Drink Wine Day with Tandoor Chef | Giveaway

Take up a new hobby
As children, most of us have lots of hobbies. We’re open minded to trying new things, and get enjoyment of new experiences. As adults, we can fall into a routine, many of us convincing ourselves that we have neither the time or energy to spend on such things. However, it shouldn’t be the case- hobbies are essential for people of all ages. They introduce you to like minded people and they help to build your skills. They help to break up a boring routine and can really give you purpose. It’s rewarding knowing that you’re improving, and throughout that hour or so that you spend on your hobby, it gives you a break from daily life. It could be as simple or as complicated as you like- if you want or need a hobby from home, how about blogging, baking, crafting or gardening? If you want something active, a team sport could be a lot of fun or you could attend a class. Most gyms offer these for free if you already have a membership so is something to look into. You’ll already be well aware of the fact that exercise can boost endorphins and mood, so something like this could kill two birds with one stone.
Learn something new
We as humans crave new knowledge, but again as we reach adulthood we tend to stop learning. Unless you have a job that constantly teaches you new things, chance are you do the same tasks day in, day out. One way to get around this is by going ‘back to school’- although these days you can do this online from home! You can study just about anything online, so whether you want a psychology degree or you’re looking at online msn programs, there’s something out there for you. This could allow you to gain a promotion or even change careers to something you’d be happier in. At the very least, it enables you to learn new things which can be great for your mental health.
Meet new people
Meeting new people as an adult can be difficult- everyone is busy with their own lives, and chance are you don’t even see your own close friends as much as you’d like. But actually, finding the time to socialize with new people can be so rewarding. Apps like Bumble BFF and Meetup put you in contact with people you’re likely to be interested in, and are well worth checking out.

We all know those green mutant ninjas that hopped out of the sewers, stole our hearts & our pizza back in the 80’s, and just like anything they have evolved and become an icon for the that parents can bond with their children over. My littlest guy is just getting into Ninja Turtles and was so excited when he saw the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle T-Sprints from Playmates Toys show up the other day!
These tiny little figures each come with their own car. Rev them up over and over then release them and watch them go, or release them into a car and create your very own soap box derby in your home.
The “cars” themselves are made of a lightweight hollow plastic and have no moving parts. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures feature a unique flywheel so kids can just rev, drop and go! That’s all I’ve been hearing lately is revving and “go, go, go!”… They are also the perfect size for him to take with him out and about.
At under $5 each, these are the PERFECT for easter basket stuffers! Leave them in the packaging or take them out and stuff them in an egg for a fun surprise.
Kids can collect all of the T-Sprints figures and vehicles in the collection, including the following:
Lickety Split Leo with Shellraiser
Mad Motion Mikey with Party Van
Rapid Assault Raph with Stealth Bike
Dasher Donnie with Patrol Buggy
Supersonic Shredder with Shreddermobile
Available at Toys-R-Us, Target & Walmart. Be sure to grab a pizza or two for your new friends.
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.”

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
Valentines Day is just around the corner and it’s time to start planning your night in with your loved one….but how do you bring red hot romance to a drink? Just add some red & a little bit of cinnamon! Spice up your Valentine’s Day with this Red Hot Love Valentines Day Cocktail. This drink is colorful, fun & delicious, made with Cinnamon Tequila & Big Red it’s sure to heat things up and satisfy your sweet tooth.
INGREDIENTS
3 oz Cinnamon Tequila or Vodka
2 oz Grenadine Syrup
2 ltr Big Red Soda
Red Gummy Cinnamon Hearts (Garnish)
Pop Rocks (Rimming)
INSTRUCTIONS
Take one of the gummy hearts and use to lay a gummy layer onto the rim of your glass.
Then dip glass into pop rocks to rim your glass.
In shaker with ice combine your cinnamon liqueur and grenadine syrup.
Pour into glass
Finish off with Big Red
Make small (about halfway up) incision through gummy heart
Garnish with Gummy Heart
Need more or less spice? You can spice it up or down by adding more or taking away some of the cinnamon liqueur.

Three of the most popular New Year’s resolutions are to get in shape, lose weight and save money. Unfortunately, saving money isn’t always possible when trying to get in shape or lose weight… After all, it costs money to join a gym, eat healthy, or buy fitness gear…these “luxuries” are often the first to go when trying to save.
When you think about it, taking care of yourself will save you money in the long run, less Dr. visits, medications etc…so it’s important to find ways to stay active and healthy even when you may not be able to afford professional training or first-class fitness clubs. Luckly there are ways for you to keep your resolution goals, lose weight, get fit & save money. Here are ten easy ways to get started with your new years resolutions.
Downsize Your Dishes
Free & Simple Solution…Help control your portions by using smaller plates and bowls to serve your meals – it will trick your brain into thinking you’re eating more than you are! It’s a trick used by restaurants around the world! Move or remove your huge dinner plates from your cabinets and replace with your smaller “salad” plates.
Smaller Portions
Downsizing your dishes is a great start and makes it easier for this step…Use your hand to measure out proper portions..no I don’t mean put all food into your hand, eyeballing it works! Here’s what you will want on your new smaller plate..two handfuls of veggies, one handful of fruits, a palm-size amount of meat or fish, and a thumb size portion of fat. Downsizing portions will not only help you lose the weight, it will also save you money when you’re not eating as much!
Cook & Eat at Home
I know, this isn’t always possible, but when you eat out, you are most likely over eating. Have you seen the size of the salads now days?! Make your lunch to take to work, cook dinner, these things will save you money and help you stick to eating healthy.
Get A Tracker
There are so many apps for helping you track your calories & fitness…my favorite is My Fitness Pal. I can track what I eat, and the amount of fitness I get each day (truth be told its been a while since I’ve logged in, but If you want to find me my user name is Frymom), you can connect with friends and keep each other motivated. The best part is the service is free!
Ditch The Soda
I know yea right..if your like me, soda is your drink of choice…but if you switched your soda for a water, or better yet a water infused with fruit or cucumber you will reach your goals faster! A reusable water infuser bottle will run you about $10 and then you toss your fav fruit into the bottle for a low-cost delicious alternative to the high sugar soda.
Join NOW!
Act now to take advantage of New Year’s savings. Many fitness clubs slash their membership rates in January to draw in people who make weight-loss resolutions. Paying a whole year’s dues up front, instead of month per month, may also save you money, and keep you going. Planet Fitness is growing in popularity due to it’s $10 a month basic membership fee and $19.99 a month for the “Black Card” (check them out to learn more).
Bike To Work
This is growing in popularity, and while a lot of us (ok, I don’t drive to work anyways) work to far away to do this, if your only a few miles from work, why not trade your four wheels for two!
Get Walking
It doesn’t take much to go for a walk around the neighborhood after dinner. Kids love going out for walks and just think of how much energy they are burning before bed time…free activity and burning bedtime energy…it’s a win-win.
Search The Net
You can often get great deals without the hassle of crowded malls or pushy salespeople—if you know when and where to look. Sign up for sites like ShopItToMe.com (they’ll email you when workout clothes or shoes in your size go on sale at various sites all over the Web) or look through sites like Amazon & Ebay for great deals on just about anything you will need to meet you goals.
Know when to splurge and when to save
A good pair of walking or running shoes, a heart-rate monitor, or a MP3 player will be valuable investments if you know that you’ll use them often. A lot of fitness products are pricey just because of the name, or contain high-tech features that will sometimes only get in your way. Don’t be afraid to check retail stores like Target and Wal-Mart for basic lightweight, breathable workout apparel, or secondhand sports stores for fitness equipment. Do your research, talk to experienced salespeople, and know what you need—beware of anyone trying to up sell you on something with more bells and whistles.
I hope these ten tip help you with your new years resolutions!

In this adaptation of Rebecca Skloot’s critically acclaimed, bestselling nonfiction book of the same name, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is told through the eyes of Henrietta Lacks’ daughter, Deborah Lacks (Winfrey). The film chronicles her search, along with journalist Rebecca Skloot (Byrne), to learn about the mother she never knew and understand how the unauthorized harvesting of Lacks’ cancerous cells in 1951 led to unprecedented medical breakthroughs, changing countless lives and the face of medicine forever. With a supporting cast that includes Renée Elise Goldsberry, Reg E. Cathey, Courtney B. Vance, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Leslie Uggams, Reed Birney, Rocky Carroll and John Douglas Thompson, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a story of medical arrogance and triumph, race, poverty, and deep friendship between the unlikeliest of people.
The A-list, ensemble cast includes Tony Award-winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, Reg E. Cathey from HBO’s The Wire and Oz, and Emmy® winner Courtney B. Vance. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is directed by George C. Wolfe, and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Alan Ball, the creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO hit series, True Blood and Six Feet Under.

Fresh cut grass, dirty pants & cheering crowds, yes it’s spring and spring time brings American’s favorite past time sport, baseball. From little league to the major league, players off all ages have pulled out their cleats, shined up their bats and are hitting the diamond. When shopping for your little, or not so little ones gear don’t forget a great bag that can hold it all and make it easier to go from game to game. The Schutt Large Travel Team Bat Pack from Sports Unlimited makes it easy to hold the gear they need for the game without having to lug multiple bags.
Get more gear to the game with the Schutt Large Travel Team Bat Pack. With plenty of space to hold two bats, a glove, shoes, a helmet and other accessories, this backpack will be a favorite companion during the season. It includes an audio/phone pocket with a headphone port and two fence clips.
My oldest is starting 7th grade athletics next year and this bag will be perfect for him. My husband played Baseball in school (was a catcher) and said he would have loved a bag like this to carry all of his gear in.
Features:
Dimensions: 20” x 16” x 10”
Made of 600D Polyester
Audio/phone pocket with headphone port
Front pocket with organizer
Padded straps and back
Fence clips
Holds two bats in sleeves with cinches
Bat’s big or small, change of clothing, balls, gloves, shoes it all fits into this bag and is comfortable to carry even when stuffed.
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.”