I am THRILLED with my newest purchase and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. Would you like to win it so you can be cute like me? Enter my GIVEAWAY below! Contest ends Sunday, August 28th at midnight.

My dear friend just launched her new business with Thirty-One. They have the most adorable purses, organizing bags and accessories. My favorite product in the Thirty-One line (so far) is the skirt purse. It is a chic black or brown purse, large enough to fit my iPad and all of my essentials. That’s great, right? Here’s where the magic comes in…the purse comes with a trendy ‘skirt’ that attaches directly to the outside of the base purse! Every time you want a new look, you simply change the skirt and you have a whole new purse without having to fumble with and reorganize all of the contents in your purse. The skirts store flat so you can store 10 skirts in the amount of space an additional purse would take up in your closet. And you can purchase additional skirts for only $15! Plus, you can add accents like the rosettes or scarves for even more stylish options. You can have a complete wardrobe of purses without breaking the bank or ever having to move your wallet and car keys!

For the fall/winter catalog there are 9 patterns to choose from. New skirt patterns and accessories are released with each new season. Plus, most items in the catalog can be embroidered with a phrase, name or initials for only $7.

Wanna win a free Thirty-One Skirt Purse? It’s super easy!

1) REQUIRED-Just comment on this post with the name of the skirt and base purse color you would select. Mine is Parisian Pop on Black, if you care.

2) Post about this giveaway with a link on Facebook or Twitter (2 entries). On your comment, just write “posted on FB” on two comments.

3) Blog about this post (5 entries).

4) For TEN entries, make a purchase from the above link. (If you’re drawn as the winning entry for the skirt purse, we can just deduct it from your order).

Fine Print: The random winner of this drawing will win one skirt purse, which includes one fitted skirt, including shipping, handling, and tax. (Personalization is not included in this giveaway.) Winner will need to respond to notification email with address and phone number by Monday, Aug. 29 at 3pm. If not, a new winner will be selected.

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Tom Watson

I am so delighted to be a part of the Glad Waste Less Program! A group of bloggers in King County has the opportunity to try out some new Glad products and work on ways to reduce waste. Part of the program is a visit with Tom Watson, who runs the eco-consumer division of King County, in Washington State.  He writes columns for Seattle Times and also has appearances on KOMO 4 News.

Before I met Tom, I was nervous. I’m a mother of two. I work full time. Life is hectic. Was he going to tell me I needed to eat from bamboo plates when away from home? That I should always drink Starbucks from an aluminum thermos with a crocheted cozy made from organic, up-cycled wool? These ideas come from a relative of mine who does these things and would rather die than drink Starbucks. I don’t ever think he’ll read my blog, but just in case…Hi There, Uncle Cousin Guy!

Meeting Tom was a relief. He talked about Green Guilt and some of the marital problems that arise when couples have different eco-ideals. I love this guy!!! His basic message is that we can all reduce our waste, but it needs to fit in our lifestyle.

The Mouthy Family already recycles, but we need to help our children learn what can be recycled and what is just garbage. Tom printed off a handy list from my city about what can and cannot be recycled. While not nearly as extensive as Seattle, it had been updated and I was surprised about what can now be recycled. Tom also suggested we get our girls involved in recycling. Perhaps they can draw a recycle symbol to remind them to recycle when possible. I might even have my oldest daughter make a poster to remind us ALL of what can be recycled!

As for Green Guilt, which I think Tom should trademark, he said you can only do what you can do. If each of us picked up a few new habits each year, waste would be reduced dramatically. For example, in our neighborhood, all of us dump our grass in the open field across the street and take our limbs to the end of the road. Because of this, we don’t have a yard waste container. Lots of our family waste could be put in yard waste. However, Tom noted we have chickens and worm bins, which can take care of a fair amount of our waste. You do what you can do.

Tom and I also discussed composting. Every time I’ve looked into composting, I have two concerns. The bins are expensive and composting itself seems very complicated…a certain percentage of brown to green, high heat to kill everything bad, turning it all the time…too much work! Tom pointed out that he only turns his compost 3 or 4 times per year! That doesn’t sound too hard. He also suggested using pallets tied together (well, a bit more difficult, but pretty darn easy and cheap) to create a compost bin. He even pointed out a nice out-of-the-way corner to put it! I’m really excited to try this out. I even know a place to pick up free pallets!

I’m excited to see how my family and I can work on reducing our waste. A huge thank you to Tom Watson and the Glad Waste Less program. Be on the lookout for future posts about our progress and about the cool Glad products we’re using.

God’s Shelter For Your Storm by Sheila Walsh is a vivid reminder of all the promises God makes and keeps throughout the Bible. While there are over three thousand promises in the Bible, Sheila focuses on only ten. She delves into each one with scripture and examples from everyday life. Some examples include His promise of Peace, Provision, Grace and Hope.

This book is a derivative from Sheila’s The Shelter of God’s Promises. It is a lovely gift book to be given to someone during their storm. The pictures and pages are stunning and the entire book exudes comfort. Each chapter is bite-sized, the perfect length for someone who feels crushed by the day to day or someone in grief who often cannot focus for long.

My one hesitation about this book is I felt like it skipped around a bit. I would chalk it up to the derivative factor. Some things had to be cut and I felt it. In spite of that, I feel this is a book I would give to a friend during a time of need when words just don’t seem adequate. You might want to have several copies on hand for unexpected events in the lives of those around you.

Thank you so much to Overture Media for providing me a copy of this wonderful book.

To view a video of Sheila, please follow this link:

http://www.sheilawalsh.com/shelter/

Readers, do you have a story of God’s promises you’d like to share?

Berry Almond Chicken Salad

The first thing I noticed were huge chunks of chicken…I actually had to cut it up! The greens were lovely…11 different types. And no, I did not count them, I got that from the Wendy’s website. But it would be totally like me to do that!

The “berry” part of the salad comes in the form of huge, plump blueberries, quartered strawberries and a zippy raspberry vinaigrette. This is all topped off with roasted sliced almonds and shaved Asiago cheese.

Miss Mouthy and the Berry Almond Chicken Salad

This salad was super tasty and really filling! Just so you know, because I’m a full-disclosure kind of gal, I did order some of the fries with sea-salt. Delish, but I was just too full to eat them. To earn an extra entry, simply write the flavor of your favorite Frosty. It’ll be proof you actually read my post!

Part of the taste-factor may have been due to the setting. My family and I were picnicking in lovely Wapato Park in Tacoma with some of my new bloggy friends!

So, wanna win a $25 Wendy’s gift card? For your first entry, just write a comment about anything…your favorite local park, best menu item at Wendy’s, or even ridiculous things you did in high school to impress a date (okay, this is the comment I most want to read).

You can earn extra entries by tweeting about this post or writing about it on Facebook. Just write “head over to MissMouthy.com to win a $25 Wendy’s gift card!”

One lucky Miss Mouthy reader will be selected. Enter quick because this contest closes June 7th!

*I have been compensated for my time by Wendy’s and TheMotherhood, but all of the opinions are my own.*

Angela of The Coupon Project

Sia from Centsible In Seattle

Jen from Thrifty Northwest Mom and the Mouthy Family

Need a Good Dentist? Dr. Jon is Your Man! 4 Reasons I Love My Dentist

You know what I love even more than a root canal? Shopping for a dentist. A few years ago, my regular dentist was out of town for 2 weeks. I needed a crown and I couldn’t wait. I called nearly every dentist in Enumclaw, asking for the price of a crown. Those who couldn’t give me a straight answer were crossed off my list. It just seems fishy. Those who couldn’t get me in within the next few days were also off my list. I don’t like to book appointments weeks in advance. Once I had the list narrowed down, I made an appointment with the least expensive one. Did I mention I had cruddy dental insurance?

What a happy encounter! That first appointment with Dr. Jon Holmberg was a delight. No, seriously.

1.  My favorite feature is that Dr. Jon actually cleans your teeth. In previous offices, a dental hygienist would clean my teeth, take the x-rays, and the actual dentist would pop in for a total of 1.7 minutes, if I was lucky.
2. I never get the feeling that he’s out to take my money. Let’s face it…for most of us, if the dentist says you need a filling, you get a filling. I have no home test to see if I actually need a filling, I just go with it. With Dr. Jon, he’ll tell you exactly what you need done. He’ll also tell you what we can watch and wait on.
3. When my daughters were ready to see a dentist, Dr. Jon and his staff did an excellent job. For our most recent 6 month check up, when the hygienist asked who’d like to come back first, my girls were literally jumping up and down shouting, “Me! Me!” Can you believe it?
4. His staff is phenomenal. Now I have lovely dental insurance. His staff takes care of everything with ease. If there’s a blip in coverage or anything, it’s taken care of very quickly. Plus, when I’m getting a cleaning, they keep an eye on my girls. What dentist office offers that?

Dr. Jon Holberg’s office is in a charming older house right down the street from the Enumclaw Police Station. Call 360-825-2081 for an appointment. Tell him Miss Mouthy sent you!

Plum District features a new local deal every day for savvy women and their families that makes their lives easier and more enjoyable.

If you’re new to the district (yeah, that’s what I call it), they’ll give you $5 off your first purchase in the next 7 days, but ONLY if you sign up using my unique referral link below. Pretty awesome, right?

https://www.plumdistrict.com/?ref=uc4bd4fcc057

Plum District has deals on hotels, spa days, and tons of items to purchase. Love it!

I love Tricia Goyer. I just had to get that out there. Pretty much anything she writes, I love. Whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, or a comic strip, I’ll love it. Beside Still Waters is no different. In true Tricia Goyer style, every aspect and detail is well researched and seamlessly woven into the story.  I guarantee you will learn something new about the Amish lifestyle!

The book starts in the heart of Amish country. Nineteen year old Marianna Sommer seems to know just where her life is headed…right down the path laid out for her by her parents and her community. All that changes where her father announces he is moving the family to another Amish community in Montana. Marianna believes her world is shattered. She agrees to head out to Montana to help her mother care for the family for a year, then she plans to move back and follow her plan.

When Marianna arrives in Montana, she is in for a world of surprises! Though this community is Amish in name, it is very different from where she grew up, and where she was planning to return. This leaves Marianna questioning everything. For the first time, she has choices! The new community is less strict…is that good? Is it bad? Marianna Sommers, who knew who she was from day one, now has so many questions with no easy answers.

I loved this enchanting story. The characters are rich and deep. The storyline is masterfully woven with unexpected twists and turns. One of my favorite elements of the story is that while Marianna questions the roots of her faith and their implications now, the Amish faith is never “bashed” or belittled in any way.

Tricia is hosting a book giveaway on her blog: http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2011/04/beside-still-waters-giveaway.html. You can win a book or an adorable Amish salt & pepper shakers! So cute!

About Beside Still Waters Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of the first book in the Big Sky Amish series Tricia is giving away 10 copies of Beside Still Waters and a pair of super cute antique Amish salt & pepper shakers. (photo attached)

Details at Tricia’s blog, It’s Real Life.

About Tricia: Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-six books including Songbird Under a German Moon*, The Swiss Courier*, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough*. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted* was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. Visit www.triciagoyer.com for more info.

 *Miss Mouthy read this book!

About Beside Still Waters: Marianna Sommer believes she knows where her life is headed. Nineteen years old and Amish, her plan is to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and live in the only community she’s ever known.

When Marianna’s family moves from Indiana to Montana she discovers life and faith will never be the same. As she builds an easy friendship with local guy, Ben Stone, Ben not only draws her heart, he also gets her thinking about what loving God and living in community is all about.

As Marianna struggles to find “home”, she also encounters God in intimate ways. Click here to watch the book trailers.

Click here to buy the book.

Check out what other bloggers are saying about Beside Still Waters.

 Just so you know: LitFuse Publicity Group provided me a copy of this book in exchange for a review. The opinion is my own.

That’s what I found in the PackIt. It’s a freezable lunch bag! So simple, yet so useful! My husband packed his lunch in it last week. He was able to keep his lunch on his desk and by the time he ate it, about 6 hours later, it was still well chilled! That never happens!

Its interior can be wiped clean with a wash cloth. It freezes when it’s folded, so it doesn’t take up much room in the freezer, plus it’s one less item of clutter in the freezer. It has a roomy interior so it can hold a full lunch, yet it’s not so large as to be unwieldy for kids. You can also put in room-temperature foods and the PackIt will chill it. Wowza!

NEWSFLASH-I just found out the PackIt is TSA approved!! I’m leaving on a trip in a couple of weeks and while I’ll be traveling all day, my flights are short and no food is available. Packing a lunch or buying something at the airport are the only options. The PackIt will be a life saver on this journey!

I love the PackIt so much I really want to write a raving, glamorous review. But it isn’t “that kind” of product. It’s in ingenious workhorse that should be in every household…really one per person! I can’t fathom why you’d buy any other kind of lunchbox…unless it is a Wonder Woman aluminum number, but that’s just more for looks.

Grab a PackIt or two…or one in every color!

Long story short, Groupon CHANGED the deal after I made a purchase. Want more details? Read on…

On December 11th I purchased a Groupon for 6 people to take a 2 hour snowmobile adventure. On the Groupon it said “they will take you to the trailhead.” The map showed the address as the Safeway in a nearby town where the company would pick you up, drive you over a snowy pass and deliver you to the trailhead. When I made my reservation a few weeks ago, the confirmation from the company mentioned a $30 per person fee for transportation over Snoqualmie Pass and to the trailhead. I re-checked the Groupon, the fine print, etc. and there was no mention of this. I emailed the company to confirm that they would indeed pick us up in the town shown and the map and I pointed out what the Groupon said. I didn’t hear anything back. On Tuesday I was going to print off a copy of the Groupon to fax to the company to ensure our ride.

 At that time I saw Groupon had CHANGED THE DEAL after 2136 people had made the purchase.

Here’s the original deal. I wish I could get the picture to show up here, but here is the text:

The Company
Action Adventures

Locations
Safeway at North Bend Outlet Mall
460 SW Mt. Si Blvd.
North Bend, Washington 98045
Get Directions
Until mankind first stepped outside in 1934, nature was thought to be a fanciful myth, like yogurt or the clutch hitter. Spend a few hours frolicking through the fresh air of truth with today’s Groupon for a guided snowmobile tour of the Cascade Mountains from Action Adventures. Choose between two tour options:
For $59, you get a guided day tour (a $125 value).
For $89, you get a guided moonlight tour (a $195 value).
Groupon buyers can upgrade to a more expensive tour for an additional fee and will also receive 10% off their next adventure.
Action Adventures is an adrenaline-pumping tour company that accommodates both romantic interludes and thrilling quests with snowmobiles, ATVs, and horseback riding. During a guided snowmobile tour, outdoor explorers get to cruise for two hours through the Snoqualmie Pass area’s 100 miles of winding trails. After watching a quick safety instructional video, Action Adventures will transport you to the trailhead. The company’s guileless guides are expert riders skilled at reading the mountain, weather, and the Farmers’ Almanac. They’ll keep each rider safe during a day of ridge-rocketing and outracing avalanches. And few activities other than honeymooning with The Flash combine magical romance with exhilarating speed like snowmobiling by moonlight. Both tours will warm winter-whipped bones with a tasty hot beverage afterward.
Action Adventures outfits all riders with a sled and all the cold weather gear a freshly sheared polar bear could ever need, including snow pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, and goggles.
Weekends fill up quickly, so plan ahead when making your reservation.

  Doesn’t that make it sound like transportation is included? And believe me, I clicked on every link, I read through the fine print. It was NOT LISTED.

Now it says in at least 3 places that there is a $30 fee and it shows two locations on the map, one where you can pay to get a ride over the pass and one where you can drive yourself. In addition, if you would like to purchase optional insurance, it’s $50 per person. This also was not disclosed on the original Groupon.

When I contacted Groupon they said they were sorry for the confusion. WHAT? That’s not confusion, that’s fraud! Here’s part of their email:

Really very sorry for the confusion. We are aware of the situation and are in the midst of sending out an announcement to clarify what is going on with the $30 fee for the transportation.

Now, here I sit 60 hours away from this snowmobile adventure with no response from Groupon. I contacted the company and they said it was Groupon’s fault. Fine. Then Groupon ought to pay for the ride to the trailhead.

What do you think? Am I justifiably angry or is this just a little error?