Ann I Am!

Lowe's FREE Build & Grow Clinic Valentine's Creator 2/12/12

2012-02-02T20:14:00.000-05:00

Love is in the air with Lowe's free Build and Grow Clinic SATURDAY, February 12, 2012. Kids can make their own Valentines and this cute box for them. To register online, sign up HERE.

Important Recall--Birth Control Pills

2012-02-01T21:55:00.002-05:00

If you are using Lo/Ovral-28 birth control pills, you need to be aware that their is a recall on them. Apparently, the tablets are out of order and some are inactive when they are supposed to be active pills. You can read more about this important recall HERE.

Free Sample Box of Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal

2012-02-01T21:37:00.000-05:00

You can try out Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal for free when you sign up for this free sample HERE. Simply like the Facebook page and enter your information.

Good-bye GFC? GFC Will Cease March 1, 2012

2012-02-01T21:20:00.004-05:00

Did you hear that Google Friend Connect will cease to exist come March 1? That is really a blow to bloggers who rely on the number of followers to secure pitches. It takes some time to get a good following and now it looks like many bloggers will have to start all over. The timing is especially bad for me. When I changed my blog name, I had to create a new Facebook fan page and in the process, lost all my followers there, too.

But as life is, we just pick up and keep going.

I guess the new thing is Google+. Now, I already had a Google+ account, but just didn't use it much. However, I just learned that my Google+ profile could have a page just for my blog. So, once again, starting over. Anyway, I would love it if you would click the big red "g+" on the right side bar and add me to your circles. Let me know and I will definitely return the favor!

Review: Sol Sunflower Beverage

2012-02-01T06:29:00.000-05:00

February is National Hearth Month and Sunrich Naturals, the maker of SoL Sunflower Beverage, knows that one way to improve hearth health is by eating breakfast. “Eating a healthy breakfast helps fire up your metabolism, fuels your body for optimal performance during the day, and reduces your risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and heart failure,” said Christina Fitzgerald, MS, RD, LDN. “Starting your day with a meal that provides protein, whole grains, fruits, and healthy fats from seeds or nuts prevents blood sugar spikes and reduces harmful levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. And if that isn’t enough of an incentive to eat breakfast, here’s another good reason: people who eat it daily tend to be leaner than those who don’t.”

SoL is made from sunflower seeds and offers powerful antioxidant and folate benefits.  "SoL is naturally rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals that help neutralize cancer-causing free radicals and slow down signs of aging. It’s an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin E, Phosphorus, Folic Acid, Calcium and Vitamin D. SoL’s vitamins, minerals and healthy fats boost immunity, promote brain and heart health, strengthen bones and teeth, and promote beautiful, younger-looking skin. SoL is also free from the eight most common food allergens, making it a perfect choice for people allergic or sensitive to dairy, gluten, wheat, soy, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts." It can be used straight out of the package as a cold beverage, in cereals, coffee, smoothies or in recipes.

Sunrich Naturals taken five traditional recipes and improved them by adding SoL.

•    Sunflower Pancakes – In a large bowl stir together 1.5 cups flour, 1.5 cups wheat flour, a tablespoon baking powder, 2 tablespoons of a sugar substitute and a little salt. Slowly mix in one egg and 1 cup of SoL Vanilla, 1.5 cups of sunflower butter and two tablespoons of applesauce until combined. Add a little extra Sol if it’s too thick. Let mixture sit for five minutes, then pour circles onto a hot griddle. Cook, flip, cook and serve. Makes 12 servings.

Calories 140, Total fat 8 g, Total carbohydrate 15 g, Dietary fiber 2 g, Sugars 3 g, Protein 4g

•    Breakfast Casserole – Lay a defrosted puff pastry sheet at the bottom of a baking pan. Add chopped up veggies like bell peppers and onions. Cook 12 oz. of ground turkey or turkey sausage and add to the pan. Add a cup of loose, pre-cooked hash browns. In a bowl mix five egg whites (or an egg substitute) and a cup of Unsweetened or Original SoL. Whisk and pour into a baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes, remove and sprinkle with shredded low fat mozzarella and bake again for 15 minutes. Serves 6.

Calories 450, Total fat 25 g, Total carbohydrate 28 g, Dietary fiber 2 g, Sugars 3 g, Protein 29 g

•    Easy Apple Oats – Core and roughly chop one apple in a bowl. Add a cup of oats, cinnamon and 1.5 cups of SoL Vanilla. Cover tightly and cook in microwave for three minutes. Divide between two bowls, add pecans and it’s ready to eat.

Calories 270, Total fat 6 g, Total carbohydrate 49 g, Dietary fiber 7 g, Sugars 19 g, Protein 8 g

•    French Toast – In a bowl combine two eggs (or an egg substitute) beaten with SoL Vanilla and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Dip slices of whole wheat bread into the mix allowing each to soak. In a pan, melt a small amount of butter and cook each slice of bread 2-3 minutes per side. Serve with real maple or sugar free syrup. Makes six servings.

Calories 390, Total fat 8 g, Total carbohydrate 59 g, Dietary fiber 10 g, Sugars 9 g, Protein 20 g

•    Egg White Omelet – Spray a pan with olive oil. In a bowl combine 11 egg whites, ¼ cup of SoL Original, and some chopped basil. Whisk till peaks forms. Pour the mixture into the hot pan until bottom is covered. Once the mixture has set, add chopped tomatoes, onions and mozzarella to half. Gently fold over the other half and cook for three more minutes until set. Makes four servings.

I was diagnosed silent GERD diagnosis this past year and milk seems to be the greatest offender, so I was really interested in trying out SoL since I really miss having a glass of milk (and have been advised by two doctors to not drink soy milk). To me, the SoL is like a milk beverage. I like it. It is a bit sweet and organic evaporated cane juice is the second ingredient, but overall carbohydrates are less than milk sugars are at 7g. My husband thinks it is too sweet, but I like the taste, although a bit sweet, and enjoy just drinking it straight from the glass. However, you can get it unsweetened and I plan to try that soon. It also comes in Vanilla.

I haven't tried it in cereal (gosh--it has been so long since I had a bowl), but think it would be good in that, too. I also think it would be great in the recipes and plan try those out soon.

Disclosure: I was provided with a sample product to facilitate this review. I was not compensated for this review.

Free Music--Music To Open The Heart And Calm The Mind

2012-01-30T23:18:00.000-05:00

Do you like relaxation music? Then you will definitely want to download these seven songs. Just click the box below!

Sexy Valentine's Gift

2012-01-30T23:17:00.000-05:00

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. I don’t know about you, but I know the onething that is sure to please my honey. Me. Yes, plain and simple,me. But for Valentine’s Day, I like todress that gift up a bit. I have beenlooking at EdenFantasys.com and they have a great selection of “gift wrapping”for my present. In good ole plainEnglish, lingerie. They have a beautifulselection of items in red to make this Valentine’s Day memorable. They have a pretty RedStretch Gown by Croquette. It ismade of stretch lace and has a high slit side with a pretty little ruffle trimand comes with a pair of sexy g-string panties. Maybe you are feeling a bit glamorous and want to try the floor length RedMoonlight Magic Gown with a very high, alluring slit of the side. It also comes with thong panties. There are so many to choose from that I amsure I will find something that is the perfect “wrapping” for my honey’sgift.

Disclosure: EdenFantasys, an online retailer of sex toys, provided me with a gift card in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

Why Bees Are So Important and What is Happening to Them

2012-01-30T22:52:00.002-05:00

In case you weren't aware, our bee population is on the decline. I know some people would say, "So what? Who wants to be stung by a bee?" Trust me, I would rather be stung (unless I was allergic) than not have bees around doing their very important job of pollinating. I just read an interesting article about the decline of bees and some theories of what is going on. You may want to check it out HERE.

Free Sample of Purex Triple Action

2012-01-30T21:27:00.002-05:00

Right now, you can get a free sample of Purex Triple Action Liquid by visiting www.FreeSamplePurex.com website. Just to give you the heads up, Purex only allows one sample per household per year, so if you sign up for the liquid sample, you will not be able to sign up for the UltraPacks sample once it is available.

My New Look--What Do You Think?

2012-01-28T17:35:00.001-05:00

Okay, I have to toot my horn a bit! I am so proud of myself. I just designed my own blog button. I had originally tried to reach the person who did my original button, but couldn't reach her. A blogging friend (Mariana from The Domestic Buzz) told me she did her own and gave me a few sites to check into. I spent some time last night (in between cleaning up my daughter's vomit) designing the look I wanted and went to bed. This morning, I really felt like I was in over my head and couldn't do it. I really thought about trying to find someone to make it for me. That thought lasted all of 30 seconds till I threw it out of my head. Why couldn't I do it?

So, with some hard work of cleaning up my old crab (just had to keep crabby--he is so cute) and some persistence, I finally got it!

What do you think? How do you like my new look?

For Those of You Who Think Joe Paterno Was a Great Man (and for Those of You Who Don't) #joepaterno @helpspreadthis

2012-01-28T13:35:00.000-05:00

In case you missed my post about my feelings towards Joe Paterno's glorification, you can read it here. But make sure you read this from SwedishJewFish, and you will understand why I feel the way I do about him. You will also learn things you can do to change the world.

A Day for Good-byes

2012-01-27T23:04:00.003-05:00

Once a month, my daughters and I visit residents at a local nursing home. We do not know anyone there, we go as volunteers for St. Vincent de Paul through our church. Every month, my daughters don't want to go. In the beginning, they were scared. Naturally, since they are just 5 and 7 and never been to a nursing home before. The smells, the people who don't have their mental capacities anymore, wheelchairs galore. All that combined with the fact that nursing homes are just depressing places. After going a couple times, they knew what to expect and were better. But they still hate going. The funny thing is, when we leave, they admit feeling good and happy they went. I think they just don't like the idea of going. They would rather continue playing. The nursing home residents love seeing the girls faces. They just light up when we come down the hall or into their rooms. And my children are learning one of life's most important lessons: in giving, we receive. They get so much out of going and feel so good about it when we leave.

We have been going for about a year now and the girls began to talk and interact with the residents. They had their favorites. It was funny who they liked. Some for their name, some for their ages, some because the resident had a dog visiting them. Some because they received a piece of candy. But then there are the others. The ones who are most lost. The ones who don't have anyone.

We love Clarence, a WWII vet. We call him our hero. He loves it. But a few months ago, he had a stroke. I am not even sure he recognized us today. We couldn't understand what he was saying to us. It was sad.

June is a favorite, even though we haven't seen her every month. I think they like that she is named after a month. This morning, Camille was insistent that we find June. "Let's find June." So we went looking for her and couldn't find her. We asked a nurse. June passed away this morning. The girls were sad that they didn't get to see her one last time but after a moment, Camille said, "She is looking down on us now and knows we came to visit her." I smiled and reassured her that was true. Claire added that she was much happier now. Yes, that is so true.

We went on.

Another resident, I will call her Helen, was one of the neediest ones. She was very old and always held a baby doll. My girls were amused with that. Helen is a beautiful woman, even in her old age. Clear blue eyes and beautiful, healthy, long blonde/gray hair. Not a tooth in her mouth and intelligible words. The first time we saw her and introduced ourselves, she took a liking to the girls. She talked, but with what I could understand, I could tell that her mind was not what it had once been. She held her baby doll like it was real. I was touched by it. On our second visit to the nursing home, she saw me walking down the hall. Once our eyes met, hers face lit up with recognition and she immediately looked down to see if I had the girls with me. Of course, I did. Her face lit up even more. My girls followed my lead and weren't scared to touch and hug this beautiful woman. We saw her every time we went. Until today.

She wasn't in the common areas as she usually was, so we asked about her. Helen is no longer with us, either. The tears welled in my eyes as well as my girls. Helen, without words, touched each of us.

"Why are they all dying?" Camille asked. "It is part of life. Although we are sad because we miss them, they are now with God in His Kingdom," I responded. "Yes," she said, "and now they are happy and healthy."

We talked about how we made new friends today that need us. New friends to visit. Gail, who is obviously sad and lonely. Who cried, and hugged and then smiled by the time we left. And the 94 year old resident who had a fun rhyming name. And there were still our old friends Agnes and Viola and more.

We said our prayers for them all. We thanked God for giving us the opportunity to know them. We thanked God for letting them touch our lives as much as we touched theirs.

My girls are learning the circle of life.

That 70's Show

2012-01-27T20:56:00.003-05:00

Guest Post

Thanks to Darwin Barton

I have talked before about how I am not the biggest fan of Ashton Kutcher and I am about to tell you the one exception that I make for him. It is That 70’s show. I like this show for so many reasons. One being nostalgia. I can remember back in high school when I used to wear the exact same kind of clothes as Jackie and my mother had the same hair style as Kittie and probably the same way of thinking as well. It really takes me back to the good old days. Another reason why I love this show is because it is well written. The characters are pretty much believable and Red reminds me of my father from back then. My favorite character on the show is Kelso. This is my one exception for my dislike of Ashton Kutcher as an actor. I think in this role he is playing the kind of role he was meant to play, one kind of similar to his lackadaisical demeanor. Check outhttp://www.satellite911.com/ to check out packages that will let you watch That 70’s show on your TV at home.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

Inexpensive, Green Stainless Steel Cleaner

2012-01-26T23:58:00.001-05:00

Need a way to clean your stainless steel that is green and inexpensive? Just dampen a cloth with vinegar and wipe in the direction of the grain. Don't waste your money on expensive chemicals!

Easy Way to Clean Your Oven

2012-01-26T23:56:00.001-05:00

Every couple weeks, fill a glass bowl with 1/2 cup of ammonia and place it in a cold oven overnight. The next day you will find the grime has loosened up and wipes away. If you have a self-cleaning oven, you can do this in between cleanings.

Cute FREE Valentine's Printable to be Framed

2012-01-26T22:28:00.000-05:00

I love this FREE printable for Valentine's Day from eighteen25. Just print it off an put it in a frame--LOVELY!

GIVEAWAY Celtic Women Believe Autographed DVD and CD 2 WINNERS!! #rafflecopter

2012-01-25T23:12:00.000-05:00

Amazing. That is the only word I can think of to describe Celtic Women and yet that word doesn't even really seem to give the deserved credit to the beautiful voices and music of these women. If you haven't heard of them (if not, I seriously wonder what rock you live under), Celtic Women is an all-female group featuring vocalists Chloe Agnew, Lisa Kelly, Lisa Lambe and violinist Mairead Nesbitt. They perform classic Irish songs as well as pop and inspirational songs with a Celtic twist.

Anyway, they just released a studio album and companion live concert DVD yesterday. The live sold out concert was recorded at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA this past September. I haven't gotten my hands on it just yet, but it is on the way and I can't wait. But, I did manage to score both a DVD and CD for two of my lucky readers in the giveaway below.

Website: http://www.celticwoman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celticwoman
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/celticwomanvid
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/celticwomanmusic

Tour Dates

Feb 3, 2012	Nashville, TN	TPAC
Feb 4, 2012	Nashville, TN	TPAC
Feb 7, 2012	Knoxville, TN	Civic Auditorium
Feb 8, 2012	Greenville, SC	BI-LO Center
Feb 9, 2012	Atlanta, GA	Fox Theatre
Feb 11, 2012	Birmingham, AL	BJCC
Feb 12, 2012	Huntsville, AL	Von Braun Center
Feb 14, 2012	Tampa, FL	David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts
Feb 15, 2012	Jacksonville, FL	Times Union Center for the Performing Arts
Feb 16, 2012	Gainesville, FL	Stephen C. O’Connell Center
Feb 17, 2012	Orlando, FL	UCF Arena
Feb 18, 2012	Melbourne, FL	Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts
Feb 21, 2012	Charlotte, NC	Ovens Auditorium
Feb 22, 2012	Charlottesville, VA	John Paul Jones Arena
Feb 24, 2012	North Charleston, SC	North Charleston Performing Arts Center
Feb 25, 2012	Asheville , NC	Asheville Civic Center
Feb 26, 2012	Columbia, SC	Koger Center
Feb 28, 2012	Roanoke, VA	Civic Center
Feb 29, 2012	Norfolk, VA	Chrysler Hall
Mar 2, 2012	Raleigh, NC	Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts
Mar 3, 2012	Fairfax, VA	Patriot Center
Mar 4, 2012	Baltimore, MD	Hippodrome Theatre
Mar 6, 2012	Hershey, PA	Giant Center
Mar 8, 2012	Philadelphia, PA	Liacouras Center
Mar 9, 2012	Boston, MA	The Wang Theatre
Mar 10, 2012	Boston, MA	The Wang Theatre
Mar 11, 2012	New York, NY	Radio City Music Hall
Mar 13, 2012	Syracuse, NY	Landmark Theatre
Mar 14. 2012	Albany, NY	Palace Theatre
Mar 16, 2012	Manchester, NH	Verizon Wireless Arena
Mar 17, 2012	Wallingford, CT	Oakdale Theatre
Mar 18, 2012	Uncasville, CT	Mohegan Sun Arena
Mar 20, 2012	Richmond, VA	Landmark Theater
Mar 21, 2012	Pittsburgh, PA	Consol Energy Center
Mar 23, 2012	Detroit, MI	Fox Theatre
Mar 24, 2012	Cincinnati, OH	Aronoff Center for the Arts
Mar 25, 2012	West Lafayette, IN	Elliott Hall of Music
Mar 27, 2012	Akron, OH	Civic Theatre
Mar 28, 2012	Columbus, OH	Palace Theatre
Mar 30, 2012	Chicago, IL	Rosemont Theatre
Mar 31, 2012	Chicago, IL	Rosemont Theatre
Apr 1, 2012	St. Paul, MN	Xcel Energy Center
Apr 3, 2012	Champaign, IL	Assembly Hall Star Theatre
Apr 4, 2012	Kansas City, MO	Music Hall
Apr 5, 2012	Little Rock, AR	Robinson Center
Apr 6, 2012	Memphis, TN	Orpheum Theatre
Apr 7, 2012	Memphis, TN	Orpheum Theatre
Apr 10, 2012	Louisville, KY	The Palace Theater
Apr 11, 2012	St. Louis, MO	Fox Theatre
Apr 12, 2012	Wichita, KS	Century II Performing Arts Center
Apr 14, 2012	Dallas, TX	Verizon Theatre
Apr 15, 2012	Baton Rouge, LA	River Center Arena
Apr 16, 2012	Houston, TX	Jones Hall
Apr 18, 2012	Denver, CO	Wells Fargo Theater
Apr 19, 2012	Salt Lake City, UT	Energy Solutions Arena
Apr 21, 2012	Portland, OR	Keller Auditorium
Apr 22, 2012	Spokane, WA	INB PAC
Apr 23, 2012	Seattle, WA	Paramount Theatre
Apr 25, 2012	Sacramento, CA	Memorial Auditorium
Apr 27, 2012	Phoenix, AZ	Comerica Theatre
Apr 28, 2012	Los Angeles, CA	Nokia Theatre L.A. Live
Apr 29, 2012	Las Vegas, NV	The Smith Center for Performing Arts

Giveaway
The giveaway below is for a chance to win the Celtic Women Believe Autographed DVD or the Celtic Women CD. The first winner chosen by Rafflecopter will win the DVD, the second winner chosen will win the CD. Good-luck!

Disclosure: I will be receiving the Celtic Women DVD and concert tickets in exchange for this post and a future review.Read more »

Winner of the Jockey/Purex Giveaway

2012-01-25T22:32:00.001-05:00

Janet Frye is the winner of the Jockey Purex Giveaway--congrats! Check your inbox for an email from me!

Mom Inspired Driving Tips #Esurance

2012-01-25T18:36:00.001-05:00

As mothers, we are often in the car shuffling kids backand forth from dance class to sports to afterschool activities, etcetera. It seems like we live in the car some days. I know some moms who are trying to get amailing address for their car!

That being said, I would like to pass along to my readerssome of my “mom inspired” driving tips. Maybe some of these will make your life easier.

Establish rules for the car. The younger you start this, the easier itwill be. Here are some of my rules: noloud music, no yelling, no agitating your siblings (or spouse), no putting feeton the back of the car seat (this is really annoying for the driver), and stayin your seat with your seatbelt on at all times.
Teach your children to occupy themselves in the car and give them the materials needed to do so. I keep a stash of coloring books, notebooks, mad-libs, markers and books in a backpack in the back seat. I also like to toss in things like Brain Quest and little figurines for my kids to amuse themselves with. For long trips, I add their readers, handheld gaming systems and the DVD player with movies. I make sure the items are all placed within reach of the kids. This way, they won't distract you as much. The less distractions, the better.
Leave 10 to 15 minutes earlier than you need in order getwhere you are going without feeling rushed. I know this can be very challenging, but leaving a little earlier keepsyou out of the rush mode. You are moreprepared to handle delays along the way without feeling stressed. When we are rushed, we are more likely totake more chances on the road, endangering yourself and your children. It also keeps your stress level down, and asmothers, anything that can reduce stress is welcome.
My next tip is stolen from the Boy Scout motto; beprepared. Yes, be prepared for anythingand everything, from traffic, to weather, to breaking down. I like to keep snacks in the car for thosetimes when trips take longer than expected (or you are broken down on the sideof the road). I also keep a shovel,flasher lights, flares and a lighter in the trunk along with jumper cables anda blanket. I even have some of thosefoil looking blankets that are supposed to keep you warm. Also, a first aid kit is a must-have in thetrunk. Make sure you don’t travelwithout your cell phone and that it is fully charged. It is great to have a car charger for yourphone, too. Keep up with maintaining your car. Have it serviced regularly and check tirepressure, oil levels and windshield washer fluid between servicing. Keep an eye on the gas tank and try not tolet it fall lower than ¼ full. Runningout of gas and being stranded is no fun at all.
Be a defensive driver. No matter how great of a driver you are, there are a lot of others that are not. By driving defensively, you can keep an accident from happening. Follow the rules of the road and drive the speed limit. Besides helping you to avoid accidents, it can also help you to avoid tickets.
I have to add one more. DO NOT TEXT WHILE DRIVING! This is so ridiculously unsafe that I can't believe people even do it. Also, avoid those unnecessary phone calls. They are just another distraction that can lead to an accident.

I hope these mom inspired driving tips are helpful toyou. I’d love to hear any tips you have!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Name Change: From Ann Crabs to Ann I Am!

2012-01-24T21:58:00.004-05:00

I have been pondering my blog name for a long time. Years, in fact. When I first started blogging, it was just something for fun and friends. I was a sleep deprived mother of 2 young children, and I was feeling pretty crabby. Hence, Ann Crabs. But since then, my blog has evolved into so much more (that is a good thing) but I couldn't figure out what to name it. I wanted something clever. Something cute. Something about me. I just didn't have the time to sit and figure out what that was. But the idea of a new name has been there, festering in my mind. It finally grew so big that I could no longer ignore it and started bantering ideas. With the help of hubs (I love that man), Ann I Am came to life.

So, I am in the process of change. It is sort of like getting married and changing your name all over again. A royal pain in the booty, but well worth it in the long run! Thanks for your patience.

Let me know, do you like the new name?

Upcoming FREE Lowes Build & Grow Valentine Creator 2/12/11

2012-01-24T20:15:00.005-05:00

Love is in the air with Lowe's free Build and Grow Clinic SATURDAY, February 11, 2012. Kids can make their own Valentines and this cute box for them. To register online, sign up HERE.

Lowe's Free Kids Build and Grow Clinic--Build-a-saurus THIS SATURDAY!

2012-01-24T20:06:00.004-05:00

The kids are sure to love this one! Lowe's has their free Build and Grow Clinic THIS SATURDAY and it is a Build-a-saurus! How cute is he? To register online, sign up HERE.

Crab of the Day: DO NOT HIT REPLY ALL!

2012-01-24T20:02:00.003-05:00

One thing that bugs the crap out of me is when someone sends an email to a distribution list and people hit "reply all" when it is not necessary. This happens to me all the time. I am not sure if people don't understand that they don't need to hit reply all or what, but if you don't, let me tell you. Just hit "reply" instead of "reply all" if only the sender needs the information from you.

An example today: the Girl Scout leader wanted to update/consolidate email addresses to make sure they were accurate and she knew which email went with which child, especially since the group was going to be divided. She asked people to email her back with your children's name and if they were a Brownie or Daisy. You wouldn't believe the number of people that wrote back, hitting reply all, clogging up my emails.

DON'T HIT REPLY ALL, unless everyone in the distribution list needs the information!

What Kind of Sick Society Do We Live In?

2012-01-24T19:53:00.000-05:00

What kind of sick society do we live in that we we glorify a man who, by his inaction, allowed children to be sexually abused? I am so sick of how the media and people (friends included) are glorifying Joe Paterno. Sure, he was a nice man. Sure, he was an awesome coach. Sure, he loved Penn State. But he did something terrible. He lacked the balls to stand up and protect children. Why did he knowingly look the other way when he was told of Jerry Sandusky's actions? There are only two reasons I can think of; money and power. He wanted both and had complete disregard for children, whose lives were being destroyed. How someone can know that a child is being abused and not make every effort to stop it is beyond me. It is sick. He was sick. Stop glorifying him. Stop saying he was treated bad by the university. Stop making excuses. Abuse needs to end NOW. Do something Paterno didn't, take a stand against child abuse!

Real Simple Magazine $1.67 an Issue Plus a FREE Real Simple Guide #realsimple

2012-01-24T09:11:00.001-05:00

Do you love Real Simple magazine? It is one of my favorites. You can get it right now for $1.67 an issue plus get a free 40-page guide of your choice (Getting Organized, Quick and Easy Meals, Conquering Clutter) when you pay by credit card. Read more about this deal HERE.

FREE Subscription to Martha Stewart Living Magazine #free #magazine #marthastewartliving

2012-01-21T10:06:00.002-05:00

There is only one thing that I love more than the Martha Stewart Living Magazine, and that is getting it for FREE! Right now, you can sign up with Rewards Gold (or log-in if you are a member) and get a FREE subscription to the magazine after referring a friend and filling out a short survey on breakfast foods. HURRY! This won't last!

Cute, No-Sew Scarf (and it is Recycled, too!)

2012-01-19T22:12:00.002-05:00

I love my new scarf that I made! I wore it today and got a lot of compliments. Boy, were people surprised when I told them my husband wore it a few weeks ago.

Yes, he did actually wear it a few weeks ago...in the form of a t-shirt. You know, one of those t-shirts that men hate to part with? Yes, it had holes under the arms and the neck was frayed. There were a couple other small holes, too. I made the executive decision that he was no longer going to wear it (and if I didn't, he would wear it another 5 years--you should have seen what his Widespread Panic t-shirt looked like before I could get him to part with it).

Like I said, this is a no-sew scarf. If you can cut, you can make this. Simply cut the bottom of an old t-shirt off and cut from arm pit to arm pit. Continue to cut strips horizontally about 2" apart. When you are done cutting the strips, stretch them out. The ends will all curl under, creating a ropy ring. Since was my husband's shirt, I had to loop it twice around my neck. Another great thing about this scarf is that it is machine washable!

Do you like?

KIWI Magazine Free!

2012-01-19T21:52:00.000-05:00

You can now get Kiwi Magazine free on your iPad. For those of you who aren't familiar with KIWI, it is a great parenting magazine promoting healthy, natural and organic living. Just visit the iTunes App store to download your free app.

Free Brawny Paper Towels at Kroger This Week

2012-01-19T21:40:00.003-05:00

You can get a roll of Brawny paper towels free from Kroger's this week. Simply print the $.55 off coupon in the coupon bar at the top of this page or from this link. Brawny paper towels are on sale for $1. Once Kroger doubles the coupon, you will get it for free! Note: you may print two of these coupons!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-19T10:51:00.000-05:00

Free Credit Monitoring

2012-01-17T23:16:00.000-05:00

Credit Karma is a company that has been giving free approximations of credit scores for years. They just started another free service--credit monitoring. They will alert you to any activity in your accounts. This is a legit site and has been written up in many newspapers and television. This is a good way to learn quickly if your credit has been compromised. Most companies charge you $10 or more a month to monitor your credit. Credit Karma is an advertiser supported site so my guess is that the ads pay for the services and you don't!

What I Have Been Up To

2012-01-17T23:02:00.001-05:00

I know I have been gone from blogging lately. I have just been trying to get caught up on life and also some reading. I am in the midst of the Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood (yes, I am that far behind) and have also been trying to get the house organized after a year of neglect. Not to mention this crazy January weather we are having--I am trying to get outdoors and enjoy it as much as possible. Seriously--it was 57 degrees here this morning. Of course, we did have nearly 1.5" of rain, but in between, I did manage to get out and not get wet. However, by the time I took my daughter to dance this evening, it had dropped into the 30's. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I love the warm winter, although I could go for a little less rain (why does it rain on the warm days?)

Anyway, I did get a bit crafty before the holidays but never managed to get a picture of this posted, so I am going to go ahead and post it now. I decided to spruce up my kitchen light for Christmas. Just a bit of garland with some flowers and gold ribbon tucked in. I thought it turned out nicely. What do you think?

Review: I Said NO! A Kid-to-Kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts Private

2012-01-17T22:40:00.001-05:00

Child sex abuse is rampant in this country. Any parent that thinks that it won't happen to their child is turning a blind eye to the very real possibility that someone, maybe even someone they know and trust, may attempt to perpetuate a sexual act on their child. Just turn on the news and it is likely that you will hear of a coach, a teacher, a clergyman or family member who has been accused of abusing a child sexually. These events aren't isolated. They happen everywhere and can happen to any child.

As a counselor, I am well aware of the frequency of child sex abuse. My first job out of college taught me that. I knew it happened, just not how often. I remember feeling horribly sickened when I made that discovery. What was even more disturbing was that it wasn't done by some twisted stranger, but usually by someone who was well-known and trusted by the family.

So, from day one, I talked to my children about their bodies and how to protect their bodies. This is a difficult topic, because on one hand, it is so important they have this message, but on the other hand, you don't want to have your child living in fear. You also want to provide them with enough information, but you don't want to provide them with too much information. Having experience in this field, I feel I know where that balance is. However, I know most parents struggle with how to deliver this message of safety.

I was eager to review I Said NO! A kid-to kid guide to keeping private parts private by Zack and Kimberly King. When I was working in the field, I struggled to find books that expressed just the right message about staying safe. I also was eager to reinforce messages I have been telling my children all along. I found this book to be a great resource for this delicate topic.

The story, unfortunately arose from an experience that the King's own son had at a sleepover. Kimberly King, a former kindergartner teacher who had reviewed the subject with her children assumed that if anything happened, her children would say "No!" or run away. However, she was mistaken. She says, "I had neglected rehearsing different scenarios..." To help her son cope with his feelings, they entered counseling. In order to help others, they wrote a book about what they learned.

The story is written from a kid's perspective covers what privates are, good touching and bad touching, scenarios of what someone may say, what to do if you feel uncomfortable, how to say no, who trusted adults are, and what to do if no one listens or believes you. It even covers parental or caregiver sexual abuse and what to do.

The book has cute illustrations. It is rated ages 4 and up, and my girls, ages 5 and 7, enjoyed it. I do think it is pretty long and a 4 year old might lose interest, but I would definitely still get it for them, just read in sessions or abbreviate it. But definitely get this and read it and re-read it to your children. Most pedophiles are very slick--they groom your child over time to get what they want. They start by doing small things and building up. By being informed, your child will know to come to you when the small things start. The best way we can protect our children from sexual abuse is by informing them and continually reviewing the information with them. Your child will also feel comfortable with this topic and will alert you if something unusual occurs.

The book sells for $9.95 (with free shipping on orders over $25) at Amazon. If you click on the link below, you can see some of the inside pages of this book.

Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of this book to facilitate this review. I was not compensated in any manner. The opinions expressed in this book are my own.

Top 100 FREE eBooks

2012-01-12T22:52:00.000-05:00

Did you get a reader for Christmas? Make sure you check out the Top 100 FREE eBooks from Amazon. You can download these to read on your iPad, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, PC, Mac or Windows 7 phone.

Review: Goalforit! A FREE Online Site to Help You Reach Your Goals

2012-01-12T20:22:00.000-05:00

Are you having trouble staying on track with your New Year's Resolutions? Could your kids benefit from a chore chart? Do you need a place to organize your plans? Then you might want to check out Goalforit.com! Goalforit.com in an online site that helps people reach their goals by providing various tools and a way to account for your progress.

The first thing I saw on Goalforit is the personalized chore chart you can make for your children. They don't just include chores, but behavioral goals and even healthy habits. The charts can be customized for children or for tweens and teens. What I love about it is that you can set points, a.k.a Moolah, for each task completed. The Moolah can be spent on rewards created by the parents. I think this is an awesome concept and have started this with my children. I have found it to be very motivating for my kids. It is also a great lesson in money management as children will learn to earn, save and spend.

This alone makes this site awesome, but Goalforit offers so much more! You can design a plan and set goals for yourself and keep track of it the goal tracker or on a daily goal chart. What's more is that you can establish a community of friends and family if you want. You have the option of keeping your goals private or making them public or just sharing with friends. I love that it has preset goals for health (i.e. eat more vegetables, strength train, floss, walk, etc.) as well as traits (i.e. wake up on time, watch temper, be patient, etc.), fulfillment (i.e. me time, read, nurture faith, etc.) and household (i.e. chores, kids homework done, track spending, dust, etc.). In addition, you always have the option to create your own tiles. You also have the ability to add points and establish a reward system for yourself.

You can print off your charts and mark them down but you can also enter them in online and keep track of your progress this way. It automatically tallies your points for rewards each week. You can even set email reminders for daily, weekly or monthly.

The beauty of it all is that this site is absolutely FREE and has no advertising on it. The owner, Michael, created Goalforit as a "passion-project" to try to help people "bring more focus and personal success into everyday life by recognizing, developing and capitalizing on their own unique strengths and abilities."

This is something very beneficial for my family and myself. My girls are excited to get their weekly goals entered and watch their moolah build. I am excited that I don't have to constantly remind them to do their chores. I also love the personal goal setting for myself--it helps keep me on track and more organized. With the New Year, this is the perfect time to start up on Goalforit.com! I am loving it!

Disclosure: I will be compensated for this review. As always, this review contains my honest opinions.

Coupon: 20% Discount from Jockey

2012-01-11T19:19:00.001-05:00

Want a great coupon for 20% off Jockey? Visit www.purex.com/jockey and register and they will email you a discount code! They have some fab stuff!

Giveaway: Jockey Tech Terry Sports Bra and Purex Crystals Tropical Splash

2012-01-11T19:12:00.001-05:00

Do you have a New Year's Resolution to get in shape? I know a lot of people do. One thing that is important for any woman's fitness goals is a good sports bra. Jockey's Tech Terry Performance Sports Bra provides moisture-wicking to keep you cool and dry. It also has breathable mesh panels and a soft bottom band for comfortable support. It is made of mostly polyester (93%) and Spandex (75). It also features a key pocket (tucked neatly between your breasts), which is a great feature.

Now, to keep any of your moisture wicking sports clothing working, you don't want to use liquid fabric softener in the laundry. Liquid fabric contains oils in them and will prevent the wicking process. However, Purex Crystals is a more natural way to keep your laundry fresh and soft, without interfering with the sweat wicking properties of sport clothes.

What do I have to say about both products? It is a great bra with great features. I love the Purex Crystals for so many reasons, including the fact that it can be safely used on sports clothing. I also love the wonderful, fresh fragrance of the Tropical Splash Purex Crystals that keep my towels and clothing smelling fresh for a long time.

What is really great is that Purex and Jockey have teamed up to give my readers a chance to try both. Just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below.

Want a great coupon for 20% off Jockey? Visit www.purex.com/jockey and register and they will email you a discount code!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Jockey and Purex provided free samples of their products so I could review them. However, all opinions expressed here are my own.

Review: Purex Ultra Packs

2012-01-11T16:27:00.002-05:00

This is a Purex review kind of day for me. I also had the opportunity to review the NEW Purex UltraPacks detergent that will be on store shelves in February. These little pre-measured, concentrated packs of liquid laundry detergent dissolve right in your washing machine, even in cold water. Of course, they have the stain fighting power of Purex Triple Action formula keeping your clothes bright, white and clean.

What can I say about them? I have been using them for a couple weeks and they are great! Just drop one (remember, they are concentrated) in the washer and you are good to go. My clothes came out clean and great. I love that it dissolves quickly in cold water, too.

My kids are still to small to help much with the laundry, but as they get older, I think this would be great for them so I don't have to worry about them putting too much detergent in the washing machine. It would also be great for teens and young adults and especially college students. They are also safe for all washing machines, including the High Efficiency (HE) washers.

Disclosure: I received a pack of Purex Ultra Packs to facilitate this review.

Review: Save Money with Purex Triple Action--Bright, White, Clean

2012-01-11T16:14:00.000-05:00

The water where I live is pretty hard and leaves my whites looking dingy. In the summer, I try to hang my whites outside and let the sun brighten them, but even then, I find I need a little help. And a lot of help throughout the rest of the year. I was using another product--no names here, but it was pricey! Because of the price, I hated to even use it every white load.

When Purex sent me their Purex Triple Action formula laundry detergent, I was definitely looking forward to trying it. My past experience with Purex products has been very positive and I like that they don't take a big bite out of my wallet. The Purex Triple Action formula laundry detergent claims to leave your clothes "bright, white, and clean...for half the price of the leading brand." I am very happy to say that it definitely lives up to it's claims. In just one washing, my whites were noticeably brighter and whiter! What is great is that this detergent is great for both regular washing machines like my 25 year old beast or the new HE machines. You definitely must try it!

Disclosure: I received a bottle of Purex Triple Action formula to facilitate this review.

Free Red Dress Pin

2012-01-10T21:13:00.000-05:00

The American Heart Association is offering a free Red Dress Pin to show your support for the Go Red Campaign. Just sign up on Facebook.

Lice Prevention Tips

2012-01-10T21:03:00.000-05:00

Guest Post by: Adie Horowitz, owner, Licenders

Adie’s tips for lice prevention

Know the “lice” time of year

Winter: Travel time, clothing layers, hats, gloves, scarves, etc.
Summer: Camp, play dates, travel, hats, road trips

Prevention products: peppermint is a deterrent scent to the bug, many shampoos/conditioners contain this ingredient
Once per week throw backpacks, hats and jackets in the dryer for 20 minutes
Educate children on the importance of not sharing hats, hair-bows, jackets and gloves
Check your children frequently for head lice, it’s much easier to get rid of if you discover it at an early stage

About Adie Horowitz

Adie Horowitz, the founder of Licenders, is a mother who felt like she had nowhere to turn when her children were diagnosed as “having lice.” As an informed mother, Adie insisted that there must indeed be alternative methods for removing lice without using highly toxic products that were in the marketplace. With significant research, Adie created her own lice removal process and product to handle her household problem. Within the next three months, Adie’s services were in such high demand by mothers that had heard of her lice removal process and its success that she was faced with the need to open an official business to help others in need.

Adie Horowitz applied for and won the Make Mine a Million $ Business Competition to fund Licenders. A successful entrepreneur, mother, mentor, role model and speaker, Ms. Horowitz's vision includes creating jobs and serving communities throughout the nation.

Kids Eat FREE at Bob Evans on Tuesdays

2012-01-10T20:50:00.001-05:00

Kids eat free every Tuesday evening from 4pm to close with purchase of an adult entree at Bob Evans. This is valid for children 12 and under and for dine in only. They also have a Sweet Treat Club card now so kids can earn Free cookies and an Ice Cream Sunday. Visit Facebook to find out about the Sweet Treat Club.

Facebook Friend Purge Challenge--PLEASE READ!

2012-01-08T18:25:00.002-05:00

I have teetered back and forth for some time about what to do with my Facebook so-called "friends" and whether to keep them or not. Last night I took the plunge and had a purging session. I looked at all my "friends" and realized that there were quite a few that I don't really remember who they are or don't really care about their lives.

I sat on the couch with my iPad and looked at the list. There were a lot in that gray area. How to decide? I decided to do it in rounds using a set criteria. Some people who made the first cut didn't make the second. I started first with the obvious. The people who I really don't know. You know, my sister's high school friend. Or the guy who knew my family as a kid. After I got started, it was pretty easy. The next criteria was people I knew from high school that I don't have a relationship with or don't really care about. Of course, I had a few people that remained in that gray area. I figure I can always whack them later.

My husband was laughing at me as I was doing this, especially with the commentary that went along with it. "You were a ho and still are. Whack." "You are bat shit crazy! Whack!" "I remember your name from high school, but that is it. Good riddance." "You are pretty nice, you can stay." "Love your posts, keep."

I added that maybe I needed a couple drinks and my husband said then I would really have balls. Hell, if my husband doesn't know by now that I have balls, I guess he never will. (He snickered after reading this.) After all, I am the one already whacking my friend list, not him.

So, today, I am talking on the phone to my dear, life-long friend, Tracy. She was laughing her ass off when I was telling her how I played whack-a-friend, and said she was going to do the same. She opened up her Facebook and started her purge. We laughed the entire time and she exclaimed that it was so "liberating."

It is liberating. Why do we have all these "friends" on Facebook? I know for some people, it is a numbers thing. You are more important if you have more friends. Now that's a joke and definitely not why I had these people as friends. I think in my case, if I got the friend request, I would see the name and think, "Oh yeah, I wonder how they are doing." I know a lot of times I thought, "Really? They want me to be friends with them? Okay, whatever."

Well, I am done with the lackadaisical attitude. I am not accepting any friend requests unless I don't see you on a regular basis or you are someone from my past that I really want to be in contact with.

When I was doing this, my husband said I was motivating him to do the same. I realized while talking to Tracy, that maybe people just need someone who has the balls to do it to start a movement. So, with the new year, I have declared this National Facebook Friend Purge week. Really, do you need these "friends?" Start purging them. And, make sure you "purge it forward" by encouraging at least one other person to purge. In fact, you may want to post this (after you purged your friends, of course),

"It's a new year and time to clean up. It is National Facebook Purge Week. Go through your list of Facebook friends and clean up. The goal is to have as few REAL friends as possible on Facebook. After doing so, re-post this and encourage your friends to purge it forward."

Here are a few simple steps to help you get started. First, plan to do it in rounds. Set a criteria for each round. Ask questions and based up on the response, whack the person or keep them. Here are some questions to consider:

Do I even know this person?
Can I tell you, without looking at their profile, one thing about this person (other than their name)?
Do I have any need for this person in my life?
Can I foresee any reason I would need contact with this person in the future?
Do I really care about this person's day to day activities?
Does this person post every minute detail of their day? (I guess I will never see the post where my "friend" took a huge shit at 10am now. Darn.)
Do you have a relationship with this person?

My criteria for keeping:

I know you personally and you are a true friend
You are family (dang--would like to whack some of them)
I know you somewhat but like you and like what you have to say

You may even want to set a goal. I set mine at 45. No reason, that was just the random number that popped in my head. (Although it could be a Freudian slip kind of thing since I turn 45 in March.) Of course, I got no where close to my goal, but did get my list knocked down pretty good.

Once you start, it gets pretty easy. And the thing is, if you change your mind, you always know where to find your former "friend."

While writing this, my husband hopped on and has started cleaning up his friend list. He wishes there was a way to check numerous friends at a time to unfriend. He was having fun doing it and said he felt it was "liberating and cathartic."

So, what are you waiting for? Take the challenge and let me know how it feels!

Free Kids Custom Printable Thank You Notes

2012-01-05T12:11:00.004-05:00

Kids need help in writing their thank-you's? Print off these custom cards where you child can just fill in the blanks and quickly get their thank you's written. Click HERE for these cards and customize them for your needs.

Dear ___________________________________,

Thank you for the really nice

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________.

Love, __________________________________________

Created at www.activitiesforkids.com

Free Sample Dove Leave-in Smoothing Cream

2012-01-05T12:03:00.000-05:00

Get a free sample of Dove Leave-in Smoothing Cream by clicking HERE to fill out the request form. I really like the Dove hair care products and look forward to trying this one.

Not Writing Thank You Notes Can Lead to a Sense of Entitlement in Children

2012-01-05T11:42:00.002-05:00

It seems in this day and age that many people think thank-you notes are no longer necessary. I tend to disagree. Thank-you notes are a very important part of receiving a gift. When we become blase about writing thank-you's and having our children write thank you's, we are truly doing a disservice to them.

Thank you's are important for many reasons. First, they let the recipient know that you received the gift. I can't tell you the number of times I have been left wondering if people actually got my gift because I never heard back from them.

Another reason thank-you's are important is that it lets the sender know you appreciate their efforts. Although I don't give gifts in order to receive a thank-you, I would like to know it was appreciated. If not, I am not so likely to go out of my way in the future as I feel that maybe the recipient isn't interested in my efforts/gifts.

Thank-you's also teach your child to be appreciative of the efforts of others. It teaches them to be less selfish and more concerned about others around them.

Lastly, thank-you's teach your child that they are not entitled to a gift and to not take gifts for granted. When we don't enforce thank-you's, we are teaching children a sense of entitlement. When children grow up feeling entitled to gifts, they may begin to feel entitled in life. When this happens they may have difficulty accepting responsibility for what happens to them and feels the world owes them. They may feel deserving of more than life gives them and think it is okay to just take what they want. They may rack up credit card bills because they feel they deserve to have what they want.

I am a firm believer in writing thank you notes to others. As soon as possible after receiving a gift, I have my children sit down and write a thank-you note. Of course, they usually grunt and groan, but I point out to them that the person took time out of their day to select and purchase a gift for them and it is important to show appreciation. If they are too little to write, have them draw a picture. If your child is in first or second grade and still struggles with writing, make a pre-made card where they just have to fill in the blanks. These are also great if they have many thank-you notes to write. As they get older, provide guidance on writing the thank-you. Encourage them to say more than, "Dear Grandma, Thank you for the toy." Have them add something more about the toy, such as "it is my favorite toy," "I play with it every day," or, "it is the perfect addition to my collection." By teen years, thank-you's can incorporate a bit more. "Dear Grandma, I hope you have been well. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the cash you sent. I plan to spend it on..." or "I am saving up for an iPod and this is a great start."

What about those gifts that you really don't like? What do you do then? You still send a thank-you. It is common courtesy, even if the gift will go straight to the donation pile. They took the time to get you something, no matter how thoughtless you may think the gift is. Be courteous of their efforts.

If you can't take the time to send a thank-you, at minimum, a short call to the giver thanking them is better than nothing.

TLC's Hoarding

2012-01-01T22:11:00.001-05:00

I was watching TLC's Hoarding tonight. I understand all the dynamics of hoarding but the woman on tonight's show is very pathetic. She chooses to be a victim in all areas of her life. She even blamed her children for not helping clean the house (since they won't help I won't clean anything or throw my trash away). She has an excuse for everything. She was using her hoarding to hold he back from what she really wanted in life.I couldn't help but to think about how we can all be like this sometimes, but maybe not to the extent of the woman in this episode. Do you make excuses for not exercising (I don't have time, as I watch my favorite tv show for an hour) or not eating healthy (I have had a bad day, I deserve this donut)? Are you making excuses that keep you from getting what you want? Maybe instead of making excuses for why you can't do something, try finding reasons why you can. Looking at things this way can really change the outcome. Give it a try!

Free 2012 Bird Watching Days Calendar

2012-01-01T12:50:00.000-05:00

Get your Free 2012 Bird Watching Days Calendar from Cornell Lab by clicking HERE.

Free Best of Betty Crocker 2011 Cookbook-- eBook

2011-12-31T00:24:00.001-05:00

Click HERE to download your PDF copy of the Best of Betty Crocker Cookbook 2011. There are some really yummy recipes in this book!

Crab of the Day: Shoelaces That Don't Stay Tied

2011-12-31T00:11:00.002-05:00

What is it with athletic shoes that have laces that don't stay tied? Seems every pair I get anymore don't stay tied. I usually double knot them but my most recent pair come untied even when double knotted! What is up with that?

New Year's Eve Eve

2011-12-31T00:08:00.002-05:00

Well, I just finished my project for my New Year's Party. I decided to have a ball drop for the children. I purchased an 8" foam ball and using nearly 1000 sequins and straight pins, my girls, the neighbor boy and even my husband and myself created a gorgeous ball that we will enjoy for years to come. Here are some photos of it. Now we just have to rig up how we will make it drop tomorrow night!

Saving Moolah

2011-12-28T20:47:00.000-05:00

Guest post written by Rusty Valencia

I’ve gotten really into saving money lately so when I came across those direct tv deals I knew I had to spring for it. My husband and I actually both work from home and we’ve been lamenting about how we don’t have any good channels to watch when we take our lunch breaks together. I know it sounds silly but I really like the idea of sitting with him and watching House Hunters Internationalor some travel program while we eat our lunch because it’s fun to dream – right now we’re both doing accounting and though I know we’ll be fine I don’t want to have to worry about doing this for the rest of my life! I love the flexibility working from home gives me but you know, at the end of the day I’d like to be out there actually seeing the world rather than just tallying numbers for it. I don’t know where in the world I get these ideas but I kind of want us to become missionaries…

Disclosure: This is a paid post. The opinions expressed in here are not necessarily those of Ann Crabs author.

Stationery card

2011-12-28T13:32:00.000-05:00

Bright New Year New Year's Card

Create photo new year's cards at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

CLOSED! $50 GNC Giveaway--LOW ENTRIES!

2011-12-27T22:01:00.001-05:00

GNC has so much more to offer than nutritional supplements. They sell curling irons, fitness equipment, kitchen accessories and so much more! Make sure to enter my giveaway HERE for your chance to win a $50 gift card!

Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by GNC on Ann Crabs blog and is in no way sponsored by or endorsed by Facebook.

Christmas Time Money Saving Tips

2011-12-27T21:56:00.002-05:00

No, I am not too late on this post. I know Christmas is past, but I am taking about Christmas 2012. You know you are probably going to need some lights, children's craft kits and other Christmas decor. So buy them now at substantial savings! Also watch for clearance holiday items for gifts for teachers, mail carriers, hair dressers, coworkers and so forth. Holiday socks, candles, stationery products. Also watch for other items that can be used for birthday gifts, Easter basket treasures, and even Valentine's Day (think red). One year, I bought Christmas chocolate kisses for .74 a bag. I unwrapped the green ones and used in peanut butter blossoms and saved the red and silver ones for Valentine's Day.

The Third of Twelve Days of Christmas

2011-12-27T21:39:00.001-05:00

Christmas is not over. Christmas Day is the first of twelve days of Christmas, ending on January 6th, the Epiphany. Are the festivities over for you or do you, "Party like Catholics!" as the priest told us on Christmas Day?

Since today is the third day of Christmas, I guess I am not really late in extending Christmas wishes to my readers. I intended on posting sooner, but I was busy with my husband and children enjoying the holidays, which we celebrated early so we could visit my family the rest of the weekend. Of course, that was filled with the usual insanity nonsense that makes me question why I subject myself to such torture each year. As always, I know the answer. I do it for my children and for my mother. It always amazes me how familial structures refuse to accept new roles and instead, prefer to try to keep people in the same dysfunctional childhood roles. Seeing how my siblings act makes me more determined to make sure that my children learn to treat family members with dignity and respect and to not make excuses for other's poor behaviors.

That being said, I am thankful that I had another Christmas with my parents, who are 84 and 87, still living in their own home. Each Christmas, I am well aware, could be the last with them. So, I celebrate with them.

And, after, Christmas is twelve days. Just because one day is bad, I still have the other eleven to have a wonderful, joyous, peace-filled time! Merry Christmas!

One Free Issue of Ladies Home Journal

2011-12-27T21:03:00.004-05:00

Get one free issue of Ladies Home Journal, no strings attached, by signing up HERE.

25 FREE 4x6 from Walgreen's

2011-12-27T21:02:00.000-05:00

You can get 25 FREE 4x6 prints from Walgreen's Photo. Simply add up to 25 4×6 prints to your cart and enter the coupon code PRINTNOW at checkout. You must select free in store pick up to make this offer 100% free. Offer expires 12/31/11.

Review: HOTPANTS #hotinhotpants

2011-12-27T20:18:00.000-05:00

Zaggora HOTPANTS are the latest craze in weight loss. They are specially engineered using Celu-Lite technology and use your natural body heat to get weight loss results. They claim you will losse two jean sizes in two weeks with no crazy workouts. The theory is that they increase your perspiration by up to 80% so just wearing them around the house can count as a workout. Even wearing them to bed a night can have results in 6-8 weeks. The more you wear them when you are active, the more they will work.

The technology reflects back the heat generated by your body to promote a "deeper warming of your tissue leading to higher levels of perspiration and therefore breaking down fat and toxins that contribute to the appearance of cellulite.

I tried these. They feel like neoprene and are comfortable. They are reversible, the inside being a yellow color (I would prefer another color). Working out in them really did make me sweat a lot. Which meant that they needed to be washed daily (hand wash only and line dry). They dry fairly quickly and are ready for the next day. The down side, I am not sure I want that area of my body to be so hot and sweaty. There is no cotton crotch so I was not eager to keep these on for very long at all. To me, this was a huge drawback to wearing them. I really wish they would come up with a design that has a breathable cotton crotch.

After wearing them on and off for couple weeks did I lose weight? Well, I am not really sure since I don't have a scale. Two jeans sizes? Not for me, but my jeans do feel looser in the legs. I do wonder if a lot of this was simply just weight loss from water weight. I also suspect that I will have to keep wearing them to get continued results. However, without a breathable cotton crotch, I don't want to wear these any more. This all being said, maybe if I wear them longer and more consistently, I might get more results.

Learn more about Hotpants:
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Disclosure: As a member of Mom Bloggers Club, I was selected to review Hotpants. I received a pair of Hotpants to facilitate this review. I was not compensated for this post. This post contains my honest opinions.

My Daughter Questions--Is It Wrong to be So Excited About Presents?

2011-12-21T23:16:00.000-05:00

One day this fall, my daughters were talking about their favorite holidays. My oldest, now 7, said she liked Christmas the best. I asked, "Why? Because you get lots of presents?" She replied, "No. I like that, though. But because it is Jesus' birthday." What a great kid. And even now, deep into the whole Santa thing, she was questioning if it is okay for her to be so excited about presents when we are really celebrating Jesus' birth.

It warms my heart that she even stops to question that. I love that something we have done has sunk into her. Of course, I reassured her that it is fine to be excited and happy. I explained that presents represent God's gift to us of his son and the excitement we should feel about his birth. And I think she feels it.

I hope you feel excited about your Christmas gifts and remember the greatest gift that was ever given was born on Christmas Day!

$5 off $10 Purchase at Hallmark--Printable Coupon

2011-12-21T23:08:00.002-05:00

Visit Hallmark.com and look in the right sidebar for a printable coupon for $5 off a $10 purchase. Hurry--expires 12/24/11!

Gift Cards Rock #giftcardsrock

2011-12-21T20:32:00.002-05:00

Have you ever gotten that awful gift? I mean truly awful gift that you would neveruse and certainly could never re-gift? Where it takes all you have to smile and say, “Ilove it—thank you” without your face feeling all stretched out? I have and I am sure most of my readers have beenin the same predicament. And probably more times than you would like. I think the absolute worst gift I got was apurple polyester dress with little tiny buttons all the way up the dress. The person got me the dress because they knewI liked the color purple, which is true, but this is something I definitelynever wanted to wear. Of course, Ismiled and tried to keep my face relaxed and said I would save it for veryspecial occasions. Like scrubbing thetoilet.

Anyway, that brings me to point of gift cards. I have a passion for gift cards. I know some people feel that gift cards areimpersonal and thoughtless, but in actuality, the receiver is usually veryappreciative of a gift card. With giftcards, you do not have to worry about the recipient liking your gift. The recipient can choosethe perfect gift for themselves.

I personally love gift cards for common places, such asTarget, Amazon or Kohl’s, but it is also nice to receive gift cards from specialtyshops, such as Crabtree and Evelyn where I can purchase a little luxury. The gift of music is also an awesome giftcard. When I am shopping for my nieces andnephews, I know I can’t go wrong with an I-tunes gift card.

Giving gift cards can save you time and they can help yousave some money, too. If you are lookingto buy a last minute gift, you can stop by a local grocery store (which you areprobably going to anyway) and pick one up there. Or you can order one online. As far as saving money, when you buy giftcards at grocery stores like Krogers, you can earn fuel savings. Or maybe you will get rewards for your nextshopping trip.

Still feel gift cards are impersonal? Then wrap them up in a special way. Since shopping is easier, stamp a brown paperbag and wrap with twine or a pretty ribbon. Buy a little stuffed animal and tie it on. Tuck it in a coffee mug. Wrap it in a scarf. Find acoupon for the store and include it with the gift card.

So, if you are looking for a last minute gift, think giftcards! Merry Christmas!

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Gift Cards Rock blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Duraflame--Review and $5,000 Contest for Starting Something Good

2011-12-20T20:56:00.000-05:00

I love having a fire. But we have all been there--the fire that won't start. Or won't stay lit. I tried the Duraflame Gold Fire Log when we had in-laws in to celebrate Christmas. This is a specially formulated log to produce the biggest, brightest flames for the longest duration. This was truly a hassle-free fire!

I really like these logs because they are made with 100% renewable resources and they burn cleaner than wood. The largest log is 7lbs. and last over 4 hours. We threw it in the fireplace and had a nice, steady fire all evening. It was great!

I also liked that I didn't have any mess from the outside to the fireplace of bits of wood. We just opened it and put it in with no mess. These will be perfect for my bedroom fireplace!

Right now, Duraflame is holding a givewawy for a season's supply of Duraflame logs. You can visit http://www.duraflame.com to enter the contest. While you are there, make sure to print off some coupons! Good-luck!

They also have another contest; the 1,000 Ways to Start Something Good Contest. In this contest, you can win $5,000! To enter, you need to submit a photo, video or story on Duraflame's Facebook page that describes how you have started something good in one of two categories.

Good Experiences--share a story about your perfect experience around the fire with friends, family or other loved ones.
Good Environment--share a story about how you did something good for the environment.

Winners are selected based upon votes on Duraflame's Facebook page. Contest runs through February 29, 2012.

Disclosure: I received a duraflame fire log to facilitate this review. I was not compensated for this post. This post contains my honest opinion.

Watch Prep and Landing Online for FREE!

2011-12-20T20:27:00.004-05:00

From the first time I saw Prep and Landing, it quickly became one of my favorite holiday shows. And now, you can watch the full episode for free whenever you want! Just visit disney.go.com. You can also find coloring pages, paper crafts, gift tags and more there.

Winner of the Beautiful Artisan Multi-Colored Necklace

2011-12-20T20:18:00.000-05:00

The winner of the Beautiful Artisan Multi-Colored Necklace as drawn by Raflecopter.com is Bridget Jenkins. Congrats and watch for an email from me, Bridget!

FREE $10 Restaurant.com eCertificates to Give!! Perfect for Last Minute Gifts!

2011-12-20T20:08:00.001-05:00

There are so many special people in my life to share with this holiday season. There are a few people who really stand out, though. They are the people who volunteer in my children's lives. Sunday school and religion teachers who take time each week to help raise my children up in a godly way. They are so deserving. They don't have to do this and they don't get paid to do it. They do it because they have a generous heart. I can't wait to share the following with them.

I have blogged in the past about Restaurant.com. It is an online site where you can purchase restaurant gift certificates for a fraction of the cost. For example, you can purchase $25 gift certificates for $10. Many times you can get them cheaper than that with special coupon codes or end of the month deals. I have paid as little as $2 for certificates. The only thing you need to watch for is when you can use the certificates. For some restaurants, they are valid anytime, but for others, there may be restrictions. There also may be restrictions on your purchase, such as you must purchase so much in food to use the gift certificate. This is different for every restaurant so make sure you know what you are getting.

In 2008, with the economic downturn, Restaurant.com started Feed It Forward. This program allows individuals to give FREE $10 Restaurant.com eGfit Cards to friends, family or anonymously send random acts of kindess to Restaurant.com community. Over the past three holidays, Restaurant.com has gifted more than $43 million dining experiences. You now have the opportunity to give 40 (that's not a typo) gift certificates EVERY SINGLE DAY through December 25, 2011.

Giving them is super easy, too. You can visit the Feed It Forward site and use your Facebook, Gmail or Yahoo accounts to log in and give your contacts. You can also type in email addresses manually. Or, give directly through Facebook to your friends.

Veggie Christmas Tree Appetizers

2011-12-17T21:14:00.000-05:00

Look how cute these are for a Christmas celebration!

You can find the directions for this one HERE.

Bath and Body Products

2011-12-17T21:06:00.000-05:00

What woman doesn’t love bath and body products? I know I am a sucker for them. I love the wonderful aromas that can make mefeel calm to sexy, depending upon the scent. And now, Edenfantasys carriesa wide variety of bath and body products that can help you get into whatevermood you want to be in. Maybe you arelooking for a clean refreshing scent. VenusAromatic Bath Salts in Pineapple Tangerine sounds divine. Made from dead sea salts, soaking in it issupposed to remove impurities and toxins from your skin.

I also love body scrubs. They now carry VenusBody Scrub, also made from dead sea salts. I love how soft my skin feels after using a scrub.

The one I really can’t wait to try it’s the Cake--It’sa Slice Duo. This duo contains Bathand Shower Froth and a velveteen hand cream in a sweet orange and vanilla creamscent. It sounds delicious. But I will have to wait because it iscurrently out of stock. I guess everyoneelse thought it sounded divine too!

They also have a HappilyEver After Whipped Body Crème in Honeysuckle Grapefruit that I am dying toorder.

Disclosure: Edenfantasys, an online retailer of sex toys, provided me with a gift card in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

Winners Announced

2011-12-17T20:27:00.001-05:00

The winner of the PAM giveaway as selected by Raflecopter is Karen Medlin.

The winner of the Sugie Wogie giveaway as selected by Raflecopter is @cappytweet.

Congrats! Watch for an email from me!

Fun, Great Tasting, Healthy Snack--Funky Monkey

2011-12-17T19:44:00.003-05:00

I will have to say, these are delicious! They are sweet and crunchy. Even my picky daughter loved them! Her favorite was the Pink Pineapple (as was mine) and she doesn't even like fresh pineapple. When I asked her what her thoughts were, she replied, "It's awesome!"

I am always on the lookout for easy, healthy tasty snacks. Especially ones I can just reach in the cupboard and grab. (I admit, sometimes I am too lazy to wash and cut up fruit.) I also like to have things that I can stash in the car for when the kids and I need a quick bite to eat.

I really looked forward to trying Funky Monkey Snacks. These are freeze-dried organic fruit snacks that are packaged individually. Nothing is added but the fruit and in a couple flavors, cinnamon. No extra sugars, no preservatives, no dyes. Just pure fruit. They come in a variety of flavors, including Bananamon (bananas and cinnamon), Pink Pineapple (pineapple and guava), Applemon (apples and cinnamon) and Carnaval Mix (a mixture). They also offer other flavors.

I don't think I could sum it up any better. I am a fresh fruit lover so I wasn't sure what I would think, but I also love them. They are delicious and I love that they are healthy, too. Each ounce bag contains 3 servings of fruit. I also liked that they are packed individually and are perfect for on-the-go and for school lunches. I know I will like them when I am craving something sweet to snack on. I am hooked!

It is also nice that they are sold in stores such as Target, Albertsons, Whole Foods and Ralphs. Of course, if you can't find them in stores in your area, you can always order them from Amazon.

These are a huge hit in our house and I am sure they will be in yours, too!

Disclosure: I received samples of Funky Monkey to facilitate this review. I was not compensated for this post and this review contains my own opinions.

How to have a Green and Greener Christmas

2011-12-14T21:25:00.001-05:00

The holiday season doesn’t have to break the bank whenshopping for little ones. You can be asavvy shopper and save a lot of money when shopping for young children if youknow one important secret: as long atoy is in good condition, young children don’t realize (or care) whether it wasnew or not. Combine that with the factthat most toddler toys are made to be durable and can look like new, and youcan have windfall savings. And by buyingused, you are living greener!

Once you know this secret, you can find great deals onlike-new toys. Here are some places tolook:

Second-hand stores: Most children’s second-hand stores have agreat selection of like-new toys and games at significantly reduced prices.
Thrift stores: these are great places to find toys,too. I recently purchased a bike thatlooked nearly new for my daughter for $15 as opposed to $60 or more in thestore.
Garage sales and fleamarkets: I know that most geographicalregions don’t have garage sales in the winter, but during the warm months, keepyour eyes open for deals at sales. Ihave picked up many games and toys (some even new) at garage sales and heldonto them to give my kids at Christmas.
Ebay and Craigslist: You can get some really great deals on toyson either of these sites. Even if youreally want something new, search these sites and you may find what you arelooking for. (Please use caution whenmeeting someone in person to purchase an item, though. You may want to suggest meeting in a publicplace.)
Let family, friends and neighborswith children that are a bit older know you are interested in purchasinghand-me-down toys from them. Who knows,they may even just give them to you!

Whether you are on the market for Fisher-Price, Mega Bloksor a bike, you may be able to find it used and save yourself some green whilebeing greener by shopping second-hand!

Coupon Codes at Trimback.com

Don't Forget to Enter these 4 Great Giveaways #rafflecopter

2011-12-13T09:34:00.001-05:00

Slimming Swimwear Sugie Wogie Retail Value over $300!

New & Improved Exclusive PAM Pack

Beautiful Artisan Multi-Colored Necklace

$50 GNC Gift Card

Giveaway: $50 GNC Gift Card

2011-12-12T18:33:00.000-05:00

The warm days of fall are rapidly coming to an end and winter is just around the corner. The sky is dark by 5:30pm and I miss the warm sunshine and summer's glowing skin. For some reason, I always feel better when I have a bit of a tan--you know, the "healthy" glow. Of course, summer or winter, I don't want to expose my skin to the damaging rays of sun or the tanning bed. So, I like a little help.

GNC carries my personal favorite, TAN TOWELS! The Tan Towels are awesome--they are little towelettes that you just wipe over your skin for a warm, natural glow WITHOUT STREAKING!

GNC also has a huge selection of vitamins, supplements, herbs, natural remedies and even stuff for pets! So, whether you want a fake tan or nutritional products, GNC has it all. What's even better is that they are offering a $50 GNC gift card to one of my lucky readers! Just enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclosure: I will receive a GNC giftcard in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Fun Toys for Kids: Glow Crazy Products--Playing in the Dark Will Never Be the Same

2011-12-12T17:45:00.000-05:00

My kids were very excited to help me review Glow Crazy's Glow to Go. This is a fun take with you glow in the dark toy. The Glow to Go has four glow pads in fun colors and has an attached light wand. It all folds in to a case with a handle. There are even zippered pockets to hold the stencils that come with it. Kids can use this at home, in the car, or anywhere it is dark. With Glow to Go, kids can entertain themselves in the dark.

The Glow to Go basically opens like a book that velcros shut. It is not flimsy. It is nice that the light wand is attached so it doesn't get lost in the dark. The glow in the dark effects don't last too long, which can be a plus so kids don't have to wait long to start something else. We found the closer the wand is to the paper, the stronger the image.

I tried to take photos of this in the dark, but wasn't too successful with it, seeing that it was dark. Also, my camera automatically flashes a light to focus in the dark, which lit up the page a bit. But, you can get a general idea of how it works.

Glow Crazy also has a Distance Doodler pack. This contains one lightwand and six reusable wall safe canvas wall clings (a total of 5 square feet), 4 stencils and a fun tip booklet. Once again, apologies for the poor photos!

My kids (ages 5 and 7) had a lot of fun, both with the Glow to Go and the Distance Doodler. What kid wouldn't love to write on the walls? I am also happy that they will have something to entertain themselves with when traveling at night (my kids will only watch so much TV in the car before they are bored with it). I think even younger kids, ages 3 and up, as well as older kids would have a lot of fun with these products. I also feel that boys and girls would like this equally as well. So, if you are stumped for what to get a kid for Christmas, this might just be the perfect gift!

Like Glow Crazy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/GlowCrazy)

Follow them on Twitter (www.twitter.com/#!/glowcrazy)

Disclosure: I received a Glow to Go to facilitate this review. This review contains my honest opinions.

Cindy Woodsmall--The Christmas Season 30% Off Coupon Code

2011-12-12T17:02:00.001-05:00

This Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall would make a great Christmas gift for the book lover in your family. I have posted a video about the book along with an excerpt from the first chapter.

Right now, my readers can get 30% off by using promo code CHRISTMAS11 at checkout at WaterBrookMultnomah.com.

The Christmas Singing (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

Disclosure: By posting this, I may be eligible to receive a copy of The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall.

I Just Ordered New Year's Cards from Shutterfly!

2011-12-11T17:10:00.001-05:00

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Disclosure: By posting this, I will receive a $10 credit from Shutterfly.

Just Two Days Left to Enter to Win $100 Amazon Gift Card

2011-12-10T21:21:00.001-05:00

Hurry--there are just two days left to enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card! Click HERE to enter.

Another Printable Target $10 Gift Card with $50 Purchase Coupon

2011-12-07T19:30:00.001-05:00

You can print another $10 Gift Card with $50 purchase coupon from Target. Simply click HERE and print your coupon. Coupon expires on 12/10/11.

Subscription to Better Homes and Gardens 20,000 Winners!

2011-12-07T14:49:00.001-05:00

As a Purex Insider, I get the scoop on this great giveaway! Purex is giving away 20,000 subscriptions of Better Homes & Garden subscriptions. Just enter HERE for your chance to win.

Disney Movie Rewards Points

2011-12-05T22:05:00.001-05:00

You can get 5 Disney Movie Rewards points per day by visiting ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas. From there, click the link for Disney Movie Rewards and you will get 5 points added to your account.

Also, don't forget if you go to the Muppet's Movie, save your stub to get up to 200 reward points. Just visit HERE for all the details.

My Little Ones and Santa

2011-12-05T22:02:00.001-05:00

I took my girls to see Santa at the library on Saturday. My littlest one was scared, but once she got to Santa's lap, she was ready to tell him what she wanted. I was lucky enough to capture a great picture of them!

25 Days of FREE Holiday Music from Amazon

2011-12-05T21:57:00.001-05:00

Get 25 days worth of FREE holiday music from Amazon! They list one song a day, but you can get any of the previous days' songs. They already have some nice ones, like Ava Maria performed by Celtic Women and Greensleeves performed by Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Symphony.

'Tis the Season to Be Jolly--Some Great Lingerie for the Holidays!

2011-12-03T00:33:00.001-05:00

Tis the season to bejolly…and EdenFantasys is just the place to help you get jolly! They have a great line of sexy holidayoutfits this year including quite a few Santa outfits.

Check out this SantaBabydoll. Isn’t it darling?

Book Review: His Little Princess

2011-12-02T23:25:00.001-05:00

His little Princess, Treasured Letters from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd is a wonderful book! This book is filled with letters to young girls as written from God, the King, to his true princesses. The book opens with a letter from the author telling the Little Princess reader how special they are in God's Kingdom and how they are a true princess, not a pretend one, because they are a daughter of God, the king.

Each two-page spread is filled with personal letters from God on the left page, and then a prayer to God. Below the letter from God is the biblical verse the letter is based. Topics include loving your family, being angry, God's protection, jealousy, truthfulness, gifts, and heaven. The letters are written in such a loving way and encourage little girls to develop their relationship with God. The prayers are simple and teach children to talk to God and ask for help from Him.

This is truly a wonderful book and would make a great gift for birthdays, special occasions, Christmas, baptisms or just because. I love this book for my daughters because it tells them the truth about being the true princesses of God. They enjoy the letters and the prayers because they are written in an easy-to-understand, practical way.

Disclosure: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

Review: Kids Concoctions Magic Bubble Art

2011-12-02T22:27:00.001-05:00

I love anything arts and crafts for kids. I think it is important to get them away from computers, video games and such and allow them to explore their creativity. Kids Concoctions Magic Bubble Art by ALEX allows that to happen.

The kit comes complete with 3 bottle of coloring, liquid soap, assorted paper, 90 stickers and punch outs, 4 mixing cups, 6 straws, pipe cleaners, craft sticks, string and plastic stir stick along with instructions. Children can create more than 16 bubble themed projects with this kit.

The instructions do warn you to cover the work surface with newspaper. I used a plastic table cloth and you definitely need to get the work surface covered. I initially had some problems locating the "liquid soap." The only thing I could find was a larger bottle of glittery gold bathtub paints so I called the company. They said the bathtub paints were the soap and that they were changing the instructions to reflect that. You don't need many directions, but the ones they had were vague, such as add coloring. How much coloring? We added what I thought was a good bit, but we quickly found out it takes most of the color to get deeper colors. In fact, I we couldn't get them as dark as what is on the box, but the coloring was still pretty and very interesting.

CLOSED Giveaway: Beautiful Artisan Multi-Colored Necklace

2011-12-02T21:30:00.001-05:00

This holiday, you can really make a difference with the gift you give, and not just for the recipient. Gifts from World Vision's gift catalog can go a long way. They are very affordable and the proceeds from them can make the difference in the lives of children and families living in poverty in the U.S. and around the world. With a financial contribution, you can select one of 36 wonderful items for a gift while helping a person in need at the same time. I can't think of a better way to give your loved one a gift and express the true meaning of Christmas.

Visit World Vision and check out their wonderful two-for-one benefit gifts.

Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below (you will have to click the "read more" link to enter) to win this fabulous Artisan Multi-Colored Necklace. This necklace is made of semi-precious stone and glass beads. You can wear this colorful strand long or short or as a bracelet or even a belt! It is a gorgeous necklace!

To enter, click below!

Read more »

Giveaway: New & Improved Exclusive PAM Pack

2011-12-02T20:56:00.001-05:00

Don't you hate it when you cook or bake something and it sticks to the pan, creating an awful mess? Or in the case of baking, crumbling cake and muffins? I know I do. In fact, I always use liners when making muffins for this reason.

That is, until I tried the new and improved PAM Cooking Spray. The new formula has been shown to be 70% better than other cooking sprays at getting baked foods not to stick. I tried it first in my muffin pan and my muffins popped right out with no messy cleanup. So then I tried it on a baked rigatoni dish. Full of red sauce and cheese baked in the oven. Sounds like a yummy recipe from PAM's website.

Rock 'N Learn Earth Science DVD -- Discount Code for Rock N Learn

2011-12-02T19:10:00.001-05:00

Somewhere along the way, someone decided if something was educational, it could not be fun. But Rock 'N Learn has brought fun to learning. And if children are having fun, they are more likely to learn. That's why I love the Rock n Learn DVDs. Kids have fun watching them.

I recently watched the Rock 'N Learn Earth Science DVD with my children. This is a great DVD that is geared towards children from 3rd-8th grade. It is very detailed and covers the following topics:

The Solar System
How Earth's Orbit Causes the Seasons
The Water Cycle
What Causes Weather?
Sedimentary Rocks and Fossils
Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks
Color, Luster, Hardness, and Streak
Topography and Volcanoes
Plate Tectonics
Energy and Resources
Alternative Energy and Conservation

In this award winning video, we meet Kevin, who loves taking science tests because he knows how to become prepared for the tests. He is joined by an animated globe (Terra) and Marko (a pencil) who "know a thing or two about earth science."

This video gets very detailed about each of the subjects. Following the video topics is a bonus section that contains a practice Earth Science test. They also give information to find a website to download free study materials.

The video can be used as an introduction to the different topics or used to teach more difficult topics. It can also be used as an aid to prepare children for state mandated testing as it has been correlated to the National Science Education Standards.

When I asked my daughter her thoughts about the video, she replied, "I love it!" When I asked why, she enthusiastically stated, "It is fun!" As a mom, I loved that my children are watching something educational and learning from it. I love this video and have incorporated it into my homeschooling lessons.

Right now, you can get 25% off at Rock 'N Learn--just enter code JQ7711 at checkout!

For more information, please visit Rock n Learn at http://rocknlearn.com.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD to facilitate this review. This review contains my honest opinions.

Electronics Price Predictor--Online or FREE Mobile App

2011-12-02T11:59:00.001-05:00

My husband informed me about this app that sounds pretty good. It is a Price Predictor app for your mobile phone that helps you know what the price of an electronic item is predicted to do, i.e. when it might go down in price. Decide.com helps you to know whether to buy now or wait. To get this app, visit itunes. For those of you who don't have mobile capabilities (like me) you can still visit Decide.com and check out the prediction for all those items on the Christmas list.

Free Popcorn at AMC Theaters

2011-12-02T11:17:00.001-05:00

Going to the movies this weekend? Make sure you like AMC on Facebook to get a coupon for a free small popcorn before you go!

Adorable FREE Printable Advent Calendar

2011-12-02T11:06:00.001-05:00

I love these adorable printable Advent calendars from Living Locurto! Each day will surprise your child with a small treat!

Free Cute Personalized Video Message from Santa (Email or iPhone App)

2011-12-02T09:53:00.001-05:00

I love this FREE personalized video message from Santa. It is easy to make--just enter your child's name, age and other personal information. You can also upload your child's picture and a picture of someone they have helped this year to create a cute video to send to your child. To make your own video, visit Magic Santa. You can even download an app to your iPhone for this HERE.

Freebie: Thrifty and Green Magazine

2011-12-02T08:58:00.001-05:00

Get a free digital issue of Thrifty and Green magazine filled with tips, recipes and decorating tips for the holidays!

Target $10 Gift Card with $50 Purchase--Printable Coupon

2011-12-01T22:18:00.001-05:00

Ohhhhhh! What a great coupon! Get a $10 gift card with your $50 purchase at Target! I am loving it because I like to stock up on everything from Target. Just click HERE to get your coupon. Hurry--who knows how long this one will last!

Free Sample of NESCAFE Peppermint Mocha Coffee

2011-12-01T13:13:00.001-05:00

Get a free sample of Nescafe Peppermint Mocha Coffee simply by liking them on Facebook HERE. I am not a coffee drinker, but I think this would be really good!

Watch a Full Episode of The Gruffalo Online for Free

2011-12-01T13:06:00.001-05:00

Watch a Full Episode of The Gruffalo online for free from ABC Family. This is a cute G flick the whole family will enjoy. Just click HERE.

ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas Schedule

2011-12-01T13:03:00.001-05:00

Wonder when those Christmas shows will be on? Then check out ABC Family's 25 days of Christmas schedule HERE.

Thank You, Readers!

2011-11-24T07:52:00.000-05:00

On this Thanksgiving Day, I just want to thank my readers. Without you, my blog would simply be a diary. Thank you for letting me in your life and have a very blessed Thanksgiving!

FREE $10 Restaurant.com eGift Cards!

2011-11-23T17:52:00.001-05:00

Feed It Forward is doing it again! You can give FREE $10 Restaurant.com eGift Cards to everyone on your holiday list. Just simply sign in (or sign up for one), personalize your gift and send up to 40 different people every day FREE $10 Restaurant.com eGift Cards. This offer is good through December 25th.

For those of you who don't know about Restaurant.com, it is a site where you can purchase restaurant gift certificates at a discounted rate. It is reliable and I have been using it for years.

Black Friday Even Earlier--Thursday at 6AM at Gabriel Brothers!!

2011-11-23T16:01:00.001-05:00

Black Friday is no longer Black Friday. It is turned into Thanksgiving Thursday. First we had Walmart jump starting things at 10pm but the latest is Gabriel Brothers--they are going to open from 6am to 1pm on Thanksgiving Day! Seriously? How would you like it if your boss told you that you had to work on Thanksgiving Day? Granted, I know there are certain fields where people do have to work, but in those fields, workers are usually compensated heavily for working on holidays. However, the people employed by Walmart and Gabriel Brothers are just barely making it with their income. Can't we give them a day of rest with their families?

I hope people are too busy making turkey to go.