Winner of the Kung Zhu Pet Set is....

And the winner is.... Terra H.! Congrats, I will be sending out a confirmation email shortly! Thanks to all that entered and don't forget to check out my other giveaways, still a few days left to enter!!!!

Hope you all had  great weekend!!!

Some great deals at Walmart!

If you are in need of bed sheets, glasses, basically anything for the kitchen or bedroom, I'd recommend checking out your local Walmart! We were in desperate need of bedsheets for the kids beds, and I got such a great deal! Sheet sets are marked down to $3 each! They are the Jersey sheets, so they are nice and soft, the kids LOVE them. I picked up a Comforter for $9, a couple of blankets marked down to $1 each, and a mirror for $2! These were all considered part of the "Dorm Room" section, but hey, everything matched the kids rooms and I couldn't pass up those prices!
Then I found 2 pack Tumblers for 10 cents, little gadgets like a Can opener, spatula, and ladle for 25 cents, and some bowls and pitchers for 50 cents! I So Love when I hit the clearance aisles like this!

I walked out of the store with over $100 worth of stuff, and paid less than $20 for all of it! My favorite part was when the cashier told me how well i shopped, lol!

Anytime Costumes Review AND Giveaway!!!

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, not just because we get candy, but because we get to dress up as pretty much anything we want! Having kids, I really enjoyed picking out their costumes when they were younger, and now that they are older I look forward to seeing what they'll pick to be every year! However, shopping at the store for costumes can be a hassle, trying to find the right size, or even just having the costume itself in stock, it can get stressful! I had the wonderful opportunity to work with AnytimeCostumes.com, an awesome online costume store that has TONS of costumes! Costumes for Adults, Children, Couples, etc. And then once you pick your costume, you can find all of your accesories and makeup right there too! It's one stop shopping, without leaving your home and no hassle at all! Just pick your costume, and wait for it to arrive.

I let me daughter choose a costume from AnytimeCostumes, she spent a long time trying to decide if she wanted to be Hannah Montana, a Renissance Princess, or Alex from Wizards of Waverly Place. She finally decided that she would be Alex for Halloween, it's her favorite show! We placed our order and about 5 days later our costume arrived. We tried it on and she looks A-DOR-ABLE!!! It's really a simple costume, with a dress, hat, and leg warmers, and together it's just too cute! And we'll add a "magic" wand, she'll be the best wizard in the school!

I've also found a few costumes for myself, the Dorothy "Wizard of Oz", and the "Love at First Bite" costumes are 2 of my fav's! Now here's to hoping we get invited to a costume party this year!!

Here's the best part! One lucky reader is going to win a costume of their choice, up to $50!!! Any costume, for you, your child, it's your choice!! All you have to do is let me know which Anytime Costume you'd pick! ( Mandatory entry!)

Extra entries-

1. Follow my blog ( 1 entry)

2. Become a subscriber ( 1 entry)

3. Follow on Twitter and tweet ( 1 entry, per day)

4. Grab my button ( 3 entries, leave link)

5. Repost this giveaway (3 entries, leave link)


This giveaway will end on Friday, Oct.1st. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to claim prize! Good luck!


Disclaimer- I recieved a costume free of charge in return for my review. All opinions are my own.

CSNstores.com $50 Giveaway!!!

I love to shop, that's a given! But, sometimes I just don't feel like going out, so I turn to the internet to shop. What I don't like to do is have to search a million stores for that one item I'm looking for. Thankfully, I found CSNstores.com, which has pretty much everything a girl could ask for! From Decorative items to Dining Room Sets, CSN has over 200 online stores to find whatever you are looking for!  I believe this site is a great one for one stop shopping!

I have had only wonderful experiences with CSN, their Customer service is great, shipping is quick, and again, their selections are amazing! When you can't decide which product you want to buy, check out the customer reviews to help with your decision, I did, and am glad I did!

Here's the best part! CSN Stores has offered one of my lucky readers a chance to win a $50 gift code to any of their stores! All you have to do is let me know what you'd use it for! ( Mandatory entry)

Extra entries-

1. Follow my blog ( 1 entry)

2. Become a subscriber ( 1 entry)

3. Follow on Twitter and tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)

4. Grab my button ( 3 entries, leave link)

5. Repost this giveaway ( 3 entries)

This giveaway will end on Wednesday, Sept. 29th . Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via email to claim their prize. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize, otherwise another winner will be chosen.
Giveaway for US and Canada readers only!

Good luck, and thanks for entering!!!

Kung Zhu Review AND Giveaway!!

Thanks to MomSelect, a few months ago I was chosen to host a Kung Zhu party for my kids and their friends! I wasn't sure what to expect, but WOW!, what a great party kit we were given!

On the day of the party, my son had 3 of his friends over and my daughter had 2 friends, and a family friend brought her son. Each child was able to recieve a Kung Zhu hamster, set of armor, and accesories! The pets are aimed more towards the boys, but W\what I found great about these is that the boys AND girls were having a blast, and they were all different ages, ranging from 6-11! I think the older boys were enjoying it the most, and didn't want to leave when the party was over : )

Kung Zhu Pets are available at many retailers right now, including Walmart, Target and Toys R Us, retailing around $7.99 for the hamsters and accesories anywhere from $9.99 to $19.99.  I think they would be a great Holiday gift, definetly a great Birthday gift, or just a little surprise for your child!

Heres the best part! One lucky reader will win their own Kung Zhu Pet and accesory! You just need to let me know which Kung Zhu is your favorite! ( Mandatory entry!)

Extra entries-

1. Follow my blog ( 1entry)

2. Become a subscriber ( 1 entry)

3. Follow on Twitter and tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day! Leave link)

4. Grab my button! ( 3 entries, leave link)

5. Blog about this giveaway ( 4 entries, leave link)

Giveaway will end Wed. Sept. 23rd. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via email to claim their prize. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize, or another winner will be chosen!


Disclaimer- MomSelect provided me with all materials and accesories, free of charge. All opinions are my own.

Back to School!

So the kids have been back to school for a week now, and of course my daughter just loves it! My son on the other hand, well, he could take it or leave it! He started Jr. High this year, and he's excited about that, but getting up an extra hour earlier is what he isn't liking too much : (
And I'm enjoying it too, but sometimes I think the summer is way too short! We only did a handful of things of our Summer List, thanks to my wonderful migraines that put me out for days at a time... but they both said they had a great summer so I guess I should be thankful for that!
Now onto the fun part! My daughter is in a "Peanut Free Zone" in her class, she has a few classmates with allergies. I need some good ideas for snacktime, because Goldfish and Ritz Crackers get boring after awhile! We do fruit, but mostly just grapes or apples. I'd love some new creative ideas on what I can send in for her that she'll love and want to continue to eat!
Thanks for any ideas : )

Winner of the Cover Girl Smokey Eye Kit!

And the winner is.....  Cheryl F. -The Lucky Ladybug!
I will be sending an email shortly for you to claim your prize!

Thanks to all that entered and check back soon, I have some great giveaways coming up, including CSN STores, and Anytime Costumes!!!

Cover Girl Smoky Eye Kit Review and Giveaway!!!

I have always had a hard time getting that Smoky look I see all the stars wearing, so I usually tend to stay away from it. Give me one color shadow, some mascara, and that's all I'm used to. BUT, now thanks to Cover Girl's Smoky Eye kits, I have finally gotten to wear the Smoky eyes I've been looking at others wear!
And, it's so easy, even my 7 year old daughter can do it!

Thanks to Cover Girl and MyBlog Spark, I was sent 3 kits to try out, Glam, Natural, and Bold. My favorite was the Glam look, black and silvery shadow that made my eyes pop like crazy! It's great for going out at night, or just wanting to feel glamourous! I've been wearing the Natural kit almost every day, and it still amazes me what a difference it makes on my eyes! The Bold is nice too, but I would probably only wear that one for special occasions, it is a blue shadow and I just didn't like how it looked on me. 
What I really loved about these kits is that there were step by step instructions on how to apply all of it. THAT is what I've been needing, something to read and look at, so I know exactly what I'm doing! So finally, thanks to Cover Girl, I can  have the eyes I've been wanting for a long time! My hubby kept telling me how bright my eyes looked while he was snapping pics, (which will be up here as soon as he gets them to me!), and my green eyes needed something for that!
If you would like to try these kits, Walmart has everything you need to get your own fabulous Smoky eyes!

Want to win a kit of your own? All you have to do is head here and let me know which kit you'd like to try most! (Mandatory entry)

Extra entries-

1. Become a subscriber ( 2 entries)

2. Become a follower ( 2 entries)

3. Follow on Twitter and tweet giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)

4. Grab my button ( 3 entries, leave link)

5. Blog about this giveaway ( 3 entries, leave link)

Giveaway will end August 29th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, winner will be notified via email.
Thanks to Cover Girl and MyBlogSpark!



Disclaimer- CoverGirl provided me with the CoverGirl Smoky Eye kit and information,  through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Happy Birthday Ashley, I miss you so much : (

Today is my little sister Ashley's birthday, she would of been 26. She passed away when she was 20 months old, due to heart problems. I miss her every day, no matter how many years go by, I always wonder what she would look like, what she would be doing right now, and if she would be healthy. When I found out I was having a daughter 7 years ago, I decided I wanted to name her after my little sister. My daughter acts JUST like my sis!
I wish I could remember all of the time she was here, but now I have to look at pictures to get back those memories. And the one thing I wish over and over I could forget, I can't. Why can't I erase that bad day, and keep all the good days?
I
No matter how hard I try, I can't forget that. I'd trade it for just one memory of me and my sister together, but I guess life doesn't work that way.
I love you Ashley, I miss you more than words can say. I know you're looking down on us, probably giggling that my daughter has your stubborness, but she also has your beauty and spunk, so I'm so glad I named her after you! Happy Birthday Ashley!

A Call for Help!

Hi everyone!
I was wondering if I could ask you all a favor? My family is hosting a Benefit for my sisters boyfriend, who was shot in the eye with a BB gun last month! He has already had 2 surgeries but the Dr's have NOT been able to remove the bullet yet! Sadly, they don't think he will ever regain sight in his eye, and worse yet, he is a Tattoo artist, so he's been pretty bummed out : (
If you, or you know anyone who might be able to help us out with prize donations, I would be sooo forever grateful to you! ANY donation is great, we are having a regular raffle, and later in the evening we will be having a Silent Auction for some larger prizes. We are thankful for anything, and if I can, I will feature you on my blog, along with having info at the benefit!
I thank you for any help you guys can give, I've been up the past few nights emailing like crazy!! So forgive me if I'm rambling, just gettting tired, lol!
Thank you all again!!!

Band Tees Giveaway at Networking Witches!

I found an awesome giveaway and a new site that is quickly becoming a favorite of mine tonight! Over at Networking Witches, they are having a giveaway to win a VERY cool AC/DC backpack from Band-tees.com! Oh my son would LOVE it, and would probably have to hide it from Dad, lol! My hubby has been "training" our son to love AC/DC since he's been in my belly, and we can't wait to get him to his first AC/DC concert!
If you'd like a chance to win this awesome back pack, for your child, or yourself, head over to Networking Witches and get your entries in!
Contest ends Aug. 10th!

Summer Bloggers Swap from The Mommy Files!

Well, the time has come... for a Summer Blogger Swap! I'm so excited, I've participated in all of her swaps since I started blogging! I have met some great bloggers and gotten some neat gifts too!

If you'd like to join in this swap, head over to The Mommy Files and sign up, I guarantee you'll have fun!!

My Review of Tiger 2-Quart Saucepot with Glass Cover

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

This pot is ideal for slow cooking sauces, soups, and stews while reducing the content. The Tiger cookware saucepot is made from aluminum which is a great conductor of heat and a strong metal. This 2-quart sauce pot is part of the Tiger Collection which offers a variety of stockpots, saucepots and...

Tiger 2-Quart Saucepot with Glass Cover

Perfect pot for cooking!

By Kristy from Winfield, IL on 7/24/2010

 

5out of 5

Pros: Non-Stick, Dishwasher Safe

Describe Yourself: Casual Cook

I purchased this Saucepot mainly because it was a good price. After recieving it I put it to the test right away, and I LOVE it! I have made Spaghetti sauce, Mac and Cheese, Soup, and Pasta in it so far, and everything came out wonderful. And, it is very easy to clean, nothing stuck, and rinsed out easily!
I would definetly recommned this pot to anyone, a casual cooker or a Proffesional cook would benefit from this Saucepot!

(legalese)

I've been gone for too long!

I just wanted to write an update, and apologize to everyone for not getting up to speed as I wanted to! The past few weeks have been just plain crazy, and every time I finally think we're back to normal, BAM!, something else happens and sets me back!
Right now my Mom is in the hospital, last Sunday she had an asthma attack and it got so bad my Dad called an ambulance for her. Turns out she has Pneumonia, and as of today she is still in the hospital. Only, it's now not due to the Pneumonia, it's because the meds they are giving her have been spiking her heart rate up very high, and now the Dr.s have decided to keep her in the Cardiac unit for a few days. After hearing that, I am just flat out scared! : ( My mom is not only my Ma, she's pretty much everything to me, my best friend, and I just want her better, and home!! I wish I could take her place in there, because she hates hospitals and I strange as it sounds, don't mind having to stay in the hospital. Having people tend to me and bring me food, well, sounds good to me! All kidding aside, if you read this and you pray, could you please say a little one for my Mom?
Soooo, as much as I'd like to just try and relax a bit this weekend, I don't see it happening! I'm hoping sometime next week I will have my latest reviews up and will be able to get a few of my new giveaways up!!

Thanks and hope you all have a great weekend!!

If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have NO luck at all!

Sometimes I think I have a permanent black cloud floating over my head! It seems like just when I think our life is finally getting back to normal, BAM, here comes a crap storm! If it wasn't for my kids, I think I'd pack up and leave, go somewhere far, far away, to never be heard from again.
I know that we make our own happiness, we create our own problems, etc., but for some reason, no matter how hard I try to do the right thing, something bad happens to me, my family, everyone around me. Mabye I'm just the family bad luck charm.
I'm so sick of hearing, "Don't worry, things will get better soon!", because they DON'T! Every time I think we've finally hit rock bottom, nope, we can still go farther down. It's tiring, I'm exhausted, and just don't know what to do anymore.
This is a mix of money problems, not being able to find a job, not feeling like myself anymore, and just feeling useless altogether.
I guess I do have to say that thru all of this, the hubby and the kids are what keep me going, even though sometimes I feel like I'm not doing anything worthwhile for them. I just wish I could wake up one day, and know it was going to be a GOOD day, for once!
Well, just another rambling post, thanks for listening, and mabye tomorrow will finally be a GOOD day for me!

My school supply shopping challenge!

Since I was a kid, I've always loved school supply shopping! My entire family thinks I'm a little goody because of it, but to me, there's nothing like a brand new box of crayons, or a fresh, blank notebook!
My kids have been in school for years now, and every year we get the letter about the School supply kits for sale. I throw it right in the trash, because this is what I look forward to, to kick off the school year!
This year, I got the kids supply lists early, and I've already gotten some great deals! Both kids will need at least 2 1 inch binders, normally they are around $3-4, but I picked up 4 of them for $.37 each! Jewel is having a Closeout on tons and tons of school stuff, office supplies, and I'm racking up the savings because of it!
So, my challenge to myself is to purchase all of the supplies, hopefully WAY under what the premade kits cost! I'll be tracking my progress here in the next weeks! Let me know if YOU find any great deals!