Random Thoughts...Food, Firearms, and Fun

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Art Gallery . All opinions are 100% mine. I love The Amour d’Art Fine Art Gallery 's motto: "Buy Art Because You Like It, It Moves You, It Rewards The Heart and Mind!" I enjoy some art, but some of the "great" art just doesn't thrill me! I also don't like art galleries that insist on only one type of art, or try to belittle me. I'm not an art history major, nor is art my "thing." That said, I know what I like when I see it. This is why, "Buy Art Because You Like It, It Moves You, It Rewards The Heart and Mind!" is perfect for me! It's what I do now! It's how I shop for art now. If you happen to find yourself in California, and you are looking to buy art, why not check out The Amour d’Art Fine Art Gallery Sale ? If you aren't in California, why not browse their site? They offer free shipping with a minimum purchase. If you've never seen a Pino Daeni colle...

In exchange for my post, I will receive a CoolFit™ Foam Contour Pillow.   Thanks to Smiley360 , I was given the opportunity to try out the Sleep Number Sleep IQ technology, and in exchange for writing a blog post about it, I'll receive a CoolFit Foam Contour pillow. To try out the technology, one must go to a Sleep Number store. Mac and I checked out Sleep Number a while back, but we decided to postpone buying a new mattress until we move, because we'd like to upgrade to a king-size bed. We currently have a queen-size bed, and with three dogs, and our bedroom doesn't have quite enough room for a king-size bed, plus two nightstands. I've been intrigued by the "DualAir" technology, and the concept of selecting a mattress's firmness based on what I want that night, and how I feel. I'm also curious about how I actually sleep, and if I'm getting restful sleep. This Sleep IQ technology claims to provide answers to if one is getting restful sleep or...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Oregon Beach Vacation Rentals . All opinions are 100% mine. Looking to take a break from work and spend some time relaxing at the beach? Why not spend some time along Oregon's gorgeous coast? Consider Lincoln City! If you're like me, when you go to the beach, you want more than a hotel room. I like being able to cook meals and have some space in which to relax. This is where Oregon vacation beach rentals by A1 Beach Rentals enters the picture. They have some amazing deals for the fall. If you book 2 nights, you get a 3rd night for free in November. This also applies to weekdays during October. That's like saving 1/3 on the cost of your lodging! Who doesn't like saving money? It's not too late to book one last vacation for 2014, and you can take advantage of some great rates and deals, while enjoying a gorgeous fall season along the Oregon coast! Check it out! beach vacation rentals oregon oregon beach...

I'm always looking for ways to pick up a little extra spending or saving money, so as of this week, I've become a Pampered Chef consultant. If you want to order anything from Pampered Chef, please drop me an email through the contact form, and I'll let you know how to place your order. Before I decided to do this, I participated in a Pampered Chef Freezer Cooking Workshop at a friend's house. I figured it would give me some meal options that I wouldn't have through Dream Dinners, as Mac and I usually order duplicates of some of the Dream Dinners meals. The concept of the Pampered Chef Freezer Cooking Workshop is similar to Dream Dinners, but it is designed to give the consultant some sales, and give everyone who attends a chance to try out some of the Pampered Chef products. The consultant gives you a total for the Pampered Chef Pantry items you'll need to order, and then she handles placing the order. She then also sends you an email listing all of the ingr...

I received a free product for the purpose of my review. Opinions are 100% my own. I joined Smiley360 a few months ago, and recently just received my first product to try for a "mission." I received a tube of Chap Stick Hydration Lock. They have two varieties, and I received the Moisturize and Renew variety. I started using it as soon as I received it, and it stays on my desk at work, so any time I feel my lips getting dry, I can slather it on and not worry! I've been using the moisturize side far more than the renew side, although I do try to use the renew side at least once a day. Both sides have a very pleasant, almost tropical scent, and both apply very smoothly, with no hesitation. Both sides leave a nice, shiny coating, but it's not super-glossy, which is nice. It's not sticky either, so I don't feel like my lips are glued together. I did notice that if I go a few days without using it, my lips start to get chapped and crack, so this is a must us...

On Thursday evening, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw that a friend's dog page had shared a photo and description for a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois at Manhattan Animal Care & Control. Named Jackson, he was set to be killed after 12 PM on Friday. Mac and I talked at length about it, and on Friday morning, I bit the bullet and paid for his adoption fee online, reserving him for us. If we didn't pick him up in Manhattan on Saturday afternoon, he would still be euthanized, and I'd forfeit the adoption fee. So, Mac and I ventured up to Manhattan on Saturday, arriving around 2 PM. Knowing how quick to kill the NY AC&Cs can be, I was braced for a horrible trip. I'd heard stories of how the employees would try to discourage adoptions, and how they'd deny adoptions if you didn't bring everything with you, and I was prepared for the issues, including them possibly saying that for whatever reason, we couldn't adopt him, and they were going to...

A "friend" that I've known for over 10 years is now looking to rehome her second or third dog within a year. The other one I'm sure of nipped at her kids, so that dog was rehomed. This one is a 6-month-old boxer puppy, who digs, chews, and jumps. Last week, she asked for training suggestions. This weekend, she posted that her "heart is breaking," but they need to rehome the dog, because he digs holes in the yard and keeps chewing things, from the sofa to the walls to his bedding. It's a puppy!!! Puppies chew, puppies dig, puppies jump, because they don't know not to do that! They need training and exercise! Boxers, when bored or not given enough exercise, dig and chew. Add both together, and you get what she's experiencing. I first tried suggesting that she go through rescues, if she's determined not to try to keep the dog. Then, when I couldn't sleep last night, because I was that upset over it, I felt the need to really share my opi...