It's #NationalPiDay- Make A Delicious #EdwardsPieceOffering With Our Printable!

This post is sponsored by Edwards Desserts, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Momma Told Me: Just kiss and make up!

The older you get the less sparkly some of the major holidays seem. That, my friends, is why we have national 'day of' celebrations- to spice up the otherwise dull periods between traditional, over-commercialized, holidays. Today, March 14th, is one of those days. Yes, magnificent Pi Day, appropriately assigned for it's semblance to the mathematical number 'Pi', which begins 3.14. Or, if you're a lush like me, it's just a good excuse to eat tons of pie and make 'punny' jokes all day. However, this year, I'm changing things up a little and taking my Pi day theme to a whole new level with an Edwards 'Piece' Offering.

That's right 'Piece' as in piece of delicious pie, inspired by the concept of 'peace' as in flowers in tanks and rainbow signs. And really what better way is there to make peace than over a slice of rich and creamy frozen pie you didn't actually have to lift a finger to prepare, or bake? Now if only I could make 'piece' over the argument of which delicious Edwards frozen whole pie goes into our cart each shopping trip! See I love a good light and fluffy Strawberry Creme, while Jay wants to pack as many toppings, and as much flavor into every slice as possible. He tends to shop for indulgent flavors such as Hershey's Chocolate Creme or Cookies and Creme.

No joke, the pie fight is real in our house. One month we went several weeks without picking up an Edwards pie (gasp, weeks!) and upon cleansing our fast we couldn't agree on which pie to pick up. At one point Jay and I were pulling pies in and out of the cart, to the freezer, and back just waiting to see who would break first. I, being the oldest, and wisest, decided there would be NO PIE if we could not agree on ONE pie. Needless to say we went home pie-less. It's a travesty that has, thankfully, never repeated itself.

So, it's on days such as these, celebrating Pi, but not Pie, with pie- that I often reflect on ways in which I can be a better person. I'll be honest there have been a few disagreements here as of late and it was simply time to make 'piece' over common crust. In preparation for my Pi Day plan I went into my local grocer and picked out several of our favorite Edwards whole pies. One of them, sadly, did not make it to today's celebration, but it gave itself in the name of 'piece' and that is all a pie really can hope for.

Want to get in on the Pi Day fun? "This all feels so last minute, I don't have any time," you're probably thinking.

Well, I have great news for you, grab my free 'Let's make 'piece'!' printable here and pick up your favorite Edwards whole frozen pie on your way home from work/school/pretty much wherever. Edwards whole pies come in a delicious array of varieties and are ready to eat just minutes after removing them from the freezer. You can even count your 'drive time' back from the store as thaw time, if you must. Than all you need to do is grab a slice, and someone you've got beef with and turn it into pie when you make 'piece'!

Recently Jay and I have been hiding the remotes across the house in an effort to snag first picks on television programming. (Don't we just 'adult' the bestest?) I knew Pi Day was the perfect opportunity to make 'piece' once and for all and put all that remote control hogging business behind us for good. (Or, at least until Game of Thrones comes back on.) I tied up the remotes with one of my Pie Day printables and presented them to him on a box of Edwards Hershey's Chocolate Creme Pie. He was pretty speechless, so I attempted to cut a slice out of his pie while he pondered what was truly going on. Okay, so I may not be very good at all this peace business, but I can certainly get down with a great 'piece' of delicious pie!

So there you have it, my Pi Day master plan, revealed. It's not really top secret, and you don't need an excuse to enjoy a delicious pie- BUT if it helps make you feel better about indulging in something sweet, who not make 'piece' while you do it? Now, tell me, how are you celebrating Pi Day this year? What pie do you wish you had a slice to celebrate with?

What Daughter Says: This Pi Day make 'piece' over a delicious slice of pie!

Announcing Buy A Bag, Give A Meal™ When You Shop At PetSmart®!

This post is sponsored by PetSmart® and the BlogPaws™ Pet Influencer Network™. PetSmart is not responsible for the content of this article.

Momma Told Me: Give from your heart.


I get teased a lot in regards to my passion for pets. I regularly donate to 5 different animal related charitable organizations, and I make a point to bring a load of food, toys, and supplies to our local shelter at least every other month. It's been said that I'd donate a limb to an animal in need, if possible, and it's probably not an exaggeration. While I actively donate and support several causes for many it can seem overwhelming knowing where to start. The truth is now you really don't have to do anything special to help an animal in need other than take care of your own pet, thanks to a brand new program at PetSmart®.

I'm especially excited to share with you the latest philanthropic commitment of our favorite pet store, PetSmart- Now through December 31, 2017, for every bag of dog or cat food purchased online and at all its 1,500-plus stores across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, the PetSmart will donate a meal to a pet in need thank to their Buy A Bag, Give A Meal™ program! It's an initiative the major specialty pet retailer hopes will lead to the donation of more than 60 million meals.

There's no special packaging to hunt for, no exclusive brand list to shop from, and no messy rebates or forms to fill out. Just head into your local PetSmart as many times as you'd like between now and December 31, 2017 and shop for your dog or cat's favorite bagged dry food. For every bag purchased the Buy A Bag, Give A Meal™ program will donate a meal to a pet in need thanks to organization partnerships with it's nonprofit partner PetSmart Charities®. Every size, no matter the brand, of bagged dog or cat food counts, and you need to do nothing more than shop for the food your pet already knows and loves.

I shared the news with Nora the Morkie today, after reading the exciting press release, and she seemed convince her part in the effort is 'eating as much food as possible so my human has to buy more.' I'm convinced she already does this, because we seem to be shopping more often at PetSmart, regardless as of lately. After all, it's not every store a dog wearing a teddy bear onesie gets to roam the aisles 'inspecting' merchandise in plain sight!

As a family that already considers themselves PetSmart loyalists I love how the chain is allowing us to give back just a little more without demanding anything special from us, the consumers.Surely 60 millions meals donated adds up to more than just chump change, and with customers such as you and I the potential to exceed that projection is certainly in sight. Help spread the word about the Buy A Bag, Give A Meal™ program at PetSmart and let all of your friends and family know they can help give back to animals in need just by picking up their pet's bagged food at PetSmart now through December 31, 2017.  Don't have a pet? Pick up a bag for your local shelter and PetSmart will donate a meal as well! Follow the brand, PetSmart, on Twitter and Facebook for more exciting news!

What Daughter Says: I heart animals, and any way I can give back to them is worth a second look in my book.

Help spread the message and tweet below, then check out the official Buy A Bag, Give A Meal™ video from PetSmart!

Buy A Bag,Give A Meal™ when you buy ANY bag of cat or dog food at @PetSmart now thru 12/31/17!#ForTheLoveOfPets #AD
Buy A Bag, Give A Meal™ pic.twitter.com/Lg4rqyL2HE

— Momma Told Me (@pyrodamsel) March 14, 2017

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PetSmart. The opinions and text are all mine.

Max #YourTaxCash With Walmart Family Mobile + D.I.Y Smartphone Stands

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #YourTaxCash #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: Sometimes success is painful.

It's that time again. Tax time.

This year I reached a milestone in taxes owed- something those older than me are quick to remind me is in fact a blessing in disguise, not a curse to be lamented over. After all, when one's taxes go up that means their income has also increased. More profit, more taxes. Somehow I'm not quite at the jumping up and down phase of acceptance, yet. On the other side, Jay seems to have balanced his deductions, at last, to actually break even with the IRS come tax time. He no longer sees a Federal refund, but had a decent sized State refund coming back to him. Since we're not married, I had the solo joy of watching my piggies fly out of my bank account as Jay watched them fly into his.

Whether you're paying taxes or enjoying a refund we can all agree that this is one time of the year when we all want to stretch our buck a little extra further. Thankfully Walmart Family Mobile, and their wide selection of affordable plans and phones can help me max my tax time dollars.

Our family is no stranger to Walmart Family Mobile, we've blogged many times about several of our family member who have joined their money saving plans. One of the things I love most, as a customer, is the wide range of handsets the store carries, and the constantly improving and growing range of mobile service plans to fit every type of consumer. Their Walmart Family Mobile Plus Plan offers Unlimited Talk, Text and Data which includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE service, followed by unlimited 2G service, as well as a FREE VUDU movie credit every month, per line, for $49.88 (*
All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/7e-jr or your local Walmart for current pricing.) Signing up for the Walmart Family Mobile Plus plan is as easy as visiting your local Walmart and picking up a $19.88 SIM Kit. The SIM Kit, and your phone of choice, is all you need to get started making calls, and enjoying unlimited* data right away!

At the end of last year my old phone began to reset itself multiple times a day and lock up- so I was excited to find the Samsung Galaxy On5 on rollback for $69 at my local Walmart. It offers all the same features as my old smartphone, such as a high quality camera, WiFi connection, Bluetooth, responsive touch screen, and more. Even better, I get amazing service in and around my with Walmart Family Mobile's network. (Check your coverage here!) And I love that I can be single and on my own smartphone plan without breaking the bank each month, or signing a contract!

I'll admit- I use my phone a lot to keep up with work and social media, but I use it even more to keep myself entertained while on the go. Yes, I'm that one girl who's stopping on the sidewalk to swipe her screen up a million times trying to catch a rare creature, or pulling out her battery pack and earbuds in line at the DMV. I use a LOT of data, and data doesn't grow on trees (it grows on clouds, silly!) Which is why having unlimited data (*Includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE† data then 2G) for one flat monthly rate, with Walmart Family Mobile, is worth it's weight in gold to me.

I was feeling pretty proud of myself for snagging an amazing deal on a new phone, and putting my lack of tax return to good use by saving money on my mobile plan, that I got a little inspired. I really wanted to dress my new phone up a little with something I didn't see in every store or boutique, so I picked out a few children's animal figures from the toy department at Walmart. I also grabbed some crafting suction cups, super glue, and a box cutter. For those who want to go truly all out you can find clear acrylic dust plugs to make your own smartphone charms online.

The concept's simple, really, on a flat, stable, blade ready surface (such as wood or a polypropylene cutting board) carefully slice the head off your chosen animal figure. Use slow, targeted, strokes and be patient. Good quality toys will be made from a rubberized material that will be easier to cut, while cheaper figures may have a harder plastic finish with a hollow center. Depending on the animal you may want to cut the head at an even horizontal cut, and then cut the remainder of the neck to leave a flush vertical surface.

Use a drill bit to carefully create a small hollow on the inside of your animal's head for your dust plug to rest in and glue it in place. Depending on the materials you may need to use hot glue. Male sure your suction cup has a flat back and glue it to your animal's neck/body. Viola! Instant animal accessories for your smartphone!

After making your own smartphone stands and charms you might be feeling pretty smart- I know I sure did. But there's nothing smart about paying too much for your smartphone service. Or, even worse, paying too much for too little service. On top of patting yourself on the back when your bill comes in each month, Walmart Family Mobile even gives you that extra reason to celebrate with the FREE VUDU credit (a $7 value, the equivalent of a new release) so you can spend some serious family time celebrating each month as well. Yes, Walmart Family Mobile is kind of a tax time tradition in our home- upgrade our phone, upgrade our plan- we always find a way to max our taxes just a little more with Walmart. Now, tell me, are you paying taxes or enjoying a refund this year?

What Daughter Says: Whether you're paying or getting money back this tax season, max your tax dollars with smart decisions such as a great mobile plan.

(* All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/7e-jr or your local Walmart for current pricing.)

Thinking Outside The Can: Fudgy (Vegan) Black Bean Brownies

This post was sponsored by S&W Beans as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Momma Told Me: Change how you eat.


As a teenager, like most teenage girls, I struggled with body image as well as the concept of nutritional eating. It wasn't quite about weight, it was about how I shaped the body I was given. It was my natural reaction, with the pressure of high school dances and a full social calendar to begin a 'diet'. Thankfully, I wasn't quite old, or responsible, enough to make my own grocery choices and Momma wasn't about to see me being a trend of poor decisions based on fads and forms of starvation.

I recall one particular evening where I'd slumped into the passenger seat of our family's mini van and inquired the everyday questions, "What's for dinner?"

My mother, without pause, replied with a single word, "Pizza."

I felt my face scrunch as I bit my lip, remembering the Winter formal that was just weeks away and my recent declaration, which has expressly sworn off all things cheesy and carb. Because she knew her daughter well, Momma was quick to reply before I'd even began to get the first words of protest off my tongue, "Calm down, not that kind of pizza." She went on to explain she'd made some fresh dough in the bread maker and that we'd be enjoying a southwestern inspired pie made with fresh vegetables, handmade marinara, shredded chicken, and black beans. It was delicious.

When I handed my plate in that evening, clean enough to have emerged from the dishwasher, Momma smiled one of those 'knowing' smiles only a parent can have, "You don't have to change what you eat, just how your eat."

As an adult I enjoy my fair share of junk food. I'm not what I'd consider to be 'a health nut,' but I am what I consider to be a 'conscious consumer.' That is to say that I make sure to balance the less than nutritious with plenty of wholesome, truly satisfying, real ingredient based dishes. And, when a close friend of ours became a Vegan just over a year ago I was greatly intrigued by the concept of how eliminating specific things from one's diet can require them to expand their horizons and really 'think outside the box.' I found that the dishes I made specially for him were not only delicious, but often included a few staple ingredients that really proved themselves versatile enough to work in multiple profiles and textures. That's when we really began exploring the many varieties of beans, and the diverse ways to serve and prepare them.

At the same time, I am a chef of convenience. I, like so many, have very little time to spend slaving over the stove at mealtime. (Especially for lunch.) Thankfully one of my new favorite ingredients comes in a wide variety of convenient ready-to-eat canned options, thanks to S&W Beans. From White Cannellini and Garbanzo to 50% Reduced Sodium Kidney Beans and new Organic Black Beans- there's truly an inspiration for every dish. Even better their high quality beans, such as the 50% Reduced Sodium Black Beans featured in my Vegan Black Bean Avocado Salad, look great out of the can for 'to table' recipes that look as great as they taste. Don't believe me? Grab some sweet kernel corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, fresh avocado, a dash of lime, and your favorite S&W Black Beans and whip up the impressively delicious Vegan recipe all of our carnivore friends request at parties!

And, again, while I don't practice any dietary restrictions, I've found it quite a worthwhile experience to explore new ways of cooking- particularly on the subject of baking. Reduced sugar, dairy free, and vegetarian are food profiles many of my family members and guests often meet. Finding sweet recipes that are heal-minded or meet these multiple check boxes, and still satisfy those of us who eat 'whatever we want' has been a definite challenge. The one recipe with a 'secret ingredient' that's converted the staunchest of junk food addicts? My Fudgy Black Bean Brownies, of course!

Now black bean brownies are nothing knew to the dairy sensitive and Vegan communities, but they do tend to have an initial knee-jerk reaction for pretty much anything else. "You made these with what?!" is what you'll hear to anyone you present them to with the full and proper recipe title, and for fair reason. I've had dozens of black bean brownie recipes and they are not all equal. The ratio of ingredients and time in oven play a crucial part to the quality of the brownie experience. The beans you choose to use play an even bigger role. That's why I use Organic S&W Black Beans for a rich flavor and texture that makes the moist fudgy, moist, chocolatey 'Vegan' brownies I've ever had.

You're probably a skeptic, even now, looking at that photo of chocolate-awesomeness above. Sure I put a photo of Organic S&W Black Beans in the background, but those cant be Vegan brownies. Oh yes, they're real, and that's them.

There are many varieties of S&W Beans, and ways to enjoy them- we find our diet lacks a lot of fiber that keeps us full and fueled between meals so we like to try and incorporate one variety or another into at least a meal a day. With all of the delicious varieties, we have yet to get bored- they're even delicious heated with some light seasoning as a side dish! Now that I've inspired you, now through April S&W Beans is offering $1 off 2 cans of S&W Beans. Get (and print) your coupon from the S&W Beans website.

What Daughter Says: Enjoy a richer diet when you consider what does into the food you eat.

 Super Fudgy Black Bean Brownies

***Click here for printable black bean brownies recipe.

Discover Your Color Story: Harnessing Color To Share Your Story And Change Your Life

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LiveColor #InvigoratingYellow #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: Color moves people.

It's no secret that I'm drawn to color in the same way someone newly engaged can't take their eyes off a new ring. To me color is much more than a preference, it's a state of being, a current mood, a reflection of the person which chooses to surround themselves by it. I've been this way my whole life. In fact, my best friend from high school used to refer to it as 'barfing colors'. A crude way of saying that I was always the teenager at the bus stop with the neon backpack, and even hair. Whenever I felt restless in work, school, or my home life I'd change things up by playing with the colors of my makeup, wardrobe, or decor. I've since been inspired further by Change Your Home, Change Your Life™ with Color by Moll Anderson.

There's no doubt in my mind that color is transforming- but my color 'chakra' is kind of a mess. Ask me my favorite color from one year to the next and it's not only very specific (Cerulean Green, Orchid Purple), it's also ever changing. I always took this to mean I simply loved color.

When I recently heard about the new Change Your Home, Change Your Life™ with Color by Moll Anderson, being released for sale at retailers such as Target and online through retailers such as Amazon on March 14, 2017, I figured the book had to be written for me. After all, I'm just the sort of person who spots a pop of color from across the home decor aisle when shopping. However, Change Your Home, Change Your Life™ with Color is much more than a 'transformation' book intended to whirlwind your life with the mere introduction of a 'spirit' color. It's actually a practical look at the power of color introduction which helps readers identify their own personal color story and identify organic methods to incorporate these colors into everything from one's wardrobe to the office and bedroom decor.

Why would someone like me be interested in a coffee table book designed to explore the power of color when I already seem to embrace it whole-heartedly? It's simple, Change Your Home, Change Your Life™ with Color as just about empowering those living in their color comfort zone to step outside as it is about helping those embracing color identify their primary focus, and how to harness that story to uplift, re-shape, and explore beyond the color itself. Moll Anderson, the accomplished author, television, and radio host, is known for her acute eye for design and ho she inspires design through personal exploration and inspiring contemplation. Her latest book, Change Your Home, Change Your Life™ with Color encourages a unique color journey through journaling and introspective questions, as well as a deep break down of the emotional impact each color has on an individual and space.

Of course, I was equally inspired by the many amazing ideas to incorporate these colors into my home and work space. The concept of 'pops' of color was one echoed throughout the pages, a virtual Pinterest of color-coded design ideas and inspiration. The timing couldn't be more perfect as we are still moving into our first home, and filling out a space over 4 times the square feet we had in our condo! In fact, we decided immediately upon moving in that each room would have a 'color mood', as we lie to call it, and have been spending the past few weeks building the color story of each individual room.

I've discovered, while I am drawn to pretty much any color if it is vibrant, or has a compelling depth, I do not find the presence of multiple colors in my home environment very grounding. Call it the Type A in me, but I'll wear a rainbow any day so long as I don't come home to a living room that resembles a color bomb. As I learned in reading Change Your Home, Change Your Life™ with Color this may be due, in part, to the innate need to ground ones self through color identification, and the strong impact color has when one's eye is drawn to linger on it. Color 'coding' our rooms has not only helped me find my own design style, it also makes the 'hunt' for new decor and accents a little more exciting. Jay and I love to play a bit of a game picking out items that catch out eye based on color- it requires us to consider styles and items we never would have taken a second glance at before.

Similarly, my transforming exploration of color has involved the exploration of various color associated emotions, and their origins. Moll Anderson asks some introspective questions that truly made me stop and focus on the start of my feelings towards various colors, and how I could better harness the positive impressions of various colors to better impact my life through design.

For example, I realized my dislike for pastels stems from early memories of Momma in the hospital. I remember the very sterile sights and smells were associated with a drab array of pastel decor and pale green scrubs. While the intent was to ground and calm those walking the halls and waiting in the rooms, it struck me as an absence of life and joy that has deeply resonated within me in the lifetime since.

I also discovered, contrary to my own belief that hot pink was my favorite color, yellow is my most associated and comforting hue. Moll Anderson cites that the color yellow is invigorating, uplifting, refreshing, and happy. Pretty much everything I find myself reaching for during the trials of life. But, of course, there are many shades of yellow and each end of the spectrum can hold different intent.

In my life, through the past several years, I've come a long way to cast out the ambiguity of my own life and really focus on that which is good. While I still strive towards large goals, I rejoice in small triumphs, as well as find a new appreciation for life's smaller things. The color yellow is reflective- both of literal light on surfaces and emotionally. Creamier shades function as practical neutrals, while deeper shades help add a timeless warmth and elegance to any space. In general, my color helps release cheerful, positive energy that is infectious and hard to turn away from.

With this in mind, I decided to embrace my newfound color and take on a dramatic wall art project that will truly help to occupy the vast white walls of my new home, while providing a welcoming image of warmth and cheer to all who enter. I'll admit, choosing a shade of yellow for such a large focal point project seemed a bit intimidating at first. I wanted to go bright, but I also wanted a richness that conveyed a maturity and understanding of the color's power. Which of the hues above do you think you could embrace most?

Change Your Home, Change Your Life™ with Color by Moll Anderson has truly helped me mature in my appreciation and understanding of color. The more I understand how I allow color to impact me, the more empowered I feel to introduce it into all aspects of my life. I may even give color mixing a shot- and that's saying a lot to a girl who doesn't like her colors migrating from one room to the next! Want to learn more about discovering your own Color Story? Follow Moll Anderson on Pinterest and Twitter, and check back HERE on the blog later this month to see the unveiling of my one-of-a-kind color project! Now, take a moment to think and tell me about the color you first associate with a memory, and a little about that memory!

What Daughter Says: Your color story is more than your favorite color- it's a serious of emotions you choose to surround yourself with, stemming from a singular, or collective, experience which continues on throughout your life.