Thanksgiving is only a few days away AHHH!

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Seriously it’s been creeping up on us so fast! Thanksgiving is almost here and then Christmas will be here before we know it… Are you ready?? I’M NOT!!!!!

I’m still planning my menu for Thanksgiving. I wrote about the sugar free pumpkin pie I’m going to make, we’re obviously doing a turkey, but I’m also going to make a Rutabaga and Apple Casserole.

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:
• 3 cups peeled sliced rutabaga
• 2 med. apples, sliced
• 1/2 c. Splenda brown sugar, packed
• 3 tbsp. butter
• Salt

Preparation:
Cook rutabaga slices in boiling salted water until just tender; drain. Place half of slices (rutabaga) and half of apple slices in greased 1 quart casserole. Sprinkle with half of brown sugar and dot with half of butter. Sprinkle with salt. Repeat layers. Bake, covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
4 to 6 servings.

Seriously it’s really good! I know a lot of people are like Rutabaga EWWW, but hubby eats it, and so do the girls, it really is good.

Thankfully I don’t have a ton of people coming for thanksgiving. I don’t need to set out badge lanyards or an id lanyard for people to put their name cards on, it’s just a small dinner. The girls, hubby, myself, along with my parents. That’s it!

So what about you? Are you having a ton of people over? Lots of food?

Good Morning....

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This blog has become more of a me just writing to write, but believe me, I do have some more reviews and giveaways coming up, I’m just overly busy with A Wrestling Addicted Mommy right now because of the Holiday Gift Guide. Plus I have family coming this week for Thanksgiving, and with the holidays coming up, we’re just always so busy!

Last night I fell asleep on the couch… UGH! I need some sleep aids now…. Seriously to get me BACK to sleep, I’m exhausted!!! My back hurts… I need to get to the gym though, so I’m doing a few posts and some work, getting the oldest to school, then heading to the gym, then cleaning and decorating…

It’s going to be a busy day!

Babble Babble...

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So I often wonder if either of my girls will ever think ‘the grass is always greener’ like I did, and want to leave and move to Canada?

My oldest always says she wants to go to college in Canada, I guess time will only tell. I mean she’s only 7, she’s still got a long ways to go before she needs to even start thinking about that. Most parents dread their kids moving away and going to college, and sure, I’m sure I’ll be sad, but I’ll also be happy if she decided to get her education up there. She’d be among family and friends so I wouldn’t have too much to worry about.

Maybe I can use it as an excuse to move back ‘home’? Hmm…

I wonder how much things will have changed by then, would she be a citizen already? Because I'm looking into both the girls becoming citizens already since I'm one they can be too. Would health care change? Would she need visitor insurance usa or temporary health insurance?

I tell ya, the things that wonder through my brain some days is astounding. Just random thoughts that float around in there for no real reason at all. At least I'm not thinking about something outrageously crazy like personal injury lawyers Tucson.

On another note… Is everyone ready for Thanksgiving? I sure as heck am not!! I still have to do my grocery shopping and figure out what exactly I’ll be making. I also need to figure out if I’m actually going to be brave and leave the house for black Friday shopping. Last year I did most of it online, and I’m hoping to do the same this year, but there’s always that RUSH when you go, the adrenaline, the excitement, the crazy people, ugh I can so do without them!

However, my parents will be here Thursday, my mom has never been black Friday shopping, so I just may have to take her out to let her experience the craziness that is black Friday shopping. I mean she goes boxing day shopping with the crazy people, and that’s pretty much the equivalent, but we’ll see.

The worry within the holidays....

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With the holidays approaching and a lot of us traveling, we often don’t think about the ‘what ifs’. Since most of us travel within the same state and country it’s not really an issue, but there are a lot of us, who do travel out of the country like my family. So something we do have to think about sometimes is visitor medical insurance, others may even have to think about international student health insurance. We haven’t purchased it yet, but it’s always on my mind…. Not only for my family but for my parents.

Enough with the depressing issues we worry about during the holidays thought (and with my anxiety I worry a lot about different things). I don’t have time for that right now, right now; I’m trying to think of what the heck I’m cooking for Thanksgiving….Besides a turkey….
I’m trying to think about sides and desserts. Considering my father is a diabetic, I’m pre-diabetic and my mother is pre-diabetic I’ve got to cook a healthy meal.

I’ve got turkey planned, meat stuffing (mom makes!), mashed sweet potatoes, Rutabaga with apples and my home made mac & cheese because the girls love it so much and I do make it with whole wheat pasta so it’s a bit better lol.

Normally I make a sugar free apple pie, which I still might do, but for the first time I’m thinking of making a sugar free pumpkin pie… Here’s the recipe:

Recipe Ingredients:
1 ready made frozen pie crust
1 - 15 oz. can pumpkin
6 fl. oz. whole evaporated milk
6 fl. oz. skim evaporated milk
1/2 cup egg substitute
1/3 cup Splenda sweetener
2 T. granulated sugar
1 T. pumpkin pie spice

Recipe Directions:
1. In mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, Splenda, and pie spice.
2. In small bowl, mix whole and skim evaporated milk. Add milk and egg substitute to pumpkin. Stir.
3. Pour mixture into crust.
4. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and continue to bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until inserted knife comes out clean.
5. Cool thoroughly.
6. Makes 10 servings.

Nutrition Facts per serving:
Calories: 174, Carbohydrate: 20 g, Fiber: 2 g, Fat: 8 g, Protein: 6 g, Sodium: 165 mg

Sounds good!! Don’t you think? I'm getting my menu together, now just to torture my hubby and find some nice ties for him for his birthday gift, because you know, him getting ties are exactly what he wants...

Any ‘diabetic friendly’ thanksgiving or holiday recipes you have I’d love it if you left a comment and shared them below…

Let my girls bounce off the walls!!!

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Can you help a mama out? Don't worry it's easy, I'm not going to ask you which diet pills work best or anything like that, just a simple 'like' will do....

My girls have begged and pleaded for a bounce house for a few years now, but honestly, there’s no way I’m buying one, they’re just too expensive!

We have a nice big yard for it, I’m sure it would get a ton of use, but with our finances it’s just not feasible right now…
So how can you help? No I don’t want you to donate money to me, I’m not going to start a fundraiser to get the girls a bounce house, but I did enter a contest!

Bounce Houses Now is having a 2010 Holiday Photo Contest. You simply upload your holiday photo to their facebook page and then you’re entered. The photo with the most “Likes” on 12/15/2010 will win a Magic Castle Residential Bounce House.

So I’m asking, and you can pass this along to your family and friends, post it on your facebook and twitter, PLEASE like my girls photo, which can be found HERE. You will have to "Like" the Bounce Houses Now fan page before you can "like' the photo...

I’ll be forever grateful, and I’m sure they would be too!

Kids getting the best of me...

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Seriously, I wish someone would have told me a long time ago that the terrible 2’s aren't so terrible. Because the fierce 4’s and scary 7’s are WAY WORSE!!!

We've been having some issues with my daughters lately. The 4 year old, besides her all out tantrums on just about anything anytime she doesn’t get her way, or doesn’t like something I can handle those. Although the screaming, kicking, crying and yelling is just ANNOYING… She’s still small enough that I can pick her up, put her in her room and let her stay there till she figures out she’s not going to get her way.

My 7 year old however, it’s a different story. Being as I’m only 5’ nothing, my oldest is just about my height already (yea she’s tall). I have struggled with removing her from situations physically and I just can’t do it much longer. Yet her rebelliousness is going to be the end of me. We’re trying to nip this in the bud now, and this week after trying to run away from home (in the rain with no shoes on) and hitting me, she’s lost her 1st winter session of indoor soccer, and was not allowed to participate in a uniform free day at school this week.

So far, so good, but how do you handle them when they’re so out of control and trying to get the best of you? Anyone with older kids who’ve already gone through this care to share some advice with me? The stress these kids put me through some days, I tell ya… I’m thinking about vacations far far away, vacation rentals outer banks sounds like a great place to spend some time alone, but I just may never come back!!!

Moore Unique Skincare Giveaway Winner...

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While getting ready to pull my giveaway winner for the Moore Unique Skincare giveaway, I notice how much I miss my “And The Winner Is…” plugin that I have on my wordpress blog. It makes me think maybe I should move this blog to its own domain and dedicated hosting. Something I’ll have to think of within the new year, I guess we’ll just see exactly where this blog goes….

Anyways, onto the winner of the Moore Unique Skincare Giveaway…. Via random.org the winner is…..

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

3 

Timestamp: 2010-11-18 17:46:49 UTC

Commenter #3: KosherPickle said...
http://twitter.com/#!/fabric2000/status/29300385945
tweeted and follow as @fabric2000
epstein.steven@gmail.com

Congrats! I'll be contacting you shortly via email on how to claim your prize.

Winners have 72hrs to respond to my initial email, if no response is made within 72hrs winners forfeit their prize and a new winner will be randomly chosen.

There's going to be a big green tree in my house today...

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Christmas is in the air! Actually this afternoon we’ll be putting up our tree and decorating the rest of the house. Yesterday I took a trip to the dollar store to let my youngest pick out some household decorations. Mistletoe, tablecloths, cardboard displays and a wrap for the door, we’ve got them all up and we’re ready to go.

This year, Thanksgiving will be more like Christmas in our house, oh well, I love Christmas and decorating the house all with red, green and white. Thanksgiving is just a boring decorating holiday browns and oranges just aren’t my thing.

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet?

How'd that work out for you?

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With all the amazing reviews I’m sure you see and read daily on numerous review blogs mine included, do you ever wonder about a particular product and how it’s held up over time? I’ve often thought about going back and writing new posts about past products, but honestly, it’s so time consuming and with the newer products coming in all the time, I would be hard pressed to do a full post about products on a regular basis.

However, Lee a fellow blogger who normally blogs at My Sentiment Exactlee recently launched a new consumer opinion site called StillWorthIt.com which is aimed to helping and education consumers on how various products have held up over time.

This isn’t just another site, this isn’t just the author’s opinions on products, this is a place where the author as well as YOU the consumer can leave reviews about different products and if they’ve met your expectations or if they failed after just a few months. Be it clothing, toys, electronics, beauty items or even ceiling fans, you can leave a post, comment or review about any product you've had experience with.

This isn’t just a place to review the products after initial use, if you’ve had a product for a sustainable time period, or maybe you had a product for a short period and it fell apart, no matter if your experience is glowing or negative StillWorthIt.com wants to know!

From the website:

Here at StillWorthIt.com we aim to obtain impartial reviews both negative and positive. We want to hear all about how you love your vacuum cleaner and have been using it for 3 years. Please tell us why you have become brand loyal and why you will never purchase from a certain brand again.

If your product is old that is alright. Just give us the make and model and people can compare to the version on the market today! Hopefully someone else will provide us with a review for the newest model explaining how things have been upgraded!
I think this is a great site and service to consumers, sure reviews are great, but it’s also nice to see how things actually function and hold up after a few months have passed.

If you’re interested in leaving your own reviews and posts on StillWorthIt.com there’s a great incentive right now. When you register and post at least one post or comment you’ll be entered to win an Amazon Kindle and a $25 Amazon Kindle Gift Card. The runner up prize is a $50 Gift Card to Best Buy, and hey Canadians, you’re even eligible to enter as well. You have until December 10th to register to be eligible for this sweepstakes.

Tell people your experience and let’s help other consumers be educated about their products, visit StillWorthIt.com and leave your opinion. You can also follow StillWorthIt.com on Twitter and Facebook.

Post is only by the opinion of the author of Just Because I'm A Mom...., other views and opinions may vary. No compensation or product was received for this post however I am being entered to win $100 via Paypal.

Are you a breakfast person?

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I’m really not a breakfast person. Some days I am more than other’s but normally I’ll find myself skipping breakfast totally, and I need to STOP!

Like this morning for instance, I got up at 8am got my daughter ready for school, jumped in the shower, took my meds, then ran out the door to the gym….Without breakfast… Not a big deal, until I was almost done with my workout, I could just feel the weakness kicking in… I got home and the first thing I could think of is I need to eat….. My body isn’t made of Ferrari parts, and even if it was, I need some fuel to keep it going!

I really need to figure out how to make breakfast more of a priority, especially before I go working out at the gym for an hour…. Here are some recipes I recently found that sound YUM YUM YUM! Maybe these will get me ready to eat something in the morning…

Breakfast Salad
1-ounce slices Canadian bacon
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp. stone ground mustard
4 eggs, hard-boiled & chopped
8 oz. baby spinach
3 tbsp. olive oil (extra virgin is best)
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions: Cook bacon over medium heat for 5 minutes, turning once. Remove from skillet and cut into strips. In a large bowl whisk together the oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and mustard until well blended. Place spinach on top of vinaigrette and toss until greens are evenly coated. Top with tomatoes and bacon and enjoy!

This recipe creates 4 servings of 260 calories each and 14 grams of protein

Easy Breakfast Scramble
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1 tomato, seeded and diced
4 eggs
4 egg whites
1 tbsp. dill, fresh (taste more like dill than the dried stuff)
Salt & pepper
1 tsp. olive oil

Directions: Cook onion in olive oil over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes. Add the diced tomato and cook another minute or 2. Place onion and tomato mixture in a bowl and set aside. Beat together eggs and whites, add in salt and pepper as needed. Cook egg mixture over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until the eggs are just about set and no longer runny. Drain any additional liquids from the onion and tomato bowl and stir into egg mixture. Toss with dill and get your day off to a great start.

Makes 4 servings, 118 calories per serving. Add an apple or banana and a cup of orange juice for a well-rounded breakfast that won’t leave you wanting more.

Sweet Potato Hash
1 red onion, cubed
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. fresh black pepper
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp. thyme, chopped
1/3 cup Black Forest Ham, diced
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Directions: Heat oil over medium-high heat and cook onion about 3-4 minutes until browned. Stir occasionally. Lower heat to medium and add in sweet potatoes. Cook 10 minutes or until potatoes reach desired tenderness, then stir in ham, garlic and thyme and cook until warmed through.

This breakfast recipe makes 4 servings, 131 calories per serving. Add a scrambled egg or fruit salad to this to prevent those late-morning sugar cravings!

Fancy Breakfast Oatmeal
1 cup low-fat or soy milk
1/4 cherry jam
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/4 tsp. salt
3.5 cups water
2 cups, old-fashioned oatmeal
1 tsp. vanilla extract (no imitation, the real stuff makes all the difference!)

Directions: Add dried cherries and oats to boiling, salted water and return to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, stirring until the oats are tender, about 5 minutes for old-fashioned oatmeal. Remove the pot from heat and stir in vanilla and jam. Pour 1/4 milk over each bowl prior to serving.

This recipe makes 4 servings, 280 calories and 4 grams of fiber per serving.

I'm back from a short trip...

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I just spent the weekend visiting my family in Canada. It was a little trip on a whim, but I’m glad we made it up. Thankfully we’re only a 4hr drive from my parents, so it’s not a big deal just to go up for a day and then come back the next night.

We didn’t really do much up there, I bought back some old toys, and a few things of mine still at my parents. It seems every time we go up I come back with something from my childhood. That includes Christmas items that I swipe from my mom LOL… Maybe I need to start sending her some personalized note cards to say thanks for all the items

I seem to swipe while I’m up there to bring back to my house….
What can I say, certain things bring back some good memories and I want to keep them, lol..

Amazon is selling an e-book entitled "The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure,"

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I am sickened and disgusted with Amazon right now and their ability to allow and back by using the excuse 'free speech' to allow this book to be distributed on their website..

Amazon is selling an e-book which is titled "The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure"

As a paying Amazon Prime customer, and someone who uses their website more than once a month for purchase, I'm definetly boycotting Amazon until they pull this from their website, I hope everyone will join me and the rest of us by signing this petition...

You can read the full story by going here.

Sign the petition: Petition for Amazon to disallow the publication of works with intent to promote harm to innocents.

Spread the word to Amazon that as consumers we will NOT be shopping this holiday season with a company who would sell such ILLEGAL filth! Facebook, Twitter (@amazon) and blog, whatever avenue you have get the word out!!!

UPDATE: Amazon has FINALLY taken this OFF of their website! Great news, but I'd really like to know why they thought it was ok to sell in the first place, I'm still pretty disappointed at them over this.. The uproar was GREAT though, the internet speaks and we actually get listened to. I wish there were a bunch of nanny cams at Amazon last night though, it would have been interesting to see what they were scrambling around doing about this.

2010 Holiday Gift Guide has started....

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I just wanted to remind you all to visit my other blog A Wrestling Addicted Mommy!

Right now and until Christmas I have a TON and I mean TON of giveaways going on during my 2010 Holiday Gift Guide.

Now you won’t find any bridal gowns, but you will find things like books, toys, electronics, gadgets and even décor and holiday help items.

So don’t forget to come on over to wrestlingaddictedmommy.com or check out the Holiday Gift Guide Page that’s updated daily with gift ideas and new giveaways.

I fell like Rollie Polly Ollie.....

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I’m fat….I’m bloated, I’m craving chocolate and salt and vinegar chips. I’ve got a face breaking out like a teenager, and many popping up in other places as well. I’m a woman, a woman who REALLY HATES PMS!!

I just wish this damn period would show up and get it over with, I think the worst part of it all is the bloated feeling and the cravings for food I’m not supposed to be eating, I want carbs, carbs and more carbs!!
Its times like this that really have me looking at lipofuze review’s and weighing the options…

It’s ok, I’ll be over it in a week or so…

Glencara $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway (11/23)

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Based in Ireland, Glencara specialises in Claddagh & Celtic Rings and Jewelry since 1978. Glencara is a family business, passionate about Irish & Celtic culture and the jewelry created is based on celtic design and symbolism, centuries old.

Claddagh Rings & Jewelry
The Claddagh Ring is one of Ireland’s most popular rings and carries great symbolism - "Let love and friendship reign forever".

The beautifully designed Claddagh Ring is quite distinctive with its two hands clasping a heart and surmounted by a crown. It is a monument to love and friendship with the two hands said to signify friendship, the heart representin

g love with the crown symbolising loyalty.

How you wear a claddagh ring is of great importance; if worn on the right hand with the heart facing out, your heart has not yet been won. If worn on the right hand with the heart facing in, you are in love. And finally the claddagh ring can be worn as a wedding ring if worn on the left hand with the heart facing in; two hearts forever joined.
Ladies White Gold Silver Claddagh Ring Pictured: $39.95

Celtic Rings & Jewelry
Celtic Jewelry dates back to 2000 B.C., evolving throughout the centuries and spre

ading across the world. Unique celtic designs are still used today as an expression of one’s individuality.

The Celtic Knot is the most well known celtic design, the beautiful simplicity of the triple knot symbolises eternity and continuity. The

interlace pattern never ends and is the key to Celtic knot work. Many Celtic Rings incorporate the Celtic Knot along with other Celtic symbols.

The Celtic Cross pre-dates Christianity and were first used by pagans to worship the sun. In pagan times the circle of the celtic cross

represented the

sun, being the center of their lives.

During the great conversion of many pagans to Christianity, Christian Philosophers adapted the Celtic Cross and thought the meaning of the circle to represent Christ, the center of Christianity.

Other Symbols such as the Celtic Spiral along with elements of the Ardagh Chalice and Book of Kells are at the heart of our Celtic Jewelry designs, as can be seen in the Celtic Warrior Ring.
Ladies 14K Gold Silver Celtic Knot Ring: $29.99

Silver Celtic Knot Earrings: $19.99

Mens 14K Gold Silver Celtic Warrior Ring: $44.99

14K White gold Silver Claddagh Celtic Cross Pendant Necklace: $44.99

To see some more great pieces or find out more information visit glencara.com.

One lucky reader has the chance to win a $50 gift certificate for a ring or jewelry piece of their choice. Free Worldwide Shipping.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Glencara and take a look around, then come back and leave me a comment telling me which Ring or Piece of Jewelry you would choose if you were to win.

(Please remember to leave a comment for each extra entry done)

~ Follow Just Because I'm A Mom... on Google Friend Connect

~ Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (one extra entry for each, leave your email so I can confirm)
~ Follow myself and Glencara on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily) comment with link.

You can use the following to tweet:
Enter to win a $50 Gift Certificate for your choice of jewelry from @glencara & @justcauseimamom : http://bit.ly/b1BhkE (11/23)

~ Post on your blog about the giveaway linking to this post. (10 extra entries)
~ "Like" Just Because I'm a Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall letting me know you've entered.
~ "Like" Glencara on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall.
~ Post my blog button and/or text link on your blog (1 extra entry for each)
~ Share this blog post just leave your username/link and where shared. (1 extra entry for each, this includes facebook, stumble, "like" this post, digg etc.)
~ Comment on a NON Giveaway post (1 extra entry for each)
~ Sign up for Glencara Newsletter (Bottom left side of page)
~ Make a purchase from Glencara.com (10 extra entries)

Giveaway ends November 23, 2010 at 11:59pm ET and is open to those with a U.S., Canadian, Australian and European mailing address!!!

The winner will be chosen by using random.org. Winner will have 72 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. Winner cannot have won a Carolina Pad within the past 90 days.

Product Review is only by the opinion of Just Because I'm a Mom, other views and opinions may vary, please see my disclosure policy for more information. Giveaway item provided from Glencara.