Protect Your Files and Photos with Amazon Cloud Drive

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Krissyar

As most of you know, I love taking pictures – even before starting my  blog I have had a habit of taking photos of every event I  go to, and of my kids  whenever they will let me snap a picture. I guess I inherited from my Dad who is a photographer. I have spent many many hours at events and locations waiting for him to  get that perfect shot (have you ever spent an hour watching the lions at the zoo, just to get a great shot?? I have!)

lion

When you take the time to take great photographs – or a video, or even write something; or when you snap photos of your kids when they are little of their first birthday, to graduation, you want to make sure those pictures are always safe and secure.  I can tell you nothing will make your heart drop faster than realizing your child just factory re-set your cell phone and you realized you hadn’t had a chance to back up your pictures  in  well, ever. Or when you accidentally leave a very full very important memory card in an older camera that you let your son play with and he deletes the entire thing – yes, this has happened to me.. I wish I would of realized  how easy  it was to backup and protect my photos, post, and videos on Amazon Cloud.

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The Amazon Cloud Drive lets you securely  back-up and store your photo, video and article collections – and automatically uploads your new content for you,  so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to back it up each time you upload new content.

The most convenient (and easiest) way to get started is to download the Amazon Photo app – available (for free) via Android or iOS devices,which automatically backs up your camera roll – freeing up much needed space on your device  (Hallelujah!! I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for more ways to free up space on my phone or tablet!) What’s also great about this app, is you can also access your photos and  videos that you uploaded through other devices, or on the web!

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Your photos and files can be shared if you want, through private links from within the Amazon Photo app, or by selecting a specific file or folder on your  computer – which makes sharing those vacation or special event photos with your friends and family  that much easier. 

Good news, if you  are already an Amazon Prime member, you already have access to the Amazon Cloud Drive – which gives you unlimited photo storage as part of your Prime membership (thank goodness, because I have a lot of pictures  I had to upload!) Prime members also get an additional 5 GB of storage for videos, files, etc.

Amazon recently announced two unlimited storage plans, both start with a free 3-month trial:
Unlimited Everything Plan ($59.99 per year—equivalent of less than $5 per month): Store an infinite number of new and existing photos, videos, files, documents, movies, and music in Cloud Drive.
Unlimited Photos Plan ($11.99 per year—equivalent of less than $1 per month): Similar to the Prime member benefit – non Prime members can also store an infinite number of photos in Cloud Drive without worrying about taking up space on phones, cameras, or other devices. This plan also includes 5 GB of additional storage for videos or other documents and files.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Posted in Reviews/Giveaways, Techy | Leave a comment

#InjuriesSuck: Next-Gen Soccer Protection Keeps You in the Field

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Krissyar

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My two youngest kids have been  playing soccer since they were old enough to join a team – since I was  a  softball player, I wasn’t sure what I was up for when we started. As the years have gone by I have come to realize that soccer players  are the toughest of the tough. Like no lie, the physical levels they have to be at blows the pants of most any other sport.  Though soccer isn’t really considered a contact sport, I can attest that this is definitely not the case – I’ve seen my kids bruised and beat up shins to prove it!

So when I was given the chance to have them try the Storelli’s best protective gear – I of course,  jumped at the chance.

kayla_soccer

Storelli is a dedicated team of scientists, designers, creatives and business folk who simply wanted to push the boundaries of soccer protective gear. They have engineered a line of protective gear apparel for adult and youth soccer players that is second to none.

The Body Shield Leg Guard is a premium lower leg protection with revolutionary design that holds shin guards in place without the need for constant manual adjustments or tape – which is awesome. It also gives protection to the areas not covered by the  shin pad,  like the outside of the leg, and the ankle.

storelli_leg_guard

The Exoshield HeadGuard was specifically designed to provide protection against impact to the head and to reduce the incidence of cuts and bruises to covered areas. Though the ExoShield significantly reduces the force of impact to covered areas, (but it does not guarantee against concussions).

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I am giving my readers a chance to win both Storelli soccer protective gear products above, just enter in the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted in Reviews/Giveaways | Leave a comment

Fall Festive Fun with Sweetworks

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Krissyar

This is a Fashionista Event and a promotional item was provided to me by Sweetworks. Hosts for this event are Still Blonde after all these Years and ModlyChic.

If you remember I had a lot of fun a few months ago with my 4th of July inspired decor and sweets with Sweetworks. Well I was lucky enough to get a chance to try out  some fall-inspired Sweetworks items, and I was thrilled and overwhelmed with all the adorable treats they offer. .  in fact, I plan to have another post up this weekend with some more Halloween-inspired  treats and decor using the fun stuff from Sweetworks.

I absolutely love decorating for fall (I think I enjoy that more than even decorating for Christmas..shh!) So anytime I can incorporate a sweet treat with my fall decorations I’m all for it! I picked up some super cute mason jars at Target, and  decided to make some cute centerpiece decorations as well as decor for my fireplace mantel (my favorite area to decorate). My kids of course love that there’s cute decorations they can steal some candy out of!

sweetworks_fall

I love the fall  colored sixlets, there are soo many things you can do with them. Sweetworks also has some adorable turkeys that I am doing my best to keep my little turkeys out of so I can use them at our thanksgiving dinner.
2015-09-30 21.46.23Another Sweetworks favorite in our house is the Orange Ovation sticks. They are delicious and they make some pretty cute decor as well.
2015-09-30 21.49.42

 

You can win your own awesome Sweetworks Prize Pack from me! Enter in the rafflecopter below, and go check out some other great bloggers creative decor and recipes and  enter their giveaways as well!

sweetworks_giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Autumn Fall Candy Pack Giveaway includes:

Item Description *                     Qty              Value
Foiled Semi-Solid Turkey        1                  $ 2.00
Harvest Sixlets Laydown Bag 1                  $ 2.00
Milk Pumpkin Spice BAP        1                  $ 3.00
Dark Orange BAP                     1                  $ 3.00
Caramel Apple Gumballs Bag 1                 $ 4.00
Autumn Mix Gumballs Bag    1                  $ 3.00
Autumn Mix Pearls  Jar           1                 $ 4.00
Autumn Mix Sixlets  Bag        1                  $ 4.00
Mint Ovation Sticks                 1                  $ 3.00
Orange Ovation Sticks            1                   $ 3.00
Sixlets Bowling Coupons        2                 $ 12.00
3705 Sixlets 9oz  Bag               1                   $ 3.00
Halloween Mix Sixlets Bag    1                    $ 1.00
Foiled Milk Choc.Hall. Balls  1                   $ 3.00

Jack-O-Lantern Discs             1                   $ 3.00

 TOTAL $  53.00 * Substitutions are at the company’s discretion but value will be $50 or over

 

        sweetworks_chocolate_pumpkin


Posted in Crafts/DIY, Holidays, Reviews/Giveaways | 66 Comments

Black Cat Oreo Cookie

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Krissyar

Cookie Ingredients:

1 package of Oreo cookie
1 bag of mini Chocolate Chop morsels
1 bag of Reeses pieces candies
Wilton Food Writer, black

Royal Icing

Icing Ingredients:

2 egg whites
1 C powder sugar
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
orange  & black gel food coloring

oreo_cats

Icing Directions:

-Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl mixing on medium speed for 4 minutes. (except your food coloring)
-If icing is  not stiff enough add 1/4 C powder sugar.
– Spoon the icing into a bowl.
-Take 2 TBSP of icing out and put it in a small bowl.  Add several drops of black gel food coloring, mix well.
-Add several drops of orange gel food coloring in the large bowl of icing … stir well to mix the color.
-Spoon the icing ( 1 for black & 1 for orange) in two pastry bags with small tips.

Cookie Directions:

-Place several Oreo cookies on a plate.
-Use the black icing as glue to attach the mini chocolate chips for the ears.
-Add two of the Reeses pieces for eyes using the black icing as the glue.
-Using the Wilton black Foodwriter to draw eyes on the Reeses pieces.
-Using the orange icing add a small dot directly under the eyes for the nose.

oreo_cats

Posted in Holidays, Recipes | Leave a comment

Simple & Delicious Italian Inspired Recipes with Bertolli® Pasta Sauce

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Krissyar

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bertolli®. The opinions and text are all mine.

I have to admit, Italian food is one of my weaknesses. So when I found out that Kroger was having the ‘Taste of Italy‘ program in stores, I was excited! From September 23rd through October 11th offering shoppers a simple and delicious way to use the classic Bertolli® taste that you love with a range of culinary applications.

What I love about Tuscan-inspired food, is that you can make it as simple or complex that you want – which is great for when you want to get creative, or if you are in a time crunch and need to get a tasty meal on the table. Two of my favorite meals to make with Bertolli® Pasta Sauces are a simple Alfredo pasta and also then also stuffed shells. There’s soo many things that you can do with pasta sauces, you’re options are unlimited.

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My favorite stuffed shell recipe is fresh spinach and ricotta with the Bertolli® tomato & basil pasta sauce.

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 35 minutes | Total time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

16 jumbo pasta shells + a few extra shells to allow for breakage while pasta is cooking

1 ½ tablespoons Bertolli extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons garlic, minced

4 cups (packed) fresh spinach leaves, roughly chopped

12 oz. ricotta cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

1 large egg

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 ½ cups Bertolli tomato & basil pasta sauce

stuffed_shells

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cooke the pasta al dente, according to directions on packaging. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until it begins to brown (less than 2 minutes). Add the spinach and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leaves begin to wilt but still bright green in color. The spinach should be reduced by half. Remove from the heat and let cool.
  3. In a mixing bowl, stir together the spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg and salt and pepper until thoroughly combined. Pour ½ cup of the marinara sauce into the bottom of a shallow 9×9 baking dish. Stuff each pasta shell generously with spinach and ricotta mixture, and place in baking dish.
  4. Cover with remaining sauce and bake covered with aluminum foil for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the top begins to brown and the sauce begins to bubble, another 10-15 minutes. Serve warm with a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Note: This dish can be made a day in advance. Keep refrigerated until ready to cook – use same temperature, but add 10-15 additional minutes to cooking time.

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If you don’t have quite enough time to prepare a dish like the stuffed shells above, you can make a simple Alfredo Pasta using the Bertolli Alfredo Sauce. We love penne pasta, and just add a salad or some garlic bread, and dinner is ready in a flash!

bertolli_alfredo

What are some of your favorite Tuscan-inspired recipes??

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bertolli®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Posted in Recipes | 1 Comment