"I am NOT a VOLCANO!" (and other such stories.)

Foodie Friday, What I Want My Kids To Remember about their childhood

2012-02-09T19:06:00.000-08:00

(Scroll down for Foodie Friday, AND the February Weekdaily Flash Giveaway!!!)

What I Want My Children To Remember About Their Childhood

I have always had a good memory. Most people can't remember when they were very young, but I do. I recall sounds, smells, and even exact conversation from the time I was very young. I don't usually need a calendar to remember important dates or times, and, without looking, I still know my babies birth dates, times, and their size and lengths.

My childhood was filled with summers spent catching snakes and throwing water balloons. Christmases, birthdays, baby brothers and sisters, giggling with friends, card games with my family, and lots of small details that made me who I am.

Now I am a mother, and, while my childhood is behind me, my children's childhoods are staring me in the face.

I'm sure every mother can identify with my emotions here. I am terrified that they will look back and remember every single moment that I yelled at them. I just KNOW they will remember the times I made them sit and eat the food they HATED (usually spinach lasagna.) or the times I didn't give them what they want. I am afraid that somewhere, I will, in the heat of the moment, say something I shouldn't and that, despite apologies, my comment will scar them for life and turn them into bank robbers instead of award winning concert pianists (I'm kidding on the concert pianist thing.) I am afraid that, when they are with their friends, they will have nothing good to say about me.

The truth is, I'm sure that in my past, my parents disciplined me plenty of times. I'm sure I received spankings, and no doubt they yelled at me and maybe said some regrettable things. I know, for sure, that my mother used to insist that I eat mushy green beans from a can (I still can't stand them), and, if my mother is as normal as any other mother out there today, she probably faced a lot of guilt for it, just like we do.

But do you know what? I don't remember those things with any kind of vividness, and I'm not screwed up.

When Lilly was born, my mom got me a baby book for her that is illustrated by Mary Englebreit (who I LOVE) - it is filled with darling pictures of babies, and families, and women in slippers with captions that read "Queen Of Everything." and "Life is just a chair of bowlies"

There is one picture, though, that captured my heart from the very moment I saw it. (And forgive me, I spent, literally, hours looking for a proper picture on the internet and could not find one...so you get a snapshot from my camera.)

I love this because, as this little boy is going off to school, all those hearts are floating out of his home while his mother kisses him goodbye.

Despite my fears, I'm pretty sure that my kids won't remember the times they were grounded from television, or had to put their nose on the corner for time outs. Over the years, they will remember laughing late at night while we all snuggled together on the couch watching movies. They will remember family vacations, and holidays. What I really hope they remember when they look back at their childhoods is a home so full of love that it hit them hard in the face whenever they opened the door after school. I hope they remember feeling safe and secure. I hope it's strong enough to follow them each day to school, and wrap them in a bubble on their way back home. I hope it's enough that, when they go off to college or get their own apartments, little hearts float out their doors and windows whenever they open them too.

THAT is what I want my children to remember about their childhoods.

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Foodie Friday!

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

14 Tbsp butter

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

2 large eggs

4-6 large strawberries, chopped

1 bag white chocolate chips

PREHEAT OVEN to 375

Chop Strawberries- the smaller the better.

Brown your butter. If you've never done this, don't be intimidated. It makes the cookies taste SO GOOD, and it's actually really easy.

The recipe calls for 14 tbsp of butter- take TEN (10) of those and put them in a pan over medium-high heat. You'll need to swirl the pan around constantly until it's totally melted.

Once melted, continue to swirl it around until it's a dark golden brown and smells rich and a bit nutty.

Pour the hot butter into a bowl, and add your remaining 4 tbsp. Swirl this around consistently until the 4 tbsp are melted fully.

Add white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and salt and whisk until fully incorporated. Add eggs and whisk them in until incorporated. Let stand for 3 minutes, whisk for 30 seconds, and repeat twice.

Your mixture will be smooth, thick and shiny.

Use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix in flour and baking soda

Stir in all strawberries and all white chocolate chips. It looks like a lot, but your cookies will be cram packed with flavor!!

Make your cookie balls SMALL- about a table spoon in size, maybe a tiny bit bigger. These cookies like to flatten and spread out. If you make them too big, they will melt together. They're still yummy, of course, but not as "neat" looking.

Bake them at 375 for about 12-14 minutes, until edges are turning brown.

My kids LOVE these cookies- even more than regular chocolate chip cookies.

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February's Weekdaily Flash Giveaway!!!!

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Thursday's Writer's Prompt - Poems for my Valentines

2012-02-08T21:40:00.000-08:00

Thursday's Writer's Prompt

http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/blog/

Poems for my Valentines

Lilly, named aptly

for the blossom gold as sun.

She's magnanimous.

Fire cracker, full

of compassionate power,

my oldest little boy.

Strawberry in cheeks

and hair, a gap toothed beauty.

Nickname: Little Red

My little darling,

careful and deliberate.

Sock and car in hand.

February's Weekdaily Flash Giveaway!!

About a size 11

(sorry! The ring can not be resized. However, you are welcome to come back every weekday in February for another chance to win a different ring. There will be a new one every weekday, in all different sizes!)

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Wordless Wednesday WITH LINKY!!!

2012-02-07T18:09:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

(Link up below!!!)

A Whole Bunch Of Stuff

and

Scarlet's 4th Birthday

Some husbands bring their wives flowers. Mine brings me comic books. Supergirl reboot: Issue #2.

My 3 oldest kids- each of them reading comic books...I think they're Green Lantern...

My CUTE Teaguer. I love him. LOVE.

Scarlet's birthday- my dad ("Pop-pop" to my kids) is telling her that if she's 4, she has to get 4 spankings...she's not buying it.

Left to right: My sister, Bergan, her husband Spencer, my brother Boz, my brother Biege, and his wife Shalynn.

Biege and Shalynn both wearing Marvel comic T-shirts to tease me because I posted on facebook that DC is better.

Scarlet with all her lovely presents from grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Scarlet's favorite pink lemonade bars. She didn't want a cake, she wanted these.

With the makeup on that Biege and Shalynn brought her.

The "spankin' machine" - just for fun. LOL. (I actually think it's MAHONE going through right there. LOL.)

THAT is Scarlet.

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February Weekdaily Flash Giveaway

Bright Red and Silver

About size 10

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Touchy Topic Tuesday- Second Baby Showers (and beyond!)

2012-02-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

**Please scroll down to enter the February Weekdaily Flash Giveaway!**

Touchy Topic Tuesday

Second Baby Showers (and beyond!)

Just this year, I have had nine friends become new mothers. Out of those nine, 7 of them are first time moms.

Nearly all of them had baby showers. Some of them invited me, some lived too far away.

Several months ago, I asked a friend of mine, who was having her second baby, if she were going to have a baby shower. It was going to be a boy, and her first was a girl. She responded with an incredulous look on her face, "Why would I do that?! I already had one, and I have everything I need." I blinked back stupidly and then changed the subject.

Still, this attitude bothers me. Now, it's not the first time I've encountered it. I discussed the situation in length during my two most recent pregnancies (birth boards are once again to blame.)

I had a baby shower with my first- a girl. There was lunch, lots of friends, and presents wrapped in pink.

I had my second baby- a boy, in July just 15 months later. I had two lovely friends who, while on a girls night out for gellato one night, asked if I would like a baby shower. I knew very well that some people thought of this type of thing as inappropriate. People are "supposed" to have one baby shower, and then, supposedly, they have everything they could ever need, and from there on, no one is "obligated" to give them anything. So, I tried to be vague in my answer: "Well, I had one with Lilly, already...a party would be fun..." They exchanged glances, and the conversation turned.

See, the thing is, I had hoped for a shower. First off, I HAD stuff...but things like the crib were still being used by my daughter, who was just 15 months old when my son was born. Also, though I had carefully washed and folded and tucked away all of Lilly's new born clothes, I was not having another girl. I literally didn't even have a single onesie to pass down to my new baby boy. It wasn't as though we were poor- we were doing fine. But getting ready for a baby is still expensive. I still went and threw it out of my mind.

One night, though, one of the girls who had asked about the shower picked me up and we headed over to the other lady's house to pick her up for a movie night. As we drove up, I noted the dozens of cars lining the street. It was nearly July, so I figured someone was having a barbecue. Nice weather and all. But when we walked into her house, I heard the chorus of "surprise!" echo through her living room. Every woman from my church was there. They had blue virgin pina coladas, and mini cheesecakes and presents galore! I wasn't expecting it, and it was wonderful!

I didn't have any showers with my third or my fourth babies, and I wasn't expecting any. But, given the chance to have one, I wouldn't have turned it down.

You see, my 3rd baby reused my oldest daughter's crib, and the carseat that the other two used. But she was born in January while my first was born in late spring. None of the clothes I had saved would fit her at the time she needed.

With my 4th, well, pretty much everything needed to be replaced. Out of the two cribs we had, one ended up broken in a move, and the other had a drop side and had been recalled by the company that made it. The car seat that survived all of our previous 3 children in perfect shape, had expired. Our exersaucer had sustained serious damage, and our swing had a short in it, so even replacing batteries didn't make it swing. On top of that, Teague was born in January, not July, like Mahone, so none of his clothes would work for the new baby. We had to get new EVERYTHING.

I found, in my lengthy birth-board conversations about baby showers, that first time moms were the ones who harbored the hostility for multiple baby showers. They felt that

1. It's rude to ask for one.

I COMPLETELY AGREE!!! But it's rude to ask anyone for a baby shower even if it's your first baby. However, I don't think it's wrong at all if, you mom or sister or friend or someone offers and asks if they can. In fact, I kind of think it's rude to shut them down.

2. If you've had a baby already, you have everything you need.

There's a few problems with this. We've already discussed the issue, above, of the possibility of the opposite sex being born second (or third or fourth. I know plenty of moms who had, say, 3 girls and then out of the blue, a boy- they had PLENTY of girl stuff, and not a stitch of boy stuff!) and of babies, same sex or not, being born at opposite times of the year, when passed down clothes are not appropriate for the given seasons. I also think that first time moms look at pristine little outfits, sheets, socks, burp cloths, and furniture and don't understand the magnificent stains that can happen in a split second due to spit up and blowouts. They don't understand that, at some point or another, things will break. They see beautiful baby things, and imagine they will stay that way.

Also, there seems to be an impression that all the gifts are big ol' things, and that the guests to your shower are going to surprise you with such wonderful things as a Pottery Barn crib, the changing table, a bouncer AND a swing, those awesome "travel sets" that include a stroller AND a carseat, the 80.00 sheet, bumper, quilt and mobile set you registered for, top of the line breast pumps, plus, a darling outfit per person.

The truth to this myth is that none of this will ever happen. I have 4 sets of parents- my parents and Brandon's 3 sets, and while they all spoiled us with cute clothes for our children, the "biggest" gift we received was a baby jogger from my mother- which was AWESOME! And Brandon's 4 aunts pulled together and bought us our first exersaucer. But there was no crib, or car seat, or stroller, and while I received sheets, they were not the designer ones from Babies R Us, they were a 3 pack from a regular store. PLEASE do NOT mistake this reality for me being ungrateful. As a matter of fact, I was very happy with those things. (I still use those very sheets on my now 1 year old's crib mattress nearly 7 years later!!!) I'm just saying that you can register all you want, but people are not going to buy you a 700.00 crib, they're not going to spend 80.00 on a top of the line swing, or any other extravagant thing. Mostly, they'll bring cute outfits, bibs, blankets, butt paste, maybe some diapers, and shoes- because who do YOU know that can resist tiny size 0 shoes small enough to fit, the pair of them, in the palm of your 5 year old's hands. You can have 5 baby showers and, really, YOU will still end up buying all the "big" stuff.

3. No one should feel obligated to bring you a gift a second time.

...And....they should feel obligated to give you a gift the FIRST time? This is a stupid argument. No one should feel obligated to give you a gift PERIOD. This means that, first shower or 10th shower, if they don't like it, they don't have to come. Likewise, YOU should not EXPECT gifts.

When it comes down to it, I feel like this: We don't tell our children "You had a birthday party when you turned one year old. You can never have a birthday party again. You already have everything you need, and we don't want anyone to ever feel obligated to give you anything." and we don't tell our second or beyond children "You can't EVER have a party because your older sibling already had a party, and you are just not as important as the first. You can have what your sibling had, because it's all we need." - baby showers work the same way, and I feel like every baby deserves a party. Even if you decide to request that guests don't bring gifts, go for it and have a party. Enjoy your friends, and celebrate. But if someone offers to throw you a shower, take it!

I can tell you one thing- when my sister and my sisters in law start having kids, I'm going to throw a shower for every single pregnancy. Because it's fun. It's fun for those throwing it, and it's fun for the mommy. And like I said earlier, EVERY baby deserves a celebration.

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So, let us know how YOU feel about this. Is one shower enough? Or would you take another shower if given the option? Do you think it's selfish or rude to have a second shower? What is your opinion on the way baby-shower etiquette goes? (And scroll down to enter the flash giveaway! Ends tonight!)

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About Size 6

Cobalt Blue and Gold Wire

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Music Mondays!!

2012-02-05T20:39:00.000-08:00

Music Monday!
(Grab my button!)

(If you'd like to participate, PLEASE post your link to your blog and your song of the week below! I will visit anyone who links up and leave a comment! Thanks!!! I'd love to see "Music Monday" become important to a lot of people, as music is the essence of MY life.)

Don't forget to Scroll down for the February's Weekdaily Flash Handmade Ring Giveaway below the music video!!!

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I love this song. And I love Bowling for Soup. This is an EXCELLENT cover.

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About size 13
Sorry! Rings can not be resized, though, there will be a different ring up every weekday in February! Sizes will range from childrens, to small to medium to large. Check back every day! I'm sure there will be many that fit YOU!

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(JUST A QUICK FYI on the linky- this widget doesn't let the links show on my blog. You have to click on the "Mister Linky you're Next!" button and it'll take you to the list. Don't worry, I'm working on it and it should be better next week. This is the first time i've done this, so please be patient with me. Thanks!)

2012-02-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

(SCROLL DOWN FOR THE WEEKDAILY FEBRUARY FLASH GIVEAWAY!!!)

Vegetarian Spinach Lasagna

Ingredients:

1.Lasagna Noodles

2. Marinara Sauce (I prefer Prego brand)

3. LARGE tub of Cottage Cheese

4. Mozzarella Cheese (Large Brick)

5.1 Package baby Spinach leaves.

6. Chopped White Onion

7.Black Pepper

8.Italian Seasonings

9. Onion Powder

10. Garlic Salt

Chop 2 big handfulls of the baby spinach and mix with cottage cheese in large bowl.

Mix in chopped white onion, and spices.

The original recipe had actual measurements, but I don't even remember what they are. Personally, I like it heavy on the spices, but you can make it heavy or light- just however you prefer it.

Shred the Mozzarella cheese! DO NOT MIX the cheese in with your cottage cheese and spinach mixture.

Pour just enough sauce into your casserole dish to coat the bottom:

Cover with one layer of noodles.

Oh! First- Preheat oven to 350 degrees!

(^^^^^^^^^cottage cheese mixture!)

Cover the first layer of noodles with HALF the cottage cheese mixture.

cover THAT with 1/3 of the mozz. Cheese!!!

Do it all over again with just enough sauce to cover the layer of cheese.

Add a second layer of noodles

and the second half of the cottage cheese mixture.

add the 2nd 1/3 of the cheese.

More sauce (remember, just enough to cover the cheese!) and then the LAST LAYER of noodles.

Use the rest of the sauce to cover your last layer,

Use the rest of your cheese to top it off

Bake for 1 hour- let stand for 5 minutes to thicken.

It might be a bit soupy, but it's DELICIOUS. And one of the best cooks I've ever known told me that if it's soupy, that's how you know it's home made. So....yeah!!!

Now scroll down and enter to win today's ring!!!
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ABOUT size 7 1/2, silver wire and amber bead.

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"This one time, in Lit-Mag...",

2012-02-01T21:34:00.000-08:00

Thursday's Writer's Prompt

from

Mama Kat's

Come over and link up!!!

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"This One Time, In Lit-Mag...."

- The way I was in High School.

Whether or not you've seen American Pie, or any of it's sequels, you've heard the phrase "this one time, at band camp..."

I've always been an extrovert -from the day I was born, I've been...out there. In a lot of ways, I still feel the same as I did in high school. I sometimes look at myself in the mirror and am shocked that I'm nearly 30, instead of 15. I still fear mediocrity, and I still have a lot of the same passions.

I love the theatre, and I did then too. I also loved to write.

I think I had a minor identity crisis going on in high school, and possibly a little depression, but then, I mean, who doesn't, right? We're all trying to figure ourselves out. What we like, what we don't, what do we want to be when we "grow up", not to mention, the absolute horror that IS the teen years.

I survived my self-search party by spending days in the Literary Magazine room, and my nights rehearsing for plays and musicals.

(That's me with the long hair, and the white sweater. Brandon, my now bald husband, is the one with 2 dozen palm tree ponytails in his hair. Don't worry...he's done a LOT of growing up.)

Surrounded by other kids who were as creative, and, a lot of them, as lost as I was gave me a spot- a place where I fit in.

No one took more of a chance on me than did our teacher, "Mr. Long" who constantly put up with our pranks, which included desks hung from the ceiling, Latin phrases written in white out pen across the wall and on the bottom of our desks, flat Dr. Pepper in place of his morning coffee, wordlessly lining up to follow the office aid out of his classroom and throughout the school, among many other crazy antics. He spent hours teaching us how to publish our wonderful, award winning high school Literary Magazine (Lit-Mag), Chasms. How to fill it full of lovely poetry, prose, photography, and other artistic features. Even better, he taught us to MAKE that art, and best of all, he accepted all of us.

Walt Whitman wrote, in Song of Myself from Leaves of Grass, "...I too am not a bit tamed. I too am untranslatable. I sound my barbaric YAWP over the roofs of the world."

Mr. Long, and "Mama Squires"- the AP English teacher in the classroom next door- taught us the meaning of being "not a bit tamed" and how to YAWP. How to live, how to just be us. I don't think he knows he had that kind of effect of us.

I think it took me until I was married for 5 years or so to really figure out how to be comfortable in my own skin- to love my body, not because it's perfect, but because it's mine, and because "beautiful" and "perfect" is relative and varied. It took me another 10 years after graduating high school to figure out that people, like ogres, are like onions- they have layers.

I only recently learned that people change. That people I only knew of in high school could become good friends later. People that I thought were permanent threads in my life could be severed.

Still, all those years in my personal Purgatory, full of locker shelves, teenage angst, sob-fests on the couch in the Lit Mag room, sluffing assemblies- again in the Lit Mag room, and more diva-offs than that Drama club could supply on it's own, put me on the path to figuring all that stuff out. Not because it was the end all be all of my cognitive abilities, but because high school just took everything I already knew, and dumped it out on the floor, and insisted that I put it all back together, piece by piece.

(I'm the redhead front and center in the red skirt and green shirt)

And still, whenever I get together with my old friends, our conversation is riddled with that same old statement..."This one time, in LitMag...."

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DON'T FORGET TO ENTER- the February Daily Flash Ring Giveaway!!!! Also, come back tomorrow for yet ANOTHER chance to win!

Today's ring:

Enter below!

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2-1 Wire Flash Giveaway!!!!

2012-01-31T19:08:00.000-08:00

DAILY FLASH GIVEAWAY!!!

So, every weekday in February, because Valentines day is coming and I'm a romantic, and rings are romantic, and because I want to do something EPIC, I'm having a a flash giveaway for a ring a day (weekdays) Enter to win! You'll have 4 weeks of chances! (And don't forget, this year's a leap year!)

Enter the Rafflecopter below for your first chance to win!

This is the LOVELY ring up for grabs today- approximately size 8, rose gold wire and cobalt blue glass bead.

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Rock N' Learn Review and Giveaway!!!

2012-01-31T18:51:00.000-08:00

Rock N Learn Sight Words Review and Giveaway!
By Brae Craig from
I am NOT a VOLCANO (and other such stories) Blog

Some of you might remember my Rock N Learn Letter Sounds Review a couple of weeks ago. In case you missed it, let me tell you a little bit about this company.

Rock N Learn is a company that creates CDs and DVDs that are educational, set to great music, and designed specifically to promote reading, and to help your child prepare for reading.

This time, I was so excited to review the Sight Words DVD, which thrills me, because THIS is something my 5 1/2 year old son needs help with. He can read. I know he can. But he'll often read big ol' words without any problem at all, and then stop and sound out "it" or "his" or "there"- which is frustrating, as a mother, and frustrating to his teachers. It's also frustrating to him.

Having been so into the first Rock N' Learn video I reviewed, my kids were more than ready to pop this puppy in the player and watch!

Personally, I liked this video better, myself. It was full of music, and had words at the bottom of the screen, like a sing along, that would light up when they sang the word- so the child would look at the word and 'read" it as they listened.

My kids didn't get as much of a chance to interact with the video as they did with Letter Sounds- there weren't any little clocks in the corner they had to beat with the answer, and they enjoyed that so much, i would have loved to see that.

Still, it was a hit in our house!!!!

So, once again, Rock N Learn has given me the opportunity to give away a DVD or CD of your choice! Please enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!!!

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Love With Food giveaway and review!

2012-01-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

Love With Food Giveaway

and Review

by Brae Craig at

I am NOT a VOLCANO (and other such stories) Blog

Love With Food is an amazing group of foodies, putting together adventurous tastes for all kinds of chefs, from beginners to the extremely talented!

Their website is full of delicious recipes and amazing products. The coolest thing of all are the subscriptions. I received a free subscription for this review, which is a box full of samples to try. If you sign up for the monthly subscription, for a mere 14.00, you get a box, like the one shown below, filled with delicious, healthy samples!

The absolute best part of this is, when you buy a box, they will donate a meal to No Kid Hungry!!!

Of course, I was waiting for my sample box, and when I got it, I eagerly opened it to find all these delicious goodies waiting for me! Of course, my children gathered round, ready to sample with me.

We'll start with my FAVORITE! Spicy Apple Ginger Cider Chews by The Ginger People. I didn't let my kids try this...because they were too delicious. LOL. Also, it was very hot, but very flavorful. I will be buying some of these on my own!

From the same company, The Ginger People, were Original Ginger Chews. I didn't care for these too much, because they were really really strong, and hot, and quite overwhelming. My husband, though, thought they were SUPER good. I'm also very curious about their affect on morning sickness. I have read that ginger can calm the stomach. I think, though, that these would be best cut into 4-5 pieces. A smaller bite might make it less overwhelming.

Sahale Snacks- Almonds with cranberries, honey and sea salt. - EVERYONE in our family loved these. It was the perfect mix of sweet, tangy and salty.

It's also a given that my whole family thoroughly enjoyed the Plain Jane peanut Butter Granola from Nuts About Granola. It was, mostly, as one might expect, but with a delicious peanut butter flavor. My kids were very disappointed when it was all gone.

Somersault Snacks- Pacific Sea salt. As per the pamphlet I got in the box: These crunchy nuggets are made with sunflower seeds and toasted grains, making them rich in protein and vitamin E.

I really REALLY wanted to like these. I like sunflower seeds a lot, and so do my kids. Plus, it had a really super cute package. Alas, it wasn't in the cards. I did not like them at all, and two of my kids actually spit them out. Even my husband didn't care for them, and he likes everything.

Mighty Leaf Tea- Chocolate Mint Truffle. I let my husband test this, as he is the tea drinker in our house, and, as it's a Rooibos tea, and he LOVES Rooibos, I felt he was a better judge than I. He said that he really liked it, though, it was more of a mint tea than a chocolate mint tea. It didn't taste like chocolate at all, though, there was a hearty, earthy flavor to it, which he suspected to be the "chocolate" flavor.

Stretch Island Fruit Co- I actually buy these all the time, but i've never had the Mango Sunrise flavor. It was delicious. And I didn't share.

(The Somersault Snacks we didn't like)

(the Delicious almonds and cranberries with sea salt.)

Now it's your turn! I have been given the ability to award FIVE WINNERS with a sample box similar to mine!!! Enter to win on the rafflecopter below!

***DISCLAIMER: I received one or more products for free using Mom Blog Society. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally, and believe will be good for my readers. ***

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Music Monday!

2012-01-29T19:24:00.000-08:00

Music Monday!
Enjoy my video of the week by Ingrid Michaelson. I just love her so much!!! Please, also, check out my sidebar to enter one of my MANY giveaways! On top of that, stay tuned in this week for THREE NEW GIVEAWAYS beginning Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday!!!

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My Fitness Regimen. How To Make Motherhood Work For You.

2012-01-26T18:22:00.000-08:00

How To Make Motherhood Work For You.

My Fitness Regimen.

1. Eat Healthy Foods.
This means I only eat things that are left over on my children's plates. If you are like me, and you find nutritional information confusing, let your kids figure it out for you. There is no one more adept at picking out everything delicious, creamy, flavorful, and therefore unhealthy, as a child. They're also extremely good at getting every last bit of it. leave it to your children. Trust their judgement.

2. Exercise.
I really despise working out. I don't like to exercise. However, if you ask anyone who knows anything, they well tell you that the most important part of a cardio work out is keeping your heart rate up. Since I don't like to exercise, I have found that the best way to do this is to hide things around the house that scare the crap out of me. For example: late bills, letters from my kids' schools that are due with signatures 3 days ago, doctor appointment notices that I didn't mark on the calendar, notices stating that my husband has a warrant out for his arrest that really are for another guy with the same name, phone calls from unidentified phone numbers, volunteering to take on far more responsibility than I know I can handle, and leaving that all over the place too. Some would call this stress. I call it a successful aerobic workout.

3. Portion Control
No matter what I am eating, my children inevitably want it. They're like little birds this way. I have a sweet tooth, but, if I want to eat an entire candy bar on my own, I only really get 1/5 of it. I have to share equally with my four children, lest they fight over who had more or whether or not I am practicing what I preach- to share. Another tactic is applied with meals. Since I have so many children, it is difficult to be able to sit down before my food is cold, due to having to cut things up, pick out the healthy foods (see #1) refill drinks, find the favorite fork, and so on. It's easier to stop eating half way through a meal when it's cold and lumpy instead of steaming and delicious.

4. Time For Myself
Two or three times a day, I am able to put my children on time out. This means they either put their faces on the wall, or they spend time in their room, thinking about the problem. For these few minutes, I can curl up on the couch with a good book, or watch 3 minutes of tv. It's very relaxing and makes all the difference.

5. Let Loose and Dance
I have an aspiring drummer (2 if you count Teague) and an aspiring guitarist in my house. Not to mention 2 girls who think they're Taylor Swift. On top of that, nearly every toy my kids have makes some kind of noise or plays some kind of tune. There's lots of...ahem..."music" in my house. Amid the drums banging and the flat chords on the guitar, mixed with lots of "MARRY ME JULIET, YOU NEVER HAVE TO BE ALONE!!!!!!", and horns honking from Teague's toy truck, I have to stop and do a little jig.

6. Get a Good Night's Sleep
If you have children, I recommend a lock on your door, and a good set of ear plugs. And possibly even a couple of doses of benedryl- for the kiddies. I don't know what all these mothers mean when they say they're up all night with their babies. Sheesh, mine sleep like..well, like babies!

7. Get Out Of The House
I am extremely good at this. I spend several hours a day outside my house, driving kids to school, lessons, and doing the grocery shopping. Sometimes, I even need to stop for gas! It's good to be out in the fresh air.

8. Connect With Other People
Facebook makes this a very simple feat.

9. Do Something Physically Active
Believe it or not, this is different from exercise, and cardio work out. When I'm not taking care of #7 on this list, I am climbing several flights of stairs several times a day, rotating laundry, vacuuming and doing toe touches...well, picking up toys and putting them away is almost the same motion anyway. I'm pretty sure, too, that scrubbing toilets with that brush gets me some physical activity points too.

10. Establish A Relationship With A Doctor You Trust

This guy's got me covered.

****************
Disclaimer- Absolutely NONE of this is true. (Well...most of it's not) You should laugh, because it's supposed to be funny, rather than take offense. Fair warning.

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Jimmy Charles "Fan Jam" giveaway!!!

2012-01-26T17:49:00.000-08:00

Artist Bio

COUNTRY a lil ROCK'N ROLL and a WHOLE LOTTA SOUL!

A Soulful, Genuine and Passion filled Country Singer and Writer that brings amazing energy to all his performances! Jimmy has received Radio play for 4 of his songsincluding “Whatever It Takes” that played Nationally on Clear Channel Country radio. Season 9 “AMERICAN IDOL” Hollywood contestant, 2007 Top 50 “Nashville Star”, Guest judge for “Nashville’s Next Big Star” 2011 performed and interviewed live on Countless Radio Stations, Newspapers and Televised programing. Opened a side stage for Montgomery Gentry and Lady Antebellum. Featured Artist for the Mrs. North Carolina US Pageant in 2009 and 2010. Pageant Judge for Miss Southern Del (Picking the eventual new Miss Del.). Has Performed and supported many Benefits and Charity Events naming Cancer and Children as two of his Top priorities. Named "Nashville Artist of the Week" on the Billy Block Show 103.3 WKDF and has performed many Venues in Nashville and different parts of the Country with an Awesome 5 piece Band. Jimmy also has experience in film and modeling.

WIN A JIMMY CHARLES SIGNED CD, T-SHIRT OR TANK, 8X10 PHOTO AND STICKERS

JIMMY CHARLES.Whatever It Takes by tropicheatstudios

You Can Enter On All 5 Rafflecopters

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Lovable Labels Review and Giveaway!!

2012-01-24T19:45:00.000-08:00

Lovable Labels Review and Giveaway!
By Brae at
I am NOT a VOLCANO (and other such stories)

Okay, so, I'm a sharpie mom. Yeah. One of those. I have 4 kids, and, to avoid as much conflict as possible, whenever one kid gets something, the others get it too- you know, the same box of 120 crayons. The same package of pipsqueak markers, you get my drift. I write names on everything.

And guess what...it ALWAYS rubs off eventually- even the sharpie.

Imagine my delight when I was approached about a new product. A label. A label that promises to be durable, waterproof" and to "withstand [my] dishwasher, microwave, washer, dryer, and - the greatest test of all- [my] child."

Indeed, this is what was promised. And I lapped it up like a kitten with a bowl of cream. Yes I did. Eagerly, I visited their website, and chose my little icon for my stickers, and awaited my wonderful labels.

Several days ago, I received them.

I'm going to spare you the wait, and I am going to just jump in and say that I absolutely LOVE them.

I have not yet tried them in the washer and dryer, but I DID put a cute little sticker on one of my casserole dishes (one I often take to parties and get togethers)- and I washed it in my DISHWASHER!!!! This is what it looked like after:

Good as new!!

I was also given a package of stickers for a friend- I chose my mom, and I got her stickers with her name on it with a little star decal because she runs a preschool called "I'm A Star Preschool". I asked her what she thought of it, and she told me that she thought they were such a great idea! She says it looks very professional on the inside of her little books she sends home with the kids. In the past, she has written her name in the books, or she has used a stamp. She says that with these stickers, it gives a very professional look, but gives it a personal flair.

Honestly, though, I made a mistake. I only wish that, when filling out my form to receive my stickers, I had gotten my kids' names or something of the like. Now I have a whole bunch of stickers with my name on them, and only 3 casserole dishes! Oh well, I'm 100% sure that, with this amazing product, I'll find some way to put each and every one of them to good use!!!

BUT WAIT! That's not all!

Lovable Labels offers MORE than just sticker labels! Please visit their website to browse through creative and cute shoe labels, clothing "Dots", bag tags, household labels, stationary, medical and vital ID wristbands, and even fundraising possibilities for your school or organization!

Everything on their site is wonderful, and worth the look.

Now, for the best part!!! Lovable Labels has generously supplied a "Friendship Pack" for one lucky winner! THANK YOU LOVABLE LABELS!!! Enter between now and February 1st!

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Guess what! I've got a new button!

2012-01-24T15:26:00.000-08:00

Guess what! I have a new button! I'll grab yours if you grab mine! Just copy and paste this html into a gadget on your blog:

Leave me a message telling me you've got it, and I'll grab your button too!

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Book Bonanza Giveaway!!!

2012-01-22T19:21:00.000-08:00

$15 Target Gift Card & Fitness Book:

Book Bonanza

Review & Giveaway EVENT!

Sponsored by MamaLuvsBooks

(Picture from Amazon.com)

Book Review By MamaLuvsBooks:

Weight issues have always been a problem in my family. We try and stay healthy and we've even had our own "Biggest Loser" family contests. For some reason though we always yo-yo back-and-forth with our weights. In the past I lost weight with Weight Watchers and was even a leader for a few years, but after having two kids I need to lose a few and get more fit. What I liked about reading "Fit Moms for Life" is that it is a "life goal." It's not just about losing a few pounds now, but more about caring about yourself as an individual and caring about your long-term health.

Author Dustin Maher breaks down weight-loss into "5 Pillars of Fitness!" The book is centered around these ideas and he helps explain them to you and have you put them into practice in your everyday life. The pillars are: Mindset, Nutrition, Strength Training, Burst Training, and Environment. I was glad to learn that I didn't need to be running all the time and training for a marathon to lose weight!

My favorite things about this book are that it is easy to read, Maher seems to be speaking to YOU the reader, it gives advice that is doable, and the book has MANY stories and pictures from moms that HAVE already done it and continue to live a healthy lifestyle. Also, there are sections at the end to write up your progress!

I would recommend this book for any mom trying to lose weight and trying to be healthy. A healthier mom leads to a healthier family! You can see more about the program and the book at FitMomsForLife.com.

(Pic from FitMomsForLife)

THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THE BOOK:

1. Although it is titled "For Moms" it can really be for ANYONE!
2. Has relevant real-life stories throughout the book you can relate to.
3. Gives useful and practical information for busy Moms!
4. Breaks down the steps into "Five Pillars of Fitness!"
5. Helps to set your goals for "Life" - not just for "Let me lose 20 pounds right now!"
6. LOVE the eating habits tips and the "Dirty Dozen" and "The Clean 15" to help you when shopping for organic foods.

7. LOVE the recipes included and meal plans (and healthy snacks section).

8. The exercises are explained well and have pictures to go with them.

9. A section in the back for "New Moms" and "Moms-to-Be!"

10. Lastly, I like the section in the back to record your goals, data, and progress!

(Pic from FitMomsForLife.com)

Here's how to get a copy:

WIN this awesome book in my Book Bonanza giveaway! The author, Dustin Maher, will send you a signed copy of this book. The more you do on the Rafflecopter the more chances you will have to win! Good Luck!!! Don't forget you can also purchase this wonderful book at Amazon.com.

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Tripple 3000 Fan giveaway!!!!

2012-01-22T06:23:00.000-08:00

To celebrate reaching 3000 fans, some great bloggy friends of mine are having a great big giveaway!!! While you're here, enter the rafflecopter below to win lots of prizes, then, hop on over to visit their blogs (click the button above.)

Thanks everyone!

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"Mawige...mawige is what bwings us togevor today...." -The Princess Bride

2012-01-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

Yeah...Like I'm going to take THAT advice.

I got married when I was 21. Brandon was 22. Yeah, I know. We were young. So, of course, everyone thought that 1. We needed to be told how hard marriage is, 2. were we really sure we wanted to do this? It was okay to change my mind- before the wedding. And then they'd go on ahead and give us all KINDS of cliche advice that everyone has heard since they were 5 years old.

I was so sick of it by the time we finally tied the knot. And half the people giving me the advice were divorced at least once, or weren't even married themselves. It was literally like I would walk into a room, and people would begin telling me not to go to bed angry (everyone thinks this is the best advice in the world, when really, it's one of the worst.) or some other seemingly wise advice and I would hear a droning "blah blah blah blah blah" streaming from their lips as I figuratively read "My marriage failed because I took this advice" written across their foreheads.

Well, everyone was right on one thing. Marriage was hard. And it hasn't gotten any easier. BETTER for certain, but never EASY. And trust me, we've had all the highs and lows that are expected. We've been married almost 9 years. NINE YEARS! Holy CRAP!

Now, I know that, while 9 years is 1/3 of my life, so that seems like a really long time to me, we're still pretty "new" to this thing, and there are still challenges to come. Still, though, I think I've been married long enough to have separated the good and the bad advice.

Good Marriage Advice:

1. Laugh. Have a sense of humor.

~There is SO MUCH in life that ends up being a choice between sobbing uncontrollably or giggling incessantly. Choose the latter. Even if the situation at hand isn't terribly funny, it WILL be later. I have also read that inside jokes bring couples closer. In my time as a wife, I have found this to be true. Having fun little secrets that you laugh and share together but with no one else, adds to all those things that ONLY the two of you share. Something to think on.

2. Communicate.

~Honestly, 100% true, just about every single one of the issues that Brandon and I have come from a lack of communication. And this isn't just referring to the common courtesy of calling to say you'll be late from work- this is also all about letting the other person know how you're feeling. My husband works 2 jobs and goes to school. I don't see him often. And that means that sometimes, I get pretty lonely, and even feel a little bit abandoned. I have 2 choices. I can sit here feeling sorry for myself, and get madder and madder, and then I start to resent him, and then, without warning, there's a wedge between us. ORRRR, I can give him a call (since the cell phone is our main source of contact these days) and let him know how I'm feeling. He won't know if I don't tell him. From there, we can plan some time, one on one, so that we both feel better.

3. Put your marriage first.

~ I have had multiple arguments with online friends about this. A lot of women, particularly those with children, feel that their marriage takes the back seat. Of course, the reason is always children. (You know, all those perfect mommies out there who are so passionately in love with their kids that it becomes creepy?) Some women can't wrap their minds around this. Why would one EVER put her husband before her children? He can dress himself, right? He can feed himself. He can drive and spend money and speak his own mind. Babies are different. And they NEEEEEEED us. Well guess what- in about 18 years or so, that baby who needs you so much is going to grow up, move out, have their own baby, and they're not going to need you anymore. Heck, by the time they're 7, they don't really NEEEEEED you anymore. At least not in the same way. And you will be left with your spouse, just you and him. And either you'll have to start all over building that marriage on love and trust and, to an extent, necessary dependency, or, it's going to fizzle, and you'll be telling your college kid that you're getting a divorce. The thing is, putting your marriage first doesn't mean that you can't feed your baby. It doesn't mean that you can't meet your child's needs. It doesn't mean you have to choose between your husband and your child. (Believe it or not birth-board-mommies, your son is not your lover, and your daughter is not your girl-friend.) It DOES mean that, for example, even though you feel strongly about co-sleeping, if your husband ends up sleeping on the couch because of it, you make the decision to put your baby in her bed and let your husband back into HIS bed so that he can feel like he has a place that belongs to the both of you and the both of you only. It means that even though your worry and don't want to be away from your baby, you suck it up and let grandma babysit so you and your husband can have a night free of children and talk about grownup stuff...and DO grown up stuff...if you get my drift.

4. Have your OWN hobbies.

~Of course, it's always good to do things together. Brandon and I share a lot of opinions. We love a lot of the same books, we love a lot of the same movies, we're both actors, singers, writers, and we, both extroverts, rarely have a quiet moment. We talk about everything and anything. BUT, we also do a lot of things on our own. I blog, and I create. I make all kinds of crafty things. Brandon supports me, but he isn't particularly crafty and doesn't really participate. Brandon is into comic books and video games and biological anthropology. Lots of times, we still talk about these things- but mainly, they remain our own. The point is balance. In addition to putting your marriage first, you also have to have your own identity. You need to be able to look at yourself and see a person of value that is valid even when separate from your partner....or your kids.

5. Marriage isn't always passionate.
~ Sometimes, the romance isn't there. A lot of couples mistake this for falling out of love, and then the marriage fails. REAL love means sticking through that low part. Because it DOES get better again. Otherwise, there wasn't ever real love there. It was only lust. A marriage based on that isn't going to last long anyway. Something that's always helped us: Make-out sessions. No commitment necessary. Draw the line, and act like "it" is off limits. Believe me. It works.

6. Forgive.
~We are all going to screw up. Let's be graceful about it. Give forgiveness, and know you'll need forgiveness.

7. My husband's best advice for the guys- Help out without expecting her to put out. In fact, don't even expect a thank you.
~Remember that, just because you may be the primary bread winner, or you might be tired from working, or you might be that really "normal" guy who just wants to get in his wife's pants, realize that, especially if she has kids at home, her day has been as rough as yours, if not rougher. Do the dishes, cook a meal, get the kids ready for bed- without asking, and without expecting her to sleep with you because of it. In my experience, it makes my chances better...but it doesn't guarantee anything. And that's okay. Women are different than we are. It's okay, admirable, and gentlemanly to pick up the slack.

Bad Marriage Advice

1. If you have to argue, do it naked.
~What?! I've never tried this, but I never would. I suppose the theory is that it makes you vulnerable, and therefore more likely to be open to the other person's ideas and solutions. I think it sounds humiliating. Not that I'm advocating total control or anything, obviously, in an argument, the end goal shouldn't be ONE WINNER, but a mutual solution. But humiliation is hardly the way to go either. Arguing about something that, obviously, you feel strongly about, comes with it's own set of exposure. Opening up enough to talk about it, to argue about it, to get it out on the table can be difficult enough to do. Don't make it harder by adding unnecessary stress.

2.Don't criticize each other.
~Once, in a church lesson, someone told this story about a couple who loved each other so much that when they got married, they made a decision to never EVER criticize each other. However, the man had this way of peeling a grapefruit like an orange and eating it like an orange that just drove the wife crazy. But the years went on and she didn't say anything, until one day, she just got fed up. She said that, if she could address ONE thing that bothered her about him, he could say just ONE about her. The man agreed. So, the wife went off about his grapefruit habit, and complained and complained, and then, when it was the man's turn, he shook his head and said he loved her so he wasn't going to criticize anything. To me, that is utter bull crap. We are human. We are going to do things, in a marriage, that drive each other bonkers. It is unrealistic to think that we can actually NOT EVER criticize each other, and holding it all in because you want to be the perfect spouse doesn't actually MAKE you a perfect spouse. It just makes you resentful inside. The point is, criticism should be constructive. If you hate the way your husband peels his grapefruit and eats it like an orange, instead of saying "That is so stupid! EW! I HATE the way you do that!" it's much better to say "You know, that kind of drives me crazy. Could you maybe not do it in front of me? Maybe eat it while you're at work? Thanks!" - stuff that bugs us needs to be addressed. But it doesn't have to be mean.

3. Don't go to bed mad.
~Oh my gosh, I think this is actually my LEAST favorite of all advice. It's so utterly stupid, it makes me want to spit nails. I'm sorry, but some stuff isn't solvable in one night. More than once, I have stomped to bed on my own, given my husband the cold shoulder, and gone to sleep without talking to him. You see, after a good night sleep, in the morning, I have a fresh view on things. My opinion may not change, in fact, it rarely does. BUT, from there, I can rationally discuss the situation. Even if I have to go to bed mad the next night. See, it doesn't do ANYONE any good at all if you're both exhausted from staying up all night because you're mad, and then going to work the next day, still seething, still tired. It just makes ME more likely to say things I don't mean, and to be even more angry later. What IS important is to not go to bed mad and then wake up and ignore the situation. Make sure you reopen the topic when you feel you are in control of yourself and your temper.

4. Never withhold sex because you're upset about something.
~Again, I have to say WHAT!? This is so stupid. It isn't LIKE that. I mean, if I'm really upset about something, and my husband wants to get all up in my business, well, it's not going to happen. All that will do is make me resent him. Sex brings people closer together when things are good between them, when they feel safe, loved, and confident in their relationship. It makes things WORSE when things aren't good, when they don't feel safe, when they are closed off, and when things aren't good. I know. I've been there done that.

5. Just don't do it.
~Believe me, I am not a romantic. I mean, I like romance just like any weepy girl out there...but I am sometimes too realistic for my own good. NOT marrying someone you love- I mean REALLY do love- is a bad idea. That's only partially my religious Mormon-girl persona talking. But I truly believe that. Make the commitment to each other. That certificate saying you belong to each other really DOES mean something. Don't let your parents' bad choices and mistakes dictate what YOU do or how YOUR marriage turns out. Break the vicious cycle and be a good example to YOUR kids.

***********************
What is the BEST and/or WORST marriage advice YOU ever received?

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Thursday's Writer's Prompt - Lessons Learned from an extrovert

2012-01-18T20:44:00.000-08:00

While you're here, don't forget to stop over and enter my ***CUSTOM*** Upcycled Pullover Giveaway!!!!!! Also, check out my sidebar for other wonderful giveaways ending soon!!!

**************************

Thursday's Writer's Prompt
With Mama Kat

Since last week I chose the prompt: Lessons I've Learned from an Introvert, I chose prompt #1-

Lessons I've Learned from an Extrovert

When I told my husband about this topic, he asked "So, what have you learned from yourself?"

Har-de-har-har. Believe it or not, I actually do know people who are more extroverted than I am. Not many...but I do. Still, here are a few things that YOU could learn from ME- an extrovert.

1. If you have something of value to say, say it.

~Extroverts don't hesitate to say what they're thinking. This is scary for a lot of people. They may be afraid of confrontation, or worry that they might be wrong. A lot of people don't like to rock the boat, and strong opinions do that. The truth is, though, if YOU are thinking it, many others are thinking it too. There is always going to be SOMEONE who sees your point of view.

2. You don't have to be drunk to let your guard down.

~ Extroverts don't have trouble letting go of their inhibitions. It's totally okay to dance in your kitchen by yourself, sing very badly in the shower, or to get up and sing Harvey Danger's Flagpole Sitta at the top of your lungs when you're at a Karaoke bar. You might be embarrassed, you might be nervous. No one else cares. Really. When they leave tonight, you will never enter their thoughts again.

3. Confidence is Key

~Extroverts have TONS of confidence. In themselves, as well as in people they love. Sometimes, the difference between getting a job/role/a warning instead of a speeding ticket is confidence...and probably a little fast talking. I'm not good at the fast talking myself, but I'm really good at stealing the spotlight. I get their attention, they give me what I want. In essence, follow the Nike logo. "Just Do It"- if there's something you want badly, don't chicken out. Go for it.

4. What you see is what you get.

~Most extroverts don't have very many secrets. They wear their hearts on their sleeves, say it like it is, and generally don't sugar coat things. In a friendship, you know an extrovert will never lie to you. Your boyfriend's a stupid-head? She's not going to tell you otherwise. In a romantic relationship, the extrovert is most likely to be the first one to say the "L" word. Always know though, that extrovert or not, they are still vulnerable. They're not invincible or overly carefree. Try putting yourself out there- even if it's just a little bit. You might be surprised at how opening yourself up can get others to open up too.

5. Sometimes, it's okay to trust a complete stranger.

~It's not uncommon to find an extrovert chatting it up with someone they don't know- in the isle of a grocery store, on a plane, in a waiting room. Once, I made friends with my phlebotomist because I opened up and spilled my guts. We connected, and 3 years later, she's still a great, trusted friend of mine. Don't spill it all. Awkwardness doesn't make lasting friends- it makes you creepy. But it's okay to admit to your hairdresser that your kids drive you crazy sometimes, and two days ago, your 3 year old said the worst of bad words in front of his grandmother...when you give people a chance to identify with you on levels that most people can easily understand, you'll find a whole world full of friends.

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It's FINALLY here!!! Upcycled Pullover giveaway from Vicious Upcycle!!!

2012-01-17T18:32:00.000-08:00

UPCYCLED PULLOVER SWEATER GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

Hosted by Brae Craig

I am NOT a VOLCANO (and other such stories) Blog

Due to my recently reaching 3000 "likes" on my facebook page, and 800 friends here on Google Friend Connect, I'm having a CELEBRATION to say THANK YOU TO ALL MY FANS AND FRIENDS by giving away one of my UPCYCLED PULLOVER SWEATERS!!!

This will be a custom sweater in a size of your choice (Yes! I would be happy to make one for your child, if you prefer- SOOO cute!) and in colors you want!

Believe me, you are NOT going to want to miss out on this giveaway! Begins 1/18, ends 2/8 - 3 weeks to enter! Share and tell your friends!!!

Just a few examples:

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What Exactly Does This Say About Me?

2012-01-17T13:48:00.000-08:00

What Exactly Does This Say About Me????

Honestly, I'm curious.

I have a bad habit of identifying with the bad guy. I mean, it's not so bad that I think their decisions are okay, but I find myself seeing from their point of view.

For example, in the bible, when Moses is trying to free the Hebrews from the Pharaoh's control, and the Pharaoh keeps saying no, so there are all kinds of famines and whatnot, I can't help but empathize with the poor king. Obviously, the way the Hebrew people were enslaved is a terrible thing. The way they were treated, and beaten and starved was a terrible thing. However, from the Pharaoh's standpoint, you have to understand the panic he must have felt.

1. The man who was raised in his home as his BROTHER, a person he likely shared secrets with, played games with, and loved at least to some extent, blatantly betrayed him. Of course, we know it's because he's a prophet of God and the key to his people's deliverance. But, really, this family situation isn't any different from YOURS if your sibling was getting into situations you felt were dangerous and inappropriate.

2. As the king, the Pharaoh had an explicit responsibility to his own people. To feed and clothe them. As of this point, the Hebrew slaves were his kingdom's main source of EVERYTHING. Again, it's obvious that it wasn't a good or correct source. But, when you're looking at your kingdom and thinking "We're going to starve if they run out of here...." it can be terrifying. I know- I've faced the possibility of not being able to feed my 4 children...and that's just my family, rather than hundreds of thousands of people.

I know. A lot of you lovely Christian women out there are thinking I'm missing the point and that I'm an absolute heathen, aren't you? Well, I promise you that my loyalties are always with the right side...I just can't help looking back with regret upon such people- people who are just trying to do what they've been taught, wrong though it is, and who may have been very severely tricked, the way Pharaoh was by his soothsayers and magicians. He was raised to believe in them.

You'll recall the movie Letters To Juliet? I remember watching that with some friends who vehemently hissed at the screen while the heroine's fiance repeatedly ditched her for wine, cheese, and authentic Italian recipes. WHAT A JERK!!! I kept my mouth shut- I'm too smart to start fights- but inwardly, I strongly disagreed.

1. At the very beginning of this movie, it is made obvious that the fiance is opening his own Italian restaurant. There are so many obvious issues and hardships with this, but I won't name them.

2. Our little miss Heroine also makes it plain that the trip to Italy that they will be leaving on IS SPECIFICALLY FOR finding places to provide cheeses, wines, and other delicacies for his new restaurant. It's NOT a honeymoon, it's NOT a romantic getaway. It's a business trip.

3. It's really SHE that ditches HIM. SHE is the one who asks if she can go do something other than taste cheese. When a relationship doesn't work, TWO people have to take credit.

4. She ends up with a guy that's better suited to her, but it's not because her fiance is a jerk. He didn't cheat on her,(though, it can be argued that she possibly cheated on him.), he didn't push her around, and it's fairly obvious that he loves her. But if we all broke up with our husbands/boyfriends/fiances EVERY SINGLE TIME they had a responsibility to fill (in this case, he had appointments he needed to get to, and things to do to ensure success for his business)or we just got bored, then it'd be a very sad and lonely world, indeed.

Lately, my sympathy has settled upon a dear old nemesis, Lex Luthor.

Now, I LIKE superheros, but I'm not, like, INTO super heroes. My husband and my son are, but, while I think the movies are great, I don't get all obsessive over them...usually.

When I was growing up, though, I had uncles that were very near me in age, and they were Superman fans. I wanted desperately to be like them, and so, I read some of their comic books, I wore super girl underoos, watched all the Superman movies, and I had a super girl costume.

Due to my worship of my uncles, I am very well aware of Lex Luthor, who he is, and that he is, indeed, a very VERY bad guy. (Though, admittedly, I don't know what the original Superman creators intended his past to be, or if it's anything like the way I perceive him now.) Recently, though, my husband brought home the first two seasons of Smallville, and even though it never caught my fancy when I was in college, now, I really like it, though, I spend most of the time that I watch it wishing I could give Lex a hug and just tell him that everything will be alright, and, that even though everyone ELSE misunderstands him, I get it!

I am fully capable of admitting that my affection for him might stem from the fact that he's ridiculously handsome, and his uncanny resemblance of my husband. (I tend to be attracted to power. Not like, kings and rulers or even money or wealth, but a guy who is confident, in charge, organized and in control of a situation really gets me going. Not to mention, he dresses really well, which is also a big thing to me. Heaven knows why I married Brandon. He is disorganized beyond anything decent, and if he dresses well, it's because I bought him the clothes in the first place. But I love him dearly, nonetheless.)

(And really, it's not just 'cause they're both bald, though Brandon does look older than Lex here. He has the same self confidence as Lex in the series, and the same way of having a conversation, as well as some same mannerisms...)

(This one looks more like him, but then, this is of Brandon when he would have been the same age as Lex in the series.)

You see, Lex has it a lot harder than his rich-kid demeanor betrays.

1. His dad is a total jerk. Over and over again, Lex rises to whatever occasion is given him, and every time his dad just tells him how he could have done better, or how he was wrong and how he is further disappointed him. Even in saving his father's life, Lex is demeaned by him because, though his life is spared, he is now blind. Lex's father feels that he would be better off dead.

2. The whole town of Smallville has been gyped in some way or another by Lex's father. Of course, it's obvious why no one really wants to trust him. Clark Kent's father is the absolute WORST about this. He even destroys a check that Lex gives him for the cost of land and cattle destroyed by one of his employees. However, Lex proves his good intentions multiple times over, even saving Johnathan Kent's life. Still, he's snubbed by everyone.

3. Lex has a very obsessive nature. He has people investigating the meteor crash and the kryptonite too. Often, this leads back to the Kents, despite Lex's honest warnings for people to stay away from them. (And lets face it. We as NORMAL people in the REAL WORLD would probably be curious and interested, even to obsession, if there was a meteor shower that left the whole town full of mutants and it was discovered there was a space ship that fell in the middle of a corn field. This trait is NOT exclusive to Lex Luthor.) As we all know, his curiosity gets the best of him, and that is the straw that breaks the camel's back. However, he does his very best to protect Clark and his best interests in the beginning. Clark is ridiculously bad at choosing who to trust and who not to. When his friends find out about him, they flip out like crazy for awhile, and luckily, they're loyal. I feel strongly, too, that if Clark had placed any small amount of trust in Lex (and probably even Lana- because that girl can smell Clark's lies 5 miles away. Maybe she wouldn't have turned rogue.) and told him his secret at a point where Lex was still trying his darndest to push past the image he inadvertently inherited from his father, while his intentions were still pure, then Lex, instead of becoming his arch nemesis, could very well have been one of his most valuable protectors, a person who would have had his back.

I may be wrong. And maybe it says something terrible about me that I feel so strongly for all of these "bad guys", but I wonder, if we all could take a step back and look through the eyes of our enemies, how many disputes would be thwarted in their tracks? How many misunderstandings would resolve before they began? Maybe compassion is more important than we let it be. Maybe I'm a rebel at heart...or maybe I have a gift. I don't really know. What do you think?

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Costume Review

2012-01-15T19:42:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce my newest product review from Costume Discounters- THE place to get all your discounted costumes for Halloween, costume parties, or, if you're like me, dress up clothes for the kids!

I have a houseful of kids who, at any given moment of the day (unless they are at school or church) can be found dressed as (ALL OF THEM) Disney Princesses, fairies, the Corpse Bride, or sporting any of their various tutus, tap shoes, crowns and voluminous accessories.

But, in this house, it's not just the girls. My son Mahone has a wide array of dress up clothes, for example, Indiana Jones, Cowboys, and Bumblebee of Transformers- but Star Wars is by FAR his favorite dress up past time. His collection includes Anakin, Obi Wan Kenobi (Believe it or not, there actually IS a subtle difference), Darth Vadar, a Storm Trooper, and even General Grievous. His accessories also include more light sabers than I can count (in various colors) and all kinds of Star Wars weapons.

With this in mind, just before Christmas I was given the opportunity to review a costume from Costume Discounters.com. I was offered a costume of my choice, for an honest review with my honest opinion. I was provided with the costume at no cost, but the opinions are totally my own.

Last week, I received the costume I chose. From Costume Discounter's Cheap Star Wars Costumes selection, I found a costume my son does not yet have- his FAVORITE Star Wars character, and a costume that we have previously found to be VERY difficult to find.

Boba Fett!!!

(That's his Storm Trooper gun he's pointing at me. I told him to pose like Boba Fett. He pointed the gun at me. LOL.)

Now, as a costume veteran, I am used to costume flimsiness. I am used to a lot of mesh that rips and tears within a week of use, and fabric that is so thin that it wears through very quickly. My girls have gone through not one, not two, but THREE different Snow White costumes in the last YEAR. Generally speaking, I don't mind that because it just is what it is, you know? Most people are pretty aware that when they buy a dress up outfit from a store, they aren't getting top of the line quality.

I was impressed, though, when I opened this costume up. It IS polyester, but it's actually quite thick. Much thicker than his Indiana Jones Costume (which I purchased from some nameless internet costume store, NOT from Costume Discounters.) and even the Darth Vadar costume. It velcros in back, and is all 1 piece, except for the mask and a cape that velcros to the shoulder. It makes for easy dressing and removal, which is great for me, because I think I spend at LEAST a half hour a day helping my kids change in and out of dress up clothes!

As for my son? Well, Costumediscounters.com has Mahone's seal of approval. I had to bribe him out of his costume in order to get him dressed for bed, and even had to make a deal with him so he wouldn't insist on wearing it to church. He sure does enjoy it!!

The link to Costume Discounters is located at the top of this post. Please take a moment to visit their site, and leave me a comment telling me what kind of costume YOU found that you or your child might enjoy! Also, if you are so inclined, please "like" their page on facebook for deals and goings-on!

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Foodie Friday, including Friday's Flash Giveaway!!!

2012-01-12T16:44:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to scroll down to enter Friday's Flash Giveaway!!!!

My Mom's Famous Fruit Salad

This is one of those salads "from my childhood." My mom made it all the time, and it's ALWAYS good. She used to sometimes add walnuts. I don't care for those. But you can try it. Now, since I'm all grown up and stuff, I make it all the time too. And people are always asking me what it is, exactly. The best news is, it's simple and takes like 5 minutes!

Ingredients:

2 packages regular Philadelphia cream cheese
1-2 LARGE cans of mandarin oranges
1-2 LARGE cans of chunk pineapple (you can also use wedges or crushed. I prefer chunks because it's so yummy!!!)
2-3 jars of STEMLESS maraschino cherries.

Put the cream cheese into a microwave safe bowl, and soften it until it's mixable and creamy. Usually, this takes about 1 minute 30 seconds, but I do it in 30 second increments, and mix in between.

While you are softening your cream cheese, drain the fruits in a colander in the sink. I do it in order of color- cherries first, because they're red. If you put in the pineapple or oranges first, and cherries last, it stains them all red. LOL. It doesn't change the flavor, it just looks prettier when you have a colorful salad.

Cream cheese should be easy to mix and creamy!!!

I had to add both the fruit and the cheese to a bigger bowl...LOL. Mix them together until the fruit is well coated. Chill for about a half hour, and serve! SO delicious!

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Lessons I've Learned from an Introvert

2012-01-11T21:33:00.000-08:00

Thursday's Writer's Prompt

Lessons I've Learned from an Introvert

1. Don't be afraid of silence.

~ It's okay to sit and be quiet together. Introverts aren't afraid of silence. If this is a friendship, silence and equal trust, when one knows how to shut one's mouth. Most people think silence is awkward. It doesn't have to be. Not if you trust each other. If it's a relationship (romantic) a lot more emotion can pass in the silence of a room.

2. Listen

~ I have trouble shutting up. I have SO much to say. But sometimes, it's better to listen than it is to talk. I now make a conscious effort to let others talk FIRST. Introverts are experts at this.

3. Give advice hesitantly. Even when it's solicited.

~ Most of us feel like we have it right and we need to spread the word. That may be so, but for the most part, everyone else feels like they have it right too, and when they complain, they don't WANT advice. And when they ask for it, they still only want to be validated. Introverts know how to recognize genuine inquiries and then are careful about their words.

4. Don't say things you don't mean.

~Since introverts already aren't prone to saying much, they are naturals at guarding their tongues. You can rest assured that everything they say is genuine and real.

5. Don't judge a book by it's cover.

~ Since introverts don't often wear their hearts on their sleeves, it's impossible to determine the kind of person they are without taking time to get to know them. It's opposite from those of us extroverts who blab our life stories happily to anyone who will listen. Most often, someone who takes time to get to know is worth the effort.

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Wordless Wednesday, Teague's Party

2012-01-10T18:38:00.000-08:00

He loves Mahone's drums. Gonna be a drummer someday.

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Duffle bag giveaway!

2012-01-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

Well, it's January. We all know we've made that resolution, once again, to get back into shape. And that means the gym. Elliptical machines, sweat, towels and showers. You're going to need something to carry all those supplies in....How about this perky PINK Under Armour duffle bag!?

Enter the rafflecopter below for easy entry to the contest!

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Rock N' Learn Review and Giveaway!!!

2012-01-08T20:34:00.000-08:00

REVIEW WRITTEN and GIVEAWAY BY

Brae Craig at

I am NOT a VOLCANO (and other such stories) Blog

*****My readers may receive a WHOPPING 25% off their ENTIRE PURCHASE at http://www.RockNLearn.com when they enter the coupon code JQ7711!!!!!!!!*****

What an excellent deal! Please take advantage of this offer!

I am very proud to be the newest reviewer of Rock N' Learn educational videos!!!

About 5 days ago, I received Rock N' Learn's new "Letter Sounds" video in the mail, specifying it's target audience as ages 4-7. I thought this was perfect, since I have children ages 4, 5 and 6! Awesome!!!

As is my usual habit of watching things before I let my kids watch them, I put this into my player after they were asleep.

I have to admit here that I was a bit disappointed. I expected catchy songs (you know, "rock" and learn...kind of implies it.) and lots of music, and some kind of story line. There was SOME music, but it was actually quite tame, a bit quiet, with slow rhythms, and there wasn't much of a story. I wasn't really sure if my kids would get the kick out of it I had hoped.

HOWEVER, after my oldest two got home from school the next day, I put on the video, and to my surprise (AND DELIGHT!) they ALL enjoyed it very much!

(This is a picture of my 1 year old, who, clinging to my legs as I made dinner, heard the video and crawled over to the banister, where he stared at the video, and even bounced a little, dancing along.)

The Rock N' Learn video included several themes.

1. Letter sounds - there were a couple different versions of these.

One was a really long, and fairly monotone song, which I didn't care for, but my children seemed mesmerized by. It said the name of the letter, and then, to a rhythm, made the sound of the letter repeatedly.

Second, a character in the show would read a sentence that was displayed on the screen. In the sentence, every word began with the same letter. There was a 30 second time clock that gave the kids a chance to shout out what the beginning letter was. My kids, who all read by this point (on age appropriate levels) LOVED this part. It gave them a chance to exercise what they knew already, and gave a semblance of interaction with the video.

Third (and my favorite), there was a part (Pictured below) that showed the letter (upper and lower case, which I LOVE because too many videos only show capital. I hate that.) and a picture of an item that begins with that letter's sound. The very BEST part was they also showed a little video of a mouth saying that letter and it's sound. To me, this is the best because it's a very natural way to learn to speak. When babies are learning to talk, they don't just listen to your voice, they watch your mouth to see how you form your words. Don't believe me? Next time you talk to your baby, watch his eyes! You'll be surprised!

Also, I think this is especially cool with kids who mispronounce their letters. Vision trumps sound every time, and they will be drawn to look at the mouth. A child who says the "w" sound for L, or the "th" sound for the "s" might very well figure out how to correctly pronounce a sound by watching this type of thing!

2. Rhyming words - Through the act of a gameshow, the characters on this show changed the first sounds of words to show what rhyming means, and how to do it.

This is something my 4 year old was really interested in. She is reading 1 vowel words already, but rhyming is something they are studying in her preschool class. She loves doing it, and sometimes she gets a bit confused.

3. Blending words.

This section took 2 or 3 syllable words and separated them into sound parts. For example: Clock. 3 squares would appear on the screen, and the narrator would say Cl (Cl would appear in the first box) ah (and an o would appear in the box) ck (and the ck would appear in the 3rd box) Then the boxes would disappear and the word would blend together.

I found this a PERFECT section for my 5 year old. He is in Kindergarten now, and reads wonderfully- if he's not in a hurry. If he's in a hurry, he won't sound out his words, and just guesses. It can get infuriating for a mom when he would rather be playing with his Bat Cave he got for Christmas!!!

4. Spelling

In this part, the narrator would say a word, for example, Golf. She would say "Golf. G- ah-l-f. Golf" - then the 30 second timer would appear again, and give the children a chance to spell the word before the narrator did it. I really liked this because, in breaking it down into sounds, it does teach spelling.

This was for my 6 year old. She's in first grade, and reads on about a 12 year old level. She's still learning, though, the 6 year old age appropriate skills, and doesn't always know how to spell things. The English language can be very confusing. I like that this type of program can better arm her with the ability to think about separating the sounds of a word before she tries to spell it.

Of course, I looked at the website, and I am impressed. Rock N Learn also offers videos on Shapes, Math, Sight Words, Science and Social Studies, and even caters to age specific groups. I would really like to try Math and sight words, as those are things that two or more of my kids are studying at any given time.

I was disappointed at first, but I'm glad I didn't let that get me down- because after seeing how much my kids enjoyed this video, and taking time to realize how well this can benefit them, I really do like the product and I do recommend it.

Now, for the best part of all!!!

Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win YOUR CHOICE of any CD or DVD on www.RockNLearn.com!!! Don't forget, our readers can also receive a 25% discount off of their entire purchase by using the coupon code JQ7711 at checkout! Contest ends at 12:01 am on January 16!

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Sunday Epiphanies- The Naptime Club

2012-01-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

Sunday Epiphanies

The Naptime Club

Last week, our church schedule changed from 9am- noon, to 11am-2pm.

I know that a lot of people like this schedule because then they can sleep in. And NO ONE likes the 1pm-4pm schedule, so it's better than that.

Me, though, I prefer 9:00. See, with four kids, we don't sleep past, oh, 6:30 anyway. We're already up, and since I have to have all the kids dressed and ready and out the door by 8:15 every morning throughout the week anyway, having them dressed and ready and out the door to be at church by 9:00 is no big thang. (yes. I misspelled that on purpose.)

11-2 SUCKS. Not only is Sacrament meeting right over LUNCH TIME, the remainder of the meeting is right over NAP TIME. It's the most horrible kind of boring and the most incredibly hard kind of day to try to deal with any kid who is hungry and tired, but it's 10 times worse when you have a BABY who needs to eat and nap.

The lunch thing is a minor issue. We just make a quick quesodilla with cheese and tortillas, cut them into small bits and let the baby eat them when we get to Sacrament meeting. But the nap thing is something else all together.

At about 11:30 today, I found myself pacing around the lobby with my baby on my shoulder, doing the Maggie Simpson all over his pacifier. One by one, every mom with a baby near mine in age slipped out of sacrament meeting and into the lobby where we could pace and rock until our little ones drifted off to sleep.

Tired myself, I thought how I just wanted to go home. How easy it would be to pick up all the kids and just go home for nap time.

But you see, while it's easy, it's not alright. I have talked to countless parents who say it's too difficult to get their children to sit quietly in church (whatever religion it may be) and to behave. That they'll keep them home while they are little, and go later in life.

Yes, it's difficult. It is hard to get a wiggly kid to sit still for an hour or more. Heck, it's hard for ME to sit still that long and I'm an adult- and a more mature adult than my husband, who can't sit still longer than my 5 year old. But, this is where I need to be. I want to teach my children from the time they are very young, that that they need to be at church. NOT just when it's convenient, or when they feel like it. Not just when it's easy, or when they're well rested or well fed. Church is important EVERY week. And so are the things we learn there. If I only go when I'm not tired, or when I'm not hungry, or when I feel like being there, then that is what they will learn.

Important things require sacrifice. And sometimes, it's a sacrifice to be there.

So, I plan to spend a lot of time over the next year in the lobby of my church, rocking my sweet baby to sleep.

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Perplexus Giveaway

2012-01-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

**I am not the sponsor of this giveaway, i just am helping spread the word, HOWEVER, Mahone got one of these for Christmas, and they are AWESOME!!!!**

Welcome to our Perplexus Original 3D Puzzle Game Giveaway! You can read more about the Perplexus, how well it performs, why it is one of the top toys of 2012, how fun it is, pictures and video of it in motion, where to purchase, and lots more from JadeLouise Designs Review. Now onto the Fun! This Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only!

WIN IT!

You have the chance to win a Perplexus Original Game

Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

Rafflecopter is now even easier to use; you can learn more here.

Open to US and Canada Residents only. Giveaway product provided by Plasmart INC.

Giveaway closes at 12:00am EST Jan 16, 2012

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Crafty-Pants-Saturdays! How to make a ring out of wire and glass beads

2012-01-06T19:53:00.000-08:00

Crafty Pants Saturday!!

(And don't forget to scroll all the way down to enter the rafflecopter giveaway for the pretty ring I made in this tutorial!)

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STUFF YOU NEED:

"Fun Wire"- This wire can be found at ANY craft store (MINUS Wal*Mart's craft section.) It costs about 10.00 for a package, which, in my opinion is a GREAT deal. That's a LOT of wire to make a LOT of rings with! This wire is important to use, as opposed to regular jewelry wire, because it's plastic wrapped. It's only a 22-24 gauge, which makes it very pliable, and soft on your hands. Regular jewelry wire can get really hard and rough, and can stain your hands when it's wet/sweaty. PLUS, this wire comes in awesome colors!

Jewelry precision pliers. This isn't 100% mandatory- you can do most of the curlicues and swirls with just your fingers, but...

see the tips of these pliers? they are perfectly round, and tiny- very good for wrapping your wire around to make a perfect circle. Also, as you get closer to the base of the pliers' nose, the circle gets wider-so, if needed, you can wrap the wire to make bigger perfect circles.

Wire cutters- any kind will do.

BEADS!!! Glass beads look prettier than plastic, in my opinion. It's easy to spend tons of money on specific strings of glass beads- I have done it, and it's not really a good idea. You can buy a box of bulk, mismatched glass beads for 10.00 at any craft store (including Wal*mart) and I feel it forces you to think outside the box, be creative, and so on.

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Making Your Ring!

1. Choose your wire color and your bead.

Here, I have chosen a rose-gold colored wire. This isn't an exact science, so I won't use exact measurements. All rings will be one of a kind anyway, so, it all depends on how much embellishment you want. Remember, wire is like hair- you can always cut off more, but once it's cut, that's how short it'll be.

Cut a strand of wire that is about 17- 20 inches long. If you have exceptionally big hands, you might want to make it more like 22 or 23 inches.

From the CENTER OF THE WIRE, wrap the wire around the largest part of the finger you intend to wear your ring on TWICE. Make sure it's loose, not snug at all, or your ring will be too small.

Slip the ring off your finger, keeping it coiled. You'll have 2 rings of wire with long tendrils going off either side.

Take ONE side, and weave it in and out of the ring coil- serpentine like. Only go HALF way around.

Then, with the OTHER wire, wrap the other side of the coil the same way until they meet in the middle.

It's a good idea to have the wires exactly in the same spot at the top or even overlapping past each other just a tiny bit. You should have a ring like this ^^^ - you can wrap it tighter so that the coils are next to each other, which is fine. Just remember that it will take a WHOLE LOT MORE WIRE than the measurements I gave you.

Put your selected bead onto one of the wires. Either side is fine. Straighten the bead- which might mean that you need to pull it up so that there's a small length of wire between it and the ring.

When you have the bead straight, wrap the wire going through the bead tightly around the ring 2-3 times right next to the bead to secure it in place. Do the same with the other wire on the other side.

From here, it's all a bunch of fun! Embellish your ring any way you want. You can make it simple, or make it elaborate. This curl shown above doesn't use an end of wire, it's just held with the jewelry pliers and wrapped around itself.

Don't be afraid to wrap the wire over the top of your bead, or to wrap it around. It is best, though, to keep designs and spirals and curls TIGHT or you are more likely to bend the wires out of shape when wearing it. Make sure that after every couple of steps/embellishments you wrap the wire tightly around the ring to secure your designs in place.

If you feel like you're done embellishing and you still have too much wire, go ahead and cut it. You will want to end your embellishments with a curl, made with the tool, to tuck the end in nicely- you do this by holding the end of the wire with the tip of the pliers, and curling it around. (Shown in many of my other examples below.)

These rings make EXCELLENT birthday/Christmas/Valentine presents for girls- particularly from girls to their friends. Heaven knows it can be expensive to try and get presents for all of them. This is perfect!

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Some ideas and inspiration!!!

I would truly appreciate some pins and stumbles of this blog post. Thanks, to all my amazing fans!

THIS RING is a perfect example of curling in an end- see it?

You can also do this without ANY beads at all! Just layer 2 colors (3 could get pretty fat pretty fast, though) and follow the steps up until you put on the bead. From there, wrap the wires around each other and embellish accordingly!

Now enter to win the darling ring I made in this tutorial!!!

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LALA LOOPSY GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

2012-01-06T19:52:00.000-08:00

Cutest Giveaway Ever! 1 winner takes all!

Mini Lalaloopsy! Sew Magical, Sew Cute!

3 mini figures, 1 is a collectable, 3 playsets including 4 more mini figures!!

Another great giveaway brought to you by Mom Blog Society and Mom Does Reviews and over 18 other fabulous bloggers!

Roll in on the cutest School bus ever!

Mini Lalaloopsy school bus with rolling button wheels . Includes Mini Lalaloopsy Bea Spells-A- Lot and her pet owl.
Back door flips down to a slide. Cone and school accessory included.
Swing out stop sign keeps the Mini Lalaloopsy safe.

Fun at the Ferris Wheel!

Now you can have the cuteness of the Lalaloopsy in the palm of your hand. Play and explore in the Mini Lalaloopsy World at Peanuts Spinning Ferris Wheel where your favorite magical friends can play and visit with each other. Includes exclusive Mini Lalaloosy Peanut BigTop doll. Ferris wheel really spins. Holds up to 3 Mini Lalaloopsy dolls. Includes an online code to print a Lalaloopsy Land Map Puzzle Piece

TreeHouse Relaxation!

Spend some time relaxing with your Lalaloopsy friends in the Mini Lalaloopsy Tree House Play Set from MGA. Kids aged 4 years and up will enjoying exploring the tree house with the included Spot Splatter Splash and Patch Treasure Chest figures. The figures fit into the tree house's many accessories for lots of pretend climbing, swinging, relaxing, and building in this two-sided play set. This set provides hours of fun and is compatible with other Lalaloopsy figures.

Three of the Cutest Mini Lalaloopsy Dolls:

Mini Peppy POM poms: with accessories and pet.

Mini Mittens: with Fluff and Stuff and accessories

Mini Holly Sleigh Bells: Collectable for 2011, with reindeer pet and accessories

Easy entry on the rafflecopter below. Good luck!

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Music that Makes Us Sing (Voiceboks!)

2012-01-06T19:49:00.000-08:00

I MUST, I MUST, I MUST indulge my obsession with Billy Joel Today.

I heart him. Possibly more than any other artist. Possibly.

And choosing one would make me feel guilty. I have to offer several. LOL.

Piano Man. I mean, classic, right? This very well may be the first not-preschool-song I learned all the lyrics to. I absolutely love the images he portrays: "making love to their tonic and gin", the bartender who wants to be a movie star, and the waitress who is practicing politics. LOVE it. All of it. And I can feel the camaraderie they all have.

Uptown girl!- okay, this is only slightly embarrassing to admit, but, always the romantic, back when I was in Jr.High and I had NO idea that "uptown" girl meant that she was a rich girl, I used to imagine this was my theme song and would sing it in my head as I swaggered my 13 year old butt down the hallways. (Well, it switched between this one and "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison, but whatevs.) ~eye roll~ Jeez, I was presumptuous.

In high school, our Madrigals (kind of the school Glee Club) would do a fundraiser every year at Valentines day. People could purchase a "singing valentine" and they would go around in groups of 4 or 5 and sing various love songs, (Earth Angel, In the Still of the Night, you know...) presenting the receiver with a sucker that was shaped like lips. I was the lucky receiver of THIS song. From my ballroom dance partner, Paul. I loved this song before then, but now it's an especially fond memory.

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Friday Flash Giveaways!!!

2012-01-05T19:56:00.001-08:00

Don't forget!!!! Scroll down to the bottom to enter to win Friday's Flash Giveaway- a jackpot of prizes from our wonderful sponsors (listed below!!)

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Versatile (Vegetarian) Enchiladas!

Ingredients:

Tortillas:

I prefer the brand Don Juilo, the smaller size because it's the softest brand, and the big ones take up too much space so you can't make as many enchiladas per batch, though, I suppose if you're cooking for fewer people, you could stuff them really full and make big ol' honkin' enchiladas that would be just delectable.

Cheese:

Generally speaking, I use Medium cheddar, but I have also used Colby Jack, Pepper Jack (i suggest this as a used-sparingly addition to the cheddar. It can get overwhelming) and even Mozzarella once when I was out of all other cheeses. But you know you can't go wrong with a good cheddar.

1 Tomato

Green Onions:

Can also use white, but green are my fave.

Sour Cream

1/2 Head of Lettuce

Rosarita Enchilada SAUCE:

There is a saying that goes "the secret is in the sauce"- this is ABSOLUTELY true. I have made enchiladas with a different sauce and it's NEVER as good. Also, I used to work at a doctors office with the most WONDERFUL little Mexican grandma girl who raved about this sauce. She was a SPECTACULAR cook! If it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me! You HAVE to have this sauce, and NONE else. It isn't available everywhere, but I have lived in 4 states on the opposite ends of the country and it's ALWAYS at Wal*Mart, and Smith's/Kroger. It also only comes in "mild" but has enough flavor that it doesn't need heat.

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Chop onions, dice tomatoes

Shred the cheese!

My kids don't like tomatoes or onions, so I make a row of just cheese for them. And then, I load them up with tomatoes and onions!! (And see below for more ideas for what else you can put in these enchiladas!)

Cover EVERY SINGLE INCH of your enchiladas in the sauce.

Cover with Cheese/onions

Bake for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile...

Shred the lettuce

If you have any tortilla chips, they are excellent for scooping up extra sauce. Yummo!

My pretty, set table.

When the enchiladas are done, top with lettuce and sour cream, garnish with tortilla chips, and viola! You have a DELICIOUS meal that will be a hit with even your kids!!

Has Teague's seal of approval!

This is one o f my kids' most favorite meals. My 5 year old son, who won't eat, like, ANYTHING, even eats this!!! I would LOVE for you to try it, and let me know how you like it!

OTHER AWESOME INGREDIENTS!!!

~Chicken- shredded/grilled (Remember to cook it FIRST)

~Beef (Leftover roast would be great! Cook it first!)

~ Avocados (Or, put a scoop of guacamole on top with your sour cream!)

~Olives

~Bell peppers (I would think they'd add flavor and crunch, though sauteing them might be good too)

~Cilantro.

~Other spices. I'm not sure what, maybe some cayenne pepper? mmmm.

(Keep scrolling for the giveaway rafflecopter!)

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Welcome! This week, I let the bloggers choose the social media they all want you guys to follow! There will be A LOT more prizes this week, than all the other weeks! WOOHOO! All Prizes still goes to ONE winner!

...And our Sponsors:

Whole Lotta Mama
Christina Serrano Avon
The Mommyhood Chronicles
Africa's Blog
MamaLuvsBooks
Mom Blog Society
Mom Does Reviews
Emptynester Savings
Detroit Mom & Her views
Queens NYC Mom
Yummy Boy Mummy
Crazy for a Deal
I am NOT a VOLCANO
The Mommy Bunch
Making Time for Mommy
Insights by April
Just Bobbin Along

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Mom Blog Society's Daily Flash Giveaway!!!

2012-01-05T19:56:00.000-08:00

We have FOUR great giveaways going on right now!!

http://becauseidontscrapbook.blogspot.com/2011/12/parrot-carrot-giveaway.html - Parrot Carrot children's rhyming book giveaway!

http://becauseidontscrapbook.blogspot.com/2011/12/help.html- Mom Blog Society's Laptop Giveaway!

And my other Friday Flash Giveaway-

Linking up with http://www.momblogsociety.com and http://momdoesreviews.com and many other great bloggers for a mass daily giveaway!!!

Enter via the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thursday's Writer's Prompt- New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-04T16:59:00.000-08:00

Please stop by and enter my Parrot Carrot Giveaway! - an adorable children's book full of hilarious rhymes and super darling illustrations. Newly published, and signed by the authors!

Also, we have Mom Blog Society's Laptop Giveaway! - What blogger wouldn't love a brand new laptop? Who are we kidding! Come on and enter!

ANNNNNND, Don't forget to tune in this Friday for THREE different Flash Friday giveaways!!!

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Thursday Writer's Workshop

New Years Resolutions

Today is the 5th of January. I have been avoiding this post. In general, I'm a bit uptight about resolutions. The honest to goodness truth is I think it's boring to read about. I mean, how many people want to get into shape every year? How many actually succeed? How many people set impossible goals for themselves? When people talk about resolutions, I feel my eyes sort of glaze over, and my mouth slouch into a bored frown.

So I didn't want to talk about mine.

Of course, I led my children in writing down the goals they set for themselves for the year, and we made some as a family, and I cracked up inwardly when I was perusing facebook, and saw a good friend of mine state that his New Year's resolutions were to 1. Play more video games, 2. Exercise less, and 3. Gain weight. Way to be realistic, dude.

2011 was a hard year for me. Not the worst year ever- that was 2009, but it was hard, nonetheless. Some wonderful things also happened. I had my 4th child, my second boy (Tuesday was his birthday and Wordless Wednesday is all about him!),

I was able to play one of my dream roles: Wendy, in the British musical "Peter Pan."

My gorgeous sister got married to a SUPER guy,

And My Business took off running!

When we think "cyber bullying", we usually imagine a teen or tween sitting behind a computer with facebook on the screen, and a bunch of other, meaner kids typing away at their own computers, all about this poor girl or boy who has no way to control what they say. But, at nearly 30 years old, I was, on several occasions, the subject of cyber bullying. I was the subject of several episodes of gossip by several different groups of people who should have cared about me, who had no real fodder against me- so what they said could not have been true.

On top of that, we have had some serious financial issues, though, luckily, by the end of the year, we were all still happy, healthy, and on our feet.

In all, I've learned a lot from this last year

1. When I was a kid and knew everything, my mom told me often that my friends won't always be there. My family will. She was right.

2. The friends that ARE always there aren't friends. They're family.

3. Some of those "friends" change, and sometimes, you have to let go.

4. Jealousy can hit you, years later, even when you're over it.

5. My prayers will always be answered. Even if Heavenly Father takes his sweet time about it. Often the answers are sarcastic. Which surprised me.

6. I'd like to think I'm stronger for having escaped my latest trial unscathed...but I think that maybe God just had pity on me. I'm not sure I'm stronger for it. I'll probably bitch and moan just as blatantly next time.

7. Just because I'm right doesn't mean the other person is wrong.

8. People who choose to ridicule and discourage are usually jealous.

In my reflection on the past year, I have tried to sincerely study myself and to come up with goals and improvements that I can make in my behavior and ideas so that I can add more honorable topics to "lessons learned".

On the top of my list is this: To be so busy loving those that love me that I have no time at all to care, even the tiniest smidgen what people say about me behind my back. Those people are not worthy of my affection, attention, or even my dislike, let alone my worry. Let me save all those values for my children, and the ones who have my back. For that matter, the people who TELL me about those who gossip aren't worth my time either. I can't trust them any further than I can trust the gossipers. This goal will be infinitely easier said than done.

Next, I want to act in at least two plays. At the end of Peter Pan, I faced a lot of ridicule because, apparently, in following my dreams and doing what I like to do, I am not being an adequate mother. Apparently, parenthood doesn't require sacrifices, it requires you to sacrifice EVERYTHING. Apparently, I can't follow a dream without abandoning my children and marriage. It seems that I've done so many terrible things in my life that this behavior is believable and likely. (Note the sarcasm dripping off my keyboard.) I refuse to let those who might see my passion as a precursor to my children's demise dictate my hobbies, my passions, or make me feel terrible when there's nothing to feel terrible about.

I want to live. By this, I want to slide into bed, tired, exhausted, and able to say that I had grabbed life by the shirt, with both hands, and planted a giant, wet kiss on it's mouth. I want to laugh until my sides ache, and kiss my babies' cheeks off. If the situation warrants, I even want to cry until I am weak with lack of tears.

Forgive me if this bored you. I'll totally understand.

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Wordless Wednesday, Teague's First Birthday

2012-01-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

My sweet baby boy turned 1 yesterday (today, since I'm posting this the night before. LOL.) on January 3rd.

From his BIRTH to his first birthday - which we will celebrate this Saturday, this little man has been an absolute joy in my life. Sweet little thing loves his mommy, his daddy, dogs (he calls them all Hunter, as our dog is named Hunter) and tools. He sleeps with a favorite sock (don't worry, it's clean) and loves to push cars around making "vroom" sounds.

Some days, I think I might just kiss his fat yummy cheeks right off.

Love you, my "Big Red"

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Touchy Topic Tuesday- Education vs Trade. Is a degree SO important?

2012-01-02T19:51:00.000-08:00

Touchy Topic Tuesday

Education vs Trade: Is a degree SO important?

Months ago, I engaged in a facebook conversation about education now-a-days, how expensive it is, how those going to school now will spend the rest of their lives paying it off, and how sad it is that, despite it's impossibility to afford, it's so necessary that even a person with a physical TRADE skill can't get a job without it.

I had intended to write this as today's Touchy Topic anyway, but, in googling the subject of Trade Skills vs. Education for blog fodder, I came across an article that encompasses EVERYTHING I intended to say about the education part anyway, and I feel the need to share it.

"Education in America- Read the Fine Print talks about education being almost entirely out of reach for American middle class people, based on it's astronomical cost, and the problems that exist inside the educational system anyway- the things they AREN'T teaching, that we SHOULD be getting in order to be successful in THE WORLD.

On top of all that, I have further ideas to explore.

Back in the 80's, when I was raised, I recall multiple television shows and movies that continually made fun of college. Why would anyone go to college? It was a ludicrous idea to many people- at that time, Trade schools were booming, and people were learning valuable skills using hands-on techniques. Artisans. Those who worked in bakeries, who built buildings- stone masons, electricians, carpenters, contractors, and so on, people who built instruments, roads and many other things, were finding great opportunities and were widely respected.

By the time I graduated from high school, an explicit value was placed on college education. Well, SOME college education. A couple of years, maybe an associates degree or so was admired and hireable. Now, a decade later, there is so much value placed on education, that a person simply can't be hired without the maximum amount. Bachelors degree? Not good enough.

It's something that my husband and I have battled since we got married. I was 22 when we tied the knot, and I went to school for 3 years, goofed off a bit, and escaped with an Associates degree. My husband, at the time, didn't have a degree, but had his associates degree by the time he joined the United States Air Force a year after we got married. He was 23, and he was behind because of the two years he spent serving an LDS mission in Kingston, Jamaica.

The military promised free education, and was the main draw for us to join. What we didn't know was that they would leave him ZERO time to actually take classes. It wasn't until our 3rd year of active duty that he was able to enroll.

Upon our separation from the military, Brandon found it infinitely difficult to find a job. Due to his training and type of job WITH the military, he met all qualifications for jobs in leadership experience, working with hazardous materials, and so on. Most of the time, he exceeded the requirements. What he didn't have was a Bachelors degree. He spent two more years, under employed, working days going to school at night, and recently received his Bachelors degree.

We thought it would be easier for him to get hired now that he HAS the BS, AND two more years of experience. In two years, the requirements have jumped to a Masters, and requires even more experience. Disappointed, my husband has set his sights higher- to an MBA with an emphasis on advertising. Two more years and we should be set, right? Like, what are they going to do next? Add another degree? Triple the experience required? It's the end of the line.

Often, it feels like that light at the end of the tunnel is really just a train.

This isn't the first experience I've witnessed, though. My dad is a drywall contractor. He has been my whole life and throughout my childhood, he made an excellent living. He is actually quite the artist. My dad is a perfectionist, and what he does is always good work. On top of that, he can do anything. And that's not just a little girl goo-goo eyed for her perfect daddy. He really can. Tile, plumbing, welding, heat/air, appliances, carpet, remodeling, electronics- anything. You name it, he can do it, and he can do it, and well. Any engine hums happily after a visit to my dad. Yeah- he can fix your car too.

My dad has near FORTY YEARS of experience under his capable belt.

Just after I started college, my dad's company, where he was partner for over 20 years, paid employees, made an excellent, trusted name for himself, went out of business. He has struggled, since, to provide for my family- marrying off two girls and a son, paying for my brother's mission, and my youngest brother's diabetes, which happened right in the midst of his company going under.

Now, my dad is the best handyman West Jordan has EVER seen. He gets work by word of mouth, and does pretty decently. But he can't get licensed as a professional contractor the way he once was, nor can he be hired with another contracting company. Know why? Education. He doesn't have any.

My dad never went to college. After high school, my dad spent years as an apprentice, learning a TRADE.

Education for him is so expensive, and- get this- he makes too much money to qualify for government grants and student loans! Nevermind that he makes less money than my underemployed husband does. Nevermind that he has dependent children. It's so far out of his reach that it's hopeless to even try. And it becomes a vicious cycle.

Ivory Homes, a pretty big-time building company here in Utah- one my dad actually worked for before the creation of his business, Venture West, in his younger days, won't hire him, despite his excellent resume (he built most of the western Salt Lake Valley) and vast experience. The problem? Once again, the issue is my dad's lack of a degree. They would rather hire some 25 year old kid who spent the last 6 years sitting in a desk, getting his masters, who doesn't know a bazooka from a knife (don't worry, they're drywall tools), than they would my dad- who has no degree...but obviously knows what he's doing. I mean, if this were Hell's Kitchen, my dad would win.

Heck, even home owners are getting picky about it all- they, too, would rather hire someone based on college education as opposed to experience and referral- since that's all the business my dad gets is word of mouth.

Now, this isn't just all about me and it's not, by any means, a pity party. We're all happy, and we're on our feet, and we're making it just fine. But I know there are others out there. In the first job Brandon worked when we moved out here to Utah after the military, he met more than a handful of welders and carpenters and electricians who are in the same boat as my dad.

And we come back to the question: Is it REALLY that necessary in ALL cases? A surgeon? You bet, if I am about be operated on, I want to know that my doctor spent hours in classrooms learning all about my body and it's organs and functions so that, when he gets in there, knows how to fix it and put it back. A teacher? Uh, yeah. I want to know that the person who is teaching a subject to ME has actually spent time studying the subject. But some of these hands on jobs, these artisan trades, are only perfected through experiencing them. Through labor and apprenticeship. It doesn't matter how many years you spend in a desk, reading a book, doing math problems...there's a huge difference in knowing, in theory, how to weld a pipe, than there is in doing it.

I am not by any means disparaging education. I actually find education VERY important. I expect all my children to go to college and get degrees that will help them support their families and give them satisfactory lifestyles. I don't think, at all, that some education could hurt my dad, and as absolutely brilliant as he is, he'd do very well with it. But, considering what he knows about his trade- and believe me, that's inside and out- he wouldn't use a lick of his education, really. At least not anything that he doesn't already know. And it's getting more and more expensive every year. Kids fresh out of high school can't afford it now, how can a person of middle-age or beyond afford to go back to school when there is so much resting on their shoulders? And what the heck is wrong with people and businesses who can't recognize when education matters less than skill?

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What do you think? How do you feel about the cost of a decent, University level education these days? How do you feel about skill vs. degree? Do you feel that there is a time and a place, or is it really absolutely necessary for every person to have a high education? Are you or someone you know stuck in this same predicament? Let us know!!!

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Music, the mall, and chocolate

2012-01-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to enter my current giveaways:

Parrot Carrot- adorable Children's book of rhymes.

Laptop Giveaway- hosted by Mom Blog Society

And check in EVERY FRIDAY for our Friday Flash Giveaways!!!

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This weekend, Brandon and I were lucky enough to drop ALL our kids (O.M.G!) off with my parents for the night- I mean, what kid doesn't love a night at Grandma's (They call my parents Ammah and Pop-pop) for late bedtime, junk food, and baths in her giant clawfoot bathtub, followed by a breakfast of HUGE waffles piled high with butter and powdered sugar?!

In our evening of precious alone-ness, Brandon and I made our way to spend Christmas gift cards, and ended up in a mall of all places. Of course, as my life is riddled with sentimental moments, (can we get a collective eye roll here?) memories flooded back.

Malls. Malls have stamped their way across my life, the X on a treasure map that marks "the spot." - Of course, Christmas shopping memories, dollar movies, my 15th birthday with 200.00 cash in hand and all the best stores laying ahead of me, pink and blue hair dye from Hot Topic and so on.

This time, though, Brandon and I stopped to press our noses (figuratively speaking) against the window of the Godiva chocolaterie. Chocolate dipped strawberries adorned their display, and beyond that, truffles stacked beneath sneeze guard glass.

When Lilly was just a little thing, we lived in New Jersey. I loved living there, but we lived in what was officially "Trenton", but really, it was just a vast expanse of farms (EXCELLENT farmers markets), creepy old abandoned houses, and sagging, broken down barns. Well, that, and we were young and dirt poor with a baby in tow.

So, in our spare time, we would drive for an hour, through a jug handle, and into a mall parking lot, where we would push our happy, giggly little baby in her stroller to the Godiva chocolate store, where we would each choose a truffle- Brandon usually got the darkest chocolate he could find, or peanutbutter (Ew on both accounts.) and I would choose strawberry, lemon or raspberry and milk chocolate truffles. For Lilly, we would pick a couple of mint squares, and we'd sit on a bench and eat them- then we'd window shop for a few hours before heading back home.

Simpler times. And not because we were poor (poor doesn't equal "simple", in fact, it complicates things.) But I was much more innocent, and one child is infinitely easier than the handful I have now, bless their sweet, kissy-cake little hearts! (Yeah, I call them kissy-cakes. Weird I know. But thus is motherhood. Making moms make up weird names since the beginning of time.) Back then, before miss Lilly decided that the CD player in the van seemed like a satisfactory piggy bank, our radio kept us company on the long drive.

Among other things, the song in the music video provided was one that we sang at the top of our lungs, my converse shoes pressed against the windshield while Brandon, driving, drummed the steering wheel, Lilly babbling behind us, the taste of chocolate still staining all our lips.

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"Twinkle, Twinkle, Shooting Star" cookies, Foodie Friday!

2011-12-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to check the side bar for all the giveaways going on right now!

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This is a recipe that my kids like to tall "Twinkle, Twinkle, Shooting Star Cookies"- yeah, it's quite a mouthful, but I think, if we could taste a star, this is how it would be!

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) Butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp molasses

1tsp vanilla

2 eggs

4 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 bag of mixed flavored jolly rancher hard candies (My kids prefer sour!)

1. Preheat oven to 355 degrees- if you need to, grease or line cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy, add molasses and vanilla extract. Add egg and mix until smooth.

3. Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Fold dry ingredients in and use electric mixer to blend until flour is incorporated. Divide the dough in half and flatten into disks- wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at leas an hour - or you can leave them in the fridge for up to 2 days, if you're planning ahead for something!

4. Unwrap and separate the candies into ziploc bags by color. Use a hammer to smash into bits- the smaller the bits, the better it works. I like to make mine powdery fine.

5. Roll out dough, and cut out shapes. We like to use stars, of course, because of the name we gave them (Really, it all started because the first time i did this, the only cutters i had were star shaped!)

6. Use a small spoon to sprinkle the candy powder onto the cookies. You can mix and match colors and flavors- it's really fun! The more you put on, the more flavor there will be, but be careful not to spill too much on the pan. It makes the pan really sticky and gooey and that makes it hard to get the cookies off when you're done.

7. Bake at 355 degrees for about 6-7 minutes. They won't LOOK done, but they are, and if you leave them in much longer, it'll burn the hard candy, and then it's not very good.

The flavor of these cookies is delicious and savory! You won't be disappointed!

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Friday Flash Giveaway!!!

2011-12-29T14:55:00.000-08:00

This Friday's Lazy Friday Flash Giveaway is gonna be HUGE! Get your clicker ready! Don't forget all these Prizes go to ONE winner!

Our Sponsors for this Friday are...

Whole Lotta Mama

Christina Serrano AVON

I am NOT a VOLCANO

Coupons and Freebies in TX

Making Time for Mommy

Detroit Mom & Her Views

Mom Does Reviews

The Mommyhood Chronicles

Crazy for a Deal

Deal Dishin' Momma

Emptynester Savings

Kat's Cafe

The Mommy Bunch

MamaLuvsBooks

Africa's Blog

...and our prizes as follows :)

Free Shipping Code for AVON
Gilded Spoon Charm
$3.50 Amazon Code
Coupon for a FREE Duncan Hines Product
Slice Safety Cutter
$10 Gift Card to HelpingHand Handbags
Kids/Adults Toothbrushes
$5 Amazon Code x2
$10 ShutterFly Code
$50 Coupon Pack
$5 Paypal Cash x3
$5 McDonalds Gift Card

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Parrot Carrot Giveaway!!!!

2011-12-27T19:25:00.000-08:00

Parrot Carrot Giveaway!!

12/28-1/11

I am so excited to announce my next giveaway for the new children's book, Parrot Carrot!!!

Jol and Kate Temple wrote this book for their little boy, Arlo, based on their attempts to get him to go to sleep.

I was given this book to review and give away, and was so excited to share it with my kids. In all honesty, I was sure my younger 2 would love it, but I thought my almost 7 year old, Lilly, would turn up her little nose.

This book is a collection of rhymes- but not JUST rhymes, they're rhymes that, once you turn the page, take on a hilarious new meaning! "Goose. Moose."- with darling pictures of a goose and a moose, illustrated by Jon Foye. Then you turn the page. "Here is a goose that looks like a moose!"

To my surprise and delight, even my attitude-adjustment-required first grader cracked up with every clever rhyme and picture. Even my little baby (will be 1 next week) sat and giggled at the pages. I, myself, found this book something that needed to be added to our collection. I absolutely loved it. So, Parrot Carrot has the seal of approval from me, and my kids, ages 1, 4, 5, and nearly 7.

Please visit the official Parrot Carrot website at http://parrotcarrot.com/, and check out their app! (Yeah! There's an app for that! - Is that not AWESOME!!!?)

You have two weeks to enter this adorable book with the easy rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Touchy Topic Tuesday- The Breastfeeding Bond.

2011-12-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

Touchy Topic Tuesday

The Breastfeeding Bond

Now, breastfeeding may very well be THE touchiest of Touchy Topics. And believe me, I could go on ALL.DAY.LONG about my opinions on the subject. And they're very STRONG opinions. But there are so many PARTS to the breastfeeding controversy. So, in this discussion, I don't want to hear about how wonderful breastfeeding is (sure, okay), or how every woman can do it (not true), or how it's your right to do it in public (debatable), how it's best for baby (again, debatable), their poop smells better (in what world does poop smell better?), prevents obesity (bull sh*t), makes you lose weight (actually, it made me fatter), and is natural (yeah, but...I won't go into it here.)- I don't want to debate ANY of those topics, so don't do it. Today, I want to talk about the "breastfeeding bond"

Go ahead. Google it. The breastfeeding "bond" is plastered all over everything- magazines, birth boards, parenting books, you know- everywhere.

The idea is that mothers who breastfeed their babies build a strong bond that can't be broken.

And I have to ask: As opposed to what? The bottle feeding mom who doesn't care about her baby? The bottle feeding mother, who, if Rumplestiltskin were still out collecting first born babies, would be more likely to hand the little tyke over?

Considering the pressure put on women to breastfeed, and the insistence that if you can't do it (yeah. Some people can't.) or, heaven forbid, you CHOOSE not to breastfeed, I really only see this as a guilt trip into doing it. And a terrible, insulting one at that.

Now, before anyone judges this book by it's cover and decides that I'm one of "those" women, I want to make it clear that I am NOT anti-breastfeeding at all. I breastfed 3 of my 4 babies for 4-5 months each- no, it's not 2 years, so, inevitably my kids will probably be sick constantly, obese, and stupid compared to their breastfed-til-kindergarten counterparts, but hey, it's a decent start.

See, maybe it's just that I didn't breastfeed LONG enough...you know, like maybe that (almost creepy the way some women talk about it) unmatched bond kicks in at 6 months, or 9 months or so...or maybe it's just me, because when my milk dried up spontaneously (more on that another Tuesday) around 4 months postpartum, every single time, and I began giving my babies bottles and formula, I didn't notice a change in my "bond" with them. I didn't suddenly love them less because I couldn't breastfeed. I didn't suddenly favor a child who may have been breastfed longer. And when I suffered from a terrible infection after the birth of my 4th child, and wasn't able to breastfeed him beyond 2 weeks due to medication that not only got rid of my infection, but was also toxic to my baby (no breastfeeding) and it dried me up nearly over night, (Within 48 hours, I couldn't even pump a half ounce.) I didn't look at him and think "huh...I don't care about him nearly as much as I do my other babies....I just don't have the bond with him that I do the others..." As a matter of fact, I very devotedly held my sweet, fat baby in my arms, kissed his fluffy cheeks, and gazed into his big blue eyes. Every 3 hours. Every day. Every night.

You see, my baby, though he wasn't sucking on one of my body parts, was still getting the same skin on skin contact (kisses, stroking his little cheeks with my fingertips, rubbing noses, and so on), the same quiet time snuggled with mommy. We cuddled and cooed and kissed and got all drooly just as much with our bottle time as my previous children did with my breastfeeding time.

On top of all of that, what, exactly are people saying about women who adopt their children and cannot breastfeed them? That, since they don't do that, they will never be able to achieve the max level of parenthood? The ultimate level of love for their child? How absolutely horrible an accusation! And to be honest, I find it a perfect personal insult from anyone at all who might insinuate that their bond with their child is better (you know, thus insinuating that they are a better, more loving, closer parent than I am) than mine is because they breastfed. It becomes very mommier-than-thou, and I think it's time someone called BS on it.

Tell me how you feel about this whole thing. What "bond" have you experienced? Remember, this isn't about being for or against breastfeeding. I assume we're just all "pro feeding"- it's about this claimed "bond" that breastfeeding mothers have that bottlefeeding mothers apparently don't. Please, chime in!

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HELP!!!

2011-12-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

Hey friends!!! A good friend of mine had something bad happen to her Facebook fanpage, and, in short, she lost ALL her fans!!!

In an effort to get them all back, we're having- you guessed it- a GIVEAWAY!!! Please enter to win this AWESOME Laptop:

Sony 15.5" VAIO VPC-EE23FX Laptop PC with AMD Athlon II Processor & Windows 7 Home Premium

WE'RE GIVING ONE AWAY

You can enter to win between December 27 - Jan 27, 2012 All entries on the Rafflecopter are mandatory unless otherwise stated. Key Features & Benefits: AMD Athlon II X2 P320 processor 2.10GHz, 1MB L2 Cache 4GB DDR3 system memory Gives you the power to handle most power-hungry applications and tons of multimedia work 320GB SATA hard drive Store 213,000 photos, 91,000 songs or 168 hours of HD video and more Multi-format DVD burner Watch DVD movies on your computer; read and write CDs and DVDs in multiple formats. 10/100/1000 Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Connect to a broadband modem or a wired broadband router with wired Ethernet, or wirelessly connect to a Wi-Fi signal or hotspot with the 802.11b/g/n connection built into your PC 15.5" diagonal HD widescreen display ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 graphics

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Friday Flash Giveaway!!!!

2011-12-22T21:10:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our Christmas Lazy Friday Flash Giveaway! Yet again we have some awesome prizes for you this week! Remember all these prizes go to ONE(1) winner! This week you will be following us by Google+.

This week our sponsors are...

Whole Lotta Mama! (HOST)

MamaLuvsBooks

Mom Does Reviews

One Mom's Moxie

Christina Serrano AVON

Making Time for Mommy

Detroit Mom & Her Views

Africa's Blog

Crazy for a Deal

The Mommyhood Chronicles

The prizes are as follows...

$5 Paypal Cash x2
$5 iTunes Card
AVON samples, plus a Free Shipping Code
$10 to LeftLane Sports x2
Slice Safety Cutter
Envelope of Coupons
Kids/Adult Tooth Brushes

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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You know you're a mom when...

2011-12-21T19:18:00.000-08:00

***Last day to enter to win a My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Suite***

***Visit my homie, Lacey over at her blog Little Miss Nerd Girl to see my guest post all about Christmas with my kids!***

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Come and link up with Mama Kat's Losin' It for Thrusday's Writer's Prompts

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I spent a good several years in denial of my mommyhood. I mean, I had a baby or two permanently attached to my hip, and a diaper bag replaced my chic purses and bags...but I was young (I became a mother at 22 years old) and hot and REFUSED to fall prey to such horrifying things as "mom jeans". It worked...for awhile. My babies wore adorable clothes, their noses were always devoid of anything wet or slippery, their hair was always done - faux hawks for the boys, tiny pig tails for the girls with ribbons or barrettes. They always wore socks AND shoes. And that diaper bag? Plastic encased red silk with colorful butterflies all across it. Heck, even the bottles I used were cute and top-of-the-line. As often as not, I was mistaken for the cute young nanny of the two darling children I towed everywhere, to which, I laughed delightedly, and relished in the not-momishness of myself.

Now a days, though, (I'm now nearly 30) there's hardly a glimpse of that girl.

I now look in the mirror (at my bad haircut) and know I'm a mom because, in doing my girls' hair, I don't have time to do my own. All my clothes are second hand- some from my sister, some from a local second hand store, and almost all my clothes fit the "mom jeans" description, including my shirts and cardigans and worn out shoes. I still wear makeup, but never anything terribly daring. I still don't carry a purse, but now the diaper bag is something cheap (read: the bag that the enfamil samples from the hospital came in when I had Teague almost a year ago.)

Teague NEVER wears anything on his feet. I mean, I DO put the shoes and socks on, but I don't waste time putting them back on 30 times a day, when he constantly pulls them off. And occasionally, my younger two will have sliminess beneath their sweet pointed little noses....and that usually ends up on my shoulder, or at about knee level, where Teague pulls up to standing, and then rubs his face against my mom jeans.

I know I'm a mother because, while I can't say I don't care- in fact, I care very much and try very hard to keep myself and my kids looking presentable, to keep us all clean and tidy- I just realize that it HAPPENS. I'm a mom of four. My time is split in several directions. And I love them too much to worry about the trivial things. A little snot never hurt anyone, and when it gets on my shoulder because my sweet baby is giving me a tight hug when he wakes up from his nap, or slobbers all over my cheek in a giant kiss, well, that is worth ALL the chic diaper bags in the world!

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

Our official Christmas card- Merry Christmas from our family to yours:

Click on the link to enter by rafflecopter to win a copy of My Memories digital Scrapbooking Suite - the software I used to create this AWESOME Christmas card!!!!

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TTT- Jubilee duggar's controversial pictures

2011-12-19T14:41:00.000-08:00

Touchy Topic Tuesday

The Duggar Family's Controversial Photos

Of Sillborn Baby Girl

In November, many will remember that the Duggar Family announced their 20th pregnancy. The Duggars, in and of themselves, are controversy enough, but more controversy surrounded the pregnancy due to the size of their family, the complications present in her 19th pregnancy, and Michelle's age- she's 45. Still more controversy followed when, at 19 weeks along, Michelle went to a doctors appointment, and realized that there was no heartbeat. A sad, yet common occurrence for many women.

But that isn't the controversial part. A little over a week later, a memorial ceremony was held for the 19 week old girl they named "Jubilee Shalom Duggar", where photos were shown that created a heated stir among the internet fans and haters. (Photos can be seen at the link provided above.)

One photo showed Michelle holding Jubilee's tiny hand on the tip of her finger, and one photo where Michelle is holding her baby's two tiny feet between two fingers- with a caption that reads: "There is no foot too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world."

It seems that many people feel that the memorial service and the photos are a cry for attention. A big old "look at me, look at me", if you will.

The way I feel about it is pretty short, and sweet, if you don't mind a strong opinion:

1. Who the heck cares if they have a whole bunch of kids? It's no one's business. They are a debt free family, their kids are well fed, well cared for, and have the love, shelter, and things they need. So what do you care if they have a lot? None of it rests on your shoulders. On top of that, it isn't JUST a personal decision they had made to have a bunch of kids. I'm sure a big part of it IS a personal decision, but it is also a religious decision- and unlike most of America, the Duggars are not a family that dabbles their fingers in religion on Sunday, and forget it the rest of the week. They live their religion on a daily basis. Not many people understand this conviction, and most people fear what they don't understand.

2. A lot of women have complications in pregnancy. Probably more women than half. It isn't okay to tell a mother of one that since she has had complications with her pregnancy in the past that she should not have another child. It's cruel, tactless, and incredibly unethical. It is no less cruel, tactless, or unethical to tell a woman who has 19 children that she shouldn't have another child because of past complications.

3. Michelle Duggar is 45. Why is this controversial? I just don't get it. In Hollywood, actress by the score have baby after baby via invitro fertilization, some of them much older than 45, and that's okay? No one finds THAT controversial? If the problem, again, is because she has so many children already, people need to rub their nose in their OWN crap, not hers. Because it's none of their business.

4. I do not see why it is such a bad thing for the Duggars to mourn their baby. Having many children does not make it easier for a parent to lose one. Believe it or not, it's not like a gumball machine- you put your quarters in, and get a handful, but one falls on the ground, and you can't eat it. Oops. Bummer. Moving on. SOME of us find life, no matter how many lives there already are, very VERY sacred. Including this sweet baby who only graced the world for 19 weeks. For that 19 weeks, she made, at the very least, 21 people very happy. THAT says something big. It is not unlike those who told me to just be happy with the three I have after long months and a chemical pregnancy when trying to have my 4th child. I took it as a personal insult. And, I still feel, rightly so.

5. As far as the pictures go, if people are heartbroken by them, then they have eyelids. They can close their eyes or turn their heads, or find a different website to read. Jubilee's family, though, may be very comforted by them- it might solidify her realness. It might bring closure to their hearts.

Once, on my birth board with Teague (of COURSE it was a birth board!!!) a woman who had suffered through morning sickness with us, celebrated the discovery of her baby being a girl, and then, when she needed us most at 26 weeks when she suffered a late miscarriage, many turned against her and behaved very cruelly when she posted a newspaper article about her baby's funeral service. Many women there said it was "a waste of money" for a funeral for a baby that never lived, and some even refused to call her daughter a baby, but instead referred to her as simply "the fetus". One woman said, and I quote- "It's sad, but it happens. You have to get over it, and stop wallowing." I was horrified and heartbroken for this mourning mother. She was reaching out for support and hope and comfort, and women who should have been there for her, who still held their babies safe within their bellies, told her things that they would have been sick to hear about their own child. Of course, I was happy to see that more people DID offer her the support she needed, but the idea that the baby wasn't worth the time and effort of a funeral, a memorial, or pictures because a deceased child is "creepy", is what I imagine to be one of the most WICKED misconceptions that a human can invent. Any baby is WORTH much more than that. A baby who has lost the battle for life is STILL the sweet, very loved baby it was in life to a mother who has lost it.

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So, how do YOU guys feel about this situation? Is it creepy? Is it attention seeking? Or do people need to chill out and let the Duggars mourn in a way that they feel will let them heal? Do they have any less right to sadness because they have a lot of children? Do you CARE that they have so many? And why?

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Crafty-Pants-Saturdays! How to Make Stained Glass Stars Out of Old Crayons

2011-12-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

Crafty-Pants Saturday

How To Make Stained Glass Shapes Out of Old Crayons

What you need:

1. Old/broken crayons, paperless

2. Cheese Grater

3. Wax Paper

4. Old Towel

5. An Iron

CRAYONS!!!!- you see how they're all old and used up and/or broken? THIS is the perfect type of crayon for this project. (I have a hard time getting rid of them. I know- serious hoarder potential, but I just always feel like this could be upcycled!)

You 're going to want a cheese grater that you don't mind being ruined. Personally, I have one I just use specifically for shredding up crayons, and don't use for food. I prefer small grates, rather than large ones. It just works better.

A little goes a long way! I grate the crayons onto a plate, but then, to keep the colors separate, I like to put them into an egg carton- and the kids have an easy time using little spoons to put the colors on their wax paper.

Use a piece of wax paper DOUBLE THE SIZE you want your whole artwork to be- then fold it in half. ONLY put crayon shavings on one side of the paper.

Before I iron it, I like to use GLITTER!!!! And so do the kids. I mean, really, who doesn't love glitter?!

Scarlet and Mahone with their already ironed papers.

Lilly, cutting out her stars.

When you have spread all the lovely colors across your one side of the wax paper, and you are ready to iron, carefully fold the other half of the wax paper over onto the top of the crayon-strewn surface (you should now have crayon shavings BETWEEN TWO PIECES OF WAX PAPER- this is important, or you'll destroy your iron.) Place the old dish towel on top of your ironing board, and the iron-ready wax paper on top of the old towel.

****When you are ironing, use the HIGHEST SETTING on your iron that DOES NOT USE STEAM. (steam won't hurt it, but it makes a mess!)*****

Pretty cool, huh? Neat patterns it makes.

This time, we made stars to go on our Christmas tree. But, obviously, you can cut out whatever shapes you want!

These are the papers held up to the light. AWESOME!

See the glitter?

Try it! You'll have a blast!

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