Why? Because one can never have enough! Well, at least that's my view and stance on the subject. I've received so much advice along the way on my journey of parenthood & I've learned to embrace everything I've been told: good or bad, agree or disagree. I've taken what I've found useful and implemented them in our lives, and I've tucked away the "other" advice for reference (because sometimes what NOT to do is important information too). Then the journey itself lends experience &…

Our family is very familiar with Nature Valley products--most notably the granola bars, protein bars, & nut bars. It isn't unusual for the boys to have a variety of their products in their snack bags at school or in my purse when we're traveling and/or out & about. So when we were given the Breakfast Biscuits to sample, it wasn't an out-of-the-box assignment.

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Is there a secret to a successful happy life? Are there steps one can take to achieve their highest level of happiness? Let's turn to the experts/articles written about this very subject....

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When I saw that I had "Birthday Cake" as my review flavor, I was a bit apprehensive about whether or not it would be received well by the family & I. Luckily, it was sent to me during the same week as my first-born son's birthday so I thought, "Why not? We'll have a special themed snack review." ☺ So, what's the verdict?

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My first-born is officially 13 years old today! He's such a great kid in more ways than one & I'm so Blessed that God chose me to be his mother. He's a fabulous son & an amazing big brother!

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March is National Noodle Month! Enjoy this "Noodles Around the World" (in LA) video from one of my favorite food bloggers Lynn Chen. Word of caution: you may have an uncontrollable craving for noodles after watching the video. :-)

In the spirit of sharing, here are some simple Noodle recipes I've encountered in my internet travels...

And then there are the noodle jokes...

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Have you seen the latest Lane Bryant commercial? No? Probably because it's been banned by several networks for "showing too much skin". I saw it. I approve of it. And since this is my truth, justice and the American way forum, I'm posting it!

And then there's actress extraordinaire Melissa McCarthy who addresses beauty and body image in the best way. Here's some of her best quotes...…

I've always taught my boys to respect women. In general, just be respectful to anyone & everyone. Now that they are in the 5th & 7th Grade, our conversations have become deeper and I've been talking to them about more grown-up topics. Yes, we have talked & continue to discuss S-E-X, all age-appropriately & I try to make sure I'm only giving them the information they need at the moment that they need them. Surprisingly, I've fared rather well in dealing with this stage in…

Ready for some laughter breaks?! Here you go. Enjoy everyone! :-D

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What made us decide to Go Metro? Here's the simple answer: We wanted to purchase Universal Studios Hollywood annual passes but didn't want to pay $17.00 every time we parked. Universal, unlike the other theme parks we've purchased passes from in the past, doesn't offer a parking pass option. The boys are not very familiar with public transportation (unlike I was growing up), so along with my husband, I thought it would be a good opportunity to expose them & have a little adventure as…

Since February is National Snack Food Month, I'm sharing some awesome snack recipes I've discovered online. I love big bold flavors, but simple & easy to make. :-) I think the following selections fit the bill.

• Honey-Roasted Chipotle-Rosemary Chex Party Mix
• Zucchini Parmesan Crisps
• Nori & Sesame Popcorn

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Here are my book recommendations & book reviews for the following titles:

• Jinxed by Beth Ciotta
• The Baker's Man by Jennifer Moorman
• Frayed (Torn Series 2) by Pamela Ann

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I'm just a regular person from SoCal who loves to be entertained and genuinely enjoys Pop Music and all the hoopla that surrounds it. I LOVE the Grammys & most of the artists. I don't enjoy all the genres but I have mad respect for all the performers--takes guts to put your heart & soul on a stage & be open to love or criticism. Congratulations to ALL of you! The following are my own personal reflections & opinions.…

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Time for us Catholics to model the "art of the Ash", a.k.a. the smudge on our foreheads. :-) I was told my "Ash Art" looks like a dinosaur. LOL! I kind love that. I'm nicknaming mine DinoAsh! :-D

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What does it mean to be a Wizarding World and/or Harry Potter fan? In my house, it means having an elaborate imagination and a great appreciation for detail. In the Wizarding World, there is an amazing school called Hogwarts, which consists of 4 distinct Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin...clearly differentiated by specific character traits. When Pottermore was originally launched around 2012, they offered a "sorting test" with a series of questions that determined…

The boys' school, led by their Student Council, had many things planned this past week--Catholic Schools Week 2016!

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What is Marine Debris? Includes but not limited to:

Disposable coffee cups

Reusable zip ties

Personal hygiene devices (Ew!)

Broken furniture

Chewing tobacco cans

Marine Debris: Any man-made material that makes its way to the ocean (& rivers, lakes, bays & ponds) & is left there.

Cleaning the ocean is possible. What can you do?...

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Catholic Schools Week 2016 officially began January 31, 2016 with lots of rain! But it didn't stop the crowds that gathered to check out my sons' school. We had a great time visiting every classroom and chatting with the teachers. I love collecting memories like these...the boys are growing up so fast. I'm thankful to have plenty of pictures to cherish always.

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Despite living in SoCal our whole lives, the husband & I have NEVER been to the La Brea Tar Pits before today (January 30, 2016). For some reason, it just kept alluding us as kids. The husband was suppose to go on a field trip in elementary school and the year that he was scheduled to go, they cancelled funding. And me, well, I've been to several museums in Los Angeles and have always heard about The La Brea Tar Pits, but for some reason, just never went. So, when the Los Angeles…

One of my on-going challenges to better myself as a whole individual is to stop judging people. But let's face it, it's not always an easy end goal. My brain just automatically goes into judgement mode when I see or hear things. So with the inspiration of the article 8 Small Things You Do That People Use To Judge Your Personality, I decided to embrace the concept of judging and being judged and turn it into something that has the potential to inspire and engage positivity--after all, that's…