Emma&Chloé June French Jewelry Box Reveal

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Harvey, who knew a week ago how that name would change our lives & the lives of the people in our community forever. Just a week and a half ago we were hearing that name, the name of a depression that was coming across the Yucatan and into the gulf. We were planning on riding out the wind and rain, so we hit the store and stocked up on some water, bread, peanut butter and some burgers and hot dogs to grill if the electricity happens to go out. It wasn’t until Thursday that everything started to change for us.
photo credit: NOAA
My husband decided that it would be best if I took the kids up to my moms in Austin, but I still didn’t see the point and didn’t want to go. So I slowly started packing thinking I would either leave that night when it cooled down or the next morning. Then they announced it was going to be a CAT 3, and I was for sure taking the kids. Not long after that, we got the mandatory evac order from the city. I ran outside where my husband was cleaning out his truck to tell him, we are ordered to leave. The look on his face was panic & confusion. We all rushed to pack some clothes to get us through the weekend & moved electronics and such upstairs. Threw a few things onto our bed and some stuff into totes & bathtubs just to ride out in case of flood. It took about an hour and a half to two hours for us to grab what we could and leave. Before we left I stood there looking at our home with everything we’ve worked so hard to have, and asked my husband how are we supposed to pack up our life? Do you think Binx (our outside kitty) will be okay? Before you jump down my throat…while he is a loving kitty he does not like being indoors, trapped or picked up, I had no way of securing him. I gave him some food and a kiss before we left praying he would keep safe.
We started our drive up to Austin trying not to take the main highway out to avoid the miles of traffic. But we still ended up in lines of RV’s fleeing the storm. It took us about 4-5 hours to get to my moms. You would think I would be relieved, but it wasn’t like a normal visit where you know you’re on vacation, the feeling was majorly different. We sat there on our phones cruising Facebook to keep up to date on our little town. It was hard to settle down for the night…but we knew that we had to get some rest. The boys all had pallets out in the living room with their cousin & myself and my husband slept in my nephews’ room.
We got up Friday morning already exhausted both physically and mentally with no clue as to what was about to happen. We watched the news and Facebook feeds throughout the day anticipating landfall and wondering what would be of our town and our home. Then it came…the announcement that it would be a CAT 4 at landfall. Our hearts sank. You never want to hear those word especially when your home is in the direct path and you have friends that didn’t evacuate.
I just couldn’t
I still can’t
We sat here safe, watching our home get hit by a CAT 4 hurricane on TV. I can still see the radar with the eye hitting Rockport and our town just to the left getting hit by the eye and the most severe colors on the radar.
It was so surreal
Then the images and videos start rolling onto social media and the news. The winds whirling roofs getting ripped off. Then the first responders losing connection with the outside world…
All is quiet
How am I supposed to sleep wondering, worrying, praying everyone is safe?
We woke up fairly early & pretty groggy running to our phones and the news. Was there anything left? Is everyone who stayed okay? Word from our friends, they were lucky…they were all in Corpus Christi which didn’t get the brunt of the storm. Then came a response of the news announcing the first responders made it through the night.
Then came the photos…
First there were photos from Corpus Christi of downed fences & trees. Then Rockport of the complete devastation. With my kids close, I had to hold back the tears and try to stay strong. What about our town? Was it okay? Then we hear that it was hit pretty hard and responders from around the area couldn’t reach it due to flooding & downed major power lines in the roads. We marked ourselves safe on Facebook and started to scroll all the comments in the feed. People looking for people who stayed. Needing search & rescue, asking if someone can go check on their property. So many people, scared, uncertain of their future.
Slowly throughout the weekend photos and answers were starting to trickle in. So many businesses and homes were gone…just gone. So many lives changed. Most lost everything. Our schools announce there will be a two-week delay in starting school & AEP estimates 2-4 weeks before they can restore power to our area. No power, No water, No sewage, No cell towers. Our expectations of a weekend evacuation weren’t even close to reality.
As the week has gone on, we still haven’t been able to return to check out our home. Images from our schools come in pretty damaged by water and the wind, but not completely gone…neither is our districts hope and love for our community. Our district had initially canceled football season due to the damage to the field and locker rooms, but they came back and decided it would be better for morale if the boy got to play…the season will be on once school starts. My sons’ phone was lighting up with the excitement in their messenger chat. It brought some hope and excitement to those boys.
There were some commenting on the announcement on Facebook “yeah, that’s what our priorities should be” …
for you sir…yes, yes it is!
Our boys, our community need to have some normalcy in their lives. They live for their teammates, their brothers & the game. I’ve very happy they will have that after all they have been through.
There are so many rushing in to help our little communities. Giving hot food, water & hope. To them, there aren’t enough words to say how thankful we are for you.
I heard yesterday that Aransas County schools (Rockport-Folton) will not be opening this year and that the students are to enroll where they evacuated to. This made me very sad for those students. I hope some of them join APISD so they can stay close to their community and let us show them how we care.
My heart breaks for every community affected by Hurricane Harvey. So many communities devastated, so many lives changed forever. Even if they weren’t hit directly by the storm, they were flooded out like Houston or changed just by taking in evacuees. I’ve seen so much love and heart comes out this past week. So many people want to help their fellow man.
I will be returning to my own home town tomorrow to assess the damages to our own home to get an idea of when we can return. I’m not sure if my strength will hold up as we drive through our town. We continue to ask for your prayers and assistance. If you can donate your time our towns desperately need volunteers to help clean up debris.

In case you missed the Tonight Show last night, Madonna Takes over! Check out, Jimmy Fallon, Madonna & The Roots’ rendition of “Holiday” with classroom instruments, and Madonna’s performance of “Bitch I’m Madonna” from her new album Rebel Heart below!
I just can’t get enough Jimmy Fallon, then you throw in an icon like Madonna! I’m lovin it!

Let’s face it, the last thing you think about when you think about game day food is HEALTHY. Jennie-O makes it easy to combine the two! Today I’m going to share three fun & delicious recipes that you would be proud to serve up on game day!
Mini Turkey Meatballs
1 (20-ounce) package JENNIE-O® Lean Ground Turkey
1 small onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 egg
¼ cup dried breadcrumbs
3 tablespoons ketchup
¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
26 ounces tomato marinara sauce
In large bowl, combine turkey, onion, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, ketchup, parsley, cheese and pepper. Shape mixture into 1 ¼-inch diameter meatballs. In skillet over medium-high heat, cook meatballs 14 to 16 minutes, turning occasionally. Always cook to well-done, 165°F. as measured by a meat thermometer.
Add marinara sauce. Stir to coat meatballs. Turn heat to medium-low and simmer, 15 to 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly and flavors blend.
Always cook to an internal temperature of 165°F
My Sparkling Life https://mysparklinglife.com/
Turkey Butter Sliders
Turkey Butter Burger Sliders
4 tablespoons butter, divided
3 large onions, thinly sliced
½ cup water
1 (20-ounce) package JENNIE-O® Lean Ground Turkey
6 slices American cheese, quartered
12 soft slider buns, split and toasted
lettuce leaves
In large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat; add onions. Cook 10 minutes or until onions are golden brown. Add water. Cover. Cook 10 minutes or until onions are very soft, stirring occasionally.
Divide ground turkey into 12 equal balls. Press 1 teaspoon butter into each ball. Shape into patties. Place in large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook 8 minutes covered, turning twice and internal temperature reaches 165°F. as measured by meat thermometer. Always cook to well-done. Top each patty with two cheese pieces.
Place lettuce on bottom halves of buns. Top with onion mixture and patties; replace bun tops. –
Always cook to an internal temperature of 165°F.
My Sparkling Life https://mysparklinglife.com/
Cheesy Turkey Frank Wraps
Cheesy Turkey Franks Wrapped
1 (6-ounce) portion refrigerated pizza dough
1 ½ ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
1 (12-ounce) package JENNIE-O® Turkey Franks
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon barbeque sauce
1 teaspoon mustard
Heat oven to 425°F. On lightly floured surface, roll dough into 12 x 4-inch rectangle. Cut rectangle into 4 (4 x 3-inch) rectangles; cut each rectangle in half diagonally to form 8 triangles. Divide cheese evenly on triangles.
Place turkey frank at wide end of each triangle; roll up. Arrange rolls on baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake 12 minutes or until golden.
In small bowl, combine ketchup, barbeque sauce and mustard. Serve with rolls.
My Sparkling Life https://mysparklinglife.com/
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A new TOMORROWLAND featurette is now available including interviews with George Clooney, Director Brad Bird and more.
From Disney comes two-time Oscar® winner Brad Bird’s riveting, mystery adventure “Tomorrowland,” starring Academy Award® winner George Clooney. Bound by a shared destiny, former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland.” What they must do there changes the world—and them—forever.
Featuring a screenplay by “Lost” writer and co-creator Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird, from a story by Lindelof & Bird & Jeff Jensen, “Tomorrowland” promises to take audiences on a thrill ride of nonstop adventures through new dimensions that have only been dreamed of.
Like TOMORROWLAND on Facebook | Twitter
Visit the official TOMORROWLAND website: www.Disney.com/Tomorrowland
TOMORROWLAND opens in theaters everywhere on May 22nd!
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As a larger family of six I’m always trying to find the best deal for our vacation. It takes a little extra effort to make sure we get the best deal while also feeling safe and taken care of. That is where Extended Stay America comes in.
Why Extended Stay America?
Extended Stay America rooms offer fully-equipped kitchens that include a stove, microwave, and refrigerator. This really helps from over spending one eating out every night. This really was a godsend when we stayed for 3 weeks several years ago. We just hit the grocery store for simple things like snacks and tv dinners that we would be able to come back from a day of fun and heat something up quickly.
Extended Stay America also offers easy and fast grab-and-go breakfasts. Free in-room Wi-Fi (because we all know they can’t go 2 hrs without wifi).
Plus they also offer a convenient laundry center…so we didn’t have to try and find a laundry mat which was amazing!
Right now you can get 18% off a 1-29 night stay! This special runs now – 2/21.
Simply head over HERE and use promo code MB7CB
Giveaway details: Two free nights’ stay at Extended Stay America!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Offer good for one reservation booked online by 3/31/17, with a departure/check-out date on or before 6/30/17. The two free nights must be used within the same stay, and any unused free nights will be forfeited. The lowest-rated two nights within your stay will be deducted from your bill upon check-out. Reservations are based on availability and must be made online at ESA.com. Additional restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, discount or special rate, including Advanced Purchase. Valid only on original reservations and not on any reservation extensions. Offer is non-transferable, non-cancelable and not redeemable for cash or credit. Offer not valid on current or pending reservations. Offer valid only at Extended Stay America brand hotels.
**18% off 1-29 nights offer good for one reservation booked on ExtendedStayAmerica.com by 2/21/17, with a check-out date on or before 6/30/17. Discount applied at hotel upon check-out. Reservations based on availability. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or negotiated or special rate, including but not limited to Advanced Purchase. Valid only on original reservations. Discounts do not apply to extensions/modifications. Cannot be applied to reservations already booked. Only one promotion discount per thirty days can be used by the same guest at the same hotel location. Offer valid only at Extended Stay America hotels.

One thing I love, but never really get are photos of my children…especially with myself included…It’s so difficult to get all 4 of them to sit together and all look at the camera at the same time, but this year I was approached my Canvas People to check out their new Canvas Creations so I decided it was time to take that much-needed photo with my boys. I set up the shot, set up the camera and had my SIL take the photos..I say photos because, that’s right, just to get that ONE photo, we have to take several (15 to be exact)! But it was so worth that one shot for my Mother’s Day Canvas Creation!
Whether it’s for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or other life events, you should check out Canvas Creations at CanvasPeople.com. The hardest part was getting the perfect photo to use! Canvas People makes it so easy to select the canvas that I liked and upload the perfect photo. It only took a week for my canvas to come in and I LOVE it! Adding the extra “creations” part makes it so much more unique and fun!
The canvas itself is well put together and the imagery is top notch. It’s the perfect addition to our photo wall!
Close up of canvas print
Normally priced at $99 for a 16×20 canvas print (plus $19.95 shipping), Canvas People has given me a coupon link that gets you your own Canvas Creation at 80% off! That drops the price to $19.99 + shipping for a total of only $39.95! This Coupon is Valid through May 31, 2016. With over 50 templates to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for any occasion!
ORDER YOUR CANVAS CREATION TODAY!
(Order by April 30 to guarantee Mother’s Day delivery!)
One (1) lucky My Sparkling Life reader is going to win a 16×20 Canvas Creations. This giveaway is open to residents of the US who are 18+ until 12:00 PM EST May 11, 2016.
THE FINE PRINT: ENTERING THIS GIVEAWAY MEANS THAT YOU ACCEPT BOTH MY RULES & DISCLOSURE. I WILL NOTIFY WINNER VIA E-MAIL AND THEY WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO REPLY BEFORE I AM FORCED TO REDRAW WINNERS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. EACH HOUSEHOLD IS ONLY ELIGIBLE TO WIN THIS PRIZE VIA BLOG REVIEWS AND GIVEAWAYS ONCE. ONLY ONE ENTRANT PER MAILING ADDRESS PER GIVEAWAY. IF YOU HAVE WON THE SAME PRIZE ON ANOTHER BLOG, YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN IT AGAIN. WINNER IS SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION. MANY WILL ENTER, FEW WILL WIN! PLEASE ALLOW 8-12 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY OF PRIZING. MY SPARKLING LIFE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOST OR MISDIRECTED PACKAGES. PRIZING PROVIDED AND SHIPPED BY Canvas People. IN THE RARE OCCASION THAT A PRIZE DOES NOT ARRIVE (WHICH HAS HAPPENED), PLEASE NOTIFY ME.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”