Merci Beaucoup

I can't believe how blessed I really am. Today I looked online at my blog's performance to see how things were going with a specific post and low and behold, I've had over 20,000 visitors come to my site. I know that might not seem like a whole lot of buzz worthy for some, but to me it's huge

. I mean think about it, 20,000 views...that's a lot for a blogger like myself with only 2 followers. I mean, that means my blog is being hit from somewhere and BOOM more visitors. I can't believe it.

I feel so happy that people enjoy reading my blog. Thank you so much, this was the inspiration I needed today. 

Hats off to you friends and visitors. Thank you!

Mary O'Malley

NEXT GOAL: 50,000 views

Garnier Color Styler Product Review

Disclaimer: All products were purchased on my own and I have not been compensated in any way for my opinions.

Have you ever wanted to dye your hair a different color without all the fuss of it being permanent or having to go to a salon? Have I found the perfect product for us both! Recently, I wanted to put pink into my hair and I've been playing around with the idea of using a few different brands. I looked into Splat, Manic Panic and other various options. Then one time I went to +Walgreens and found an amazing product from Garnier. Garnier is one of my favorite brands because it isn't harsh on my hair and it always makes it feel so soft afterwards.

Garnier Color Styler (product info) was the perfect way for me to put pink in my hair without it being permanent. Now let me tell you, it's the best product I've found and I would gladly do my hair again. Because I've enjoyed it so much, I really wanted to share these before and after photos with you. At first I was a little hesitant on how much of the bottle to use, but I decided since my hair is thick I wanted to go ahead and use the entire bottle and do my ends.

BEFORE

My First Blog Hop

Why Hello Everyone!

I'm currently in the process of organizing my very first BLOG HOP. I was inspired by many other bloggers around the world that have seemed to follow the trend. I recently participated in one myself called Let's Be Friends Blog Hop and it got me to thinking, why not try creating my own?

Recently I noticed that there are a lot of posts on things that are not only important to women and men, but to our planet. I decided that with Earth Day coming up (April 25th) that the best blog hop I could host was on all things GREEN.

I'm working out the details now, but I hope that you will all get ready to link up your Green Living posts to share with all of my readers and yours. I would like this blog hop to be a success, so there will be a way to share the hop with your personal readers too. Until then, here's a sneak peek of the Mean Green Blog Hop logo.

~Scroll Down For the Image~

Raspberry Recipe Roundup

Thanks to +MasterChef Junior I'm wanting to make some delicious raspberry desserts. I thought I would look online and gather some recipes that sound not only creative, but delicious. I have to say a couple of these look easy enough that even I could make them. I think my first attempt may have to be the raspberry lemon mini cheesecakes or the raspberry oatmeal cookies.

THE RECIPES

One: Raspberry Shortbread Bars
Two: Raspberry Mango Ice Cream Cake
Three: Raspberry Salsa
Four: Chocolate and Fresh Raspberry Cream Napoleons
Five: Grilled Chicken Salad
Six: Raspberry Chipotle Turkey Pocket Thins
Seven: Vegan Raspberry Scones
Eight: Raspberry Fruit Chews
Nine: Roasted Peach & Raspberry Pops
Ten: Raspberry Crumb Breakfast Bars
Eleven: Raspberry Lemon Mini Cheesecakes
Twelve: Chocolate & Fresh Raspberry Cream Napoleons
Thirteen: Raspberry Salsa Bites
Fourteen: Raspberry Oatmeal Cookies
Fifteen: Raspberry Chocolate Tarts

Which of these would you like to try? There are a lot of these that I would actually like to make at some point, I think the raspberry fruit chews sound pretty good as well.

Do you like Raspberries? What's your favorite recipe?

Kids Vs. Chores: How to Win The Losing Battle

Parent: "Why haven't you done your chores?"

Child: "I'll do them later!"

Whether we like to admit it or not, we’ve all been in that type of position. Whether it is from being a parent or being a kid in the house, it stinks. Most the time it ends up with a yelling match and a stomping child getting annoyed that they have to do their chores, whatever they may be. It doesn’t have to be this way anymore. With the below simple tips not only will your children be doing their chores but *gasp* they may actually like doing them.

Have you considered making chores a game yet? There are many ways to do this including making it a timed challenge. Timing is a great way to get them to do their chores and have a little fun. For example, try making it a contest between each child. Whoever has their chores done first within the next 30 minutes can stay up 20 minutes later. This is a great way to get the kids moving and keeping time for them to be able to do other things as well. 

Make sure that you are also letting them know that you as the parent will be checking their progress at the end of the challenge. This almost works like a reward system in a way. After all, what kid doesn’t like staying up past their normal bedtime?

For more creative chore game ideas try a few of these: Thriving Family & KidSpot.

Review of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water

What would happen if suddenly there were no more Crabby Patties?

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures

WHAT NO CRABBY PATTIES?!?!

Now that I've caught your attention, let me tell you a little story about what happens when Bikini Bottom runs out of the one beloved thing that the entire town can count on. Coming together, one brave and unexpected team comes together to do everything they can to right this wrong.

SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of the Water Movie Review

Overview

Nickelodeon has brought SpongeBob fans everywhere a brand new look into their favorite sponge in the newest movie: The SpongeBob Movie: Out of Water. In the beginning of the film we see this mysterious pirate (Antonia Bandares) on a treasure hunt to find a special book hidden on an island. We only meet him for a brief moment where he gets back to his ship and sets sail for the mainland.

Much like the beloved cartoon featured on Nick, viewers of all ages can get a glimpse of the evil Plankton trying to steal the secret formula from the Krabby Patty. Plankton who is normally foiled by something during his schemes finds himself that much closer to the secret recipe in the beginning of the film.

With the brilliant idea of changing the recipe out with a fake, he finds himself in a battle with SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) trying to take the formula from his hands. Unfortunately, while in the middle of a tug of war, the bottle vanished out of nowhere without explanation. While the formula is gone Bikini Bottom turns into an apocalypse because the beloved crabby patty recipe is nowhere to be found and nobody knows the formula by heart. Even SpongeBob, who makes the recipe every day can’t seem to recall the recipe. 

The loss of the formula puts Bikini Bottom into an apocalypse. With this SpongeBob is blamed and so is Plankton. The entire town has lost themselves because they cannot have their Krabby patty. Having to form a Team or a T-ahm (as Plankton cannot say the word team) SpongeBob and Plankton find themselves working on a way to bring back the formula and save Bikini Bottom, including going back in time. 

During this time traveling adventure they not only find themselves going backwards and forwards but at one point meeting up with the watcher of space, Bubbles. At this point they finally go back in time to the right moment but SpongeBob grabs the wrong bottle, and they still don’t have the answers to save the world of Bikini Bottom.


Without giving away the twist, I can share that this unlikely duo becomes a group when Plankton and SpongeBob get a clue. With the help of the group, they set off on an adventure out of the water, giving the film a live action appeal with some 3D animations.

Review
Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. SpongeBob has always been silly and a fun choice for my family and I to watch. Not to mention kids of all ages everywhere can find themselves loving (or hating) this movie. For me, I enjoyed it to my very core because well, I love SpongeBob, he’s cool. I love Patrick because he’s a big dope, but has a heart of gold. The rest of the characters have their own loveable traits and can all be equally liked among fans.

My favorite parts were definitely when Plankton got a look into SpongeBob’s brain and found he was dealing with nothing but happy cheerful things. It reminded me a little bit of Carebears. The second part would definitely be when they traveled onto the dry land and we got a glimpse of these characters outside of their element with a little extravagance.

All in all as I told my friend I would definitely go see this again and I’m already waiting for it to come on DVD because I liked it so much. Don’t believe me? Look at what I wore to the movie when we went and saw it!

   

Lastly, I can say at the end of the film of course I found myself singing along with the SpongeBob Squarepants theme song and I knew every word even after all these years. With that, I must say; Are you ready kids?

♪ OHHHH! Who lives in a Pineapple under the sea?

Spongebob Squarepants!

Absorbent and yellow and porous is he

Spongebob Squarepants!

If nautical nonsense be something you wish

 Spongebob Squarepants!

Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish

 Spongebob Squarepants!

 READY?

Spongebob Squarepants!

Spongebob Squarepants!

Spongebob Squarepants!

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPAAAAANTS! ♪

I bet you just sang that, didn't you? 

(Don't Worry, I did too)

Did you see the film? What did you like or dislike about it?

Superbowl Party Snack Ideas 101

It’s almost time for the big Superbowl game. As many fans of any NFL football team know, it stinks when our favorite teams don’t make it, but we still watch anyway. After all, it’s often not only about the game, but spending time with friends and family. For some it is about the Superbowl commercials, but there is one thing that everyone can agree on. Superbowl snacks!  

 

We’ve all been to parties that have had the exact same thing before; chips and dip, vegetable trays and some sort of crock pot something or other, right? Well, sometimes it can get really old being around the same things every year. While there are some true go to staples to the perfect Superbowl party, why not try to kick it up a notch with some of these snack ideas.

Outside of the Box Superbowl Snack Ideas

Beer Candied Bacon

Ice Cream Sandwiches 

 
Chicken & Waffle Bites