Farm Rich Product Review & Giveaway

One of my biggest comfort foods as a kid and even now into adulthood is Mozzarella Cheese Sticks.  Part of it is simply that I LOVE cheese - oh yes - do not doubt - I could easily and readily eat a block of cheese all by myself every single day (I do refrain).  Part of it is that as a child a local hamburger joint made what I still consider some of the best cheese sticks around, and eating there was always a special treat for us.  Usually done with my grandparents, but on occasion my Dad would have a craving and we'd run to The Shack and grab burgers, milkshakes and for me an order of mozzarella cheese sticks.

When I got the chance to host a review (and giveaway!) for Farm Rich I was THRILLED!  The moment I opened their email and saw they were asking little ole me to review their products, I knew exactly what I was going to try....Yep!  You guessed it!  The Mozzarella Cheese Sticks were on the top of my list!

I grabbed my coupons when they came in the mail and hit the frozen food section in Walmart armed and ready to enjoy one of my favorite snacks.  But then, I had the job of choosing one other product to review by Farm Rich.  I had already browsed their website some and knew from memory they carried things like Philly Cheese Steaks, Pizza Slices, Mushrooms and Stuffed Pretzels.  But as I stood in front of the frozen food section, one particular item popped out at me.  Turkey Meatballs!!!  Yes I am currently trying to stay as close to my diet plan as possible, and when I saw this option I KNEW it was the one I had to grab.  A great lean protein in perfect easy to portion sizes.  Oh yeah!!

When I got home, we of course had ourselves a few of the delicious cheese sticks!  I have tried them baked in the oven (my preferred way) and microwaved and frankly they are delicious either way.  Of course deep frying is the obvious option, but as stated we are trying to be healthier so that was out for us.  These did not disappoint.  And for the pricing, I was truly surprised at how many were in a bag!  SEVERAL servings for us to enjoy over the next few weeks.  Additionally, the meatballs have become a brand I will definitely grab in the future.  We love the ease of tossing a spaghetti and meatball meal together with a pack of pasta, jar of sauce and ready made meatballs, but the fat content in regular ones are so bad.  These turkey meatballs are definitely AWESOME as my 4 year old said.  He ate them without any sauce and loved the flavor..with sauce a complete hit for us as well!  Versatile, cheap and delicious.  What more could I ask for?!

Now, TWO lucky readers will win a coupon for themselves to get a FREE Farm Rich product!!!  Check out the Rafflecopter form below for easy entries!


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Nutrisystem Success Plan Week 15: BBQ Success?

Last week for the most part I felt pretty confident about the Nutrisystem Success Program.  Between various activities and being on the go a lot, I still managed to stay on track and do well with ad ins and meals.  My exercise level though, well it's sorely lacking. 

With a bit of planning and prep work I am managing to keep my food intake where it needs to be to lose, but the biggest problem I find is getting motivated to get up and do something.  The days I am working from home or hanging with my family at home - I just tend to stay sedentary or busy working around the house and just don't "make" the time to workout.  The days I am out and about, well, they zap my energy too and I don't make the time to specifically exercise.  

I have a gym membership through the end of July and I am simply not taking advantage of it.  Right now it's inconvenient in many ways as it is a good deal farther from my house than I feel like using gas to go to, but still - I should be able to manage something daily in my own home.  I KNOW what exercises to do in my home without aid of videos, equipment or a trainer.  I just knowingly choose not to do it.  

I am challenging myself to "work out" at least 3 times this week! 

Memorial Day weekend did throw a few kinks in my food program as we spent time with family and BBQ'd.  I definitely ate more than I should have, but I tried to make better choices (except for the butter rum cake - that was undeniably a bad choice all around for my health, but oh so yummy!).  Still, weighing in on Monday I was down 1 more pound.  

Last Week Weight: 212.7

Current Week Weight: 211.4

Total Weight Loss: 1.3 pounds

**I was not monetarily compensated for my review of the Nutrisystem Success Program.  I received the products and support as part of the Nutrisystem Blog Nation program in exchange for my honest review on this blog.**

Thanks to Nutrisystem for including me in this awesome opportunity!  Are you overweight and need a boost of help to drop a few or a lot of extra pounds?  Check out Nutrisystem today!  Or call them at 1-888-853-4689!

My Best Friend: Part 5

If you'd like to catch up on this little mini series about how my Beau and I met and began our romance 2 years ago - check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.  After several weeks of getting to know each other by email, text and phone call I was ready to see what happened next. 

There were however, a couple of obstacles.  Number one being that I was truly hesitant to start any kind of serious relationship since I had just finalized my divorce.  I didn't want to be one of those people others talk about, "Look at her.  She can't be happy without a man."  Silly to some, but reality was I had already heard it said about my own family in friends in the past and I knew it would be said about me.  I also didn't want to get serious and have my son hurt.  He was 2 1/2 years old, adored his Daddy and was really confused about all the changes.  The last thing I wanted was to bring someone into his life, let him get attached and then it not work out.  

Yet, every time my phone beeped or my computer lit up with a new email - I felt so at peace about my choice to talk to my Beau that I couldn't linger on the fears for long.  I knew however, I wasn't going to take ANY chances of hurting my son again.  Having his home torn apart had already done enough damage.  I wasn't going to purposely let that kind of heartache get him again.  So, I had the "I really like you but I will not let this be more until I am sure that my son is okay with you and I feel you are okay with him" talk.  

The fact that it was of utmost importance to my Beau to protect my son also was just another check mark in the boxes of questions about him in my mind.  Every day I was seeing more and more what kind of man he was through and through.  Protective, loving, generous, kind, Christ-like in ways I can only pray to be and thoughtful - oh so very thoughtful.  Intelligent, logical and realistic, this man knew that we couldn't just run on emotions and the excitement of a new relationship.  He too wanted to make sure that the wee child in my life was comfortable with him.  

It just so happened that my son had to be with me at work one day due to some happenings at his daycare.  In one of those unplanned (some would call it fate) ways, it was also a day that my Beau had to stop by and pick up a printer from me again.  Nervousness set in for both of us adults as the clueless little boy wandered around the office not knowing how important this soon to be casual meeting was to the two adults involved.  In walked my Beau, we greeted each other normally as my son looked on.  The normally shy and not very "ok with strangers" little boy was friendly from the start.  Then, the man who I was falling so deeply for already, asked my son if he'd like to help him push the cart out that held the printer.  I stood by and watched my son pushing the heavy cart like a big boy with the biggest grin of his life plastered on his face.  A very simple and unexpected suggestion from a man who was obviously meant to be in my life had made my son the happiest boy in the world.  

My Beau loaded the printer, waved goodbye to us both and left.  My son came toddling up to me and said, "When is the man in the red shirt coming back?  I like him!"

As I write this now, I cry.  I cry because here I am two years later watching that same cute guy in a red shirt coaching my precious little boy (now 4 years old) as he does things around the house.  Telling him not only what the name of a tool is, but every use it has.  Walking through a store and looking at a pressure washer just yesterday and not only answering the question of, "What's that?" but telling him how it works - in full detail.  The one who has taught my little boy all about the stars in the sky at night - even telling him what planets are shining brightly.  A man who gently but firmly disciplines my son when it's needed.  Always, ALWAYS telling my son how important it is to be respectful and loving to his mommy.  A man who has sacrificed peace and quiet, things he wanted to buy, a normal schedule, privacy, and space in his own home to provide for my son and for me.  This man who I figured would just be "a fun guy to hang out with" and never expected to have this with - warms my heart every single day.  Because of how he treats me - but oh so often with what and how he does things for my son.

There is so much more to our story.  So many trying times that came after these few events.  Amazing days of how God's hand was guiding me and holding me up.  Days that for this wonderful man had to have been the toughest he ever lived through.  Nightmares that he never expected when he first complimented me.  Yet he has stood by me.  Sometimes, it's not been because he wanted to - but because he knew it was the right thing to do.  And that's who he is.  A man who exemplifies the love of Christ in a way I am yet to see in any other human I have met on this earth.  He has stifled his own feelings and desires to provide for me and my son.  And I owe him.  I owe him so much.  And I am thankful.  I am so very thankful for him.  

I don't know how to describe how I feel.  Words, for this girl who talks too much, escape me when it comes time to say why I love this man.  He is my very best friend.  No other person has ever listened, loved, guided and corrected me like he has.  No other person has ever shown me the love that he has.  God alone has surpassed him in love and devotion in my life.  My family, my parents, my sister, my other friends - they have been wonderful to me throughout my life, but nobody on this earth has ever shown me what my Beau has.  And at the end of the day - he is the best friend I've ever known.  A person I can be myself with.  I hope and I pray that God will give me the chance in this lifetime to be that for him.  To provide for him.  To love him.  To care for him, protect him, nurture him, advise him, and be the best friend and lover he has ever known. 

Two years ago I stumbled into a relationship I never expected.  Today, I praise God for every second I have had with this man.  And I pray for many years to come.  

Oh, and that piece of paper he wrote his number on all that time ago - well, I threw it away, but my boss - well - he knew I needed a man like this in my life.  Several months after that first "meeting", my boss reached in his wallet and pulled out a carefully taped together piece of paper.  It was the note, with phone number and smiley face that my Beau had given me and I had thrown away.  My boss cared enough about me to tuck away something he knew immediately was the best thing that had ever come into my life.  He told me when he gave me that paper that he was going to give it a few days - and if I didn't make a move, he was going to give me the number or he was going to call my Beau himself and tell him to keep trying.  

I am a woman who has been blessed so far beyond what I deserve.  Thank you Jesus for the love you have shown me through this man.  Only you could know how much and how thoroughly I have needed him in the past two years.  Give me the chance to return the love and provision to him that he has shown me.

My Best Friend: Part 4

So, to catch up - check Part 1 where we meet - Part 2 where he gives me his number and Part 3 where the pieces start falling into place.

Read them?  Okay - time to move on a few weeks down the road and watch the tree fall.  Literally.

Freshly divorced and living alone with my 2 year old son at the time, I walked in my front door one evening after there had been thunderstorms all afternoon to find my neighbors tree had fallen and a pretty large branch had found its way right into my bathroom ceiling.  I had no clue what to do.  I was stressed already and this was icing on the cake.  I sat in the floor and quite simply, I cried.  I tried calling my ex-husband and he didn't answer.  I called my Dad and he said he'd try to come over to help.  In the midst of my "what to do?" moments, my now-Beau sent me a message to see how my evening was going.  I broke down and told him about the tree.  I don't remember exactly what he was doing, but he couldn't get away immediately (although he offered to drop his plans).  I knew my Daddy would help me, so I told him not to worry about it.

A few hours and several phone calls later and I now had a tarp over the hole in my roof and someone scheduled to come at least fix the exterior hole for me.  My son had settled in for bed and my ex husband had finally returned my call HOURS late.  I was still a bit upset about everything, but at least I didn't fear water leaking in my bathroom/bedroom all night.  I was getting ready to take a bath and go to bed when someone text and asked me to open my front door.

I opened my door to my Beau standing with a Walmart bag in hand on the front porch.  "I may not be able to fix the roof, but perhaps a little Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey will make you feel better?"  he said as he showed me the pints of ice cream he had brought to share with me.

As I sank into his embrace and let the tears fall on his shoulder, I knew without a doubt God had guided my path.  That night as we sat on my bed and looked at the tree hanging over my sink, ate ice cream and laughed about the absurdity of the situation - I knew he was the type of man who would be there for me no matter what happened.  I knew that I could count on him.  I knew that I was falling head over heels in love and I was absolutely terrified at the thought.  

Tomorrow I share about the wee child's stamp of approval.