The Best Birthday Gifts for Your Wife

March 25, 2021 by Robert

Your wife’s birthday is coming up, and this is the year you’ll make her smile with the best birthday present ever. If your heart is in the right place, but your gift ideas are lacking, we’ve got you covered. No matter what your wife likes to do, we’ve got the perfect presents that will score you major points and make her day as special as she deserves.

Whether you’re sending birthday wishes to a friend, family member, or coworker, you can choose from a variety of images ranging from humorous to heartfelt.

For the Sommelier Spirit

If your wife loves a good bottle of red wine and can’t attend a picnic without the perfect Pinot Grigio, you’re in luck. Show her how much you care with a personalized bottle of birthday wine. You can inscribe her name and a special message on the bottle’s label, and make for a gift she’ll never see coming! With a variety of beverage options, you can select from merlots, sparkling wines, cabernets, beer, and even liquor to ensure she receives her favorite libation.

Flowers with a twist

What about flowers? If you’re thinking that this might be a bit too cliche or unoriginal, we have the perfect solution. Instead of the standard bunch of her favorite red roses why not bacon and Mid-Day Squares’ gluten free chocolate? Yes, that’s right you can get a whole bouquet of beef jerky expertly crafted by awesome gifts. Please visit awesomegifts.com to know more about it.

For the Health Connoisseur

For the wife who is a gym regular, loves to cook healthy meals, and is constantly trying to find ways to make your family healthier and happier, we’ve got a variety of gift ideas that will make her day and show her you appreciate her interests and efforts. Wrap up a make-your-own kombucha kit so she can whip up the fermented probiotic elixir in the comfort of her own kitchen. If she loves to craft delicious meals using only the freshest of ingredients, purchase a subscription to HelloFresh and get ready-made, nutritious ingredients for a meal delivered to your door every week. This will save you both a trip to the grocery store and keep healthy foods on the table, plus it’s a weekly gift that keeps on giving.

For the Fashionista

If your wife has a shoe collection that takes up the majority of the closet, and you find it strange when she doesn’t have any shopping bags in hand when she comes home, chances are she’s a fashionista. There are plenty of gifts that will make her day, and you don’t have to stick with clothing. Gorgeous accessories that provide a little bit of glam are a good choice, or a coffee table book filled with works from designers she loves can do the trick. If you can’t decide, buy your wife a subscription to a fashion rental service where she can trade and try new accessories.

For the Adventurer

If your wife is a daredevil, plan an experience she won’t soon forget. Experience presents are becoming more and more popular, and for good reason—they give you the chance to do something you never thought possible. Whether you book her a skydiving adventure, arrange a session for her to meet a lion, or put her in the driver’s seat of a racecar, your wife will be impressed. She’ll love that you took the time to find something out of the ordinary, and you’ll be able to create a memory together she won’t soon forget.

For the Sentimental Sweetheart

If your wife loves nothing more than tangible expressions of love, and is a sucker for all things sentimental, the sky is the limit for homemade presents. Fill a jar with colorful scraps of paper or print off a few Happy Birthday Images. On each, write down a sweet memory you have together. Drop into the jar, and sit with her while she reads each. It will summon up memories of wonderful times and make for a new memory she won’t forget. If you’re a great writer, sit down and pen a good old-fashioned love letter. Collect pictures from the past and make a simple scrapbook that will bring a tear to her eye. The more time and thought you put in, the more impressed she will be. This also serves as a wonderful idea for households working on tight budgets.

Can you use visa gift cards anywhere

Your wife is a luxury lover, so a pampering weekend serves as the perfect gift. Groupon often offers massage deals at a variety of price points, and she’ll love the chance to unwind. If you’ve never had the amazing experience, you’ll want to change that, stat. Make it a couple’s massage so you can spend time destressing together. If you’d like to go all out, plan a weekend at a resort and partake in various treatments, or send her on a weekend alone to spend some time regrouping and feeling her best.

If you’d like to make your wife feel special this year, make her birthday one to remember with the perfect present.

A Passion for Paleo: Decadent Desserts That Won’t Derail Your Diet

December 20, 2016 by Melissa

The Paleo Diet has become more and more popular over the years, and for good reason. The basic tenet of the diet is that you eat as our ancestors did: meats, vegetables, and unprocessed foods. The upshot to this is that you tend to eat “cleaner” on the diet than normal, which helps cut out preservatives that may be unhealthy for you.

The Paleo Diet also has a somewhat undeserved reputation for not allowing you to eat many sweets. Sugar and some flours are cut out of your diet when you start Paleo, so if you have a sweet tooth, good desserts may be hard to come by. Fortunately, there are recipes out there that you can find and use to make decadent desserts for all occasions. Here are some great ones to try out.

These are just a few recipes you can enjoy on the Paleo Diet. There are more you can learn from PaleoHacks.

Cookie Dough Fudge

If you find yourself reaching for the cookie dough before you even give it a chance to bake, you’ll love this recipe. It uses cashews and cinnamon, so it’s nutritious as well as delicious.

What You’ll Need:

Eight tablespoons of ghee, three cups of raw cashews, 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil, ¼ cup coconut flour, ¼ cup melted raw honey, ½ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon and one cup of chocolate chips.

Melt the ghee and grind the cashews into meal using a blender or a mortar and pestle. Drizzle the coconut oil into the meal and mix until it turns into a dough. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Place the finished dough in plastic wrap and put in the freezer to chill for about 20 minutes.

Fold the chocolate chips into the chilled dough and then spread it in a nine-by-five inch loaf pan lined with parchment paper. Place back into the freezer. In another 20 minutes, the fudge should be ready. Cut into 15 pieces and enjoy!

Coconut Ice Cream

Although our ancient ancestors didn’t have the chance to make ice cream, you can still enjoy the chilled dessert when you’re on the Paleo Diet.

What You’ll Need:

An ice cream machine, two eggs, one teaspoon vanilla extract, two cans of organic coconut milk, ½ cup of maple syrup, ¼ cup of chocolate chips.

Combine the eggs, coconut milk, maple syrup and vanilla using a whisk or a blender. Using an electric blender will make it easier. Pour the combination into your ice cream maker and turn on for 20 minutes. Add the chocolate chips and turn the machine on again for another 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into airtight containers and place in the freezer for about three hours. Once the ice cream sets, enjoy as often as you want to.

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

There’s always room for a great chocolate chunk cookie, even when you’re on a diet. Here’s a tasty recipe that’s easy to make.

What You’ll Need:

One egg, lightly beaten, one teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup coconut milk, ½ cup coconut sugar, one cup almond flour, ¼ cup coconut flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, three ounces of chocolate chunked, and sea salt to sprinkle.

Preheat your oven to 350ºF. In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, coconut oil, coconut sugar and vanilla extract. Then add almond flour, coconut flour and baking soda. Then, add the chocolate chunks and using a spoon or scoop, drop small balls of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in the oven and transfer finished cookies from cooking sheet to a wire rack to cool.

Angel Food Cake

You can bake cakes when you’re on the Paleo Diet! This is a recipe for a light angel food cake that’s good by itself or drizzled with fresh berries.

What You’ll Need:

Twelve large, room temperature eggs, one teaspoon fresh lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, one tablespoon vanilla extract, ¾ cup coconut or maple sugar, 1 ¼ cream of tartar, one cup arrowroot flour, 1 ½ cups cream, whipped.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place egg whites and lemon juice into a mixer and mix for 30 seconds, until foamy. Add the salt, cream of tartar and vanilla. Whip again until soft peaks begin to form.

Add the rest of the ingredients, sifting the flour, and transfer to an ungreased cake pan. Cook for 40 minutes or until a toothpick can be cleanly removed. Cool on a wire rack.

Eleanor Potter loves food, and creating new healthy recipes for her family is her weekend passion. She writes about food, healthy living and shares recipes around the web.

Ways to Give Back While On The Go #VZWBuzz #MobileLife

November 17, 2015 by Melissa

It’s the season where we are reminded that there are others in need. The holiday season doesn’t create this sudden need but it creates awareness of what others are missing and how we can help. As a society we can turn any corner and find charity or organization that is in need. The children come home from school with food drive notices, payroll reminds us of the opportunity to increase a charitable deduction and our churches are asking for “angels” for their more needy members. There is no shortage of asking.

There are new ways to give now. We live our lives on the go and that doesn’t have to stop when it’s time to give. There are so many times that I think about a great cause and the efforts they are making in our community or in the nation but by the time I get to my checkbook or computer that thought gets lost with all the other details of the day.

These apps and services below help individuals like us stay on top of what we think is important.

Feedie. For the foodie and photographer in all of us, Feedie has an arrangement with restaurants around the globe to donate to the Lunchbox Fund in exchange for patrons snapping photos of their food. Share that photo on your social media channels and the restaurant donates $.25 to the Lunchbox Fund. The Lunchbox Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing daily meals to impoverished school children in South Africa. We provide a quarter of a million meals a year, and with your help, our goal is to increase that number to 10 million, and ultimately expand our reach globally. If you’re going to eat out, eat a Feedie restaurant or try a new restaurant that supports this amazing effort to feed hungry children.

CharityMiles. If you’re active why not earn money for a deserving charity while you get your sweat on. Download the app, choose an organization and start moving. When you’re done your selected charity will earn money for every mile walked, run or biked. Walkers and runners earn up to 25¢ per mile; bikers earn up to 10¢ per mile.

Donate a Photo. Did you take a photo today? Chances are you did especially with that nifty mini computer/smartphone in your hands. Johnson & Johnson wants to take those photos and turn them into $1 donations for a variety of causes that serve our communities. A photo a day is all it takes.

OneToday. Google created this simple way to give to others. One Today lets you easily give $1 each day to causes and nonprofits that inspire you. It’s a community of generous people like you doing one good deed a day. You’ll see others who have given to this cause. Tomorrow you’ll see a new need and a new community of givers. 100% of all donations are distributed directly to the charity.

Check in For Good. Do you check in at your local businesses to show support and loyalty. Turn those visits into dollars for causes in need. Your check in creates exposure for charities not just on the app but through social media. Create your own cause page for local charities or functions and spread the word to create a buzz and hopefully funds to what you care about.

No matter how you give it’s really the effort you put forth that counts. These mobile options make giving simple while on the go. Give while you’re thinking about it while at the grocery store or at soccer practice or waiting for the meeting to start.

I am a Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Blogger brand ambassador and will receive various products and other perks as a member of the #VZWBuzz influencer team. Staying connected to the world outside Facebook and text while mobile is important to me. It keeps me organized and aware and focused on real life. Verizon Wireless helps me do this and keeps me updated on the latest trends, products and tips out there to keep informed and entertained.

Time To Talk Hungry Jack Protein Pancakes Plus Giveaway

August 30, 2015 by Melissa

Elmo says breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I totally agree and so do my kids. They love pancakes so much they would eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner and that is a huge reason why I am very proud to be a part of the Hungry Jack Team telling you about PANCAKE-ISMS and some great new Hungry Jack products.

People love breakfast because it’s easy to eat a protein packed meal like eggs or even a protein shake and most likely pancakes would never cross a persons mind until now. Hungry Jack has an awesome new protein pancake mix that contains 10 grams of protein per serving. If you love pancakes and eating a protein packed meal you can now have both with these new pancakes which in my opinion totally rock. My kids tore up these pancakes the first time I made them and they were asking for more and how could I deny them these delicious new protein pancakes.

If you love a piping hot stack of pancakes like my kids and I do you know putting cold syrup on them is a real bummer. Hungry Jack has also fixed that problem by giving us the newly updated 27.6 oz. Hungry Jack Original Syrup which is microwavable. SCORE!!! So now there is no reason to put cold syrup on steaming hot pancakes. I think I am in heaven. Writing this post is making me want to go into the kitchen and whip up some pancakes.

Being a part of the Hungry Jack team is awesome and we have a lot of fun For this post they challenged me to come up with my own PANCAKE-ISM.

What are PANCAKE-ISMS you ask? A Hungry Jack Pancake-ism is a hearty bite of worldy wisdom, served with a side of wit. Some are short and sweet, and others are a little more reflective, with an unexpeced twist. However you stack it, Pancake-isms are the perfect mix of racing, pancakes, and satisfying straight-shooting humor.

Here are a few awesome ones that Hungry Jack came up with:

A pancake’s worth a thousand words.
If you love a pancake, let it go. If it comes back to you, eat it.
It takes two to tango. It takes one to make pancakes.

Now it took me a while to come up with my own PANCAKE-ISM because I am not witty as most but here it goes : If you make Hungry Jack pancakes, they will come!

Now onto some AWESOME news for Hungry Jack and Nascar fans:

Starting in October, fans can ask Hungry Jack questions directly! All you need to do is use #AskJack and you will receive a response with a hearty dose of Jack’s Wisdom right from the brand and a chance to win prizes and racing swag! Also three times during the NASCAR racing season, Hungry Jack NASCAR driver partner AJ Almendinger will send out a call to his fans and Racing Rewards members to use #AskJack and #Promo. Fans who participate during any of the three times happening in October, November and January will be rewarded with Jack’s wisdom in the form of a pancake-ism! Those who participate and send it their own pancake-isms may also be featured on the Hungry Jack website, Facebook page, and JTG Daugherty social pages, so the wisdom can be shared to fans everywhere!

If you love pancakes and Nascar this is a really cool thing.

Now who wants to win some Hungry Jack of their own?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It’s time to have #OneConversation #ActAgainstAids #CDC

August 14, 2015 by Melissa
I think I’ve done a good job at parenting my oldest when it comes to being open and honest about the dangers of unsafe sex, drug use and illicit behaviors. Some conversations aren’t easy to have to ensure you and your family are safe the job needs to get done.

Sabreena has been exposed to a lot in her 19 years. She’s aware of what’s really going on in the world and the struggles that many face by prejudice of all kinds.
I was approached to bring to your attention of a plague affecting the Latinos and Latinas living in the United States. Did you know Hispanics account for 19% of those affected with HIV/AIDS but we only account for 16% of the population? The disproportion comes from the lack of outreach and education, language barriers and discrimination. As a culture Hispanics don’t talk about personal issues, especially those that are considered taboo. We hope deep down that our family and friends are taking care of themselves, making the right choices.

Sin Vergüenza (which translates to Without Shame) is an exciting, entertaining, and suspenseful telenovela web series, produced by Los Angeles-based AltaMed Healthcare Services. It takes viewers into the lives of a dynamic Mexican-American family coping with issues around HIV and sexual health. Each family member represents a different age group, sexual orientation, and marital status and faces unique challenges. Each person is also at risk of getting HIV.

The high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS isn’t inclusive to just the Hispanic community but the high rate at which this demographic is being infected needs your attention. If current trends continue, an estimated 1 in 36 Hispanic/Latino men and 1 in 106 Hispanic/Latina women will be diagnosed with HIV at some point in their lifetime.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized this epidemic and launched We Can Stop HIV One Conversation At A Time. This national campaign encourages open lines of communication between the Hispanic community to educate and inform family, friends and loved ones of the dangers of unprotected sex. This call to action stresses the need to talk about HIV/AIDS and how no one is immune; no matter the marital status, age and sexual orientation.

The choices we make stay with us. The information is available and now it’s time to share it with those that need it. Start the conversation and have facts on hand if you suspect someone you love is at risk. One Conversation at a Time is free to use, has downloadable materials and has facts on how to protect each other. It’s time to let go of the stigma and educate, especially our youth. Young people, aged 13-24 are especially affected by HIV. They comprised 16% of the U.S. population, but accounted for 26% of all new HIV infections in 2010.

There’s so much to live for. Let’s not waste another minute. Share what you now know about the rising rate of HIV/AIDS in the Hispanic community and how to stop it in its tracks with #OneConversation.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkHIV

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActAgainstAIDS

Instagram: http://Instagram.com/ActAgainstAIDS

This post is made possible by support from the We Can Stop HIV One Conversation at a Time campaign. All opinions are my own.

Owning my Strong and my Weakness #Mudderella

August 9, 2015 by Melissa
It was the worst day of my life. I’m not proud to admit it but I regretted it 20 minutes in.

Mudderella isn’t for the faint at heart and it definitely isn’t for those lacking healthy fitness regimens. I had high hopes for myself thinking it was going to be lots of fun and motivating because of the large groups of women all struggling to get through the obstacles together.

I was wrong. Partly due to my own lapse in judgment and some due to poor planning. The event itself looked like it was organized and planned out well except for the parking. That itself put us 40 minutes past our scheduled start time. When we approached the corral to start it was empty. We were informed we were the last group going out. This was a bit disheartening. It meant we were already last before we even started.

My teammates and I started off strong. The path was rough but it felt good to actually get moving. The heat caught up to me, quickly. Approaching the 3rd obstacle I felt terrible. The sun was beating down the water stop was way behind and I couldn’t think to take another step. I bailed. I pulled over to the side go sick, got a water bottle off some really kind spectators and waited.

I felt terrible. I watched women of all ages, sizes and handicaps pass where I was sitting in the shade. I knew I didn’t take this seriously. I knew I didn’t train the way I should’ve. I regretted it for the next 45 minutes just waiting for my teammates.

I was asked by an older woman if this was where I stopped, did I quit at this spot. I said no, I took a shortcut to wait for my friends. She said it didn’t matter, that I did what I could do and she was proud of me. I felt like such a bum. She didn’t see that but that’s what I felt like inside.

Mudderella is all about what this woman did for me. Empowerment, motivation and strength. She didn’t see my failure, she saw my attempt. I’m not sure If I’ll do this kind of even again but I do know I have to have the strength to try new things and push myself to work harder.

Did I have fun? Yes, regardless of the miserable outcome I had a great time. I’m glad to be a part of this event to bring awareness to Futures Without Violence also. Mudderella is committed to a great cause — the prevention of domestic violence and supporting those affected by it.

Futures Without Violence is a national nonprofit that is working to prevent and end domestic violence by developing innovative programs and policies that:

support victims, survivors, and their families and help them get to safety

educate individuals about the critical roles that we all have to play in promoting healthy relationships

promote mutual respect as the foundation of healthy relationships

support children who are exposed to violence at home and in school

enlist health care providers and health systems to improve domestic violence responses

and much more

When participants register for Mudderella, they are asked if they want to set up a fundraising page. When participants raise money for Futures Without Violence, they make an investment in positive solutions that are helping women, children and families everywhere own their strong, and future!

Register today at a event in your area. Plus get 20% off by using discount code MUDDBLOGGER20 for the remainder of events in 2015

Colorado, August 22, 2015
Pittsburgh, September 12, 2015
Whistler, September 26, 2015
New England, October 3, 2015
Melbourne, November 7, 2015

Don’t do what I did though. Train, and train right for the event. You don’t need to be an athelete, a runner or a gym rat but you need to be ready for it. The Mudderella training that they offer is great. I did some of it, obviously not enough though.

Follow Mudderella throughout social media for inspiration, fitness tips, to learn more about Futures without Violence and how to OWN YOUR STRONG.

Mudderella on Twitter
Mudderella on Facebook
Mudderella on YouTube (for those training videos you should watch)
Mudderella on Instagram
Mudderella on Pinterest

10 Christening Gift Ideas

July 27, 2015 by Melissa
While a child will never remember the day he or she was christened, for parents, extended family, church family, and friends, a christening means the world. Giving a child its Christian name and dedicating the little one to God: these are momentous milestones to be cherished and remembered for years to come.

To mark such a joyous occasion, it’s customary to bring a gift for the child. We realize that purchasing something meaningful for a child too young to hold up its own head, let alone open its mouth to offer suggestions, can be a challenge. This is why we’ve put together the following list of christening gift ideas.

But before we begin, let us say that we’re especially fond of personalized gifts that the child can keep forever. Such gifts offer that extra sentimental value, something that can hold meaning for the child well into his or her life. And parents love them!

With that said and without further ado, our best christening gift ideas:

A Bible with the child’s initials engraved.

This one stands at the top of the list for obvious reasons. As the child grows into a young adult and faith takes greater and greater importance, he or she will want a Bible to turn to. And how nice it is to have one with a history, one that came from the loving hand of a family member or family friend! In addition, Bible storybooks will be a good option for when they are a little older.

Engraved bracelet or necklace.

Typically these gifts go to little girls, but these days there are many options for boys as well. Either way, a quality bracelet with a message inscribed on it or a necklace with an engraved pendant will be something the child can wear right away and then set aside as a keepsake for many more years.

Framed message or scripture.

Write a brief, personalized message, and have it professionally printed and framed. Or pick out a favorite (and relevant) passage from scripture and have that framed.

Custom burp cloths.

Let’s be honest, a new baby isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. They spit up. A lot. So, why not have some custom burp cloths made? They can offer funny or reassuring sayings that will make the baby’s parents smile while doing a thankless job.

Name sign.

Have a custom-made sign with the baby’s name on it. The name can be written in colorful curlicues or in any other creative way you can think of. You can also have the name’s meaning written beneath the name itself.

Personalized christening saucer.

Often made from ceramic and inscribed with the child’s name, date of christening, and a scripture, this gift offers something special that the child can hold onto forever.

Christening cake.

Maybe nothing quite sounds right as a gift. How about going to your local specialty baker and having a beautiful cake made for the after party? Or, if you’re a talented baker yourself, you can bake and decorate the cake.

Silver birth-certificate holder or money box.

As the most traditional material for christening gifts, silver always goes over well. Typically, these gifts will bear some inspirational message or scripture.

Baptismal towel.

For drying off the baby after its baptism, you can have the towel stitched with the baby’s name, the date of the christening, and a scripture or personal message.

Embroidered stuffed animal.

Buy him or her a stuffed lamb or teddy bear, and have it embroidered with a personalized message or scripture.

A baby’s christening is a joyous day, one to celebrate with friends and family. You’ll want to help celebrate with a gift, and here you have our ten best christening gift ideas for the new addition to your family or church family.

Stay Beautiful with Cover Girl and Walmart #giveaway

July 13, 2015 by Melissa
I’ve been told I have great skin. For as long as I can remember it’s been one of my best assets. Also for as long as I can remember I’ve been taking care of it simply by washing it and applying Oil of Olay moisturizer. I never thought I needed some fancy brand with a high price tag to get the results I always wanted. that doesn’t mean I haven’t tried other brands, I have, many; but I always go back to my tried and true Oil of Olay.

On a recent trip to Walmart I found really great deals on my favorite beauty products. I’m not talking about a little bit of change in your pocket, I’m talking about MONEY SAVING deals that are worth the trip.

P&G brands like Olay and Cover Girl are staples for a woman’s life. From beauty bars in the shower to LashBlast Volume Mascara on the vanity these brands are part of my every day.

Here is my first use of LashBlast Mascara. Just 2 quick swips and I was ready for the day. If I was getting ready for date night or dinner with the girls I would’ve added a couple other swipes and a long wing of Cover Girl Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner Pencil. With its attached smudger tip I get that perfect smoky eye every time.

Next time you go shopping for your fave beauty products check Walmart’s great selection and value. As an added bonus for being a LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! reader we’re giving away a $25 Walmart gift card.

Just let us know if you have an Olay or Cover Girl product that you grab for each morning to keep your skin and face beautiful and healthy.

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Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Tuesday, July 28, 2015. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to Contiguous US residents, age 18 or over. For complete rules please read our blog contest rules page.

Michigan International Speedway with #HungryJack

June 23, 2015 by Melissa
I am a Hungry Jack Ambassador and this was a compensated trip but all opinions are %100 my own!!!!!

When I received an email to become a #HungryJack ambassador I was super excited because my first thought was “I LOVE PANCAKES” but once I found out that they were sending me to Michigan to do some site seeing and I was also getting the opportunity to attend the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway I became beyond excited.

I have never been to Michigan so I was excited to eat some of what Michigan had to offer and the first food stop was at Zingerman’s Deli which was featured in the movie The Five Year Engagement. The menu was HUGE and the sandwiches were awesome. When we first walked up to the deli there was a line just to get inside. Once inside there was another line to order food which was totally worth the wait because the sandwich I ordered was AWESOME!!!

First line to get inside Zingerman’s Deli

This isn’t even the whole menu. I couldn’t get the whole thing in the picture. LOL

After we finish lunch we headed over to Kerrytown Market and Shops to check out some local shopping. Kerrytown was named after County Kerry, Ireland, Kerrytown was part of the original village of Ann Arbor. Converted into markets and shops in the late 1960s, these historically old buildings have been meticulously maintained to preserve the timeless appeal of their brick and exposed beams.

The architecture of the building was really awesome and the shops were really nice with a lot of variety so there is something for everyone. I saw a ton of stuff that I wanted to buy but then I remember that I only brought a small carry on with no room to spare so my shopping was cut short but I did enjoy a really good cup of coffee while I was there.

Our food journey then continued to a really nice restaurant called Terry B’s where we had the chance to eat dinner and talk with the owners of the 47 car – Tad and Jodi. Again no surprise the food (I ordered the Tuna) was really really good and the desert was even better. I only say that because I am a HUGE desert fan. If you are reading this and thinking I keep talking about eating that is because I ate almost the ENTIRE time that I was in Michigan. Ok, back to the dessert at Terry B’s. The options were great and I was torn between the Potted S’Mores and the Molten Almond Joy. I almost ordered both but instead of being a pig I decided on the Molten Almond Joy which was so freaking good.

Tuna with Shrimp Pot Stickers

Molten Almond Joy

Sunday arrived and that meant race day at Michigan International Speedway. The only thing that was a real bummer about the day was that there was rain in the forecast for the entire day.

When we got to the track we were taken to our suite which was on pit road. The suite was really cool because were able to see cars come in and pit on pit road especially our man AJ in the #47 car.

Pit road

Once we got settled in we were taken to the owners motor coach where we got to have an awesome Hungry Jack breakfast with AJ Allmendinger and then had a little meet and greet where we got to ask AJ questions.

Owners motor coach where we had breakfast

Meet and greet with the driver – AJ Allmendinger

This was a really neat part of the trip because Nascar fans would kill for the kind of access that we were given. We got to eat with AJ then go into the garage area where we saw the team haulers, garage area where they work on the cars during the weekend and the inspection area where all cars are required to pass through before they are allowed to race.

Nascar officials inspecting the car

Garage area where the team haulers are parked. Look at the dude on the left with everything stuck to his head, LOL.

Garage Area

We then got to walk on pit road and got a full tour of the #47 pit box where all of the action happens during the race.

After we we got the full tour it was time for the 400 mile race to begin which is 200 laps. The race only made it about 10-15 laps before the first red flag come out and stopped the race due to rain. For people who know nothing about Nascar these cars can’t race on a wet track due to traction so the cars come on to pit road and wait for the rain to stop and for the track to be dried.

Drying the track after rain fell on the track

The race got underway again but was delayed again due to more rain. After 103 laps the race was called due to extreme weather and that was the end of the race, just like that.

This is how the race ended at lap 103

Flooding in the pit box

At first I wasn’t that excited to attend the race because I wasn’t really sure what to expect and I thought it would be a total snooze fest but boy was I wrong. It was awesome and now I am totally a Nascar fan as well as an AJ Allmendinger fan who drives the #47 Hungry Jack car owned by JTG Daugherty Racing. I am looking forward to watching the next race on TV and cheering for #47.

All in all this was a great weekend and an awesome trip to Michigan. I go to meet and hang with a bunch of cool people during the weekend which made the trip a really good time. I hope to get back to Michigan International Speedway again but next time hopefully there will be no rain in the forecast.

Me and the #HungryJack Crew!

This ambassadorship is a year long opportunity so make sure you stay tuned for more awesome posts and information about #HungryJack.

7 Great Summer Adventure Activities for Kids

June 18, 2015 by Melissa
The summer holidays are a great time for the kids – but if you’re a mom or dad and not quite prepared, keeping your kids occupied can be challenging! So plan ahead and keep your little ones happy with these 7 great adventure activities:

Images by niiicedave used under Creative Commons license.

Plan a treasure hunt

Who doesn’t love finding hidden stuff? A treasure hunt is a great (and low cost) way to involve all the family. Kids get to explore, play and use their creativity and logic. It’s fun, active and sometimes very competitive! Stationery for writing clues, gold chocolate coins, treasure chests and small prizes can be sourced without much difficulty.

Surprise kids with a last minute getaway

There’s nothing more exciting for kids than to know they’re going on an adventure…away from home! Taking the family on holiday doesn’t need to cost the earth – cheap holidays are everywhere and many providers are competing with each other to fill spaces during the busy summer months so you could benefit from a bigger discount the earlier you book.

A Day’s Bike Ride

Keeping your kids active and away from computer games during the summer holidays can be a challenge. Planning an outdoor bike ride is a fun way to get your children outdoors and on the move. There are loads of family friendly trails across different terrains – which offer children the chance to spot wildlife too.

Go camping!

Many favourite childhood memories are created on days spent camping outdoors. It’s an exciting experience and there are loads of activities and skills you can teach your children. Make a campsite fire (if authorities permit) and toast chestnuts or marshmallows.

Images by vastateparksstaff used under Creative Commons license.

Aquaparks

Let’s not forget that aquaparks offer some of the most incredible swimming fun for children. Some parks even feature outdoor rollercoaster rides or big slides that kids will be talking about for months afterwards.

Caving and rockclimbing

Kids love exploring places that nobody ever goes to – and caving or rockclimbing is a great way to bring out the adventurer in your child. Specialist clubs will provide supervised activities with a qualified expert. It’s worth asking in advance as a certain level of competence might be needed.

Outdoor Swimming

Let your kids really connect with nature by taking them swimming in a safe, outdoor swimming area or lake. It’s a pretty fun feeling and very exhilarating for the whole family. Adults can get involved by helping kids make things – for instance, try building a raft with pieces of wood or tie ropes from tree branches to swing on and make a splash. You can also choose areas where there are crab pools for a spot of fishing. Take along some jars in case you want to collect things like flowers, rocks or shells. Make the outdoor swimming experience as varied as possible – and if the weather is especially nice, pack a picnic. And don’t forget the waterproof sunscreen!

Family life isn’t complete without a joyful summer adventure!

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