MomOnTheEdge

Returning to School with Sam's Club

2012-01-30T12:01:00.000-05:00

Christmas season is now long over, and school is back in session. I'm not sure what your pantry looks like, but I know that mine is nearly empty. Between traveling, parties, guests, and get-togethers (and a long bout of pneumonia), what's left is a mix of expired foods and random bits and pieces that aren't enough to make a healthy meal. Fortunately, now that I'm feeling better, Sam's Club is on my list of places to visit this week to stock up on all of the girls' essential snacks as well as soups to keep my lunches healthy here at home.

In addition to having all the foods my girls love, in quantities that I need, and prices I appreciate, Sam's Club also offers Bonus Box Tops on some of these great products. If you like Nature Valley, Yoplait, or Progresso, then you might want to hurry in to Sam's Club to find the packages with the Bonus Box Tops. Not only will you be getting the foods you love, but you'll be able to support the schools your kids attend as well.

Who wants a little help in paying for your back to school essentials from Sam's Club? I was given a $25 gift card to share this information with you, and now one of you can win one as well. All you have to do is enter via the rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure: The Sam’s Club gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Just a Thought -

2012-01-30T10:46:00.000-05:00

This past weekend my family and I went on a mini vacation and stayed in a hotel. I was struck by the fact that every hotel now posts a note asking me to do my part to save the environment by reusing my towel. The cynic in me wonders if they really care about the environment, or if they are actually just trying to save themselves some work and money. Regardless, I have no problem reusing my towel in a hotel. I certainly don't change my towel daily at home. The problem I have, is that all of the towels in a hotel are white and unidentifiable. If they would give me four towels, each a different color, so that I was able to distinguish which one belonged to which member of my family, I would happily oblige and do my part to save the environment. However, as much as I love my family, there are two things we just don't share - toothbrushes and towels. So alas, I find myself destroying the environment one towel at a time.

New Year, Souper You with Progresso

2012-01-24T16:38:00.001-05:00

Welcome 2012!

The New Year is upon us, and while I don't generally do New Year's Resolutions, per se, I am always looking for new ways to better myself. From being more patient with my kiddos to making smarter food choices, I have a long list of things to work on this year. Unfortunately, many of them are carry-overs from previous years since it is sometimes difficult for me to reach specific goals and maintain them long-term. (I get bored easily.) By keeping these goals in the forefront of my mind, I can at least be more aware of individual choices I make, and eventually that has to add up to some improvement. Right?

While I would love to lose some weight, my primary reason for wanting to make smarter food choices is to be a good example for my kids. We generally eat fruit as snacks and don't keep too much junk food around the house, but we do go out to eat too often. It isn't that we particularly enjoy that food more than home cooked food, but it is sometimes so much more convenient when we're out and about anyway. I need to find some quick, easy, convenient, and healthy foods to keep around the house. I already use my crock pot quite often, but am always looking for new recipes to try. (Again, my boredom becomes an issue.) I want my kids to enjoy and appreciate healthy choices now so that it is easier to continue to make healthy choices later. I don't want them to have to go through the same struggles I am going through as they get older, become less active, and get overwhelmed with stress and unhealthy options on every corner.

While considering what I should buy for myself to keep on hand, I discovered that Progresso now has 40 soups each with 100 calories or less per serving. That should be enough to keep me from getting too bored. Even if I liked 30 of them, I'd be set for a different soup every day for lunch for less than 200 calories. (I'm going to be honest and say that if soup is all I'm eating, I'm highly likely to eat the entire can and not just half of it.)

In addition to having a huge variety of soups, Progresso is also hosting a Souper You Contest where you can enter to win an amazing makeover experience in Hollywood. The prize includes a trip for two to Los Angeles, California where the winner will receive a head-to-toe makeover including hair and makeup, guided shopping spree with a $1,000 fashion retailer gift card, $1,000 spending money and 2 tickets to this season’s live finale of NBC’s The Biggest Loser. How fun would that be?!

All you have to do to enter is go to www.SouperYou.com and submit a photo and essay about why you love Progresso soups and why you deserve a makeover by February 22nd. Finalists will be selected and posted by March 12th. People vote on the finalists until March 25th.

So, what are you waiting for? Go take a photo and work on that essay! If you haven't tried Progresso Soups yet and want to find out why you can love them too, then go to http://bit.ly/ProgressoCoup and print off a coupon for $1.25 off 4 cans. Good luck!

Do you need some motivation to get going on that essay? Check out this video of the 2011 winner experience and see how much fun you could have if you won!

Now that you're ready to win the big prize, I'm going to give you a chance to win a smaller prize too. If you'd like to win:

(2) VIP Coupons for Progresso Soup
(1) copy of “The Biggest Loser” Workout DVD

Then enter using the rafflecopter entry below. Best of luck!

*Disclosure: The Progresso^® Souper You^® prize pack, information, coupon, and giveaway have been provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't Panic! Get Zoo Panic!

2011-12-13T14:31:00.000-05:00

Christmas is almost here!

Can you believe it?

November was here and gone in a flash. It is now mid-December. It is time to finish baking, shopping, wrapping, and decorating. It is time to relax a bit and enjoy the holidays!

One way that my family enjoys spending time together during the holidays is by playing games. My girls tend to go in streaks with the games they choose. One of their absolute favorites is Uno. They started playing it when they were about three years old. I thought it was a great opportunity for them to practice their number and color recognition skills. When we first played, we never skipped, or drew cards. We just matched by color. Now that the girls are 6 and 7, we play by the real rules. It has done a great job of teaching them to be a good sport and not get caught up on winning. I personally think cards are great for that because anyone can win. While there is some strategy involved, it isn't always the biggest, strongest, fastest, smartest, etc person that wins.

Knowing how much my kids love games, I jumped at the chance to receive Zoo Panic from Endless Games to play with my girls. I received the game in mid-November. It didn't take long before the girls started asking to play.

A bit about the game:
From Amazon:
The cages in the zoo have been left open, and all the animals are now mixed up. Find the animals and help them back to their own cages. The player who helps the most animals wins. No reading required. Recommended for ages 4 and up for two or more players. Educational skill builder matching game. Player who helps the most animals get back to their cages wins. Fun for kids of all ages.

What I Loved:

The game was easy to set up. It only took about five minutes from the time I opened the box until we were involved in the game. The girls popped out the pieces while I read the directions.
If you can count, you can play! From my young niece to myself, anyone can play this game and have fun. It is a game that involves a little bit of strategy, but mostly luck. You can be competitive, but one person isn't going to dominate the entire game. It seems that no matter how you play the game, the difference between the winner and losers will be about one trophy.
It takes a good length of time. Some kids' games go too quickly. After only five minutes you're done and cleaning up, or having to restart. Other games can last for days. Personally, I don't have the patience to continue to play a game for several days in a row. I need resolution more quickly than that. For us, this game took about 1/2 hour from start to finish.

What I didn't love:

The rules weren't that specific . . . or maybe I didn't read them well enough. Either way, it resulted in a bit of a disagreement, based on interpretation, between me and Doc. Even now, I'm not sure if you have to roll exactly the right number to get into the cage or if you just have to roll a number that is high enough. We played exact rolls just to make it a bit more challenging, but if you were playing with younger kids you might not want to do that.

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely! It is an enjoyable game that we have played several times since receiving it. If you are looking for a fun filler item for your young kids for Christmas, I personally think that you will like Zoo Panic. It is easy enough for anyone to play, but interesting enough that even adults can enjoy it. While I don't know that I'd pay $24 for it (I tend to be pretty cheap!), I think it is a great purchase if you are able to find it on sale.

*Disclaimer: Endless Games send me a copy of Zoo Panic to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Carmex Skin Care - Winner

2011-12-06T06:12:00.003-05:00

Congratulations go out to Doodle741 for being a facebook fan and winning the Carmex Skin Care package! Enjoy Doodle741!

Carmex Skin Care - Review & Giveaway

2011-11-28T23:38:00.000-05:00

Last October, Carmex contacted me for the first time about reviewing their new line of Skin Care Lotions and Creams. At that time I had nothing but great things to say about their product. I loved the smell, the non-greasy feel, and the moisturizing qualities. It was a product that I liked using in the fall and even into the winter. Whether it was just the Carmex or the severity of the winter, I can't be sure, but I can say that I did NOT experience the cracking on my hands that I normally experience during the winter months.

Flash forward to this October. Carmex again contacted me and sent me their Healing Lotion and Cream to try and review. I was thrilled. I loved it last winter, and was looking forward to using it again this winter. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), the weather has been pretty mild so far this fall. The heat hasn't been on much at all and my skin hasn't experienced any significant dryness.   Because of that, I haven't used the products too extensively yet.   However, the experiences I have had with the lotion have all been positive.

Pumpkin, my youngest daughter, has been using the Carmex Healing Lotion after her showers. She tends to have very dry and somewhat sensitive skin. So far, this product seems to be enough to stop her from itching her irritated skin. While she hasn't said anything about the smell of the product, I still love it! The other night after her bath, we were cuddling together while we said our prayers and I noticed the scent. It isn't overpowering, but it is definitely a "warm" scent. I love that it isn't a floral or fruity scent. While those are great for the summer months, I prefer something warmer for the winter months. The smell of Carmex lotion reminds me of cuddling in front of a fire while cookies bake in the kitchen.   It is a familiar smell, a nostalgia smell, and a smell that says "comfort" to me.

Do you have dry skin? Have you tried Carmex Healing Lotion and Cream? Would you like to? I'm curious to see if you will have the same success I have had with it. I know that some people really don't like the smell/taste of Carmex Lip Balms. I wonder what you will think of the smell of the Carmex Skin Care products. If you would like to try these products, then this might just be your lucky day. One reader will win the same kit that I received to facilitate this review. It includes a full size lotion, a full size cream, a small size lotion, and a small size cream. The full size products retail for around $5.99 and should be available at Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart.

Here's what you have to do to enter:

Mandatory Entry: What is your favorite Carmex product? If you don't have a favorite, tell me what you are most excited to try. Leave me a comment. Be sure to include your email address if it is not visible in your profile.

Optional Extra Entries:

Like me on facebook. Post your initials in the comments.
Follow me on Twitter. Post your username in the comments.
Tweet about this giveaway using @rmgm and #carmex Post a link to your tweet here. This can be done once daily.
Follow me publicly via Google Friend Connect and post a comment with your username.

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on December 5, 2011
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page. If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Prizes will be sent directly from the sponsor. I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment. If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know

*Disclaimer: Carmex sent me the kit pictured above in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own. Others may have different experiences.

Crafty Kiddos - Fall Fun

2011-11-28T22:13:00.000-05:00

This fall we have been busy, busy, busy. So busy, in fact, that I haven't had the time or energy to post much. Since I had a couple of reviews I wanted to get up, I thought I'd also take a minute to update you on some of the fun crafts the girls and I have been doing this fall.

Here are our adorable Fabric Pumpkins! Made with toilet paper, half a toilet paper tube, fabric, yarn, ribbon, a stick, foam stars, and a leaf, they were fun to make and easy too. In fact, we made these with Peanut's entire class at school. The end result was so cute that I didn't want to take it down when it came time to put up our Christmas decorations. You can make them in any size or color, and they are easy to modify and make your own by adding little "accessories".

Glass Pumpkin Candle Holders. How cute is this glowing family of pumpkins?! With any glass container, acrylic paint and a candle you can make these adorable decorations. I think I had as much fun as the kiddos with this project! We originally put tape on the jars for the faces, so that those parts wouldn't get painted. While they looked great not glowing, we found that when illuminated, you couldn't see the features. By adding black paint to the face, we created pumpkins that looked gorgeous in the light of day or dark of night! :o)

Check out the ghost in the middle of our pumpkin family. Made with cheesecloth, starch, and little black foam stickers, these happy little ghosts found homes all over the house. We even sprayed these ghosts with glow in the dark paint so that they could be seen at night. These were a little more frustrating to make than expected because the starch didn't dry as hard as I'd hoped. I think perhaps we made a few too tall and my starch solution wasn't as stiff as I would have hoped. I think that next year, with a little tweaking, they'll turn out even better!

Nothing says "Welcome" like the hand prints of my two favorite turkeys! Using a carpet sample from the local carpet retailer, acrylic paint, sponge letters and the girls' hands, we made this adorable mat. Actually, we made four of them. Three were given away as gifts. The girls did a great job sponging the letters onto the mats (though I did the letters on the one pictured here) and loved when I painted their hands so they could press them down to make the turkeys. We also got some puffy paint so they could draw the legs, beaks, eyes, and the red thing that hangs from the neck area (I don't know why I can never remember what that is called).

Did you do any new or fun crafts this fall? Are you getting ready to try some winter crafts with your kids? Do you have an old standby that you know always turns out great? I'd love to hear about them! I'm always looking for new activities to try with my girls.

Disclaimer: I cannot take creative credit for any of the crafts pictured above. All craft ideas came from magazines, previous school projects, and items I've seen online and/or in person. Most have been modified to fit supplies I have on hand or ideas I have in my head. I wish I could give credit to the original people that created these ideas, but since I don't know who they are, I cannot. If you know the originator of one of these crafts, please let me know and I will happily give credit.

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

2011-11-11T06:35:00.000-05:00

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Disclaimer: I will be receiving a coupon in exchange for this post.

Two Lucky Pink Winners

2011-10-29T20:07:00.000-04:00

Earlier today I used random.org to select my winners for both of my giveaways. Winners will be contacted via email momentarily. Here are the results -

There were 27 entries for the Sam's Club Gift Card. Random.org selected lucky number 21. Congratulations to Kim C!

I had 26 entries for the Freschetta giveaway. Random.org selected lucky number 17. Congratulations to Tabathia!

Thanks so much to everyone that entered! Also, be sure to check back soon for a review and giveaway from Carmex. :)

Freschetta is Proud to Support Pink

2011-10-21T23:13:00.002-04:00

Pizza? Did someone say pizza?

In our family, we just love pizza. In fact, we eat it way too often. I actually think that you could probably feed Doc and the girls pizza every day for a year and they still wouldn't get tired of it.   They love it that much!   When Freschetta contacted me to share some information with my readers, they didn't have to ask twice. In addition to sharing information about pizza, I am also able to share some information with you about what Freschetta is doing to support Breast Cancer Awareness this month.

For Breast Cancer Awareness month this October, Freschetta is presenting the Proud to Support Pink Program. From September 25 to October 31, you can help Freschetta reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center by purchasing specially marked packages of Freschetta pizzas.   To do your part, you have to enter the code found inside the package at ProudToSupportPink.com. Each code entered is equal to a $1 donation.   In addition to the financial donation, Freschetta is also donating 50 pink iPod Shuffle players each week to four cancer centers around America to be enjoyed by breast cancer patients during treatments.

Sounds good, right? Well, Freschetta wants your help spreading the word about their donation goal, so they are making it even better. Throughout the month, they are giving away 200 additional iPod Shuffles to people who enter codes and share information about the Proud To Support Pink Program on Twitter and Facebook. So, please go to http://www.proudtosupportpink.com/ and register. It only takes a minute or two. Then share with your family on friends on facebook and twitter.   Even if you don't buy a pizza to enter a code, Freschetta has shared this message on twitter:

#supportpink! Go to ow.ly/74UgN & enter in the exclusive FRESCHETTA fan code FRESCH11. $1 will be donated to breast cancer...

You can help them to donate a dollar to breast cancer research by simply registering and entering the code FRESCH11. When you think that a minute of your time could help researchers to possibly find a cure, how can you not?

Would you like to win a coupon for Freschetta pizza and two pairs of pink earphones like the ones Freschetta sent to me? Here's what you have to do:

Mandatory Entry: What kind of pizza will you try with your coupon if you win? Tell me in the comments below.

Optional Extra Entries:

Like me on facebook. Post your initials in the comments.
Follow me on Twitter. Post your username in the comments.
Tweet about this giveaway using @FreschettaPizza @rmgm and #supportpink Post a link to your tweet here. This can be done once daily.
Follow me publicly on my new blog, LovingLakeLiving, via Google Friend Connect and post a comment with your username. (Yes, I realize I haven't posted much there yet, but I don't want you to miss it when I finally do!)
Register on proudtosupportpink.com and enter the free code that Freschetta shared on twitter. Then come back and tell me that you did. This isn't an entry that I can verify,so I'm relying on the honor system for this one.

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on October 28, 2011
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page. If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Prizes will be sent directly from the sponsor. I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment. If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know

*Disclaimer - The makers of Freschetta Pizza contacted me and provided information and products for me to review in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Sam's Club & General Mills Support Breast Cancer Education and Research

2011-10-21T22:17:00.003-04:00

As you all probably know by now (this post is a little late in coming), October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. While we should all support breast cancer education and research throughout the year, it is also nice to give special attention to such an important topic. There are very few people that I know that haven't been affected by breast cancer either directly or indirectly through the fight of a friend or family member. Personally, I just love seeing all the pink in the stores this month.

One store where you will find some of the familiar pink packaging to support breast cancer awareness is Sam's Club. Purchasing some of your favorite General Mills products such as Cheerios and Fiber One will even allow you to help determine how their donation money is spent by voting at PinkTogether.com until April 14, 2012. To learn more about Pink Together, you should check out their facebook page here - http://bit.ly/samsclubpink.

Do you want to win a $25 Sam's Club gift card that you can spend on some of your favorite products that are packaged in pink for breast cancer awareness? Here's your chance!

Mandatory Entry: Which pink products will you buy with your Sam's Club gift card if you win? Tell me in the comments below.

Optional Extra Entries:

Like me on facebook. Post your initials in the comments.
Follow me on Twitter. Post your username in the comments.
Tweet about this giveaway using @rmgm, @SamsClub and #myblogspark Post a link to your tweet here. This can be done once daily.
Follow me publicly on my new blog, LovingLakeLiving, via Google Friend Connect and post a comment with your username. (Yes, I realize I haven't posted much there yet, but I don't want you to miss it when I finally do!)

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on October 28, 2011
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page. If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Prizes will be sent directly from the sponsor. I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment. If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know

*Disclaimer - The information and gift card(s) have been provided by Sam’s Club and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye! I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!

2011-10-17T13:12:00.002-04:00

Like the somewhat frantic White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. With blog posts (giveaways) coming due and lots of other crafty things I want to share with you all, you are going to see a huge influx of posts for the next several days. I apologize for the inundation after a pretty significant lull in posting, but "when it rains, it pours" or so they say. :o) Keep your eyes open, you don't want to miss something great!

Crafty Kiddos - Pumpkin Puff

2011-10-14T20:27:00.000-04:00

Another day, another craft . . .

Recently, my girls made this adorable pumpkin puffs. If you want to make one, all you need is

An Extra Large Clover Pom Pom Maker
Orange Yarn (Though I think it would look cute with an orange blend too.)
A green pipe cleaner (You could also use brown or black)
Scissors

Didn't it turn out cute? The girls keep them in their rooms and love to toss them around. They are so soft and fluffy that I don't even mind.

I wanted to glue on some googly eyes or felt faces, but they didn't. If you try them with your kids and do the faces, please let me know how they turn out!

From Booking to Boarding to Boat Ups and Downs . . . Our Disney Cruise Adventure

2011-10-11T23:28:00.000-04:00

Since our last trip away without the kiddos, Doc and I have been planning a list of vacations we want to take with our girls before they graduate from high school. With the oldest in second grade, we figure that gives us about 10 years. While I think Disney can be fun for kids of nearly any age, the magic of princesses is fairly short lived. That is why we decided that Disney should be first on our list.

I think that most parents think about taking their kids to Disney, and many of them actually do. Having never made the trip before, I decided that perhaps I could help other Disney newbies along the way by blogging about the process. Over the next several months you'll see posts sharing the trials, tribulations and joys of our first Disney adventure as a family.

Wish us luck!

Cold and Flu Season 2011 - Ready to Fight

2011-10-05T15:14:00.000-04:00

I am a four seasons girl. I love playing in puddles, watching flowers bloom, and planting my garden in the spring. I love to swim, eat fresh veggies, and catch fireflies in the summer. Fall brings the crunching of leaves, watching football, and the comfort of my favorite sweater. Winter means ice skating and sledding followed by hot cocoa next to a warm fire. The one season I could definitely do without, is cold and flu season.

As soon as the girls head back to school in the fall, I know that cold and flu season is right around the corner. It starts with a tiny sniffle or a scratchy throat . . . and works its way around everyone in the school (and my house!) We do what we can to avoid the sniffles and coughs, though a few seem almost unavoidable. We have been able to avoid the flu so far though. (Where's some wood? . . . knock, knock, knock).

Here's what we have done, and will continue to do (until it stops working for us):

Wash our hands - I am pretty diligent about requiring the girls to wash their hands before eating, after sneezing, or whenever we come in from being out and about around other people. While I prefer a good hand washing to hand sanitizer, I also keep that on hand whenever we do leave the house. The girls are great at reminding me to sanitize when we're out running errands.
Cough and Sneeze into our elbows - It is as simple as it sounds. By not catching sneezes and coughs with our hands we are less likely to spread them to others.
Keep your hands off your face - Your face has too many mucous membranes. We try to avoid giving the germs on our hands direct access to the rest of our bodies. This one is easier said than done. The girls always seem to be touching their faces. I find that pulling their hair back seems to help with that too. It may seem odd, but when their hair isn't bothering them they seem less likely to touch their face.
Eat right and exercise - By making healthy choices and keeping our bodies in the best possible condition we like to think that we are at an advantage to fight off the germs that find their way in.
Get plenty of sleep - Like eating right and exercising, getting enough sleep is also vital to keep your body in the best condition for fighting off bad germs. My girls sleep about 11-12 hours per night if I let them. By keeping their bed times early enough, I can allow them to sleep well and wake up on their own.
Sanitize dishes - My dishwasher has a sanitize setting. It gets the water temperature high enough to kill most of the germs on my dishes. During cold and flu season, or whenever someone in the house has a sniffle, I'm sure to use that setting. I've been surprised that it really does seem to help prevent the spread of illness from one family member to another in our house.

I am not a scientist and have not studied cold and flu prevention. Some of the methods that seem to work for us might actual just be coincidental. No matter what you do to stay healthy during this cold and flu season, I hope it works for you and your family. If you have any remedies or tips that you swear by, I'd love to hear them. I'm always ready to research or try a new idea that might keep my own family healthier as well.

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Crafty Kiddos - Flower Pot

2011-09-29T09:29:00.000-04:00

My girls love to do crafts. Whether making flower clips, crayon hearts or just painting, they enjoy exploring their artistic sides. Unfortunately, my artistic side is pretty small, so I have a hard time coming up with new activities for them to do. Our most recent project was extra ambitious. The girls had friends over, so instead of two girls, I was working with five. Each girl ended up taking home a flower pot that looked a bit like these. Each pot contains flower pens and a buggy pencil. I think they turned out pretty cute.

Do you have any fun and easy crafts that you like to do with your kiddos? I'm always looking for ideas, so if you have one to share I'd love to hear it.

Worldwide Day of Play

2011-09-22T09:35:00.000-04:00

Who knew that there was a Worldwide Day of Play?

Apparently September 24, 2011 is Worldwide Day of Play. On this day, everyone is encouraged to turn off the TV and go outside to play. While I personally find it a little odd that people have to have a specific day and be told to do this, anything that helps to get kids a bit more active is okay in my book.

On September 24, our family just happens to be participating in a local 5K. This is the third year that we've participated. When the girls were 3 and 5, we just did the 1 mile family fun run. However, last year and this year the girls are running the full race. (I have to admit I use the word "running" loosely. Last year we ran, walked, jogged, skipped, galloped, shuffled and stomped our way to the finish line. What can you expect from a 4 and 6 year old though? They get bored easily.)

This year, we've been "training" (Again, I use the word loosely.) for the 5K for much of the summer. We started by walking around our island which just happens to be about 3 miles. As the training progressed, we began to run more and more of our walk. We also have been biking and scootering to mix it up a bit. The girls just love it! It gives them a chance to be outside and get out some of their extra energy. They also like that they have my undivided attention. While we're walking I don't have a computer, phone, laundry, food to prepare, etc. to distract me. We can just walk and talk about their day, their hopes, their dreams, their friends, their worries. It is a great opportunity to actually listen to my girls uninterrupted.

Do you enjoy outdoor play with your kids? What types of activities do you most like to participate in? Personally, my girls love to play soccer, softball, bike, scooter, hula hoop, jump rope, hopscotch, and stop/go. (Stop/Go is our version of red light green light where you pick a different way to move rather than just run. We do crab walk, backwards, skip, bunny hop, etc.) I'd love to hear your favorite activities too. We're always looking for new fun ways to play.

If you already do play outside with your kiddos, then now would be a great time to possibly get rewarded for that gift you give to them. You can go to http://clorox2play2day.com to pledge to play outside. If you don't play outside with your kiddos yet, then you should also consider pledging. You might just find that you enjoy it as much as they do.

*Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Clorox2® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Carmex Winner

2011-09-03T09:07:00.000-04:00

My quickie giveaway is over, and the lucky winner is commenter #6. Thanks My3Sons33 for participating and liking me on facebook. I hope you enjoy your Carmex prize pack as much as I did.

Music for My Mood - Mat Kearney

2011-08-31T14:04:00.001-04:00

I'm seventeen again . . . driving in my car, an old sea monster green Oldsmobile Omega . . . on my way home from work . . . without a care in the world . . . singing along to my favorite cassette - Counting Crows August and Everything After. I'm relaxed. I'm happy. Life is good!

Every time I listen to Mat Kearney's Young Love, I'm taken back to that time, that feeling. While the music isn't the same, it elicits the same emotions. It is an album that I could listen to over and over. In fact, I've listened to it as background music several times each day since I received the download from One2One. The music is easy to listen to. It isn't too loud, too peppy, too slow, too depressing. It is a good, relaxed, soundtrack of life. Each song tells a story. They are the stories of love, loss, and struggle. They feel like experiences we've all had or will have in life. The entire album feels very relatable.

Are you curious what my favorite song is? Cue up Hey Mama. With a little bounce in my step I vacuum, put away the dishes, fold laundry, cook dinner and dance around the house. Work seems to get done a bit more quickly when I hear that song. It is perky, happy, and really lightens my mood.

I definitely recommend that you take a moment to listen to the music of Mat Kearney and see if it is a good fit for you. Too often, I find a song or artist I like, but when I listen to the music I find that it is inappropriate for my children to listen to. With Mat Kearney, that isn't the case. I don't have to skip through songs or words because I don't want my children to hear it. I can simply click "play all" and go on about the business of life.

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a download of the album from One2One in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Others may have different experiences.

Pucker Up with Carmex - Review and Giveaway

2011-08-31T10:57:00.000-04:00

Since we live on the lake, we spend much of our time outside enjoying the beauty around us. This summer, we probably spent at least half of our waking hours outside. Whether we were boating, tubing, swimming, walking, jumping rope, hula hooping, reading, biking, scootering (is that a word?), or grilling, we were out in the sun. With a history of melanoma in our family, I always do my best to protect my girls from the sun. We use sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and lip balm. Personally, my favorite lip balm is Carmex. I feel like it goes on smooth, stays on longer, and does a great job of moisturizing our lips. The only issue I have had with Carmex in the past is that my girls don't really like the taste of the original jar (which is my personal favorite product).

This summer, Carmex was kind enough to send me a fun pack of products to try with my family. My package included Carmex Lime Twist and Carmex Vanilla click sticks in exchange for my honest review. The first thing I have to say about these products is "YUM"! My girls and I especially loved the Lime Twist. To me, it tasted a bit like Key Lime Pie. The girls didn't even mind that it still had the slight underlying taste of the original Carmex. I think that hint of original flavor also helped to keep the girls from trying to lick it off (which they have been known to do with other brands of fruity lip balms). Both products have SPF15 and several moisturizing ingredients to keep your lips safe and hydrated.

The sunshine of summer will soon be replaced by the cool breezes of fall. When that happens, I still always have Carmex on hand. Between the wind and the heat from the furnace, my skin dries out, and I haven't had any product that works better for my lips than Carmex.

Do you want to win some products of your own? The good people at Carmex have agreed to send one of my readers the the same kit that I received.

Here's how you can win:

Mandatory Entry: Which Carmex product is your favorite? If you don't have a favorite, tell me what you are most excited to try. Leave me a comment. Be sure to include your email address if it is not visible in your profile.

Optional Extra Entries:

Like me on facebook. Post your initials in the comments.
Follow me on Twitter. Post your username in the comments.
Tweet about this giveaway using @rmgm and #carmex Post a link to your tweet here. This can be done once daily.
Follow me publicly on my new blog, LovingLakeLiving, via Google Friend Connect and post a comment with your username.
Send a new friend to my blog. Have a friend enter my giveaway.. Tell them to leave your name (user, twitter, whatever) in their original mandatory comment. Then, come back and tell me who you sent in another comment. (Unlimited. One comment for each new friend)

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on September 2, 2011
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page. If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Prizes will be sent directly from the sponsor. I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment. If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know

*Disclaimer: Carmex sent me the kit pictured above in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own. Others may have different experiences.

Winner, Winner, Sam's Club for Dinner

2011-08-30T06:44:00.000-04:00

With 93 amazing entries (I love my readers!), random.org selected lucky #49 as the winner. Congrats Mari! I'll be sending an email shortly so that you can claim your prize.

For those of you that didn't win . . .

Don't fret! Another giveaway will be posted today. It will be a quickie though, so don't wait too long to come back and get your entries in.

Happy Tuesday!

Back to School with Box Tops and Sam's Club

2011-08-15T07:42:00.003-04:00

It is officially back to school time. With less than two weeks until my monkeys start school, I am on a mission. I want to get the things they love, need, want, and will use with minimal stress for everyone in the family. For us, minimal stress means that I will be able to find what we're looking for easily, that the kids won't fight while we're shopping, and that Doc won't freak out about the cost of it all.   :o) Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong! I know that it won't be easy. First of all, Pumpkin doesn't like to leave the house for any reason. I sometimes worry that she is going to be agoraphobic as she gets older. If given the option, she would stay home and play all day, every day.   The second issue is the list. I don't know about your school supply list, but every year there is at least one item on ours that I assume either isn't made anymore, or perhaps never existed in the first place.   Finally, since Doc doesn't do much of the shopping in our family, he doesn't really know how much things cost. He is always surprised (not in a good way) at the receipts I bring home.

While most of the shopping won't be easy (I always hope for the best, but expect the worst. It keeps me from being disappointed.). There is one place that I know I can go and indulge in a little stress free back to school shopping. You might be surprised to hear that the one place is Sam's Club.   Before walking in, I tell the girls that if they are good then we can get an ICEE before we leave. At only $1.15 at our club, I might even let them each have their own. (Yes, I sometimes bribe my kids. Does that make me a bad mom? Even if it does, I'll probably keep doing it.) For some reason, the girls enjoy Sam's Club shopping (more than other shopping). Maybe it is the occasional free samples located throughout the stores. Maybe it is the hope that someday we'll buy them the ginormous stuffed animals or the huge swing set on display in the middle of the store. Maybe it is just that they get to pick out their own snacks for their school lunches. Whatever the reason, I'll take it.

With both girls in school full time this year (sniff), I will need lots of snacks.   They'll be eating daily snacks, plus the snack foods in their lunches, and we can't forget the sports snacks for after school activities. All of those snacks means that bulk is the way to buy. Right now at Sam's Club, you can buy some of your favorite snacks from General Mills and get bonus box tops - 6 Box Tops on a Pack, in fact.   I don't know about you, but our school loves Box Tops for Education, so I know they'll appreciate the extra tops. I know that we'll be grabbing some Nature Valley Granola Bars and Chex Mix.

What will you be shopping for at your local Sam's Club for Back-To-School? Tell me and you could win a $25 Sam's Club gift card to help with the endless expenses of BTS. Here's how:

Mandatory Entry: Which General Mills Box Tops item will you purchase during the Sam's Club Back-to-School event? Leave me a comment. Be sure to include your email address if it is not visible in your profile.

Optional Extra Entries:

Like me on facebook. Post your initials in the comments.
Follow me on Twitter. Post your username in the comments.
Tweet about this giveaway using @rmgm and #myblogspark Post a link to your tweet here. This can be done once daily.
Follow me publicly on my new blog, LovingLakeLiving, via Google Friend Connect and post a comment with your username.
Like Sam's Club on facebook and leave me a comment with your initials telling me you did.
Follow Sam's Club on twitter and post your username in the comments.

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on August 29, 2011
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page. If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Prizes will be sent directly from the sponsor. I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment. If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know

*Disclaimer: Through MyBlogSpark, General Mills and Sam's Club have generously provided me with a $25 gift card, and some of the information provided above. They will also be sending my winner their Sam's Club gift card. All opinions are my own. Others may have different experiences.

Who Wants Pizza?

2011-08-03T21:03:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I have a weak spot for pizza. Homemade pizza, frozen pizza, chain pizza, local pizza shop pizza . . . they all have a special place in my heart depending on my mood. The problem with my pizza penchant (other than the obvious issues) is that sometimes I don't want a whole pizza. I just want a slice (or two). Knowing that, you won't be at all shocked to hear how happy I was to hear about the Freschetta By The Slice pizza event taking place on August 4th (TOMORROW!). Freschetta will be giving away free pizza while supplies last from 11am-3pm CST (Hmmm . . . being on Eastern time, I think that would be noon my time, right?) The problem I have is that I'll have company over tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to sneak away to grab a slice. If not, I hope at least my readers get their fair share. To sign up to get a reminder go to http://www.freefreschetta.com/ Good luck!

Event Details:
Date - August 4th, 2011
What - FREE* FRESCHETTA® By The Slice pizza event
Where - From the comfort of your own home
Details - Visit the message board at www.FreschettaFreshConnection.com

FRESCHETTA® will be giving away thousands of slices of our delicious By The Slice pizza in a special live online event. The FRESCHETTA® By The Slice pizza will be given away in 5,000 increments every half hour. There will also be fun, interactive contests where you can win additional coupons. You can find all the delicious details surrounding this event on the message board in www.FreschettaFreshConnection.com.

*Disclaimer - As a Freschetta Fresh Connection blogger, I have the opportunity to win prizes for sharing this information with you. Because I like my readers, I would have shared anyway. :o)

Living a Charmed Life

2011-07-12T22:42:00.000-04:00

On the 4th of July, as we sat on a blanket on our front lawn and watched the fireworks explode directly overhead I looked at my two girls and thought about how lucky they are. They are living a charmed life - a life of experiences and privileges that I can't imagine having enjoyed at their young age.    I always loved to see the fireworks, but we either had to go downtown long before the sky began to darken or accept a more distant view that still filled me with awe.    I remember one year when we did experience the explosion of lights directly overhead. I was thrilled, amazed, and more than a little afraid, sure that the sparks would fall before the fire was out. My girls have no such fear since that is what they're used to.

Just this past weekend Doc and I took the girls to the local amusement park. A short boat or car ride away, that was our fourth visit this summer.   With season passes (that Doc's parents get us each year for Christmas), we are able to go whenever the mood strikes. Whether it is hot, cold, or just right. Whether we have a few hours or all day. Whether the sky is cloudy, rainy or sunny. No matter the reason, if we want to go, we can.   As a child I remember taking two trips to this same amusement park. Not two trips each year, but two trips over the course of 18 years (though we lived much further away). Each trip was special, fun, and has its own unique memories. I don't know if my girls will have the same types of memories from their trips.

Each week during the summer the girls and I meet a friend and her daughter to travel to a nearby island. We take a ferry over, eat lunch, and attend a mini nature camp program. The girls are able to dissect fish, hold snakes, feed frogs, see and learn about bald eagles, owls, bats, plants and more.   How lucky are they to be able to learn about our local flora and fauna in such a hands-on setting?   Do they have any idea that there are some people that have never seen a bald eagle at all, much less from 5 feet away?

While I LOVE that my children are able to experience all these wonderful activities, I also worry. Am I setting them up for disappointment in the future?   Or is each generation just different? I don't feel as if I was deprived of anything as a child even though my experiences were so different than those of my children. I grew up in a city. We had theaters, malls, roller rinks, bowling alleys, sidewalks where we could ride our bikes, and the opportunity to take any type of lesson we might want. My children are growing up in a "vacation community" with unique shops, beaches, amusement parks, water parks, lakes, boats, and open space. When my girls grow up and have their own children will they live in the city? Will they worry that they are spoiling their children by taking them to the museum, theater, concerts, performances, and five star restaurants?

Though Peanut and Pumpkin might not realize exactly how good their lives are, I think they are appreciative. They always thank us for taking them to the amusement park. They told us how much they loved the fireworks. They get excited each week for our island trip.   Whether you're living a city life, a country life, a vacation life, or something else, the important thing is that you appreciate what you do have. No matter how much you have or where you are, I think everyone has the potential to live a charmed life.

Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer

2011-07-01T00:45:00.001-04:00

When I think of summer, I think of reading. Apparently I'm not the only one. From summer reading programs to lists of great beach reads, everywhere you look you'll find encouragement and motivation to read during these sunny months. As I've mentioned before, while I love to read, I won't finish a book if I don't enjoy it. Life is just too short. Luckily, so far this summer, I've been pretty fortunate with my book selections. My most recent read, Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer, was a quick, easy read that left me wondering what will happen in book #2.

From the back cover:

On the night Marianna Sommers was born, a freak accident shattered her family. Even as she came into the world, her two sisters left it for heaven. She's spent her life making up for that loss., being to her family and their Indiana Amish community all that her sisters would have been. Her only dream: a simple life married to Aaron Zook, the one she's loved since childhood. Then her father says they are moving--to Montana, of all places! Of course it's to keep her younger siblings far from their oldest brother Levi, who left the Amish way of life, but the move will destroy Marianna's dream. She pleads to stay, to no avail. As Marianna leaves her home--and Aaron--she's sure her heart will never heal.

But Montana holds surprises.

The mountains, trees and still waters open Marianna's heart of God as never before. Still it troubles her that the small Amish community is so interwoven with their Englisch neighbors. especially woodworker, Ben Stone. If only Ben didn't do everything right! He's there in times of need, and his love for God is so clear. But giving in to the feelings he stirs in her would carry a terrible cost...

Everything she believes in and loves.

Generally not a Christian fiction reader, this book really took me by surprise. I found myself relating to the characters and the message of acceptance that is shown throughout this book in a way that I hadn't expected. As an individual rather unfamiliar with the Amish belief system and way of life, I found the story very interesting. I don't know how accurate the descriptions were, but I felt as if they gave me a good basis of understanding where each of the characters came from.

Marianna is a young woman in a state of transition. Not quite ready to live on her own, but no longer a child, she must find her own way. Not wanting to disappoint her family, she lives her life "by the book". She is fairly certain that she knows what is right and wants to follow the path that has been set before her. Unfortunately (or fortunately), life gets in the way of her plans and she is forced to re-evaluate all that she has learned and believes to be true. She meets and interacts with several important people during this time of self-evaluation, not the least of which is Ben Stone - a young man that defies the stereotypes she has spent her life believing.

Throughout our lives, I think most of us will encounter someone or something unexpected. Whether positive or negative, these experiences force us to take a moment to reflect on what we believe. Sometimes we choose to file the experience away as an anomaly that needs no further contemplation. Other times, the experience will alter our entire structure and belief system. This book leads you through that entire process for one character, Marianna. I think that anyone that has experienced a moment of questioning any aspect of your belief system will appreciate this book. The author does a good job of allowing the reader to feel the dichotomy of what Marianna has been told and what she is seeing and feeling for herself. For me, a good read is one that allows me to feel personally invested in the outcome. Tricia Goyer definitely did that in this book, Beside Still Waters.

*Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Beside Still Waters Campaign and received a copy of the book and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Gifts for Dads & Grads - PlasticJungle.Com

2011-06-09T10:15:00.000-04:00

June already?!

How is it possible that it is already June? You do know what it means when June arrives, right? Father's Day is just around the corner, and the graduation parties have already started.   The problem with all of these celebrations is that they require gifts. It isn't that I don't like getting gifts for people. I do. I enjoy finding the perfect gift for the perfect someone to make them smile. Unfortunately, when it comes to grads and dads, that can be hard to do.   You never know what a new graduate needs, and dads (or at least the ones I buy for) already have everything. So, what do you buy the guy that has everything? . . . A GIFT CARD!

I don't know about you, but I just LOVE getting gift cards. They are like getting money, but better. When I get cash, I'm likely to spend it on bills or nickle and dime it away on Doc and the kids until it is gone and I don't have anything to show for it. With gift cards, I'm obligated to buy something tangible (hopefully for myself). It will be something that I want, need or will enjoy. Also, anyone that knows me knows that I'm am a smart shopper. In fact, I have also been called cheap, frugal, stingy, savvy, economical, thrifty, tight, scrimping, and even penny-pinching.   I happily accept those names, because my frugality means that a $50 gift card can get me $100-$200 worth of products.

One pitfall of my cheapness is that it is hard for me to pay full retail for a gift card. I don't pay full retail for ANYTHING. Unfortunately, it is rare that you see a gift card go on sale. That is why I just LOVE plasticjungle.com. You can buy discounted gift cards up to 35% off with FREE shipping. While most of the gift cards aren't sold at 35% off, they are all sold for a discount. For example, you can get a $25 itunes gift card for $23.25, a 7% savings.    It looks like I might be able to cross Doc off my list now. He is always looking for new songs to buy from itunes.   Perhaps my father in law would like a gift card from Sports Authority. With cards being sold at 13% off, I'm sure he can find some great boating and fishing equipment. My dad's favorite place to shop is Sears. He loves the tools, and likes that he can pick up a new pair of shoes while he's there too. Unfortunately, right now they are sold out of Sears gift cards, but you can set up an alert to let you know when more are in stock. What a great feature for buying gift cards to some of your favorite places that you shop all the time!

Another great feature of plasticjungle.com is that you can sell your unwanted gift cards there too. So, if you receive a gift card that you can't use, you can sell it to plasticjungle.com for up to 92% of the balance.   Hmmmm...I do have some Bath & Body Works gift cards that I haven't found a use for yet. :o)

*Disclaimer - I received a gift card in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What happened to the time?

2011-05-31T11:06:00.001-04:00

I can't believe it is May 31!   The sun is shining. Summer residents have returned to our small vacation community. School is almost over.

What happened to spring? I had been hoping for a nice long spring this year. I wanted to get Pumpkin off her training wheels and on a regular two-wheeled bike.   Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate very well in that endeavor. Now, the island is bustling with cars, bikes, scooters, dogs, and golf carts, which makes it difficult to get a long clear stretch of road where my Pumpkin can find her rhythm and the confidence to pedal without me running beside her. Perhaps a random week day will be quiet enough to allow us to try though. If not, I'll be hoping for a nice long fall.

My garden isn't yet planted. :o( I have tomatoes and peppers that are sitting in their little plastic containers hoping to find a place to stretch their roots. I have flowers that may be out of their blooming season by the time I get them in their respective pots.

As behind as I might be in my spring work, I am just as far behind in my blog postings. I have several posts started and several in mind.   So, expect to be seeing quite a few posts over the next several days as well as throughout the month of June. The girls and I will be getting into a routine shortly after school lets out that will allow me brief interludes of blog time (probably during their daily "rest" time).   Every mom needs a short sanity break, right?

I hope your spring was happy, busy and full of smiles. May your summer be even better!

Happy Birthday Peanut!

2011-05-17T21:58:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Peanut!

I can't believe that you are actually SEVEN! How did you get so old so fast?

I remember bringing you home from the hospital on that warm May day. I was experiencing a huge mix of emotions. Happiness that you were finally here to hold. Fear that I would do something wrong or that I wouldn't know how to take care of you. Exhaustion from a long labor and lack of sleep. Most of all, I was experiencing LOVE. From the time I held you in my arms and looked into your eyes I was smitten. Your gorgeous eye-lashes, your chubby cheeks, the way that you curled up against my chest and seemed to fit just right in my arms as you slept. You were my baby then, and you always will be. I love you with all my heart!

Cheerios and Reading - Winner

2011-05-05T08:32:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Shellyrm! Random.org selected her as the winner of the Cheerios and Reading Winner. You will be contacted via email shortly. I hope you enjoy your Cheerios and Book Kit!

I just got FLASHED . . .

2011-04-28T21:21:00.001-04:00

and it made my day!

No, silly! Not that kind of flash.

An oncoming driver briefly turned his headlights on and off indicating that a police officer was ahead trying to catch someone speeding. Even though I wasn't speeding at the time (I did look down at my speedometer and check just to be sure), I did think it was a nice gesture. There are occasions, as a driver, where I may or may not have found myself to be driving faster than I had intended. I definitely think that a friendly headlight flashing reminder is much nicer to receive than the red and blue flashing reminder that you might otherwise get.

So, to that flasher, and all others, THANK YOU! (Be careful though. Did you know that it is illegal to do that in some states? Fortunately, my state doesn't appear to be one of them. Make sure you check out your local laws. I don't want to be accused of encouraging illegal activity. As a mom -aka example for two young girls- and the daughter of a police officer, I'm all for being a law-abiding citizen.)

Thoughts for Thursday - Kids Grading Papers

2011-04-28T21:12:00.000-04:00

Do you think that kids should be allowed to grade their classmates' work?

Personally, I don't. As a former teacher, I didn't let my students grade their friends papers. I always worried that it would make students that were struggling feel more self-conscious. Students might be more harsh on friends they didn't like or more lenient on friends that they did like. I'm all for peer reviews when writing essays, proper scientific lab reports, or preparing for a speech. However, in my opinion, those are left for older students. They don't affect a grade. They are helpful in learning when to accept and when to ignore constructive criticism.

Today, my oldest daughter, Peanut (1st grade), came home with the following paper.

When I saw it, I was confused. What were all the marks for? The spelling words all looked okay to me. So, I asked her about it. Her response was,

"Joe (name has been changed) graded my paper today in school. He said that he didn't think it was fair that I always got the answers right, so he marked some wrong instead."

What?! Who does that?

I have to say that I really like Peanut's teacher. I doubt that she gave her a bad grade for the paper. In fact, I'm guessing that it was just a practice sheet that probably didn't count at all. However, Peanut was very upset by it. She is a bit of a perfectionist, and it bothered her that she had so many marks on her paper.

This is just a guess, but I think she was probably also upset that someone would want her to not do well on an assignment. Her generous heart just doesn't understand that perspective. In fact, we were eating dinner with her Auntie Em tonight who had an interview for a new job. Auntie Em said that the person who interviewed before her looked nervous, like maybe she hadn't done very well. Here's how the conversation went:
Peanut: Do you hope she did well?
Auntie Em: No, I hope she didn't do that well?
Peanut: Why would you want her to do bad?
Auntie Em: Because she was interviewing for the job that I wanted.
Peanut: Can't you both just do well? How many jobs are there?
Auntie Em: Only one.
Peanut: Oh. Well I hope she did well, but you did better.

My Peanut is very driven. She wants to be the best at everything she does. However, she also wants others to do well. She has one of the kindest hearts of anyone I've ever met. While I'm sure that some of that will change as she gets older, I don't want it to change now. I want her to remain as innocent as she is. I don't want her to feel like the only way to succeed is to make others fail. I don't want her to be self-conscious of mistakes that she does make. (We all make them and just need to accept them and learn from them.)

What do you think?

Cheerios and Reading - Two of my Kids' Favorite Things (Giveaway)

2011-04-18T10:47:00.001-04:00

As a mom, I always want what is best for my kids. I think that companies know this and bombard parents with ads that are full of information, opinions, thoughts, and beliefs that may or may not be true or provide full disclosure. When I feel overwhelmed by the mass quantity of information, I tend to go back to the basics. To me, the basics are things that I'm comfortable with. Things that aren't necessarily glamorous or glitzy, but at least give me confidence that they won't do us any harm. Some of our favorite basics are fresh fruits, Cheerios and books. While educational videos for kids may or may not be beneficial and artificial sweeteners may or may not cause cancer, I've never heard anything bad about Cheerios or books (yet). So, when MyBlogSpark contacted me to see if I was interested in sharing this information with my readers, I couldn't say no.

Through its annual New Author Contest, which kicked off March 22, Cheerios® cereal will make this dream a reality for one aspiring children’s book author. One Grand Prize Winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a possible publishing deal with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in addition to having his or her book featured inside Cheerios cereal boxes nationwide.

Founded on the belief that reading is a key building block for learning and life, the Cheerios New Author Contest encourages ambitious authors to write and submit an original story, in either English or Spanish, suitable for children ages three to eight. The contest, which is an extension of the Spoonfuls of Stories program, is part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the whole child and connecting families by fostering a shared love of reading.

Laurie Isop, of Renton, Wash., won the literary lottery when she was named Grand Prize Winner of the 2009 Cheerios New Author Contest. Laurie, a small business owner, mother of two boys, and aspiring author since the age of 12, can now add “published author” to her resume. This spring, Laurie’s book How Do You Hug a Porcupine? will be featured in more than three million specially-marked boxes of Cheerios and will also be available in bookstores nationwide beginning this July.

Those who want to follow in Laurie’s footsteps and think they have the “write” stuff can visit www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com from March 22 through July 15, 2011 to find out more.

I don't know if they had this contest when I was still teaching, but if they did, then I wish I would have known about it. My high school students wrote some of the most amazing children's books about the science topics we discussed in class. The books were colorful, bright, attractive, educational, and just plain fun. I'd love to have seen how they would have done. However, since I can't go back in time, I'd also love to see how some of my readers do! So get your thinking caps on and come up with something great. Perhaps it is something you've been thinking about for years. Maybe it is something you just thought about today. If you are creative and want to be an author, now is your chance! Good luck!

How would you like to win a box of Cheerios and a "Create-your-own" book kit for your kids (or yourself)? It might be just what you need to motivate you to write a book and perhaps win this year's contest.

Here's what you have to do for your chance to win.

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me what you think makes a children's book AMAZING. Is it a catchy rhyme, a funny theme, a topic that makes you want to cuddle or something else?

Optional Extra Entries

Follow me via GFC and leave your user name in the comments (sidebar)
Follow me via twitter and tweet this giveaway using #myblogspark and @rmgm (Leave a link to your tweet in the comments)
Like me on Facebook and leave your initials in the comments

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59 pm ET on May 1, 2011
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Prize will be sent directly from MyBlogSpark. I am not responsible for lost or damaged products.

*Disclaimer - I received the same prize pack that my winner will be receiving. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Classic Family Recipe Inspired by Coke

2011-04-13T20:46:00.000-04:00

Summer is almost upon us (though the weather wants us to believe otherwise). I can tell by the chirping of birds when I wake up in the morning. I can tell by the sun shining in my window while I'm still in bed. I can tell by the constant rushing for softball, T-ball, ballet, play dates, etc. When summer time arrives, the whole world seems to wake up. Our tiny little town begins to bustle with activity. All of the summer residents and people with vacation homes start preparing their cottages for the onslaught of visitors that will appear between Memorial and Labor days. Stores that I've missed throughout the winter months will reopen their doors. The ones that remained open despite the bitter cold and decreased revenue will extend their hours. Summer means sunshine, laughter and fun. It is our favorite time of the year!

Whenever the littlest signs of summer appear, I am always ready to start making my signature summer dishes. (If you were to ask me why I don't make them year-round, I wouldn't be able to answer you. Some foods are just meant to be made in the summer.) Some of my favorite summer dishes are salads. I just love an easy Taco Salad on those days when it is too hot to want to eat anything warm. Nothing says picnic like my grandma's amazing potato salad. With mustard, pickles, celery and just enough mayonnaise and Miracle Whip to make it barely creamy, it is a summer staple. Whenever I smell someone else grilling, my eyes turn a bit green and I feel the need to drag out my grill and whatever meat I have on hand. Whether it is a hamburger, hot dog, steak, or chicken, it all tastes better on the grill.

One of my absolute favorite summer meals though, is a barbecued pork/chicken/beef dish that I make in a crock pot. Perfect for those days when you're going to be out on the boat most of the day only to arrive home to guests to feed, this meal is easy delicious and always well received.

Place a large roast in a crock pot
Add other seasonings to taste (I usually add some garlic powder, seasoning salt, and pepper)
Cook on low heat.
Once the meat is tender and easy to shred, shred it (remove excess fat/bones)
(Sometimes I will do the first part overnight so that I can shred it in the morning and it will be ready to eat for lunch)
Pour approx 1/2-1 bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce over the shredded meat
Pour approx 1 can of Coke over the shredded meat
Allow it to cook for 1-2 hours for the meat to absorb the flavors (though you can let it cook for much longer on the low setting)
Serve on buns

What are some of your favorite summer time meals? I'm always looking for new recipes to add to my repertoire. Please feel free to share

*Disclaimer - Recipe came from a modified recipe that I obtained from an online recipe site. I don't remember now which one it was, but if you know, I'd be happy to give credit to the original "chef". I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Coca-Cola® blogging program. If I am one of the first 100 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 gift card. For more information on the program, click here.

Little Switches that can make a Big Difference

2011-04-06T16:37:00.001-04:00

Sometimes life feels like it gets a little monotonous. Perhaps you might even call it boring. What do you do when you feel yourself getting in a rut? Have you ever made a little switch that seemed to make a huge difference? Over the years I've made some little switches. Some have helped more than others, but it is always worth a try.

Switch 1 – My girls are always a great source of inspiration for my switches. In fact, just now I was talking to my first grade daughter about what she learned at school. She was telling me that they talked about energy in science class – what energy is, how to save energy, and different forms of energy. Shortly after this conversation, a friend called to ask is she could come over to play. When I said that I could bring her right over, Peanut suggested that we walk, bike or scooter ride. So, I walked, Peanut rode her scooter, and Pumpkin rode her bike. It took us about ten minutes to get her friends house instead of two, but we saved gas and got a little exercise in the process. I already feel better! I don’t know if this switch will stick, but with the encouragement of the girls, I sure hope so!

Switch 2 – Sometimes I tend to focus on the negative. There are mornings that I wake up dreading the day ahead of me. I pull the covers over my head and try to avoid getting up for as long as possible. I think about all the things I have to do that I know I won’t enjoy. It isn’t that I try to be a negative person. In fact, I’d much prefer to be positive. I think that by starting and ending the day with a positive thought, I might be able to perk up my attitude. If you wake up just appreciating that you are alive and looking forward to at least one activity that will take place, then I think it makes it easier to get through the rest. At the end of the day, look back. Find one thing that surprised you, made you laugh, or that you unexpectedly enjoyed. Go to sleep focusing on that positive experience and hopefully you’ll wake up feeling more refreshed and ready for a new day.

Switch 3 – When I was teaching, I had students that were difficult. (I won’t say much more than that since teachers are getting in trouble for blogging about their students lately.) A wise older teacher told me to find three positive things to say to that student every day for three weeks. I’m not sure what the “magic” of the number three is, but it really works. After three weeks those students and I seemed to have fewer issues. Whether the positive comments made them feel better about themselves and behave more appropriately or whether the positive comments made me see them in a better light, I do not know. Regardless of whether the student had changed or I had, it made all the difference in the world in my classroom. When I get stressed out by any of my family members, I try to do the same – focus on their good qualities instead of harping on the bad. I think everyone appreciates feeling appreciated. It makes us want to do more for those that appreciate us.

I'd love to hear about your little switches that made a big difference. I'm always anxious to try new things that might make my life even better.

*Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Cottonelle blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Where I've been . . .

2011-04-06T09:14:00.000-04:00

While I know I don't have a plethora of loyal readers that have been pining away for me in my recent blog absence, I did want to let you know where I've been. Doc and I were on a wonderful week away. We were enjoying sun, fun, and a fabulous time together. While I have plenty that I could blog about from the trip . . . from the joys of airport check-ins to the picketers outside our hotel or even the interesting places and people we encountered . . . I haven't yet decided if I will. I am sharing this photo from our trip though. These are the gorgeous flowers I received on my birthday sitting on the deck of our hotel room. Just looking at the picture, I can almost feel the sun. :o)

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner - Winner

2011-04-06T08:59:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to #15, Doodle741 that said... I follow you and Barber on facebook. Random.org has selected you as the winner of the Chicken Selects from Barber Foods and the $25 Gift Card. I will be contacting you shortly for your information.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner - Review & Giveaway

2011-03-25T20:55:00.001-04:00

Kids - "Mom?"
Me - Yes?
Kids - "I'm hungry. What's for dinner?"

Now, you might ask me why I say, "yes?" when I know what they are going to ask. It is the same question every night. Most nights I'm prepared. I know what I'm going to cook and I have all that I need. Depending on my mood (and what I know their response will be), I'll either tell them specifically what we're eating or I give the standard answer, "Food." (I always hated when my mom said that, but at least now I understand why. I like to limit the amount of time I have to listen to them complain. If they don't know what they're eating until they see it, then I don't have to hear about it while I'm cooking as well.)

Every once in a while I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to feed my family. Does that make me a bad mom? On days when Doc won't be coming home for dinner I can be pretty lax. We'll have cereal, toast, pizza bagels or anything else that requires only food products that I always have on hand. Perhaps I should change that to almost always have on hand. There have been the occasional times when I'm counting on cereal only to discover that we are out of milk. Oops! I can't be the only person this has happened to, right?

Now, thanks to Barber Foods, I now have a new go-to that I will always keep on hand. I was sent a sample of Seasoned Selects Broccoli & Cheese and Chicken Cordon Bleu to try with my family. First, let me share a bit of information about Seasoned Selects:

Seasoned Selects are a new line of stuffed chicken breast entrees. They’re made with juicy, white meat chicken stuffed with savory combinations of meat, cheese and vegetables. Unlike the traditional Barber Stuffed Breast, however, this new line is not breaded, but is seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices, and is lower in calories, fat, and carbs. Seasoned Selects are a great dinner option for those nights when you need drama-free dinner prep. Just throw these entrees in the oven and get going on a quick salad or side dish. Barber Foods Seasoned Selects are a quick and unexpected dinner option that everyone in the family will love.

Surprisingly, they were a hit with everyone in the family. Both Doc and the girls enjoyed the Chicken Cordon Bleu, and I just love the Broccoli & Cheese. All you need is about 40 minutes and you can have a quality meal that definitely beats the cold cereal or toast we sometimes have. Along with the chicken, I just heated up some noodles and a salad and it looked like a meal I might have spent all day preparing. I'll definitely be keeping a supply of these in the freezer for those unplanned dinner days or even for an unexpected guest. If a guest were to stop by though, I might go all out and prepare one of these new side dishes that can be found on Barber Foods website. (I've been eying that Simple & Delicious Angel Hair Pasta since they sent me the link.)

How many of my faithful readers would like to try these Seasoned Selects for yourself?

Here's your chance! The generous folks at Barber Foods have agreed to send one of my readers a FREE product coupon as well as a $25 grocery gift card! Here's what you have to do to win.

Mandatory Entry (3 parts):

1-Tell me your go to food when you need a quick dinner. 2-Visit Barber Foods website and tell me which variety of Seasoned Selects chicken you'd most like to try if you win. 3-Visit Barber Foods Side Dish Recipes and tell me which side dish (other than the Angel Hair Pasta) you would most like to make to complete your meal. All three questions must be answered in ONE comment to be eligible to win.

Optional Additional Entries:

Follow me and Barber Foods on twitter. Post your username here.
Tweet about this giveaway. Use the hashtag #dinnerdrama @barberfoods and @rmgm. Post a link to your tweet here (Can be done 1x daily)
Like me and Barber Foods on facebook. Post your initials here.
Follow me on GFC. Post your username here.

Details:

*Only open to US residents
*Winner will be chosen using random.org
*Giveaway ends 11:59 pm ET on April 2, 2011
*Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page.
*Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
*Prize will be sent directly from my contact at Barber Foods. I am not responsible for lost or damaged products.

But wait . . . there's more . . . if this giveaway gets AT LEAST 100 entries by the time it ends then I will double the gift card from $25 to $50! So, get your entries in and be sure to spread the word!

*Disclaimer: I received a sample of the product to facilitate my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received information about the product from Barber Foods.

Nutella - You've heard of it, but have you tried it?

2011-03-23T22:32:00.000-04:00

I've seen Nutella around for quite a while now. It sits on the shelves near the traditional peanut butter. However, I never felt like trying it. It was just a little too brown. It just didn't look right. Now, my question is . . . Why didn't anyone tell me that it was brown because of the COCOA?!   Yep, you heard me right. Nutella is a hazelnut spread made with skim milk and cocoa.   Now, I'm going to be completely honest. Nutella has a very unique flavor. It is actually very difficult for me to describe.   Personally, I really enjoyed the taste. My oldest daughter, Peanut (who ironically doesn't really like peanut butter), loves it. The other day when Doc wasn't coming home for dinner, we decided that toast and fruit would make an acceptable meal. Peanut asked for Nutella on her toast. Pumpkin, on the other hand, loves peanut butter, and really doesn't care for Nutella.

After trying Nutella for the first time, I was so excited to be able to share my new discovery with all of my family and friends thanks to MommyParties and BSMmedia. I was really surprised at the number of people that hadn't tried it. (Though I did have some that had tried it before.) One mom said that she might just open up her sample and eat it with her fingers on the way home, she loves it so much. Another mom texted me the following night to tell me that her daughter was eating Nutella on crackers as her evening snack. A third mom had intended to give her sample to her daughters, but ended up grabbing it and a slice of bread on her way to work. She had been running late and wouldn't have gotten breakfast otherwise.   It seems to be a big hit for both moms and kids!

Overall, Nutella went over really well with my family and friends. So I definitely recommend that you give it a try. If you do want to try it, be sure to go to the RedPlum website to print your $1.00 off coupon.   After you try it, if you find out that you really love it, then be sure to go to the Nutella website and enter to win a case. I know I did!

*Disclaimer - All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a party kit from MommyParties, BSMmedia and Nutella which includes samples to give to family and friends. I did not receive any compensation in exchange for this post or the party.

Once Upon a Time . . .

2011-03-16T21:32:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Mel.
I’ll share with you the story, as it is mine to tell.

Mel was always busy. She loved to run and jump and play.
Winter, summer, spring or fall – She liked to go out every day.

In the winter she would ice skate, shovel, build and even sled.
Fall was great for football, raking leaves or even standing on her head.

Spring was made for gardening, jumping rope and riding bikes.
Summer meant it was time to swim! (One of Mel’s most favorite “likes”.)

Because she was so busy, Mel never put on weight.
She stayed tall and slender, no matter what or how much she ate.

This continued through her teen years since she was involved in many sports.
It wasn’t until college that she got all out of sorts.

Exercise became more scarce. Food choices were less healthy.
She would often tell herself, “I’ll do better when I’m wealthy.”

(Why is it that the healthy foods always cost you so much more?
It makes it hard to make a smarter choice while shopping in the store!)

Fast forward ten years later . . . now I have a different life.
I’m a sedentary woman, stay at home mom, and a wife.

I haven’t dropped my baby weight (though my baby just turned five!)
While I am living my dream life, sometimes I don’t really feel alive.

I want to be more active, healthy, strong, and an example for my girls.
I want to show them beauty is more than makeup, diamonds and pearls.

Finally feeling ready, I made a commitment to myself.
I am getting into shape, taking excuses off the shelf.

I’m ordering a salad – without dressing, croutons or even cheese.
Would you like a glass of water? Yes, I would! Yes, Please!

Protein, whole grains, fruits and veggies – I’ve stocked the fridge from front to back.
(Though I keep a dark chocolate kiss on hand when I get a sweet craving attack.)

Smaller portion sizes . . . by eating on smaller kiddie plates.
I order smart and immediately box half when I go out on a date.

I’ve started with some videos – Tony, Jillian and Jackie.
I even play on my Wii (though Just Dance makes me look so wacky!)

I tend to get bored easily, so I’ve got lots of choices
No excuse for getting tired of their faces, moves or voices.

I like to run outside, around our little neighborhood.
Unfortunately in Ohio, the weather’s not so good.

From snow to sleet to freezing rain . . . then the weather gets too hot.
Okay, let’s be honest, an easy to please outside runner – I am not.

I’d love to own a treadmill so I could run in rain or shine.
Morning, noon or night, it would be mine . . . all mine! ;o)

Actually to be honest I’d share with hubby, family and friends.
Because support from all of them will help me reach the end.

Making better choices together. Living longer for each other.
Becoming a better sister, friend, wife, daughter and mother!

*Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the Bookieboo and Hayneedle Treadmill blogging program, making me eligible to win a treadmill. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Kroger and the Cart Buster Savings Event Winner

2011-03-14T13:00:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to commenter #107, Mari, who is a fan on facebook! Random.org selected you as the winner. You should receive an email shortly.

Random Thought Thursday

2011-03-10T13:00:00.000-05:00

Who was it that decided it was a good idea to make Barbie's fingers so pointy and her sleeves so thin?

Top 10 Tips for Family Travel Deals

2011-03-09T21:22:00.000-05:00

Believe or not, the travel season is almost upon us. (Though after the marathon that was Christmas, it feels like it never ended.) First there is spring break. Then you have summer vacation. While we don’t always travel during these peak travel times, occasionally we do. When we are going to be hitting the road, we like to follow some basic rules in booking travel that keeps vacations within our budget.

Sign up for newsletters and tailor them to your needs. Just about every company has a newsletter that you can sign up for that will alert you to deals, bargains and promotional codes. I highly recommend that you sign up for them. When you do, be sure to be specific. You can often specify which airport you like to fly out of or which areas you like to visit. Getting a notification of a great rate on a flight from Boston to Las Vegas won’t do you any good if you live in Chicago.

Travel at off-peak times when possible. Before the girls were in school, we were free to travel whenever we wanted. If you have young children, take advantage of this. The prices are better and you have more bargaining power when trying to get a deal. If a hotel knows that they will have empty rooms, they are much more likely to give it to you at a better price than if they know it will be full.

Pack snacks. For some reason, when I travel I am always hungry. Several stops at fast food restaurants, sit-down restaurants, or heaven forbid the overpriced restaurants in the airport will break your budget in a hurry. Pack snacks that will not only be better on your budget, but also on your waistline.

Book packages. Just like combining your insurances, combined booking can sometimes save you money. Some companies work together with others to get you a better package deal than you could get if you booked everything separately. (This isn’t always the case, so do your homework, but you should at least consider it.)

Take your discount cards with you. Are you a member of AAA, AARP, etc? If you are, be sure you take your ID cards with you. You never know when you will run across a hotel, restaurant, or even gift shop that will give you a discount for your membership. It never hurts to ask. The worst that can happen is that they’ll say “no”.

Don’t overpack. Now that airlines are charging for every bag you check, you have to be smarter about what you pack. While you want to make sure you have everything you need (buying extra items on vacation will really add up), you also don’t want to pack items that you don’t end up using. You don’t need your running shoes, cross training shoes, and walking shoes. Pick one and allow it to multitask for a few days.

Talk to a local. If you know anyone (or even have a friend of a friend) that lives in an area you’re visiting, ask them for recommendations. They might know some amazing restaurants, hotels and places to visit that aren’t as popular and won’t cost as much.

Search for discounts before booking. If you know that you want to go on a particular tour or participate in a particular activity, look online to see if there are any discounts available. With so many great coupon sites out there, you rarely have to pay full retail. The deals are available if you know where to look. Local radio stations are a great place to look for half-price deals or links to coupons.

Don’t go souvenir crazy. In the moment, you might really think you need that coffee mug in the shape of a roller coaster. The reality is that you’ll never use it since you can’t drink out of it without it spilling all over you. Set a budget for souvenirs and don’t allow yourself to go over it. That will really make you think before making an impulse purchase. Instead, you can take pictures of some of those souvenirs and make a fun scrapbook out of it.

Don’t overbook. It is your vacation. While it may be true that you’re only going to visit once, that doesn’t mean you have to do every tourist activity available. Overbooking will lead to overspending. It will also make you feel like you need another vacation just to recover from the first one.

Do you have any tips you'd add?

*Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

How Lucky Are You?

2011-03-09T20:45:00.001-05:00

Luck of the draw.
Luck of the Irish.
If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.

There are a multitude of quotes related to luck and even more beliefs on how to make it. From the four-leaf clover to the rabbits foot, people have all sorts of ideas about what makes them lucky, or not.

Personally, I tend to agree with the thoughts of Tennessee Williams who said, “Luck is believing you’re lucky!” I think if most people sat down and thought about all the positives in their lives, they would find that they are luckier than they previously believed.

For example, my life is far from perfect. I don’t have all the “things” I’ve ever wanted. However, I would never say that I’m not lucky. Here are a few reasons why:

I am married to an amazing man. He is strong, handsome, and caring. He is kind, thoughtful, and forgiving. Best of all, he loves me! Even when I’m being stubborn, ornery and difficult, he loves me. Some women worry that their husband will cheat. I do not. My husband loves me with all that he is. He tells me every day how beautiful he thinks I am. Every time I look into his beautiful blue eyes, I can see how much he cares. For that reason, I am lucky!

I have two beautiful, healthy, perfect little girls. When I say perfect, I don’t mean PERFECT. My kiddos make mistakes. They occasionally forget their manners. They don’t always listen like they should. However, so do I. My girls are kind-hearted. They are polite. They share. They make me smile. They make me laugh. They make me proud to be their mother on a daily basis. For that reason, I am lucky!

I live a comfortable life. My husband works very hard (and budgets well) so that I can stay home with our girls. While we have our share of worries, I never have to worry about the necessities. We have everything we need, and then some. For that reason, I am lucky!

I have AMAZING friends. While I don’t have very many close friends, the ones I have are wonderful. They are honest, hard-working, funny, strong, sincere and dependable. They are kind and forgiving if I make a mistake. They know me with all my faults, and they still like me. If I ever were to need anything, I know that my friends would be there for me. For that reason, I am lucky!

The list could go on and on. I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention my irreplaceable relationships with my sister and mother, the fact that I still have 3 grandparents that are still alive, and the fact that I live in a place where many are only lucky enough to vacation on occasion.

I am truly lucky! How about you?

*Note – This post was inspired by the redbox Lucky to Have Friends Like You Promotion.

The only thing better than $1 a night movies – free movies! Lucky you, redbox is giving everyone the chance to score free movie credits now through St. Patrick’s Day during the redbox Lucky to Have Friends Like You promotion. Each fan receives a unique web address. Every time someone rents from your address through March 17, you get a free movie credit. Rental credits are valid for ten (10) days after they’ve been deposited into your account. Spread the word, and lucky you could be rolling in free movies this March.

Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and redbox blogging program, for a $25 Walmart gift card from redbox. For more information on how you can participate, click here. Information for this post came from redbox and SocialMoms. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kroger and the Cart Buster Savings Event

2011-03-01T14:38:00.001-05:00

With the economy what it is, I am always trying to find ways to save money. From clipping coupons to scouring sales ads, I do my best to make our money count when I shop. That being said, I do not sacrifice quality customer service in my shopping experience. Lucky for me, I am able to find great deals and quality customer service when I shop my local Kroger store.

This week, Kroger is making it even better.

From February 27th through March 12th, shop Kroger’s biggest-ever promotion and find the hottest prices around on more than 35 brands, across more than 60 categories from General Mills, P & G, Nestle, Pepsi and Kroger Banner Brands. During the Cart Buster Savings Event, you’ll find great savings in almost every department at the Kroger Family of Stores, which includes Kroger, Ralph’s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy.

Here are just a handful of the great brands participating in the event: Multigrain Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Hamburger Helper, Yoplait, Progresso, Totino’s, Green Giant, Cascadian Farm, Tide, Charmin, Bounty, Pampers, Pantene, Crest, Iams, Febreze, Old Spice, Bounce, DiGiorno’s, Nestle Toll House, Juicy Juice, Coffee-Mate, Edy’s, Stouffer’s, Lean Cuisine, Hot Pockets, Nestle Candy, Purina and many more!

Looking for even more ways to add money to your pocket? Visit Kroger.com/CartBuster to participate in their “Deal of the Day” promotion! During each day of Kroger’s Cart Buster Savings Event, be one of the first 1000 people to click on the deal link and receive a free load-to-card coupon for the featured daily item.

Personally, the brands on sale are some of my favorites. Yoplait and Cheerios are on our shopping list every week. I also love that I can almost always find coupons for those products in my local paper as well as online. Don't you just love being able to load coupons to your shoppers card? It is so quick and easy to do, and I don't have to worry about forgetting my coupons at home. I only wish they doubled them like they do the clippable ones.

While I haven't had any luck getting the Deal of Day promotions loaded to my card, I'm still hopeful. The site has been so bogged down at noon when they go live that I usually have to take Pumpkin to school before I can ever get the page loaded. Here's hoping you have better luck than I do!

Speaking of luck, who wants to win a $25 Kroger gift card to help keep your piggy bank even fatter during this Cart Buster Savings Event? Here's what you have to do to win:

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me what coupon you're hoping they'll offer in the Deal of the Day. Today's deal was for Green Giant Fresh Steamers. Personally, I'm hoping for a Cheerios coupon. We can't seem to keep cereal in this house, and Cheerios is one I always feel good about giving my family.

Optional Additional Entries:

Follow me on twitter and post your username here.
Tweet about this giveaway. Use the hashtag #myblogspark and @rmgm. Post a link to your tweet here (Can be done 1x daily)
Like me on facebook. Post your initials here.
Follow me on GFC. Post your username here.

Details:

* Only open to US residents
* Winner will be chosen using random.org
* Giveaway ends 11:59 pm ET on March 12, 2011
* Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page.
* Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
* Prize will be sent directly from myblogspark. I am not responsible for lost or damaged products.

Disclaimer: The Kroger Family of Stores and General Mills/Nestle/P&G provided me with a $25 gift card, the information, and the opportunity to host a giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Earn Free Jewelry with Inspired Silver

2011-03-01T13:57:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I just love getting great deals on some of my favorite items. No deal is better than getting something for FREE!

InspiredSilver.com currently has a promotion where you can refer friends to earn free jewelry.

All you have to do is go here and sign up.

After you sign up, you will be given a link to share on facebook, twitter, via email, etc.

If you can get your friends to sign up using your link, you can earn earrings, bracelets, and more.

Disclaimer - I've actually never shopped at this site before. I'm posting this in the hopes that I can earn some free jewelry myself. If I do get some, I'll be sure to report back with more details. Good luck!

If I were abducted by aliens . . .

2011-02-28T17:41:00.004-05:00

I recently took Pumpkin and Peanut to the movies to see Gnomeo & Juliet. While there, we saw the preview for Mars Needs Moms. What a cute looking movie! When SocialMoms posted that they were looking for the top 10 things your kids would miss about you if you were abducted by aliens, I thought “What a fun idea!” Who knew how hard it would be to come up with ten things?! Here’s my best effort:

My cooking – Okay, I’m going to be honest. I’m not much of a cook. I try to cook, but many of my meals are not terribly well received. (Though admittedly, they are appreciated much more the first night than they are as “leftovers”.) Even so, I’d like to think that eventually they’d miss at least a few of my meals.

Story time – We love to read stories together. Whether I’m reading or they are, it is always something we all enjoy. Even when it is late, the girls ask if they can pick a story time before bed (and are sad if I tell them we don’t have time).

Mommy Hugs – Earlier today, Pumpkin fell and scraped her knee. It certainly wasn’t anything life threatening, but it definitely needed a mommy hug and kiss to make it all better.

“I love you”s – Every night after prayers, before leaving the girls in their rooms for the night, I whisper “I love you” 15 times in each ear. It started as a way to fill their minds with happy thoughts before bed so that they wouldn’t have nightmares, and has stuck. They really miss those “I love you”s when I’m not home to put them to bed.

Car Rides – I’m lucky to be able to stay home with my girls. Because of that, I take them to and from school each day. The car rides are a wonderful time for them to tell me about their days without the interruptions of phones, TV, computers, etc.

Games – I am horrible at pretend play, but I love playing games with the girls. Monopoly, Clue, Checkers, Memory, DDR – you name it and we play it. We always have such a great time.

Lunchbox Notes – Each day I put a note in Peanut’s lunchbox. Whether I write something silly, funny or sweet, she always looks forward to that note. If I happen to forget one day, she always notices and asks what happened. The lunchbox notes are a great way to let her know she’s on my mind even when she’s at school.

Baking Time – Doc is an amazing father, but one thing he does NOT do, is bake. The girls and I love to bake together. We have a great time making cookies, cakes, brownies, bars, etc. I think they actually enjoy the process more than the end product. If I was abducted, either Doc would have to learn to bake or hire someone who could.

Crafts – From hair clips to play-dough birds, the girls and I love to make crafts together. At Valentine’s Day, they each made their Valentines for their friends. After working for a couple weeks on those Valentines, Doc asked me “Do you think their friends appreciate all the work you guys put into those?” My reply was, “We don’t do it for them. We do it for us.”

Play Area Visits – The girls are like most kids and love visiting the local play areas at the mall, restaurants, playgrounds, water parks, etc. I can sit there for hours just watching them have fun. Whenever anyone else takes them, the visits tend to be much shorter. I think they’d miss the tolerance I have for those visits. (Which is ironic considering I always said I’d never let my kids play in those places because they are breeding grounds for germs . . . one of the many ways that being a parent has changed me.)

I may not be a perfect mom. I know that I have plenty of faults and lots of other things to work on. Regardless, I am their mom, and they love me imperfections and all. Just as I love them!

Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Countdown - Days 34 & 33

2011-02-22T10:23:00.000-05:00

Exercise - Power 90 3-4 Sweat with Ab Ripper 200; 30 minutes of Dance Dance Revolution on the Wii

Diet - I don't remember what I ate, since that was two days ago. If I remember right, the day was pretty standard. I wasn't perfect, but I tried.

Exercise - None

Diet - 1 cup Honey Nut Cheerios in skim milk, 2 waffles, 4 peanut butter crackers, 1 cup Sunchips, 1 Grapefruit, 1 Orange, I'm sure I had something else, but I can't remember. The day was a bit of a blur. We woke up to snow and ice everywhere. We grabbed some cereal quick and were out the door for a dentist appointment. When we got home we felt like comfort food, so I made us some waffles. Peanut had a fever, so we played board games, read, cuddled, and watched Beauty and the Beast for most of the day. Due to being sick and having a thrown off schedule, the girls weren't hungry at regular times. Not eating at regular scheduled times makes it hard for me to remember what we had.

Today is a brand new day . . . Peanut is still sick (which means that Pumpkin will follow shortly), so wish me luck on getting my exercise in today.

Countdown - Day 35

2011-02-19T20:11:00.000-05:00

Exercise - Power 90 3-4 Sculpt

Diet - 1 cup Honey Nut Cheerios in skim milk, 1/2 cup orange juice, 6 oz yogurt, kiwi, 1/2 can Campbell's Minestrone soup, roast beef sandwich, water, iced tea, handful almonds, Sensible Snacks Apple Cinnamon Sticks, 1/2 c frozen yogurt

Weigh In - Disheartening . . . +1 :o(

I appreciate the value of delayed gratification. I've seen the video for the marshmallow test.

That being said, when it comes to my weight, I'm more of an instant gratification girl. I know that muscle weighs more than fat. I know that it is better for my overall health if I try to exercise more and eat better even if I don't lose weight. I know that I could have done better this past week with my diet and exercise. I also know that I like cookies, ice cream, candy, fried foods, etc. If I gain weight when I generally avoid those foods I love so much, then it is harder for me to resist temptation.

Oh well. I'm going to try to go all in for week two. Wish me luck. If I don't see or feel some difference though, it will be hard to stay motivated.

Any words of wisdom?

Countdown - Day 36

2011-02-19T10:07:00.000-05:00

Exercise - Another walk/jog while the girls and Doc rode their scooters. We were planning a little Just Dance Kids, but the sun was shining so the girls wanted to go outside instead. Unfortunately, it was cold out so we weren't out as long as I would have liked. We spent about 30-45 minutes exercising.

Diet - 1 cup Honey Nut Cheerios with skim milk, handful of pretzels, my pasta leftovers from Ruby Tuesday, a handful of movie theater popcorn YUM!, a Dum Dum Lollipop, One Pizza Hut breadstick, Salad with chicken lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and no dressing, water, a small slice of pizza, handful of almonds.

Again, not my best day. Apparently we eat out way more often than I realized. I'm beginning to think that this is my main problem. I try to eat healthy when we're out, but it is so much harder if the kids are eating yummy stuff while I'm munching on a dry salad (that was supposed to be made with Romaine lettuce, but was actually iceberg.) I will say that I just love the kids' snack packs at the movie theater. For $5 the kids get a tiny drink (no need to get up and pee during the movie), one Laffy Taffy, and the tiniest bit of popcorn. They usually eat everything except the tiny scraps of popcorn that get stuck in the corner of the box. I get those! It works perfectly for me. I get a taste of popcorn without the guilt that comes from eating the large bucket (because it is the best deal!).

Since I've decided to only weigh myself once a week, tomorrow will be my first weigh-in. Wish me luck! I feel like I've done pretty well so far. I've been far from perfect (but I'd never be able to maintain perfect, so that doesn't bother me too much), but I think I've done pretty good so far. After today, I only have 5 weeks left . . .

Countdown - Day 37

2011-02-18T09:58:00.000-05:00

Exercise - Power 90 3-4 Sweat with Ab Ripper 200

Diet - banana, 1 cup Honey Nut Cheerios with skim milk, 6 oz yogurt, 1/2 banana, Ruby Tuesday Vegetarian Pasta (1/2), a handful of Chex Mix, Burger King TenderGrill Chicken Salad without dressing

I was out and about tons today, but I don't think I did too bad considering. I've discovered that the best thing to do when going out to eat is to order something fairly healthy and only eat half. If you ask for a box when you order or as soon as they bring out the food, you won't be tempted to eat more. Immediately cut the portion in half and box it. Eat the half that is on your plate and you don't be tempted to eat just a couple more bites.

Countdown - Day 38

2011-02-16T20:57:00.000-05:00

Exercise - 30-45 minute jog with the kiddos while they rode their scooters . . . Yay for a sunshine filled day!

Diet - banana, 1 cup honey nut cheerios in skim milk, water, 1cup chex mix, 6 oz yogurt, 1 oreo, 1 peanut butter cup, 1 pull and peel Twizzler, 3 slices of thin peppered turkey on a Bagel Thin (I switched it up a bit today), handful of almonds, kiwi, strawberries, salad with grilled chicken, lettuce, and almond slivers, watermelon jolly rancher lollipop

Okay, today was a horrible day. I have no idea why, but I was craving something. I couldn't figure out what it was so I just kept trying different things. No matter what I ate I didn't feel like it was right or enough. It was very strange. Tomorrow is a brand new day!

Sharing Happiness

2011-02-16T17:46:00.000-05:00

Happiness seems to be contagious!

While a friend and I were waiting to pick up our kids from preschool today, we were just talking about happiness. The sun was shining, the temperature was up, and we were both in the best moods we'd been in in a while. Sometimes, something as simple as a sunny day can make you happy.

What other things make you happy?

I'm happy when a cashier is particularly kind and friendly.
I'm happy when I get a great deal on an item I've been wanting.
I'm happy when my kids come home from school with good news.
I'm happy when my husband notices that I've worked especially hard around the house.
I'm happy when I get to have lunch and good conversation with a friend.
I'm happy when I do good and follow my exercise and diet plan.
I'm happy when I can indulge in a small, but delicious piece of chocolate without feeling guilty.
I'm happy when someone compliments my kids on their manners or thoughtfulness.

Just think, if things as simple as that can make me happy, then small things probably make other people happy too. It makes me wonder what I can do to make the world just a bit happier. So, here's the plan. I'm going to do little things each day and see if I notice a difference. Perhaps if I spread some happiness, others will continue to pay it forward.

Smile - A smile shows you're happy. When I great people, I will make sure that I smile. I want people to know that I am happy to see them. I want people to feel like they belong. I want people to feel appreciated. I hope that a small, but sincere smile will send that message and spread happiness.

Please & Thank You - Please and thank you are simple words that we learn as children. They also are words that show appreciation. Just the other day, when I said "thank you" to Pumpkin, she said to me, "Mom, you're an adult. You don't have to say "thank you". Only kids do." What???? I have no idea where she heard that or why she thinks that to be true, but it isn't. Parents need to show appreciation as well. Whether teachers, food servers, cashiers, grocery baggers, doctors, or even your children for helping out around the house - people should be thanked for the work they do. I know that it makes me happy when I feel appreciated. I am going to make a better effort to be sure that I thank people for their help.

Giving - We try to be generous people. We donate items that we no longer need or use. We buy extra items for the classroom so that children that don't have the necessary money or supplies can have them. However, I can always do more. I used to send my unwanted coupons to military stationed overseas. For some reason I stopped. I think I'm going to start doing that again. I am going to look for more opportunities to give of my time, talent, and money when possible.

Here's hoping that I'm right, and happiness is contagious. That is one thing I certainly wouldn't mind catching!

*Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hershey's blogging program, for a gift card worth $25 and some product. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Countdown - Day 39

2011-02-16T10:31:00.000-05:00

Exercise - Power 90 3-4 Sculpt

Diet - Banana, 1 cup Honey Nut Cheerios with skim milk, 6 oz yogurt, 3 slices of thin peppered turkey breast on a multi grain Arnold's Sandwich Thin, 6 strawberries, 3 mini Quaker rice cakes (cheddar), water, handful of almonds, 1 cup of Sensible Snacks Apple Cinnamon crisps, 3 Hershey's Kisses, Salad - lettuce, pepperoni (The kids were eating homemade bagel pizzas and it looked good, so I threw on a couple slices!), peppers, 16 oz green tea (iced), banana

Countdown - Day 40

2011-02-14T21:48:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today wasn't my best day, but it wasn't too bad either. Here's how I did . . .

Exercise - Power 90 3-4 Sweat and Ab Ripper 200

Diet - banana, 1 cup honey nut cheerios with skim milk, 6 oz yogurt, grapefruit, 1/2 orange, handful of grapes, 4 strawberries, 3 thin slices of peppered turkey on an Arnold's Sandwich Thin (multigrain), handful of almonds, handful of goldfish, 1 Fresco Chicken Soft Taco, 1/2 Regular Chicken Soft Taco, Water, banana, 3 Hershey's kisses (It is Valentine's Day!)

As hard as it was, I did throw away my kids leftover nachos and tacos from Taco Bell. Why do I have such an issue with that?

The Countdown . . . 42

2011-02-13T21:52:00.000-05:00

Something very exciting is happening . . . exactly 42 days from yesterday.

While I'm not going to tell you what it is (until after it happens), I will tell you that it is something that I am motivated to get in shape for. I've been trying since before the new year. I've not been dedicated though. I work out hard, then I get lazy. That is not going to happen this time. I've decided. I've committed. I will succeed. (Any BeachBody customers recognize that tagline?)

In order to stay on track, I will be posting here on my blog regularly. I'm hoping by posting, I will be able to see patterns in when I struggle the most with staying on track. Knowing the problem is a necessity in trying to fix it. I will try to post daily, but make no guarantees. The actual workout will take priority over writing about it. So, if I only have time for one or the other then you'll miss a day or two of updates. Many of the updates will be short. Those of you following me on Facebook, fear not, I will not post every workout update in your feed. I don't want to lose followers over my mission . . . just weight. :o)

To give you an idea of my goals, I'm going to give you a bit of information about me. However, I'm not going to tell you how much I weigh. I will tell you that on Saturday I weighed exactly 13 lbs more than I did before I got pregnant with Peanut. When I got pregnant, I was at a decent weight, but not my ideal weight. My goal is to lose 20 lbs. Will I lose 20 lbs in 42 days? Not likely! However, I hope to be at least half way to my goal by Saturday March 26, 2011. How am I going to do this? Well, here's what I've done so far -

Saturday
Exercise - Tony Horton's Power 90 Sweat 3-4 with AbRipper 200
Diet - 1 Banana, 1/2 c orange juice, 1 c Raisin Bran w/ skim milk, 6 oz yogurt, 1/2 can Italian Vegetable Soup, handful Almonds, 1/2 grilled chicken breast, rice pilaf, fresh fruit cup with pineapple, grapes, and apples, water

Sunday
Exercise - Tony Horton's Power 90 Sculpt 3-4
Diet - 1 c Honey Nut Cheerios w/skim milk, 1/2 c orange juice, 6oz yogurt, 1/2 can Italian Vegetable Soup, handful Almonds, salad with grilled chicken, peppers, carrots and lettuce, 1 grapefruit, blueberries, grapes, 1 banana, water

Wish me luck!

Clorox Get the Dirt Sweepstakes

2011-02-13T21:15:00.001-05:00

As much as I know it isn't good to gossip, I still love to hear the occasional juicy tidbit. Does that make me a bad person?

This Valentine’s Day, a new mobile campaign from Clorox® Regular-Bleach helps women clean up their own dirt while they enjoy their Hollywood news.

Clorox is sharing quick clean-up tips on how to keep fashionable winter whites white, keep flowers fresh longer and host a Hollywood-style party. And with Valentine's Day just around the corner, a girl can use some help. Tips like…

* Nothing says “I love you” like roses. Want to enjoy those flowers longer than a celebrity romance? Just add ¼ teaspoon of Clorox® Regular-Bleach to each quart of cold water you put in the vase.

* Got a stain from a heart-shaped chocolate on your favorite whites? It’ll come out in a snap once you add ¾ cup Clorox® Regular-Bleach to the hot water and detergent in your washing machine.

To get more tips from Clorox® Regular-Bleach and extend the Valentine’s Day romance, readers can enter the Get the Dirt, but Keep it Clean sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip for 2 Hollywood, CA! To enter and view official rules, visit www.Clorox.com/GetTheDirt.

Disclaimer - The Clorox Company sent me information about the Get the Dirt, but Keep it Clean program. All information other than the first two sentences came directly from One2One. I did not receive any compensation in exchange for my post. However, I am eligible to win a one year subscription to a gossip magazine in exchange for sharing this information with you.

Win With Baby Brezza

2011-02-13T20:56:00.000-05:00

When my kiddos were babies, I always thought that I would be one of those moms that made her own baby food. It seemed so easy, healthy, and cost effective. Unfortunately, I'm a bit technologically challenged. As such, I couldn't figure out my food processor. When I did get it to work, it was such a pain to clean that I didn't want to use it anymore.

Where was the Baby Brezza when I was a new mom?

I have to be honest and tell you that I've never actually used the Baby Brezza. However, every time I see one I really want to try it. It steams, blends, reheats, and defrosts. How cool is that?! Also, with just four dishwasher safe parts, even I could probably figure it out. So, who thinks I should have another baby, just so I can get a Baby Brezza? (Just kidding! I don't want one that bad. I'm too perfectly content with our cozy little family of four.)

Are you having a baby? Do you know someone who is? If so, then I bet a Baby Brezza is on your/their list. If it is, then I have to tell you about a cool promotion that BabiesRUs is having. If you put a Baby Brezza on your registry (you have to scan it, you can't just add it online), then you could win your entire registry for free (up to $3500). Unfortunately, this promotion ends on February 16th. For more information check out the BabiesRUs or Baby Brezza sites. Good luck! (If you win, be sure to come back and tell me if the Baby Brezza is as cool as it looks!)

Disclaimer - I was entered for a chance to win a gift card and Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place.

Valentine's Day with Pure Romance - Review & Giveaway

2011-02-13T15:55:00.001-05:00

So, here it is.

Another Valentine's Day is almost upon us.

What are your plans for this festive occasion?

Maybe you're planning a fun night out - Perhaps dinner and a movie?

Maybe you're planning a family night - Perhaps pizza and some board games?

Maybe you're even planning a romantic night in. Maybe you have parents nearby that have offered to take the kids for the night. Maybe you don't have kids yet. Maybe your kids are grown and off at college. If the romantic night in is what you're hoping for, then I have a giveaway for you.

Have you heard of Pure Romance?

If not, then here's a little background on the company -

Patty Brisben, the founder of Pure Romance, started the company in 1993 to empower, educate, and entertain women. Since then, the company has grown to over 70,000 product consultants who live the company’s mission each and every day.

Empowerment: This jobless recovery is taking its toll on families, however very often our Pure Romance consultants report that they are meeting or exceeding their income expectations. Sales have been recession-resistant. Pure Romance experienced a 37% increase in sales in 2010. Pure Romance also empowers women because they are able to take control of their sex lives, which can have an impact on quality of life.

Education: Pure Romance products resonate with women unlike any other in the category due to our commitment to educating women about their bodies and our products. The Pure Romance partnership with the Kinsey Institute, coupled with our curriculum developed by our Director of Sexual Health Education, means our 70,000 consultants are trained to provide the most helpful information and advice. Pure Romance doesn’t sell in stores because in-home parties offer women fun, private, peer-to-peer learning opportunities about romance, intimacy and sex.

Entertainment: Whether it’s the fun and camaraderie of the Pure Romance parties themselves, the use of Pure Romance products by a woman, or a couple’s inventive Pure Romance fun, entertainment is at the core of the company’s mission.

Is it sounding a bit more familiar now? ;o)

I have actually never been to a PureRomance party. In fact, I had never even used any of their products. However, they did send me a box of goodies to facilitate this review. While I haven't used most of the products, I did try out one. It is a rash preventing shaving cream that can also double as a hair conditioner. I have to admit, it smells wonderful (I used grapefruit.) and did an amazing job of making my skin soft and smooth. If you're looking for this product on the website, it is called "Coochy". (Seriously, who names this stuff? I liked it so much that I'd probably buy it, but I don't know if I want the kids - that can sound out anything - to see this tube sitting in my shower. I'm almost positive that this would be a word that they'd find a way to repeat in school.)

Now, back to the giveaway. Pure Romance is offering one of my readers a Mini Nights of Passion Variety Pack ($30 value) so that you can try out five of their most popular products - Aura, Ex-T-Cee, Excape, Sensations & Sweet Seduction. This mini size sampler would be perfect to take with you for a romantic weekend away. Because the winners need to be reported back by the 19th, this giveaway is going to be quick and easy. Here's what you have to do to enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what your general Valentine's Day plans are/were. Did you do dinner and a movie? A performance at the local theater? Bowling? A romantic night in?

Optional Extra Entries:

Follow me on Twitter. Post your username in the comments.
Tweet about this giveaway using @rmgm. Post a link to your tweet here. This can be done once daily.
Follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect and post a comment with your username.
Like me on Facebook

Details:

* Only open to US residents
* Winner will be chosen using random.org
* Giveaway ends 11:59 pm ET on February 16, 2011
* Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page.
* Winner will have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
* Prize will be sent directly from the sponsor. I am not responsible for lost or damaged products.

*Note: This giveaway is sponsored by PureRomance. I received products in exchange for this post. No other compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Company information for this post was given to me by Global Influence.

Dinner Time Etiquette

2011-02-10T14:43:00.002-05:00

What does dinner time look like in your household?

Are you a household that changes your clothes to proper dinner attire? Do you have all your utensils set out in the proper order. Do you use fine china and cloth napkins?

Are you a household that doesn't believe in utensils? Do you eat with your hands and wipe your face with your sleeves? Is belching considered a compliment in your home?

I can honestly say that neither of the above descriptions fits our household. While we are not as prim and proper as we could (or perhaps even should) be, we do a pretty good job of maintaining some sense of decorum. We do have some basic rules we live by at our dinner table, most of which revolve on being polite.

Perhaps you don't like every food that is on your plate. You don't have to eat it all. You simply have to take a polite taste. After the polite taste, you are welcome to leave the rest. You may not make disgusting faces or gagging sounds. You can not criticize or complain about the food you have been served. There is no reason that you should ever offend someone that has worked hard to make a meal for you.

When you would like more of something, you do need to say "please" and "thank you". Show your appreciation for others by using your kind words. Ask nicely for seconds, a napkin, or to be excused.

Eating is generally done with utensils. If a food is intended to be eaten with utensils, then you must try to do so. Some foods are just not utensil foods, however. Those can be eaten with your hands as long as you try to be neat about it. For the younger kids, sometimes an occasional finger might need to help keep a pea on a fork . . . that is okay too.

Eating is a family occasion. We generally eat dinner as a family. On occasion some event or meeting will prevent that, but that is our goal. We wait patiently for everyone to finish eating. We take turns when speaking (but hopefully not when our mouths are full) and we try our best not to interrupt.

Personally, I think that the most important rule for dinner is that it is an occasion that works for you. We spend far too much time during the day away from each other. If we have a few minor lapses in etiquette, but enjoy our time together, then it is definitely worth it!

*Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Kraft Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Wordless Wednesday - Valentine's Day Crafts

2011-02-09T20:13:00.001-05:00

The girls have been working hard on their Valentine's Day cards for their classmates. Pumpkin wanted to give Tootsie Pops, so we made butterflies for each of her classmates. Peanut wanted to give Smencils, so we made flowers for her friends. So far I think they turned out really cute! What do you think?

*If you have Valentine's Day ideas, please link to them here. I'm always looking for fun new projects for my girls. You may remember that last year we made heart shaped crayons.

Wordless Wednesday - What animal is this?

2011-02-02T21:24:00.000-05:00

I'm told we have coyote where we live . . . this doesn't look like a coyote to me.
Some people swear they've seen a red fox wandering around . . . this doesn't look red to me.
Does anyone know what this animal is?

Wordless Wednesday - What in the world are they doing?

2011-01-26T11:23:00.000-05:00

The other day, Doc and I looked out the window and saw this . . .

It looks like they are parasailing on the ice. I've never seen anything like it before and it had me wondering a couple things -
1 - What are they wearing on their feet? Ice skates? Shoes? Boots?
2 - What happens if the wind takes them over a part of the ice that isn't solid?
3 - How do you stop?

If anyone has done this before and has any insight, please let me know. I'm thoroughly intrigued!

CSN stores - Giveaway Winner

2011-01-21T06:14:00.000-05:00

Out of 108 entries, random.org selected #53 as the winner of the CSNstores giveaway.

Congratulations to Doodle741 who said... Tweet! https://twitter.com/#!/Doodle741/status/23929717430157312!

Simple Changes for 2011

2011-01-19T16:55:00.000-05:00

When my children were just babies, life was crazy. I was sleep deprived. My house was a mess. I was carrying some extra baby weight. I always said, "When the girls get older, I'll have more time to get back in shape. I'll have more time to clean when I don't have to hold them all the time. I'll find more time when they nap longer and sleep through the night." Then my babies became toddlers.

When my children were toddlers, life was crazy. I was no longer sleep deprived, but I was exhausted. My house was a mess. Cleaning seemed futile. As I would try to pick up in one room, the girls would be playing (aka making a mess) in another. I still was carrying extra baby weight even though I felt like I never sat down. I thought, "I'll have more time when the girls are in school. I'll get on a real exercise schedule. The house will be immaculate. I'll probably even be bored." Then my toddlers started school.

Now that my girls are in school, life is crazy. I am no longer exhausted, but I am constantly busy. Between driving the girls to and from school and other activities, I am always on the road. My house is still not clean. With grandparents that love the girls more than life itself, we are overrun with toys that have outgrown their homes. I am still carrying extra baby weight. (Can you call it that when your babies are 5 and 6?) I exercise regularly, but my body no longer responds like it did when I was in my 20's. I now realize that I will never have more time. Twenty-four hours is all that you can get in a day. I now understand that it is not the amount of time you are given, but how you spend it. How I prioritize my life is up to me. That is why I am making some simple changes to make my life better in 2011.

I really have no major complaints from 2010. It was a good year. However, even the best of years can be improved upon, and that is my goal. In 2011 I plan to remain happily married to my wonderful husband. I plan to appreciate him more. I plan to give him a kiss every day when he gets home from work so that he knows how much I love him. I am hoping that that small gesture which will take only seconds from my day will remind us that even with our busy lives, we are still in it together. I have been blessed with two amazing little girls. They are so kind and polite. They rarely miss an opportunity to say "Please", "Thank You", or help a friend. In 2011 I plan to make more of an effort to recognize their strengths. Instead of only correcting them when they do forget, I will tell them how much I appreciate their thoughtfulness. I will thank them when they help with the dishes, laundry, or vacuuming the floor. I hope to foster their kindness and encourage their hard work with simple words of acknowledgment. The last small change I hope to make in 2011 is to do more random acts of kindness. Sometimes it might be as simple as a smile for a stranger. Other times perhaps I'll pass a coupon on to another shopper. By appreciating what I have and sharing with others, I hope to make not only my own life better, but also the lives of others who might pay it forward.

*Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Simply Orange® blogging program. If I am one of the first 65 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 Target gift card and a gift pack that includes a Simply Orange® cooler bag and logoed fleece.

Facebook Fan Giveaway Winner

2011-01-11T20:04:00.000-05:00

Of 13 entries, random.org selected #10 as the winner of my Facebook Fan Giveaway. Congratulations Esther! I will be contacting you shortly so that you can select your prize.

Cinch! by Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD (Review)

2011-01-09T20:22:00.000-05:00

First, a bit about the book . . .

Cynthia Sass, the creator and co-author of the New York Times Bestselling Flat Belly Diet presents her new break-through, 30-day weight loss program Cinch! targeted to end overeating, leaving dieters feeling full and satisfied while enjoying the best food combinations to burn fat and boost metabolism.

The program starts with the 5-day Fast Forward plan that ends erratic eating by focusing on five simple foods—spinach, almonds, raspberries, eggs, and yogurt (or vegan-friendly alternatives) - eaten in a variety of combinations. These first 5 days promise up to 8 pounds of weight loss. Each of the five foods is low in calories yet loaded with nutrients and natural satiety-boosters, which allows you to “detox” from junk foods without feeling deprived.

The remaining 25 days of the program are packed with foods that offer maximum fat-burning, improving metabolism while unlocking the secret to the body’s satiety center with foods that the latest research shows turn on the body’s “I’m full” signal. As in Flat Belly Diet, all of the meals for the full 30-day program are created for you and are fully interchangeable. As an added feature, vegan and vegetarian options are covered so the plan can be adapted to fit any lifestyle.

Cynthia is also the Weight Loss Blogger for Shape magazine.

What I liked:

After reading the first three chapters, I was completely on board. I was committed. I went out and purchased spinach, eggs, yogurt, raspberries and almonds. Her logic and explanations made sense. Cynthia states that you need to eat four evenly spaced meals every that that each contain all of her five food groups - a lean protein, produce, whole grain, plant based fat and SASS (seasonings). If you do that, you will remain full longer, you will lose weight, and you will be getting all the nutrients that you need. She also provided evidence by referencing studies to back up her claims. The book was thorough. It included references, recipes, and detailed explanations so that you knew why you were making the changes you were.

What I didn't like:

After chapter 3, the book gets into the meat and potatoes of the diet. This is where specific recipes are listed. While I love that the recipes are provided, unfortunately, many of the recipes are not for me. I can eat fairly clean (I stuck to the Power 90 diet and exercise plan for the full 90 days), but not as clean as Cynthia recommends. I come from a family of meat eaters. While I don't think that we overindulge in red meats, I am not willing to eliminate all red meats and pork products from our diet, as she suggests. In addition, Cynthia rarely makes any reference to exercise. She briefly mentions walking, but nothing else. When making a lifestyle change to lose weight, my goal is not just to be thinner, but to be healthier overall. I think that by eliminating this aspect of weight loss from her book, she is doing a bit of a disservice to many of her readers.

Overall:

This is a great book for the right person. With the detailed information and recipes provided, you could definitely be on your way to living a healthier, thinner life. Unfortunately, I am not that person. If one of my readers thinks they would enjoy reading this book and giving it a try, let me know. I'd be happy to pass my copy on to you. (*Note - I received an uncorrected proof that has a significant number of noticeable omissions and notes to the author/editor within the text of the book)

*Disclaimer - I received a copy of this book from One2One in exchange for my honest review. I did not receive any other compensation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Any Novice Wine Drinkers Among Us?

2011-01-07T13:35:00.000-05:00

Personally, I'm not a wine drinker. For some reason, the taste of wine makes me think of church rather than fun, relaxation, or a good time. However, that doesn't mean that wine doesn't intrigue me. I live in an area that is full of wineries. I've toured several and taken part in wine tastings as well. I think it is interesting to hear which food accentuates a particular wine (or vise versa) and why.   It is also great to know when entertaining, since wine seems to be more and more popular in my circle of friends lately. As such, I was eager to learn about a site called Pair Savvy from One2One.

Both a site and a mobile app, Pair Savvy allows you to pair wine (or even beer) with an appropriate cheese. You can select the pairing by choosing a particular wine, beer, or cheese that you are interested in, and the site will tell you what else you should have to go with it.   Does that make sense? If not, check out the site, it really is a simple concept, but I'm having a hard time making it sound just right.

The site is rather fun to play with. I actually had no idea that so many varieties of beer, wine or cheese actually existed until I started goofing around with it.   I also love that you are able to save your pairings. That way, if I find a pair I really like, I know I'll be able to find it again.

I was disappointed in one aspect of the site. There wasn't an explanation for the pairings or a description of the wine, beer or cheese. For example, I was expected to read something like, "This intensely flavored semi-soft cheese distinctly contradicts the soft earthy flavor of this red wine . . . " so that I would know more of what to expect with the wine and/or cheese.

Overall, it is definitely a site/app with a purpose. For the right person, it could easily provide you with an option when looking to choose a wine for yourself or to entertain.

*Disclaimer: I am introducing and reviewing this site through One2One. I did not receive any compensation in exchange for my post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday - The Canada Goose in Ohio is still alive and well. . .

2011-01-05T10:16:00.000-05:00

. . . unlike the Red-Winged Blackbird in Arkansas. I wonder what happened?

What did you get for Christmas (CSNstores Giveaway)?

2011-01-04T21:12:00.003-05:00

The thing I've discovered about Christmas gifts, is that they have a strange way of making me want or need more items that I didn't realize I needed before I received the gift.

For example, I got some sweaters for Christmas from my sister . . . but I didn't have any shirts that matched to wear underneath. So, off I went to find some matching shirts (and some cute pants . . . because who doesn't need some new cute pants? Okay, maybe me . . . but that is beside the point.)

So, what did you get for Christmas? Did you get a new TV? If so, then you are probably looking at tv stands or wall mounts in every store you pass by.

Did you get an ipod touch? (I did! Thanks Doc!) If you have kids in your house, then you can't have an unprotected ipod touch. You must need a case and screen protectors. Maybe you could even use a dock or travel charger.

Whatever it is that you received for Christmas, I suspect that there is some accessory that you are now looking for. Unfortunately, money is often tight after the holidays, which makes purchasing these accessories a bit of a challenge. Lucky for one of my readers, I was contacted by CSNstores to host either a review or giveaway on my blog. I have opted to do the giveaway. As such, one of my readers is going to receive a $35.00 promotional code to use on any of the 200+ CSNstores sites. (Please remember that not all items ship for free, so take that into consideration when choosing your prize if you win.)

Mandatory Entry: Browse any of the CSN stores (preferably using the "tv stands" link above) and find an item that interests you. Post a link to the item and a brief statement of why you'd like to win it.

Optional Extra Entries:

Follow me on Twitter. Post your username in the comments.
Tweet about this giveaway using @rmgm and @CSNStores. Post a link to your tweet here. This can be done once daily.
Follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect and post a comment with your username.
Like me on Facebook
Post about this giveaway on Facebook. Make sure you give a link back here and @MomOnTheEdge so that I can see that I was mentioned.

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on January 18, 2011
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

*Note: This giveaway is sponsored by CSNstores. I did not receive any compensation in exchange for hosting this giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Others may have different experiences.

New thoughts for the New Year

2011-01-03T19:58:00.000-05:00

I began this blog for two reasons:

To get more entries for giveaways on other blogs when I was actually entering more often.
To have a place to rant, rave, complain and brag about things that were going on in my life (even if no one was reading).

Throughout my giveaway entering and random talking, I have been given several opportunities to host giveaways for the few that do read this blog. As that happened, I began to compare myself to other bloggers. I wanted to have as many followers as xxx or high value giveaways like yyy. I wanted people to send me products to try. I wanted someone to care about my opinions. The reality is that I am not a review blogger. I am not a giveaway blogger. I'm not a great writer. I'm a regular person. I am a mom. I blog when I can or when I need to vent. I will still host giveaways as they come my way if it seems like a product that people would like. However, I no longer have a goal of having as many followers as xxx. Follow my blog if you'd like. Feel free to unfollow if you wouldn't. I will no longer be concerned with my online rank. My main concern in 2011 is being the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend that I can be! I expect that life in general will give me plenty of things that I'll need to blog about . . .

*Note: With this change of heart, I have also decided to end my facebook giveaway early. Rather than wait for 100 fans, I will select a winner via random.org on Friday (just in case any of my current facebook fans would like to enter that haven't already).

Do You Know An Amazingly Energized Woman?

2010-12-30T22:04:00.000-05:00

We all have a friend or family member that seems to have it all together. You know the one. She has a job, an immaculate house, cooks healthy dinners every night, and loves craft time with the kiddos. Every time you see her, you're in awe (and a little annoyed), wondering how it is possible to be so perfect. Personally, I like to tell myself that she's not really as perfect as she seems. She must have some flaw, right? Well, now is not the time to look for her flaws. Now is the time to toot her horn (or your own if you're the person all your friends are in awe of). Centrum and Molly Shannon are currently searching for America's Most Amazingly Energized Woman. Between now and January 3, 2011, you can nominate yourself or someone you love that is an example of an amazingly energized woman.

The makers of Centrum® multivitamins are celebrating women who live life and love to the fullest by staying healthy and energized, even during the busiest time of the year. Tell us her (your) secret on maintaining healthy energy levels so she can enjoy the great things the holiday season brings – including friends and family time, giving gifts, hosting parties, and so much more!

The form is short. Submissions must be 300 words or less. So, even if you're not the one full of energy, you should be able to find sufficient time to get the essay done. A panel of judges will select five finalists. The five finalists will then be voted on by the public to choose a winner (which is why I won't be entering). The winner will receive a $3000 XPERIENCE DAYS gift certificate. Each of the four runners up will receive a $400 XPERIENCE DAYS gift certificate. So, check out the prizes, write an essay, and cross your fingers. If one of my readers is selected as a finalist, please come back and let me know and I'll be sure to vote for you. Good Luck!

Disclaimer: I am a member of One2One Network and this post is part of a member project where I am eligible to win prizing. I make no claims about Centrum as a product or it's effectiveness.

Old Navy Coupon Giveaways

2010-12-30T20:38:00.000-05:00

Every year around this time, stores have some amazing sales on their winter clothing. Since Pumpkin and Peanut are fairly young, I can get away with buying clothes now in preparation for next year. One of my favorite stores to shop for great deals on cute clothes is Old Navy. Each week, a couple of blogs give away several coupons for $50 off a purchase of $100 or more. This week, I found two that I'm entering. (If you find any others, I'd appreciate if you'd let me know.) Here's hoping that I win, or if I don't, that one of my readers does! Good Luck!

The Charmed Mom

Simply Being Mommy

Wordless Wednesday - Wonderful Winter Sunset

2010-12-29T20:22:00.000-05:00

While this might not be the best picture, I absolutely love it. Even in the Winter, we have the most gorgeous sunsets. Look at the branches on the trees. All of the ice crystals make it look like the trees are decorated with Christmas lights.

Holiday Treats from Kroger & Chex - Giveaway Winner

2010-12-28T20:18:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to guettel78! Random.org selected #228 out of 297 entries for the Holiday Treats from Kroger & Chex - Giveaway. Thanks to all who entered!

Starbucks Gift Card Winners

2010-12-27T20:25:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, I did not win the ComfySacks contest. Sadly, I'm not surprised. The best part about participating and losing is that I can guarantee that I won't waste my time on voting contests for a while. It usually takes me several months before I forget how much I despise them and give another one a shot. If I happen to mention on Twitter or Facebook that I'm thinking of entering another, please remind me of Comfy Sacks, Little Tikes Water Slide, or the CSNstores Creative Kids contests to stop me before I regret it. :o)

Since I didn't win, I am not doubling the value of the gift card from $10 to $20. However, since I do want to show my appreciation for your votes, I am doubling the number of winners. Two winners will each receive a $10 Starbucks Gift Card. Random.org selected comments #5 and #11 as my winners. I have verified that both participants did "like" my photo. Congratulations Guilly and AubreyLaine! I will be contacting you shortly via email.

Also, since the contest is over and the votes have been counted, please feel free to "unlike" ComfySacks on facebook if you would like. (I have no affiliation with ComfySacks and have never purchased their products, so I cannot recommend that you either use or avoid them based on experience.)

Thanks again for all your votes!

Did you miss me?

2010-12-26T16:50:00.000-05:00

After an amazing (but crazy) Christmas, I am back.

It might take me a while to catch up, especially with the kiddos home from school for the next week, but you will probably see me daily for at least a short post.

Tomorrow I will draw and the post the winner for my Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway.

I'll see you then!

Carmex Lip Tints Winner & Coupon

2010-12-14T14:15:00.000-05:00

I had 37 entries for the Carmex Lip Tints Giveaway. Random.org chose #2 as the winner.

Congrats Charro M. I will be contacting you via email shortly. For those of you that didn't win, but want to check out the new Carmex Tints, be sure to check out this page for a coupon.

Also, don't forget to enter my Kroger/Chex Giveaway here and my Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway here.

Holiday Treats from Kroger & Chex - Giveaway

2010-12-13T16:31:00.001-05:00

With the holidays fast approaching, our house is in a constant state of motion. From practicing for the Christmas pageant to baking for guests, it feels like we are always busy. This weekend, we were busy as usual, but it was a good kind. We were writing out our candy-grams, getting teacher gifts put together, and getting the last of our goodies made for the holiday extravaganza that begins this week.

Wednesday, Peanut will be singing in her Christmas program. It is expected that both sets of Grandparents will be in attendance as well as Auntie Em. While it isn't a big crowd by any means, I still have hostess guilt that makes me feel like I have to have homemade goodies for our visitors to enjoy. You may recall that we did most of our holiday baking over Thanksgiving weekend. However, MyBlogSpark sent me Chex cereal and a Kroger gift card recently, and I couldn't let that go to waste. As soon as I saw the recipe for Chex Muddy Buddies on the Rice Chex box, I knew I had to make it with the girls.

9 cups Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Wheat Chex, or Chocolate Chex Cereal
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Into a large bowl, measure cereal; set aside
In 1-qt microwaveable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on high 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2 gallon resealable food storage plastic bag.
Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

While this "in progress" picture doesn't do it any justice, I just have to say that the mix is delicious! Hopefully it lasts until Wednesday. If not, I'll be heading to Kroger to get more supplies. Luckily, Chex is on sale at our Kroger until December 25th, so it won't cost me too much to replace it. (Just an FYI - As soon as I saw this recipe I knew it looked familiar. It is very similar to a mix we called "People Chow" that was made with Golden Grahams instead of Chex.)

In addition to this recipe Chex has oodles of others as well available on their website. From Buffalo Chex Mix to Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch, you're bound to find something you'd like to try. They have sweet, salty, gluten-free, and 15 minute recipes on the site.

Who wants to win a great prize pack from Chex, Kroger, and MyBlogSpark? The prize pack will include a Kroger gift card and some Chex to make your own recipes.

Here's what you have to do to win (mandatory):

Look at the Chex website and tell me which recipe you'd most like to try.

For additional entries you can also do the following. Be sure to leave a comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on twitter (leave your twitter name)
Like me on facebook (leave your initials)
Follow me on Google Friend Connect (leave your username)
Tweet about this giveaway. You may do this once daily. Be sure to include @rmgm #myblogspark and a link to this post (leave a link to your tweet)

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on December 27, 2010
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page. If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen. I will not contact you through Twitter or Facebook.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Prizes will be sent directly from the sponsor. I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment. If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know.

*Disclaimer - The prize pack is provided by Chex and Kroger through MyBlogSpark. I received the same pack to facilitate my review and giveaway post. The recipe here came from the box of Rice Chex. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I want to win . . . How about you?

2010-12-13T15:42:00.001-05:00

I know, I know.

I said I'd never enter one of these voting contests again.

I always work so hard and harass all my friends and family to vote for me, then end up disappointed when I lose. This time, I mean it. If I win this contest I will not enter another voting contest ever again (by ever I mean until I can't resist the prize and think my odds are better than zero).

So, here's my beg for votes.

If you wouldn't mind, would you please go to the Comfy Sacks Facebook Page and like it, then go to my picture (I'm contestant #5) and like that as well.

Just because I'm feeling generous (and really want to win), I'm offering another incentive as well. I have a $10 Starbucks Gift Card that I'm giving away to one of you that likes the picture and leaves a comment here. If I win, I'll double it. So, please vote, then post here that you did (with your facebook initials so that I can verify). Be sure to spread the word and ask your family and friends to vote as well. Even if you don't want to tell them about this contest, you want them to vote. Don't forget, if I win, the winner here wins even more.

Thanks so much!

*Disclaimer - If I win the ComfySacks Contest I will win a Kids Mini Lounger. I am providing the Starbucks giftcards myself. There are no sponsors for this giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The ComfySacks contest is scheduled to end on 12/19/10 at midnight. This giveaway will end at the same time. Please include your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile. Winner will be selected by random.org and contacted via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

Review - NBC's Community - Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas

2010-12-09T13:13:00.000-05:00

I was recently contacted by One2One to participate in a project where I was able to get a sneak peek at this week's Community on NBC. In exchange, I was asked to give my honest review. To give you a bit of background about myself, I have watched Community in the past and enjoyed it. However it is not one of my "must-see" shows. Now, before I give you my review, here's a bit about the episode:

When Abed (Danny Pudi) wakes up in stop-motion animation, he takes it as a sign that he and the group must re-discover the meaning of Christmas. Meanwhile, Jeff (Joel McHale) and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) become growingly concerned about Abed's mental health and enlist the help of Professor Duncan (John Oliver). The group undergoes hypnosis to explore Abed's winter wonderland and soon unravel the truth behind Abed’s madness. Chevy Chase, Yvette Nicole Brown, Donald Glover, and Ken Jeong also star.

To be completely honest, within the first few minutes I was bored and even a little confused. I didn't really like the intro to the show. I didn't enjoy or appreciate some of the inappropriate (in my opinion) humor. I didn't like that they described themselves as being in stop-motion. Having watched the entire program I understand that the explanation was important to the plot. Only Abed saw them in stop-motion which is why the group sought the help of Professor Duncan. That being said, by the first commercial break I was hooked. While I could have done without some of the sarcasm, I just love Shirley in the show. I found myself laughing out loud during a couple of her lines. In addition to the humor, I also appreciated the message. As you may have read here, for me Christmas is about new and old traditions. It is about family, friends, and opportunities. The magic of Christmas is not in the gifts, it is in the experiences we all share. I personally love the idea that no matter what you believe, Christmas can be a time when we all come together to create our own magic!

*Disclaimer - I reviewed this episode through One2One. I did not receive any compensation in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What do you want for Christmas?

2010-12-07T11:05:00.000-05:00

"What do you want for Christmas?"

I might be completely alone in this, but it drives me crazy when people ask my kiddos what they want for Christmas, their birthday, or any other holiday or event. Honestly, I think it drives other people crazy when my kids don't have an answer.   We don't ask the girls what they want as far as gifts are concerned. We simply pay attention to things they do and say throughout the year. We watch which section of toys they are drawn to when we are shopping for others. (Though admittedly this might become more difficult as they get older.) My reasons for this are two-fold. First, I don't want them to think that holidays are all about the presents. Second, I don't want them to be disappointed.

We live fairly far away from most of our family and friends. The holidays are pretty much the only time we have the opportunity to visit with great-grandparents and other extended family. In addition, our extended family is rather large. My dad is the oldest of 12 children. All of whom are married and have kids. Many of those kids are also married with kids. This means that there are close to 100 people at the family Christmas party. Grandma gets everyone a small present, but generally few other gifts are exchanged. The holidays are simply a time to reconnect with those that have helped us to become what we are today. They are an opportunity to learn what is going on in the lives of others. The holidays are a time for relaxation, joy, connection, history, and tradition.

I have an amazing family. My parents were always (and still are) kind, generous, thoughtful and fun. I have some great memories from the holidays. I remember our traditional night out at our favorite Mexican restaurant followed by a drive around looking at Christmas lights while carols played in the car. I remember going with my dad to pick out the perfect Christmas tree at the farm. I remember hanging lights with dad and baking and decorating cookies with mom and my sister.   I remember going to Christmas mass together. I remember the feeling of being safe, secure and loved. Do you know what I don't remember? I don't remember a single specific present that I received.   However, I do remember something else. I remember the feeling of disappointment with my gifts. It wasn't that I didn't get what I wanted. I did. I got what was on my list. I think with all the magic of the holidays though, I was expecting more. I was expecting surprises. I was expecting a perfect something that I hadn't even known I wanted. I don't think I'm a greedy person. I don't think that I was ever ungrateful or unappreciative. It is just that the listed items weren't as exciting or glamorous as they looked on TV. There wasn't any magic in the "things" I received.

Just the other day I had to rethink my stance on this issue when Peanut came home from school in tears. They are apparently working on letter writing in school. She said that she had to write a letter to Santa asking for at least two or three things.   She didn't know what to do since she doesn't make a list for Santa. "What do I ask for? I don't make a list, I like surprises." was mumbled through her tears. (Whether she really likes surprises, or I have just ingrained that into the girls is an entirely different post.) We talked through it and she did come up with a couple of small items she could write about. It seemed to appease her for the moment.   After our conversation, I did decide to stick to my guns . . . for a while. For me, the magic was never in the gifts. It was always in the experiences. Hopefully, by focusing on the experiences rather than the gifts we can keep the magic of Christmas alive for just a bit longer.

General Mills & MyBlogSpark Family Fun Night Giveaway Winner

2010-12-07T09:36:00.000-05:00

There were 71 entries for my Family Fun Night Giveaway sponsored by General Mills and MyBlogSpark. Random.org selected lucky #13 which was:

13. Doodle741 said... Tweet! http://twitter.com/Doodle741/status/7971945660284928

Congrats Doodle741! I will be contacting you via email shortly.

Thanks to everyone who entered and left comments on my blog. Don't forget to enter for a Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Tints prize pack. It ends on 12/13 (as of today there are only 5 entries). Good luck!

Are your lips getting chapped? (Carmex Review & Giveaway)

2010-12-02T05:41:00.001-05:00

I am not a lipstick girl. In fact, I didn't even wear it on my wedding day. For some reason, wearing lipstick makes me feel too noticeable. I'm not really someone that enjoys being the center of attention . . . I actually prefer to blend in a bit. So, when Carmex sent me their Moisture Plus Lip Tints to review I was a little concerned. "How am I going to review a product that I wouldn't normally think to try on my own?" After a little motivation and a day out with a friend, I can now post my thoughts and opinions. Before I do though, I'll tell you about about this product.

The best of both worlds are coming together with real moisture meeting light, sheer color. Perfect for any occasion and easy to apply - no mirror required! Formulated with Vitamin E, Aloe, Shea butter, and SPF, Carmex Moisture Plus tinted lip balm gives you moisture, a hint of shine and color all in one sleek package. (from the back of the package)

Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Tints are available in two colors, sheer pink and sheer peach. Both colors have a slant tip, SPF 15, and Vitamin E and aloe moisturizing protection. Personally, I prefer sheer peach because it is more the natural color of my lips, however neither color is too strong. While I still prefer traditional Carmex in the jar or the original Moisture Plus, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the Tints. The slender tube with the slant tip is definitely a plus. It isn't large and bulky in your pocket or purse, and it is very easy to apply. I also really like the looks of the tube. It just looks a little "classier" than a standard lip balm tube. I don't know if it is just my preconceived notions or not, but the Tints don't seem to last quite as long as the original product did on my lips and don't feel quite as smooth. I will say that the Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Tints are great for date night (for me). They give my lips a touch of color without making me feel like I stand out in the crowd. I plan to stick to my normal Carmex products for regular use, but will definitely pull out the Tints for special occasions.

Want a chance to win some Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Tints of your own? (Winner will receive two Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Tints.)

Here's what you have to do to win (mandatory):

Tell me which color of the Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Tints you'd like to try. Please leave your email address in the comment if it is not visible in your profile.

For additional entries you can also do the following. Be sure to leave a comment for each additional entry.

Follow Carmex on twitter (leave your twitter name)
Follow me on twitter (leave your twitter name)
Like Carmex on facebook (leave your initials)
Like me on facebook (leave your initials)
Follow me on Google Friend Connect (leave your username)
Tweet about this giveaway. You may do this once daily. Be sure to include @rmgm @CarmexLipBalm #carmex and a link to this post (leave a link to your tweet)

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on December 13, 2010
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page. If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen. I will not contact you through Twitter or Facebook.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment. If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know.

*Disclaimer - Other than receiving the product to facilitate my review, I did not receive any other compensation for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Our Thanksgiving . . .

2010-11-30T22:46:00.000-05:00

I am far from a perfect mother, but when my kids are home from school, I really do try my best to give them some attention. We play games together (but not pretend ones, because I'm really bad at those). Sometimes we'll watch a movie together. We'll even cook and clean together. Over the holidays you will see periods of absence on my blog.   Those are times when I am traveling, visiting with family and friends, or playing with my kiddos. While I do enjoy blogging, I enjoy living my life with my family even more. As you know, I'm not a review blogger. I do post reviews and giveaways when they come my way and I think they are something you might like, but I do not answer to anyone on this blog. It is mine. I post what I want, when I want. Thanksgiving happened to be a time when I didn't want to take the time away from my kids to post. We were having too much of an amazing weekend. Here are a few highlights:

My kids didn't have school on Wednesday, but Doc did have to work. Peanut, Pumpkin and I thought that would be a perfect opportunity to go Christmas shopping for Doc. Originally, they wanted to get him a dog, but eventually decided that maybe he wouldn't appreciate that gift. (I don't know if I've mentioned it in the past, but Doc is very anti-pet . . . it goes along with his neat freakishness) Eventually, each girl was able to find something that he needed in a style that reflects their own personalities.   I think he'll get a chuckle out of what they finally selected

On Thanksgiving, we went for a nice family walk followed by lunch at that fancy schmancy restaurant I was telling you about. After lunch we went to see Tangled (Thanks MyBlogSpark and General Mills).   Doc had never been to a movie with the girls, so it was definitely a fun experience. He had never seen the kids snack pack before, and actually wanted one of his own. :o) Pumpkin is a girl that laughs out loud during movies. I couldn't help but steal a glance and a smile at Doc each time she'd burst out laughing - too cute! The only problem is that she is now having nightmares about the "mean girl" in the movie. Ugh! Have I sheltered them too much?

Friday, Saturday and Sunday were filled with Christmas preparations. We decorated, baked, wrapped and even went to our local tree lighting ceremony. We had such a great time! I didn't even get upset when the kiddos spilled stuff all over the kitchen while helping bake cookies. I don't think I can't count the number of times I said, "It is okay. Baking cookies is messy." with a smile on my face and a broom, mop, rag, in my hands.   If I haven't mentioned it before, I am probably pretty low ranking when it comes to the list of moms with patience. I'm also a bit of a control freak. This weekend was so relaxing that I didn't even care that one of our teddy bear cookies had three heads while another looked more like an elephant. I didn't make the kids decorate the cookies the way I would. I didn't say a word (because I didn't mind) when they mixed the peppermint sprinkles with the chocolate chips, and nonpariels.   This was supposed to be a fun family weekend, and it was. We might have just created a new Thanksgiving family tradition.

Take Time for a Family Fun Night (Giveaway)

2010-11-22T13:30:00.001-05:00

As you may have read here, my family is doing something a little different for Thanksgiving. Instead of making it a huge holiday celebration, we are making it the calm before the storm. We are making it a time to be together and enjoy each others company. We are going to relax, unwind, and take a break from life as we know it in order to appreciate the people we love - the people that see us at our worst and still love us.

Our time together will include dinner out, a movie, Christmas decorations, baking cookies, and a board game or two over the four days of our Thanksgiving break. We'll probably read together and go for several walks if the weather allows. What would you do if you had a couple days of unscheduled time to spend with your family?

If your family enjoys movies, then I highly recommend you check out your local stores for sales on General Mills cereals.

Starting in November, you can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of Big G cereals including Honey Nut Cheerios® (17 oz.), Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (17 oz.), Lucky Charms® (16 oz.), Trix® (14.8 oz) and Reese’s Puffs® cereal (18 oz.).

After purchasing two participating cereals, visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the unique code found inside each box of cereal and print your free Movie Cash certificate (good for one admission of up to a $12 value at participating theatres). To find a participating theater in your area, log onto http://emoviecash.com/dis_locator/.

Right now, Kroger has several of their Big G cereals on sale for $1.49 when you buy 4. If you combine that with printable $1 off 2 boxes of Big G cereals and coupons that you can load directly to your card, then you can get 4 boxes of cereal and 2 movie tickets for $4 or less! Cereal for dinner and a movie out with the family sounds like a fun, easy, and inexpensive way to reconnect.

So, who wants to win a Family Flick Night prize pack from General Mills and MyBlogSpark? Your prize will include two boxes of cereal and four Movie Cash Certificates.

Here's what you have to do to win (mandatory):

Tell me your current favorite General Mills cereals that you are planning to purchase to get your movie cash.

For additional entries you can also do the following. Be sure to leave a comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on twitter (leave your twitter name)
Like me on facebook (leave your initials)
Follow me on Google Friend Connect (leave your username)
Tweet about this giveaway. You may do this once daily. Be sure to include @rmgm #myblogspark and a link to this post (leave a link to your tweet)

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on December 6, 2010
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page. If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen. I will not contact you through Twitter or Facebook.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Prizes will be sent directly from the sponsor. I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment. If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know.

Disclaimer: I was sent a Family Flick Night prize pack from General Mills and MyBlogSpark to post about this program. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Our Thanksgiving Plans

2010-11-22T13:12:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving is the beginning of the holiday rush. The eating, traveling, visiting, laughing, playing, partying, ~~fighting~~, cooking, rush. Most years we travel - between 2 and 4 hours - in one direction or another to visit with family. This year we are doing something different. We are staying home. No one is coming. The four of us are going to a late lunch at a fancy schmancy restaurant that hosts a Thanksgiving buffet. We are following it up with a family movie. (We'll probably go see Tangled.) The rest of the weekend will be spent putting up our Christmas decorations and starting our holiday baking and cards. Right now, to me, it sounds a bit like heaven. It isn't that I don't enjoy seeing family and friends. I do! It is just that our life has been so busy lately that it feels like we haven't had time to be a family. Between school, ballet, soccer, work, birthdays, concerts and programs, we are over scheduled. I am thankful that we are able to participate in all those activities. I am thankful that we have friends and family that we love (and love us). I am thankful for so much about my life. It is just that I want to have the time to truly appreciate the minutiae of it.

Even if you're not ready to cancel your Thanksgiving plans, I really think that now is the time to slow down and make sure that you are enjoying your spouse, your children, and your life. Take a day out to just be a family without worrying about all the other things going on around you. Eat cereal for dinner and play board games when you would normally be doing the dishes. Let your kids help you pick out the menu for a night. Shop together, cook together, and clean up together - not worrying if there is still a piece of cheese stuck to the plate. Turn off the phone. Turn off the computer. Remember what it is like to be with those that you love. Remember why it is that you love them.

Are you thoughtful? - Try to win $500 from itsThoughtful

2010-11-20T11:56:00.001-05:00

Have you heard of Its Thoughtful?

itsThoughtful is a vibrant social shopping community focused on gift shopping. Its a forum for people to share and discover the most popular, creative, thoughtful, unusual, funny, unique (we can add more adjectives but you get the idea) gift ideas in the world.

Right now, if you sign up for the site, you can submit ideas for thoughtful gifts. If your idea is voted to be the best idea, you can win a $500 Amazon gift card. I've got my thinking cap on and am trying to come up with some thoughtful gifts of my own. You might want to give it a shot too!

Even if you don't have any thoughtful gift ideas to share, you might want to check out the site to see if you can borrow some ideas from others. Everyone definitely appreciates a thoughtful gift more than a thoughtless one. Personally, I love how you can search by occasion or recipient and even sort by price. I haven't used the site to pick out gifts yet, but I will definitely check it out when I'm stuck on a gift idea.

*Disclaimer - Information about the site came from the site itself. If 15 people sign up using my link, I am eligible to possibly win a $25 Amazon Gift card. I haven't used the site yet, but do like the idea of it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Carmex Coupon (and a Giveaway Announcement)

2010-11-18T06:36:00.000-05:00

For everyone that entered my Carmex Giveaway, but unfortunately didn't win, I have some good news. If you still want to try the new Carmex Cream and/or Lotion, you can get a coupon for $2 off here (WSL). Also, I will be hosting another giveaway from Carmex next week. This time it will be for one of their lip products. My lips are already getting chapped, so you'll definitely want to be on the lookout for this giveaway.

Norah Jones - Featuring

2010-11-16T14:30:00.000-05:00

The new Norah Jones CD, ...Featuring, is being released today, November 16, 2010. Norah Jones is one of my favorite artists, so I am extremely grateful to One2One for providing me with an advance copy to listen to and review. Before I get into my review, I'll give you a little taste of some of the songs as they are described in the trailer for this new CD.

In this little tidbit from Norah Jones's YouTube Channel, you can hear what I love most about this CD - it has tremendous variety. From Outkast to Dolly Parton, Norah sings with artists from just about every genre of music. While I can't say that I loved all the songs, I can say that a few of them are pretty high up on my current list of favorites. I think I could listen to Norah and Willie Nelson crooning Baby It's Cold Outside for the rest of the winter. Each time it plays, I want to curl up in front of the fireplace with Doc and a mug of coffee and Irish cream. It is just that relaxing. If you're looking for a good CD, with a bit of everything, then I definitely recommend you check out ...Featuring on Amazon. While you're there, take a minute to preview each of the songs and see what you think.

*Disclaimer - One2One provided me with a copy of the CD for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

CardsDirect Giveaway Winner

2010-11-16T09:28:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to bmom76 for winning the CardsDirect Giveaway! Thanks to all who entered.

The Life You've Imagined by Kristina Riggle - Giveaway

2010-11-12T13:23:00.000-05:00

I was looking through some of my previously read books and noticed that I still have my copy of The Life You've Imagined by Kristina Riggle. The copy I have isn't in the greatest condition, but all the pages are still there.

From the Harper Collins website:

Is the life you're living all you imagined?

Have you ever asked yourself, "What if??" Here, four women face the decisions of their lifetimes in this stirring and unforgettable novel of love, loss, friendship, and family.

Anna Geneva, a Chicago attorney coping with the death of a cherished friend, returns to her "speck on the map" hometown of Haven to finally come to terms with her mother, the man she left behind, and the road she did not take.

Cami Drayton, Anna's dearest friend from high school, is coming home too, forced by circumstance to move in with her alcoholic father . . . and to confront a dark family secret.
Maeve, Anna's mother, never left Haven, firmly rooted there by her sadness over her abandonment by the husband she desperately loved and the hope that someday he will return to her.

And Amy Rickart—thin, beautiful, and striving for perfection—faces a future with the perfect man . . . but is haunted by the memory of what she used to be.

Kristina Riggle's The Life You've Imagined takes a provocative look at the choices we make—and the courage we must have to change.

The author took the book on a different path then I expected, but I do have to admit that it was an easy enjoyable read. If you would like me to send you my copy, just let me know by leaving a comment here with your email address if it is not available in your profile.

The Holidays are Coming! - Fitness Friday is Back

2010-11-12T13:07:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know, it has been a while since I've updated anything about my fitness. Please don't yell at me though (that is actually why I quit doing my Wii Fit . . . I didn't like the way it "talked" to me when I missed too many days). Well, I've reached my breaking point again. The point where I have to adjust the waist of my pants when I sit so that it is either above or below my stomach or I'm just not comfortable. I am pleased to say that I am not back where I was when I first did the Power 90 program. So, that's something, right?

If you're the devil on my shoulder, I know what you're thinking. "Why start now, right before the holidays? It will be hard to be good with all the comfort food and baked goods that people will be serving. How will you get through the holidays with family without a drink or two? Why don't you just wait for a new start to the new year?" I've been thinking all those things myself. However, my thought is this - If I can just be good and aware of my decisions during the holidays then I hope not to gain weight. If I lose some, even better! Don't you worry, I will be tasting a bite or two of my faves, and indulging in a drink or two as well (I'm not crazy!).

I decided to start this program this week, so I'm officially on Day 5. Here are the changes I've made:

Water Only
Making smarter choices - Okay, I'm not perfect and my family (as much as I love them) doesn't help. I will eat pizza - though not as many slices. I will not finish the leftovers on Peanut and Pumpkin's plates (Curses to whomever it was that brainwashed me with the importance of the clean plate club and eating all my food because there are starving children elsewhere!)
Exercise - Here's the deal: I don't really like to exercise. I like to play sports. I like team activities. I have a short attention span. I get bored really easily. I live in a small town with very little opportunity for organized physical fitness. Knowing all that information about myself, I will exercise. I will put it on my schedule. In fact, so far I have been doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. In 30 days, I'll let you know what I think.

So, wish me luck! If you'd like to join me on my journey to get in better shape and make healthier decisions, let me know. I definitely do better work when someone is holding me accountable.

Jingle Bells Are Ringing . . . Can You Hear Them?

2010-11-12T06:23:00.000-05:00

It is November!

I am typing that more for my own benefit than anyone else's.

How has time passed by so quickly this year?

I had such great intentions for the year. With Peanut in school all day every day, and Pumpkin in school for 2.5 hours every day, I was going to have so much time to get things done.   Where did my time go?

I planned to get family pictures taken. I planned to send out my Christmas cards before Christmas this year. (Actually sending them out at all would be make me a step ahead from last year. Oops!) I even had the cards picked out. Well, my cards might not arrive as early as I'd hoped, nor have the pictures I'd imagined, but it will get done.   Thankfully, the quality of Shutterfly's cards means that they'll look good even if they aren't "perfect".

In the past I have ordered at least one photobook from Shutterfly every year. I have also ordered calendars as holiday gifts for grandparents. I have even ordered Thank You cards. (I love to create thank you cards with images of the girls on them. Inside I type a standard thank you greeting leaving a blank space for the girls to fill in the item they received. I also leave plenty of space for them to add their own note of appreciation or a drawing of them using the gift.) Each time I place an order, I always ended up being more than happy with the results. While I haven't ordered Christmas Cards in the past, based on all my other experiences I have to believe that they would be amazing! From cards with one photo to an entire collage, the selection is extensive.   Now, if only I could find a nice picture . . .

*Disclaimer - I wrote this post as part of a Shutterfly promotion to receive 50 free cards. You can also apply to participate by going here. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thankful Thursday - A Gorgeous Fall Sunset

2010-11-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

While I absolutely adore the sunsets in the summer, nothing can compare to the amazing colors we see after a fall sunset.

(Never) Wordless Wednesday - The Final Temptation

2010-11-10T14:33:00.000-05:00

Over the past month we have celebrated the birthdays of my niece, my dad, my sister and Pumpkin. Between that and all the Halloween goodies, treats have been calling my name, just asking me to eat them. This past weekend we gave all our Halloween candy to our neighbors. This lone cupcake is my final temptation in the house.

Carmex Review & Giveaway - WINNER

2010-11-09T09:34:00.001-05:00

Out of 56 entries, random.org selected comment #4 as the winner of the Carmex Giveaway. The winner has been contacted. Thanks to all that entered!

Also, I know that I promised you a final product review at this point, but I really don't have anything to add to my previous review. Silly me, thinking that the weather would get colder as we progressed into November. It is in the 60's today, so suffice it to say, my furnace hasn't been doing much heating (and drying the air) lately. I promise to update if/when I have more info to share though. :o)

With a card sent here and a card sent there . . .

2010-11-08T06:41:00.001-05:00

Here a card. There a card. Everywhere a card, card. :o)

Beginning in late October, my to do list is filled with purchasing, writing, and mailing out cards. Between Pumpkin's birthday and the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays, we fly through stamps at our house in November and December. From invitations and holiday greetings to the thank you cards that follow them up, we are always looking for new, fun, and creative products that might catch the eyes (and hearts) of our family and friends.

We couldn't possibly be the only people in this situation, right? Some of my readers have to be in need of cards too, right? If you are, then it might just be your lucky day. Global Influence approached me on behalf of CardsDirect to get the word out about all the products they carry as well as to host a giveaway for a code to be redeemed for 25 cards (up to a $50 value) from CardsDirect.

CardsDirect offers the very best in personalized greeting cards for business or personal use. Over 2,000 card designs are available in categories that include holiday cards, birthday cards, thank you cards, photo cards, baby shower invitations, birth announcements and many more! With free personalization and custom imprinted verse, CardsDirect offers an easy online ordering process and top quality cards with the best selection, customer service and pricing found anywhere.

While I haven't used CardsDirect yet, it looks like it is a great site for personal use as well as for a business owner. While looking through the Christmas Cards, I was surprised at the selection. There are several cards that allow you to put your company name on the front of the card as well as personalize the inside. In the Holiday Cards, you can find Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Year, and even Earth Day Cards. I might not have a specific need for those cards, however some businesses might find that Thanksgiving is a better time to thank their customers for their loyalty. While browsing the Baby Announcements, I thought back to when Peanut and Pumpkin were first born. Why didn't I send some adorable announcements like those? Honestly though, I spent most of my time browsing the Photo Cards. With so many to choose from, how am I supposed to decide which one I really want?

I may not know what I'm going to order yet, but you shouldn't be concerned about that. You need to be thinking about what you want to order. If you want to win a code for 25 cards (up to $50), here's what you need to do.

Mandatory:

Browse the CardsDirect site and leave a comment here telling me which card you'd choose if you won. Be sure to leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile.

For additional entries you can also do the following. Be sure to leave a comment for each additional entry.

Follow CardsDirect on twitter (leave your twitter name)
Follow me on twitter (leave your twitter name)
Like CardsDirect on facebook (leave your initials)
Like me on facebook (leave your initials)
Follow me on Google Friend Connect (leave your username)
Tweet about this giveaway. You may do this once daily. Be sure to include @rmgm and @CardsDirect as well as a link to this post (leave a link to your tweet)

Details:

Only open to US residents
Winner will be chosen using random.org
Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on November 15, 2010
Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page. If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I will be receiving some cards in exchange for hosting this giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Quoted information came from CardsDirect via GlobalInfluence.

Winner - Operation Purple Giveaway

2010-11-03T21:24:00.000-04:00

Random.org selected ABW as my winner in the Operation Purple Giveaway. The winner notification email has been sent out. Congrats ABW!

Always on the lookout for new blogs

2010-11-03T19:52:00.000-04:00

As a frequent blog hopper, I'm always on the lookout for new ones (whether they are new in general or just new to me) with good content. Thanks to my dear friend at Monkey Mayhem! I was introduced to the blog Sensible Cents, which hosts great giveaways and seemingly honest reviews. In fact, right now she is hosting three amazing giveaways for Bubble Talk, a Rubik's Slide, and HINT Water. For an extra chance to win, I'm telling you about them. Just in case random.org doesn't pick me as the lucky winner, I'd love for it to be one of my readers. Good luck!

Happy Birthday Pumpkin!

2010-11-03T09:25:00.000-04:00

Five years ago this morning I gave birth to my Pumpkin . . . my Halloween baby that has been full of a few tricks, but mostly treats. :o) With beautiful brown eyes and a smile that reaches all the way to her soul, I thank God every day for giving this precious gift to me. Happy Birthday Pumpkin!