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

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

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

Hellooooooooo December!

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

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

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

Kristines Shower- Review AND Giveaway!

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

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


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

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

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

Extra Entries-

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

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



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

Black Friday, I'm so ready for you!

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

Baby Bullet giveaway at Diaries of a Domestic Goddess!

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

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

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

Party City! For all of your Halloween needs!

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

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

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

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

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

Wish I could Tivo my life...

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

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

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

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

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

Windows Phone Giveaway at The Dirty Shirt Blog!

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

EdenFantasys- Fun and Sexy goodies for Adults!

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

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

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

School clothes shopping is a nightmare!

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

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

One of my best tips for Back to School supplies!

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

Expo markers at CVS!

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

The Ups and Downs of "Camping"

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

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

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

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

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

Australian Gold Sunscreen Giveaway at Experimental Mommy!

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

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

Camping season has begun for this family!!!

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

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

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

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

Eden Fantasys- Give someone a treat!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Where has the time gone?

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

Announcing winner soon!

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

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

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

Win a Propel Zero Prize pack at Blessing Abound Mommy!

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

Win a Years supply of Miracle Whip!!

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

Head over now because the giveaway ends tomorrow!

Nutella Party!

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

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

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

Chocolate Strawberry Panini

Ingredients

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



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


6 fresh strawberries, hulled and very thinly sliced


Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray


Directions


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

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

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

Milson Road Daily Portraits Review AND GIVEAWAY!!

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

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

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

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

Extra Entries-

1. Like Milson Road on Facebook ( 1 entry)

2. Follow Milson Road on Twitter ( 1 entry)

3. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

4. Become a Subscriber ( 2 entries)

5. Follow me on Twitter ( 2 entries)

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

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


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

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

Happy Easter Store Giveaway at Domestic Goddess!

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

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

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

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

70 Cake Pops? I must be crazy!!!

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

And the Winner is......

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

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

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

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

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

How many times can 1 person jinx themselves?!?

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

Oh how I love shopping for my little girl!

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

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

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

Don't forget to enter the EdenFantasys Giveaway!!

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

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

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

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

NightTime Cold Meds and my kids don't mix!

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

Upcoming CSNstore Review!!!

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

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

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

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

Round 2 of Target 75% Toy Clearance!

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

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

Other goodies I found-

Littlest Pet Shop Doll set- $5

Littlest Pet Shop Camping Set- $4

Hot Wheels Ultimate Repair Set - $5

Fancy Nancy Dress - $5

Ice Cream Scoops - $2.48

Webkinz Zumbuddy - $2.48

Club Penguin Figurines - $2.48

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

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

Finally switched to 75% at Target!

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

Polly Pocket Mermaid Set- $6.74

Polly Pocket Beach Set $4.98

Huge Play food set- $2.50

Fashion Fairytale Ken doll $2.48

Fashion Fairytale Dressup dress $4.98

Fancy Nancy Dressup dress $4.98

Pop On Pals people $2.48 ( 2 sets)

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

My Target Clearance finds, so far!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have any of you gotten any good deals so far?

$50 EdenFantasys GIVEAWAY!!!

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

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

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

Extra Entries-

1. Like EdenFantasys on Facebook ( 1 entry)

2. Follow EdenFantasys on Twitter ( 1 entry)

3. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

4. Become a subscriber ( 2 entries)

5. Follow me on Twitter ( 2 entries)

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

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

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

Eden Fantasys- For the gift your Valentine will LOVE!

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

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

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

Santa Swap goodies!

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

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

Back to the Living, for now!

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