We love living in the mountains and love dining out in the mountains. I get all cozy when I walk into restaurants that have that lodge feeling atompshere. We were treated to a meal recently at Firebird’s Grill and I am still licking my lips. It was that good. Would you like to try it out for yourself? Stay with me till the end for an awesome giveaway.

As you walk into the Firebird’s Grill lodge, you are welcomed with their state of the art wood grill. Your food is actually cooked right in front of you with this huge grill that is open with a full view for all the guests.

Also, let me just say. There are no worries if you would like to be served up a little wine during dinner. HUGE selection across the wall.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill introduced a taste of Colorado to the Carolinas when it first opened its doors in Charlotte, North Carolina in December of 2000. The restaurant is the creative concept of owner and restaurateur, Dennis Thompson, who regularly travels out west. He fell in love with the feel of the area as well as the food. Drawing from those experiences, he developed Firebirds.

As we were enjoying the lodge atmosphere, we enjoyed chatting with friends and having a fabulous taste test with appetizers.

Is your mouth watering yet? If the appetizers were this delicious, you can imagine how dinner filled our taste buds.

I ordered the pecan crusted trout. I can sit here and taste it now. Hands down the best trout I have ever tasted. It was divine!

My husband of course took this chance to order steak. I am not a fan of red meat, but my husband sure is a big fan. He enjoyed every bite and it was a quality size.

The girls enjoyed chicken tenders and I was so pleased it was paired with a fresh fruit bowl. As you can see, the kids portions were plentiful.

After all this delicious food, the team brought out a huge display of their desserts. Now, if your mouth was not watering before, please beware. The desserts hit the sweet spot just right. Oh can you imagine?!

DELICIOUS!

Firebird’s Grill is the place for a date with the one you love or even a huge family gathering. You will not be disappointed.

The whole experience was unique. You can just sit back and relax by the fireside and enjoy each others company. The restaurant was not loud. Also, the employees take great pride in their job. Everyone was very knowledgeable and delivered superb customer service. The interior design is also just so welcoming and inviting.

Since you are about to lick the screen with the food photos (haha), you should totally go for Valentine’s Day coming up. I can even help you a little. WIN!

One lucky reader is going to win a $50 Gift Card to the Firebird’s Grill of your choice.

Disclosure: I am so grateful to Firebird’s Grill for treating my family to a full course meal. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

The big hit each year of the Winterfest is the polar plunge. I am trying to talk my dad into jumping with me next year. We shall see?

Close to 100 people jumped for a cause this year. All money raised was going to Wine to Water to ensure people in Ethiopia have clean water. Such a remarkable cause to jump in freezing water for right?!

We headed over to Blowing Rock Park to partake in the kids activities. So many kids were filling the room from wall to wall. I loved seeing all the families come together for the kids and showcase so many smiles. The kids were enjoying designing their own snowflakes, making winter crafts and listening to a local artist do a group story-telling.

All of the designed snowflakes were used in an afternoon snowflake parade. After a quick bite of lunch, we headed over to watch the ice carving. I cannot wait to get back over to the park and take a sneak peek at all the finished carvings. The artists are so talented each year.

The fun doesn’t stop there. There is a chili cook-off, pet show, build your own snowman contest with real snow, bonfires, hayrides, shopping, game shows, concerts and more. Make sure to put it on your calendar next year and come visit beautiful Blowing Rock, NC.

The girls love to use these holders on their lunch bags, their back packs and their little purses. It is so cute and actually a trend that I am loving for healthy reasons. The girls love to use their hand sanitizer now after they eat lunch, come in from playing at recess at school or any other activities they may be taking part in during school hours.

The holders range from $.50 to $4.00 here in NC. Of course, my frugal self allow the girls to purchase the $.50. Also, the miniature sanitizers are on sale right now for 5 for $5.00. I hope this trend will stick as it is an affordable one, a cleaner one and shall I say fashionable one?

According to the girls, they test out each others different sanitizers and see which ones they like the best during class. I have to say, well thought out marketing for the Bath and Body Works team.

I have a super busy semester this time. I am on campus unfortunately 4 days out of 5. All my classes are on campus this semester and it has tossed my routine out the door. I feel like I am always on some type of technology device lately. I am doing homework with my graphing calculator, I am checking work e-mail and keeping tabs on all work’s social outlets, I am blogging, I am checking personal e-mail and the cycle just continues.

I put off getting a smart-phone for so long but finally mid 2009, I could not put it off anymore. I knew if I got a smart-phone I would always be glued to the device so I put it off for as long as I could. Now I need the smart-phone for work. I just wish I could tell myself to turn the device OFF. I wake up in the middle of the night checking work’s social outlets to make sure all is okay. Do I get paid for those hours? Well, no but it just worries me that something will happen if I am not continuously checking. If I am so worried about picking up the phone, why can’t I be so worried about picking up my bible. I read my devotions each day, but do I pick it back up any other time during the day? The answer would be no. This troubles me.

I don’t want this addiction. I love technology, believe me, I am head over heels in love with technology. Family and friends from all over, call me, e-mail me, or text me to ask my opinions about technology or how I can fix their technology device. I enjoy that so much, but I don’t want to do that 24/7. I need the break. Instead, I want the addiction and to be head over heels in love with my bible and Jesus Christ. I want the girls to know that they are more important than a technology gadget.

Prayers work wonder and I am going to pray for peace in this situation. God I need your direction and your strength to turn away from the device. Life will be okay and I will not hyperventilate if I don’t have my smart-phone beside me. Instead, I want you and your word always beside me, my husband and our beautiful girls.

I took the Tide Coldwater Challenge. The challenge came at a perfect time. M picked out this beautiful white dress for the holidays. She wore the dress one time and what happens? You guessed it… a stain on the beautiful white dress.

Before Tide Coldwater

I stayed calm because we just had received the bottle of Tide Coldwater the day before. M was breathing a sigh of relief because she just knew she had ruined her dress. I put the dress in the washer with the Tide Coldwater. No stain remover was sprayed on the dress. I paced the floor and was pleading with the laundry fairy. The washer buzzed signaling the wash was completed. I swiftly walked to the washer and let out a big squeal.

After Tide Coldwater

A happy mom and a happy daughter equals perfection. I was so tickled and especially since this was a white dress with such delicate material. We have a new detergent in our household. I am so relieved to have one less step with stains as well. Tide Coldwater Liquid Laundry Detergent is specially formulated to help get clothes clean when they are washed in cold water.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was sent a full-size bottle of Tide Coldwater from P&G and SheSpeaks. As always, all thoughts and opinions are of my own.

While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time for children and adolescents to two hours per day, recent studies are finding that children ages 8-18 are spending more than 7.5 hours a day consuming electronic media, from computers and smartphones to e-readers and tablets. How will this increased use impact our tech-savvy children’s eyes?

Digital eye strain, or computer vision syndrome (CVS), is a term for any number of eye or vision- related problems that can occur from using a computer or digital device. Symptoms can include blurry vision, difficulty focusing, dry or irritated eyes, headaches and even neck and back pain. I know I can relate with several of these symptoms. My eyes can get so dry and I have to get up and leave the computer. Most of the time, I have to grab a wet washcloth in order to stop the burning. If this is happening to me, you know it can/will happen to your kids.

How can you prevent computer vision syndrome? VSP shares their tips.

Watch the time. The best way to avoid CVS is to take frequent breaks to refresh the eyes— follow the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, make sure your child takes a break to stare at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Also make sure to limit device usage to around two hours a day. This can be a challenge, but the average usage is almost four times that! For children two and under, avoid digital devices all together.

Create a kid-size work space. When working at adult desks, children sometimes have to crane their necks, look up at the screen or sit uncomfortably to do work. Avoid this issue and set up a small desk with an adjustable chair that provides good back support.

Keep the proper working distance. The distance between your child’s eyes and a screen should be approximately the distance between his or her elbow and knuckle. If your child is leaning too close to the computer screen or holding reading material close to his or her face, it could signal an underlying vision problem.

Schedule regular eye exams. Children’s vision changes often and it’s important that they have the best vision possible when using digital devices to help avoid CVS. This starts with a comprehensive examination by an eye doctor, not just a school screening. Children should have their first eye exam at six months of age, then at three years, before starting school and every year after that.

Go outside. Playing is healthy for the body and mind. Research also shows that two hours of outdoor play each day can help prevent nearsightedness. Of course, sunglasses are non- negotiable. Children have larger pupils and are susceptible to more UV damage than adults.

Let’s band together and help avoid Computer Vision Syndrome. Remember there still is life outside of technology. Kids do not need technology 24/7!

Thanks to Nathan Bonilla-Warford, O.D., F.A.A.O. for providing these awesome tips. He practices at Bright Eyes Family Vision Care in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Bonilla-Warford has lectured on visual care of children, the importance of vision in personal development, and options for controlling nearsightedness.

Your day can go from bad to awesome with a simple song. I present you the newest silly song from VeggieTales. Get ready, be silly and have fun with “Bubble Wrap.”

M was scheduled for surgery two days after Christmas. We would write notes back and forth to each other trying to squish all her fears. I kept reassuring her that everything would be okay and she would be a new girl for the new year. What I meant was, she would be able to breathe better and in return get a good night’s sleep. Even though her nerves crept up on her the morning of surgery, I was proud of her for putting on such a brave face. They wheeled my sweet girl back to the operating room and I waited in recovery room. I worked to try and keep my worries at bay. She had her tonsils removed, adenoids removed, tubes put in her ears and allergy testing all done during surgery. After about one hour and half, a nurse greeted me with good and bad news. Good news, her surgeries were a success. She did not even bleed any during surgery. The bad news, she tested positive for 23 different allergies. I can deal with this as L has several different allergies. I was just ready for the nurse to quit talking and direct me to my sweet M.

After, hugging my sweet girl very tightly, I let her finish waking up and get adjusted. We were able to leave three hours later. I assumed this would be the finale and my little girl would be on her way to being healthy again. For 14 days, she followed the strict schedule perfectly. She did not have any problems and did not complain at all. Day 15 this all changed unfortunately. She woke me up around 4am and she was bleeding out of her mouth. It was not a bad bleed so we got it stopped with salt water and headed on over to the ER. They did more salt water and sent us back home to follow-up with ENT. We followed up and everything seemed to be alright. The very next day, I get a call from school that M is bleeding yet again. Tears filled my eyes and I hurriedly made my way to the school. M leaped into my arms with such big tears. We both were crying. This was taking a toll on her and she was scared. We went straight to see her surgeon. Once again, we were reassured that everything was going fine and she was 98% healed. He said, I am pretty sure she will not bleed again but if she does, please call me immediately. I tried to stay calm and reassure M that she was doing a great job.

Fast forward two days, this becomes a nightmare. M woke me up at 12:45am and blood was going everywhere. My precious girl how can this be happening? I jumped up fast and went straight to the fridge to make a huge cup of cold ice salt water. The bleeding was still going and fast. I began to panic. Please Lord, let us get this bleeding to stop. This was by far the worst bleed yet. It took five cups of cold salt water to get the bleeding to stop. The bleeding was just shooting out from the back of her throat. We hurry and get into our vehicle and make our way to the ER. It is pouring the snow and we slide. Lord, please just get us to the ER. We made it and I am trying to comfort M as I am driving.

As we get into the ER, the doctor is very concerned and calls M’s surgeon immediately. They want her admitted right away. The surgeon comes over and I can tell by the looks on his face, he was worried. He said, I just really thought this would not happen again. I hope you have not lost faith in me. Absolutely, not. He was our saving grace and he comforted us both. He grabbed M in his lap and immediately said a prayer over her. We were headed to an emergency surgery. It was M’s artery in the back of her throat.

M was so scared. I was scared. All I wanted was my baby girl to just be okay and get over this bump. They put in the IV while she was awake which they did not do last time. The pain across her face just broke my heart. I knew it had to be done though. As she was being prep for surgery, our family and church friends were arriving at the hospital. We were being surrounded with prayers and love. I felt calmness come over me and knew M was going to be just fine. After about another hour and half, the surgeon greets us. She did wonderful in surgery. He pulled her palate very tight and double stitched over the artery. He also, recauterized her blood vessel in her throat.

She had to stay in hospital for two days but was such a trooper. The surgeon said in his 22 years of practice, this had never happened. Leave it to my M to defy the odds. The first day I was worried as she just slept and slept and slept. She refused to eat, but who could blame her? This had taken a mental and physical toll on her. Just today, I finally got her to eat her first bites. Praise God!

I feel like we have made it past second base and running towards home plate. We are almost there hopefully. She cannot do any activities for 3 weeks and you better believe I am watching every move she does. I keep reliving the scenario and it just breaks me down. I could not sleep last night well because of all the nightmares from this. I know without a doubt that my faith and prayers from everyone has got us all through this. I never want to experience this again. She did lose a lot of blood and has to build back up her red blood cells and hemoglobin. The surgeon ordered her to eat lots of red meat. I absolutely cannot stand red meat, but will do anything for my sweet girl.

I am proud of you M. You are one strong little girl!

A couple of weeks ago, she said “mommy, I really would like to have a pair of jeans.” As I picked my mouth up off the floor, I happily obliged. We got online at Gymboree as they were having a huge sale with nothing over $15. I purchased her two jean outfits. Now, these were not plain jeans. I had strict orders that the jeans include designs on the legs.

The outfits arrived at our door yesterday, and I was eager to show them to L as soon as she got home from school. She was a happy girl. She told me this morning, “mommy, I really like these jeans because they have designs on them.” I am in no hurry to have her wear jeans everyday as I love her in her dresses and skirts but it will be a nice change for her.

She is just so precious in the jeans and they seem to make her look taller.

I will have to say, we are huge fans of Gymboree. I just love the quality of the clothes and they always have such adorable themes. No, I was not paid to say that.