Faithful By Kim Cash Tate ~ A Review

What does it mean to be faithful?

Four different women in four different stages of relationships find the answer to that question in this book.

First, we have Cyd, who is single and strong in her relationship with God.  She meets Cedric, who is a confirmed ladies man.  Can God help him become the man she wants in her life, or will he lead her away from her beliefs?

Then there is Stephanie, the newlywed.  She is also Cyd's sister.  Although she believes in God, she doesn't exactly live a Godly life before marriage.  Will things change after she says "I do"?

We also have Dana, who finds her husband in bed with another woman.  Can she find it in her heart to let God help her forgive her husband, and let Him heal her marriage?

Lastly, we have Phyllis.  Although strong in her beliefs, her husband does not believe in God.  Will her years of praying for him to find God be answered, or will she give into temptation herself with a man who is more Godly?

All of these women find strength in their relationship with God, but they are all put to the test when it comes to their mates.  There were several parts of this book that I found comforting.  I don't go to church myself, and to read about what can happen when you live your life faithful to Christ, well, you might just see me sitting in a pew come Sunday morning.

That said, there were a few parts of the book that I just couldn't get behind.

I don't believe that it is wrong to kiss before marriage.  Or that you should not be alone in private with a man before marriage.  I think that part of the book was a little extreme.

I do believe that once a man cheats, he will always cheat, and I don't think any amount of prayer would get me to be the forgiving wife.  Sad, I know, but that is what I believe. 

All in all, I enjoyed this book and found it easy to read.

***I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Four More Months And This Will Be Mine!

 I can not wait until February.  Not only is it my birthday month, it is also when we get our income tax refund every year.  Usually we spend that money on bills and car maintenance and underwear.  All the things we kind of put off during the year because we don't have the extra money.  This year, though, I am spending some money on myself.  I plan on buying this:

Isn't it beautiful?  I love it because it's purple, but also because it will allow me to be mobile.  I will no linger have to ask Ryan to borrow his laptop when we go to the library or McDonald's.  Yes, I love to play on Facebook while the kids play in the play land. 

I also plan on buying a new desk top computer, because mine is driving me crazy.  I can't tell you how many times I have been in the middle of a post and the whole thing shuts down on me.  Or I get booted offline.  And don't even get me started on how slow it can be sometimes when I have to restart it.  I yell at it several times a day.  The kids think I'm a little nuts.

Of course, just because I will have the money to buy new computers doesn't mean that I want to pay full price.  I plan on taking advantage of as many discounts as I can.  I found some really good Dell deals from Savings.com, and I am hoping that when the time comes, I can take advantage of them.   I wish I had the money now to at least buy the desk top, but I have learned that patience is a virtue.  I know that having to wait will make me appreciate them all the more when I can finally afford them.

Do you think I can find a purple monitor for my new desktop?

I Know What To Get Ryan For Christmas

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PlayStation(R) Move. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love playing video games.  We have a couple of different systems, but there is one that I have been wanting for a while, and I am thinking about getting it for Ryan for Christmas.  It's the PlayStation3.  We have a PS2, and from what I understand, all of the games we have for that system would work on the newer system, too.  Plus, they are coming out with the PlayStation(R)MOVE, and it sounds awesome.  It basically makes your PS3 able to play motion games using special controllers and some type of motion sensor video camera.  I was checking out the games they will have available, and there were a couple that I really want to try out.

The first one is the Brunswick Pro Bowling.  I used to love to bowl, but haven't been in a really long time.  I would love being able to play at home with the kids.  I'm sure it won't be the same as "real" bowling, but I bet it woul dbe just as fun.  I also want to try out one of the exercise games.  I saw one called Get Fit with Mel B that looked interesting.

I believe that Ryan would love getting up and moving while playing games, too.  Heck, even the girls would like it.  I know i would feel better about them playing games if I knew they were getting at least a little bit of exercise, too.  I really do like that the days of vegging on the couch with a controller in hand can be turned into something active and fun.

The MOVE bundle package will be available for $99 to go with the PS3 system.  I am going to have to buy both the system and the package, but I am sure Ryan will love it.

I know I will, too.

Gain Rocks!

Last week, I wrote a post about how much I love the smell of Gain.  You can find it here.

A couple of days after I wrote that post, the super awesome people at Gain emailed me and asked if I would be interested in sampling some of their products.  Of course I said yes!

Honestly, I was expecting a box of sample sized products...you know, the little one use sample packs they give out in the grocery stores.  So imagine my surprise when I received a box this morning with all of this inside:

Awesome, right?  I got a box of dryer sheets (120), fabric softener (60 loads), laundry detergent (32 loads) and dishwashing liquid (11 oz).  All because I said I love the smell.

And just for the record, when I opened the box, the smell hit me right away, and my house is smelling so nice and fresh right now!  Thanks Gain!

KNOW Magazine For Kids

Brandi loves hands on learning.  She loves doing projects for school where she has to create things.  She also loves reading (she gets that from me).  Every night, she has to read for 30 minutes as part of her homework.  Most nights, she reads for longer.  She loves taking what she has read, and applying it to her life.  I think this is one of the traits that got her accepted into the gifted and talented program at her school.

When I was asked if I would like to review a science magazine geared towards kids her age, I knew I had to do it.  It's called KNOW magazine, and I just looked over their most recent edition online, and I have to say, Brandi is going to love this!

The edition I looked at was all about shapes and patterns.  Brandi has been studying patterns in school recently, so this is the perfect way to reinforce that knowledge.  The articles in the magazine are well written, and age appropriate.  That said, I even learned some interesting facts!  I had no idea that people who lived thousands of years ago used ostrich eggs to carry water, and that they marked the shells with pictures so others knew that the shells belonged to them.  Kind of like writing our names on stuff now.  Call me a geek, but I find that pretty interesting.  I also learned a little about corral, like how they use sound to find their way to the reefs.  I was truly sucked in, so I have no doubt that Brandi will love this magazine.  I can't wait for the next edition to be delivered.

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by  Mom Central on behalf of Mad Science and received the products necessary to  facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me  for taking the time to participate."

Me And My Beautiful Daughter

Kasi and I ~ September 26, 2010

Aren't we beautiful?

Hair Flair Winner ~ Updated

I am a complete idiot!  I should read my own posts, because maybe then I would have realized that I was supposed to have two winners for this giveaway!  So, I went back and used random.org again, and this time, Christy is the winner!  Congrats!  Expect an email from me soon.

 Tammy is the winner!  I know her daughter Aurora is going to love these!  And for the record, I took Kasi's out of her hair after almost two weeks.  Only a couple fell out on their own.  Anyway...

Tammy's winning comment:

Here is the link to my tweet....
http://twitter.com/TammyD/statuses/25390856324

Congrats!  Send me your address, and I'll pass it along.  (I know I have it somewhere, but I am in lazy day mode, what with all this rain, so when you get a chance, send it along)

What Should She Be When She Grows Up?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of ATETV.org. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ryan has known that he wants to be a mechanic when he grows up ever since he helped Junior change a set of brake pads several years ago.  It is all he talks about, and he is working towards making his dream a reality.  Kasi, however, continuously changes her mind about what she wants to be. At one time, she wanted to be a teacher, and then she wanted to be a beautician, and most recently, she wanted to be a fashion designer.  That dream, however, is fading, just like her other choices.  Luckily, I just heard about ATETV, and I plan on sitting down with her and checking out some of their videos.

ATETV stands for Advanced Technological Education Television, and it is "an award winning on-line video series with up to the minute information connecting students with education and employment opportunities".  These free videos were produced with a grant from the National Science Foundation to attract young people into the Science, Engineering, Math and Technology fields.  Kasi loves math, so I am hoping we can find something in that field to hold her interest.  They say that people working in this field will be in demand, because not enough students are being trained right now to work these jobs.  ATETV showcases pretty cool jobs, like underwater robotics and wind-farming, and then highlights the training options available to those wanting to work those jobs.  I know Kasi can do anything she puts her mind to.  I am hoping that we can come up with a plan soon to have her working towards whatever her dream job may be.

Painted Glasses

I get my craftiness from my mom.  Growing up in NY, she had a ceramic studio in our basement.  She made all kinds of decorations for our house.  I especially love her Christmas stuff.  There is this one piece in particular that is two mice singing (it plays music) that I plan on owning one day.  I may have to sneak it out of her house one Christmas, but it will be mine.
These days she paints more than just ceramics.  Knowing that my favorite color is purple, she painted a nice set of glassware for me with flowers and butterflies.  She also painted a candle, serving tray, candy jar and hurricane shade to match the glasses.  They are all displayed on my hutch for everyone to see. 

I am not a talented as her when it comes to painting.  If I follow a pattern, I do fine.  It's looking at a blank canvas that throws me.  I can't visualize a finished product, so it's hard to even start a project like that.  I think I'll just stick to painting in between the lines.

The Scariest Moment Of Her Life

We just got home.  About an hour ago, we almost got robbed at an ATM.  Thanks to my wonderful husband and a sledge hammer, we're all fine.  Let me explain.

We drive a van.  It is hard for Junior to do the transactions from the van, so I usually get out and do it.  Tonight, Junior pulled up really close, and I hopped out, leaving my door open.  I had my back to the van, and all of a sudden I hear Junior yelling and Brandi screaming at the top of her lungs.  I turn around and there is a big, black man leaning into the van through my door.  I hear Junior telling him to back off (he used more colorful language).  He told him three times, and the guy didn't move.  The next thing I know, Junior is getting out of his door with a sledge hammer in his hand.  At this point, the guy backs up a little, puts up his hands, and begs Junior not to hit him.  Junior is telling him to BACK OFF or he will hit him, and the guy just stood there with his hands up.  Junior was about a foot from the guy with the sledge hammer above his head before the guy finally backed off.  I was still standing at the ATM waiting for my cash, so I yelled to the car behind us to call 911.  I guess the guy heard me say that, because he finally ran off.

I got into the van while Junior was still between me and the guy.  Poor Brandi was hysterical.  She had gone as far back into the van as she could, and she was shaking.  I told her everything was okay, and that her daddy would never let anything happen to her.  We drove off (the car behind us never called 911...she was too busy watching Junior threaten to kill the guy) and tried to calm Brandi down.  Ryan and Kasi were fine.  In fact, as soon as the guy was out of the van, Ryan locked all the doors.  I asked Junior what the guy said when he leaned into the car, and he said he wanted our money.  How freakin scary is that?  I am seriously thanking God that he went to the car and didn't come to me.  I mean, I was standing at the ATM waiting on money.  He could have been behind me before I knew it.  Brandi said it was the scariest moment of her life.  I agree.

Okay.  I need to go cook or something.  I need my hands busy...

Turns Out, He Was Just Kidding

Boys will be boys.  That's all I can say. 

Today in school, the kid decided that he wasn't going to fight Ryan unless Ryan threw the first punch.  That isn't going to happen.

So tonight, the kid sends Ryan a text saying that he was "just kidding" about all the stuff he wrote on FB and in his recent texts.  I don't believe him, and neither does Ryan, but my son has such a good heart, that he forgave the kid and they are going to hang out after school tomorrow.

I talked to the kid on the phone tonight, and told him that I didn't care how they talked to each other in school, I just never wanted to see that kind of language on Ryan's FB ever again.  There was a lot of yes, ma'am's, so I hope he got the message.

After all the stress this kid caused me this week, I really want to tell Ryan not to be friends with him anymore.  But, I know how hard it is to be a teenager, and i really want him to make his own decisions.  And this week, he has proven to me that he can make the right ones, so I am going to trust his judgement.

For now.

Got Wine?

I am not a big drinker.  In fact, I can not remember the last time I had a sip of anything alcoholic.  I think being a stay (work) at home mom and not having any extra money has a lot to do with that.  I can't remember the last time Junior and I went anywhere alone, either.  Except to the grocery store, and I'm pretty sure that doesn't count as a date.

If you are a wine drinker, you might be interested in this website that I found that sells great cheap wine.  They have wines from all over the world, and none of them are priced at more than $30 a bottle.  You can chose a wine by region, and then sort by Organic and Biodynamic wines.  Right now, there are only selected states that these wines can be shipped to.  If you live in Alaska, California, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington DC or Wyoming, you can order these wines and have them delivered to your door.  

Maybe a little wine can help you plan a date night with your spouse.  I still have a few more years until I can leave all the kids home alone, and then Junior and I will find some time for ourselves.  Until then, I will live vicariously through all of you.  Okay?

Flashlight Keychain With Laser Pointer Review & Giveaway

It is getting light later in the mornings now, which means when the kids and I head to the bus stop at 6:20am, it is still pretty dark outside.  We don't have any street lights in our neighborhood, so unless my neighbors leave their outside lights on, it's a pretty dark walk up the street.  I used to carry a huge flashlight when we lived in the duplex and it was just the kids and I at the bus stop, but I don't like using it here.  There are tons of other people at this bus stop, and I don't want to look like a weirdo carrying a huge flashlight.

When I was asked to review this Flashlight Keychain with Laser Pointer, I knew it would be perfect for our walk in the mornings.  It's a tiny little flashlight that gives off just enough light for us to see where we are walking in the mornings.  The first day I carried it with us, my son insisted on playing with the laser.

It was pretty cool because the laser lit up the stop sign at the end of our road from pretty far away.  I took this picture from our driveway, and you can see how far away the stop sign is, so you can guess how powerful this little laser is. We also had some of the younger kids chasing the laser around the bus stop.  It's amazing how much fun you can have with a little keychain!

Do you want to win one of these for yourself?  All you have to do is one or all of the following:

• follow me on Twitter (there is a link on the top right sidebar)
• "like" my blog on Facebook
• follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect
• blog about this contest with a link back to this post
• Tweet this contest

 This giveaway will be open to US and Canadian bloggers until 11:59pm on Thursday, October 7, 2010.  The winner will receive one Flashlight Keychain with Laser Pointer.

Good luck!
*I received one flashlight keychain with laser pointer to review and keep for myself as compensation for this review. The opinions above are my own.
This Product Was a Free Giveaway
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

A Month Later

Last month, I wrote this post about these biodegradable pens from Paper Mate.  Yesterday I was curious about what the pen is looking like, so I dug it up.  Check it out:

I was disappointed that nothing is happening yet.  But, according to their website, it does take a little while for the biodegrading to begin.  I'll be digging it up next month, too, and hopefully we'll see something happening!

It's Cleaning Time!

I have gotten so much done this week around my house.  For some reason, I have been in cleaning mode, and with cleaning comes organizing!  I think it has something to do with the changing of the seasons, although our weather hasn't changed at all.  We are still going to be in the low 90's today.  The weather man says we might be in the high 70's by Sunday, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Anyway, with my house being so small, everything has it's place, and when things aren't out away, it can get pretty cluttered.  We have a storage building in the yard, but it's not big enough to hold everything I need it to.  Junior is trying to talk me into renting a storage building from Storage Milton Keynes, but I am determined to organize things around here better so that we don't have to.   My biggest problem is my kitchen. 

As you can see, this little corner of my kitchen has become a storage area.  These totes are filled with toys from the girls room.  On of them has Barbie dolls in it, and one of the others has Little People.  I am not sure what the on on the bottom has in it (probably junk!), and then the little one in front is filled with Brandi's snacks that she takes to school.  That was the best idea I ever had, too.  Whenever I food shop, I just empty all of the snacks I buy for her to take to school into that tote, so she knows exactly what she has without rummaging through the pantry.  It also saves a lot of room in my pantry.

I am hoping that I can get these totes back into the girls room (except the snack one) by this weekend.  Of course, that means cleaning their room, which I am making them do.  I don't understand how two girls can be so messy.  My mom would probably argue that I was the same way as a kid, which is true, so I guess it's just a girl thing.  I keep threatening to go in there myself with a couple of trash bags, hoping that will motivate them to clean.

I'll let you know how that works out.

Here Comes A little Mini-Rant!

Ryan came home from school yesterday and asked my permission to fight one of his "friends".  I, of course, said no.

It all started a couple of weeks ago when one of Ryan's friends claimed to have slept with his girlfriend.  Ryan and another friend didn't believe him, so the kid told them to ask his girlfriend, so they did.  The kid was lying, and got mad at Ryan (not the other friend) for asking the girlfriend.

Following me so far?

That night, there were a bunch of public wall posts put on my son's FB by this kid, called him a red neck mother f**ker, a**hole, and a whole bunch of other language that was ticking me off.  So, I did what any mother would do (I think) and called the kid and left a message on his cell phone telling him to never use that language on my sons FB again or I would find a way to get in touch with his parents and let them know what he was doing. 

I know kids will have disagreements, and I wasn't getting involved in all of that.  I just don't like when kids use language on FB like that because Ryan is friends with his Grandparents and Aunts and stuff, and they don't need to see all that.

Now it has turned into this kid leaving threatening messages on Ryan's cell and on FB.  (I had Ryan de-friend him, but he is still saying things about Ryan on other friends walls)  Because the kid is threatening to "kick his a**" after school, Ryan went to the principal the other day about it, and they said they can't do anything because it's all on FB.

Are you freakin' kidding me?  Then this morning, I got an email from Ryan (he's at school) telling me to check his messages on FB, and sure enough, the kid is telling some of Ryan's other friends that he is talking about them, when he's not, and now there is another kid threatening him. 

I don't think fighting is the answer to anything.  Ever.  How do I get Ryan to understand this?  How do i teach him it is better to ignore it all and be the better person?

Who said raising boys was easy????

Making Lunchtime Yummytime!

Brandi takes her lunch to school every single day.  Like her older brother and sister, she qualifies for free lunch, but she refuses to eat what the school provides.  She is afraid that she will not like what they are offering, and that she won't have any lunch.  So, every morning, I pack her lunch.

Sometimes, she takes a yogurt, but most of the time it is a peanut butter sandwich.  No jelly.  She says it makes the bread soggy.  And most days she brings home half the sandwich.  This has put me on a mission to find something good, and healthy, that she can take for lunch that she will actually eat.

Enter Smucker's Uncrustables. When I was asked to review these round little sandwiches, I knew my daughter would be thrilled, and I was right. These yummy little sandwiches have made her a very happy little girl.  They have made my mornings run a little smoother, too, because all I have to do is throw the frozen sandwich into her lunch box, and by lunchtime, it is thawed out and ready to eat.  There is no soggyness, and Brandi can enjoy peanut butter and jelly again.  The added bonus, of course, is that there is no crust.  The only bad thing is that my husband loves them, too, so I have to hide them from him.

I also want to tell you about the new Snack'n Waffles.  I tried the chocolate chip ones, and they were delicious.  They come individually wrapped, which keeps them from getting freezer burn, and also makes them easy to grab and go.  They can be thawed out and eaten at room temperature, or they can be heated in the microwave.  I heated mine, and had to microwave it a little longer than the instructions said.

I will definitely be buying these products myself in the future.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Smucker’s and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

I'm Loving the Smell Of Gain

One of my favorite things about Facebook is all the free stuff you can score.  I have gotten free razors, nuts (almonds, you pervs! lol), pens, and most recently, Gain products.

First I scored the Febreze, and I have to tell you, it smells awesome!  I have already used it in my sons room.  He is my neatest kid.  His room is almost always clean, yet it always smells like teen aged boy.  The Febreze helps with that.

The Gain dish soap is pretty awesome, too.  A little goes a long way towards getting those dishes clean, and it smells great, too.  I looked in Walmart for it, too, and it was pretty cheap, which is always a good thing around here.

I can't wait to see the next great deal I will find on Facebook.

Insanity

I have no motivation these days.  I have seriously run out of good excuses about why I am not exercising.  I used to say that I didn't have the money to join a gym, and while that is true, there are so many "at home" ways to exercise, that that excuse is pretty pitiful.  I mean, how hard is it to pop in a CD I love and just get moving?  I have several hours every day when I am home alone, which is the perfect time to exercise.  But do I?  No.

Maybe I just haven't found the right DVD yet.  I used to do an old VCR tape my mom had, but that one is seriously outdated.  I have been hearing good things about the Insanity Workout, which I think might be a little advanced for me right now.  It's a 60 day workout plan, and you don't need any special equipment, which makes it easy to use.  Now, I didn't say it was easy to do, because it is all cardio and plyometrics, which can seriously kick my butt.  The workout was designed by Shaun T.

The Insanity Workout uses "Max Interval Training", which means working out for long intervals (20 minutes) at high intensity, with brief resting periods.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure that in my current shape, this would kill me.  I really want to be able to work out like that, but not right now.  It's a nice goal to work up to, though. 

This workout comes with 10 DVD's and a nutrition guide.  I think that is the thing I like best, too.  Having the workout videos to do is great, but learning about nutrition is important, too.  You will also get access to the online beachbody community forum, which gives you all the support and encouragement you need to keep going.  You can also check out the Insanity Workout Reviews.  I'll let you know when I am finally in good enough shape for these videos.  For now, I'll keep doing my 20 year old VCR tapes.

Sleeping Beauty

I think most of you know that Brandi sleeps in my bed every night.  She has ever since she was about four months old.  Junior works early hours, and uses a bi-pap machine when he sleeps, so he sleeps on the couch. 

Anyway, the other night, I got up to the alarm at 2:15am like I always do to get Junior up for work.  When I went back to bed, Brandi wasn't there.  I turned on the light, and found her sitting on the floor, sound asleep. 

Of course, I had to take a picture!  Then I got her back into bed.

$40 Frecklebox Giveaway And Review

I know from experience that kids love having things with their names on it.  I wish I knew this back when i was naming my daughters, because they both spell their names differently than normal.  My oldest daughter is Kasandra, not Cassandra.  My youngest is Brandi, not Brandy.  My unique spelling has made it difficult for them to find things in stores that are personalized.

When I was asked to review a product for Frecklebox, I knew that I would have to choose something cool for one of my girls.  They have the neatest selection of personalized things, from lunch boxes to wall posters.  But, as soon as I saw this lady bug notebook, I immediately thought of Brandi.  She loves ladybugs!  I didn't tell her about it until it came, and she loved it!  The cover is a kind of plastic type material, not paper, so it's going to be difficult for her to tear it, which is great because she shoved it into her book bag right away and has been carrying it back and forth to school every day.

There was also a surprise in the box for me. 

A journal!  Not only does it have my name on the front of the book, it's on the top of all the inside pages, too.  See:

Okay, so maybe you can't read it in that picture, but in that pink bubble up top it says Jenn Wylie.  I seriously love it!

Now that you have seen two of the things available at Frecklebox, I bet you want to order some personalized stuff for yourself.  Go ahead.  Or you could win something right here.  Frecklebox has generously allowed me to give away any item (up to $40) to one lucky reader.  Pretty awesome, right?  As with most of my giveaways lately, there is a required step.  Go to Frecklebox.com and look around, then come back here and tell me which item you would choose if you win.

For additional entries, (which will only count after you do the required step) do any or all of the following:

• follow me on Twitter (there is a link on the top right sidebar)
• "like" my blog on Facebook
• follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect
• blog about this contest with a link back to this post
• Tweet this contest

There are a few conditions to this giveaway:

• You must live in the US to win.
• You can not have won a Frecklebox contest before.  Ever.
• This giveaway will run until 11:59pm on Friday, October 1, 2010.

Good Luck!
*I received both books to review and keep for myself as compensation for this review. The opinions above are my own.
This Product Was a Free Giveaway
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Zombie Girl ~ A Book Written And Illustrated By Brandi Wylie

A few weeks ago I was asked to do a review for Growing Tree Toys.  If you are unfamiliar with this site, they offer a wide variety of educational toys for all ages.  They kindly sent me a Create Your Own Pop-Up Book Kit to use and review.

The kit comes with two hardcover books, one that measures 8.5”x8.5” and the other 6.25”x6.25”.  The girls flipped a coin to see who would get which book.  Brandi ended up with the smaller one, and I have to say that I was impressed with these books.  They are sturdy, with strong, thick pages.

Here is a shot of Brandi's cover:

Those of you who know my child, know that she has an amazingly awesome imagination.  This book allowed her to put that imagination to work, and she came up with quite a story.  She wrote about a girl who is a zombie.  This girls friends don't know she is a zombie until she starts eating everyone's brains.  You can see in the picture below that she used a bunch of the stickers and the markers that came in the kit to show the cat and dogs heads exploding.  She was very insistent that all that red is blood. 

Do you see that little spiral in the left upper corner?  If you pull on the end, you can read about how zombie girl is warning people that she is going to eat their brains.  Have I mentioned that my daughter is only 8 years old?  Yeah, I'm so proud of her.  I have a future Dean Koontz on my hands.

If you have a child, or know a child who loves to tell stories, this kit is a great way for them to bring their stories to life.  There are also lots of other toys on this site that can challenge a child's creativity.  I plan on keeping Brandi's book forever so I can show it to her kids someday.

***I was sent this product to use and review free of charge as part of Growing Tree Toys Blogger Review Program.  I was not required to write a good review, only an honest one.  The opinions above are my own. (and my daughters)

Smiley Cookie Winner!

Guess who's getting some cookies?  Dawn!  I am so excited.  I know she really wanted to win this one.  The comment that made her a winner:

Latest: elephantlady777 Smiley Cookie Review And Giveaway http://nblo.gs/7zAVt about 9 hours ago from NetworkedBlogs. Retweeted by you less than 5 seconds ago. 

Congrats Dawn!  I am going to have the cookies shipped to the address I have for you...let me know if that's okay.

How To Network Yourself?

I need more Twitter followers.  

I don't tweet often.  In fact, most of my tweets are just links back to posts I do here.  I have tried very hard to get into the whole Twitter thing, but I find it annoying when people write about every little detail of their day.  I know, I know.  People would argue that that's what I do when I blog.  In a way, it is.  So why can't I "get" the whole Twitter thing? 

I love the aspect of Twitter where I can keep up to date with the companies I write for.  I also like finding out about all the contests people are running.  I know it is just another way to network with people, just like handing out business cards is.  I have been toying with this for a while, too.  I want people to know about my blog, especially now that I am doing more reviews.  Having business cards to hand people, or stick in public places would definitely get the word out about me, but I can't decide on a design, or even what I would want to put on one.  Why does this whole networking things need to be so hard?

Oh, and if you want, you can help me out by following me on Twitter.  You can find the link up there on the right on the sidebar.  My goal right now is to get 100 followers.  After that, who knows!

Printable Halloween Party Games

I know I am repeating myself, but there's a good reason.  You all know that every year for Ryan's birthday, we have a Halloween themed party.  We have been doing it for a few years now, and the kids love it!  They all come dressed up to win the costume contest, and the night always ends with bobbing for apples.

This year, we are in a smaller place, and we really don't have a yard big enough for the kids to be outside.  That means I will have to get creative finding things for 14 and 15 year old boys and girls to do inside.  I was thrilled when asked to do a review of a site that sells a Halloween Party Games Pack.  For $19.95, you get access to 50 printable games.  I had fun going through the selection of games, and I found three that I printed out and plan on using for Ryan's party.  I found a Horror Movie Trivia Match game, where you have to match the killer to the movie.  I bet Kasi will ace this one!  I also found a Mad-Libs game, and Trick-or-Treat Trivia game.  I plan on having prizes for the kids who get the most trivia questions right.  I usually buy cute Halloween themed containers and fill them with the good candy as prizes.

I would recommend this site to teachers.  Most of the games were geared towards kids younger than Ryan.  I think kids Brandi's age (she's 8) would enjoy more of these games.  Thankfully, there will be some younger kids here, too, so I am going to print out some games specifically for them.

*I received access to all 50 games to review and keep for myself as compensation for this review. The opinions above are my own.This Product Was a Free Giveaway

The Best Thing About September

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TiVo. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love when September rolls around every year.  Not only does it bring cooler weather, it brings back all my favorite television shows.  There are also many new shows that I am excited to try out.  I have heard good things about this years Fall TV schedule.  This week, they are starting the new seasons of Parenthood and Survivor.  Last year was the first year Parenthood was on, and I loved it.  The cast is great, and the storyline was mostly believeable and realistic.

If you missed this show last season, don't worry.  With the new TiVo Search and TiVo Collections, you can easily find this show, and others, on Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, or Blockbuster On Demand.  Now, I have a confession to make.  I do not have TiVo, or any kind of DVR.  This makes it very difficult for me to watch my favorite shows if they happen to come on at the same time.  I am trying to talk Junior into investing in TiVo, though, and have been driving him crazy telling him about all the features that it offers.

For instance, TiVo Premiere lets you check out other things that your favorite actors (or actresses) have done, and then watch it via YouTube, Amazon Video On Demand, Blockbuster, Netflix, or even your own cable lineup.  I seriously love this feature, because when I find an actor I like, I love finding and watching other things he has been in.  I did this with James Marsden when I first saw him in a movie, and was surprised at all the movies he had been in before that I had never noticed.  TiVo search also helps you find all your favorite shows via the same channels as the Premiere.

Like almost everything these days, you can become a Facebook Fan of TiVo.  TiVo is also having a contest where you can Enter to Win a new TiVo Slide in the "30 Slides in 30 Days" sweepstakes.  All you have to do to enter is "fan" TiVo on facebook or follow them on Twitter.  You can enter up until September 22, 2010.  I am going to enter, and hopefully win.  That way, I will no longer have to beg Junior to buy me TiVo, and I won't miss any of my favorite shows.

My Lasagna Taught Me A Few Things Tonight

I baked a Stouffers lasagna for supper tonight, and when I opened the package, I learned three things about my kids that I did not know.

1.  Kids who have frequent family meals may be more likely to feel their parents are proud of them.

2.  Kids who have regular family dinners may get better grades.

3.  Teens who have regular family dinners may be more likely to confide in their parents.

So the next time I want my kids to know I am proud of them, I'm not going to tell them...I am going to cook for them.

The next time my kids are worried about an upcoming test, I'm not going to suggest they study...I'm going to cook for them

And finally, when I feel like my kids are hiding something from me, instead of talking with them...you guessed it, I'm going to cook for them.

Thanks for the parental advice, Stouffers.  When my kids flunk out of school because I never told them to study and they lie to me because I didn't ask if they were hiding things from me...I am going to send them to you for a job!  Maybe they can write some words of wisdom to go on your Lean Cuisines.

Maybe something like...Women who prepare frequent Lean Cuisine meals may lose weight...but probably not because they are stress eating because their kids lives were ruined by a package of lasagna.

Crest Pro-Health Complete Rinse

For the next few weeks, I am going to be using Crest Pro-Health Complete Rinse.  I am going to use it once in the morning when I brush my teeth, and then again when I brush my teeth before bed.  I started using it a couple of days ago, and so far, I'm loving it.

This rinse provides six benefits in one, which can help you have a better dental checkup.  It contains flouride, which helps re-build tooth enamel and helps prevent cavities.  I like that it helps to clean teeth and gums, too, because I always feel like I never brush good enough.  This rinse also kills bad breath germs and freshens breath, all without the burn of alcohol.  These six benefits can help you get a better dental checkup, as opposed to brushing alone.

Like I said, I started using this rinse a couple of days ago, and it really does leave my mouth feeling fresh.  I am usually not a fan of mint flavored toothpaste.  In fact, I use cinnamon flavored toothpaste.  That said, this rinse has a mint flavor, but it's not overpowering.  It is actually refreshing. I can't wait to see how my mouth feels a few weeks from now.

You can find this rinse in a store near you, and join me in my quest for a healthier mouth.

“I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Crest and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

The Versatile Blogger ~ That's Me!

My sweet friend Jeannette passed this award along to me. 

As per the rules of accepting this award, here are seven facts you may not know about me:

This is getting hard to do, because I am such an open book! lol!

1. I drink way too much soda.  I prefer the store brands of diet sprite, and drink it from the time I wake up until I go to bed at night.  I can go through 2 2-liter bottles a day sometimes.

2. In October, it will be 9 years since I quit smoking.  I'm pretty proud of that.

3.  I love watching shows my kids watch, like Victorious, iCarly, and Wizards. (not Hannah Montana, though.  I seriously hate her)  I sometimes watch when the kids aren't even home.

4.  I think I'm pretty.  Weird, right?  I know I have weight to lose, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm kinda cute.

5.  That said, I hate my smile.  I think my mouth is way too small for my face, and my teeth are all crooked.  In most pictures I am either serious, or smirking. 

6.  I have recently started doing reviews on this blog, and I am getting completely overwhelmed, but I am loving the free stuff!  I have a few pretty cool giveaways coming up, and some pretty nice reviews.

7.  Being the mom of three kids, I have realized that I love each of them the same amount, but in different ways.

This is the part where I am supposed to pass this along to other bloggers, but you all know that I hate doing that.  Whenever I do, most of the people don't ever acknowledge it, so why bother?  If you want this award, and you are special to me, go ahead and grab it. 

Pregnancy Forums - Find The Support You Need

 I was twenty three when I found out I was pregnant with my son.  I was not married, and I had only been dating my then boyfriend for about a month.  As excited as I was about becoming a mom, I was also scared to death.  There were so many questions I had, and at first, I didn't want to tell my mom that I was pregnant.  Yes, I was grown, but I was still living with her at home, and I wasn't sure how she would take the news.  I shouldn't have worried, though, because she was nothing but supportive, answering all of my questions and addressing all of my concerns.  Being a nurse and a mother of five, she knew most of the answers.

I know I was lucky, because there are so many people out there who don't have supportive families.  Thankfully, there are places like PregnancyGroup.org where these people can go to connect with others in the same situations. Most of us who blog do it for the sense of community, and that is also what these forums offer.  Women who have been in the same situations, or who are in the same situations now can support each other and offer comfort and advice.  I was just on there looking around, and was encouraged by what I was reading.  They have several different topics, from trying to conceive to teen pregnancy.  I truly believe that the best advice comes from people who have been in those situations, so having a place to find those people is amazing.

Flexi 8 Hair Clip Giveaway Winner!

I am so happy to announce the winner of the two flexi8 hair clips, because she is one of my favorite people ~ ANNA!  Yay!  Her winning comment was:

"Follow you with Google Friend Connect. At least, I'm pretty sure I do, and if I've somehow overlooked that, I will most definitely fix it now."

She was actually one of my very first followers when I added that little gadget over there.

Congrats Anna!  Be on the lookout for an email from me!

If It's Not One Thing...

I am finally starting to get over this cold.  My chest is still a little tight, and I get tired easily, but I think I am on the mend.  Brandi stayed home from school to get over her cold, and Junior came home from work with a migraine.  If you remember, this cold started with a migraine for me, too, so I know where Junior is headed.  It wouldn't be so bad for him if his ankle wasn't already hurting.  He doesn't remember doing anything to it, but it has been sore for a couple of days now.  I told him he needs to go to the doctor to get some medicine, but he insists that he's fine and if he needs something, he will buy tramadol without prescription online.  That stuff is supposed to help your muscles relax, so I'm not sure why he thinks it will help his ankle.  Are there even muscles in your ankle?

I just wish we would all get over this cold and feel better already.

Accept The Reuse Challenge

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aladdin. All opinions are 100% mine.

Two of my three kids eat the lunch provided by the school everyday.  My youngest, however, insists on bringing a lunch from home.  A couple of years ago, I invested in a plastic sandwich holder and a reuseable drink bottle.  I did it because I thought it would save me money by my not having to buy juice boxes and baggies.  I didn't even realize at that time that I was doing my part to save the environment.

Aladdin has a great selection of reuseable containers.  I especially love their Artist Series Bowls.  These would be perfect for the snacks that Brandi takes in her lunchbox.  While I was browsing their site, I read about this thing they are doing called Do The Reuse Challenge.  They want people to make a 30 day commitment to give up disposable paper cups, water bottle, or food containers.

You can stop buying coffe on your way to work, and instead, make some at home and bring it with you in a reuseable insulated cup.  This will not only help the environment; it will also save you money.  Those specialty coffees are expensive!  It can cost about $636 to buy drip coffee at a specialty shop.  If you make your own at home, you will spend about $165.  That is a big difference.

You can also choose to use a refillable water bottle instead of drinking bottled water.  I don't think I even have to tell you how ridiculas it is to spend so much money on bottled water.  In fact, in the United States, 50 billion disposable water bottles are consumed each year.  That's 137,000 per day, or 1,585 per second.

You can also learn from me and use plastic sandwich containers.  Bringing a lunch from home can save you so much money every year.  In fact, if you average that lunch costs you $9 a day, you can save over $2,000 a year by bringing lunch from home.

If these reasons haven't convinced you to make a change, how about this one.  If you accept the Challenge, you will get discounts and free shipping on select Aladin products on their website.  You can also find Aladdin on Facebook.  I know I am going to be accepting this challenge, and I think you should, too.

I'm New To All Of This, But...

I got this email the other day.  It said, and I quote,

I was wondering if you would be interested in placing links from reputable
retailers on your site. Please get back to me if you are interested.

So I email this chick back, and say,

It depends on what the links are, and what type of compensation I would get for
doing so.

A few hours later, I got this reply,

Thanks so much for getting back to me! I was wondering if you would be interested in posting a few links on your website directing to (I refuse to say the link)?  In return we will provide you with a discount code that you can share with your readers.

I replied that I would need to be paid for doing a post, and quoted my rates.

I haven't heard back from her.  Am I wrong to think that coupon codes for my readers is not compensation for me?  Did I word my original response wrong?  Was I wrong to request payment?  I am new to all of this, and don't want to put off companies who want to work with me, but I am not going to do it for free, either.

What would you have done?

Hair Flairs Pro Hair Tinsel ~ Review & Giveaway

My 13 year old daughter has been after me for a while about adding color to her hair.  She originally wanted some purple streaks, but I wouldn't let her.  I am all about letting her express herself, but I don't think dying her hair purple is the answer.  I finally gave in and let her put some blond highlights in it, but she still wasn't happy.

She was thrilled, however, when I was asked to review Hair Flairs Pro Hair Tinsel.  These metallic tinsel strips tie into hair at the root, adding shimmer and shine to ever color hair.  Once they are in, you can wash, blow dry, and style hair as usual.  You can even use a curling iron or flat iron, up to 400 degrees.

Friday night, I sat down with both of my girls and tied in some of the strands.  At first I got frustrated because I could not get them to stay in.  The package has instructions, complete with pictures, but I still couldn't follow them.  It also had a link to a video that shows how to tie them into your hair, so I watched that. (you can watch it here).  Watching someone do it made it easier for me, and I was able to get both girls done in no time.  Check out Kasi's hair:

The pink tinsel is subtle, which is perfect for school.  So far, she has only lost one strand.  I am pretty impressed that even through washing, drying, and brushing, they are holding up.  Brandi, however, lost all of hers in about an hour.  I think it is because her hair is thin and fine, and Kasi's is think.  They say the strand will last from 1 to 6 weeks, so I'll let you know when Kasi's fall out.  The fact that they are easy to put in (once you know what you're doing) and don't damage the hair make them perfect for even young girls.

Hair Flairs has generously allowed me to give away a package of hair tinsel to two people.  To win, simply do one or all of the following:

• "like" my blog on facebook
• follow this blog publicly on GFC
• blog about this contest with a link to this post (leave the link to your post)
• friend me on facebook
• tweet about this giveaway (leave a link to your tweet)

This giveaway will run until 11:59pm on Sunday, September 26, 2010.  Contest is open to US & Canadian bloggers only.   Good luck!

*I received 2 packs of hair tinsel to review and keep for myself as compensation for this review. The opinions above are my own.
This Product Was a Free Giveaway
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

My Desk Was A Disaster!

Before:

This is the left side of my desk.

This is the right side.

My desk becomes the dropping place for every piece of mail and school notice that enters the house.  It is also home to all the medications my family takes on a daily basis, as well as band aids and my jewelry.  (I have no idea why I keep it out here and not in my bedroom)  It gets hard to work with all this crap.  Today I decided it needed a little organization.

After:

The left side of my desk, all cleaned up!

The right side of my desk. 

Looks a whole lot better.  The trick is going to be keeping it this way.

The Next Great Novel Will Not Be Written By Me

 I have been reading a lot lately about bloggers who are writing books.  In fact, I am a little surprised at how many of them have either finished books, or are in the process of writing one.  I was also surprised that many of them are complaining about not being able to get published.

I am not writing a book.  I am not disciplined or creative enough.  I would love, however, to be a book editor.  I found an interesting website about Book Editing Services, called Sea Hill Press. I read an article on their front page, and it talked about how finding an editor for your book is important.   It recommends having two editors look at your book, that way you can see where they agree and disagree on things.  Apparently, editing is subjective, aside from grammar and spelling, so having two different opinions can be very helpful.

Sea Hill Press is a "book publishing company that can assist you with an entire turn-key solution with their suite of publishing services, including editing book manuscripts, designing text and covers, publishing books, and creative solutions for printing books".  So for all you bloggers out there trying to get published, check out this site.  They may be able to get you going in the right direction.

I've Been Sick. Really Sick. Like, My Head Is Going To Explode Sick.

That's right.  Ryan gave me his head cold, and it sucks.  I hate not being able to breathe through my nose.  I hate that my throat is on fire, so I can't swallow without pain.  I hate that I can't go three minutes without sneezing.

Last night, I took some cold medicine, which usually knocks me out for about 24 hours.  No joke.  I have no tolerance for medicine.  Well, apparently, this cold is different, because I was up at 4am this morning, and could not fall back to sleep.  Even after the kids got on the bus, I couldn't fall back to sleep.  which means right now, I could lay over and fall right to sleep, but I can't.  I have work to do.  Stuff that can't wait until tomorrow.

Why don't Mommies get to take sick days?  Junior gets to curl up on the couch for two days when he doesn't feel good.  Why can't I?

Going to the Movies is a Passion

Guest post from: Bruno Smith

There is a Movie station on our cable that has old movies, but once in a while everyone needs to see the action on a big screen and get out of the house. This is what my wife and I do a couple of times a week. We love the classics and try to see the ones not often shown on cable. The world is left behind for a few hours.

We used to worry about leaving the home unattended, but since we got our reasonably price home security systems, all is well. Our minds can now be devoted to discussing and viewing the classic Movies with no other worries.

Recently we have seen a movie called Huk, set in the Philippines circa 1901 during the insurrection there. We loved seeing it again after so many years. Too bad there are not many Movie theaters that specialize in older film classics. It is a shame because the younger generation is missing out in fine acting and camera angles not used today with all the computerized equipment. We are now planning our next outing.

Smiley Cookie Review And Giveaway

Smiley Cookies.  Such a simple idea...making sugar cookies and putting smiley faces on them.

In all different colors.

Those cookies did their job, too, and made me smile.

The box alone was adorable!  Then the kids and I opened it up, and inside were the biggest, most delicious sugar cookies we have had in a while. 

They didn't last long, either.  The instructions said to microwave each cookie for 10 seconds to make it "fresh" again, but I didn't find that necessary.  They were delicious just the way they were.  Trust me, we eat a lot of cookies around here, so I know a good cookie when I taste it.


I had to check out their website, and I love all the cookie gift baskets they have available.  These would make great gifts for those loved ones who live a little too far away and those that live close by, but are hard to shop for.  I loved their Miles of Smiles gift basket, because it comes with a travel mug.

They even offer the option of customizing your cookies with whatever colors you want.  You can make cookies in the color of your favorite sports team for your next tailgate party, or even make some up in your bridal colors to give out as favors at your weeding.  The possibilities are endless.  I found some jack-o-lantern cookies that would be great for my upcoming Halloween/Birthday party.

I know I would love a cookie gift for my next birthday!

So now that I have gone on and on about how yummy these cookies are, why not try some for yourself?  You sign up for their email club and receive a $5 off coupon.  (you can find the sign up form in the bottom right of their homepage)  Or, you can enter my little giveaway.

That's right.  I am giving away a box of smiley cookies just like the one I received.

Required step:  follow Smiley Cookies on twitter.  You can do that here.

For additional entries:

• "like" my blog on facebook
• follow this blog publicly on GFC
•  blog about this contest with a link to this post (leave the link to your post)
• friend me on facebook
• tweet about this giveaway (leave a link to your tweet)

 Easy enough, right?  The only thing I ask is that you don't make me delete comments because you didn't follow the rules! The contest is open to US residents only, and will run until 11:59 pm on Friday, September 17, 2010.  The winner will be announced the following Monday.  Good Luck!

*I received a box of Smiley Cookies to review and keep for myself as compensation for this review. The opinions above are my own.

This Product Was a Free Giveaway
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Saving Your Baby's Cord Blood

I saw a commercial on television the other night, and it was pretty touching.  It started by showing two young boys, obviously brothers, playing in their backyard.  Then the parents come onscreen, and start sharing their story.  They explained that when their youngest child was born, they saved his cord blood, never expecting to need to use it.  Little did they know at the time that his cord blood would save his brothers life.

I find it truly amazing the things that scientists are doing these days to treat different diseases.  Back when I had my kids, saving their cord blood wasn't an affordable option for us.  Since then, more blood banks are operating, and pricing has become competitive.  You can even Compare Cord Blood Banks and see that Cryo-Cell has been around the longest, and offers the best deals.   Not only are they cheaper, they also have the most quality accreditations and nearly 215,000 clients. 

They are also having a special for Labor Day where you can Save $721 Bank Baby's Cord Blood by midnight tonight, September 6, 2010.  You can find more information here.

I know as parents, we want to protect our kids, and make sure they live long, healthy lives.  Banking your child's cord blood is an investment in their future.  If you are like me, and haven't done so before now, don't worry. Future children's cord blood may help the children you already have. Siblings can benefit from each others cord blood.  I think the statistics are 1 in 4 that one child's cord blood will match another sibling.  Those are pretty good odds.  So if you are pregnant now, think about banking this child's cord blood.  Like the people in that commercial, you may not think you'll ever need it, but it will offer peace of mind knowing that it is there if you ever do.

Flies

For the past couple of weeks, I have been having the worst problem with flies.  For some reason, they love to fly around the window above my kitchen sink.  The problem with this is that I have some pretty window clings on the window, and the flies keep getting stuck in them.  Can you see them all?

Everyday I have to pick off the dead flies, and to be honest, I am getting pretty grossed out by it.  I told my girls this morning that I am taking down all the clings, because even after I pull the dead flies off, there are still wings and body parts stuck to them. 

Now I just need to find more clings to go on the window.

Flexi8 Clip Review And Giveaway

As you all know, I have two daughters.  Kasi has very thick, wavy hair, and Brandi has straight, thin hair like me.  Kasi likes to keep her hair short, and Brandi and I both keep ours fairly long.  When I was given the opportunity to review some hair clips, I knew that between the three of us, someone would be able to use them.  Imagine my surprise when the package arrived and I realized that there was something in there for each of us.

The clips I am talking about are called Flexi 8 hair clips.  On their website, the clip is described as "a completely unique, flexible barrette that holds thick, thin, curly, straight, fine and coarse hair. The Flexi 8 comes in a variety of sizes and hundreds of ever changing styles. Flexi 8 uses an ingenious patented locking mechanism to secure it in your hair. It's such an attractive and unique accessory for your hair, once you try the Flexi 8, LOOK OUT! (you're in love)".  I can tell you from using them that they are very easy to put in your hair.  The "stick" is attached to the flexible part on one side, and slips through the other side and locks in place.

The day after I got them, both girls wore one in the hair to school.  Kasi's hair is so thick, the small clip worked for a half up, half down hairstyle.

For all or her hair to be put into a ponytail, we used the large clip. Brandi wanted the same half up, half down style as Kasi, and the extra small held her hair in place all day.

 I used the mini clip to hold my hair in a ponytail.  I have very thin, fine hair, and the mini clip kept it in place perfectly all day.

The flaxi8 website has an easy to follow video that helps you decide which size is right for your hair.  You can also watch videos on how to create different hairstyles using the flexi8 clip.  These would be great for special occasions, too. There are so many different styles to choose from, from hearts to flowers, and even dolphins. (I didn't see an elephant one, though)  If you place an order, use the coupon code 543626 to either get 10% off your order, or use it to get a 5th clip free when you buy four.


And guess what else?  Flexi8 is allowing me to give one lucky winner two of their clips, any size and any style.  The first required step is to visit their website, and watch the sizing video.  You can find it here.  Then come back here and tell me why you are the size you are, and which style you would chose if you win.

***I am deleting all comments that don't first do the required step...sorry, but rules must be followed.

You can earn extra entries (only after doing the required entry) by doing the following:

• "like" my blog on facebook
• follow this blog publicly on GFC
• blog about this contest with a link to this post (leave the link to your post)
• friend me on facebook
• tweet about this giveaway (leave a link to your tweet)

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.  You have until Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 11:59pm to enter.  On Monday, September 13, 2010 the winner will be chosen and contacted.  If they do not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.  Good luck!

*I received 5 flexi8 clips to review and keep for myself as compensation for this review.  The opinions above are my own.
This Product Was a Free Giveaway
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

I'm A Beautiful Blogger ~ Like You Didn't Already Know That

Thank you Fhaye from Living and Wellness for passing this award on to me.

• Thank and link to the person that gave you the award.

• Pass this award onto 10 bloggers you’ve recently discovered and think are fantastic.

• Contact said Blogs and let them know they’ve won

• State 7 things about yourself

1.  Most of you know that I collect elephants, but you probably don't know that I also have a small collection of carousel horses.
2.  I let fear hold me back a lot...there are things I would love to do, but I am too afraid to try.
3.  I am not a good housekeeper.  At all.  I hate cleaning, especially mopping the floors.  That's why I make the kids do it. :)
4.  I love watching scary movies with my 13 year old daughter.  In fact, as soon as I finish this, we are going to watch Saw VI.
5.  I am starting to panic about not having started Christmas shopping...it's less than 4 months away!
6.  I would rather eat chocolate and peanut butter instead of vegetables...and yes, I know that makes me about three years old but I don't care.
7.  I really hate having to list things about myself.

Wow.  I am supposed to pass this along to 10 bloggers, but I just don't have the time right now.  So what I want you to do is leave me a comment telling me about a blog (or blogs) that you read, that you think I should be reading, too.  I am all about making new friends!

Addiction Treatment Centers

 Do you, or does someone you know, have a problem with addiction?  I know I have an addiction to food (and blogging), but it's not bad enough that I need to check into addiction treatment centers.  If you have an addiction to drugs, I think you could benefit from an addiction treatment center. Or even alcohol.  I have seen first hand how an addiction like that can ruin a family, and it's not a pretty thing to watch.

Do yourself, and you family, a favor and get the help you need.

Back To Blond ~ What Was I Thinking?

The first time I dyed my hair I was in high school.  My original hair was a dirty blond, but I wanted it blond.  You should see my graduation picture...my hair was almost white. 

When I got pregnant with Ryan, I read somewhere that you shouldn't dye your hair, so I didn't the entire pregnancy.  After he was born, I would occasionally put some highlights in it, but for the most part, it went back to my natural, healthy hair.

Until last night.  My friend Donna came over, and she wanted me to highlight her hair.  I pulled it through the cap, and when it came time to mix the dye, we realized that it came with two packs of color.  Somehow, she convinced me to let her do my hair. 

You can see it a little in the picture (my hair is a little wet...I just got out of the shower) how blond it is, and I can't decide if I like it or not.  I hate how dried out the dye has my hair right now...it's almost brittle.  Hopefully in a week or so, it will soften up.

At least that's what I'm hoping.  I'm also hoping it won't turn green in the pool this weekend.  I plan on wetting it with the hose before getting in the pool, since that is what many of you suggested I do with Kasi's head.  I hope it works.