It's been a LONG time!!!

I can't believe how long it's been since I've written a post, I know every week I tell myself, start writing again! Then I get home and forget, or don't know what I want to write about! So much has happened the past year, I'm now a Grandma to little Kevin, my Grandson!! We moved to a new house and kids started a new school, which they love, and have taken up so many new sports/clubs, I now don't know why I was always thinking, Man I wish these kids would join something!! I feel like a taxi, with all of the picking up and dropping off I do!! But they love it, and i was so proud of my son for joining the Basketball team and sticking with it even though he didn't play much.

It's been awhile, but I'm ready to start this blog again, whether it be posting about good deals I find, or writing about the kiddos, or just me rambling, I am vowing to myself to post at least twice a week so I can get back into the groove of things!!!

School's out for Summer!

Seems like just yesterday I was buying school supplies for Back to school, and here we are, Summer is already here! Mabye it's just me, but the year is going by VERY fast, and although I'm glad it's time to turn off the alarm clocks for a few months, I sometimes wish I could hit the pause button because the kids are just growing up way too fast.
So every year I start out by making a summer plan for us, things to do, places to visit, and then, August arrives and I realize that we barely made a dent in any of our lists! But this year, will be different, I'm hoping! Something about this summer feels like it's going to be a great one, and hope the kids will think so too!
What are your plans for the Summer?

Need to start blogging again!!

So much time has past, I can't believe it's been so long since I've written a blog post!! Now that the move is done, I hope I can finally get back to blogging and reviewing!! Last night as we were eating dinner, my daughter asked out of nowhere, "Mom, are you still a blogger?" I asked her why and she said, because we haven't been getting any packages like we used to!! Well, I guess that means I've been slacking, lol!
I hope I can get back into blogger mode, and start entering the giveaways I've come to know and love so much!! If anything, I'd just like to start blogging again to keep track of the family things I love to share!!

Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters!! Review AND Giveaway!!

Recently we recieved a set of Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters to check out and play with, and I am excited to say, these are awesome!! My daughter had asked about the Moshi Monsters a few times and I wasn't too sure about them, would they be fun, or would they get opened and then put away barely played with?

Well, when we recieved the Bobble bots, my daughter couldn't get the package opened up fast enough!! Within minutes, she had the town set up and ready to go, and it kept her entertained for hours!! Weeks later, she's still playing with it and loves to add to the collection! I love that it is a simple toy, and the kids can use their imaginations to play and make up stories. Heck, even the dog loves it! Chasing the Bobble bots around has become a favorite past time!
Priced well and with a great variety to choose from, for boys and girls, Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters are a great gift for any kid! Make a Moshi Monsters town and there will be fun for days!!
You can win your very own Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters Starter Set!!! Just let me know which is your favorite Bobble Bot, and you'll be entered to win!

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Giveaway will end on April 23rd, winner will be notified via Email and have 48 hours to claim prize!

I was given the opportunity to review Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters thanks to Mom select. All opinions are my own.

Disney on Ice- Dare to Dream Giveaway!

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

Welcome to 2012...

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

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

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

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

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!

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1. Subcribe to my blog ( 2 entries)
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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!