2015 Back To School Guide

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Pizza Night…it’s just as big of a night as movie night around here, even bigger when we combine them! So how do you mix it up and make pizza night even better? We get different toppings usually, but this time we tried a different crust and may have just found our new pizza night tradition!
About Rustic Crust
We care as much about the flavor and convenience of our all natural and organic ready-made pizza crusts and pizza sauce as we do about the integrity of our ingredients. Rustic Crust products contain only the highest quality, all natural produce, herbs and whole grains – simple and healthy, All of our recipes are made with a short list of all natural and organic ingredients that are as easy to pronounce as they are to prepare. Quick, delicious and convenient, Rustic Crust helps make cooking fun again. In the same amount of time that it takes to order and pick up a pizza, or have one delivered, families can make and enjoy delectable Rustic Crust pizzas fresh, the way they want it.
Ready-Made All Natural Old World Pizza Crusts
All Natural Gluten Free Pizza Crust
All Natural Old World Pizza Sauce
Ciabatta Flatbread
Faster and more convenient than ordering a pizza from your local pizzeria, all natural Rustic Crust pizza crusts and products also stay fresher and keep their delicious flavor longer without refrigeration. Our ready-made pizza crusts are the ONLY ones of their kind that can be stored for several months in a pantry, naturally. Our all natural freshness packets preserve freshness without the need of artificial preservatives. The result is Rustic Crust’s perfect crustal balance-crispy at the edges, moist in the middle. Making a pizza crust is an art. Eating it is just plain fun!
We absolutely LOVED each and every bite…notice lack of photos? Yea…eaten up before any photos could be snapped. We each had our favorite crusts, The boys liked the Crispy Italian Thin Crust, I love the Cheesy Herb Pizza Crust, and my husband loved the Sea Salt & Basil Ciabatta Flatbread Crust. New favorite crusts, they add a whole new dimension to your pizza and gives your taste buds a burst of flavor.
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.”

Disclosure: A huge thanks to Cost Plus World Market for sponsoring today’s discussion Mother’s Day, it rolls around once a year to pay homage to the woman who wiped our tears and bottoms, kissed our ouchies and gave us ice cream for the ones that couldn’t be kissed. Every year I get my mother something she loves…roses! No, not a bouquet, a bush, tree or vine…something she can grow and care for throughout the year and just keeps giving off beauty.
My Mother-in-law is a bit different, she’s more of your southern mama and loves the kitchen..cooking, baking, its something that she loves to do. Buying her anything for the kitchen would make her mothers day.
Check out my top Southern Mothers Day Gift Ideas featuring gifts from World Market & Shutterfly.
Mason Jar Yorkshire Drink Dispenser | Tall Iced Tea Glasses | Coral Ditzy Paisley Napkins | The Republic Of Tea Ginger Peach Black Iced Tea | Biscoff Chocolate Cookies | Stainless Steel Teapot Tea Infuser | Turkish Peach Mottled Candles | Haribo Peaches Gummi Candy | Photo Necklace | Custom Photo iPhone Case
All of the smaller gifts above will fit nicely into the Mason Jar drink dispenser! Tie it up with a bow, flowers and tag and you have a gift basket any southern mom would love!
How To Create The Perfect Southern Mothers Day
1. Brunch: Kick off moms morning with a delicious breakfast to set the mood for the whole day. Few Ideas: Peaches and Cream Cheese Crapes, Buttermilk pancakes topped with peaches & pecans, Southern Shrimp and Grits, Fruit Parfeit, Pecan Sticky Rolls, Sausage Eggs Bacon Biscuits & Gravy.
2. Flowers: Extravagant blooms, such as garden roses, lupines, peonies, and lilacs, set the scene, as do lush arrangements in pitchers filled with flowers from your own garden or a market.
3. Afternoon Tea Party: To transform a weekend afternoon into a tea party for the women you admire most, begin with inspiration from the garden. Fanciful, intimate, and simple to prepare, a tea party is a party like no other. Set the scene with fragrant branches of lilacs and vintage china adorned with English rose motifs. Floral-print napkins, silver teaspoons, tiered serving pieces, and a dash of pastel-colored sugar all add a touch of romantic grandeur. And a chandelier hanging from a tree branch lends the affair sophisticated charm.
4. Lazy Afternoon: Enjoy a lazy afternoon with the family on the back porch in Adirondack Chairs
5. Classic Southern Dinner: End the day with a classic southern dinner! Ideas: Fired Catfish, Chicken Fried Steak, Crunchy Pan Fried Chicken, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Pan Fried Porkchops, Honey BBQ Chicken, Collard Greens, Scalloped Potatos/Sweet Potatos, Corn Pudding, Peach Cobbler, Peach Sorbet.
Give Mom a chance to fill her southern kitchen with all the amazing goodies at world market with the #MyAmazingMom Sweepstakes from Cost Plus World Market. One winner will receive a $5,000 WM gift card and a $1,000 credit to Shutterfly.com to treat themselves to the ultimate shopping spree! Enter at www.worldmarketsweepstakes.com.

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
With autumn here and Thanksgiving just a few days away, what better way to invoke some serious fall vibes than with homemade apple cinnamon sangria? When it comes to sangria you can get the best of both the wine & spirits world with this crimson-tinged well-balanced blend:
What I Used
The Wine: Astoria “Primo Rosso” Red Blend IGT (SRP $11): This round and velvety blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Pinot Noir, and 20% Merlot is marked by an herbaceous bouquet and harmonious flavors of ripe plum and red berry.
The Spirit: Soberano Brandy (SRP $25): Made from 100% distilled wine, aged by way of the traditional solera system which utilizes American oak barrels, this dark amber brandy boasts smooth and elegant flavors of oak, raisin, and caramel.
Apple Cinnamon Sangria
Ingredients:
1 bottle Astoria “Primo Rosso” Red Blend IGT
1/2 cup Soberano Brandy
1 cup apple cider
1 Golden Delicious apple, diced (reserve a few slices for garnish)
1 Honeycrisp apple diced (reserve a few slices for garnish)
1/2 orange, sliced
1/2 orange, juiced
2 cinnamon sticks (plus 1 for garnish)
Ice
Directions:
Fill a large pitcher with the cinnamon sticks, diced apples, and sliced oranges. Add wine, brandy, apple cider, and orange juice.
Stir well.
Pour into a stemless wine glass filled with ice, garnish with cinnamon stick and colorful apple slices, and enjoy.

I have always been fascinated by tech…since I was little and my dad brought home this giant computer with like 6-inch floppy disks I was hooked. Even today in a tech-filled world I still love to see what they will come up with next! About a week and a half ago our friends came down from Austin and brought their new Samsung Gear VR with them. If you’ve ever wanted to be in the middle of the action on a movie or game the Samsung Gear VR does just that.
Mobile virtual reality has finally arrived. Be at the center of exciting games, watch the best of Hollywood in your own private cinema, socialize with friends, and so much more. The Samsung Gear VR drops you right in the action — and it’s only from Samsung and Oculus.
My dad is like me and loves his movies…and while he may not always show it, loves tech too. With Father’s Day right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to pick up a new Samsung Smartphone with Free Samsung Gear VR, plus $50 of Virtual Reality content for him to enjoy! (Offer is good 6/5-6/18 online or in Best Buy stores)
From taking part in epic battles to interacting with live dinosaurs, you’ll go where you’ve never been able to venture before with the Samsung Gear VR. When I used my friends Samsung Gear VR, I tried out the Jurassic World “Jurassic World Apatosaurus” and it was awesome! In Jurassic World Apatosaurus you get to step back in time and wander through a prehistoric forest, so you can relish the sense of extraordinary wonder as you anticipate the approach of an Apatosaurus.
With the Oculus Video app, you can customize trailers, clips and even your own movie files. Customize your virtual environment — choose from a home theater, big-screen cinema or even the surface of the moon. Plus you can buy hundreds of full-length Hollywood movies and TV shows.
Live stream your favorite games, short films and video clips in a virtual theater setting. With full access to more than 1 million Vimeo videos and Twitch, a leading video platform and community for gamers, there’s always something new to experience.
Escaping to a virtual world is as easy as snapping your Galaxy smartphone into your Samsung Gear VR. Developed in partnership with Oculus, Gear VR is completely portable, comfortable to wear and simple to set up.
Product Dimensions: 7.95″W x 4.58″H x 3.65″D Compatible Devices: Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+ Connectivity: MicroUSB connection to the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+ Sensor Type: Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity (Mount/Unmount Detection)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SAMSUNG GEAR VR
There is so much fun to be had! You just might never get dad to take them off. My dad would be stuck in the cinema watching all his Syfy movies…after all this tech was Syfy back in the day, wasn’t it!?
What would be your dads favorite part of the Samsung Gear VR?
The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. 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.”

Halloween is my second favorite time of year, and my hubbies favorite. Throw in my 7-year-olds birthday around Halloween, and you know we have to do it big. We love to throw a good Halloween/Birthday party where there’s plenty of treats, spooks and things to do. While I was in LA earlier this month for the #DoctorStrangeEvent we also celebrated Finding Dory coming to Blu-ray Halloween style!
We joined Master Pumpkin Carver, Joseph Yakovetc to learn how to carve pumpkins properly…and all these years I thought I was doing a good job! Let’s go over some tips from the Master Carver himself.
TIP 1. Find a pumpkin with a good healthy stem. The stem sill has nutrients that feed the pumpkin and keep it healthy.
Lets talk about design and carving…
Things you will need:
Printable/Color Page
Transfer Paper
Pen/Pencil
Sharpie
2-4 Push Pins
Baby Wipes
Paint (colors depend on project)
Getting Started:
TIP 2. Don’t cut the stem off the top, this actually makes you pumpkin die…see #1…Instead cut a hole out in the back of your pumpkin, it will last longer and be easier to light.
Lets Get Started “carving”
Clean your pumpkin well with a wipe.
Now you are ready to pin your selected design backed by tracing paper to your pumpkin. Trace every line with your pen/pencil. Once you have that done you can remove the papers and follow outlines with a
Once you have that done you can remove the papers and follow outlines with a permanent marker…you may need to clean your marker now and then to keep it fresh.
Use your baby wipes to clean off surface from graphite paper, you will be left permanent marker lines.
Paint any areas you want to be colored.
Take carving utensil and outline the outside of the design.
Then you will pick areas that you will scrape out…for Dory, we scraped out the eyes and teeth
Photo by EnzasBargins.com
TIP 3. Use an old CD to clean out your pumpkin. The larger surface area and curve makes cleaning out pumpkins quick and easy. Joseph Yokovetc can clean a pumpkin in 30 seconds with this method.
TIP 4. Don’t let your pumpkin sit directly on the pavement, instead use a trivet or table to keep it elevated, and bring it in each night to help it say healthier longer.
FUN FINDING DORY ACTIVITY SHEETS
The summer blockbuster hit, Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory,” swims home just in time for the holidays on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) on Oct. 25 and on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on Nov. 15. Viewers can watch Dory’s hilarious and heartwarming quest to find her family and continue the underwater adventure with hours of immersive bonus features.
The film’s playful and plentiful bonus offerings include “Piper,” the theatrical short film starring an irresistible sandpiper hatchling; an all-new mini short featuring interviews with Dory’s pals from the Marine Life Institute; a behind-the-scenes look at the most challenging character Pixar has ever created; never-before-seen deleted scenes, including a digital exclusive featuring the Tank Gang from “Finding Nemo” who make it their mission to get Marlin and Nemo to the Marine Life Institute; and much, much more.
Thirteen years after the original, audiences get a new chapter in the story of their favorite forgetful blue tang. As returning director Andrew Stanton describes, “I realized that I was worried about Dory. The idea of her short-term memory loss and how it affected her was unresolved. What if she got lost again?” His response is a touching tale of friendship and family that’s truly unforgettable … perhaps even for Dory.
Bonus features include*:
Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray & Digital HD:
Theatrical Short: “Piper” – A hungry sandpiper hatchling ventures from her nest for the first time to dig for food by the shoreline. The only problem is that the food is buried beneath the sand where scary waves roll up onto the shore.
Marine Life Interviews (All-New Mini Short) – Meet the inhabitants of the Marine Life Institute as they remember our favorite blue tang.
The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar – Pixar’s “Team Hank” unravels the challenges, frustrations, and rewards of bringing to life the studio’s crankiest and most technically complicated character ever.
What Were We Talking About? – This piece showcases the complex routes Dory’s story took as the filmmakers worked to construct a comprehensive narrative involving a main character with short-term memory loss.
Casual Carpool – What’s it like to commute with the voices of Marlin, Charlie, Bailey and Hank? Join “Finding Dory” writer/director Andrew Stanton as he drives Albert Brooks, Eugene Levy, Ty Burrell and Ed O’Neill to work.
Animation & Acting – How do you create a connection between a human audience and a fish? This behind-the-scenes look behind the curtain examines the process of constructing believable performances through a unique collaboration between the director, voice actors and animators.
Creature Features – The cast of “Finding Dory” share cool facts about the creatures they voice in the film.
Deep in the Kelp – Disney Channel’s Jenna Ortega guides us on a research trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to show how far the “Finding Dory” crew went to make Dory’s world feel real.
Skating & Sketching with Jason Deamer – “Finding Dory” character art director Jason Deamer talks about how he got to Pixar, how he draws the characters in the film, and how falling off a skateboard teaches you lessons you can use in art and life.
Dory’s Theme – A spirited discussion among the composer, music editor and director of “Finding Dory” about the musical elements that shape Dory’s quirky and joyful theme.
Rough Day on the Reef – Sometimes computers make mistakes. Here you’ll see some of the funny, creepy and just plain bizarre footage the crew encountered while making “Finding Dory.”
Commentary – Director Andrew Stanton, co-director Angus MacLane and producer Lindsey Collins deliver their personal perspective on “Finding Dory.”
Deleted Scenes (introduced by director Andrew Stanton)
Losing Nemo – While watching the stingray migration, Dory starts to follow two fish that remind her of her parents, leaving Nemo all alone.
Little Tension in Clown Town – In this alternate version of the film, Dory tries to “follow her fins” to her parents, but ends up in a strange place with even stranger fish fashion.
Dory Dumped – In this early version of the story, Dory’s parents had short-term memory loss as well.
Sleep Swimming – Dory begins to talk and swim in her sleep, revealing what seem to be clues to her past.
Meeting Hank – Wandering the Marine Life Institute’s elaborate pipe system, Dory happens upon the abode of Hank the cranky octopus.
The Pig – Frantically navigating the pipes of the Marine Life Institute in search of her parents, Dory crosses paths with a terrifying cleaning device.
Starting Over – Director Andrew Stanton presents four different versions of the movie’s opening scene to illustrate the filmmakers’ search for the best way to introduce Dory’s backstory and to connect this new film to “Finding Nemo.”
Tank Gang (Digital exclusive) – After a close encounter with a squid leaves them separated from Dory, Marlin and Nemo unexpectedly meet up with the Tank Gang from “Finding Nemo,” who make it their mission to get to the Marine Life Institute … by any means necessary.
Hidden Seacrets of Finding Dory (Digital exclusive) – Take a deep dive to catch secret Easter Eggs throughout the movie. And just like Hank, they’re hidden in plain sight.
DVD:
Theatrical Short: Piper & Commentary
Create a fun Jello Dessert
Ingredients
2 Boxes Dory Jello
6 Cups of Water
1 Bag Sweedish Fish
Fill your cup a quarter of the way and put in fridge for about 1 1/2 hours put in a few fish and fill a little more repeat until cup is full.
Or you can fill cups, let sit in fridge about 1 hour – 1 hour 15 min and push a few fish into place (you will want to top with cool whip if you do it this way)
You will need to let your Jello sit about 4 hours before it is ready to eat.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THESE ARTICLES FROM THE #DOCTORSTRANGEEVENT
Interview with Mads Mikkelsen Scott Derrickson Interview Tilda Swinton Interview Rachel McAdams Interview
Benedict Cumberbatch Interview Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After

While that attitude of suffering-through and not making a fuss can be admirable, it isn’t always the smart thing to do. Sure, as we age, our body starts to break down in little ways and we may find ourselves dealing with pesky little annoyances that, while uncomfortable, aren’t life-threatening. But there are also times when we should be seeing a doctor to get treatment, even if the problem we’re dealing with isn’t one that seems serious. If it causes you pain, affects your quality of life, or seems to be getting progressively worse, you should see a healthcare professional.
Here are some examples:
Hearing Loss
If you spent most of your youth blasting rock and metal on cheap headphones, went to a lot of concerts and pretty much neglected your ear health, it may be no surprise that you’re suffering from diminished hearing capacity now. Hearing issues can also be exacerbated by allergies/chronic illness, certain medications and genetics.
But no matter what the reason for your hearing loss, and no matter to what degree you’re suffering from it, you should see a doctor to find out about treatment. Taking the time to speak to a professional and learn more about the types of hearing aids, surgeries and treatments available to help restore your hearing (or even just to utilize resources for those whose issues are more chronic or untreatable) can positively impact your life. Sure, you could just live with the problem, but why should you? Call a doctor to talk about your hearing loss.
Vision Loss
Just as hearing problems ramp up as we get older, so can vision issues. Some people find that they are genetically predisposed to diminishing vision as they age; others’ issues are hampered by outside factors, injury or illness. Whatever the reason, getting to an eye doctor for a proper exam and a prescription should be your first course of action.
Many people put off eye exams because they worry they’re admitting to some type of age-related frailty; they worry about the cost, or they simply don’t want to admit the problem is that bad. Truth is, most eye exams and glasses are reasonably affordable, evne for those who aren’t insured. And there’s no reason to suffer through bad vision and all the risks associated with just because you’re reluctant to get glasses.
Anxiety/Depression
Mental health issues aren’t unique to young people, or to old people for that matter. It’s something we all deal with. Yet, many older people are more reluctant to get treatment for their mental health problems. Whether this is due to stigma in older generations, an unwillingness to spend money on what they see as “unnecessary” care, or reluctance to admit they need help (probably a combination of the three) is unclear. But you should see someone – whether that’s a therapist, psychologist, general practitioner or whoever you feel comfortable with) to discuss the problems you’re facing. They will be discreet and help you work through your feelings, prescribing you treatments and possibly medications to help you get through your struggles.
You don’t have to suffer alone. Get help today!
These are just three areas in which you should not neglect your health, no matter how “frivolous” you might think it is. Taking care of all aspects of your health is just as important as taking care of the more pressing matters.