Sarcasm and Sass Mom

Karen Armstrong, a former Roman Catholic nun, has written several renowned books on religion, including A History of God, The battle for God, and The Case for God. I read a History of God in high school, and have been a fan of her work ever since. In “Fields Of Blood” Karen Armstrong sets out to discover the truth about religion and violence in each of the world’s great traditions. In a modern world where religious self identification is on the decline, analysts have cited the perception that faith in general is a source of aggression, intolerance, and violence; something bad for society.  For those who aren't already familiar with Armstrong's work and style of writing, I want to warn potential readers not to expect an easy read. This book is written by a scholar, and is incredibly detailed with extensive notes and references. But don't let that deter you, this is a book worth reading. It simply takes time to read and comprehend the information and details presented. 

I am a huge nail polish junkie. I have at least 40 shades. But I am hard on my hands, so I deal with no polish chipping frequestly, no matter what brand or top coat I use. Then along came gel nail polish that is durable, and lasts 2-3 weeks. I could not wait to try it out. But it's $25 a pop to get a gel manicure, and that can add up fast. That's where the Salon Edge UV lamp comes in! Salon Edge's gel curing UV lamp looks like a professional model. It's white, sleek looking, and large enough for a whole hand, but still lightweight. It uses four 36 Watt bulbs, that are included with the unit. It has 3 automatic settings, 90, 120, or 180 Seconds. The unit comes with no instructions, but all you have to do is install the bulbs, so that is not a huge drawback. They do fail to mention not to touch the bulbs with your bare hands, but thankfully I knew that already. The bulbs have to be popped into their slots, and it takes a bit of force to do this. When th

  Thanks to Crowdtap i received 8 fast acting Advil samples, and 4 advil coupons. 7 samples to share, and 1 sample for me. I have used fast acting Advil before, so i knew everyone i shared it with was going to love it.  This Advil is formulated with a unique Advil Ion Core™ Technology and an ultra thin shell to absorb quickly. Fast acting Advil Film coated is recommended to use for headaches, muscle aches, toothaches, menstrual cramps, back pain, and aches and pains associated with the common cold. Fast acting Advil Film-Coated leverages the rapid absorption properties of ibuprofen sodium, now available for the first time in the US.   I really like fast acting Advil because it works quickly, and it is gentle on your stomach. The last thing you want when you're in pain is a medicine that makes you feel sick. You take 1 Advil every 4-6 hours as needed. Please remember Advil is not intended for use in children 12 and under. You can check out the Advil website  to learn mo

  Thanks to smiley360 I got to try the new ChapStick Hydration lock Moisturize and Renew dual end stick. One side is ultra moisturizing, the other is a renewal chapstick for chapped, rough lips.  The Moisturize side includes antioxidant CoQ10 and Hyaluronic Spheres. This formula is specially designed for long-lasting hydration to help give lips a fuller and smoother appearance. The Renew side is made from natural butters such as Shea and Mango, and softens, conditions and revitalizes lips. Both sides of the new dual-ended Hydration Lock are clinically proven for healthier looking lips.  I can't say that i noticed a difference in the way either side made my lips feel. Both sides left my lips feeling smooth, soft and moisturized. Even with the few cold, wet days we've had the past 2 weeks my lips haven't chapped or cracked. Chapstick has always been a brand i liked and trusted, and now they have a new product for me to love. They also make a dual end night and day

 I have a confession. I love pumpkin. All things pumpkin. I am the girl they joke about as being basic and making fall all about pumpkin flavored everything. I am completely okay with that, LOL. So when i found a pumpkin mac & cheese recipe on pinterest, i knew i had to make it my own. Ingredients 1 box of pasta(I like penne for my mac & cheese, the ridges on it hold the cheese sauce well) 1 tablespoon Olive Oil 1/2 a yellow onion, finely chopped 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1 cup pumpkin puree 1 small container plain greek yogurt 1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth or stock 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (i use a tad more, i love paprika!) 2 cups of grated smoked gouda 1/2 cup of grated smoked gruyere 1/4 cup of flour Heavy cream to taste, about 1/4 cup 1/2 grated cheddar 1/4-1/2 cup breadcrumbs or panko (i like the crunch of panko) salt and pepper to taste Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Start by cooking the pasta to al dente, drain and set aside.

Thanks to smiley360 i got a chance to try out Tazo Chai. My kit came with 3 sample tea bags, and 3 coupons for free Tazo Chai Latte or Tazo Chai tea bags.  Tazo Chai is made with a mixture of    classic spices such as ginger, pepper and cardamom for a deliciously distinct taste. Then flavors are added for their selections like vanilla caramel, chocolate and pumpkin varieties. My current favorite is the Tazo Chai chocolate latte. It's made with black tea, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger and cocoa powder for a spicy chocolate flavor. You mix equal parts latte mix and milk, served hot or iced. I prefer it hot.  I also really enjoy the vanilla caramel. Served hot the taste reminds me of Christmas  If you have never tried Chai, I recommend a visit to the  Tazo website  before you buy. They have a tasting guide that will help you identify which flavors you will like best based on the kinds of tea you like. (Spicy sweet, fruity, ect.) You can also look into all the p

I am a huge fan of easy to make meals. Life is hectic, a home cooked meal that doesn't  take a lot of time and work makes me happy, and makes me feel like i'm still doing a good job as a mom. I also am a fan of anything with bacon. Bacon is delicious and should be used more in my opinion. Both of those are reasons i love BBQ bacon chicken pasta. It takes maybe a half an hour to make and even my picky son loves it. Ingredients 5 Slices of diced bacon 1 package of chicken breasts, cut into chunks 2-3 cloves of minced garlic (i use 3 but i also love garlic) 1/2 an onion, diced 1 can of chicken broth 1/4 cup tomato sauce (My friend makes hers with a small can of drained, diced ttomatoes I have a thing about the texture of tomato's so i use tomato sauce) 1/2 cup of milk 3 cups of rotini pasta Salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes or chili powder to taste 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce 1 cup shredded cheese Heat a large pot on medium till it's hot, then add the

A few weeks ago i signed up for the  walmart beauty box . It's a subscription beauty box sent out 4 times per year, once each season. The box contains items chosen based on season, and age range. The box itself is free, you only pay $5 for shipping per box. It's a actually a pretty cool set up, and a great way to start out with beauty subscription boxes. Now, let me tell you what i got!  Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant Secret Clinical strength clear gel is formulated to provide superior odor and wetness protection, with no white marks. I'll be honest here, i've never really bought into the whole "clinical strength" deodorant thing. Most of the "clinical" formula's only contain 1-5% more of the active ingredient than non-clinical formula's but cost much more. That being said, this deodorant actually does work very well. It goes on clear and cool, it feels very refreshing. The scent is pleasant but not very strong, which i like. This r

Thanks to  Blogging for books  i got to read and review "The Psychopath Whisperer" by Kent A. Kiehl for free in exchange for my honest review. I choose this book because i am fascinated, as are many others, but the mindset behind what makes someone a psychopath and why they do what they do. It is my hope to someday work as a therapist, though not with psychopaths, so anything that delves into the "why" of human behavior interests me.  Here is a summary of the book, " One of the leading experts on psychopaths, Kent Kiehl takes the reader on a comprehensive study of psychopaths. He discusses his personal experiences with psychopaths as well as a more academic approach, discussing the Psychopath Checklist and the science behind psychopathy."  I want to start by saying i had high expectations for the book, that in the end were only halfway met. The book is more his experiences and often his bragging(he spends to much time and seems more than happy to sha