The K’NEXpert Search

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Love K'NEX? Or know someone who does? Maybe your own child is a K'NEXpert!!! You'll want to hear about this great contest....

K'NEX is kicking off it's annual building contest called the K'NEXpert Search. During this search three lucky K'NEX builders will receive $10,000 in savings bonds for college. There will also be additional winners as well. Seven of them across all age groups will each receive $1,000 savings bonds, ten winners will receive $500 worth of free K'NEX building sets as well as a trip for three to New York City for the K'NEXpert Award Ceremony, and their very own photo gallery page at www.knex.com. All Semi-finalists and finalists will receive disoucnts on online purchases for a year, K'NEX gear, a K'NEX birthday gift, and an invitation to visit the K'NEX headquarters.

The K'NEXpert Search runs from now through Sept. 30, 2008 and the winners will be announced on or about Oct. 28, 2008. Children can enter by printing out the entry form from the K'NEX website and then mailing it in to K'NEX. All submissions must include a photo of the creation as well as a one-minute video or one-page summery describing how the child came up with their idea, how long it took to build and how many K'NEX pieces were used.

Visit http://knex.com/club/becoming_knexpert.php if your interested in finding out more about this great contest from K'NEX.

Baby Einstein's 10 Years of Discovery!

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Baby Einstein is celebrating ten years of discovery! Recently Mom Central had the privilege of attending the celebration last week which was hosted by the companies founder Julie Clark as well as celeb Jennifer Garner!

Now I never used the Baby Einstein videos with my girls, it just wasn't my thing. But I know many many mother's friends, and family who swear by the videos and who's kids enjoy them so much I thought maybe a few of you would be interested in seeing some of the video's that were shot at the celebration.

Video 1: Puppet Show
This video is something you can enjoy with your own children. It's a live puppet show that's sure to bring some giggles.

Video 2: Julie Clark Speech
This video capture Julie Clark's speech remembering the beginning of Baby Einstein and the company's astonishing growth over ten years.

Video 3: Jennifer Garner Speech
This video features Jennifer Garner speaking about the job she experienced as a parent enjoying Baby Einstein products.

Hope you enjoy the videos. Are you a fan of Baby Einstein? How much do you and your kids enjoy them, feel free to share.

Great Giveaways...

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Some of my bloggy friends have some great giveaways going on right now. Feel free to check them out and enter yourself. If you have a giveaway going on on your own blog, or know of a great giveaway please, feel free to comment and let us know where to enter!!!

A Daycare Life

• Win A Soda Club black/silver fountain jet starter kit (ends 9/10)
• Win your choice of Teeny Towels from Parents of Invention (ends 9/8)

Mommy Daddy Blog

• Win a Matchmaster Soccer Game (ends 8/31)

Leslie's Life

• Win a From*Me Tee (ends 9/5)

Red Sox Mommy

• Win lip balm from Lip Stuff (ends 9/3)

Something Snappy

• Win a Garden Of Eve skincare sample kit (ends 9/4)
  

So annoying...

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This job hunt thing is so annoying... I'm not the one looking for the job, but I have just as much invested in this as Rodney does. I scour the internet each day sending out resumes and filling out applications for him and then he goes on the interviews.

We've got a #1 pick, and things sound promising but the whole process is so long and overdrawn, here we are struggling with unemployment and waiting for something to come along. But Rodney will continue with their process as it's a high paying job and something he'd like to do. Until we get a 'You're Hired' from them, he continues to look for something. He's already been offered a job, but the base pay is much less than what we've been living on int he past, and have still been struggling to get by like everyone else. Today he went on a second interview and had to 'job shadow' for a few hours, so we figured by doing that by the end of his time there he'd probably have a job offer. Or so we wished. This place had a higher base pay than the job he has already been offered for so we've been waiting to accept the offer just in case. Well, he didn't get offered the job, they told him at the end of his time there this morning, that they need to compare notes, call their regional manager and then he'd get a call to either have a phone interview with their regional manager OR drive to Akron (a few hours away) to meet him for ANOTHER interview......

The process for these companies are amazing... This job above isn't even the greatest pay either, it's still less than what he was making yet they have a 5 billion step process to get hired. He's not sure what to do, just go to to the first place that's already offered him the job and go through their drug screen etc and accept the offer and if something else comes around to take it. The only thing is, if you accept the job, he starts next week and if something else better comes along, he's got to find a way out to go to an interview.

This whole thing is stressful, gas and time wasting and just annoying.....Our #1 is the only thing we're being patient for and if they say yes, if he's employed somewhere else he's gone for them because they're a 6 figure job. It's just the in between's and what if's. He doesn't want to throw the job offer that he has out the window to wait for something better and then we end up with nothing, so it's a WWYD sort of thing? Anyone have any advice? Should he take the low paying job just to jump ship soon if something better comes along? Or just continue to wait it out?

This just becomes more stressful as time goes on, if we had the money stacked back and could wait it wouldn't be an issue, but we don't.....Unemployment doesn't pay much, but this job doesn't pay much more, the heads just turn and ugh, the frustration just lingers in this house, our entire life is on hold for these companies..........

Figuring out with the money we get from unemployment, the first job offer would only be a $60 a month difference. That won't even cover insurance. I think we've probably talked it out enough and made up our minds that he should probably turn this offer down, if he accepted it would be harder to find something else that pays better, no time for interviews or anything while making only $60 more a month doesn't seem worth it in the long run.

Circle of Friends Winner

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The winner of the All Star Collection Lunch Bag Gift Set from Circle of Friends which includes A colorful insulated lunch bag, Leilani’s Halakahiki Lotion (8oz), Chehn’s Mandarin Orange Sudsy Sponge, and Niklas’ Mint Chocolate Buddy Bar Soap, is..........










Commenter #112
micaela6955 said...

I subscribe to your feed.

micaela6955 at msn dot com

CONGRATS micaela!!! I'll be contacting you via email soon... Don't forget to check out the rest of my great reviews/giveaways going on throughtout my blog now!!!

The to-do list just keeps piling up now...

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Sometimes this just gets depressing. I feel really bad, Rodney is looking so hard for a job he’s had some offers but honestly nothing that great. Right now he makes more with unemployment rather than taking a part time call center gig. He’s had an offer for employment with Konica-Minolta but we’re still thinking about it. Right now, he’s at an interview and job shadow with another company, and we’re still waiting to hear more about our #1 choice which is looking promising.

Before all of this happened we were doing great, we were starting to get the house done starting with the outside and now it’s put on hold. One of the things I was hoping to start doing before any of this happened was to repaint or replace the old and ugly exterior shutters on the house. I guess right now when we’re short on cash repainting them would be the cheapest way to go to get them to look great again, but they’re so old I really want to replace them. I guess this just goes on the list of ‘to-do’s’ once we can afford it again.

My Mom Hugs Trees

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Sometimes as mom’s we tend to do some weird things, well according to our kids anyways. I mean really, we might think we’re ‘cool’, but in reality, we’re just doing one thing or another that embarrasses our children. Thankfully mine haven’t hit the stage yet, where I’m an embarrassment to them.

One book that show’s some of the weird things mom’s can do is called My Mom Hugs Trees, written by Robyn Ringgold and illustrated by Vidya Vasudevan. This story book is about a mother who not only hugs trees, but she also talks to plants, rescues bugs, plants seeds from already eaten fruit and ask the flowers permission to pick them. Yup, it’s a ‘tree hugger’ mom! This book is so cute, and it’s a rhyming book as well. My girls just adore it, and although I’m not a ‘tree hugging mom’ myself, it’s a great book to engage the children in a better way to treat the earth and enjoy life.

My Mom Hugs Trees is published by Solar Publishing who themselves promote cultural awareness, planetary responsibility and holistic living. They combine energy and passion, creativity and genuine interest in enhancing life on this planet. While educating and uplifting our youth so that they may live responsibly and be equipped to make conscious choices as they grow up, Solar Publishing also focuses to nourish their minds and help them feel connected to the nature and diverse peoples in hopes that they understand themselves and their role on the planet.

Solar Publishing also prints their books on wood-free recycled paper through their partnership with Trees For The Future, for every book that is sold, a tree is planted in its place.
I highly recommend the book My Mom Hugs Trees; it’s a fun and interesting book with some great illustrations. At least you can say you’re not the only weird mom once your kids read this!

Get outta my way!

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During my daily morning routine, washing my face, applying makeup whichever, it’s always a pain to get my hair tied back and keep it out of the way, especially with those stray pieces that seem to get in the way, I have very long hair, like past the middle of my back, and there’s a lot of it, so sometimes just simply tying it back isn’t enough.

Welcome the Tassi!

Tassi is a great product that I found that makes it simple and easy to keep hair out of your face. It looks simple, and you might think at first, why the heck would I need that when I can just tie my hair back? Well, like I mentioned above sometimes you get those stray pieces even though you’ve tied your hair back, that get in the way, they stick to your face once you’ve got your makeup on and it’s very annoying. Tassi is the solution to that, it keeps everything back, off, and away from your face, it also doesn’t mess up your hair if you’ve already blown it out, or straightened it by twisting it, kinking it or even flattening it.

Tassi is comfortable. It’s made of a stretchy terry cloth and goes on easily in three easy steps. It not only holds your hair back, but it lifts it off of your face before even doing so. This product is a must for washing your face, applying your makeup, or for any other reason you need your hair out of your way and your face. Tassi is a one size fits most solution, its machine washable, and easy to use, this is a must have, especially if you have long hair, although it’s suitable for everyone with hair of any length, I just have experience with the Tassi with my long hair, and I just love it.

Tassi comes in 12 different colors including hot pink, soft pink, white, chocolate brown, tan, lavender, powder blue, lime green, tangerine, turquoise, chili pepper red, and black. It also retails for $14.99. Visit www. tassicompany.com for more information.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED WINNER ANNOUNCED!!!

Win your very own Tassi right here….That’s right Tassi has agreed to do a giveaway with my readers. There will be five (5) lucky readers chosen to win a powder blue Tassi of their very own. All you have to do is visit the Tassi website and come back here telling me something about the Tassi Company.

This giveaway is open to those with a US mailing address ONLY!!! And is open to non bloggers, PLEASE just remember if your blog profile is private, or you’re a non blogger, leave an email address or your entry will be disqualified....Winner will be chosen via random.org

For extra entries (please leave each extra giveaway in a separate comment, each will earn you an extra entry):
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link
• Stumble this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email
• Add my blog to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar

Giveaway Ends Sept. 2, 2008 @ 11:59pm EST

GIVEAWAY CLOSED WINNER ANNOUNCED!!!

Light the way...

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Sometimes it's so dark at night in this house. Trying to save money, not all the lights go on now all of the time. We have the hardest time in our stairway going up to our second floor, there needs to be a light put in there because it's pitch black if the downstairs and upstairs lights are all off. Maybe it's time to invest in a Surefire 6P flashlight to light our way up and down the stairs at night. That way there's no fear of missing steps and well, falling down, or up the stairs.

Bobbin' Boogily's

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Rocket USA has done it once again. If you remember last month I had a giveaway for some really unique, ugly but cute at the same time, Boogily Bunnies and Stitch Kittens (review). The comments you guys left were so great, and there was so much interest in some of these unique toys, Rocket USA has decided to do yet another giveaway for some very unique and fun toys for your kiddos, or even yourself!

I’d like to introduce you to Boogily Heads. These fun, cute little creatures offer some bobble head action, while creating a unique sense of fun at the same time. Again, designed by artist Gus Fink they were made exclusively for Rocket USA. These cute little creatures come with their own unique and collectible Mini Comix written and illustrated by Gus Fink himself.

These characters are one of a kind, and once again my girls enjoyed these little ones immensely. With their unique look, even my girly girls were once again amazed and happy to play with them. They’ve transformed their doll house into a Boogily Head house and that’s where they live and play all day! The one-of-a-kind characters each have a name of their own and come from the original Gus Fink sculptures that were reproduced into these one of a kind items that stands 1.75” to 2.25”. Even with the ‘raw and gritty’ details and imperfections, the girls love them just the same. It’s great to be able to give them some unique toys and see where their imagination takes them, the toys don’t look perfect, have no resemblance to anything else they own, and can easily be seen with the girls on a daily when they’re playing in their room, their imagination just soars with the interaction each Boogily Head does with one another.

WIN a Boogily Head for yourself!!! Since we found out last time how much my readers love to see these very unique toys from Rocket USA, they again have given me a chance to let you guys win your very own little Boggily Head creature. Five (5) lucky readers will get their chance to choose their own Boogily Head and have them shipped directly to them! All you have to do to enter to win a Boogily Head for yourself is visit the Boogily Head website and leave a comment telling me which Boogily Head you’d love to win. You can view all the different Boogily Heads available by looking here.

This giveaway is open to those with a US mailing address ONLY!!! And is open to non bloggers, PLEASE just remember if your blog profile is private, or you’re a non blogger, leave an email address or your entry will be disqualified....Winner will be chosen via random.org

For extra entries (please leave each extra giveaway in a separate comment, each will earn you an extra entry):
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link
• Stumble this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email
• Add my blog to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar

Giveaway Ends Sept. 16, 2008 @ 11:59pm EST

Too busy to create your own website?

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Do you want to have your own website but are too busy to take the time to learn how to create it yourself? Would you rather have a professional do it for you? There’s a great web design company that takes the guess work out of building your own website and has great and creative packages to help you get the site you’ve always dreamed of. Network Solutions Web Design Services have designed over 2,000 websites with their expert graphic designers who use the latest web design techniques. All of the designers are based in the USA and dedicated full-time professionals. They deliver on time, within your budget and charge less than most design agencies.

When you look at the great packages at Network Solutions, you’ll find that they are designed with your best interest and each package carries something that you’ll be looking for and find useful to your design. From basic packages to a complete web design package, you’ll find what you need.

Network Solutions listens and provides one-on-one consultations with a professional Web designer to discuss your requirements. They then create and transform your idea into a workable web site that’s fresh, appealing and user friendly. With your newly designed professional site you’ll get that boost for your business with attractive site visitors and marketers will want to come to.

My child the comedian...

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Me and my husband are sitting here watching CNN and the democratic convention. Now, we don't really agree on politics especially with this election. Granted, I'm not a US citizen so I cannot vote, I wish I could, but that doesn't mean I still can't voice my opinion.

My political belief's are not up for debate here, it's just a story I wish to share with my readers. I for one am not on the Obama train, I am a big Hilary fan, and there are some things they don't agree on, and like that, there's things I don't agree with Obama on. And frankly, the man scares me but I won't go into that, it has nothing to do with experience or anything it's just a personal issue I have with him. I'm a big Hilary supporter and will stand by that.

My husband however, is a big Obama supporter and has been from the start, so we get into little arguments here and there about the two of them and my 'hatered' of Obama.

We were just talking and someone on CNN stated that Hilary thinks she's the better candidate, to which I announced outloud, "That's because she is!". My husband than chimed in and said no she's not. I thought I would be funny and kid around with him and say, well that's just because you don't like white women, to which he replied: yes, I have issues with white women and laughed. Lyric, my oldest decided she needed to chime in and turned to me after Rodney said that and said to me: "Well then why does he like you?".

We just sat here ROLLING on the floor laughing so hard, I have got to say she made my mood much better and I haven't laughed that hard in such a long time....

Flexflop Winner Announced.

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We've got our winner for their very own pair of Flexflop's. I'm telling you, if you didn't win, find out where you can get your pair, these are beyond comfortable, at least I think so, and perfect to take with you everywhere you go.

The lucky winner of a pair of their very own Flexflop's is.....













Commenter #163
mary512 said...

So many good ones. I am going on a cruise in a few weeks so I like the 'cocktails' flex flops. Great giveaway, thanks!

CONGRATS MARY!! I'll be emailing you shortly to get your information.

In all honesty...

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In reality, yea my kids are like a lot of others, either honest when they shouldn’t be, or not honest when they should be. Sometimes though, its fun to let those little imperfections shine and be honest about them, no one is perfect so why lie about it! Honestbaby reminds us all about those little imperfections that our kids might have and even share with others. They remind us that there is no perfect parent!

Honestbaby was founded by a mom who was just frustrated by the pressures of being the perfect parent, so she decided to let it out publically and sell some really great tee’s for kids and babies with funny sayings on them, sayings that remind us all to laugh and accept the imperfections, because we all have them.

My favorite shirt that I have for my youngest is “Sharing is overrated”. Now who would be one to announce to another parent, my child doesn’t like to share and be proud of it? Well, now you can be (sort of) and get the little chuckles with it at the same time, while having your child look super cute in a t-shirt.

Visit honestbaby.com for more ‘witty’ tee’s that will make you chuckle at the little imperfections your child may share. Join in on ‘Celebrating the imperfect journey of parenting’, and have an honest baby yourself.

The Pain!

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For the past week or so, I've had pain that I've never felt before. At the age of 30, I didn't think I'd have to worry about this pain anymore, but apparently I do, and I'm teething!!!!!

Yes, well maybe not exactly, but now I know why my kids were so cranky especially when their molars were coming in. I have a tooth ache like none other, and the fact is, I think it's an impacted wisdom tooth. Right now I have to grin and bare it because of no dental insurance, well no insurance at all in fact. Motrin seems to be taking the pain away for now, but it's kicking my butt!! I'm not one to take medication, in fact, I can't even swallow pills. So children's Motrin is what's been sliding down my throat for the past 12 hrs straight. And it's making me very very sleepy! As I sit here and try to blog, try to keep myself awake, i'm loosing the battle fast.....In the next few minutes to an hour, I can see myself peacefully asleep on my couch, with no more pain, and dreaming of the peaceful silence that I'll have!

A scent all your own...

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Wouldn't it be nice to have one of those fragrance lines that all those highly paid celebs get? Something you have the say in, something you can create, something that can smell exactly like you want it to? Well, thanks to ScentDesign.net everyone can now have their own fragrance line (so to speak). Scent Design has over 50 premium scented oils, so there's really something there for just about anyone.

A little about ScentDesign.net. They were launched in the summer of '06 but the idea behind Scent Design is much older. Working in a bath and body shop the creator of Scent Design noticed that there was a service that had yet to be brought to a logical conclusion. Things lke "Fragrance Bars" had been around since the 70's yet they were hard to find and really only now exsisted in exclusive areas. After doing some research the creator then realized, they were the only one with this idea and it looked like something BIG!

And BIG is what I think it is. I'm very picky with my fragrances, and also, when it comes to a lot of scents, most of them are floral and just make me sneeze and sneeze and sneeze. So when I got the chance to create my own fragrance wtih Scent Design, I jumped at the chance. My scent of raspberry, green tea with a little bit of honey just smells amazing, I love it, and I'm sure i'll be back for more since I can now create my own, I can have whatever scent I want. Designing my scent was so easy and fast and I got my scent mailed to me in a nice roller ball bottle that I can take anywhere with me.

So give it a whirl, try your chance at expressing yourself through your own taste in fragrance, head to www.scentdesign.net and check out the many ways you can create your next favorite scent.

WIN IT!!!!

A Wrestling Addicted Mommy's Blog is giving away a custom fragrance to one lucky winner.
To enter all you have to do is visit ScentDesign.net and leave a comment in this post and include your unique fragrance! You can choose something simple, like 1 fragrance, or make a combination of up to five different scents. Be creative, make your own unique scent. If you're not entirely sure what would smell great together you can visit Scent Designs recipe page and find some popular combination's.

Here's what you'll win if you're chosen the lucky winner:

• Two Full 1oz Bottles (You can choose up to 5 fragrances for each bottle)
• Two Empty 1/3oz Roller Ball Applicator Bottles (you can pour your scent from your 1oz bottles into the roller ball applicator and take it with you where ever you go)

The creators at Scent Design will then mix up your personal unique scent and ship it directly to you!!!

This giveaway is open to those WORLDWIDE!!! And is open to non bloggers, PLEASE just remember if your blog profile is private, or you’re a non blogger, leave an email address or your entry will be disqualified....Winner will be chosen via random.org

For extra entries (please leave each extra giveaway in a separate comment, each will earn you an extra entry):
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link
• Stumble this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email
• Add my blog to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar

Giveaway Ends Sept. 1, 2008 @ 11:59pm EST

Daily Freebies!!!

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~ MailFinity.net Free Eraser Set (US & Canada)

~ Free Sample of Stetson Rich Suede

~ Walgreens Free Kotex Sample Pack

~ Walmart Free Sample of Wholesome Goodness Meow Mix

~ Greenies Free Sample of Pill Pockets Pet Treats (Canada)

~ Dove Free Samples of Dove Hair Therapy

~ Valuemags 2 free Issues of Family Circle

~ NEI Free Sample of Silk Almond Serum with Jojoba

~ SoBe-Dog Free Dog ID-Tag

~ Hugo Say It Free Fragrance Sample

Fiber Gourmet Winner...

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Sorry guys for the late post about who the winner of either a 12 pack of Mac & Cheese or a Full Sized Pasta Sampler from Fiber Gourmet is. I can give you some sort of excuse, but well, that wouldn't be honest. In all honesty. I forgot that this had ended.

But here I am to announce the winner. As usual, the winner was chosen from Random.org.....
.










Commenter #83
julie d said...

Yummmo! Garlic pasta sounds tasty!

I'd like to win the full size sample.

Congrats Julie, I hope you enjoy your pasta sampler once it arrives, I'll be in contact via email shortly!

Cabbage Patch Kids

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Think way back to the year 1983. What do you remember? According to history the Chicken McNugget was first introduced, McEnroe won Wimbledon, The Big Chill was released, and one of the things probably most remembered Cabbage Patch Kids were EVERYWHERE!!!

How many of you remember the frenzy and craziness that our parents endured to get us one of those coveted, cute and unique little dolls. I remember seeing on TV the craziness surrounding them, the hordes of parents that would do anything to make sure that their kids had one under the tree at Christmas time. Did you get one? I know I did.

I remember mine, she had blond hair and a pink and white dress, and to this day and I still have her. I don’t remember her name, no longer have her adoption papers but she’s still a part of me, and a member of my family. She’s now been played with by my two girls, she’s now naked, and has no clothing, but they love her just the same.

This September is the 25th anniversary of the first Cabbage Patch Kids. These dolls were a cultural phenomenon and a milestone, and although our kids today do have their own versions, somehow there is nothing more special than the ones we held close. For the 25th Anniversary a limited edition series has been made to match the original 1983 design and style. Each one-of-a-kind commemorative ‘Kid will be an exact reproduction of an original, using the original molds, sculpts and exact materials of the classics. They’ll have the same faces, clothing and names.

On September 9th, you can pick up that adorable sweet faced kid that you once possessed as a child and perhaps get it as a great gift for your own, or someone else special in your life. The ‘Kids will come in a beautiful keepsake packaging and they will have a special ‘25th Anniversary’ Xavier Roberts signature, a ‘silver anniversary’ baby spoon and a commemorative silver stamped 25th Anniversary Birth Certificate and Adoption Papers.

Thanks to Team Mom, we got our own special 25th Anniversary Cabbage Patch Kid, and I was in for a shock and a memory. Maryanne Adeline is a new member of our household, and she looks IDENTICAL to my ‘Kid that I owned as a child. It was so surprising to see her back in action, clothed and in a box again. My girls were just thrilled to see her and introduce her to her long lost twin sister and her other new friends.

The 25th Anniversary Cabbage Patch Kids retail for $29.99 and are for ages 3+. You can take a look at the Cabbage Patch Kids 25th Anniversary website on September 1st by visiting www.cabbagepatchkids25.com and don’t forget while you’re there to post your own memory about your first Cabbage Patch Kid. I’m sure there are a few of them out there who have them, tell your story, I’m sure we can all relate one way or another, and I’d love to hear them as well.

The first steps in creating your own website

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A lot of people really don’t have a clue where to start when wanting to start their own website, or even having their own domain name and blog hosted, or any online venture that you want to start on your own accord. You need to learn how to prepare yourself, your time, and your site before you get started in order to be successful.

You need to learn and start with the basics; simply by searching on the web you can find a lot of helpful websites and articles. The first step to owning a website should be your website name and choosing a domain name, there’s so many variables to thinking of a good name, and that’s what will represent your site, so it’s the perfect place to start. Your next step is to find a host where your website will be hosted. Don’t always fall for the cheapest hosting, that offers the most bandwidth, GB’s and more, the cheapest usually turns out to be a fraud and you’ll find you have many issues with their server after a while, especially if you rack up a decent amount of traffic to your site. Do your research and ask people, also visit some great sites that can be found on that net that does ratings for website hosting. Those are the best places to look when you’re starting out, places that have customer reviews and real ratings so you can find the best host for you.

Overall, try not to be overwhelmed, there’s a lot of help out there to learn how to start your own site, you just have to take the time to do the research and get it done right.

6 Wonderful Years

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Yesterday me and Rodney celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. I can't believe that has been 6 years already, time sure does fly. 6 years, and 2 brats, drama queens, beautiful children later we're still around and as in much love as we were the day the picture was taken on our wedding day.

Once again we didn't really do much at all yesterday, with the current circumstances going on about being unemployed there wasn't really much we could do. We did the usual boring thing at home all day, and then we decided, we needed a treat, we had to do something. So we got dressed and took the girls and we went to Red Robin for dinner. We had a great time. I just keep wondering WHEN we'll actually be able to celebrate an anniversary, to this date we have yet to do anything, either I was pregnant, or we are broke, or now, jobless. We didn't even get a honeymoon when we were married.

Our plan was that on our 5 year wedding anniversary we'd take a trip somewhere together, the plan was to go to Disney, but then we felt bad because that's something we should be doing with the girls, and well, we were also broke. So we went overnight and left the girls with Rodney's parents and we went to a WWE Match. Boring? I think not, as you all know that's one of my passions, so I was perfectly happy with that.

My plan is, that on our 10 year anniversary we ARE going to go somewhere, no matter what, alone, no kids, basking in the sunshine SOMEWHERE and if we don't, someone is going to get their head blown off lol.

So, I wish my wonderful husband a Happy 6 Year Anniversary, and I can't wait to spend the next 600 years (or so lol) loving him to death!

Princess Linens Winner

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Thanks to everyone who entered to win the Doodlebugz Crayola Crayon Purse from Princess Linens.

The winner was chosen randomly using random.org














Commenter #58
stacey moore said...

the scrubs are too cute!! we would love to win a pink striped crayon purse!

thanks!
moore.g at insideconnect.net

Congrats Stacey, I'll be in contact via email shortly....

Make Money and Be Profitable

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You’ve heard all the claims before I’m sure. Make millions selling on ebay, make millions working from home on the internet. Yes, most of those claims are false, it takes a lot of work and time to make any money online, there’s way to many scams and things out there that discourage people from actually taking an idea and running with it to make some great income. A lot of people are surprised with how much I make online doing various things, there’s a way to go about doing it, and a way not to.

A great book I was introduced to recently helps those out there who really want to make some great income on the internet. I’m still reading through my copy, but so far, there’s been some great and helpful advice and chapters on how to actually make a profitable income online with the right skill and the right tools.

The Book: Internet Riches – The Simple Money-Making Secrets of Online Millionaires
The Author: Scott Fox

About The Book: In Internet Riches, top e-business consultant Scott Fox reveals the powerful but simple strategies that he and other entrepreneurs have used to start and build their million-dollar enterprises. Packed with interviews, action plans, and a nuts-and-bolts overview of everything you need to know to design and market your e-business, the book gives you clear insights into the most promising e-business opportunities out there (including instant e-businesses that require almost NO start-up capital); powerful action plans for brainstorming new business ideas, plus guidelines on pre=testing them before investing a single penny; and inspiring examples of innovative companies that grew out of a single great idea. This is the most powerful guide ever to finding financial freedom online!

About The Author: Scott Fox is the top e-business consultant in Hollywood, where his clients have included Bill O’Reilly and Larry King. He is a frequent speaker of e-business and entrepreneurship at universities, including NYU, USC, and UCLS, and at conferences such as Digital Hollywood and Internet World. He has been featured on radio programs nationwide, as well as in The Boston Globe, the Orange County Register, Toronto Globe & Mail, and Smart Money magazine. He has taught “Internet Riches” at the Learning Annex. Scott lives in Los Angeles, California and blogs at www.ScottFox.com

I am really into this book right now, I’m intrigued by having my own online business and this book so far is giving some great insight on the right way to do it to be profitable. This isn’t a book about how to “Get Rich Quick”, it’s a great read for those who are serious about making any profit online with a business. I should be through the entire thing very soon, but wanted to let you all know about it while it was fresh in my mind. Especially for us bloggers looking to turn a profit and making our blog just the beginning of a business venture, I would recommend this book highly!

I almost forgot to mention that Scott's book has been the #1 best seller on both Amazon.com's E-Commerce list and High Tech Careers list, his book Internet Riches has also been the #1 best seller in the UK as well on Amazon.co.uk's E-Commerce list, so you know this is a great book to have if your looking at an online venture and how to make money with it.

You can buy Internet Riches online at Amazon.com and while your there, check out all the great and rave reviews this book has received.

WIN A COPY OF INTERNET RICHES

If you’d like to read this book for yourself (and I encourage you too if you are thinking of starting an Internet Venture or have already) this is where you can get yourself your very own copy. I’ll be giving away five (5) copies of the book Internet Riches to my readers. All you have to do to be entered to win is tell me why you think you’d benefit from reading this book.

This giveaway is open to those with a US Mailing Address only, and is open to non bloggers, PLEASE just remember if your blog profile is private, or you’re a non blogger, leave an email address or your entry will be disqualified....Winner will be chosen via random.org

For extra entries (please leave each extra giveaway in a separate comment, each will earn you an extra entry):
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link
• Stumble this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email
• Add my blog to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar

Giveaway Ends Aug. 29, 2008 @ 11:59pm EST

BabySteals.com

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It's always fun to shop, especially online when you just don't feel like getting out of the house. It's especially great when you happen upon a website that just has a ton of steals and deals.

I was introduced to a site recently called Babysteals.com and what a great site it is, daily BabySteals offers baby and maternity products as a 'deal of the day'. What they do is offer one quality baby or maternity product per day until it sells out. And it's not just junk that they have for sale, they actually offer popular and name brand baby and maternity products at 50 - 80% off the retail price.

Each day at 9am MST a new item is put up on the site and remains for sale until they are sold out. I wish I had known about this site when I was pregnant or needing baby items, I've looked around for a few days and the things they do put up are just a great deal, even with shipping.

Some of the products they've offered have been from well-known companies such as BabyLegs, Aden+ Anais, Signing Time, Melissa & Doug, Smart mom Jewelry, Dwell Studios and many many more. You need to be on your toes if you want to snag one of their daily deals though. 85% of the time, their deals sell out within the first two hours that they're posted.

If your in the market for a good deal on baby or maternity items, be sure to check out www.babysteals.com on a daily!

Be a little greener...

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Part of being a mom and wife is my daily duty of dish washing. Not the best part of the job, nor is it the most fun part of the job, but it’s something that has to be done on the daily, usually multiple times, and although I do have the convenience of a dishwasher, it just doesn’t do the job half the time. With so many dishes, it often makes you wonder, once the dishes are all scrubbed and cleaned, dried and put away, what exactly happens with the soapy, yucky dishwashing water that runs down the drain?

It’s not really something thought about by most in the past, but in this day and age, and with all our concerns about being ‘green’ and ‘eco-friendly’ a lot of these thoughts run through our mind right now. What goes down our household drains plays a big part with the impact of our environment and our quality of life. Clorox wants to help, and has introduced a great line of cleaning products called Green Works which strives to make it easier and more affordable for everyday families to hop on the ‘green’ train and start treating our earth right.

Green Works is a great line that carries household cleaners that work while using all natural, plant-based ingredients like coconuts and lemon oil therefore making their products biodegradable. Thanks to Mom Central, I recently had the chance to try out their Green Works Natural Dishwashing Liquid and it lives up to the Clorox name. It cuts through grease and baked-on food while having a nice refreshing scent. My dishes came out nice and clean and it’s nice to know that I’m playing my part to keep this earth just a little greener by using this product.

Green Works supports the efforts of the Sierra Club and wants to conserve clean air, water, and wildlife. Each of their Green Works line products also displays the Sierra Club logo. The EPA has also recognized Green Works Natural Dishwashing Liquid for using environmentally preferred chemistry and their logo is also proudly displayed on the Green Works products. Green Works Dishwashing Liquid comes in five scents: Original, Water Lily, tangerine, Fee & Clear and Simply Lemon. Although I’ve only gotten to try their Original scent, I can’t wait to try out the others as well, I’m sure they’ll have the light delightful scent just the same.

So, the next time you’re on your next grocery trip, or looking for some more dishwashing soap, be sure to check out the new Clorox Green Works Dishwashing Liquid and be a little greener yourself.

Daily Freebies...

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~ More Free Pedometer for the first 500

~ Walmart Free Sample of Cascade Action Pacs

~ Eukanuba Free Puppy Training DVD and $5 Coupon

~ Free Sample of Dunhill Pursuit (US, Canada & Europe)

~ Nivea Free Sample of Q10Plus Light Day Cream (UK)

~ Christina Aguilera Free Sample of Inspire Fragrance (US & UK)

~ Free Hair Care Product Sample

~ Walmart Free Sample of Tampax Pearl

Things seem to be moving...

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Things seem to be moving, maybe it's not as fast as we'd like or as much money as we'd like, but Rodney's job search is progressing.

He's now done a 3rd interview with a company today, this is the company we are crossing our fingers for. He also just got a job offer today from another company, now it's not nearly as much money as he was making before, but who's to say he still can't look if he accepts the offer. He also has a 2nd follow-up interview on Wednesday with another company and this company makes more money than the one who just gave him a job offer, but still less than what he was making.

So, he's making progress, at least we'll have some money coming in one way or another soon. We just keep hoping and praying that the first job, the one he just did the 3rd interview for comes through, that job would be a dream come true. Great pay, great benefits, at home office and only traveling overnight 2-3 days a week (which is great compared to his old job), the one common thing with all these new job prospects that is great. They're all Monday to Friday 9-5 jobs essentially. Rodney's last job was basically a 7am - 1am job 7 days a week. It was horrible.

So along with the new job search, comes a new look. My husband is a hottie!!! Rodney has had the same pair of glasses for exactly 6 years now, I remember he bought them just before we got married (and our anniversary is on Sunday the 24th). He also had LOTS of hair. He's grown his hair out for a while now, for work he'd usually slick it back into a pony tail, but for the pic, he combed it all out. He's also always had a beard as well, I mean he never had to look compleatly professional, his last job he ran a district and all the stores in his district were in truck stops, so you can imagine... He's cleaned himself up, has a new hair cut, new glasses, and he's lookin mighty fine and very professional now.
What do you think of the 'transformation'?????

I'm off for the weekend guys, we're thinking about just taking off to Canada to go visit my folks, but we're not 100% on that yet, it's the weekend, no one will call with job prospects but our luck for one reason or another someone will, so we might just stick around here.

Have a great one!

Great Bloggy Giveaways....

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Time for me to let you in on some great giveaways I've come across throughout the blogosphere...

Leslie's Life:

• Enter to win two free workbooks from Kumon Publishing (ends 8/31)

Red Sox Mommy:

• Enter to win one of three jars of P.B. Loco Peanut Butter (ends 9/1)

Stir-Crazy!:

• Enter to win a $50 Gift Certificate towards a Tuffet from Made By Mom (ends 9/3)
• Enter to win a pair of Nix All-Star Socks (ends 9/3)
• Enter to win a SpaKit from MomSpit (ends 8/25)

Something Snappy:

• Enter to win a bottle of Wild Blueberry Lotion (ends 8/29)
• Enter to win a microfiber cleaning cloth from Blue Wonder (ends 8/27)

An Island Life:

• Enter to win a Classic Cotton Backpack from Warm Biscuit (ends 8/29)
• Enter to win a Stuck On You Back to School Pack (ends 8/28)
  
• Enter to win a sample EZ Pack of School Supplies (ends 8/26)
• Enter to win a Sunflower Backpack from Oompa Toys (ends 8/25)
• Enter to win 2 books from Cedar Valley Publishing (ends 8/24)
• Enter to win a set of Cap Trappers (ends 8/23)
  

Giveaways made possible by Warm Biscuit, Stuck On You, EZ School Supplies, Oompa Toys, Cedar Valley Publishing, Savvy May Creations.

An Island Review:

• Enter to win a the new Laurie Berkner CD (ends 8/28)
• Enter to win Weiman products a jewelry cleaner and e-tronics wipes (ends 8/27)
• Enter to win a pair of Pediped shoes from A Lady and Her Baby (ends 8/26)
• Enter to win a Black Baby See T-Shirt from Zeebabee (ends 8/25)
• Enter to win a $15 Gift Certificate to Big Paw Designs (ends 8/24)
• Enter to win a Beatnik Bracelet from Twisted Silver (ends 8/22)
  

Giveaways made possible by Laurie Berkner, Weiman, A Lady and Her Baby, Zeebabee, Big Paw Designs, Twisted Silver.

Blessings Abound:

• Enter to win a Designer Travel Wipes Case from Tick-A-Too (ends 8/27)

For The Love of Baby:

• Enter to win a $50 Gift Certificate to Quote The Walls (ends 8/31)
  

Relax, Recharge, Refuel!

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Even though summer is coming to an end there's still plenty of time to travel and take a weekend away. Spending time together as a family is something we should always cherish, and finding ways to do it on a budget can be hard sometimes, especially when you want to explore new places and things.

To help you get in that care and explore the last few weeks that summer has to offer, Park Inn is offering families a gas rebate for staying at their hotels from now through September 30, 2008. Eligible guests must stay two or more consecutive nights at a participating Park Inn in both the United States and Canada.

Once you make your reservation, just ask about the "Gas Up and Getaway" promotion and you'll receive a $20 mail-in gas voucher, which you can redeem to help that cost of filling up that gas tank. For more information please visit www.parkinn.com.

Get away with the family for a weekend or a few days just before the school year starts and everyone's schedules fill up and you find you're too busy for that relaxing and fun getaway!

Family Review Network

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I wanted to introduce you guys to a great group that I'm currently a part of.
Family Review Network. This network spawned from a group that Kailani from An Island Life started on Mom's Blogger Club called Mommy Reviewers. It became such a hit she decided to turn it into the Family Review Network.

The Family Review Network is a group of parents (not just mom's) who love trying out new things and sharing our thoughts and opinions with the rest of the bloggers in the blogosphere. Everything posted on the Family Review Network has been personally reviewed by it's members and/or families in order to provide you with an honest assessment which can help you make your buying decisions easier.

Stop by and check it out and see what some of us have had to say about some products and companies thus far. Also, if your looking to have your product reviewed click on to the site and see the "request a review" for more information.