.babble.com/babble-voices/sarah-braesch-thats-right-you-heard-me/" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6478" title="That's right. You heard me." src="http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Screen-shot-2011-08-18-at-8.05.08-PM-300x100.png" alt="" width="300" height="100" /></a></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Suckers.</div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-89696822185949793682011-08-12T15:40:00.000-04:002011-08-13T13:55:54.747-04:00Why I Am Trying to be Healthy<div>Why am I trying to be healthy? That is a loaded question. There are so many reasons - vanity, longevity, I don't feel like buying new clothes, I feel better when I am healthy.<div>
<br /></div><div>But the most important reason is easy. I try to be healthy to set a better example for my children.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I am not the biggest fan of exercise - or I wasn't until I realized that on the days I spent even 20 minutes on the elliptical I slept better, I cried less and my back didn't hurt.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I also seemed a lot less hypocritical when I made my kids exercise.</div></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The same is true for eating. If I eat an apple or banana every day with lunch not only do my children see that I practice what I preach, they also see that it is normal. And maybe we don't all need dessert for every single meal.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I went to a panel this year at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BlogHer</span> 11 about owning your own beauty. The panelists talked a lot about how we can make our daughters see that they are beautiful by leading by example. It isn't about being thin, it is about being <i>healthy</i>.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I recently hired a personal trainer and I was so careful not to tell my daughter (who at age 7 has no body fat whatsoever and is 75% legs) that I was working out not to lose weight, but to get into better shape, to be stronger, to be healthier.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And I am. After three months I am stronger. I feel better. I am setting a better example of how grown ups can fit exercise into their lives ever day.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Well, maybe not every day, but at least four times a week.</div><div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9QXhuszJJYUX4VTAa08YIgtcXOUy3A3_N_T99-CphT34kPwezsbHCt3F59ILwJ4bU294hQTl_6-bH2ziBZ8ga2B_XL-URi41sfGXHu_La2vOOLtcWOYsQ-37Q2FlebWWtHxBCp70LE85/s1600/marie+callenders+logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9QXhuszJJYUX4VTAa08YIgtcXOUy3A3_N_T99-CphT34kPwezsbHCt3F59ILwJ4bU294hQTl_6-bH2ziBZ8ga2B_XL-URi41sfGXHu_La2vOOLtcWOYsQ-37Q2FlebWWtHxBCp70LE85/s320/marie+callenders+logo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640395182203091954" /></a>Marie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Callender's</span> is trying to help it make easier for us to be healthy in a hurry.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Today I tried the Cheesy Chicken and Rice meal. It was only 380 calories and very, very filling.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyZQGE_ahImjZcKB4-4dNvn5RMsdVFaOD5VlgNzfGgHgJDe4iO0Ho0v4ziX8tk3ggwNRkfA4LTEuHmZiwbbHhyTpsNopSQUhHmKsLBfeTwP-fpt5Qm-htL9mTbnWZDXQBB_872OWACzn-/s1600/Cheesy+Chicken+%2526+Rice.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyZQGE_ahImjZcKB4-4dNvn5RMsdVFaOD5VlgNzfGgHgJDe4iO0Ho0v4ziX8tk3ggwNRkfA4LTEuHmZiwbbHhyTpsNopSQUhHmKsLBfeTwP-fpt5Qm-htL9mTbnWZDXQBB_872OWACzn-/s320/Cheesy+Chicken+%2526+Rice.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640399336247522578" /></a>
<br />The Cheesy Chicken & Rice is one of the <a href="http://www.mariecallendersmeals.com/under-500-calorie-meals.jsp">nine one-dish entrees that Marie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cellender's</span></a> offers for under 500 calories. Not bad, huh?</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I try to be healthy for my kids and for my sanity. And you?</div><div>
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<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">* * *</span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Marie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Callender's</span> and The Motherhood sponsored this post, but these are my words and my opinions.</span></span></i></div></span></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
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<br /></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-80556007447861340652011-08-01T11:57:00.000-04:002011-08-11T20:48:25.275-04:00Sarah Struggles With Portion ControlPortion control is not my strong suit.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ICiMkLUgfK-zxtft62yYkvkCCveUqU0Dnr_CuwFL7PRpCd59Ls_eBaoXOLbxcqbImBYBjCq61_axkzvJNDASgWR7B3p7mozI5kBCI9yS07fWge4Pc0PnClk_Xw_RG9ZyXEHbTAeWf-_z/s1600/marie+callenders+logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ICiMkLUgfK-zxtft62yYkvkCCveUqU0Dnr_CuwFL7PRpCd59Ls_eBaoXOLbxcqbImBYBjCq61_axkzvJNDASgWR7B3p7mozI5kBCI9yS07fWge4Pc0PnClk_Xw_RG9ZyXEHbTAeWf-_z/s320/marie+callenders+logo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635926211449174386" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ICiMkLUgfK-zxtft62yYkvkCCveUqU0Dnr_CuwFL7PRpCd59Ls_eBaoXOLbxcqbImBYBjCq61_axkzvJNDASgWR7B3p7mozI5kBCI9yS07fWge4Pc0PnClk_Xw_RG9ZyXEHbTAeWf-_z/s1600/marie+callenders+logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}">
<br /></a>
<br /></div><div>When the folks at The Motherhood and Marie Callender's suggested I write about portion control this week I chuckled. Besides beer, portion control is probably my biggest struggle when it comes to weight loss.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>You know how when you buy a bag of Doritos you eat some and then put a chip clip on the bag and walk away? Yeah. I eat the entire bag. I am a like a dog - I will eat until my stomach explodes.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>(When I first typed that sentence I typed "I am like a god" which is also true if you find eating a whole bag of Doritos a super human skill.)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>So portion control is a problem for me.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>When I went to pick out my three Marie Callender's meals I got a <a href="http://sarahreviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/sarah-eats-on-go.html">Chicken Teriyaki</a> first. I know that teriyaki is great in low calorie meals and rice is good in frozen meals. For my second week I went out on a limb. I got the Smoky Cheddar Mac & Uncured Bacon.</div><div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8spvgwMO9zjO_rP3tecxGvs_wvkd7xPPH4KEUwHJzdYClaSI4r6-XvfJG0Gf7iqyOVm-Wf0FYyOps0E9D-durxC2D6_ifthUO767Me-UFh-WD2hajnOZcpMCgjysdJoUmMYrYhj2rjN36/s1600/smoky+cheddar+mac+%2526+uncured+bacon.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 345px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8spvgwMO9zjO_rP3tecxGvs_wvkd7xPPH4KEUwHJzdYClaSI4r6-XvfJG0Gf7iqyOVm-Wf0FYyOps0E9D-durxC2D6_ifthUO767Me-UFh-WD2hajnOZcpMCgjysdJoUmMYrYhj2rjN36/s400/smoky+cheddar+mac+%2526+uncured+bacon.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635923714059500738" /></a>I admit it. I was skeptical. Cheese, pasta and bacon for 380 calories? I figured it would either have like three noodles in it or taste like artificial sweetener, but the truth was not only was it good, there was plenty of food.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>AND IT WAS ONLY 380 CALORIES.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And it was only $ 3.19.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Had I made a box of my regular mac and cheese it would have been 400 calories a serving, and you know I'm not measuring a serving. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I think today was a win. I'll definitely buy it again. This is a great choice for something to keep in the freezer for a super busy work day.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">* * *</span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Marie Callender's and The Motherhood sponsored this post, but these are my words and my opinions.</span></span></i></div></span></div><div>
<br /></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-5559533355205525372011-07-28T12:49:00.000-04:002011-07-29T16:34:44.068-04:00Sarah Eats on The Go<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div>The theme I was given this week was eating on the go. The thing is, I work from home, and while yes, I am terribly busy, I am also rarely on the go. I am usually sitting right here on my butt at this computer.</div><div><br /></div><div>That doesn't mean I have time to shop, eat, or plan meals wisely.</div><div><br /></div><div>To be truthful, most of the time I am pretty good about dinners. My mom was a dietician and so I have a lot of ingrained ideas about family dinners and well balanced meals. I try really hard to make sure we at least have a protein, a vegetable and a starch for every dinner.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now lunch - that is a different story altogether. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Response: That is a different story.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>My typical weekday lunch is less than satisfactory. I would say twice a week my midday meal consists of Triscuits or Wheat Thins and whatever random cheese I have in the fridge. Sometimes it is even worse, if I am out on appointments or running the kids around in the summer I'll run through a drive thru and eat Value Meal #1.</div><div><br /></div><div>With a coke.</div><div><br /></div><div>This (and beer, sweet sweet beer) is probably the reason I ended up hiring a personal trainer.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been eating like crap lately.</div><div><br /></div><div>Enter my friends at Marie Callender's.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYy8XplEn8yq00dtRaU6TteuwSYrPjKFkjplwiFei6z3XyT0-PEa7ZLuM1w5wCN2y1Zfk0mQxpTslUCGrbWHiZsFF8cXGEUQhDSxZZQWEba7H1dHyutcdDlXmJM81MlPATCsyeJyUr7bi/s1600/marie+callenders+logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYy8XplEn8yq00dtRaU6TteuwSYrPjKFkjplwiFei6z3XyT0-PEa7ZLuM1w5wCN2y1Zfk0mQxpTslUCGrbWHiZsFF8cXGEUQhDSxZZQWEba7H1dHyutcdDlXmJM81MlPATCsyeJyUr7bi/s320/marie+callenders+logo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634866798290067106" /></a><br /></div><div>Marie Callender's have out a whole (I keep wanting to use the word series) of frozen meals that are <a href="http://www.mariecallendersmeals.com/under-500-calorie-meals.jsp">under 500 calories</a>. I went for broke and tried The Chicken Teriyaki - it only has 280 calories.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Sfj-3RUizrWzYzUXHesy1T_masvQqeaOp-TpF-G6bzwwefeISKCbsOZbOtIM7tJkB2WggJpiw1pshhzbVKMkjw6abRCxodbBNQ_riTkeUZKBm1ENaM9mnjodSA3NBxRsAbu8NCxXPxT9/s1600/Marie+Callendar%2527s+Chicken+teriyaki.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Sfj-3RUizrWzYzUXHesy1T_masvQqeaOp-TpF-G6bzwwefeISKCbsOZbOtIM7tJkB2WggJpiw1pshhzbVKMkjw6abRCxodbBNQ_riTkeUZKBm1ENaM9mnjodSA3NBxRsAbu8NCxXPxT9/s320/Marie+Callendar%2527s+Chicken+teriyaki.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634869953053647522" /></a><br /></div><div>It cooked in under four minutes and it was actually pretty cool. It came in a basket in a bowl. You put it all in the microwave and the sauce underneath steam the rice, chicken and vegetables and then you dump the food part into the sauce part and stir it up.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was actually quite good. I was pleasantly surprised. I know Marie Callender's is usually high quality frozen foods, but my expectations were low since it was a frozen one dish lunch that was under 300 calories. It tasted good and I wasn't hungry afterward. What more could I have asked for?</div><div><br /></div><div>And at $ 3.19 it is still cheaper than a value meal.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are 34 different meals under 500 calories, but I'll be reviewing three of them. Stay tuned.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><i>Marie Callender's and The Motherhood sponsored this post, but these are my words and my opinions.</i></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-47927061939643984202011-07-26T13:15:00.000-04:002011-07-26T15:58:32.870-04:00Sarah Helps Kleenex Save the Field TripDo you guys remember being in elementary or middle school and going on those big field trips? I remember back when I still lived in Ohio going to The Museum of Science and Industry and thinking how cool it was.<div><br /></div><div>Last Thursday my kids (<a href="http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/">The Goon Squad</a>) and I went to the Natural History Museum for one of those super cool field trips. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHz2lS00ktc_e_Wf4NuG9l9APVZuFvlRZnrayrqOSZyQeRRJ7jwuvrgKAgPbglFdHhMPPqjk5DPg5X63PHSjMsdBiLuAWb_sTIc1HgL3RxnrM_yOU6S8pWxj1-Oza7y64n5-KEEdUpGfau/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-07-26+at+3.18.12+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHz2lS00ktc_e_Wf4NuG9l9APVZuFvlRZnrayrqOSZyQeRRJ7jwuvrgKAgPbglFdHhMPPqjk5DPg5X63PHSjMsdBiLuAWb_sTIc1HgL3RxnrM_yOU6S8pWxj1-Oza7y64n5-KEEdUpGfau/s320/Screen+shot+2011-07-26+at+3.18.12+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633745344452301826" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>I would like to point out that I am well aware of how lucky I am to live just outside of Washington D.C. and within 20 minutes of some of the best museums in the world. I recommend ALL of the Smithsonian museums. Those places are amazing.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was so cool. The kids got to go into a forensic anthropolgy lab and a discovery room that had a ton of hands on activities for kids.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7xb1nWHsOGIpDtBtPop17qxeGIWGjjLeAHMhgYrirGJKEnhFlwIPisl-OaApYWcf_lrNmyGHvWp1K3IQLpQAU1zw28jWr9_ADgQ39ul1fIvEyUCo4ETjh7g0PeS-83OZZ3laAgJkR7Hg/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-07-26+at+3.18.59+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7xb1nWHsOGIpDtBtPop17qxeGIWGjjLeAHMhgYrirGJKEnhFlwIPisl-OaApYWcf_lrNmyGHvWp1K3IQLpQAU1zw28jWr9_ADgQ39ul1fIvEyUCo4ETjh7g0PeS-83OZZ3laAgJkR7Hg/s320/Screen+shot+2011-07-26+at+3.18.59+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633745144831766242" /></a><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4IDgP1nAz1fQRwbbs3XANb7UP4lHHGfV8CCS-3FFWH7gq7eGhblHKYU3sWZEYRt0VzSCS1K6eEwCxCnsyNVv4CejkgMW1Dq2E9dSPwx3N6i7V9kYt_rwPauGl0ow1pU2R5mYlZIIHDZl/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-07-26+at+3.20.58+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4IDgP1nAz1fQRwbbs3XANb7UP4lHHGfV8CCS-3FFWH7gq7eGhblHKYU3sWZEYRt0VzSCS1K6eEwCxCnsyNVv4CejkgMW1Dq2E9dSPwx3N6i7V9kYt_rwPauGl0ow1pU2R5mYlZIIHDZl/s320/Screen+shot+2011-07-26+at+3.20.58+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633746754930648418" /></a><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>I forced them to pose with this skull. They think I am crazy.</i></span></div></i><br />We also met the curator of the insect exhibit, hung out in the butterfly pavilion and saw an IMAX movie about water conservation.<div><br /></div><div>It was a great day. Thanks to Kleenex for trying to Save the Field Trip. You can go to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kleenex?sk=app_144580785617473">their facebook page and try to win a $5,000 field trip scholarship for your local school</a>.<br /><br />All you have to do to register your child’s school for the chance to win $5,000 in support of field trips is “like” the Kleenex Facebook page and click the pink “support your school” button on the Facebook page, then follow the instructions. Easy peasy.<br /><br />They are giving out 100 of these scholarships, so don't be shy. Sign up!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, Arial;font-size:small;"><i>#KleenexFieldTrips is a campaign coordinated by </i><a href="http://www.themotherhood.com/" style="color: rgb(213, 53, 53); "><i>The Motherhood</i></a><i>. </i><a href="http://www.kleenex.com/" style="color: rgb(213, 53, 53); "><i>Kleenex</i></a><i> sponsored admission to the </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;"><a href="http://www.mnh.si.edu/" style="color: rgb(213, 53, 53); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History</i></span></a></span><i> is free but our tickets to The Butterfly Pavilion and IMAX, as well as vouchers for lunch, were provided. I am receiving compensation for my involvement in the campaign but all opinions are my own.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, Arial;font-size:small;"><span><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, Arial;font-size:small;"><span><i>Further disclaimer: I copy and pasted that last disclaimer directly from <a href="http://www.techsavvymama.com/">Tech Savvy Mama's website</a>.<br /></i><br /></span></span></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-65461155809350908412011-07-19T13:47:00.000-04:002011-07-21T16:53:41.732-04:00Sarah Goes on and on About Her E-Mail<p><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="https://thirdparty.fmpub.net/placement/401616?fleur_de_sel=[timestamp]"></script><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you to </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;239248263;61930235;h">Yahoo! Mail</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> for sponsoring this post about staying connected. I was selected for this sponsorship by the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clevergirlscollective.com%2F&k4=1680&k5=%7Bbanner_id%7D">Clever Girls Collective</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, which endorses </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogwithintegrity.com%2F&k4=1681&k5=%7Bbanner_id%7D">Blog With Integrity</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, as I do.</span><br /><br />* * *<br /></p><p>This is my second post about about how an e-mail has affected my life and I am having a heck of a time picking just one thing. I easily get 100 e-mails every single day. How has e-mail <i>not</i> changed my life? I now work from home. I could never do what I do for a living if it weren't for e-mail. I suppose I could still do some freelance writing but I could never sell swag. My artists live in Boulder. It would take weeks to get anything accomplished.</p><p>But how do you pick one?</p><p>I can think of a handful of e-mails that I got that made me geek out that were actually twitter notifications (a response from Warren Sapp, being followed back by Yoko Ono, being randomly followed by Eric B. from Eric B. and Rakim) but twitter notifications don't really count.</p><p>I can think of e-mail that were comment notifications (one time Nancy Lieberman commented on a post I wrote about her on BlogHer) or friend requests on Facebook or myspace (two long lost friends from high school on myspace alone) but those don't really count.</p><p>I was going to write about the time Erin asked me if I could go with her to <a href="http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/2011/03/19/sing-blue-silver/">see Duran Duran</a>, but then I remembered that it wasn't an e-mail, it was an IM. I thought about lying and saying it was an e-mail, but if I have been honest here since 2005 it seems wasteful to start lying to you about that.</p><p>I could write about the first picture I saw of friend's babies. I could write about job offers or really cool sponsorships. I could write about being invited to have one of my pieces published in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933979941/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sarahreviews-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1933979941">Mothers of Intention</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=1933979941&camp=217145&creative=399369" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />.<br /></p><p>How do I choose just one e-mail?</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeKUj5GDwgJK1YJRQaTyMwhSBia7tlwPfSbPmDfaetxv-ohq_HfQRAqhdSwRqV0JizAApUX-Q8jOD57TC-K0-NS7LiIyktNmG9Mj2QJT0LnUOtQFE-xr7U_DwcDCYYMjxRF3vuldzyWYs/s1600/yahoo-email-inbox.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeKUj5GDwgJK1YJRQaTyMwhSBia7tlwPfSbPmDfaetxv-ohq_HfQRAqhdSwRqV0JizAApUX-Q8jOD57TC-K0-NS7LiIyktNmG9Mj2QJT0LnUOtQFE-xr7U_DwcDCYYMjxRF3vuldzyWYs/s320/yahoo-email-inbox.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631154482772940930" border="0" /></a><br /><p>I can't.</p><p>I mean, I already wrote about the e-mail from <a href="http://sarahreviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/sarah-loves-her-e-mail.html">John Flansburgh</a>. (Am I getting creepy about that? I'm getting weird, aren't I?)</p><p>I can't imagine living without e-mail. I spend probably too much time thinking about how different life would be if we had the technology we have now in high school. I love technology. I am an obsessive e-mail checker and I am okay with that. I have had e-mails that made me cry, e-mails that made me jump up and down like a little girl and hundreds of e-mail that made me laugh, and those are the ones I am the most grateful for.</p><p><br /></p>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-72807205718096922102011-07-12T18:34:00.000-04:002011-07-14T08:55:18.640-04:00Sarah Reviews Net Nanny<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDdGrA7ibozpuCsBuU4xMDffviJW60IbFDcwd4loRHjUVpTWBYi_wpgpyUbLgOT1DjDsaEO98k5wneZde4nHkdO7IX4QhsVxhH24eTQ27tCaHuKDJnYXBstwnUP3wy8hwR1cyuKkzOmSi/s1600/Net-Nanny-Logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDdGrA7ibozpuCsBuU4xMDffviJW60IbFDcwd4loRHjUVpTWBYi_wpgpyUbLgOT1DjDsaEO98k5wneZde4nHkdO7IX4QhsVxhH24eTQ27tCaHuKDJnYXBstwnUP3wy8hwR1cyuKkzOmSi/s400/Net-Nanny-Logo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629190746715370370" /></a><br /><br /><br />I had heard of Net Nanny. I even had a lap top for the kids once where it came pre-installed, but as so often happens when you are me, I didn't really know how to use it so I forgot all about it.<div><br /></div><div>Yes, I am over here being ashamed. </div><div><br /></div><div>But good news! I figured it out! And just in time, really.</div><div><br /></div><div>As my children become more literate and more computer savvy, and also because they have computer lab at school as well as friends who unsupervised will watch hours of the Annoying Orange on youtube I think that it is time for something like this.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, I don't want you to think that I generally let my seven year olds go online completely unsupervised, but I tend to get engrossed in writing posts or tied up on work phone calls and there is always a possibility that my kids will stumble upon something unintended.</div><div><br /></div><div>Say for example (and this has happened to a friend of mine) my kids wanted to do a google search for their favorite sporting goods store - Dicks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Exactly!</div><div><br /></div><div>And we all know that a SpongeBob video on you tube is one click a way from a related video that might not be what Nickelodeon originally intended.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am pretty liberal and I don't mind explaining distasteful things to my children. What I really worry about is 1) online predators, 2) them spending my money by downloading stupid stuff, 3) them downloading viruses or 4) them accidentally seeing something that scares the crap out of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>I only checked a few boxes, but you really have a lot of options with Net Nanny.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPenoxKzenD60wGzibC6lSPGYDLnrkrLkXsw4AGnc0Y0MZsFmarJwCes7XVlwiadh2VvlMnIVsqO9Xk82Vc5TJdjf0Lbhjt_TCC4iiy7gKpBebyPMvElhGA7FxnWb_tRltOBUr0h7QoPY/s1600/net-nanny+Screen+shot++8.28.44+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPenoxKzenD60wGzibC6lSPGYDLnrkrLkXsw4AGnc0Y0MZsFmarJwCes7XVlwiadh2VvlMnIVsqO9Xk82Vc5TJdjf0Lbhjt_TCC4iiy7gKpBebyPMvElhGA7FxnWb_tRltOBUr0h7QoPY/s400/net-nanny+Screen+shot++8.28.44+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629184726247486434" /></a><br /></div><div>I hope that is big enough for you to read, but if not you can block things like sex, religion, violence, auctions, social networking, racism, pay to surf, lingerie, chat, shopping, hacking, alcohol etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love that you can personalize it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am fine with it if children choose to read about religion or racism as I am happy to talk about it with them later, but if they want to learn about hacking they are going to have to ask their uncle. I don't need two seven year old hackers living this close to the pentagon.</div><div><br /></div><div>If your child (or you, if you forget to turn it off) stumbles upon a restricted site, they will get a very clear message and a redirect.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pTIQHMDtGo5Wf1jgBpf46rFvspWhgXnRZYqZ6RGtsWnYrj62yfYT_shOd8iftdLLQosJGMBROxyVmixhMXtfl5cvKgAGIMDMrEyggtjMQNLDPfh2PvnTyp1YZgRYJtgCgt2kP7iL_FeG/s1600/blocked.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 106px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pTIQHMDtGo5Wf1jgBpf46rFvspWhgXnRZYqZ6RGtsWnYrj62yfYT_shOd8iftdLLQosJGMBROxyVmixhMXtfl5cvKgAGIMDMrEyggtjMQNLDPfh2PvnTyp1YZgRYJtgCgt2kP7iL_FeG/s400/blocked.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629186491104943138" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsDDTYayDBxoUeAi6JIayol5WAHc5vsdj8bYCU01yOgmz1UhzKH53qFsKjc07hqOYn1Va7V1QDiPFnysoOaG_-W8beqYsrGQ7nAo8yNeg8kwvR4aIGgvI9swdp2hcn0WcYn-BYfcCbR-d/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-07-14+at+8.37.27+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 99px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsDDTYayDBxoUeAi6JIayol5WAHc5vsdj8bYCU01yOgmz1UhzKH53qFsKjc07hqOYn1Va7V1QDiPFnysoOaG_-W8beqYsrGQ7nAo8yNeg8kwvR4aIGgvI9swdp2hcn0WcYn-BYfcCbR-d/s400/Screen+shot+2011-07-14+at+8.37.27+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629186346363607890" /></a><br />Easy peasy.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other cool thing is that you can go back and see what your child was doing online.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRH73SDjAvM5rYZpPhlippxVX-10tv1DAFS3_ywnRUcUQ6t2w_YjQZ1UTHDg3MfNx_vA_AayczyW-8fQnGUbAV9JYpWcGdFwgcvFrs4VlGfBb694JA0v4_k94dr9n2qCWXgnGLdXugtOtl/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-07-14+at+8.41.04+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 111px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRH73SDjAvM5rYZpPhlippxVX-10tv1DAFS3_ywnRUcUQ6t2w_YjQZ1UTHDg3MfNx_vA_AayczyW-8fQnGUbAV9JYpWcGdFwgcvFrs4VlGfBb694JA0v4_k94dr9n2qCWXgnGLdXugtOtl/s400/Screen+shot+2011-07-14+at+8.41.04+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629187258860313666" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>My kids are pretty predictable, then again, they are seven and haven't yet really learned how to surf the internet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is what it looks like when I am on.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ySpJKm0AUgOc1WZSGPfCUHmbTHADbJw_5pkEkSU0TZQXaJHD-c6VnSlx-sf6igVdU9JOXOYCfp6ZzMVhdCLs4BUVIYOWZqsYx5RIlkxyTJXW6JGYWHfbwuWcm5pi4Kn74tKokIwfusD3/s1600/sarah+history.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ySpJKm0AUgOc1WZSGPfCUHmbTHADbJw_5pkEkSU0TZQXaJHD-c6VnSlx-sf6igVdU9JOXOYCfp6ZzMVhdCLs4BUVIYOWZqsYx5RIlkxyTJXW6JGYWHfbwuWcm5pi4Kn74tKokIwfusD3/s400/sarah+history.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629187494091185698" /></a>Exactly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Net Nanny is $39.99, but you can check out a <a href="http://www.netnanny.com/mac">free trial here for mac</a> or <a href="http://www.netnanny.com/">here for a PC</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am also giving away a few subscriptions, so leave a comment here and tell me why you want it and I will randomly choose the winners who I will then e-mail a code so please don't forget to leave me your e-mail address.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Disclaimer: I received a free subscription and compensation for this review, but these words and opinions are my own.</i></div>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936197049471406103.post-21847140289683208672011-07-11T13:32:00.000-04:002011-07-11T15:10:30.030-04:00Sarah Reviews Karizmac Luminous<div><img src="http://clevergirlscollective.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Luminous.png" /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswRoLRjAbXyxkdSM8XMGMT8EFVulXm1x-3qYPDlbKhSFiWtRRYmpionU_mk5_Xz0q4I85UkYdsKp02WKZziwkQfVCtR_BpjhnvZ-uBiBKiA1H0ob_rLC3ITE1WoSU66-MjsLC_tvYUu_V/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-07-11+at+2.13.33+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><i>Thank you to Karizmac Luminous for sponsoring this review. For more information about Karizmac Luminous please visit </i></a><a href="http://www.karizmac.com/luminous.html"><i>http://www.karizmac.com/luminous.html</i></a><i>.</i></div><div><i><br /></i>* * *<br /><br />Karizmac Luminos.<div><br /></div><div>I know, when the Clever Girls first asked me to review it I thought I would be interviewing a psychic or escapologist (I did not make up that word. I found it on Harry Houdini's wikipedia entry.) The name also kind of sounds like a spell you would learn at Hogwarts, but it is neither human nor something from Harry Potter. It is an app and it turns out Karizmac is the maker and Luminos is the name of the app.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>That clears up the first part. </div><div><br /></div><div>So you are wondering what kind if app this is. This is from the website?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></u></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswRoLRjAbXyxkdSM8XMGMT8EFVulXm1x-3qYPDlbKhSFiWtRRYmpionU_mk5_Xz0q4I85UkYdsKp02WKZziwkQfVCtR_BpjhnvZ-uBiBKiA1H0ob_rLC3ITE1WoSU66-MjsLC_tvYUu_V/s320/Screen+shot+2011-07-11+at+2.13.33+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628159796401926274" />Still confused? <a href="http://www.karizmac.com/luminousvideo.html">Watch this video</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>My experience was pretty much like the video.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was all</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4NU7o9ahc6bVxgGjEM0fXCDzgpMgdODqAiK4qTnifXIN4R25OMtiwtm9m6dzqFMYtkej2vKfQ7FFQSd_lIkyL_rXFBzkecA_om1_1uD5BVboZev6oq5MA_PVlfVxLfAMjuVggdQvWH0j/s1600/LV1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4NU7o9ahc6bVxgGjEM0fXCDzgpMgdODqAiK4qTnifXIN4R25OMtiwtm9m6dzqFMYtkej2vKfQ7FFQSd_lIkyL_rXFBzkecA_om1_1uD5BVboZev6oq5MA_PVlfVxLfAMjuVggdQvWH0j/s400/LV1.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628168290446206850" /></a><br /></div><div>and I was all</div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp50fZUnNuXeUF5YiuJ2nf5zTLoS7MHRIUVfUubDAT4Dr9t82bbdFan0PSdELh0eRFZtyVk4ZLh9hTGrQFHeZj2Kq04VzK3OeX6xJsah4bG_hbOSUFnHK1xs0zy3WMO8JoC6lk967bfCv/s1600/Lindsay+Vonn2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp50fZUnNuXeUF5YiuJ2nf5zTLoS7MHRIUVfUubDAT4Dr9t82bbdFan0PSdELh0eRFZtyVk4ZLh9hTGrQFHeZj2Kq04VzK3OeX6xJsah4bG_hbOSUFnHK1xs0zy3WMO8JoC6lk967bfCv/s400/Lindsay+Vonn2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628168250147707634" /></a><br /></div><div>and it was all</div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ul62dd-YI7bWsJAOaxMhP_gqG_ItBJhnbQCE6GndLuQgQnQQakoWzldLa5pVj2FsO1-w8MnsfW6Y63Fe6n23FSJf5NhEtxPPCchDDk2343jfQyd4kHHinMh91aApxpycNG0XhRXkoqGK/s1600/Lindsay+Vonn3.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ul62dd-YI7bWsJAOaxMhP_gqG_ItBJhnbQCE6GndLuQgQnQQakoWzldLa5pVj2FsO1-w8MnsfW6Y63Fe6n23FSJf5NhEtxPPCchDDk2343jfQyd4kHHinMh91aApxpycNG0XhRXkoqGK/s400/Lindsay+Vonn3.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628168295125247250" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>Then it was all</div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLUwzujoCJCkM3w3sWDLW-l0ctwAlU0n1tVPS9urDN-BmlHxrcjma_AtFzWVr6-iJs4fHaFbzLBQcA4Dfd0lt6D0Wu4QJtnFV0Qylxs1UH3wl7C-ywZb5uvT1DjdzUXDQW6szi38weq9p/s1600/miss+piggy+1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLUwzujoCJCkM3w3sWDLW-l0ctwAlU0n1tVPS9urDN-BmlHxrcjma_AtFzWVr6-iJs4fHaFbzLBQcA4Dfd0lt6D0Wu4QJtnFV0Qylxs1UH3wl7C-ywZb5uvT1DjdzUXDQW6szi38weq9p/s400/miss+piggy+1.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628168902873098050" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>and I was all</div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NMDCGmCxMWahanPZvcWcKCXUwts7Avpdab1a-x8V7lnTeFQTN_R1REmeE08NERtNpiPA5wPIdqQvyiYgDHh3e7wuyn_22sQuElBFLS2WhZR2s8SWIK5RctA79mx5jk75yM667p-93wfc/s1600/Miss+Piggy+2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NMDCGmCxMWahanPZvcWcKCXUwts7Avpdab1a-x8V7lnTeFQTN_R1REmeE08NERtNpiPA5wPIdqQvyiYgDHh3e7wuyn_22sQuElBFLS2WhZR2s8SWIK5RctA79mx5jk75yM667p-93wfc/s400/Miss+Piggy+2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628168906242749922" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>and it was - You are like Miss Piggy.</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDq3xcg1DYNnitM6apwjbwKuirfuJ5oxYhnGDFKWw5zDflWW_TntKBewptpCgva1J6Aw_VXclD-pXJOJmg_807YIr44cbso-oPGTgS0ih44oEj19T5lRSk-2dFz7VnrL2wxfNG_euzmgj/s1600/Miss+Piggy+3.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDq3xcg1DYNnitM6apwjbwKuirfuJ5oxYhnGDFKWw5zDflWW_TntKBewptpCgva1J6Aw_VXclD-pXJOJmg_807YIr44cbso-oPGTgS0ih44oEj19T5lRSk-2dFz7VnrL2wxfNG_euzmgj/s400/Miss+Piggy+3.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628168914297759954" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Then I was all "I am NOT like MIss Piggy. I think this thing just called me fat."</div><div><br /></div><div>But I'm sure it didn't mean I was a pig. I mean, really, Miss Piggy isn't even fat. She is kind of glamorous in a really irritating way. When it comes down to Muppets I've always identified more with Janice - or Animal.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_Cw3p9X90NGVICzWoqgOF1hfxvdpqWr7d4707UMsmLfxLnJ-Zgvp5Gf_iAEp83O6H-ZAjFb33n1PiXfu8doMR2BoOtzmaAe06RoAV2vB8lkT0BUW5lKgT4N4z9DL5-ORCEcmtZJ9bR5d/s1600/Mayhem.band.poster.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_Cw3p9X90NGVICzWoqgOF1hfxvdpqWr7d4707UMsmLfxLnJ-Zgvp5Gf_iAEp83O6H-ZAjFb33n1PiXfu8doMR2BoOtzmaAe06RoAV2vB8lkT0BUW5lKgT4N4z9DL5-ORCEcmtZJ9bR5d/s400/Mayhem.band.poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628164835204521234" /></a><br /></div><div>Seriously, you could at least <i>pretend</i> to be surprised.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever - then Luminous said I was like Princess Leia Organa so I forgave it, because I AM like Princess Leia, especially if that means I am not wearing a bra and I want to make out with Harrison Ford.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, I've said too much.</div><div><br /></div><div>Would you like to see my personal Charisma Map?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGqZaMhvY-D3yipnJrLWHu4Kpg5tMkN1n7DKX4qSUFVKLmFCvLJH9hSYMStOr5KugAzSzt_L2o-00gz7mzL7SNkJJswPnwhcaD0drasHJj9PNkXUyqb5f3t48xRlKPeLraWTJvRyrP1Lg/s1600/personal+charisma+map.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGqZaMhvY-D3yipnJrLWHu4Kpg5tMkN1n7DKX4qSUFVKLmFCvLJH9hSYMStOr5KugAzSzt_L2o-00gz7mzL7SNkJJswPnwhcaD0drasHJj9PNkXUyqb5f3t48xRlKPeLraWTJvRyrP1Lg/s400/personal+charisma+map.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628168296658505506" /></a>Yeah, I'm not exactly sure what it means, but it would appear that I am much more accepting than I am reasonable and that sounds about right.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, you can find out which famous women you are like too. They have a free app and a paid app. The paid app is only $ 1.99 - cheap - and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/karizmac-luminous-tm/id432984680?mt=8&ls=1">you can get it for your iPhone or iPad at the app store</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Did I mention I just got an iPad? Feel free to believe the hype. It is as awesome as you have heard.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check it out. I played it like six times and I got compared to Dorothy Hammil, Anna Kournakova, Ayla from Clan of the Cave Bear, Judy Blume, Brooke Sheilds, Susan Boyle, Mary J Blige, Dana Torres, Angelina Jolie and Edith Bunker.</div><div><br /></div><div>Who are you like?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div></div></div><i><br />While Karizmac Luminous provided me with the app to review, the opinions I've expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Karizmac Luminous, Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.</i>Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12281098822701795940noreply@blogger.com2