This Little Family

I Spy...

2012-01-05T03:19:00.000-06:00

Joining in with I Spy this week with My Mad Mind and Dazee Dreamer!

Project:

This was an easy one for me as I have been knitting up a storm :)

A shoal of fish - wash clothes! Paige will love these in the bath.

A Phone Cozy

Fingerless gloves

Hat and scarf set for a toddler

And finally, another toddler hat. It was supposed to be for me, but I used the wrong size needs and it turned out much smaller than expected! My loss is her gain though!

Shameless plug here, if you are interested. You can check me out on Facebook at Sweet Pea Crafts! :)

It's new, so be nice!

My Choice:

This is Paige, being cute as ever when we were at my parents' house for Christmas :)

Mobile Monday: My Week in Phone Pics!

2011-12-11T23:49:00.000-06:00

I knitted matching Mommy and Paige fingerless mittens!!

My beautiful daughter showcasing her amazing sense of style, once again. Hahaha! If you can't tell, her shirt is on inside out and backwards too!

And again...

Rotary Lights!!

Paige trying out a piece of Mac and Cheese Pizza from Pizza Doctors. She loved it :)

One of my adorable younger brothers :)

Yet another photo of my stylish daughter lol

Kindle Fire - I WANT ONE!

2011-12-07T21:49:00.000-06:00

Have you checked out the Kindle Fire yet?

Well, it looks amazing! And, it just so happens that One Savvy Mom is giving one away!

Click the following link to enter!!

Kindle Fire Giveaway

I've Been Home For A Week...and Tuesday Train!

2011-12-06T07:00:00.001-06:00

and I'm loving it. For those that aren't aware, I lost my job on November 25, for reasons I don't understand. I'm not going to get into that though. Instead, I'm going to get into all of the fun things that Paige and I have been able to do since this unfortunately event happened, and all of the things I'm enjoying about it. Time to stop focusing on the negative!

I've had dinner on the table every single day for Abe when he gets home. I don't know why, but I love being able to do that. It's so nice to have everything cleaned up and done with by the time he waltzes in the door. That's one thing I hated when working - the rush to get home and the scramble to make dinner after working a full day. That's the last thing anyone wants to do! I'm sure Abe is appreciated of all of the above too.

There is something magical about not waking up to an alarm clock. Not that I'm sleeping in a bunch or anything. We are usually up by 8. I love being able to wake up on my own and not be forced into it. I think Paige is enjoying the extra cuddle time too since she still is coming in to our room in the middle of the night.

I'm in a local mommy group and they have meetups all the time. When I was working, Paige and I weren't able to go to most of them. Now, we can! Just this morning we went to one at a local dance studio. On the first Monday of every month, t7:hey host Music Monday. Upon arrival, kids do crafts (today was making a Christmas tree using cutouts of their hands) and then it's into the dance studio for dancing and singing. Paige loved it! We have decided to keep Paige in daycare one day a week so that she can still see her friends. After all, this is not going to be permanent and I don't want her to be sad about not seeing them for however long. Plus, I wanted to hold her spot in the daycare for when I do go back to work. Between these meetups and 1 day a week of daycare, Paige will get plenty of socializing time.

I don't have to drive on the crappy frozen roads if I don't want to. I have nowhere to be and that's just fine with me. Now I can just sit at home, watch the weather like a hawk, and stress over Abe travelling! haha

Anyway - I am trying really hard to focus on the positive of this. Something else will come along. That place just wasn't right for me, even though I loved it. Not only will something else come along, but hopefully it will be something even better!

I'm linking up with My Mad Mind for the Tuesday Train!

Hop on for the ride!

Mobile Monday: My Week in Phone Pics!

2011-12-05T13:07:00.000-06:00

I discovered a REALLY handy app on the Android Market the other day! PHOTOBUCKET! Whenever I take a pic on my cell phone, it automatically uploads to photobucket. This has made this SO much easier! Before, I had to plug my phone in and transfer everything. Now? It's as simply as copying the pre-existing code. WOOOT!

Now that I am at home, I seem to be taking a lot more pictures. So...bear with me. lol

A scarf that I finished.

Our Christmas Tree

Kiddo being a goofball

Fingerless mittens that I made!

Daddy, Paige, and Grammy putting a puzzle together.

My kid loves to do laundry. WIN

My cat is weird and likes to hang outside even when it's freezing.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-11-20T12:29:00.000-06:00

I'm joining Ashley Sisk again this week from Ramblings and Photos for Scavenger Hunt Sunday! I love these!

Mainly One Color

My bananas are mostly yellow :)

Around the Home
My latest knitting project!

Reflection
We have a light bulb out in our chandelier and it throws out all of these crazy designs all over the walls. PS - I don't know that this actually counts as a reflection, but I'm going with it. Haha

Writing
Paige has been practicing her letters. She's got the "p" down!

Water
This one is pretty self explanatory!

KNITTING!!!

2011-11-18T20:55:00.000-06:00

I learned how to do it! I'm a part of a local mommy group and one of the MNOs (Mom's Night Out) was a gathering at someone's house. Involved were lots of baked goods, yummy wine, and yarn out the whazooo!

My contribution to the evening was Nutella Cheesecake Pumpkin Muffins.

Don't believe that such a wonderful concoction exists? I shall show you.

You can find the recipe here: Tasty Kitchen Blog

NOM NOM NOM

Anywhoodle.

It was a super fun night and I'm so glad that I had decided to go. The whole reason for the get-together was to learn how to knit baby hats so that we could donate our creations to the Salvation Army. Such a great cause!

Now, prior to this, I knew how to crochet thanks to my grandma. She's been crocheting beautiful works of art for as long as I can remember. I still have some of the blankets she made throughout my childhood! I think my (limited) knowledge of crocheting helped me out with knitting. I was able to get the hang of it pretty quickly. Since that night almost 2 weeks ago, I've knitted up a few hats. They aren't perfect, but for a newb, I think they look pretty good!

This was the very first hat I made. It was supposed to be a newborn hat. As you can see, it fits my very perturbed 3 yr old's head perfectly!

This is the 2nd hat I made. It should actually fit a newborn, or even a preemie. I'm getting a lot better at the sizing. It's hard when I don't have a newborn handy to take measurements! Thankfully, there is Google!

And now, this one. This one was made for someone specific - and that someone paid for it! They liked the little blue one I made, and decided to hire me to make one! I think it turned out pretty well! Now, I'm busying myself by learning how to read patterns. Those are nothing but gibberish, I tell you! So, wish me luck on my new venture! I had no intent on starting a business with this, but I won't complain if that's where it leads!

Happy Knitting!

I Spy

2011-11-05T11:57:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late, but I'm joining My Mad Mind and Dazee for the I Spy hop!

This week's theme is Trees & Your Choice.

Trees...they were blocking my view of the sunset!

My Choice is my daughter and her best friend on Halloween! She was a cat and he was Iron Man :)

Show Off Your Shot

2011-11-05T11:48:00.000-05:00

Not the greatest picture - but she is so stinking cute!

Mobile Monday: My Week in Phone Pics!

2011-10-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

Paige, looking cute as always!

The Dora pumpkin that Abe carved for Paige. My phone messed up, apparently...it's like it tried to copy the photo on top of itself.

We had matching Crackle paint on!

Abe and I at his 30th birthday party last weekend.

Pretty sunset on the way home the other day.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-10-30T13:37:00.002-05:00

It's time for Scavenger Hunt Sunday with Ashley Sisk from Ramblings and Photos!!

Ashley, I am so sorry but I can not get your button to show up on my blog. It keeps giving me html errors and I can't figure it out because it looks correct :( Sorry!!!

MACRO

Possibly the cutest cupcakes I have ever seen!

TEXTURE

Paige's bedding. I am in love with it, and want one for myself!

HOME:

I wasn't sure what to do with this one. So, I opted to use a picture of home made pumpkin seeds we made last night!! So much better than store bought!

COVER:

I couldn't think of anything creative whatsoever, so here is the cover of the book I am reading right now!

TREE:

This is what is left of our tree. We had a huge storm hit a few months ago and it took our little tree out!

Show Off Your Shot

2011-10-29T13:18:00.000-05:00

I decided to participate in Show Off Your Show Week 52 with and then, she {snapped}!

Simplicity Photo Challenge: LOLt

2011-10-19T22:31:00.000-05:00

This week's theme over at Simplicity is LOL - Laugh Out Loud..for those of you who may not know what it means. I doubt there are many of you out there, but just in case!

This particular photo ALWAYS cracks me up. Always.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-19T22:20:00.001-05:00

Simplicity Photo Challenge: Today I Am Thankful For...

2011-10-15T23:25:00.000-05:00

This little girl. She can brighten my day just as quickly as she can drive me up the wall!

Plus, she loves the Packers. That alone makes her a keeper :)

I'm linking up with Simplicity! What are you thankful for??

Link up and tell us!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-10-09T22:31:00.001-05:00

I'm joining in on Scavenger Hunt Sunday with Ramblings and Photos!

Landscape:

Triadic Color:

Black and White:

Food: Chicken Pot Pie! YUM!

Blank Space:

Show & Tell - Paper Heart Camera: Black & White

2011-10-09T21:58:00.000-05:00

The theme this week over at Paper Heart Camera is Black & White

This picture is an oldie but a goody. I don't have many pictures of Abe and Paige together because he HATES having his picture taken. So, I treasure the ones I'm able to sneak. Haha

Packers VS Saints - WE WERE THERE!

2011-09-09T21:15:00.000-05:00

We went to the NFL Kick Off game yesterday - Packers vs the Saints! It was AMAZING!

It went something like this -

We got on the bus at 11 am. The second the bus hit the interstate, everyone opened their beverage of choice. It was hilarious. Imagine approximately 40 cans opening at once. Hahahaha

We arrived in Green Bay at about 2 pm. We waited around in the parking lot for a bit until Abe's brother showed up. It was really nice that he was able to park right by us. Saved us a lot of stress!

Next up was the NFL Kick Off Concert! Maroon 5, Kid Rock, and Lady Antebellum!

Here are some pictures from tailgating before the game!

Hee hee...it had a Saints shirt on :P

Then...the FOOTBALL GAME!

Packers WIN!

It was such an amazing experience. I can't wait to go back!

Paper Mama Photo Challenge: Yellow

2011-07-31T20:13:00.000-05:00

The theme this week is yellow!!

Link up with The Paper Mama!

Show & Tell Challenge: Self Portrait

2011-07-31T18:27:00.010-05:00

Show:

Tell: I got a hair cut a few weeks ago! Over 8 inches was chopped off!

Join us for the Show & Tell Challenge over at Paper Heart Camera!

Bounce House/Water Slide? YES, PLEASE!

2011-07-23T12:26:00.000-05:00

Jennifer over at Mom Spotted has an awesome giveaway going on right now! You can enter to win a $500 gift card to Bounce Houses Now!

The one that she was able to review is a tad bit more than the $500...but there are TONS of awesome ones for less than that! Personally, I have my eye on this one...

Paige would LOVE this! She loves water slides and it would be so neat to have one right in our own back yard! It would probably be a pretty big hit for parties too!

So, head on over and enter the Bounce Houses Now Giveaway @ Mom Spotted! Be sure to check out the video too!

What has Social Media Done For Me?

2011-07-21T15:08:00.000-05:00

Social Media is a funny thing, that’s for sure. It can be the best thing that ever happened to you, and it can be the worst thing that ever happened to you. Fortunately, for me, it’s been amazing. I started out on Myspace back in 2006. Those were the days that you weren’t allowed on Facebook unless you were a student. At that time, I was no longer a student…So I didn’t get to be in that first group of elite Facebook users. Now? Everyone and their mother is on Facebook. My mom is. Abe’s mom is. Even my grandparents and great grandma!

Now, obviously, Facebook isn’t the only form of social media, but other than blogging, which I’ve definitely dabbled in, it’s the main thing that I’m on. I tweet occasionally, but it’s nothing more than tweets for contests, and I don’t think I have a single IRL (in real life) friend following me. IRL. That’s a funny thing too. “In Real Life.” It makes it sound like all of the people that I talk to on a daily basis, even if I’ve never met them face to face, are not real…and all because we haven’t met in person. Seems silly, but that’s how it goes.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. What has social media done for me? Well, back in Myspace days, it introduces me to a huge group of women. I’m talking at least 50. I was invited into one of the groups and well, the rest is kind of history. Almost 6 years later, I still talk to some of these women every day. We’ve been through births, deaths, weddings, and other major life changes together. I consider some of these women to be my best friends, and I hope that one day I can give them a real hug, instead of the normal (((HUGS))) that gets typed on their wall when they are having a bad day. I’ve been lucky to meet a few, but we have a collective dream to meet up somewhere in the US for one week, and just chill out. That would be amazing.

I dabbled in review blogging for about a year. I loved it, but once I started working full time, I just couldn’t do it. I’d love to get back into it, but I know that it wouldn’t go well. So, I’ll just stick to my random posts here and there. Through that though, I met a lot of awesome people and got to try out a lot of awesome products that we still use and purchase to this day!

Anyway, social media has really done a lot for me. Allowed me to meet new best friends, expanded my horizons in so many ways, and it continues to teach me every single day.

So – what has it done for you?

2011-05-28T12:31:00.000-05:00

Continuing on with my list of questions that I took from Ian at I Carried A Watermelon...

11 - Name one celebrity who needs to come out of the closet. Not too sure on this one. Maybe I will think of something later.

12 - Name one redeeming quality about asparagus. Asparagus is DELICIOUS! Especially when it is seasoned and roasted and eaten along with some yummy baked chicken! Who doesn't like asparagus?

13 - If "We Are the Champions", what are you? One of the champions. Proof being that this sog was played after our team won a championship.

14 - What's something they taught you in school that should never be taught to anyone? Calculus?

15 - What's the deal with Steven Segal anyways? He is one of the worst actors alive?

16 - Name two movies that should have never been made. Splice and Howard the Duck

17 - Do you enjoy to point, stare, and laugh at others? No. If I were that type of person, I would hate myself.

18 - Name one or more words that every time you hear them, make you cringe. Roach

19 - Have you ever put anything up your ass? Hahaha NO.

20 - What can you do better than most? I can carry a tune pretty well, but I wouldn't say I'm better than most. I'm not horrible though.

21 - Have you smoked pot? I plead the 5th.

22 - Would you wrestle a member of the same sex, nude, in pudding for 10 minutes for one million dollars? In a heart beat. That is a small price to pay, really.

23 - Happiest moment of your life? When Paige was born.

24 - Name in order, the body parts of the opposite sex you notice first. Hair, height, face.

25 - What or where's the furthest you've been away from home? When I was 12, I went to Europe.

26 - Have you ever been to Africa? Nope, but I would love to go!

27 - Can you currently do a split? Hell no. LOL

28 - What's better - a knee-jerk reaction or a polish knee slap? Um. I don't know what a polish knee slap is, so I will go with a knee jerk reaction.

29 - Ever given anyone a dutch oven? No! I'm a girl, I don't do those things :)

30 - What's your favorite kind of apple? Honeycrisp. Best Apple Ever. FACT.

I would love...

2011-05-16T20:09:00.000-05:00

to win this for Abe! He has been wanting a tablet for a long time and it's just simply something that we can not afford. This one looks awesome!!

Enter to win this Nextbook Next 3 Tablet Touchscreen from One Savvy Mom!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - a day late.

2011-05-16T08:43:00.001-05:00

I am going to try really hard to get back in the habit of doing this every week with Ashley from Ramblings and Photos. I absolutely love it. Since I have started my job, my camera has rarely been picked up. I think I went the entire months of February and March without using it. So many memories could have been captured! UGH!!

Anyway, moving on.

I don't know why, but I can't get the button for this challenge to show. :(

Sorry, Ashley!

FLOWERS

My in-law's yard was filled with pretty violets!

VISUAL CONTRAST

Something kept catching her eye on those bright yellow stairs..

FRIENDSHIP

I think it's safe to say that at this point, Daddy is her best friend.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Sorry the "after" is a little blurry. She was going down that slide at warp speed.

DARK

100 Questions, 100 Answers - Part 1.

2011-04-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

I saw Ian from I Carried A Watermelon post this list, and I thought I would join in the fun. Seems like an easy way to ease back into blogging! I am going to split it up though so it will be a little easier on the eyes :)

1. How old do you act? Well, I think that depends on the day. Sometimes I feel like I still act like a kid, other days I feel like I act as if I'm a decade older. Other days, I'm totally comfortable in my skin and feel like I act my age. Today? I feel my age.

2. Why is the sky blue? Um...something about the refection of the water on Earth. haha..am I right?

3. Do you burp, fart, or both in front of others? If others is only Abe, then yes. I avoid it at all costs otherwise.

4. Someone's writing a book based on your life. What would the title be? The Roller Coaster.

5. How many days in a row can you go without taking a dump? Um. Well....I go like clockwork every day, so it would be very odd for me to go more than a day without doing so. However, I've never actually counted when it has happened.

6. Favorite childhood cartoon? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

7. Have you ever caught someone in the act of masturbating? Thankfully NO.

8. Favorite food to make/bake/cook/etc? EVERYTHING! I love cooking and baking!

9. What's one redeeming quality about mushrooms? They are SUPER TASTY when sauteed in butter and sprinkled with garlic salt.

10. What's wrong with Richard Simmons? Nothing, really. He's just a little to flamboyant for my taste. haha

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-14T21:40:00.002-05:00

Changes

2011-04-10T10:35:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am still alive. The last several months have been a whirlwind, truth be told. I started a new job in the beginning of January, and it feels like I barely have time to breathe, let alone write a blog post. I had some computer issues awhile back too. So, you will now be seeing more of me, but I can't make any guarantees as to how often. Hopefully a few times a week. I will be doing a lot of photos, as I love it and I need to get back into the swing of that. My poor camera hasn't been picked up in nearly 3 months. The only pictures that have been taken were done so with my cell phone. LAME. If I do any reviews or giveaways, they will be few and far between. I have several from several months ago where I'm still trying to get people's prizes to them, so a huge apology for that. It's a lot of work, and while it's fun, it's not fun getting nasty emails. I'm doing the best I can with what little time I have.

In other news, Paige turns 3 in June. She is getting so big and is talking up a storm. She's pretty much speaking in full sentences now. She knows her ABC's and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by heart. She's hilarious, sweet, cute, and a monster all rolled into one.

That's it for now - Happy Sunday!

Guest Post By Mom!

2011-01-19T18:50:00.002-06:00

Hi everyone! I'm Cari's mom from My Mad Mind. Poor Cari is have some serious computer issues and has been trying to get online but has not been able to. So you get me even if for a short time. Since she gave me access, I could tell all her stories. And maybe some day I will tell everything I know about my child. She might disown me but it might be worth it.

So give her some time and she will get back to everyone with the emails and comments. In the meantime, go check me out because I'm funny.

I'm sooo behind....

2011-01-09T20:32:00.000-06:00

I realized today that I haven't shared our Christmas with you yet!!

We had our little Christmas on the night before Christmas Eve. I made Chicken Club Quesadillas, nothing fancy.

The next day, after Abe got off of work, we drove to his parents' house. We stayed their Christmas Eve night, had dinner with them on Christmas, then drove home.

Then, on the day after Christmas, we headed over to my parents' house!

We had a lot of fun going to see everyone! I hope that everyone else had a wonderful holiday as well!

My December Wins!!

2011-01-08T19:13:00.000-06:00

Here is a list of all the prizes I won during the month of December!

$100 Amazon Gift Card from Where Y'At Nashville?

Cutesie Blog Designs Blog Design from Simply Stacie

Kiwi Shoe Care Prize Pack from The Adventures of Paul & Natalie

$50 Think Geek Gift Card from Midget Momma

$25 Gifted Imaginations Gift Card from Thanks Mail Carrier

Dan-E from Marvelously Messy

Wilton Christmas Cookie Bundle from MomSpotted

Guidecraft Big Rigs Semi from Minnesota Mama's Must Haves

$35 CSN Gift Card from Sippy Cup Mom

Scunci Products from Between The Lines

Eatsmart Pro Digital Kitchen Scale from The Ethertons

$25 Perkins Gift Card from I'm A Lazy Mom

HearthSong Lighted Orion Relief Globe from One Savvy Mom

Scuncy Products from Second Time Around

Carson Dellosa Alphabet Train floor puzzle from A Mom's Balancing Act

Scribblish from Momma D and Da Boyz

It was a pretty good month!!

Winners!!

2011-01-08T11:15:00.000-06:00

I'm drawing all of the winners for the giveaways that have ended over the last week.

The World's Best Origami Giveaway winner is #64 out of 83 entries!

#63 is...Tina!

The Curious Chef winner is #40 out of 91 entries!

#40 is... Heather S.!!

The Digital Scrapbook Artist 2 is #30 out of 47 entries!

#30 is... Brooke Anna!

The winner of the Susi D. Jewelry giveaway is #24 out of 123 entries!

#24 is... FreeIndeed!

The PlaqueWorks Giveaway Winner is #45 out of 111 entries!

#45 is... Robyn!

The winner of the Maclaren Volo Giveaway is #199 out of 284 entries!!

#199 is Valerie!

Congrats to all of the winners!!!!

All of you have been emailed and you have 48 hours to respond to claim your prize!

All winners were chosen using Random.Org

Stay tuned- I have some more great giveaways coming up!

Memories, Dreams, & Reflections - 2010

2011-01-02T00:23:00.000-06:00

Me!

I Love You

Still Laughing...

This one CRACKS ME UP. She was pointing her finger and saying NO! Apparently, she did not want her picture taken.

Winter Wonderland

Birthday

Friends

I Was Inspired...

Spring Fever

Easter!

Travel or Vacation

Compose
We didn't get to go on vacation this past year, but we did spend a lot of time on the houseboat out on the Mississippi River! We parked it at beaches often and just hung out.

Summer Days

A Day In My Life

All Smiles

Autumn Harvest

Family

Celebrate!

Let's Do It Again...

Get together with friends...

I Miss You

I miss blue skies and warm temps!

Beautiful

Dress Up

Macro

Holidays

My Favorite

Don't Ever Change

Just Because...So There!

Hopes and Dreams

My hope for 2011 is that we have a peaceful, stress free year, for a change.

SUPER LOW ENTRIES!!

2011-01-01T23:34:00.000-06:00

I have several giveaways ending in the next few days that have shockingly low entries! I understand it's the holidays - so I'm sure that everyone is behind. Just thought I would give a head's up!

World's Best Origami Book Giveaway - Ends 1/4 - Only 15 entries

Curious Chef Cookie Cutters Giveaway - Ends 1/4 - Only 38 entries

Digital Scrapbook Artist by Serif Giveaway - Ends 1/4 - Only 3 entries

Susi D. Jewelry Giveaway - Ends 1/5 - Only 41 entries

PlaqueWorks Giveaway ($99 Value) - Ends 1/5 - Only 33 entries

1/365

2011-01-01T23:25:00.000-06:00

Sorry the picture is not very clear. I was trying to be quick. Abe hates having is picture taken, and I took this before he could hold up something in front of his face. ha ha!

1/1/11

2011-01-01T23:18:00.000-06:00

What a date, huh?

I hope that everyone had a fantastic holiday! Ours was pretty uneventful. Paige got REALLY sick - spiked a 105 fever out of nowhere. I couldn't get her to keep any meds down. Took her in - she has a nasty ear infection that the dr said probably cropped up overnight. Nice! Anyway - it was odd. She was keeping down Motrin and the antibiotics, but wouldn't keep down Tylenol. So, we stuck with the Motrin. 24 hours later (yesterday morning) she still had a fever of 102, it had not gone below that at that point. Paige started peeling her clothes off and man alive - she had these huge hives/welts everywhere. I thought that she was having an allergic reaction the antibiotics. Turns out - they disappeared right around the same time her fever did. So, everyone is in agreement that it was not an allergic reaction - just the body's reaction to having a fever for so long. *whew*

Because of all this, and due to lack of sleep, we decided to stay home last night. It's a good thing because I ran to KFC and picked up some food for us and it took FOREVER. Never in my life have I see so many cars off the road. The roads were just a sheet of ice. What would have typically taken me only 30 minutes total took well over an hour. By the time I got home, I was sore, stiff, and had a raging headache. It sucked. I suppose, falling in the driveway on the way to the car should have been my first clue - but hey. Whatever.

So, we played some euchre and had some wine. We nearly missed the clock striking midnight. Ok - well, we did. It was probably much closer to 12:01 when we finally realized it. Ha ha!

I woke up this morning and felt ILL. I'm still ill. Go figure - 2 days before I start my new job! Ugh! Let's hope this passes quickly. I slept off and on throughout the day today , so hopefully this will make a quick exit.

Now - there will be some changes here, as mentioned in a previous post. I will still be posting reviews and giveaways - just not several a day like I have been. It may take me a little while to get back into the routine of working full time - but I am going to do my best I love this blog and I love all of my readers - I promise to not let you down!

I'm also starting up my Project 365 again. If you don't mind, I'd like to do it on this blog. Last year, I tried doing it on a separate blog and I failed miserably. I simply forgot about it. I took the pictures - but would forget to post them because I was working on this blog. So, I'm hoping that consolidating the two will make it easier :)

If you have a comments or concerns - please drop me a line!

Winners & Giveaway Extension!

2011-01-01T23:08:00.000-06:00

The winner of the Show Your Helping Hand Giveaway is #5 our of 32 entries!

#5 is...Susan M. Heim!

The winner of the SoftLips giveaway is #75 out of 77 entries!

#75 is...Raven In A Blue Room!

The winner of the PediaCare giveaway is #1 out of 16 entries!

#1 is...happyleesh!

The winner of the Reach & Rembrandt Prize Pack is #13 out of 60 entries!

#13 is...Janelle!

The winner of the What A Doll from Kmart is #20 out of 83 entries!

#20 is...kellyr78!

The Maclaraen Volo giveaway is being extended. As of right now - there are only 177 entries into this AMAZING giveaway.

The stroller is a $130 value and is just awesome. We LOVE it and I'm sure you will to!

In fact -if you are reading this, please take 2 extra entries into the giveaway!

Just use "Extra Entry 1/1/11". This giveaway will run until next Friday - 1/7/10

Thanks everyone!

Review: Pamela's Products

2010-12-30T09:48:00.000-06:00

For any of you that suffer from wheat or gluten allergies will love this product that I am about to tell you about!

Pamela's Products was founded in 1988 after Pamela left her family owned bakery to go into business on her own. Her goal was to make gluten-free and wheat-free foods that tasted great. She felt that everyone needed to have food that they could feel like celebrating.

Often times, people think of gluten-free foods as bland and not very appetizing. I'm here to say that you should all go out and try some of Pamela's Products! My mind has been changed - gluten-free food CAN taste amazing!

I was sent 2 products to review. The first was Ginger Mini Snapz.

Talk about YUM! I am kind of embarrassed to admit this - but we had this package gone within the first few hours of opening it. They were so yummy. In fact - I've since purchased more. We love these - they are such a great snack. We eat them in moderation now though :)

INGREDIENTS: Rice Flour Base (Brown Rice Flour, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Sweet Rice Flour, Xanthan Gum); Molasses; Brown Sugar; Organic Natural Evaporated Cane Sugar; Non-hydrogenated Palm Oil; Eggs; Ginger Spice; Gluten-free Vanilla Flavor; Cinnamon; Baking Soda; Sea Salt; Cloves.

Nothing funny there! I love it! You can purchase

Pamela's Products Simplebites Ginger Mini Snapz, 7-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 6 for only $13.95 from Amazon! That is a great deal and something that I will definitely be taking advantage of!

The second product I recieved was the Chocolate Brownie Mix.

Now, I was a bit more nervous about this. I haven't baked anything that didn't have white all purpose flour in it. I envisioned a piece of cardboard when it was all said and done. Thankfully - I was wrong. It was delicious. It really didn't taste any different than your typical brownie mix. There are lots of different recipes on the site as well - so I can't wait to purchase more of this and give them a whirl.

Ingredients: Molasses and Honey; Brown Rice Flour; Natural Process Cocoa Powder; White Rice Flour; Organic Chocolate Chunks (Organic Natural Evaporated Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Paste, Organic Cocoa Butter, Non- GMO Soy Lecithin/ emulsifier, Organic Vanilla. Chunks may contain traces of mil protein due to manufacturing equipment) Tapioca Starch; Sweet Rice Flour, Potato Starch; Gluten-free Natural Flavor (contains corn derivative); Sea Salt; Xantham Gum; Baking Soda

You can purchase the Pamela's Wheat Free, Gluten Free Ultra Chocolate Brownie Mix, 16-Ounce Packages (Pack of 6) for only $26.60. This is also a fantastic deal. It qualifies for free shipping with Amazon Prime too!

I love that their website also list nutritional information for each product. That is a huge plus for them. It's a great resource for recipes and allergy information as well!

Be sure to check out Pamela's Products on Facebook and Twitter!

Disclosure: I was sent the product mentioned above free of charge for review purposes from Pamela's Products. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for doing so. The opinions I have expressed are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

2 More Winners!

2010-12-29T19:07:00.000-06:00

The winner of the Coldcalm Pellets is #8!

#8 is... Linda Kish!

The winner of the NameFrame giveaway is #38 out of 99 entries!

#38 is...Shannon!

Congrats to the winners! All have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen!

Winners were chosen with Random.Org.

WINNERS!

2010-12-27T20:29:00.000-06:00

I know that I said I would choose winners tomorrow - but right now, I'm bored. I have a ton of stuff planned tomorrow, so I figured I should just do this tonight! Good Luck!

The winner of the $25 Gift Certificate to Little One Books is #17 out of 104 entries!

#17 is... Carole Spring!

The winner of the Sanuk Shoes Giveaway is #142 out of 159 entries.

#142 is...Haven!

The winner of the Spin and Go Touchless Mop is... #15 out of 101 entries.

#15 is...Terra H.!

The winner of the Pear Tree Greetings Giveaway is...#28 out of 29 entries.

#28 is...HH!

The winner of the Brugo Mug is #26 out of 167 entries!

#26 is...Carey!

All winners were chosen with Random.Org!

All winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond.

Thanks to all that entered and a huge thanks goes out to the sponsors. Without them - these wouldn't be possible!!

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Tuesday Train - The Last one of 2010!

2010-12-27T20:00:00.005-06:00

Everyone ready for today's ride??

If you are stopping by for the first time - kick your feet up and make yourself comfortable :)

Now - onto the rules. I know...I know. Unfortunately - we do have some guidelines, but they are super easy!!

1. Kindly follow both hosts - Me and My Mad Mind.

2. You MUST have the button either on your sidebar or on a post dated for today.

3. Please make an effort to visit some blogs and follow the ones that you like. After all - that's what it's all about!

It's also time for Follow Me Back Tuesday!

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) and stayed safe!

A Christmas Quiz

2010-12-24T10:51:00.000-06:00

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate. I'm not a fan of Egg Nog.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? They are wrapped! It's a must!

Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored lights! They are sooo pretty!

Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. Other than the tree, we don't do much decorating.

When do you put your decorations up? I usually get them up soon after Thanksgiving. Usually that following weekend.

What is your favorite holiday dish? Pie? lol

Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Having all of my family in one house. Aunts, uncles -all of them!

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I have no idea, actually.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Actually, we usually open our gifts on Christmas Eve Eve. Ha ha. We are at Abe's parents' on Christmas Eve and part of Christmas day. Then, we head to our parents.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? With lots of lights, crocheted angels on old fashioned clothespins that my grandma made for me, and an assortment of other ornaments including Paige's first Christmas, Our first christmas together, and a Packer ornament - of course!

Snow! Love it or Dread it? By the time Christmas arrives - I'm sick of the snow.

Can you ice skate? Maybe? The last time I went I fell through the ice on a man made pond. It wasn't blocked off properly and I had no idea. I skated over and plop! Right through I went. I haven't been back.

Do you remember your favorite gift? I've had so many..but the one that sticks out most in my mind is a dogtag style key chain that has my sister's picture engraved on it.

What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with family.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? All of it. lol

What is your favorite holiday tradition? Just getting together and being with family.

What tops your tree? A start that lights up. It alternates green and blue.

Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving, for sure. I love shopping for gifts for other people. I always have.

What is your favorite Christmas Song? Anything done by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I love their take on holiday songs.

Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? I like them once in awhile. I really like the Spree flavored ones. lol

Favorite Christmas Show? Christmas Story!

Saddest Christmas Song? I don't know.

Some Announcements!

2010-12-24T09:44:00.000-06:00

First of all, I just want to start out by saying - Merry Christmas!

Right now, it's 9:10 and I am the only one awake. Abe has left for work already. Our guests are still sleeping...and so is Paige! So, I am sitting here in the living room in peace and quiet. I know that I should be using this time to start cooking, cleaning - or any number of things. But there is just something about sitting in a nice quiet house that I MUST take advantage of. The tv isn't on, no radio. Just me and the cat, chillin' on the couch.

*ahhhhhhh*

Anywhoodle.

Yesterday was one of the best days I have had in a really long time. Nothing was getting me down! Abe's brother and his brother's girlfriend arrived into town on Wednesday evening. They usually come down to visit for a few days and then we all (driving separately) drive down to their parents' house. I had dinner already to go for when they arrived and it was a nice night.

Yesterday, we had it all worked out. I would take Abe to work while Christian and Claire watched Paige for me. All of that went off without a hitch. Paige was so excited to stay behind and play with her uncle. Got to Abe's work and went inside. See, every year, the employees at his place of employment get money together through out the year and then at Christmas, they take the money and buy gifts for the children at the local homeless shelter. No one had time to take those gifts to them this year, so I did that. We had done the shopping for them on Monday, so by the time I was there to pick them up - they are already wrapped and ready to go!

I went to the bank after this because I knew I'd be stopping at the DMV. See - I lost my driver's license. I naturally assumed that my darling daughter had something to do with it as she is always digging around in my purse looking for goodies. Well, that was like a month ago and I still haven't found it. I'm taking bets on which vent it is in. The bank is approximately 7 blocks from Abe's work. It took me 30 minutes to get there! I have NEVER seen so many people on the roads in my life. Seriously. It was ridiculous. I get my cash and go to the DMV. Normally - the DMV is hell. On Christmas Eve Eve? Not so much. I was in and out in 15 minutes. I think I might start saving my trips for that date, if possible.

Next up was the homeless shelter. I pulled into the parking lot and realized immediately that there was no place to park. So, I did what every rational person would do - I blocked some people in, threw on the hazards and hustled inside! I saw gifts and packages spread as far as the eye could see. But then, I was asked who my gifts were for and was then told to go into the chapel. As I did so, I noticed that there were very few presents. Then I realized that none of the gifts downstairs were for the children in the shelter. I don't know who they were for - but they weren't for the homeless. The woman asked what I had and I told her who I was dropping these off on behalf of, how many each child got, and I explained my labeling system. We weren't given names, obviously. Just ages and sexes. The woman started crying. Abe's company had been the only ones to call and ask about the kids, and if there were even any. It touched me so much. I knew, at that point, I was going to have a good day. Nothing could bring that amount of elation down.

As I was leaving...I got THE CALL. What's THE CALL you say? Well, I will tell you. Way back in October, I sent in my resume to yet another doctor's office in the area. I graduated back in 2008 with an Associates Degree in Medical Office Administration. When I graduated, I was a certified coder and lots of knowledge about medical billing under my belt. Rejection after rejection came flying my way. Everyone wanted me to have 2 yrs experience. Well - how in the world am I supposed to get experience when no one will hire me!?!?! It was mind boggling. I started losing hope and thinking that I would be paying off student loan debt that I will never even get a benefit from. Last week, I got a call from that very doctor's office. The person that they'd originally given the position too had declined the offer and they were now looking again. So, I went in for an interview.

The interview was amazing. I've never felt so comfortable at home. It instantly felt like it was a place I wanted to work. I was then told that I could expect a call by the 29th to set up a 2nd interview if they were interested. On the 21st, I got a call asking to set up the 2nd interview. I had that interview Wednesday morning. At that point,I gave all of my reference information and was on my way. Then, it happened. Yesterday, as I was leaving the homeless shelter, I got that call. The call that told me they would like to hire me on as their new Patient Representative. I nearly cried. I had so many emotions swirling through me at once. I excitedly called Abe and I texted my mom. I updated my facebook status - of course. How could I not??

The rest of the day, I couldn't have been happier. Even though I was dodging horrible drivers left and right and waiting in the Wal-Mart checkout line for what seemed line an eternity, I was still happy. That hasn't happened in a long time. I came home, started baking and making dinner. We opened up our presents last night as the rest of the weekend is booked elsewhere. It was just such a wonderful day! As my dad told me "You have to be really down in the dumps and things not going right until you can really appreciate a good day." So true, pops!

Now - a few things blog related.

The final giveaway for the Guide to the Holidays was posted. Since it is a holiday weekend...I'm leaving some of the giveaways open. Any giveaways that are scheduled to end on this weekend, or any that have ended in the last few days will stay open until Tuesday evening. So - anything up right now on the sidebar will still be open until at least Tuesday. Otherwise, the dates will remain the same for anything ending after Tuesday.

Now that I will have a full time job, posting will obviously slow down. I will still post daily - but as of late, I've been posting 5 - 10 times a day. That, my friends, is a thing of the past. At least right now. I still have lots of giveaways lined up for you all - that will not change. If anything, I hope to have a few more personal posts up!

I will also be starting my 365 blog again. I failed miserably this year. I WILL do it next year though!

And now...the search for daycare begins!

Wish us luck!

Have a great weekend everyone!

iSafe Backpack - Help Keep Your Child Safe!

2010-12-21T16:27:00.000-06:00

These days, you can never be too safe when it comes to your children. It's crazy how much times have changed. I remember being able to walk to school and play around my neighborhood without a care in the world. Now? It's rare that I see a child, of any age, by themselves. It's a shame, but it't necessary.

While your children are at home, there are a lot of things you can do to keep them safe. When they are at school, and away from you, protecting them gets a little bit harder. This is where the iSafe backpack comes in!

iSafe is made by a company called Inventive Concepts. They specialize in developing and manufacturing innovative products that assist in every day life. With the iSafe backpack - I'd say they have done just that. This is a product that can benefit EVERYONE!

I received an iSafe School Backpack. These retail for $69.99.

This School Backpack has plenty of room and compartments for students on the move. The iSafe School Backpack can accommodate your mobile gear in secure compartments. This is a durable backpack for any student who carries a cell phone, iPod and other valuables, and wants to protect themselves from bullies, predators and criminals while going to school or to the mall.

This backpack would be great for adults too! I often have a backpack with me wherever I go. It usually contains Paige's things along with my personal items. When I was employed, I took a backpack with me that held books and my lunch. Really - it can be used for anything!

When I received it, I wondered how I would test it out. After all - the alarm is louder than a car alarm and can be heard for quite a distance. It's not like we could just set it off casually. Turns out - I didn't need to even worry about it! No - I was not mugged or attacked. We were headed to Abe's parents' house and I had used the backpack to carry my laptop in it. Yes - a 17 inch laptop fit in the bag! That's how big it is! Anyway - as I was putting it in the trunk, I accidentally pulled on the activation cord! WOWZA! Talk about LOUD. I had no idea what I had done, or if it was even me. It took me a few minutes to realize that I had pulled the cord. I was freaking out because it was so unexpected. Thankfully, Abe realized right away and plugged it back in. The noise instantly stopped.

At that moment - Abe and I both realized what a wonderful product this truly was. Now that I've heard it, and know how loud it is - there is no way that this could be set off in the middle of a mall and no one would notice. It is that powerful. It was then that we decided that when it came time for Paige to go to school - she would have one of these backpacks.

The pack is made of high quality 840 Ripstop Nylon. It's very durable. It's thick and padded, so anything inside is also well protected. As I stated above, I did put my laptop in it and I wasn't worried at all for it's safety. There is a tiny pocket in the front that I use to store extra batteries. I take my camera everywhere with me, and I find myself always losing batteries. Not anymore - this pocket is the perfect size!

Overall - this backpack is an amazing invention. I'm so glad that someone thought of this. I encourage everyone with children to get one of these. In addition to the backpacks - they have laptop bags, cute girl backpacks, sling backpacks, and laptop messenger bags! There's something for everyone!

Be sure to check out iSafe on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Disclosure: I was sent the product mentioned above free of charge for review purposes from iSafe. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for doing so. The opinions I have expressed are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Guide to the Holidays - Tellurian Baby

2010-12-21T15:18:00.000-06:00

I love trying out new bath and body products! I especially love it for Paige - particularly when those new products are all natural. Her skin isn't too sensitive most of the time - but her skin hates winter. So, I really start trying to use more natural products for her that aren't so rough on her skin.

I received Tellurian Baby's line of all natural baby products and I was so excited. Upon opening the packaging, I loved the bright colors of the products. They are so fun to look at. Paige even says they are pretty!

I received 8 products from Tellurian Baby - only 7 of them are pictures. I forgot to include the Diaper Cream. In addition to the Diaper Cream, I received Lotion, Shampoo, Body Wash, 2-N-1 Shampoo & Body Wash, and Baby Oil in 3 scents - Unscented, Scented (with Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil), and Soothing & Calming (Lavender & Chamomile).

I'll start with the Diaper Cream. This cream is ultra rich and very creamy. It doesn't take a lot to do what you need it to. It is hypo-allergenic and is free of formaldehyde, parabens, no propylene glycol, and it's gluten free. This works really well. This retails for $12 and is a 3.6 oz container.

The lotion is the ultimate moisturizer for baby's skin! It is formulated to replicate and restore lipids naturally present in the skin. This lotion has Vitamin E, Aloe Vera, and a rich combination of botanical extracts to help soothe and nourish. We have used this lotion so much that it's nearly gone. Paige's skin gets very dry in the winter - especially her legs. This has been a life saver for us. This lotion is also hypoallergenic, so you don't need to worry! The 8 oz bottle retails for $11.

Next up is the Shampoo. It is a very gentle cleanser, and one that I've enjoyed using on Paige. It has Vitamin B5 and Rice Amino Acids that help moisturize and condition. It has Aloe Vera and extracts of Green Tea, Chamomile, and Mallow. I love that this shampoo is tearless. I don't have to worry about it getting in Paige's eyes and causing her pain. I love the rich, soapy lather that this provides. With all of the natural extracts, it smells wonderful! An 8 fl oz bottle retails for $10.

The Body Wash is very gentle. It's made of an extra mild, non-drying formula. It is made in such a way that it doesn't interfere with the skin's natural function. This allows the skin to maintain it's moisture content and protection from environmental factors. In this body wash, you will find Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Calendula, Mallow, and Oat Extracts. This formula is also tearless, so once again - no worries there. I love the body wash. The scent is wonderful. Man, I LOVE natural extracts! Nothing smells better than nature! This retails for $10.

The 2-N-1 Shampoo & Body Wash is a wonderful product. It is a wonderful multi-purpose formula that is mild, pure, and natural. I love these kinds of products because they are a time saver, really. Everything is one bottle, and with just a few pumps and some scrubbing - your baby is good to go! I especially love to travel with this because it saves space in the suitcase! A 16 fl oz bottle retails for $17.

The Baby Oils are amazing!! As mentioned above - I received all 3 scents. My favorite is definitely the Vanilla scented one. It's smells so yummy. Whenever I put it on Paige, I just want to eat her up! These baby oils are a great product to use when your little one has dry skin. The baby oil acts as oils and lipids that are naturally found in your skin. A 4 fl oz bottle retails for $12.

When you purchase these products, you aren't just getting some of the best baby care products on the market. You are making a contribution to the Tellurian Foundation. “The Tellurian Foundation will be making monetary and product donations to charities helping children in the United States and throughout the world.” I think that is amazing!

All in all, I love each and every one of their products. Tellurian has an entire line of natural products - not just baby products. I'm really anxious to get some! I'm pretty sure I will love them! All Tellurian Products can be ordered from their website.

Disclosure: I was sent the product mentioned above free of charge for review purposes from Tellurian Baby. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for doing so. The opinions I have expressed are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Guide to the Holidays - PlaqueWorks Review & Giveaway $99 Value! Ends 1/5

2010-12-21T13:57:00.000-06:00

If I've said it once - I've said it a million times. I love personalized products, especially when there are photos involved. To me, that is the perfect present to give someone because it proves that you put thought into their gift and it's sure to be something they will love!

Their Philosophy:

Our philosophy is quite simple. Any moment can be a PlaqueWorthy moment! We believe all things that have an impact on your life should be expressed in an extraordinary way. Your photo plaque will be the only one of its kind. You are the designer! (Don't worry. You don't have to be an artist. You will find lots of helpful ideas and we are there every step of the way.)

I was contacted by PlaqueWorks to do a review of one of their PhotoPlaques. I was so excited! After receiving instructions on how to order it, I got right to work. Surprisingly, the process was very easy and pretty much fool proof. I had a lot of fun going through old pictures and trying to find the perfect photo to place on a plaque. Once you choose your photo - the upload process is very easy. After that, I got to choose the inscription on the metal plate. There are so many choices and options - right down to the color of plaque and any designs that you may want!

I ended up going with the first photo that was taken of the 3 of us after Paige was born. I know that we all look tired and it's really not the best photo - but this picture holds a lot of memories for us. Whenever I look at that picture, I feel like I'm back in that hospital room holding our precious newborn baby girl. That makes this picture, regardless of quality, worth so much.

For the inscription, I chose "Our New Little Family" and the date of her birth - June 10, 2008. My, how that day changed our lives! I love that I now have it on a beautiful plaque that I will be able to look at, always!

With as much as this means to me - it's easy to see how someone could cherish a gift like this. Anything that you would like to commemorate - you could do with this. Seriously! It's awesome. I love products like this that could fit for essentially any occasion!

The Plaques come in 3 different sizes - Small ($49), Medium ($69), and Large ($99).

I received the Large Plaque which is 16 X 13.5.

Luckily - one lucky reader is going to win a Large Plaque just like I received! This is a $99 Value!

Thank you PlaqueWorks!

**Mandatory Entry**

What occasion would you document with this plaque?

This step is mandatory. All other entries will be void if this is not done first.

Email address must be included on mandatory entry.

FOR EACH ENTRY, YOU NEED TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT.

I WILL CHECK ALL ENTRIES ONE BY ONE.

ANY THAT DON'T COMPLY WITH THE RULES WILL BE DELETED.

EXTRA ENTRIES

Follow This Blog with Google Friend Connect + 1

Follow ThisLittleFam on TWITTER +1

Follow PlaqueWorks on TWITTER +1

Tweet about giveaway (linking to this post) or use "retweet" at the top +1

Like This Little Family on FACEBOOK. +1

Like PlaqueWorks on FACEBOOK +1

Subscribe to my blog via email and confirm subscription +1

Grab my NEW! button and let me know where you put it +1

Grab the Holiday Button and link me to where you put it +1

If you added the button prior to November 1st and commented HERE bonus +5

Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post +3

Vote for my recipe HERE +5 (only valid once, must have Swag Bucks Account)

Good luck and thanks for entering!

Like this giveaway? Please vote for me!

(no bonus entries for voting per new rules)

Contest ends on January 5, 2011 at 11:59 pm CST. This contest is open to US entrants only. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified via email. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me. If I have not received a response within the 48 hour period, a new winner will be chosen. Must be at least 18 yrs of age to enter. One entrant per household.

Disclosure: I was sent the product mentioned above free of charge for review purposes from PlaqueWorks. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for doing so. The opinions I have expressed are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Guide to the Holidays - Susi D. Jewelry Review & Giveaway! Ends 1/5

2010-12-21T13:13:00.000-06:00

If you are looking for some beautiful hand crafted jewelry this holiday season - I have the place for you!

About Susi D. Jewelry:

Native to Germany, Susan DelVecchio grew up having only the few pairs of stud earrings that her mother had made for her by bringing some old silver spoons to a local goldsmith. Susan's passion for jewelry and gemstones was sparked years later, during a visit to the jewelry district in Downtown Los Angeles. She now resides in the hills of that city with her husband and daughter.

In 2008, Susan launched Susi D. Jewelry, and in 2009, added an online store to reach her valued customers directly.

I received a beautiful set of Faceted Black Onyx earrings to review from Susi D. Jewelry. It came in a beautiful blue satchel with a nice business card. I love it when companies put these little finishing details on their products - it really adds the perfect touch!

I am in love with these earrings! They will compliment my outfit perfectly that I plan on wearing for Christmas dinner! They come in 2 styles - hammered sterling silver or 14k gold filled infinity frame. I received the 14k earrings. They are gorgeous. Since they are made with pure gold - I don't have to worry about my very sensitive ears having a reaction. This is a huge plus!

Here is another angle. I attempted to take a picture of myself wearing them, but they just didn't come out very well - so this is what I've got for you! Sorry! As you can see, they hang beautifully. I love the little bunch of beads at the bottom.

These earrings retail from $35 to $40, depending on the style that you choose. The 14K gold fill adds an extra $5 making it $40. This is not a bad price at all for a quality pair of earrings! They are black, so they will go with pretty much anything. Versatility is good!

Susi D Jewelry offers a wide variety of jewelry including Earrings, Necklaces, and Bracelets. The site is very easy to use. You can search for type of jewelry, collection, or color!

WIN IT!

Susi D. Jewelry has generously offered one reader the pair of earrings of their choice!!

Thank you Susi D. Jewelry!

**Mandatory Entry**

Visit Susi D. Jewelry and tell me which earrings you would choose!

This step is mandatory. All other entries will be void if this is not done first.

Email address must be included on mandatory entry.

FOR EACH ENTRY, YOU NEED TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT.

I WILL CHECK ALL ENTRIES ONE BY ONE.

ANY THAT DON'T COMPLY WITH THE RULES WILL BE DELETED.

EXTRA ENTRIES

Follow This Blog with Google Friend Connect + 1

Follow ThisLittleFam on TWITTER +1

Tweet about giveaway (linking to this post) or use "retweet" at the top +1

Like This Little Family on FACEBOOK. +1

Like Susi D. Jewelry on FACEBOOK +1

Subscribe to my blog via email and confirm subscription +1

Grab my NEW! button and let me know where you put it +1

Grab the Holiday Button and link me to where you put it +1

If you added the button prior to November 1st and commented HERE bonus +5

Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post +3

Vote for my recipe HERE +5 (only valid once, must have Swag Bucks Account)

Good luck and thanks for entering!

Like this giveaway? Please vote for me!

(no bonus entries for voting per new rules)

Disclosure: I was sent the product mentioned above free of charge for review purposes from Susi D. Jewelry. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for doing so. The opinions I have expressed are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Check Out This iPad Giveaway!

2010-12-21T10:44:00.000-06:00

Worth Avenue Group on Facebook is giving away 2 iPads!!

All you have to do is comment on giveaway post. You do have to like them first.

If you win - I win too! When commenting - please let them know that Cari Sutton sent you!!

Thanks, everyone! Good luck!

Guide to the Holidays - MyChime from Honeywell Review

2010-12-21T10:34:00.000-06:00

I was given the opportunity to review the MyChime Wireless Doorbell. I was really excited because I love doorbells that have the option to do away with the typical doorbell sound. The doorbell we have is boring and plain so I was excited to spice it up a bit.

The MyChime is a DIY Project and takes very little time to set up. It has 7 built in chimes and it even has the ability for you to add your own! It comes loaded with Halloween and Sports sounds, too! That's neat! This MyChime is special because it includes a sound card with 4 Holiday themes tunes on it. Perfect for the season! There are 4 volume settings and it can be portable or wall mounted!

This was very easy to set up and program. It only took a few minutes. We have the speaker portion set up next to our front door. It's just sitting on a little corner table we have there. It's funny, the doorbell we originally had always made me jump. It was so obnoxiously loud and never failed to startle me and make my heart pound. Ha ha. The MyChime has been a completely different experience. Right now, we have it set to play Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and it couldn't be more awesome. I love it! I actually don't mind when people ring my doorbell now! We have had it on all of the settings for the Holiday Card and this one is definitely my favorite. I can't wait for more holidays to come upon us so that I can actually use some of these!!

You can purchase a HoneyWell MyChime with Holiday Sound Card at a retailer near you.

It is currently being sold on Amazon for $49.46 and is eligible for Free Shipping with Amazon Prime. This is a great and versatile product and I know that you will love it!

Disclosure: I was sent the product mentioned above free of charge for review purposes from Honeywell. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for doing so. The opinions I have expressed are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Giveaway Ending Tomorrow!

2010-12-21T01:05:00.000-06:00

Hey all!

I just wanted to give you a head's up that I have a great giveaway coming to an end tomorrow!

It's the Little Ones Books $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway!

As of 1:00 AM CST (I know, I should not be up at this hour. lol), there are only 83 entries.

This is a GREAT giveaway. You could easily get 2 great items with the gift certificate!

Don't forget - I have an extra opportunity HERE!

This giveaway ends at 11:59 pm tomorrow evening!

Thanks, everyone :)

Winners!!

2010-12-21T01:00:00.000-06:00

The winner of the Chloraseptic Prize Pack Giveaway is #50 out of 75 entries!

#50 is...darlanpaulsmamma!

The winner of the Paper Shower Giveaway is #23 out of 78 entries!

#23 is...Donna!

Congrats to the winners!

As always - winners were chosen using Random.Org

Winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond :)

Thank you to the sponsors that made these giveaways possible!!!

Tuesday Train 12/21

2010-12-20T20:00:00.000-06:00

Everyone ready for today's ride??

If you are stopping by for the first time - kick your feet up and make yourself comfortable :)

Now - onto the rules. I know...I know. Unfortunately - we do have some guidelines, but they are super easy!!

1. Kindly follow both hosts - Me and My Mad Mind.

2. You MUST have the button either on your sidebar or on a post dated for today.

3. Please make an effort to visit some blogs and follow the ones that you like. After all - that's what it's all about!

It's also time for Follow Me Back Tuesday!

Now - go have some fun! I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend! If you are traveling - stay safe!!!

Can You Help Me Out?? Extra Entry Opportunity!

2010-12-20T19:09:00.000-06:00

I submitted a recipe to Swag Bucks for their Holiday Recipe Contest and I would love it if you could vote for my recipe!

First, you need to be a member of Swag Bucks.

If you aren't already - you can sign HERE. Remember - if you sign up for Swag Bucks using that link - you get an extra 5 entries into a giveaway! Also - if you do sign up, you can get a bonus 20 Swag Bucks by entering in the code "SignUp2010"

Then, you can go to my Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe and vote! You just hit the up arrow to the left of it!

If you do this - give yourself 5 extra entries into one of your giveaways! Please comment on this post stating that you voted and please leave your SB name.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Show Your Helping Hand with Hamburger Helper & Tim McGraw! Giveaway!

2010-12-20T13:50:00.002-06:00

According to Feeding America, approximately 5.7 million different people receive emergency food assistance from the organization in any given week.

To raise awareness about the national issue of hunger, Hamburger Helper^® is partnering with GRAMMY^® Award-winning singer, songwriter and actor Tim McGraw to help Feeding America deliver millions of meals to local food banks through the Show Your Helping Hand™ campaign. McGraw will lend his voice to the campaign through a Public Service Announcement which will be distributed nationwide.

Support the campaign by submitting codes from specially marked boxes of Hamburger Helper at www.showyourhelpinghand.com or by logging on to make a donation. Hamburger Helper has already donated more than half a million dollars and will contribute up to an additional $100,000 to Feeding America through this program. Don’t think one code will make a difference? The 17 cents Hamburger Helper donates per code is enough for Feeding America to deliver one meal to a local food bank.

Want to get involved? Simply enter 1 code from a box of Hamburger Helper! If you do this - you are automatically entered to win an autographed copy of Tim McGraw's "Southern Voice" cd. Simply visit www.showyourhelpinghand.com!

WIN IT!

One lucky winner will receive a prize pack containing 1 box of Hamburger Helper, a Hamburger Helper foam "Helpin gHand" and a copy of Tim McGraw's "Southern Voice" cd!

Thank you Hamburger Helper!

**Mandatory Entry**

Tell me what you have done recently to show your helping hand?

This step is mandatory. All other entries will be void if this is not done first.

Email address must be included on mandatory entry.

FOR EACH ENTRY, YOU NEED TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT.

I WILL CHECK ALL ENTRIES ONE BY ONE.

ANY THAT DON'T COMPLY WITH THE RULES WILL BE DELETED.

EXTRA ENTRIES

Follow This Blog with Google Friend Connect + 1

Follow ThisLittleFam on TWITTER +1

Tweet about giveaway (linking to this post) or use "retweet" at the top +1

Please include #myblogspark in the tweet.

Like This Little Family on FACEBOOK. +1

Subscribe to my blog via email and confirm subscription +1

Grab my button and let me know where you put it +1

Leave a comment on any current review listed on top left +1

Enter another giveaway (one entry max) +1

Good luck and thanks for entering!

Like this giveaway? Please vote for me!

(no bonus entries for voting per new rules)

Contest ends on December 29th at 11:59 pm CST. This contest is open to US entrants only. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified via email. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me. If I have not received a response within the 48 hour period, a new winner will be chosen. Must be at least 18 yrs of age to enter. One entrant per household.

Disclosure: I was sent the product mentioned above free of charge for review purposes from Hamburger Helper & MyBlogSpark. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for doing so. The opinions I have expressed are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."