Something For My Girls

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PlayStation(R) Move. All opinions are 100% mine.

Let's face it.  Most video games are geared towards boys.  As a mom of a son and two daughters, I see first hand how much my son loves playing his video games, and how much my girls really don't care too much about it.  I am the exception to this, though, because I LOVE video games, and play with my son every chance I get.

That said, I really want to get the new PlayStation(R)MOVE for the PS3.  (I also need the PS3, but we'll get to that) The PlayStationMove is an interactive, motion sensor package that you can add to your PS3.  Think Wii, but for PlayStation.  I was checking out the games that are available for this system, and I found one that i think even my girls will like.  It's called Start The Party, and it has 20 different mini-games that my entire family can enjoy.  It looks like one of the games allows you to draw on the television screen with the controller.  I know my daughters would love that.

The one game that I know the entire family will love is TV Superstars.  There are five different TV shows that you can star in, from DIY to cooking.  Apparently the goal is to gain popularity by winning challenges.  I love this concept!  But, the most important thing about this game, and all the others, is that it gets you moving.  No more sitting on the couch staring at the television screen.  You need to get up and get moving!

Now, all I need to do is go out and get a PS3.  I'm thinking it would make a great Christmas gift for the kids this year.  The MOVE bundle package is only $99 more, which isn't bad at all.  The hard part is going to be deciding which games to get!

Franks and burgers and pop, oh my!

Thanks to Roman May

Is there any event as uniquely American as tailgating at your favorite football stadium before the big game? I know that it just wouldn't be football Saturday if I wasn't spending the afternoon grilling up my favorite brats and chasing them with my favorite beverage of choice over and over and over again. When I go to check out the Nebraska Cornhuskers or the Iowa Hawkeyes or any other team I decide to watch that week there are always a few supplies I take with me every time.

Of course I need a cooler to keep my drinks cool, I need my iPad with my AT&T internet in order to keep track of scores from every other game and I need whatever kind of meat products I want to consume each week. On occasion I'll drag my Weber grill out if I'm afraid the people I'm going to be tailgating with that week don't have a grill of their own. Of course when I head off to the latest tailgating party I make sure I set my home security alarm ahead of time. I can't be telling all you people that I'm never home on Saturdays and leave my beloved home unprotected now, can I? Of course I trust all of you but I'm also not completely naïve. This is the 21st century after all.

$40 Frecklebox Giveaway

I am hosting a giveaway for Frecklebox on my other blog, my kids are my world.  The winner will get to chose any one item (up to $40) from Frecklebox's website.  They have some really cool things, too, like lunchboxes and posters.  All their items can be personalized, which my kids love.  You can go here to enter.  Contest end tomorrow night, so hurry!

Restaurant Openings

Guest post written by Linda Bourdain

One of my favorite things about living in NYC is that there's always some new place opening or some event going on. So there's no excuse for staying in and saying that there's nothing to go out and do. Plus, I also think that New Yorkers do that because they don't want to be reminded of how tiny their apartments are.

My dream job would be to be a food critic, but alas I'm only an accountant. But I still get the joy of tasting all kinds of new exciting things by going to a lot of restaurant openings. I have a good friend who actually is a food critic and he invites me to a lot of them.

But, I also do a lot of research online with my & 4g clear bundle about new restaurants that are opening up and then little known gems too. Because as much as I love trying something new out, it's great to find something that has lasted so long in the city because it's genuinely good.

Billy's Back!

I am so excited that Billy the Exterminator is back for another season!  There is a new episode on tonight on A&E at 10pm.  The only problem is that I watch Parenthood at that time.  Since I don't have TiVo, I don't know what to watch.  I think the new episode of Parenthood will be on demand in the morning, so I will probably watch Billy.  I can't wait to see what kind of critters he goes after tonight!

Member's Mark Formula

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Member's Mark. All opinions are 100% mine.
One of my sisters is pregnant with her third child.  She is due after the first of the year.  I am surprised that she is the only one, because usually in our family, babies come in threes. 

 I remember when my kids were babies, I tried so hard to breastfeed.  Unfortunately, I had several issues that prevented that from happening.  I ended up pumping my breast milk for all of them.  Of course, because they weren't nursing, I didn't end up providing them with enough milk, so I supplemented with formula.  I always bought the least expensive, and that was usually the store brands.  I don't think that a lot of people realize that the store brands are just as good as the name brands.  Every infant formula, no matter who makes it, has to adhere to the same strict FDA guidelines.

I have another sister who had a baby last year, and she buys Member's Mark formula for her son at Sam's.   They recently updated the look of the cans, but it's the same formula.  They just made the cans look nicer and easier to read. 

You can check out their Facebook page, and make sure you visit their website, too.  They have this really neat calculator that can help you figure out how much money you can save simply by switching from the name brand formulas to Member's Mark.  I tried it, and it's really an eye opener.  I can think of so many other things mom could be spending that money on, like diapers and wipes.

We all know how many of those a baby can go through!

Sliding

Yesterday the girls and I went to my nephew's birthday party at one of those inflatable places.  They had slides, an obstacle course, bounce house, bounce house with basketball, a climbing wall, and my personal favorite, air hockey.  Kasi and I played three games, and I killed here every time.  The funny thing was, most of the goals I scored were helped along by her.  She kept scoring on herself...it was pretty funny.  Brandi had a ball on all the inflatables.  I got her mid-slide in the picture.  They let the kids play for over and hour, which was nice.  Brandi tried the rock wall several times, but never got more than a couple of feet off the ground.  Even when my mom and I took turns giving her a boost, she couldn't do it.  I actually have video...I'll see if I can get it to upload.  All in all, it was a great day to be a kid yesterday!

I Want To Love Wool

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Rambler's Way Farm. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am all about comfort these days.  It doesn't matter if I am hanging around the house or dining at a nice restaurant, I want what I am wearing to look nice and feel nice against my skin.  If I am uncomfortable in my clothes, I know for a fact that I will not have a good time.  That said, I knew when I heard about Rambler's Way i would have to try out their products.  The problem is, I can not decide what I want to get.

My first thought was this beautiful camisole.  I can envision myself wearing it not just under my shirts, but as alone to hang around the house or sleep in.  It is made from a thin and smooth wool that really does look soft and comfy.  It can be worn a few times before it needs to be washed, because the fabric naturally whisks away moisture, keeping it fresh.

The best part is that when you do need to wash it, it can be thrown into the washing machine.  This is important to me, because as a wife and mother of three, laundry is hard enough to keep up with without having to worry about hand washing.  I also love their underwear.  Of course, I wouldn't go days without washing them, even thought the website claims you can.  I am curious about how cool and dry they are, so these are something I would buy.

Another cool thing is that you can request a fabric sample so you can feel for yourself how soft their wool is before you place an order.  I requested one, and can't wait for it to arrive.  I want them to change my mind about wool.  I don't want to think of it as itchy and think anymore.  I want to fall in love with it, and I think I will.

Brandi's Indian Project

Brandi had to do a habitat project on any Indian tribe she wanted for a school project.  Her only criteria was that they lived in tepees, because she wanted to build some.  Of course, when it came down to it, I did more of the building and she did more of the gluing. but we got it done and I think it looks great. I know she'll get a good grade on it.

Oh and that little circle of dark stuff in the left corner is a campfire, not buffalo poop.  It didn't come out too well in the picture, so I wanted to clear that up. lol!

A New Kind of Hike

Guest post written by Joseph Finch

Aaaahhhh, Fall! My favorite season to experience the fresh mountain air and hike my cares away. Fall is the BEST time to hike; no bugs, no crowds, no heatwaves. Just strap on my boots, throw some water into the backpack, set the home security alarm we got from brookhaven Adt broadview, and head to the trail.

Wait. That was BEFORE I had two kids. I still love to hike in the Fall, but preparing and executing the hike has certainly taken a turn! Now I'm packing, diapers, bottles, snacks, extra clothes, extra diapers, extra snacks, water, juice, chocolate milk, front pack, backpack, stroller, and don't forget the dog!

I'm nearly exhausted before we get to the trail. That's not going to stop us from having some good 'ole family fun. On the trail I remind myself to take time to revel in nature, breathe the crisp air, and NOT get frustrated when my son stops every two steps to crouch low and check out some wonder; maybe a leaf, a twig, a bug.

There is nothing like the wonderment of a child in the woods to teach you to slow down. As an adult I find myself too driven to just "get there", when "there" isn't necessarily any better than where we are right now. I'm now using my hikes as pleasant reminders to enjoy life, EVERY step of the way.

I Think I Need My Eyes Checked

 I have been having way too many headaches lately.  Yesterday, my head started hurting as soon as I got out of bed, and it didn't stop until sometimes last night while I was sleeping.  Nothing I did, or took, seemed to help.  I tried ibuprofen, migraine medicine, a hot bath, and even sitting in the dark, but nothing helped.  I think it might be time to have my eyes checked, because I know eye strain can cause headaches.

It's been a few years since I have had an eye exam, so I guess I am due.  I have been thinking about trying out contacts again, but I'm not sure.  Back in high school, when I went for my first eye exam, I got contacts.  I wore them for about a day, and couldn't stand them.  I went back and got a pair of glasses. 

The thing about the contacts was that I couldn't get past the fact that I had something stuck in my eye.  Nowadays, I know they make all kind of disposable contacts, and ones that can be left in your eyes for days.  I was reading that air optix aqua contacts can be left in for up to six nights.  That seriously freaks me out a little.  I know it's an irrational thing, and I am hoping that I can get past it so that I can get rid of these glasses.

The only way to do that is to try and wear contacts again.  Wish me luck.

Do The Reuse Challenge

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aladdin. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you wondering what the Do The Reuse Challenge is?  Lucky for you, I am going to explain it.  Simply put, for 30 days, you will give up all disposable paper cups, water bottles, and food containers.  That means no eating out or drinking bottled water.  Sounds simple, right?  It should be.

I took a look at what my family does to help the environment, and I think we do some positive things.  Brandi brings her lunch to school every day, and she uses a plastic sandwich holder and water bottle.  Her teacher even encouraged the kids in her class to reuse, too, by giving each kid a refillable water bottle on the first day of school.  Brandi fills hers with ice water every morning, and is able to enjoy it throughout the day.

Aladdin is encouraging all of us to take the challenge.  They are even offering discounts and free shipping on certain products on their website.  While there, you can follow 9 families who have already accepted the challenge and are blogging about it.  You can also check out Aladdin on Facebook.

If you need a reason to accept this challenge, maybe these statistics will help you make the right choice:

● Seven million barrels of oil are used to produce the disposable bottles Americans go through in one year. (think of all the other things that can be done with that oil)

● In the United States, 50 billion disposable water bottles are consumed per year; 137,000 per day; 1,585 per second. (those are some crazy numbers!)

● It costs about $165 a year to make drip coffee at home versus $636 to buy drip coffee at your local café. (think of all the money you can save!)

● Unless we change our habits, 23 billion paper coffee cups will be thrown out in 2010. (that's a lot of coffee cups!)

● Nine dollars will generally cover a decent lunch out. If you buy rather than pack a lunch five days a week, you shell out about $2,350 a year. (I can think of hundreds of other things I would rather spend that kind of money on!)

If those reasons aren't enough to convince you, think of your kids.  What kind of planet will we be leaving behind for them if we don't change our ways?

Stitches

I want these!!!!

I have been thinking about what I can dress up as for Ryan's upcoming party, and while browsing etsy I found these awesome stitches in Burlesquers shop.  She makes bracelets to match, too.  (she also makes the stitches in pink!)

She also has necklaces and bracelets that look like dripping blood.  How cool is that?

I'm Stressed And In Need Of A Vacation

 Right now, my head feels like it is going to explode.  I am stressed, and I can't seem to relax.  I took ibuprofen this morning, and it didn't touch my headache.  A little while ago, I took two Excedrin migraine pills, and nothing.  I hate when this happens. 

I think the only thing that is going to help is to get away from it all.  I need to forget about Facebook bullies, little kids getting violent at the bus stop in the mornings, getting reviews posted before deadlines come and go, and mostly, I need to get away from this computer.  Staring at this screen isn't helping my headache at all.

I want to go camping.  I want to swim in the lake, fish a little, and relax beside a fire.  We can look into rv rentals or simply pitch a tent; I don't care either way.  I just want to be in a place where time means nothing and there is nothing planned.  No deadlines.  No bedtimes.  No bus stops.  Just relaxation.

Is that possible?

Goose Lake Fishing

Guest post written by my buddy Irene Hodge

Going fishing is something that I have greatly enjoyed doing with either my parents, my children, or by myself. There are many great things about fishing that make it an excellent sport and hobby. A good thing about it is that it is relatively cheap and once you have a pole, things don't cost too much anymore. This is a reason why so many people absolutely love to go fishing with their friends, even if they happen to be broke.

A great place that I enjoy going fishing at is Goose Lake in the east part of town where I live. There are many geese there that are also a lot of fun to feed and watch, but fishing is what always draws my attention more then anything else. The joy of actually testing your mettle and trying to catch record sized fish is a great thing to do, and gives a person the ability to relax and contemplate their lives.

Before I leave I always set my home alarm that I got from Adt security near St. Louis MO, because I know that while I am out having fun, things can happen at home that aren't so fun. The ability to know that I can enjoy my favorite thing and not worry about endangering my home is probably the greatest feeling in the world. If your home is safe, your mind will be at ease.

Check It Out!

I have some really cool things going on over on my main blog, my kids are my world.  I have a couple of contests running.  One is for some pretty neat hair tinsel (which really works on think hair...not so much on thin).  The other is for a $40 gift from Frecklebox.  You can find links to both contests in my sidebar.  Right at the top.  Under the "follow me on Twitter" button.  Oh, and speaking of that, feel free to follow me on Twitter too.

I also wrote a post this morning about how evil FB can be for teen aged boys.  I would love some opinions and advice on that one.

I hope you'll take the time to hop on over there and check things out.

Almost Party Time!

 I am sitting here watching The Biggest Loser, thinking about what kinds of foods I am going to make for Ryan's birthday Halloween party next month.  I have some ideas, and I have my favorite recipes that I use year after year.  I really need to sit down and make a list, though, before I forget what I am thinking. 

I also have to come up with Simple HalloweenCostumes for the kids.  I don't have a lot of money to spend, and they each have specific ideas of what they want to be.  Brandi will probably be the hardest, because she wants to be Selena Gomez. I have an amazon gift card I can use if I can find that costume online.  Kasi says she wants to be a vampire again, but the costume she has used for the past three years is finally a little too small.  I am hoping that I can make her a black gown, that way all I will have to buy will be makeup and hair dye.  And fangs.  Ryan still can't decide what he wants to be.

I am thinking about dressing up myself this year.  Any suggestions about what I should be?

Kitchen Refresh

Guest post written by Ellen Myers

After I had saved up to buy my own place, I had to wait a while to try and do any remodeling inside the house until I saved up some more money because it's just my income that's going into it. But that gave me even more time to figure out exactly what I would want to do in my kitchen.

Once I thought that I had everything handled and I was ready to make the investment, I got some new sears cabinets installed. The old cabinets were a drabby wood stained color that wasn't really dark and wasn't really light, it just looked faded and worn. So once when I got the new ones in that were really really dark wood stained, it looked so much more sleek and modern!

It really set off the the wall sconces that I had installed to match in the kitchen and I think that it was that little touch that really made my kitchen feel like it was actually mine instead of the former owner's.

He's A Little Blue

Look what I found in WisperOn's etsy shop!  It's the most adorable elephant bell I have ever seen.  That's right...this little guy is a bell.  His legs are the bell's clapper.

I think I could make my entire Christmas wish list from the things I find on etsy.  It is my goal again this year to give all the adults handmade Christmas gifts, even if they are not made by me.

This Is Going To Be A Great Week!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of TiVo. All opinions are 100% mine.
I love when all my favorite shows start back up for the season.  Tonight, a few of my favorites returned, like House and How I Met Your Mother.  Tomorrow night, The Biggest Loser is back, and Kasi and I love watching that show.  I am hoping that maybe this year I will be motivated to lose some weight along with the contestants.

Some nights are hard, though, because there are several different shows that I want to watch, and they all come on at the same time.  I am kind of embarrassed to admit that we do not own a DVR.  I would love to have one, though, especially the new TiVo Premiere and the new TiVo Slide remote.  I mean, not only do I love Fall TV, I also love watching movies.   One of the coolest features of the new TiVo is that if I am watching a movie and I like the actor, I can use it to search for other movies that that actor has been in, and then watch them instantly via YouTube, Amazon VOD, Blockbuster, Netflix or my cable lineup.

Right now, you can enter to win a TiVo slide in the "30 Slides In 30 Days Sweepstakes".  All you have to do is either visit their Facebook Fan Page and "like" them, or follow them on Twitter.  Sounds easy enough, right?  

I am going to Enter to Win.  Are you?

We Got Some Pumpkins!

Yesterday, we were driving down the road and we passed a farm stand that was selling pumpkins.  Of course we had to stop, and I convinced Junior that we all needed pumpkins.  Well, the kids and I each got one.  Junior tends to be a party pooper when it comes to thing like this.

The only question now is whether or not to carve them.  I want them to last until Halloween, and I know that if we carve them, they won't.  I think I may just have the kids use markers to decorate them.  We'll see.

Reasons Why Ryan Will Not Be Driving Any Time Soon

 Ryan's birthday is in about six weeks.  He will be turning 15.  He thinks he will be able to start learning how to drive. 

He is mistaken.

Junior and I talked about it, and he agrees with me that Ryan just isn't ready to be behind the wheel of a car.  It's not just the high cost of insurance or the thought of having to deal with The March Group Complaints that is holding us back.  We both agreed that Ryan isn't mature enough yet to be a responsible driver.  As much as his medicine helps him control his ADHD, he still has problems with impulse control, and I don't think that is a good thing for a driver.  I also want him to take a drivers education class.  And a defensive drivers class.  And any other type of class they offer to young drivers.  He also has to prove to me that he can keep his grades up, and judging by the progress reports he brought home today, he is a long way from that.

Just because the law says he is old enough to drive doesn't mean I will let him. 

I Need About Five More Hours In Every Day

 It's that time of year again.  There are only three months left until Christmas, and my creative juices are begging to flow.  I have so many ideas floating around in my head, but not enough time to do anything with them.  I don't know how it happened, but here lately, I have very little time for myself.  I was sure that once the kids started back to school, I would have all this free time to work on my crafts.  Instead, I have been spending a lot of time out of the house, hanging out with a friend of mine.

I am now hoping that in the next month or so I can get working on some projects.  A few years ago, I made name signs for all my nieces and nephews for Christmas.  Since then, whenever a baby is born, I make a sign.  Well, I am now three nieces behind.  I bought the wood, drew out the names, and am trying to find the time to get them carved out.

Maybe this weekend...

Favorite Wedding Themed TV Show

This guest post from Doris Dillon

There are many wedding themed television shows on the air today. One of my favorites is Bridezilla, which I watch on the satellite television I got through http://www.direc4u.com/direct-tv-deals.html whenever I can gain control of the remote. While many wonder why there is such a show, I believe the show was created to help grooms understand the craziness that overtakes their loving bride as the wedding approaches.

For myself, I like to watch the show and see all of the issues that the bride-to-be is faced with. For myself, I had a very small wedding on a very small budget, therefore never experienced many of the issues that these brides face. From dresses to bridesmaids to menu and invitations, these brides really throw some outrageous temper tantrums and out right fits when things do not go their way.

Another reason I believe this show was created was also to make brides aware that things are not always perfect both before hand and after the ceremony. I don't recall one single episode in which everything went according to planned for anyone at all, nor do I remember an episode where the wedding did not happen, although that threat was always there and just about always stated by the bride.

Many brides suffer from this 'illness' that seems to afflict these brides in Bridezilla. Even the brides using a wedding planner end up having many issues that seem to stress them so badly that everything turns upside down. In most cases, anything that can go wrong will.

My Girls Are Making Bracelets

I can't wait to see what the finished products look like!

Junior's Aching Back

 Junior has been doing a lot of work over at my mom's house lately, He has ripped out her kitchen cabinets and the walls in her dining room.  It has been a long process, and along the way he has developed some aches and pains.  A friend suggested we order tramadol online without prescription to help relieve some of his back pain. They said this muscle relaxer should help him feel better.  Junior is like me, though, and would rather take as little medicine as possible.  I have a feeling he might change his mind next weekend, though, because that is when the new cabinets and counter tops are going to be installed.

By him.

I Love This Bracelet

That's right...it's elephants!  I found this in an etsy store ~ Lyla Accessories.  It's her Suede elephant bracelet in earthy tones.   I'm not a big fan of the tassel, but the rest is adorable.  Those little elephants would look great on my wrist. Unfortunately, at $27 (including shipping) it's a little too expensive for my budget right now.  But, I can still drool over it!

Athlete's Foot

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of goviral. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't know about you, but when I think of athlete's foot, I think about men.  I know that's crazy, but it never occurred to me that women can get it, too.  It makes sense, though.

What is athlete's foot?  According to dictionary.com, it is defined a:

A contagious fungal skin infection caused by a species of Trichophyton or Epidermophyton that usually affects the feet, especially the skin between the toes, and is characterized by itching, blisters, cracking, and scaling.

I know that in some gym's, it is recommended that you wear shower shoes, and never walk barefoot in the showers or locker room.  If you do end up with athlete's foot, you can use Lamisil's athlete's foot treatment so that you don't have to hide your feet.  I know that during the summer, I live in flip flops and sandals.  I am not sure I would continue to wear them if I was suffering from Athlete's Foot.  I would probably want to hide my feet.  I think most people would.

Instead of suffering from embarrassment as well as itchy feet, try Lamisil's athlete's foot treatment the next time you find yourself with athlete's foot.  Hopefully, it'll have you back in your sandals in no time.

Brandi's Art

Last Tuesday, Junior and I went to therapy.  We are starting to go to a new building, and Brandi is excited because the new waiting room is bigger and better.  There are lots of new things for her to do.  She especially loved the white board.  Of course, the picture she drew was all about me!

Do You Want To Become A Teacher?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.
 I know a few women who are teachers, and they all say the same thing about their jobs; that it is a rewarding career.  Teachers are responsible for teaching our children, and thankfully, most teachers take this responsibility very seriously.  Our children are our future.  That's not just a line from a song.  It's true.

I also have friends who are just now starting to go back to school.  At our age, the kids are getting older, and we are finding ourselves with time on our hands, and what better way to spend that time than going to school.  If you are like us, and are thinking about becoming a teacher, you should check out The USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT@USC.

This program allows you to study at home, which is perfect for us stay at home mom's.  They have an accelerated program that can be completed in as little as three months, and you can do field work close to home.  With scholarships and tuition reimbursement programs, going to school can be very affordable, too. You can find program information by clicking the link, and you can read about the program from participating students on the MAT@USC Student Blog.

It's never too late to reach your dream of graduating college.  

It's Like Putting A Puzzle Together

I think I might have mentioned that Junior is re-doing my mom's kitchen.  This week, he worked on the boxing she wants to go around the light over the sink.  Did you follow that?  Junior spent two days working on the pieces, and getting them put together.  My roto-zip came in really handy for the scalloped edges. The finished product looks great!  I'll get a shot as soon as he gets it hung in the kitchen.

Discovery Channel Rocks

Post contributed by Leonard Phelps

I have come to a conclusion that Discovery Channel is the most interesting channel there is . The reason why I like the Discovery channel so much and why it's my favorite educational channel is because of the unique reality and educational information that can be learned from it. Not only is the Discovery channel educational it's entertaining. They have a real good way of educating us but at the same time keeping curious into what or how did they do it or how will this or that conclude.

There are many educational yet entertaining shows on the Discovery channel that I enjoy to watch on my satellite tv in Pennsylvania. Some including Myth Busters, Cash Cab, and the Deadliest Catch. The Deadliest Catch consist of fishing crews fishing on some fearless and treacherous seas and withstanding the elements of the weather. The reason why this show is educational is because it shows viewers that fishing which was a popular occupation in the past is not a very easy thing to do.

I think that educational television is needed in a society where we have video games and other home entertainments to keep our kids and our self from learning valuable information. The information you might receive might not be helpful in your life but at lease it's also entertaining!