Momma Loves 2 Shop!

Disney on Ice- Dare to Dream Giveaway!

2012-01-08T19:12:00.000-06:00

I remember as a little girl, going to see Disney on Ice was so much fun! Now, being able to take the kids is such a fun treat for all of us! There's something about watching the skaters, dressed up so gorgeous, it's amazing!
If you head over to "My thoughts, ideas and ramblings, you can enter to win a 4 pack of tickets to see Disney on Ice- Dare to Dream, for you and your family! Giveaway ends soon, so head over quick!

Welcome to 2012...

2012-01-01T06:20:00.001-06:00

Happy New Years! It amazes me how fast the year went by, although, it seems the past few years have just flown by. Mabye it's because I have kids, everything just seems to go way faster than in the past. Last night, my daughter and I were talking about New Years in the past, I always used to throw an awesome "kids" party for my sisters and cousins. I would have a theme every year, Fashion show, Talent show, Karoakee night, and then the best part was the prizes! Of course, being a total clearance aisle shopper, I'd go to all the stores a few days after Xmas and pick out the CHEESIEST prizes I could. Watching them open their "prizes" for being Best Model, Best Talent, etc, was just too much fun. I think we did our parties for 6 years, and then, the girls got older, started going out with their friends for NYE, and now, it's just me and the fam, and no matter how much I try to make it fun, it's just not the same! Not saying that blowing off our Party poppers and chugging our Sparking grape juice with my babies isn't fun, I just wish I could make it as fun as it used to be, for them!

And then, I also realized that MY baby, my son, is just growing up way too fast for me. At midnight he got a text, from his friend, a girl, but as he told us MANY times, she's NOT his girlfriend! : ) I sat here thinking how in a few years, he's probably not going to want to be with Mom and Dad on New years, he'll want to be with his friends, and that makes me sad... I want him to stay a kid forever, drinking that Sparkling grape juice, popping those poppers and hiding his phone from us because he doesn't want us to see who he's texting. I want to spend New Years with the 4 of us scrunched on our bed, watching movies, fighting over pillows because I hog them all, and laughing that our huge dog will always find a way to get on that bed with us even if his spot will have him half off the bed. I want my kids to remember these moments as I do, the moments I wouldn't trade for anything.

I hope everyone has a great New Years Day, not too hungover, and many great days in 2012!

Christmas shopping for my son, is NO fun!!!

2011-12-01T22:17:00.000-06:00

I can't remember a time when Xmas shopping for my son has been easy, even as a little boy he didn't play with toys much. He would really want something, so I'd go get it for him, then after a week it would be in the toybox. As he got older, and into the dreaded video games, I figured it would be easier! Just buy the games he wanted, or the accesories to whatever system he had that year... but NOPE! He is seriously one of the hardest kids I've ever had to buy for! Not only because it's hard to figure out what he wants, but because what he does want, is always sooo expensive!
Take, for instance, this years "list" -
1. Touch screen cell phone
2. Turtle Beach Headphones
3. Tablet "OR" Ipad, (sure kid!)
4. New Call of Duty game

And that is his list, no other little things he wants, just these 4 items, that I'm guesstimating, but would probably run around about $500 for those 4 items!! So we had a talk, trying to explain that these things are pricey, and if we did get all of them, (which we aren't), it would mean that we'd have to spend that much on his sister too! And thats $1000, that we don't have.... wish we did!!! I think he gets it, it's just really hard not being able to get your child everything they want for Xmas, but COME ON!!! I miss the days of getting toys for $5-10, and even if they only got a week of play, it didn't break our bank account!! I told him last night that he either better go to college and get a really good job, OR he better find a very, very rich woman to support his electronics needs, lol!
So, is shopping for your kiddies fun, or one of the most stressful shopping experiences you have all year?!

Hellooooooooo December!

2011-12-01T02:03:00.000-06:00

Am I the only one that is thinking, "Where the heck did the year go?!" It seems like just yesterday I was taking down my Xmas tree, putting away the decorations, and getting the house "organized" to fit all the toys and junk the kids got from Santa! But that was almost a year ago, and again, I find myself saying "How is the year almost over?"
It's been another crazy, tough year, but somehow we managed to get thru it, and in one piece. I know now that I can look back and laugh at the things that were tough, I can see that sometimes we have to go thru crappy situations to get to where we need to be, and I realized that sometimes, it takes awhile, but then life can finally click. It may be too early to say, but I'm REALLY hoping 2012 is going to be a great year for my family!!!
So, as I start to put up the Christmas decorations this weekend, pull out all of our ornaments, and start the dreaded wrapping of the presents, I'm sure I will find myself thinking back to last year and still wondering how the year went by so darn fast!

ALMOST at 200 Followers! Giveaway when I hit 200, soooo

2011-11-27T22:10:00.000-06:00

Spread the word!!! I've been blogging for a few years now, but always seem to take some breaks, which are meant to be small ones, then end up being WAY longer than I meant for them to be! Sooo, I'm back, and almost to 200 followers, finally! When I hit 200, I will have a giveaway for a $20 Giftcard! ( Winners choice of a variety of stores/restaurants!)
So please spread the word, whether it be about the Kristine's Shower giveaway below, or just let someone know about my blog! Hoping to have more great giveaways coming soon!
Thanks to all of my current followers, and welcome to my new followers!

Kristines Shower- Review AND Giveaway!

2011-11-25T20:15:00.003-06:00

For the past few years, it seems like as soon as Fall arrives my skin becomes VERY dry! Having Psoriasis, I have to be careful of what products I use, some irritate it, some make it painful, and the ones I have found that work are either real expensive or smell bad!

Kristine's Shower, is a company with tons of great homemade Bath and Body products that are absolutely wonderful! When I opened my package of Aloe Vera Body Whip, Body Frosting, Shea Butter Body Sorbet and 100% Soap, the first thing I noticed was the amazing scent coming from the box! The 6 pack of Bath Bombs smell SO, SO good, it's hard picking which one I want to use every time! Since using them I've noticed my skin is smoother after a bath and smells very good even hours after. It doesn't bother my psoriasis, in fact, it seems to be getting better around my elbows and hands!

Using the Body Whip has become routine for moisturizing my horribly dry hands! The 2oz. containers are perfect to keep with me in my purse and have them with whenever I need them!And again, after using once, I really don't have to apply again for a long time! But I do anyways because I love the smell of the whip! I apply the Shea Butter Body Sorbet before bed and mabye its just me, but I find that it helps me relax and fall asleep faster than usual!

If you are looking for a gift for that person that has everything, or need a Stocking stuffer, Grab Bag gift, or just want to treat yourself to something great, check out Kristine's Shower for tons of amazing products! Gift sets, Packs of Bathbombs, even products for Men are available! I'm sure whoever is receiving this gift will be VERY happy! And right now, get 35% off your order if you use the code BIG35 upon checkout!

Want to win yourself some Kristine's Shower products? Just let me know which product you'd most like to try! ( Mandatory Entry!)
Winner will recieve a Stacker of Kristine's Shower products!

Extra Entries-

1. Subcribe to my blog ( 2 entries)
2. Become a Follower ( 2 entries)
3. Follow me on Twitter ( 2 entries)
4. Tweet this Giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)
5. Blog this giveaway( 5 entries, leave link!)

Giveaway will end on Thursday, Dec.8th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to claim prize. Good luck and thanks for entering!

I recieved Kristine's Shower products to review in return for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

Black Friday, I'm so ready for you!

2011-11-12T21:05:00.000-06:00

Every year, there is one day that I cannot wait for, although I'm sure my Hubby can! Black Friday, the day I spend day upon day planning for, when I get the first email from Gottadeal.com, I've got my notebook out and my lists start! My sister always laughs, because we shop and I'll have a list for every store that I pull out and look thru, each list has store opening time, hours the sales start and stop, and then I number what things I want!
I can't say when I first started Black Friday shopping, probably in my teens if my Mom went, but my biggest memory was Black Friday shopping, the day of my Wedding!! Yep, I got up extra early to hit Target and Walgreens, got some things for my sisters and then headed off to my hair appointment! There was NOTHING that was going to stop me from getting those $3 Barbies, and $2 PlayDoh sets, not even marrying my Hubby! Now, I look forward to shopping with my sisters every year, waiting in line at 3:30 am in the freezing cold, for Kohls to open, then running next store waiting in an even bigger line for Target to open! I love it, I think its one of the best days of the year, aside from my Bday and Anniversary, which, are all in the same week, lol!
So, I'm getting ready this year, got a brand new notebook and have started planning my strategies for the day! What are your Black Friday plans?

Baby Bullet giveaway at Diaries of a Domestic Goddess!

2011-10-11T20:24:00.000-05:00

What's an awesome gift for a new mom? The Baby Bullet! I wish I could of had one of these when my kids were babies, I would of LOVED making my own baby food for them! Now, I'd love to win one, not only because it's amazing, but because as silly as it may sound, I'd still use it alot in my house! Between my dental work and the kids losing teeth, I'm pretty sure this Bullet would come in handy!
If you head over to Diaries of a Domestic Goddess, you can enter for a chance to win your own Baby Bullet! Go now, giveaway will end October 23rd!

It's October 3rd, and the Holiday decor is already out at stores!

2011-10-03T22:14:00.000-05:00

Went to a few stores today, and thought, "I need to start looking at the Halloween decorations, we don't have much". Turned the corner, and was in an aisle of Christmas decorations, cards, etc! Now, I've always been excited to start shopping early for the holidays, but this year, I'd like to hold off! I mean, we JUST got our Halloween costumes, I want to be excited for Oct.31st, and NOT think about Dec. 25th for at least a few more weeks!
I remember the same thing happened during the Summer, school had only been out for say, 2 weeks? But Target was already lining their aisles with school supplies and goodies! And believe me, I LOVE to shop, for school supplies, Holidays, I'll shop for anything, but sometimes I'd like to not have it in my face when its still months away! Is it just me, or are stores putting stuff out earlier and earlier every year?!

Party City! For all of your Halloween needs!

2011-10-03T09:40:00.000-05:00

When I was a kid, I was always SO excited about Halloween. I'd stand in the Costume aisle and just stare, wondering which costume I'd be this year. Now, that was 20 something years ago, and costumes have come a LONG way from what I used to get to be! A plastic mask and vinyl cape of Miss Piggy or Wonder Woman was my choice, but now, WOW! I headed over to Party City to check out their site, From Animals to Super Heroes, there are so many choices, I can't imagine how long it would take me if I was a kid now!

My kids are 12 and 8, so they've been picking out their own costumes for awhile, my daughter usually tends to stay safe with a Princess or "cute" witch, but this year she went with Skelanimals- Kit the Kat! It is such a cute costume, and its perfect for her class party at school, then on to Trick or Treating! Costume came with a Dress, Leggings, Glovelettes and a Kit the Kat purse! I have a feeling my daughter will be trying it on every day until Halloween arrives!

My son, 12, informed me that he didn't want a full costume this year, his school doesn't do much for Halloween so for him, its just all about who he can scare on Halloween with a scary mask! We picked out the Nylon Skull Mask and Nylon

Pumpkin Mask, and they are FREAKY! Because they are Nylon they are a tight fit, but I think if he wore with a Hoodie it would look amazing! The Pumpkin mask is really scary, my daughter turned her back for a second and when my son turned her around, she screamed to high heaven, Man, am I looking forward to the next few weeks, lol! Guess I need to hide the masks till Halloween!

What I really liked about Party City is that if you're on a budget, there are still a ton of costumes to choose from under $20. There is also a Clearance section with costumes, some are only $5! Plus, if you sign up for Email alerts, you will recieve coupons for free shipping, % off, and other great deals! So, if you haven't gotten a costume yet, I would recommend checking out Party City, you won't be dissapointed!

Wish I could Tivo my life...

2011-09-20T19:55:00.000-05:00

So much has gone on the past few years, that I now look at myself and wonder where the old Me went. I used to love to pick up my little sisters and go shopping, we could spend hours at the mall, no money, just walking around having fun. Now, I look forward to going to Target, alone. I used to visit my parents and Grandparents almost every weekend, now I'm lucky to get out there once a month. I used to be an independant person, now I feel like I depend on everyone around me just to make it thru the day. And I used to be the type of person that was sure of herself, now I question every move I make, partly because I'm always making the wrong move.
I wish life was like Tivo, so I could Rewind and change alot of things, but mostly so I could go back and remember all the good times. I'd love to Fast forward thru this part of my life, because to me, it's definetly not worth watching. And I wish I could pause on the days when Hubby and I could sit and laugh about the silliest things, that to everyone else meant nothing, but to us, it was hysterical. I guess I just miss what used to be, what I used to have, and wish I could still have it.

Finding a job, and now regretting all the opportunities I've passed up

2011-09-12T11:31:00.000-05:00

If you would of told me 10 years ago, that this would be my life, I probably would of laughed and laughed. Ten years ago, I was just laid off and was getting ready to be on Unemployment while job searching, when an opportunity came my way I couldn't refuse. I took a job as a Warranty Service Manager at a Home Builder, and although I had NEVER done any work like that before, I was excited! I ended up working there for 3 1/2 years, moved up on the ladder and was making great money! Then I had my daughter, and my Hubby and I decided I could stay home with the kids for awhile, so I did. That lasted about a year and realized this was not going to be a permanent thing, I like to shop too much! So I went back to another homebuilder, where I was only there about 6 months. That company was nothing like the first one I'd worked for, so I just never looked forward to working everyday. But I always thought I'd be able to find another job.
Now here it is, about 5 years after that, and I cannot find a job for my life! I have done many types of work, Reception, Customer Service, Semi- Telemarketing, Warranty, Hotel work, so it's not like I'm just applying in one field of work. I think I've probably filled out at least 100 apps in the past 2 months, and I have recieved exactly ZERO calls back. Kind of makes me feel like I am no longer qualified to do anything but sit at home moping, being depressed and sweeping the floors.
And now is where I really wish I would of went back to school, for anything! After High school, I had planned on going to become a Dental Hygenist, but my fear of spit and pghlegm stopped that. Then after i had my son, I had decided to go back for Hospitality because I enjoyed working in the Hotel business so much. But then I found out I was pregnant with my daughter so I never went. Now, I've been thinking of going, but theres no money left to go. I've applied for grants and all that fun stuff, but I guess I'm just not going to get anything. I know all of this is my own fault, I just wish I would of actually thought of how good the future could of been, instead of this crappy life I've made for myself and my family.
Heres hoping that one day, my phone will ring and it will be someone wanting to hire me for a job, not just another bill collector looking for money!

First week of school down, and 1 kid is already sick!

2011-08-28T22:27:00.000-05:00

I should know by now, that as soon as school starts, the kids are going to be getting sick! No matter how much I try to pump more fruits and veggies into them, give them their vitamins every day, within a week or so, at least 1 of my kids is sick!
Last year, my daughter had a horrible UTI the first week of school, but she didn't tell me until the end of the week, because she didn't want to miss school she LOVES it! Then 2 weeks later, my son got a cold that lasted for 3 weeks, but HE isn't like little sis, he wanted to stay home the WHOLE 3 weeks!
I am looking for a really good childrens vitamin, my daughter hates Gummi ones, which we have because last year, she loved them! And my son will make a huge stink about taking normal vitamins, claiming they leave a bad taste in his mouth. So, what are some suggestions for a vitamin BOTH kids will take, and like?!

Windows Phone Giveaway at The Dirty Shirt Blog!

2011-08-28T22:23:00.000-05:00

Right now, The Dirty Shirt blog is having a giveaway to win a Windows phone! I'd love to win this, as having my phone on me is always necessary and this phone seems amazing! Head over to The Dirty Shirt blog to enter, and hurry because the giveaway ends Sept.1st!

EdenFantasys- Fun and Sexy goodies for Adults!

2011-08-22T01:32:00.002-05:00

Anytime I want to look for something fun and sexy, I head over to EdenFantasys! When I'm looking for a sexy Bra and Panty set or a pretty Nightie, I know I'll find a great selection there! I just recieved this Lace Bra and Panty set, and couldn't be happier! It's comfy enough to wear all day long, and sexy enough to make Hubby crazy! : )

But it's not just for lingerie, if you want to add a little fun to the night, you can check out their Sensuoul Massage Kits, Warming oils, and Edible treats! The Oil of Love is amazing, it's probably one of the first oils I've used that doesn't have a bad taste, or leave you feeling like your dripping in oil hours after applying. The Cherry Almond scent was perfect, not too strong and left a lingering scent that was very pleasant! When Hubby isn't complaining, I know it's a winner!

If you aren't one to wear lingerie or use the Sensual goodies, EdenFantasys also has a big array of Adult DVDs! From Instructional DVDs to your XX Rated movies, if you aren't one to go into a store to purchase,I'd definetly recommend checking out their selection of DVDs!
EdenFantasys is a great One stop shop for adults! Whatever you're looking for, they are bound to have it!

School clothes shopping is a nightmare!

2011-08-22T00:57:00.000-05:00

Oh how I long for the days where I would go out shopping for the day, bring home clothes for the kiddies for school, and they'd be happy with everything I brought home! Now, we go together, although I should take them one at a time!, and it's just pure hell! My son is 12 and all of a sudden wants only black shirts, I had to beg him to wear a blue shirt, and then I threw in some other colors and told him he'd wear them or I wasn't buying him anymore black, lol! My daughter is 8, and although she has NO love of clothes while at home, or going to family outings, when it comes to school, she only wants the best, most expensive outfits! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE shopping, but I came to realize today that I am going to need to start playing lotto in hopes that I will be able to continue to cloth my kids the way they want to be clothed!

We checked out at Kohls, and the cashier pointed out that I had saved $160, and the kids were like "Oh man Ma, you can shop!" However, they didn't see how much I HAD spent! Was wishing for some giftcards or real good coupons but I guess I still did get a decent amount for what we spent.
But I think I will always long for the days were $100 would get BOTH kids their shoes, clothes, and backpacks... now thats just a few shirts and shorts, for one!!!! How do parents with more than 2 kids do it??!!!

One of my best tips for Back to School supplies!

2011-07-31T04:01:00.000-05:00

I'm always one to pick up good deals when I see them, but last year I knew I was going to be paying alot more for the kids school supplies than past years. My son was going into Jr High, and my daughters list now tripled after 1st grade! So, besides just going and picking up the deals, I picked up extras! Orignally, I had intended on donating them to some organizations, but lazy me never got around to dropping them off. That left me with about 10 boxes of crayons, colored pencils, markers each, around 15 packs of Notebook paper, tons of scissors and erasers. Then, I realized that my BIGGEST plan of picking of supplies while stores where clearancing everything out, was sitting in a basket on the side of my dresser.
Soooooo, I pulled out the kids lists, and after going thru what supplies I have here already, I actually was able to cross out more than 1/2 my daughters list, and almost 1/2 of sons! I was so happy I had to tell Hubby, because he never sees the point of my "extra" shopping! When I showed him how much I had already marked off, and what little I needed to buy, even he said I was pretty clever, lol!
Now, if I could only find some good deals on Backpacks! I really want to get my son a nice one this year, after going thru 4, yep 4, last year, I think it's finally time to invest in a well made one for him! And my daughter, well, she picks a character one, and after a month or so asks for a new one, so I think this year were going plain colors or just a design I know she'll like, lol!
Anyone else stock up like me? I also find it nice to have these supplies on hand for homework or projects that need to be done at home, and when the kids tell me at 8pm they need all kinds of stuff, I now don't have to run to the store, I can just run to the closet!

Expo markers at CVS!

2011-07-10T20:25:00.000-05:00

I'm starting my school supply shopping early! I saw that CVS has their 4 pk. Expo Dry Erase markers on sale for $1.99. Then I remembered that I never used my Expo coupon for $2! Luckily, I found 2 more so I was able to get 3 packs of Expo markers for free! Also picked up a bunch of pocket folders 10/$1, and some erasers and rulers 3/$1!
I haven't even made a dent in either list, but knowing that I've gotten one of the most expensive items on the list for free, well, that makes me want to shop some more!

The Ups and Downs of "Camping"

2011-06-28T00:35:00.000-05:00

We have a camper that we keep at an awesome little "campground", about 40 minutes from our house. It's great because when we feel like getting away, all we have to do is pack a small bag and go! Its just far enough to feel like we are actually getting away, but not too far that we have to spend a ton in gas and drive for hours. I know the kids enjoy it, the Hubby loves it, and even I look forward to going!

I guess I can't really call it camping, we stay in an RV that has great A/C, we have our own bedroom, a bathroom with a shower and running water, and we've got our satellite set up along with our wireless modem so I can get online, lol! Roughing it, definetly NOT! It's habit for us to say were going camping for the weekend when we come up, but when our friends/family actually come to check it out, the first thing out of their mouths is "This is definetly NOT real camping!" To which I say, "Hey, if Hubby wants me to do stuff like this, I have my demands", lol!

I love that our kids have friends up here and they play from sun up to sun down, everyday, and my son can walk 20 feet away and throw his fishing line in and catch a fish within 5 minutes. I love that we can go to the beach, swim a little, and then come back to Hubby cooking some good dinner for us. I love how relaxed we are up here, it's like as soon as we drive in, all stress just dissapears, melts away, gone! Most of all, I love the time the 4 of us get together, we're stuck in a little trailer, we can't each be in a separate room all doing different things. I see my 12 year old son helping my 8 year old daughter, teaching her how to fish, playing tag with her friends, because he's the oldest so he "teaches" them all kinds of games to play. Today, she fell off of her bike, totally wiped out, and he helped her back, then went back for her bike, and checked 3 different times to make sure she was ok. Thats what I love about this place, the kids can be kids, our family can be a family, and we just enjoy each others company!
What I DON'T love, is the BUGS! Mosquitoes, spiders, ants, you name it, they're flying around, crawling around, taunting me! It's like they know I"m here, and they ALL come out to play! But, I guess I'm learning to live with it, even if I probably will spend a ton on all types of bug spray and crap to keep them all away from me!

Wham-o Monster Slip and Slide Giveaway at Annette Funnyjello!

2011-06-19T02:22:00.000-05:00

I'm always looking for ways to keep the kids entertained, and now that it's summer, we can break out the sprinklers, pool, AND slip and slides!!! There's so many awesome slides to choose from now, not like when I was younger and there was just 1!
Head over to annettefunnyjello to enter to win your own Wham-O Monster Slip and Slide, this thing is awesome!! I know my kids won't want to come inside if we've got this baby at our house!

Australian Gold Sunscreen Giveaway at Experimental Mommy!

2011-06-06T22:12:00.000-05:00

Get everyone protected for Summer, head over the Experimental Mommy and enter the Australian Gold Sunscreen giveaway! (3 winners!)

I've used Australian Gold in the past, and love that it doesn't leave a greasy feeling on the skin! And that's definetly a plus with the kids, who complain that they have to wear it as it is! Australian Gold has more than just Sunscreen, there's After Sun products, Self Tanners, and many more! So head over and check out the giveaway, because Summer's here and the Sun's shining!

Camping season has begun for this family!!!

2011-06-05T21:57:00.000-05:00

This weekend was our first weekend up at the camp, and although it wasn't a full weekend for us, it was full of fun and surprises to say the least! We started going up to this "campground" last year, well, actually about 8 years ago, but it didn't last too long back then. Now, the kids are a bit older and they can enjoy everything there, and Mom and Dad can enjoy some alone time while they play with their friends nearby!
I'm really surprised at how much I enjoy going up there, I've always liked camping, but I am more of a "Get on a plane and go somewhere near the ocean" vacation type of girl! However, since there is NO way we could afford to take vacations like that, this was the next best thing. So, we have a sweet little travel trailer that we fixed up and it's got a great A/C unit, so I can't complain much. Our spot is in the back, right near one of the lakes and we just met 2 new families with kids that our the same ages as ours. I have a feeling we'll be buying lots of popsicles, juice boxes and goodies to be handing out this summer, but I love that!

Now, I knew that they were calling for storms Saturday afternoon, but at 1pm, it was sunny, hot and gorgeous. So, I told the kids as soon as I got back from the store we'd head up to the beach. Well, hit the 1st store and as I was walking around, I heard the thunder, then the downpour : ( I walked out 10 minutes later and proceeded to get stuck in a hailstorm, aaahhhh! It only lasted about 30 minutes but man was it hard to drive in! We finally got to go the beach for an hour and that made the kids happy! Today was super hot and we had to leave early to get to a Wedding shower, but I didn't want to leave! That is REALLY crazy for me to say, lol!
I don't know, mabye it's just seeing the kids soooo happy being outside and getting to just be kids, mabye it's seeing Hubby having fun fishing with the kids, mabye it's just getting out of the house and being just the 4 of us, but I am definetly looking forward to this Summer camping season!

There's no way I could be an "Extreme" couponer, but.....

2011-05-31T09:29:00.000-05:00

I'd still like to try my best to save as much as I can! For years, I've picked up the Sunday paper and scoured the sale ads and coupon inserts, cutting only the coupons I would use. Thanks to my Mom, who got me into training at a young age, and who always told me, "Don't buy anything unless it's on sale! Because eventually, it WILL go on sale! And if you can live without it until it does, why buy it full price?" So, now, years later, I've learned to write up grocery lists, check my coupons, and wait for the sales!
Now, I love watching Extreme Couponers, but what I don't like is that for someone like me, it just isn't possible! I have NO stores around me that do double coupons, unless I count Kmart that does it mabye once every 6 months. I hate hearing these people say that anyone can do it, because NO, I can't! Sure, I can go to a grocery store and save a good $40-$50 a trip, but thats after spending around $175! So really, it's nothing "extreme", it's just normal savings with alot of coupons!
Years ago, I tried following some of the online coupon sites, and yes, I did save some money doing that, but having a 1 year old at my feet, a 5 year old whining for something, and a hubby that was working 12-15 hours a day wasn't really good for my "coupon time". And, I do have a few cashiers at Walgreens and CVS that will do pretty much anything for me, I swear I see them more than I see my Mom and Dad, lol! But, if I get the wrong cashier, I don't feel like putting up a fight to get that extra $.20 off my purchase. I guess I've got aways to go, but mabye one day I'll get there!
So for now, I'll continue cutting my coupons and writing up my lists, to save what I can! Mabye, just mabye, one day a store near me will offer double coupons and I can really say I am an Extreme Couponer! Until then, I'll just be a normal couponer!!!

Eden Fantasys- Give someone a treat!

2011-05-31T09:04:00.001-05:00

I love to feel sexy, although it's usually not very easy, if I was to walk into a store to find something to wear or use "in the bedroom". I'm a shy girl, and being bombarded with Salespeople isn't my thing, especially when shopping for lingerie! Thats why I LOVE EdenFantasys, I can shop online for lingerie, fun toys, and other great accesories to use in the bedroom!

EdenFantasys has something for everyone, whether you like Lacy negligee's, silky teddys, or a pretty bra and panty set, you'll find something you'll love! Lingerie not you thing? Thats ok, because they've got tons of lotions, oils and bath and body kits to choose from! I love the smell of the Oil of Love in Vanilla Sugar! Sweet, but not sickly sweet! It leaves a yummy scent when it dries, although theres no guarantee it will last that long!
I've found that shopping online with EdenFantasys has been easy, very quick, and I'm always satisfied with their products! One thing I should let you know is that some lingerie runs small, so make sure you check your measurements! All in all, I've had no complaints about any of the items I've purchased from EdenFantasys!
Who needs a Holiday?! Check out EdenFantasys.com and find a treat for yourself or your signifcant other to make the night a fun one!

Where has the time gone?

2011-05-30T23:03:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's almost June, schools almost out, and the kids are definetly ready for the break! I'm hoping that this summer, we'll actually DO the things we plan, instead of just talking about them! I'd love to blog about our summer adventures, so hopefully we'll have a good list and I'll be able to share our fun with you!

Announcing winner soon!

2011-04-12T02:25:00.000-05:00

I will have the winner up for the Milson Road giveaway shortly, just trying to get some ends tied up over here!

Win a $20 Giftcard to Dominos from The Not So Blog!

2011-03-26T15:29:00.000-05:00

If you're like me, pizza and wings are a normal Friday night dinner! Usually our "treat" for the week, we order mostly diferent places every week. However, I love, love, love Dominos pizza and just recently found one that will deliver to our house! So, with that, this Giveaway at The Not So Blog has me wanting to win BAD!
Dominos has some awesome sauces for their wings, along with some yummy dipping sauces, so head over to Dominos and check out their delicous menu items!
And head over to The Not So Blog to enter for your chance to win the $20 Dominos Giftcard!

Win a Propel Zero Prize pack at Blessing Abound Mommy!

2011-03-26T01:14:00.000-05:00

Head over to Blessing Abound Mommy for your chance to win 1 of 10 Propel Zero giftpacks! Included is a Tshirt, Propel water, coupons, and other goodies!
Hubby and I love Propel, because sometimes plain old water just gets boring! Propel has tons of flavors to choose from, and with little to no calories!
Blessing Abound Mommy has many ways to enter, so check it out! Giveaway ends April 29th!

Win a Years supply of Miracle Whip!!

2011-03-24T12:52:00.000-05:00

Check out this awesome giveaway from Jabbering Jessi! Enter to win a years supply of Miracle Whip ( 12 bottles)!
Thats alot of Deviled eggs, Salami sandwiches, tuna salad, etc.... Now I'm hungry!!!

Head over now because the giveaway ends tomorrow!

Nutella Party!

2011-03-23T10:12:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I invited some friends and family to join me for a Nutella party! I am in love with Nutella, and letting people know about yummy food products is always fun : )

Nutella is a tasty Hazelnut spread that contains quality ingredients such as Skim milk and a hint of Cocoa! Nutella contains no Artificial colors or Preservatives. It's great to find something like Nutella, it tastes good and its good for you! I'm happy to give my kids a Nutella breakfast, snack, or as a dipper, and they are happy to eat it up!

Nutella provided me with tons of goodies for my guests, Tumblers, Nutella spreaders, sample packs of Nutella, and coupons and recipes for everyone! I had set out Nutella along with all types of dippers- Strawberries, Banana slices, Blackberries, Marshmallows, Pound cake slices, even Potato chips and Pretzels! You may think those last 2 sound wierd, but try them, one word- YUM!!!
Nutella is not only for snacking, but for making meals! One recipe I love to make with it is Nutella/Fruit Panini's. I originally saw this on Food Network, my kids gobbled them up like there was no tomorrow!

Chocolate Strawberry Panini

Ingredients

1/4 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella)

12 (1/2-inch) thick slices pound cake (from 1 (10.75-ounce) loaf

6 fresh strawberries, hulled and very thinly sliced

Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray

Directions

Heat a panini grill to medium according to the manufacturer's instructions. Spread the chocolate-hazelnut spread over 1 side of all of the pound cake slices. Arrange the sliced strawberries over 6 cake slices. Cover with the remaining cake slices, chocolate side down.
Spray panini grill with nonstick spray and grill each panino until the pound cake is crisp and golden and the fillings are warm, about 2 minutes. Cut each panino in half and serve.

The possibilites are almost endless with Nutella! Sandwiches, crepes, waffle/pancake topper, or just a dip for almost any snack, you can't go wrong with a jar of the yummy chocolate goodness! Check out Nutella, and pick up a coupon while your at it!

I recieved these products free of charge from Nutella/Mommy Parties in return for my opinion.

Milson Road Daily Portraits Review AND GIVEAWAY!!

2011-03-22T23:16:00.000-05:00

Looking for the perfect gift can be very stressful, whether it be for a Birthday, Anniversary, Babys birth, or even a Wedding gift. I'm always trying to find a present that means something, and will be something the recipient can have for years to come. When I found Milson Road, I was excited to see a gift that not only shows thoughtfulness, but is a gift that can be cherised for years and years!

I made a Daily Portrait of Hubby and I, for our Anniversary. When it arrives, I was truly amazed at how gorgeous it is! When making your portrait, you get to pick everything from the Background color, to the Mat and Frame colors. It was so much fun just designing the portrait, that I went thru every color to see how it would look. Once I finally make my color choices, I then moved on to filling out some info about our Wedding and again, how fun to go back and remember that awesome day! I then picked out a few pics to include in the portrait and I was done! Only a few minutes "work", and I had a very nice gift to give to my Hubby for our Anniversary!
Milson Road can also make Daily Portraits for Weddings, Special Birthdays, Birth of Babies, Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, and Graduations.

Opening up our portrait was like opening a box of candy, my eyes lit up as I saw how unique it was. I just love how it brightens up our wall, and everyone that walks by it can read about our special day!

Heres the best part!!! One lucky reader is going to win a Daily Portrait of their own!! All you have to do is visit Milson Road and let me know what Occasion you think you would make one for! ( Mandatory entry)

Extra Entries-

1. Like Milson Road on Facebook ( 1 entry)

2. Follow Milson Road on Twitter ( 1 entry)

3. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

4. Become a Subscriber ( 2 entries)

5. Follow me on Twitter ( 2 entries)

6. Tweet this giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)

7. Blog about this giveaway ( 5 entries, leave link)

This giveaway will end on Monday, April 4th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via Email! Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.
Thanks to Milson Road for a wonderful product and great giveaway!

I was provided with a Daily Portrait of my own, in exchange for a review of their product.

Happy Easter Store Giveaway at Domestic Goddess!

2011-03-22T22:33:00.000-05:00

Check out this awesome giveaway going on at Diaries of a Domestic Goddess, where you can win a $50 Gift Certificate to Happy Easter Store!
So many goodies to choose from, Bunny Hoodies, yummy sweets, and adorable baskets!
Head over now and enter!

Too much Fannie May and Girl Scout cookies in my house!

2011-02-15T09:56:00.000-06:00

This weekend was GS Cookie pickup, so I now has over 12 cases of cookies sitting with me, I really need to get it together and get them to their owners! Funny that the whole time I was CRAVING the Tag Alongs I ordered, and once they were in my hands, I only ate 2 and didn't want them anymore..... let's see how long they last!
And then there was Valentines Day! My awesome Mom sent us a big box of Fannie May, and each of the kids got their own box! When they arrived, my Mom told me that there was a backorder and that they'd be sending out the rest of the order Monday. Well, guess what? I opened the box yesterday to find the ENTIRE order sent again! My Mom calls them and they said not to worry about it, there was a mix up on their part and to keep the extra candy : ) Now I love me some Fannie May Pixies, Trinidads, hell, I love it all, but I now have a box Hubby bought me, and the 5 boxes they sent in the past few days!!! OMG, so much for keeping off the weight I've lost!!!! I'm actually hoping the dog gets to it, lol!

Oh yea, I've got an awesome giveaway coming up from Milson Road coming up, be on the lookout! It's one you don't want to miss, their Daily Portaits are AMAZING, and you have a chance to win your own!!!

70 Cake Pops? I must be crazy!!!

2011-02-11T01:33:00.000-06:00

"No problem, I can make Cake Pops for all 3 classes, it should be fine!" Thats what I wrote to the Classroom party Mom yesterday when the email came out for the Valentines Day party..I had been planning on doing cupcakes, no big deal, we always make cupcakes! But then I had been reading about Cake Pops and just in the past few days had seen so many that I decided I wanted to give it a try.... I hope that wasn't a BIG mistake!
So this weekend is Cake Pop weekend! If any of you have any tips or ideas, please leave me some comments! This is the first time for making them so I'm all ears!!!

And the Winner is......

2011-02-04T08:45:00.002-06:00

The winner of the $50 EdenFantasys Giftcode is.... Nicole-Lynn!!!!

An email has been sent, thanks for entering and hope to see you all soon for more great giveaways!!!

2 Snow days and a 1/2 day of school today, lucky kiddies!

2011-02-04T08:27:00.000-06:00

This outrageous snowfall came with 1 good thing attached to it, 2 snow days for the kids which meant 2 days to recover from the nasty sickness I've got! As much as I dreaded the snow, it was really nice not having to wake up early to get them off to school while feeling so miserable! You don't know how much I was hoping for the district to just call off today too, since it's a 1/2 day, but no luck!

And of course, the downside to the 2 days off is that now my house is a disaster, there are snowpants, snowboots, gloves, hats, you name it, all over the place! But I guess thats ok seeing that my daughter had a blast, first time sledding all year, and big brother was being SUPER nice and took her with him and his friend, for almost the entire afternoon! It's a wonderful thing, living on a slope where they could just pile the snow up a bit and have a great hill to go down! Hopefully I can get some pics this afternoon, because I didn't want to go near the door the past few days, SOOOOO COLD!!!

How many times can 1 person jinx themselves?!?

2011-02-01T03:03:00.000-06:00

So last week, I thought to myself, Wow, it's almost February, and we haven't really had any "bad" snowfalls! Living in Illinois, usually by now we've had at least 1-2 snow days, and this year we haven't had any.
Today, I wake up to find that we are headed into a nasty blizzard in the next couple of days, are you kidding??!!! So, I put some gas in the car just for the heck of it, mabye because I really felt like waiting along with 30 other people that wanted to fill up, like being in a blizzard I'm really going to drive anywhere??!
And of course, Mother Hubbards cupboards were bare so I needed to run to the grocery store, but there was NO way I was going while everyone else was "preparing" for the Great Blizzard of 2011!! I went right before midnight, when I walked in there was only a few people in the store. When I went to check out... there was about 15 people waiting in the 1 aisle open, come ON!
Oh and I cannot forget that last week, I also said to myself, Wow, I've gone a LONG time without being really sick, like Flu sick, or Strep throat sick! I woke up Sunday morning, and could NOT get out of bed, my whole body ached, I was coughing up a lung, and had the chills like crazy! Hubby comes home with the same thing, but of course, since I am SUPER MOM, it doesn't matter that I am also sick! Woke up this morning to get the kids off to school, came home went back to bed, and right before I had to pick them up again, "poor" Hubby was like, Oh I haven't eaten all day, and I can't get upstairs my body is aching so bad", could I make him something? Sure buddy, because I just feel like sunshine and roses and I'd LOVE to make you lunch! I threw together some tuna on bread and told him if he didn't like it, he could climb up the stairs and make himself something better! Ok, so I'm really not this mean, but I'm sick, I'm hurting, and I know that I just have to deal, because honestly, whenever I am sick with my migraines, Hubby does take really good care of me : )
So for the first time ever, I am praying there's a snow day tomorrow, because feeling the way I feel still, I DO NOT want to get up at 7am again to get the kids off to school! I want to sleep in and relax, although, with our school district, they'll keep them going until it hits the 12 inch mark!
Heres hoping you're all staying warm and cozy while the Blizzard comes thru!!!

Oh how I love shopping for my little girl!

2011-01-28T00:30:00.000-06:00

This year will be a year of weddings, I'm SO excited! I'm not sure if I'm more excited about the actual weddings, or picking out dresses for my daughter to wear! Unfortunetly, she's not a Flower girl, we were hoping that because they are all family weddings, that at least one of them would have asked her, but I see it as it's there LOSS! She's sooo adorable, and seeing her dressed up in a Flower girl dress would of been awesome!

But, we can still put her in a pretty dress and she'll dance the night away looking like a little princess! Today I went to a few stores, not intentionally looking for dresses but since Communion dresses are starting to come out, I got to check out some pretty cute fancy schmancy ones!
What a surprise when I was looking at Burlington Coat Factory and found some gorgeous dresses that I was afraid to check the price tag.. until I saw that the dresses were only $30-$35! I mean, these dresses were BEAUTIFUL!! My Mom said we are most definetly getting her a sparkly poofy dress, because my little girl LOVES dressing like a pretty princess!

Tomorrow I'm going to check out JCPennys and Carsons, mabye they'll have a good sale going on! I'm sure I'll find a ton more once Easter gets closer!

Don't forget to enter the EdenFantasys Giveaway!!

2011-01-26T08:12:00.000-06:00

EdenFantasys giveaway ends soon, so don't forget to get your entries in! This could make the perfect Valentines Day gift for you or your loved one, or both of you ; )
$50 EdenFantasys Giftcard Giveaway! Enter to win- http://tinyurl.com/4caewj5

A Dieting Hubby and PMS craving are NOT good together!!

2011-01-26T02:30:00.000-06:00

Hubs has just started dieting, I'm his biggest supporter on this, well, except when I'm PMSing....

Hubby's biggest problems were drinking too much pop, and eating too much Ice cream. I used to joke that he was worse than a pregnant woman, he'd call me while I was out and ask me to pick up a pint of Ben and Jerrys because he had such a taste for it. Of course, I'd buy it for him because I love him, but never really realized JUST how much he was eating! Then theres the pop, and you know, I'm pretty guilty of this one myself! I basically drink pop all day long, and it has to be the worse kind, Mountain Dew!! My teeth are NOT thanking me, sadly : (
So now, he's just started his diet, and all I want it to eat, of course, eat Ice cream! Oberweiss Peanut butter and Chocolate to be exact! Another one of his fav's! So there I am, creeping around trying to hide the ice cream, but you know, I don't have great hiding places, I never won Hide and Seek as a kid, lol! And then, I buy a 2 pack of the Reeses Peanut Butter Hearts, thinking I'd give one to him, and one for myself. Not a good idea!! The only time I really want ice cream is that wonderful time of month, I just wish it wasn't right now when he's just starting and still craving the 'bad" foods : (
I guess it's gonna take some getting used to, trying to eat healthy, saying NO to the Oberweiss and Reeses, but I know it's for the best! Not just for Hubby and I, but for our kids too!
So if theres anyone that has some good dieting tips, recipes, or some good yummy snacks that will fill us up, please feel free to comment!

NightTime Cold Meds and my kids don't mix!

2011-01-19T01:16:00.000-06:00

The kids are sick, and my daughter is so stuffed up she's just miserable! For some reason, she doesn't blow her nose, she wipes it and snorts it back up : (
I bought some Night time Dimetapp for her so she'd be able to sleep better, but instead of making her sleepy, she was even more awake! This happened with my son too, when his allergies were acting up so I went and got Benydryl, and he was up all night instead of sleeping!
So for now, I'll break out the Humidifier, and keep pushing for her to blow that nose instead of snorting it back up! And pray for a decent nights sleep for all of us : )

Upcoming CSNstore Review!!!

2011-01-17T05:37:00.001-06:00

Now that the holidays are over, I can sit back and actually figure out what this house needs! Because it's snowy and too cold to do my shopping outside, I check online! I'm always looking for a good deal or sale, so online stores really let me look at a ton of possibilities . One of the main things I'm looking for is either a Dining Room Set, or just a nice set of chairs for the table I've got. Whether you are looking for Modern Dining Room Furniture, or something classic that will stay around for years to come, CSNStores has an awesome selection that won't dissapoint! Given that there are over 200+ stores to shop from, I know I can always find what I want!

And if it's something else you're looking for, say a new set of Silverware, Glassware, or some pretty Serving pieces, they've got you covered! So many choices, it may be hard to choose just one!

But CSN Stores isn't just for the Kitchen, it has everything, you name it, you'll find it! Baby and Kids, Outdoor Living, Health and Fitness, and one of my fav's, Shoes! These are just a few goodies you'll find when you head over to CSN Stores.com!

So check it out, you won't be dissapointed!!

Round 2 of Target 75% Toy Clearance!

2011-01-17T04:35:00.000-06:00

Second time around, I did much better, got WAY more stuff and because I was only 1 of 2 people in the aisle, I had my choice of toys! However, I did get there right at 8am, and the guy had just started scanning the toys in so I didn't get everything I wanted because I didn't have the time to wait for him to get to the end of the 2nd aisle! All in all, thought, I was VERY happy with my purchases!

So this time, I found the Pop On Pals Amusement Park, marked down to $8! One of my favorite purchases, as my best friends daughter turns 1 next week and I'm excited to give it to her! I also found some of the Pop On Pals people for $3, last time I got the animals, so now we've got a good set to give to her : )

Other goodies I found-

Littlest Pet Shop Doll set- $5

Littlest Pet Shop Camping Set- $4

Hot Wheels Ultimate Repair Set - $5

Fancy Nancy Dress - $5

Ice Cream Scoops - $2.48

Webkinz Zumbuddy - $2.48

Club Penguin Figurines - $2.48

Black Dress Shoes (for daughter next year) $2.48!!!

I also had a few more odds and ends, some tiny stuffed horses that will go into daughters goodie bags for Bday party, some Bakugen cards and figurines I will use for sons Bday prizes, and 2 Glitter bouncy balls for Easter baskets!
I keep everything in my closet and usually use them for Bday presents for the kids friends, and at the end of the year what we haven't used, I donate to the schools Holiday Sharing program! I think wherever the toys go, they'll be enjoyed!!
Anymore goodies for you guys?

Finally switched to 75% at Target!

2011-01-14T11:18:00.000-06:00

I was debating whether or not to stop at Target after I dropped my son off, because I also had other things to do. I'm glad I did, they were scanning everything to 75% today!! And, they had only done 1/4 of the aisle but everything I wanted had been done, yea!!! I'll have pics up later, just have to load everything into the house, and my driveway is too icy right now,lol!
Anyways, my load contained

Polly Pocket Mermaid Set- $6.74

Polly Pocket Beach Set $4.98

Huge Play food set- $2.50

Fashion Fairytale Ken doll $2.48

Fashion Fairytale Dressup dress $4.98

Fancy Nancy Dressup dress $4.98

Pop On Pals people $2.48 ( 2 sets)

I went back later and picked up some little things, Ponys for daughters goodie bags, Bakugen figures for prizes, etc.
The ONLY thing I didn't get that I really wanted to get for my daughter was the ICarly Remote, I saw it last night and it was gone this morning.... oh well, I think the awesome Polly Pocket stuff will make up for it!!

My Target Clearance finds, so far!

2011-01-13T11:41:00.000-06:00

I've been waiting and waiting for our Target toy section to hit 75%, but as of today, most of it is still at 50%.
BUT, I did find a few toys that I know my daughter will love, and they were actually marked to 75%!

I picked up
Fashion Fairytale Barbie ( the one that lights up) Reg. $19.99 got it for $5.00

Fashion Fairytale Barbie ( one of her friends) Reg. $14.99 got it for $3.74

Aqua Sand Mermaid Island- Reg. $14.99 got it for $3.74

Pop On Pals Animals - Reg. $4.99 got for $2.48

I also picked up some nice thick washclothes for $.48 each, a ceramic Angel sign for my Momma for $1.48, a PJ set for Hubby for $3.74, and the awesome Glade candle deal with my $3.00 coupon which made them $.48 each!!! I still have 4 more coupons so I'll be going back tonight or tomorrow to pick up more! Those candles are great stuffers for gift baskets, or just to have around the house! And they smell good!

I am VERY thankful that my nearest Target is about 5 minutes from my house, and 2 minutes from my sons school! I drop him off at 8 and can head right over to check it the clearance has changed!

Have any of you gotten any good deals so far?

$50 EdenFantasys GIVEAWAY!!!

2011-01-13T00:33:00.002-06:00

Thanks to the wonderful people at EdenFantasys, I get to give one of my lucky readers a $50 Gift code to spend at EdenFantasys!!

From my previous post, you can see there are MANY items to choose from, cute nighties, sexy costumes, Massage oils, and some really fun toys to play with !!
I myself have been eying the Sweethearts Chocolate Box, looks like fun and I bet it would make me burn off calories instead of gaining them, lol!

I also love the Heart Mesh Bra with Tanga Shorts, perfect for hiding the mommy pooch I don't like to show off, and letting me show off the parts I DO like : )
So now you'll be able to pick the perfect gift for Valentines Day, thanks to EdenFantasys!!
My question to you is, What would you pick out if you won the $50 Gift code? ( Mandatory Entry!)

Extra Entries-

1. Like EdenFantasys on Facebook ( 1 entry)

2. Follow EdenFantasys on Twitter ( 1 entry)

3. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

4. Become a subscriber ( 2 entries)

5. Follow me on Twitter ( 2 entries)

6. Tweet this giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)

7. Blog this giveaway ( 3 entries, leave a link!)

Giveaway will end on Jan. 29th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via Email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize, or another winner will be chosen!
Thanks for entering and good luck!!!

Eden Fantasys- For the gift your Valentine will LOVE!

2011-01-10T01:14:00.002-06:00

With Valentines Day coming soon, we probably get the question from out significant other- "What do you want for Valentines Day?" At least, I do! My hubby usually does great, but I know he probably won't go into a store to buy me some cute lingerie! Thats all up to me, and I'm pretty shy when it comes to physically going into a store to shop for lingerie!

And that's where EdenFantasys comes in! Ladies, instead of telling them what you want, tell them to go to Eden Fantasys and pick out something he'd like to see you in,like the China Doll Chiffon BabyDoll set, or would like to massage you with, such as some Intimate Organics Massage Oil! There are so many goodies to choose from, but to make it easier, how about you make a Wish List to help choose from?!

Or, mabye you'd like to surprise you love yourself, starting out by getting yourself ready with Naughty Bubbles Bubble Bath or some Crazy Girl Body Mist! Whatever you choose, everyone will be happy on Valentines Day!!
I think I had alot of fun shopping in the Sexy Costumes section, because like I said before, I'm pretty shy when it comes to shopping for stuff to wear in the bedroom! EdenFantasys makes it so much easier, with pics to show how it will look and customer reviews on most of their products! There is so much to choose from, I spend a good hour just deciding what I want to buy!
So, if you're in a bind for Valentines Day, or just want to spice it up in the bedroom, I suggest you check out Eden Fantasys and pick out some goodies that will make bedtime REALLY fun!!!

Santa Swap goodies!

2011-01-10T00:38:00.000-06:00

I participated in the Santa Swap from The Mommy Files this Christmas, and it was sooo much fun! I love shopping, and meeting new bloggers so these swaps are just my thing!
This year, my swap partner was Lindsay, from Laughing Lindsay! She sent me some really great goodies for me, AND my kiddies! She did such an awesome job, I only hope she liked her own gifts as much as we did!

I got the cutest Snowman goodies, cutouts, a figurine, handtowels, and then some great smelling Cupcake lotions and socks set, and my favorite, Reeses Peanut Butter Trees! I could live on those things : ) The kids loved their treats, the candy, the puzzles, and they fought me for the humongous pen Lindsay sent, we trade off now, lol!
Thanks so much for everything Lindsay, we all loved your thoughtfulness and hope you enjoyed everything as well!
And thanks to Shannon at The Mommy Files, for once again putting together a great swap!
If you're interested in participating in a swap, there is a sign up going on for the Valentines Swap right now, check it out!!

Back to the Living, for now!

2011-01-10T00:18:00.000-06:00

The past few weeks have been crazy! Of course there were the Holidays, and with the kids being home for 2 weeks, I barely got onto my computer at all! It was a nice break, but I hadn't planned on it, lol! I'm pretty behind and will be working hard to get everything done, some great giveaways and really good reviews are coming up!
I'd love to hear how your holidays were, mine were pretty darn good and will have some pics up soon to show you!

My favorite pic from camping!

2010-12-23T01:28:00.000-06:00

We've taken alot of pics this year, some close ups, some of nature, some of the kids, Hubby and I will snap anything that comes our way! But of all the pics we've taken this year, this is one of my favorites!
We went camping alot this summer, and my daughter enjoys walking around just looking at the birds, trees, etc. Her and Daddy went walking to find the trails and we got this awesome pic of her, I just love the colors and how it's like a Hide and Seek pic of her!

It's days like these I love!!

2010-12-12T00:30:00.000-06:00

This past week has been such a tiring one, I told myself this weekend was going to be one of rest and relaxation. That meant for me, no shopping till I drop, no cleaning for hours, and def. no staying up all night! Now, I cannot say that I didn't do any of them, in fact, I did go shopping, I did clean the house, and I did stay up too late last night, BUT, I also got a TON of books and spent almost all afternoon Saturday reading! I haven't really read a book from start to finish in one day in a long time, but I actually finished 2 books, and my daughter finished 4! I'm so glad at least one of my kids got my love of reading!
I don't know if anyone else does this, but as a kid, I read so many books that when I see them now, in Used bookstores or Thrift stores, I have to buy them and read them! I was a huge Babysitters Club fan, had them all, and so now I'm trying to get my daughter into them. If she doesn't enjoy them, I'll still enjoy reading them, lol!
I'm hoping tomorrow will be another nice, relaxing day, however, because I spent the whole day reading today, I now have a big load of laundry staring at me... maybe I'll stay up late again tonight and finish it!

Loving the Conair You Curl!

2010-12-09T00:58:00.001-06:00

I've been wanting a You Curl since I first saw them in stores, but me being cheap, was not going to spend $40 on something that I probably would only use every once in awhile. So, I waited, and waited, and on Cyber Monday found it for $28 on Amazon! Throw in my $20 giftcode I had, and paying $8 for it, well, that I could handle!
First off, I love the fact that it heats up almost instantly! I plugged it in and turned around for a second, checked it seconds later and it was ready! The curls are AMAZING! I experimented, did some spiral, some waves, and they all came out perfect : )
BUT, the only problem I'm having is figuring out how to do the BACK of my hair! Normally, I just straighten my hair and go, and I've been doing that for over `11 years so I got that down pat. This new task, is not only stressful, but a pain in the neck, literally : } My sis told me using 2 mirrors would work, so that will be tried out tomorrow. Any other tips are GREATLY welcome!

Winners!

2010-11-30T22:34:00.000-06:00

And the winners are....

NewMami_rgv- Winner of the $25 Gift Code to Union 28! Congrats!

Crystal- Winner of the Birthday Giveaway!! Congrats!

Emails have been sent out and winners will have 48 hours to claim their prizes! Thanks to all that entered and hope you come back soon to check out more great giveaways!

Mom Rocks The Holidays With Rayovac!!! Check it out!

2010-11-29T04:29:00.000-06:00

Rayovac wants to power your holidays with fun new contest. To enter, just visit the Mom Rocks the Holidays with Rayovac contest tab on Facebook, like them and tell them how you or your mom makes the holidays rock for a chance to win the Grand Prize of $1,000 cash! There will be 3 Grand Prize winners and 20 Runner Up winners will take home a Paper Jamz guitar, amp, drum kit, guitar strap, and two Rayovac Alkaline AAA 24 packs of batteries.

Also, be sure to visit 3 Kids and Us mom blog where you can win 1 of 5 Mom Rocks the Holiday prize packs that include a $50 Visa Gift Card, Pper Jamz guitar and Rayovac Alkaline AAA 24 pack of batteries.

Disclosure – Followers who promote the Rayovac Mom Rocks the Holidays Sweepstakes may receive gifts from Rayovac.

Bloggers Santa Swap hosted by The Mommy Files!

2010-11-24T00:22:00.000-06:00

Want to have some fun this Christmas? If you'd like to meet a new blogger and have some fun shopping for them, then head over to The Mommy Files where Shannon has organized another great Swap! I've been doing them since I started blogging, and I've gotten to meet some great bloggers while doing so! If you like to shop, or just want to have some fun meeting some new bloggers, then stop over at The Mommy Files and check out the Santa Swap!

Wizards of Waverly Giveaway at The Mom Buzz!

2010-11-23T04:38:00.001-06:00

Heres an awesome giveaway for the girls, a Wizards of Waverly Gift Set from TownleyGirl.com! I know my daughter would just LOVE this, her favorite show is Wizards so she loves anything Wizards she can get her hands on!
If you head over to The Mom Buzz, you have a chance to win a gift set of your own! Giveaway ends Nov. 27th so get your entries in soon!

Birthday Giveaway!! It's my Birthday and I'll SHOP if I want to : )

2010-11-14T22:48:00.001-06:00

In 2 weeks, I'll turn the big 32! Yep, on November 28th, I'll be another year older! Since I can remember, my family has celebrated my birthday on Thanksgiving, which has been pretty great! A huge dinner, multiple desserts, and the ENTIRE family is around. Nothing a girl can complain about! But, I'd have to say my favorite part about my birthday being so close to Thanksgiving is getting to spend my Birthday cash on Black Friday! I spend weeks planning for the day, what stores I'll hit, what the best deals are, I actually have a Composition book dedicated to Black Friday plans, I know, I'm a bit nutty!

This year, I'd love to share my fun with my readers, and get some tips and ideas from you all while we're at it! One of my wonderful readers will win a $20 Gift Card to either Target, Kohls, or Walmart, their choice- AND a $10 Gift Card to Dunkin Donuts, to help keep their energy up while shopping for the Holidays!!

All you have to do is be a Blog follower! That's it! ( Mandatory)

Extra entries-

1. Let me know you're best Black Friday tip, or best Black Friday deal you've gotten ( 1 entry)

2. Tell me you're favorite store to shop, anytime! ( 1 entry)

3. Become a subscriber ( 2 entries)

4. Follow on Twitter and Tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)

5. Enter my Union 28 Giveaway ( 2 entries)

6. Grab my button ( 2 entries)

7. Blog this giveaway ( 3 entries)

Winner will be chosen Sat. November 27th. Winner will be contacted via Email and have 48 hours to claim prize. Thanks for entering and good luck!!

Union 28 Review and GIVEAWAY!!

2010-11-12T16:41:00.001-06:00

This month my husband and I will celebrate our 12th Wedding anniversary! I am so thankful to have found this man, he is caring, loving, a great Dad, and well, I don't know what I would do without him! I will love him forever, he not only my husband, but my best friend! So when I found the company Union 28, I knew I had to find out more! I love to wear Tshirts with sayings, it's almost like my uniform, but hey, I'm comfy!

Union 28 sent me the their "My Husband Rocks" Chocolate Brown Fitted Tshirt. As soon as it arrived, I tore it open, and I was so happy to find that it was super soft and a little bit longer than your regular shirt! Nothing makes me happier when trying on a shirt to find that my stomach area will be COMPLETLY covered! However, this shirt DID say that they run very small, and they do. I got an XL, and although it does fit comfortably, I am NOT going to throw it in the dryer! If you do make a purchase, make sure you check the sizes just so you know you'll get the correct fit! So, as soon as I showed my hubby, he said, "Well, wheres mine?!"! And it's things like that that make me love him even more every day! Now I know at least 1 thing to get him for Christmas, lol!

Union 28 offers a line of designer t-shirts for husbands and wives who want to honor each other and make a positive statement about marriage.

From Union 28 -
It is our Mission to enhance Marriage relationships, communicate a positive image of marriage, and encourage/support the sanctity of the marriage covenant between a man and a woman in a fun and stylish way.

If you head over to their site, you will find not only Tshirts, but Dresses, hats, hoodies, and even Childrens apparel! Know someone thats getting married soon? I think this would be such a cool gift to give to the Newlyweds, it's original! So much more to choose from than just the ordinary "Bride" and "Groom" shirts you see all the time!

Want to make a purchase? Well, Union 28 has been gracious enough to offer my readers a discount on any purchase, good thru Dec. 31st!

Heres the best part! Union 28 has offered one of my readers a $25 Gift code to purchase some goodies for yourself and/or your spouse! All you have to do is let me know why your spouse rocks! ( Mandatory entry!!)

Extra entries-

1. Head over to Union 28 and let me know what you like best! ( 1 entry)

2. Like Union 28 on Facebook ( 1 entry)

3. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

4. Become a Subscriber ( 2 entries)

5. Follow on Twitter and tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day, leave link)

6. Grab my button ( 3 entries, leave link)

7. Blog this giveaway ( 4 entries, leave link)

This giveaway will end on Sunday, November 21st. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Disclaimer- I recieved a Tshirt from Union 28 free of charge, in return for my honest opinion about their product.

Sweetly You Review AND 20% Discount!

2010-11-12T10:48:00.001-06:00

I love perfume! I love many diferent scents, depending on the day, I might wear a fruity scent, or a day like today where it's cold and dreary, I'm wearing a sweet Marshmallow scent! I was given the opportunity to review a Fragrance Sampler from Sweetly You, and I am in LOVE!

I was able to review a Perfume Sampler Set, that if purchased is $9.95! You'll get to choose 10 of your favorite scents, and mix and match as you please. I had such a hard time choosing just 10 scents, and I'm sure you're thinking, 10 is ALOT, but Sweetly You has over 60 fragrances to choose from! So I finally narrowed it down to my top 10, which were-

Creme Brulee- Like the Rich, creamy, Melt in your mouth French dessert

Marshmallow Madness - Creamy, fluffy marshmallows

Brown Sugar - A rich blend of Maple, Brown sugar, and Butter

Swiss Miss- Just like the Rich hot cocoa

New Romance- Luscious blend of Tangerine and Bergamot, with ripe apple, peaches and berries
Warm Allure- Vanilla, citrus, and a touch of coconut.

Very Sexy- Exotic Fruity floral blend

Flirty- Similar to Tommy Hilfigers Tommy Girl
White Ginger and Amber- Exotic woods and Vanilla notes highlighted by Coconut and Muguet

Hawaiian Breeze- A tropical blend of Orange, pineapple, peach and strawberry, combined with Jasmine and Lavender

My 2 absolute favorites are Warm Allure and New Romance, with White Ginger and Amber and Marshmallow Madness coming up right behind them. When I wore the Creme Brulee, Brown Sugar and Swiss Miss fragrances, both my Hubby and kids kept telling me I smelled like yummy candy, lol!One day I layered the Swiss Miss with Marshmallow Madness, YUM! I would probably wear the Hawaiian Breeze and Flirty fragrances in the summertime, OR on a nasty day when I just want to think I'm at the beach or somewhere that its warm! I love that I can layer some of these and come up with a whole new unique scent of my own!

Sweetly You is a company that offers many other products, such as Sugar Scrubs, Body Butters, Bubble Bath and Body lotions! They also offer Travel sizes for when you're on the go, perfect for the workday or if you're going on a short getaway!

What I really like about Sweetly You is that they have so many gifts to choose from, Customized Gift Baskets, Gifts under $10, and Birthday Gifts, that all come with a bag of Jelly Bellys! Too cute! There is something for everyone, especially with the array of fragrances to choose from, and the products you can pick to use the chosen scent in.

With the Holidays coming up, I think Sweetly You would be a great gift for Family, friends, even a teacher! If you would like to purchase something from Sweetly You, they have offered all of my readers a 20% discount!
Just use this code at checkout to recieve your 20% off!
P90298K99

I'd like to thank Sweetly You for giving me the opportunity to review all of these wonderful fragrances, and now have a store that I can purchase my perfumes from, without breaking the bank!

Disclaimer- I recieved a Fragrance Sampler from Sweetly You, free of charge, in return for my honest opinioins of the products.

How will I spend my Thanksgiving? Let's see...

2010-11-11T02:57:00.000-06:00

I look forward to Thanksgiving every year, not only because it's a time for the whole family to get together, but because we also celebrate my birthday! Yep, my Bday is November 28th, but we always have my "party" on Thanksgiving. What more could a girl ask for? I'm getting a HUGE spread of delicious food made by the best cook in the world, my Grandma! And after dinner, well, forget about just getting a little Birthday cake, I get cake, Pumpkin pie, Apple pie, Ho Ho Cake, cookies, and tons of different cookies and sweets to eat : )

Of course, aside from that, my little sisters, cousins and I always break out the old home videos, which we'll watch for hours, laughing until we cry ( well, usually thats just me, crying so hard from laughing at the crazy clothes and hairdo's I used to have!) Years ago, when we were all younger, everyone got together at least once or twice a month for birthday parties, Graduations, etc. Now, my cousins are away at college, so there's hardly a time when we are ALL in one place at the same time. Watching those movies gets us all sentimental and it really does bring us closer, even the boys!

Killer making his Black Friday shopping list!

Well then it's onto the next tradition, which is taking out the Black Friday ads, and making my lists and checking them twice, three times, four times, .... yes, I will go back and forth until I"ve got the MEGA BLACK FRIDAY GAME PLAN worked out! Again, years ago, the kids would start making their Christmas lists, now it's my OWN kids making their lists! ( Even the cat got into it one year!)

10 year Anniversay!

Our Wedding Day!

Last, the Hubby and I will go back into the "Nintendo room" ( what we call the spare bedroom/office), and we'll watch our Wedding video because our anniversary is November 27th! Always makes me cry, because I am also so thankful to have found someone that makes me feel like the most beautiful, special woman in the world. I love seeing everyone all dressed up, but mostly, I love watching us saying our vows. I wish we would have written our own ( mabye if we ever get to renew them we can), but we were young, in love, and that's all that mattered. It was our day, and I will love that man until the day I die!
So yep, I've got alot to be Thankful for on Thanksgiving, good food, good shopping strategies, but mostly, a Wonderful, loving, caring family that may drive me nuts at times, but always has my back, and I wouldn't trade them in for anything!
What does your family do on Thanksgiving? Any neat traditions, or crazy family members? Let me know!

Disclosure- This post is an entry to the Plan It, Blog It! 2010 Thanksgiving Blog Writing Contest.. Sponsored by Uprinting.com

Clean + Green Winners

2010-11-08T00:29:00.000-06:00

And the winners of the Clean + Green giveaway are....

Crystal

Minishoes1
and

Christine

Congrats, I will be sending a confirmation email out shortly! Thanks for entering!!!

Halloween Blog or Treat Goodies!

2010-10-31T23:05:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite parts of Halloween has become participating in the Halloween Swap that Shannon from The Mommy Files puts together! What a great way to meet a new blogger, and get to buy fun gifts for them too! This time, my partner was Heather from Giggling Kids! I had so much fun shopping for her, and I'm really looking forward to reading her blog, seeing what she's up to!

I recieved my package from her, and it was awesome! She even thought of my kiddies and made them little goody bowls too, thanks! My goodies were Halloween Cookie cutters, a Fall Candle ( smells SO good!), Halloween Fun Bands, Cotton Candy, and a TON of candy! She even got a Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Peep, I always wanted to try one but just always forgot to pick one up! Loved it, and everything else! I hope you enjoyed your goodies too, Heather, and I thank you so much for being my partner in the Halloween Swap!
Thanks to Shannon at The Mommy Files for putting together yet another great swap, and if you'd like to try one out yourself, there will be a Christmas Swap in December!

Anystream Hotel 50 Spray Showerhead Giveaway at Kiddies Corner Deals!

2010-10-24T01:51:00.000-05:00

Right now if you head over to Kiddies Corner Deals, you have a chance to win 1 of 5 Hotel 50 Spray Showerheads from Speakman Showers! These look awesome, and I'd love to win one for our bathroom! Head over and enter, giveaway ends November 7th!

Nestle and Walmart $100 Gift Card Giveaway at The Not So Blog!

2010-10-23T05:05:00.000-05:00

Do you have a favorite Halloween memory? Well, if you do, head over to The Not So Blog for a chance to win a $100 Walmart Gift Card! I'd love to win this to start out my Holiday shopping, and if you'd like to head over quick, because this giveaway ends Oct. 29th!

Getting help and Giving back

2010-10-21T10:45:00.000-05:00

My family has gone thru some rough times the past few years. Hubby has had many surgeries, I had a back fusion, and it definetly took a toll on us, mentally and financially. I am so thankful and greatful for my wonderful family and friends, that have helped us out the entire time! I'm also thankful for the kids school, that helped us out around the holidays, I honestly don't know what we would of done without everyones help and kindness!
I started thinking about how I could do my part and help others out, starting with the holiday season. Of course, I always donate a few things to the School toy drive, and donate all the kids older clothes and coats to the clothing drive, but I wanted to do something more. So I started thinking about helping out the Pediatric floor at our hospital, Central Dupage Hospital.
A few years ago, my son was in the ER for what we thought was just a really bad stomach bug, but it turned out to be Appendicitis. He was the bravest 9 year old, HE calmed ME down, he's just the greatest kid! After the surgery, they needed him to start walking and the incentive they gave him was that when he could walk to the end of the hall, he got to go to the Toy Closet and pick something out! Well that made him get up really quick! But once we got there, the nurse told us that they run mainly on donations, and that once the holidays are over, they get way less than they did at that time.
So that got me thinking, because I always pick toys up when I see them cheap, for Kids bday parties or just a treat for my kids. But everything I bought, my kids and kids friends are pretty much NOT playing anymore so they've been sitting in my closet. I pulled everything out and thought, I'll donate them to the Peds floor!
Now I'm on a mission, I want to do this for real. I want to be able to get toys to those brave kids, I know they deserve a treat and if I can make just one kid feel better for the day, well, it's worth it! What I'm looking for is info, how to do this, where to start, things like that. If anyone knows what direction I should start in, I'll love you forever : )

Clean & Green Pet Stain and Odor Remover- GIVEAWAY!! 3 winners!

2010-10-21T10:33:00.000-05:00

Awhile back, I was given the opportunity to review some products from Clean + Green. Clean + Green's Wood and Tile cleaner and Carpet cleaner. Having 2 dogs, (one that is a puppy) AND a cat, these products definetly came in handy! What I really like about them is they are made entirely of Non Toxic Botanicals, so I don't have to worry about our animals getting sick, or any of my family getting sick from harsh fumes. The products themselves work great, as I said, having a puppy, he gave us the best testing material ever : )
I also found out that Clean + Green can remove that horrible Skunk smell, completly! If only I would of had this a few years ago when our older dog met Pepe Le Pew!

A bit about Clean + Green-

CLEAN+GREEN® are eco-friendly aerosol pet odor and stain remover products. Our line of eco friendly, green cleaning products are made from organic and biodegradable ingredients and packaged so you can recycle the container - now you can clean green! For green pet cleaning, use effective, non toxic, organic home cleaning supplies and keep an environmentally friendly home - with pets.

Clean+Green offers a line of green home cleaning supplies for green carpet cleaning and carpet stain removal, green wood & tile floor cleaning, and green furniture cleaning for pet urine removal, pet stain removal and pet odor removal. The products work on cat urine, dog urine, vomit, hairballs, bird droppings, and small animal urine. They are odor eliminators for cat urine odor, dog urine odor, vomit odor, hairball odor, bird dropping odor, small animal odor, dog smell, cat smell, ferret smell and other small animal smells. Clean+Green is a stain remover for urine, feces, vomit, hairballs and any other pet accidents.

Use on:

•Carpet & Area Rugs

•Bedding

•Oriental Rugs

•Auto Carpet

•Upholstery

•Cushions

•Mattresses

•Pet Beds

Here's the best part! Clean and Green has offered 3 of my readers a bottle of Clean+Green Dog & Cat Carpet & Upholstery! For a chance to win, head over to Clean + Green and let me know another product you'd like to try, or something you've learned! ( Mandatory entry)

Extra Entries-

1. Follow Clean + Green on Twitter ( 1 entry)

2. LIKE Clean + Green on Facebook ( 1 entry)

3. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

4. Become a subscriber ( 2 entries)

5. Follow me on Twitter and tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day, leave link)

6. Grab my button ( 2 entries, leave link)

7. Blog this giveaway ( 2 entries)

Giveaway will end on Sunday, Oct. 31st. Winners will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours to claim prize, or another will be chosen.

Disclaimer- I recieved products from Clean + Green free of charge in return for my opinions. All opinions are my own. Thanks to Clean + Green !

Another Facebook Freebie, this ones Dole Fruit Bites

2010-10-16T05:29:00.000-05:00

Dole is giving away coupons for a free pack of Dole Fruit Bites on Facebook, just head over to their page and click on the Real Fruit tab to fill out the form!
Good freebies on Facebook lately!

FREE Sleep Number Travel Pillow!

2010-10-16T05:24:00.000-05:00

Hurry over to the Sleep Number Facebook page, where if you qualify for a short survey, you will recieve a FREE Travel pillow!
This will be great for the holiday travels we'll have, and I know my neck will thank me!

Pillow Pets Giveaway at Outnumbered 3 to 1!

2010-10-15T03:46:00.001-05:00

If I know there's 1 gift I could buy my daughter for Christmas that would make her day, it would be a Pillow Pet! Unfortunetly, I can't find them in stores where I live, I noticed them a few months ago and now none of them have anymore!
But, if you'd like a chance to win one, head over to Outnumbered 3 to 1, where she is giving away your choice of Pillow Pet! There are tons of extra entries, so stop over and check it out!!!
Giveaway ends Oct. 26th!!!

Macys Find Your Magic

2010-10-12T05:14:00.000-05:00

Macys Find Your Magic

I love this outfit - check it out!

Check out this awesome giveaway to Halloween Express from Mommy Mandy!

2010-10-09T02:34:00.000-05:00

With Halloween only a few weeks away, winning a giveaway like this would be great! Whether it be for a costume, or some neat decorations, Halloween express seems to have anything and everything you'd need to make it extra fun!
If you head over to Mommy Mandy, you can enter to win a $75 Gift card to Halloween Express and if you win, thats more money left to buy candy with!!
Head over quickly though, giveaway ends Oct. 10th!

If you have a CVS card, be sure to swipe it!

2010-10-05T00:57:00.000-05:00

Usually when I go to CVS, I head right to what I need and forget to swipe my card at the Coupon center/Price checker. Today, I stopped in and they had a HUGE sign next to it saying, Swipe you Card before you shop! So I did, and I got some great coupons!
First one that printed out was a $5 coupon for any Halloween costume, accesory, or decorations. I had to ask if there was an amount that needed to be spent, but it was a spend $5, get $5 off coupon! I got some cute ceramic pumkpins and a Spider tealight holder for my front windows, some spider web and goodie bags for my daughters class party. I only spend $3.50 out of pocket with my coupon, NICE!
I also got a $2 off any 2 Aussie or Herbal Essence hair products, which are on sale 2/$6, going back tomorrow hoping they will use my coupon from the Sunday paper along with the store coupon. Another $1 off Clorox wipes and some candy coupons to stock up for Halloween!
From now on, I will always scan my CVS card, who knows what good coupons will come out next time!

Winner of the Kung Zhu Pet Set is....

2010-09-26T22:20:00.000-05:00

And the winner is.... Terra H.! Congrats, I will be sending out a confirmation email shortly! Thanks to all that entered and don't forget to check out my other giveaways, still a few days left to enter!!!!

Hope you all had great weekend!!!

Some great deals at Walmart!

2010-09-26T02:54:00.000-05:00

If you are in need of bed sheets, glasses, basically anything for the kitchen or bedroom, I'd recommend checking out your local Walmart! We were in desperate need of bedsheets for the kids beds, and I got such a great deal! Sheet sets are marked down to $3 each! They are the Jersey sheets, so they are nice and soft, the kids LOVE them. I picked up a Comforter for $9, a couple of blankets marked down to $1 each, and a mirror for $2! These were all considered part of the "Dorm Room" section, but hey, everything matched the kids rooms and I couldn't pass up those prices!
Then I found 2 pack Tumblers for 10 cents, little gadgets like a Can opener, spatula, and ladle for 25 cents, and some bowls and pitchers for 50 cents! I So Love when I hit the clearance aisles like this!

I walked out of the store with over $100 worth of stuff, and paid less than $20 for all of it! My favorite part was when the cashier told me how well i shopped, lol!

Anytime Costumes Review AND Giveaway!!!

2010-09-18T02:56:00.001-05:00

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, not just because we get candy, but because we get to dress up as pretty much anything we want! Having kids, I really enjoyed picking out their costumes when they were younger, and now that they are older I look forward to seeing what they'll pick to be every year! However, shopping at the store for costumes can be a hassle, trying to find the right size, or even just having the costume itself in stock, it can get stressful! I had the wonderful opportunity to work with AnytimeCostumes.com, an awesome online costume store that has TONS of costumes! Costumes for Adults, Children, Couples, etc. And then once you pick your costume, you can find all of your accesories and makeup right there too! It's one stop shopping, without leaving your home and no hassle at all! Just pick your costume, and wait for it to arrive.

I let me daughter choose a costume from AnytimeCostumes, she spent a long time trying to decide if she wanted to be Hannah Montana, a Renissance Princess, or Alex from Wizards of Waverly Place. She finally decided that she would be Alex for Halloween, it's her favorite show! We placed our order and about 5 days later our costume arrived. We tried it on and she looks A-DOR-ABLE!!! It's really a simple costume, with a dress, hat, and leg warmers, and together it's just too cute! And we'll add a "magic" wand, she'll be the best wizard in the school!

I've also found a few costumes for myself, the Dorothy "Wizard of Oz", and the "Love at First Bite" costumes are 2 of my fav's! Now here's to hoping we get invited to a costume party this year!!

Here's the best part! One lucky reader is going to win a costume of their choice, up to $50!!! Any costume, for you, your child, it's your choice!! All you have to do is let me know which Anytime Costume you'd pick! ( Mandatory entry!)

Extra entries-

1. Follow my blog ( 1 entry)

2. Become a subscriber ( 1 entry)

3. Follow on Twitter and tweet ( 1 entry, per day)

4. Grab my button ( 3 entries, leave link)

5. Repost this giveaway (3 entries, leave link)

This giveaway will end on Friday, Oct.1st. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to claim prize! Good luck!

Disclaimer- I recieved a costume free of charge in return for my review. All opinions are my own.

CSNstores.com $50 Giveaway!!!

2010-09-15T04:17:00.001-05:00

I love to shop, that's a given! But, sometimes I just don't feel like going out, so I turn to the internet to shop. What I don't like to do is have to search a million stores for that one item I'm looking for. Thankfully, I found CSNstores.com, which has pretty much everything a girl could ask for! From Decorative items to Dining Room Sets, CSN has over 200 online stores to find whatever you are looking for! I believe this site is a great one for one stop shopping!

I have had only wonderful experiences with CSN, their Customer service is great, shipping is quick, and again, their selections are amazing! When you can't decide which product you want to buy, check out the customer reviews to help with your decision, I did, and am glad I did!

Here's the best part! CSN Stores has offered one of my lucky readers a chance to win a $50 gift code to any of their stores! All you have to do is let me know what you'd use it for! ( Mandatory entry)

Extra entries-

1. Follow my blog ( 1 entry)

2. Become a subscriber ( 1 entry)

3. Follow on Twitter and tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)

4. Grab my button ( 3 entries, leave link)

5. Repost this giveaway ( 3 entries)

This giveaway will end on Wednesday, Sept. 29th . Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via email to claim their prize. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize, otherwise another winner will be chosen.
Giveaway for US and Canada readers only!

Good luck, and thanks for entering!!!

Kung Zhu Review AND Giveaway!!

2010-09-09T05:06:00.000-05:00

Thanks to MomSelect, a few months ago I was chosen to host a Kung Zhu party for my kids and their friends! I wasn't sure what to expect, but WOW!, what a great party kit we were given!

On the day of the party, my son had 3 of his friends over and my daughter had 2 friends, and a family friend brought her son. Each child was able to recieve a Kung Zhu hamster, set of armor, and accesories! The pets are aimed more towards the boys, but W\what I found great about these is that the boys AND girls were having a blast, and they were all different ages, ranging from 6-11! I think the older boys were enjoying it the most, and didn't want to leave when the party was over : )

Kung Zhu Pets are available at many retailers right now, including Walmart, Target and Toys R Us, retailing around $7.99 for the hamsters and accesories anywhere from $9.99 to $19.99. I think they would be a great Holiday gift, definetly a great Birthday gift, or just a little surprise for your child!

Heres the best part! One lucky reader will win their own Kung Zhu Pet and accesory! You just need to let me know which Kung Zhu is your favorite! ( Mandatory entry!)

Extra entries-

1. Follow my blog ( 1entry)

2. Become a subscriber ( 1 entry)

3. Follow on Twitter and tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day! Leave link)

4. Grab my button! ( 3 entries, leave link)

5. Blog about this giveaway ( 4 entries, leave link)

Giveaway will end Wed. Sept. 23rd. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via email to claim their prize. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize, or another winner will be chosen!

Disclaimer- MomSelect provided me with all materials and accesories, free of charge. All opinions are my own.

Back to School!

2010-09-01T10:08:00.000-05:00

So the kids have been back to school for a week now, and of course my daughter just loves it! My son on the other hand, well, he could take it or leave it! He started Jr. High this year, and he's excited about that, but getting up an extra hour earlier is what he isn't liking too much : (
And I'm enjoying it too, but sometimes I think the summer is way too short! We only did a handful of things of our Summer List, thanks to my wonderful migraines that put me out for days at a time... but they both said they had a great summer so I guess I should be thankful for that!
Now onto the fun part! My daughter is in a "Peanut Free Zone" in her class, she has a few classmates with allergies. I need some good ideas for snacktime, because Goldfish and Ritz Crackers get boring after awhile! We do fruit, but mostly just grapes or apples. I'd love some new creative ideas on what I can send in for her that she'll love and want to continue to eat!
Thanks for any ideas : )

Winner of the Cover Girl Smokey Eye Kit!

2010-09-01T09:57:00.001-05:00

And the winner is..... Cheryl F. -The Lucky Ladybug!
I will be sending an email shortly for you to claim your prize!

Thanks to all that entered and check back soon, I have some great giveaways coming up, including CSN STores, and Anytime Costumes!!!

Cover Girl Smoky Eye Kit Review and Giveaway!!!

2010-08-15T04:11:00.000-05:00

I have always had a hard time getting that Smoky look I see all the stars wearing, so I usually tend to stay away from it. Give me one color shadow, some mascara, and that's all I'm used to. BUT, now thanks to Cover Girl's Smoky Eye kits, I have finally gotten to wear the Smoky eyes I've been looking at others wear!
And, it's so easy, even my 7 year old daughter can do it!

Thanks to Cover Girl and MyBlog Spark, I was sent 3 kits to try out, Glam, Natural, and Bold. My favorite was the Glam look, black and silvery shadow that made my eyes pop like crazy! It's great for going out at night, or just wanting to feel glamourous! I've been wearing the Natural kit almost every day, and it still amazes me what a difference it makes on my eyes! The Bold is nice too, but I would probably only wear that one for special occasions, it is a blue shadow and I just didn't like how it looked on me.
What I really loved about these kits is that there were step by step instructions on how to apply all of it. THAT is what I've been needing, something to read and look at, so I know exactly what I'm doing! So finally, thanks to Cover Girl, I can have the eyes I've been wanting for a long time! My hubby kept telling me how bright my eyes looked while he was snapping pics, (which will be up here as soon as he gets them to me!), and my green eyes needed something for that!
If you would like to try these kits, Walmart has everything you need to get your own fabulous Smoky eyes!

Want to win a kit of your own? All you have to do is head here and let me know which kit you'd like to try most! (Mandatory entry)

Extra entries-

1. Become a subscriber ( 2 entries)

2. Become a follower ( 2 entries)

3. Follow on Twitter and tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)

4. Grab my button ( 3 entries, leave link)

5. Blog about this giveaway ( 3 entries, leave link)

Giveaway will end August 29th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, winner will be notified via email.
Thanks to Cover Girl and MyBlogSpark!

Disclaimer- CoverGirl provided me with the CoverGirl Smoky Eye kit and information, through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Happy Birthday Ashley, I miss you so much : (

2010-08-04T07:14:00.000-05:00

Today is my little sister Ashley's birthday, she would of been 26. She passed away when she was 20 months old, due to heart problems. I miss her every day, no matter how many years go by, I always wonder what she would look like, what she would be doing right now, and if she would be healthy. When I found out I was having a daughter 7 years ago, I decided I wanted to name her after my little sister. My daughter acts JUST like my sis!
I wish I could remember all of the time she was here, but now I have to look at pictures to get back those memories. And the one thing I wish over and over I could forget, I can't. Why can't I erase that bad day, and keep all the good days?
I
No matter how hard I try, I can't forget that. I'd trade it for just one memory of me and my sister together, but I guess life doesn't work that way.
I love you Ashley, I miss you more than words can say. I know you're looking down on us, probably giggling that my daughter has your stubborness, but she also has your beauty and spunk, so I'm so glad I named her after you! Happy Birthday Ashley!

A Call for Help!

2010-08-02T06:49:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!
I was wondering if I could ask you all a favor? My family is hosting a Benefit for my sisters boyfriend, who was shot in the eye with a BB gun last month! He has already had 2 surgeries but the Dr's have NOT been able to remove the bullet yet! Sadly, they don't think he will ever regain sight in his eye, and worse yet, he is a Tattoo artist, so he's been pretty bummed out : (
If you, or you know anyone who might be able to help us out with prize donations, I would be sooo forever grateful to you! ANY donation is great, we are having a regular raffle, and later in the evening we will be having a Silent Auction for some larger prizes. We are thankful for anything, and if I can, I will feature you on my blog, along with having info at the benefit!
I thank you for any help you guys can give, I've been up the past few nights emailing like crazy!! So forgive me if I'm rambling, just gettting tired, lol!
Thank you all again!!!

Band Tees Giveaway at Networking Witches!

2010-08-02T06:08:00.001-05:00

I found an awesome giveaway and a new site that is quickly becoming a favorite of mine tonight! Over at Networking Witches, they are having a giveaway to win a VERY cool AC/DC backpack from Band-tees.com! Oh my son would LOVE it, and would probably have to hide it from Dad, lol! My hubby has been "training" our son to love AC/DC since he's been in my belly, and we can't wait to get him to his first AC/DC concert!
If you'd like a chance to win this awesome back pack, for your child, or yourself, head over to Networking Witches and get your entries in!
Contest ends Aug. 10th!

Summer Bloggers Swap from The Mommy Files!

2010-07-31T11:40:00.000-05:00

Well, the time has come... for a Summer Blogger Swap! I'm so excited, I've participated in all of her swaps since I started blogging! I have met some great bloggers and gotten some neat gifts too!

If you'd like to join in this swap, head over to The Mommy Files and sign up, I guarantee you'll have fun!!

My Review of Tiger 2-Quart Saucepot with Glass Cover

2010-07-24T10:36:00.001-05:00

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

This pot is ideal for slow cooking sauces, soups, and stews while reducing the content. The Tiger cookware saucepot is made from aluminum which is a great conductor of heat and a strong metal. This 2-quart sauce pot is part of the Tiger Collection which offers a variety of stockpots, saucepots and...

Perfect pot for cooking!

By Kristy from Winfield, IL on 7/24/2010

Pros: Non-Stick, Dishwasher Safe

Describe Yourself: Casual Cook

I purchased this Saucepot mainly because it was a good price. After recieving it I put it to the test right away, and I LOVE it! I have made Spaghetti sauce, Mac and Cheese, Soup, and Pasta in it so far, and everything came out wonderful. And, it is very easy to clean, nothing stuck, and rinsed out easily!
I would definetly recommned this pot to anyone, a casual cooker or a Proffesional cook would benefit from this Saucepot!

(legalese)

I've been gone for too long!

2010-07-16T06:11:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to write an update, and apologize to everyone for not getting up to speed as I wanted to! The past few weeks have been just plain crazy, and every time I finally think we're back to normal, BAM!, something else happens and sets me back!
Right now my Mom is in the hospital, last Sunday she had an asthma attack and it got so bad my Dad called an ambulance for her. Turns out she has Pneumonia, and as of today she is still in the hospital. Only, it's now not due to the Pneumonia, it's because the meds they are giving her have been spiking her heart rate up very high, and now the Dr.s have decided to keep her in the Cardiac unit for a few days. After hearing that, I am just flat out scared! : ( My mom is not only my Ma, she's pretty much everything to me, my best friend, and I just want her better, and home!! I wish I could take her place in there, because she hates hospitals and I strange as it sounds, don't mind having to stay in the hospital. Having people tend to me and bring me food, well, sounds good to me! All kidding aside, if you read this and you pray, could you please say a little one for my Mom?
Soooo, as much as I'd like to just try and relax a bit this weekend, I don't see it happening! I'm hoping sometime next week I will have my latest reviews up and will be able to get a few of my new giveaways up!!

Thanks and hope you all have a great weekend!!

If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have NO luck at all!

2010-07-01T03:45:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I think I have a permanent black cloud floating over my head! It seems like just when I think our life is finally getting back to normal, BAM, here comes a crap storm! If it wasn't for my kids, I think I'd pack up and leave, go somewhere far, far away, to never be heard from again.
I know that we make our own happiness, we create our own problems, etc., but for some reason, no matter how hard I try to do the right thing, something bad happens to me, my family, everyone around me. Mabye I'm just the family bad luck charm.
I'm so sick of hearing, "Don't worry, things will get better soon!", because they DON'T! Every time I think we've finally hit rock bottom, nope, we can still go farther down. It's tiring, I'm exhausted, and just don't know what to do anymore.
This is a mix of money problems, not being able to find a job, not feeling like myself anymore, and just feeling useless altogether.
I guess I do have to say that thru all of this, the hubby and the kids are what keep me going, even though sometimes I feel like I'm not doing anything worthwhile for them. I just wish I could wake up one day, and know it was going to be a GOOD day, for once!
Well, just another rambling post, thanks for listening, and mabye tomorrow will finally be a GOOD day for me!

My school supply shopping challenge!

2010-06-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Since I was a kid, I've always loved school supply shopping! My entire family thinks I'm a little goody because of it, but to me, there's nothing like a brand new box of crayons, or a fresh, blank notebook!
My kids have been in school for years now, and every year we get the letter about the School supply kits for sale. I throw it right in the trash, because this is what I look forward to, to kick off the school year!
This year, I got the kids supply lists early, and I've already gotten some great deals! Both kids will need at least 2 1 inch binders, normally they are around $3-4, but I picked up 4 of them for $.37 each! Jewel is having a Closeout on tons and tons of school stuff, office supplies, and I'm racking up the savings because of it!
So, my challenge to myself is to purchase all of the supplies, hopefully WAY under what the premade kits cost! I'll be tracking my progress here in the next weeks! Let me know if YOU find any great deals!

Happy Fathers Day!! To my Dad, to my hubby and to alll the other Dad's out there!

2010-06-20T00:51:00.000-05:00

I wish all the Daddy's out there are wonderful Father's Day! To my Dad, even though we haven't been close, I love you and will always cherish the great memories we've had while I was growing up!
To my hubby, thank you for being such a great Daddy to our kids! They love you more than you could imagine, even when they hang with me instead of you, lol! : ) I couldn't have asked for a better man for my kids, you make them laugh and smile every day, and that's what makes ME happy! I love seeing you together, doing your silly, crazy things, and I hope you continue to do them, even as they get older!!

Happy Father's Day, hope it's a wonderful one!!!

Eden Fantasys Symphony Sonata Review- Adults only!

2010-06-18T04:31:00.003-05:00

When I was contacted by Eden Fantasys about their product review program, I was very excited! I love their site, and am always looking to find ways to spice things up in the bedroom! After I turned 30, my drive has been crazy! Up and down, sometimes I think I confuse Hubby more than ever, lol!

I chose the Symphony Sonata to review, and upon opening it, my first thought was truly, "This is really cute", lol! There is a dolphin shape for extra stimulation, and of course hubby found it funny, but you know what? It really works!!

Eden Fantasys has a TON of Vibrators and other toys to choose from, I'd bet there is something for everyone! From lotions and potions, to toys and games, I can't wait to find my next product to check out!

Disclaimer- This product was sent to my from Eden Fantasys free of charge in return for a review. All opinions are my own.

Falling apart...

2010-06-16T04:33:00.000-05:00

I've always been one to keep my feelings to myself, I don't have many close friends, and I never want to burden my family with my problems any more than I already have. So, when I have a crappy day, week, or month, I tend to hold it all in. Then, I finally explode.
I did tonight. I feel like no matter what I do in life, it's just not good enough, it's not the right thing to do, and I can't make anyone happy. For awhile, I've been thinking about how I am so far away from the person I used to be. I used to be this happy go lucky girl, I didn't let anything bother me, and I could make even the meanest person crack a smile. But lately, I feel like I'm only that mean person, and I DON'T feel like smiling. If it wasn't for my kids, I'd consider renaming myself Scrooge, or The Grinch. Year round, not just for the Holidays!
I don't know where I lost myself, so much crap has happened in my life that I just never recovered from, even though I thought I would. I guess holding everything in took it's toll on me, and now I'm paying the consequences for that.
So, as much as I'd love for this blog to have a fun, positive vibe, the next few weeks it may be a venting spot for me, so I apologize in advance!!!

Wow, that was scary!

2010-06-09T01:33:00.000-05:00

I woke up Sunday and decided to go on my blog, and was greeted with a message after signing in that my blog had been disabled! I immediatly sent a message trying to figure out what was going on, but heard nothing! So I kept messaging Blogger, and finally tonight, it was back! I still don't know what happened, but that was scary! I know my blog isn't one of the big ones, but after almost losing it, I realized how much I enjoy having it : )

What gifts do YOU give your kids teachers? And teachers, what do you like?

2010-05-28T05:58:00.000-05:00

So it's that time of year again, a time I love, but also dread! I love buying gifts for my kids teachers because they are wonderful teachers and have all helped my kids so much! But, I dread wandering around the stores trying to find that perfect gift, something that they won't have 20 of already, like mugs, candles, bath and body stuff, you know!
Last year, I found really cute bookmarks at Hallmark, they were metal and had little apples hanging on the ends. I paired it up with a giftcard to Barnes and Noble and I think they enjoyed it! This year, the kids have their regular teachers, and then they each have 2-3 teachers for their areas that needed attention, so we're talking at least 8 gifts, which I know is going to get pricey! Unless, of course, you wonderful readers have some great ideas for inexpensive gifts?! I'd love all and any suggestions, and I've got about a week to get anything done that will need to be handmade. I thank you all in advance, this weekend is going to be a crazy one!

CSN Stores.com Review... Coming Soon!!

2010-05-28T05:06:00.000-05:00

I have been given a great opportunity to do a review for CSN Stores.com, and I'm so excited! There are over 200 online stores to shop from, where you can find anything from a Sofa to a Space Heater! My biggest worry choosing just 1 item I want to review, lol!
So, whatever it be that you're looking for, whether it be Shoes, Housewares, or something for Dad for Fathers Day, I'd say check out CSN Stores before heading anywhere else, you're bound to find what you need, AND at a great price!

And remember to check out my CSN Store review, coming soon!

Playtex Bra Makeover!

2010-05-19T10:21:00.000-05:00

Do you ajdust your bra straps all the time? Seem to be pushing and pulling all the time, trying to "fix" your bra? I know I am, and I'm probably not the only one! Seven out of 10 women are wearing the wrong size bra, which can result in an ill fit for the rest of their outfit, back and shoulder pain, as well as bruising and digging.

Well, my fellow readers, Playtex is here to save the day!

We know that busy moms don't always have time to update their bras or even check to make sure they are wearing the correct size. That's why we wanted to let you know about this contest from Playtex! Playtex recently launched www.PlaytexBraMakeover.com, a site where women can go to apply for a bra makeover or nominate a friend. If chosen, the winner will be flown to New York to receive a Bra Makeover with style expert Alison Deyette. Deyette is a fashion and trend lifestyle expert who has been featured on Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker and TLC's Ten Years Younger, as well as in print publications including Good Housekeeping, The Washington Post, and O Magazine. Apply for your chance to win a Playtex Bra Makeover today. The last day to apply is Friday, May 21st, 2010.

So let all the women you know about the Playtex Bra Makeover! I can already imagine how nice the day would feel NOT having to be fixing my bra all the time!

Disclosure- By posting this information, I am entered into a contest to win a free bra from Playtex. I did not receive any compensation for this post and thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

And the winners are...

2010-05-18T18:34:00.000-05:00

The winner of the Simply GoGurt! Giftpack is...... Clallen!!! Congrats I will be sending you an email shortly!

And the winner of the Hot Locks Doll is...... Renee!! Congrats, I will be sending you an email shortly!

Thanks to all who entered!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

2010-05-09T03:36:00.000-05:00

First off, I want to say Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommys out there, I hope you have a wonderful day! My plans include going to Grandma's house for Dumplings and Saurkraut, one of my FAVORITE dinners!!! And during the day, hopefully it will be nice so the kids and I can go take a walk around Cosley Zoo, so rain, please STAY away!!!

I'm so proud to be able to call myself a Mom, especially to the 2 wonderful, beautiful children I have. My world is so much better because of them, just seeing their smiles every morning ( ok, well, mabye more like 20 minutes after I've waken them up!), makes me feel like if I've done nothing else right, I've done everything right with them! My son is a kind, polite, and definetly handsome little man, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for him, he is so full of dreams and ideas! And my daughter, well, she is the most beautiful little girl I've ever laid my eyes on, and she is so caring and full of love for everyone around her! I couldn't have been given 2 better children, and I thank my lucky stars every day that I get the priveledge of being their Mom!

So, again, to all the Mom's out there, Happy Mother's Day, I hope it's a beautiful one for you!!!!

Simply Gogurt- Review AND Giveaway!

2010-04-28T11:28:00.001-05:00

My kids enjoy yogurt all times of day, Breakfast, with lunch, as a snack, or as a simple dessert-frozen like a popsicle! I like giving them Gogurt, not only because I know it's good for them, but also because now with Simply GoGurt, I can feed them JUST what they need, no extra artifical colors or ingredients! Thanks to My Blog Spark, I was given the opportunity to review Simply Go-Gurt, and the kids couldn't get enough of it! I bought a pack of store brand yogurt tubes, along with Simply Go-Gurt, and the store brand wasn't opened until a few days after the GoGurt was gone. My son said he just liked the taste better, mabye because I kept telling him it WAS better for him?!

New Simply... Go-Gurt is made from simple ingredients moms look for and contains no high fructose corn syrup or artificial colors or flavors. Each convenient portable yogurt tube contains a good source of calcium and vitamin D. Simply stated, Simply... Go-Gurt is a good-for-you, low fat yogurt snack that you can feel good about giving to your kids.

New Simply... Go-Gurt is available in two kid-friendly flavors, Strawberry and Mixed Berry.
Both kids LOVED the Strawberry, but they weren't as crazy about the Mixed Berry. I would love to see a Banana, or even a Vanilla flavor! I like to throw some in the freezer after I buy them, sometimes I put them in the kids lunches and they are nice and cool by then, or just for a nice cool snack at home!

My Blog Spark is giving you the chance for 30 of you to try Simply Go-Gurt yourselves! Just click on the link to recieve your free coupon! And no worries, if you don't get a free coupon, you can still recieve a $1.00 off coupon!

And, the best part.... 1 lucky reader is going to win a Simply Go-Gurt prize pack! It includes a Mini Etch A Sketch, a weekly planner, and a backseat organizer! Something for everyone! Just let me know how you "Simplfy your Life" every day! (Mandatory)

Extra Entries-

1. Become a Subscriber ( 2 entries)

2. Become a Follower ( 2 entries)

3. Grab my button ( 2 entries)

4. Follow me and Tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day) ( Leave link)

5. Blog about this giveaway ( 3 entries)

Giveaway will end on Sunday, May 9th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via Email. Good luck!

Simply... Go-Gurt, prize pack, information and additional prize pack to give away were all given to me from Yoplait through MyBlogSpark.

Hot Locks Doll- Review AND Giveaway!!!

2010-04-28T10:57:00.000-05:00

I have a daughter, which means we have a TON of dolls in our house. When given the opportunity to review a new doll, Hot Locks, we were very excited! My daughter just turned 7, so playing dolls is a favorite of hers. The Hot Locks doll gave her more than just a doll to play with, but a doll to style hair, practice braiding, AND play along with her Barbies! The Hot Locks doll, Lili, is about the same size as Barbie, and she comes with removable hair extensions and clips so your child can become a Hair Stylist! My daughter has been playing with hers ever since she opened it, because there is always something new to do with it! I"ve enjoyed showing her how to do braids, and other hairstyles we do on her own hair!

There are 4 Hot Locks dolls to choose from, Ami, Harlow, Lili, and Nahla. Different hair textures are great so that all kids can have a doll that they can say, "Hey,she's got hair like mine!" or, "She looks like me!"

Right now, Hot Locks are available in Phoenix and Chicagoland areas, and will be Nationwide this summer! You can purchase just the doll, who comes with 14" of extra hair, a styling comb and 2 barettes. Or, the Deluxe Hot Lock doll, which comes with many more accesories- 2 ponytails of hair, 4 barrettes, styling comb and more!
If you live in the Chicagoland area, I have found them at a few Walmarts, for around $9! Not only a great gift for your child, but a cool gift for a birthday gift!

Here is the best part! One lucky reader is going to win, Ami, a Hot Locks doll of their own! All you have to do is head over to Hot Locks, and let me know which doll you like best! (Mandatory)

Extra entries-

1. Become a subscriber ( 2 entries)

2. Become a follower ( 2 entries)

3. Grab my button ( 2 entries, leave link!)

4. Blog about this giveaway ( 3 entries, leave link!)

5. Follow me and Tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day!) ( Leave link)

Giveaway will end on Sunday, May 9th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via Email! Good luck!

I was given a Hot Locks doll for review, no charge. All opinions are my own, and my 7 year old daughters!

I'm Baaaaack! ( I think!)

2010-04-24T02:33:00.000-05:00

Whew, the past few months have gone by quickly, but not without MANY ups and downs! That's my life though, a roller coaster, and unfortunetly, it seems to always have more downs than ups : (
It seemed like every week I started to get ready to blog again, one of the kids was sick. And of course, they passed it back and forth, forever! Then this week, I finally caught the dreaded flu, and have been in bed all week! My daughters 7th birthday was Wednesday, thankfully, with the help of Dayquil, I was able to be awake for most of it! Today I feel better, I'm hoping by Monday I'll be back to normal!

So, I've got a few giveaways I'll be posting, I hope you enter and spread the word, they're good ones!!!