The Mommy Times

Welcome to another edition of Monday Google + Blog Hop hosted by Karen at The Mommy Times! Google is changing things up a bit and will be discontinuing Google Friend Connect BUT we will have a new way to share: Google +! You can add people to your circle and follow in an all new way, building new relationships and salvaging old ones! From what I understand GFC will end at the end of the year. With social media constantly evolving I am sure this is just one of the new changes in motion.Let's all support each other and follow each other through Google +!Just leave me a comment so that I can follow you back.

My only request is that you follow me and my co-host, Nancy @ Arizona Mama and we will return the favor.Grab my button and re-post and spread the word. The more follower's, the more we all benefit. Join me each and every Sunday night to begin Monday's G+ Mingle!

While you are here, I hope you will look around and explore! I have giveaway's, reviews, recipes, posts about special needs and much more! You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter!

Celebrate the Super Bowl! Ideas for the big game!

2012-02-05T14:45:00.002-05:00

Decorate....

Source: ohbabyshowerdecor.blogspot.com via Cupcakes and Confetti on Pinterest

Source: toastandtables.blogspot.com via Karen on Pinterest

Eat and Enjoy...

Source: chef-in-training.com via Angie on Pinterest

Source: minibakercupcakes.blogspot.com via Kim on Pinterest

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via April on Pinterest

Source: watermelon.org via Karen on Pinterest

Dripping Roast Beef Sandwiches Recipe

2012-02-05T00:10:00.001-05:00

Some nights, it's just so easy to make a sandwich, but I like something warm for winter. I ran across this recipe and loved it, as it was so simple to make and a crowd pleaser, too.

1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed French Onion Soup

1 tablespoon reduced sodium Worcestershire sauce

3/4 pound thinly sliced deli roast beef

4 Pepperidge Farm® Deli Classic Soft Hoagie Rolls

4 slices deli provolone cheese cut in half

1/4 cup drained hot or mild pickled banana pepper rings

Heat the oven to 400°F.

Heat the soup and Worcestershire in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil. Add the beef and heat through, stirring occasionally.

Divide the beef evenly among the rolls. Top the beef with the cheese slices and place the sandwiches onto a baking sheet.

Bake for 3 minutes or until the sandwiches are toasted and the cheese is melted. Spoon the soup mixture onto the sandwiches. Top each sandwich with 1 tablespoon pepper rings.

RECIPE TIPS

Easy Substitution: You may substitute 1/2 of a 11.25-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Texas Toast (4 slices), prepared according to package directions, for the rolls in this recipe. Serve the sandwiches open-faced.

I made home made french fries with ours, and it was a huge hit! This would be great for the super bowl, too!

This fantastic recipe is from Campbell's Kitchen...

Favorite Friday Find - CharleeRose Designs on Etsy - Autism Awareness Wreath

2012-02-02T23:36:00.002-05:00

I love this Autism Awareness Wreath!!!! I need this for our front door! Awareness is key!!! Thanks to CharleeRose Designs for making a beautiful creation for families like mine!!

Wordless Wednesday - Diapers on the Line

2012-02-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

February Giveaway Linky - Spread the Giveaway Love!-

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome everyone to my February Giveaway Linky! Please feel free to spread the word, and be sure to enter your giveaway's or giveaway's around the blogosphere.

Please remember to leave me a comment and be sure and include the name of the giveaway and end date. Also make sure you only link back to your giveaway and not your blog!! Glad to have you here!!

Spread the Love this month with my February Giveaway Linky!

Tuesday's Pinterest Tips: Kid

2012-01-31T22:44:00.002-05:00

Source: s285.photobucket.com via Jo on Pinterest

Tuesday's Tips - Creative Edibles for Valentine's ( Pinterest Inspired )

2012-01-31T09:54:00.000-05:00

Source: marthastewart.com via Kerri on Pinterest

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Karen on Pinterest

Source: bettycrocker.com via Angela on Pinterest

Source: bestfriendsforfrosting.com via Tracie on Pinterest

Motivational Monday - Celebrating Black History Month

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

Source: ecards.myfuncards.com via Karen on Pinterest

*Black History Month begins February 1st*

Monday Mingle Google + Blog Hop - Join my Circle Today!

2012-01-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

Gotta Go? Potty Training while on the Go...

2012-01-28T15:40:00.001-05:00

As we keep moving forward potty training our son, just the thought of running to the store for thirty minutes puts me on edge, because what if we can't find a potty in time?? I also know it's impossible to only go out in short intervals, especially since we travel 41 miles for therapy twice a week for my oldest son for hour sessions, which equals hours from home. On a long trip, potty training dvd's are a nice choice if you have a portable dvd player! I am reviewing this potty time dvd below.

What I decided on for short trips, really short trips is cotton underwear, either regular big boy underwear or thin trainer's, like Super Undies! I love brands like Super Undies because you can stuff them to add extra protection while still allowing for a pull up/real underwear feel. There are so many options now for cloth diapering mom's moving into cloth trainer's.

I love the stuffable waterproof trainer's so that you can allow for a custom fit for day, naps or night time training. The Gerber trainer's are fairly cheap, easy to find and give you a little protection and big boy feel and the regular toddler undewear is appealing to the child with many character's available, but offer no protection from accidents. I would recommend a waterproof trainer for traveling in the beginning.

You also need to remember a puddle pud, or at the very least a towel to protect your car seat while traveling and potty training. Keep prefolds in your car for messes, and you can also place these in your car seat to contain an accident. You can also use a similar one in your stroller, too. It just gives you that extra protection against leaks.

A folding potty seat is also nice to carry with you, although not a must have. It does make traveling easier and more toddler friendly. Don't forget to bring your eco-friendly wipes while on the go! You can make your own solution and I found a recipe and helpful tips on Zany Zebra.

I think packing a toddler backpack with an extra change of clothes is also a must for traveling, just as you would pack one for your baby. I would include an extra set of clothes, trainer, wipes, etc. I know my son loves backpack's because he feels like he is as big as his older brother who uses a backpack at school.

What are your travel potty training tips?

Tanner's Totes - Helping Children Cope with Long Term Hospital Care

2012-01-28T12:58:00.001-05:00

We are huge Clemson fans and there is one very remarkable Clemson basketball player who has been giving to children since he was a child himself. His name is Tanner Smith. Tanner delivers joy, literally by uplifting children who are in the hospital for long term treatments and stays by bringing them "Tanner's Totes". Watching his father endure so much with cancer, sparked a hope for making children smile and bringing joy to those who were facing similar circumstances. Tanner was just three years old when his father was diagnosed and twelve when he first began delivering these totes. As of today, nearly 2000 totes have been delivered!!

I cannot think of a better way to give back, than to help those most vulnerable, going through horrific circumstances, by making their day a little brighter! God Bless Tanner Smith and Tanner's Totes!! I encourage you to read more about this cause and donate if you can. I am amazed that this idea was born from a twelve year old who continues to spread sunshine to those who need it the very most.

You can find Tanner's Totes online, on Facebook and YouTube. Please check out this very worthy cause!!

Favorite Friday Find - Apricot and White Tea Facial Scrub

2012-01-27T00:30:00.002-05:00

I really like Bath & Body Works, True Blue Spa Facial Scrub with Apricot and White Tea. I use it several times a week on my skin!

Love Vera Bradley? Take a look at some of these crafty finds!

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

I frequently post about my love for Vera Bradley and I found some unique crafts to create from my favorite Vera pattern's, from Pinterest. If you are not familiar with Pinterest, just click on the picture to go to the site that created these marvelous crafts. I love sharing them!!

Source: twothingsincommon.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: craftingrebellion.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: lovebugliving.com via Liz on Pinterest

Wordless Wednesday..Rain Boots

2012-01-25T08:23:00.002-05:00

Obsessed with his very large Thomas rain boots...how could you resist?

Finding Nemo 3D Coming this FALL!!

2012-01-24T13:43:00.000-05:00

I love Finding Nemo and when I discovered it will be coming to theaters this Fall, I could not wait to share it with you!!

About Finding Nemo 3D:

"Academy Award^®-winning Best Animated Feature “Finding Nemo” returns to the big screen for the first time ever in thrilling Disney Digital 3D™. In this stunning underwater adventure, with memorable characters, humor and heartfelt emotion, “Finding Nemo” follows the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin (voice by Albert Brooks) and his son Nemo (voice by Alexander Gould)––who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly-but-forgetful Pacific regal blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son––who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home."

FINDING NEMO returns to theaters for the first time in 3D September 14th, 2012!

You can head over to the Finding Nemo Facebook page for more information.

Timmy Time: "Timmy Needs a Bath" DVD Review & Giveway (Ends 2/3)

2012-01-24T11:33:00.001-05:00

Timmy Time
Timmy Needs a Bath DVD
HIT Entertainment ~ Lionsgate
Release date 1/24/12

Synopsis: Enjoy some good clean fun with Timmy and his friends!Adventures with mud, glue and paint leave Timmy in some sticky situations. Thisclever little lamb uses his creativity to make tub-time fun and turn a paintfight into a masterfleece! Timmy cleans up and discovers the most fun of all isbeing with friends! Soak up the good times with Timmy…just don’t forget to washbehind your ears!

This new dvd includes 5 full length episodes and 2 bonusfeatures:

Timmy Needs a Bath
Sticky Timmy
Tidy Timmy
Timmy Goes Camping
Timmy the Artist
Bonus: Timmy’s Tune #2
Bonus: Shaun the Sheep episode “Supersize Timmy”

Timmy is a huge hit with my two boys and it is quite funny, if you've never saw the show. Check out this video clip from Timmy's site. I love watching him with my boys and the clips are really short and funny! Timmy is enjoyable for all age groups and geared toward the young and young at heart.

Timmy Needs a Bath will be available on DVD on January 24th and you can order your copy for just $11.98 at the Lionsgate Shop!

WIN IT:
You can win Timmy Needs a Bath all new DVD right here!! Just enter the easy rafflecopter entry form below from now until February 3rd. US readers only and no duplicate blog winner's of this particular copy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thomas & Friends Curious Cargo DVD Review and Giveaway (Ends February 2nd)

2012-01-24T11:17:00.000-05:00

Curious Cargo DVD
HIT Entertainment ~ Lionsgate
Release date 1/17/12

Synopsis: All aboard for a wild ride on the Island of Sodor asThomas and his engine friends deliver some Curious Cargo – from giraffes andcows to birds and bunnies and more! Thomas meets a tall challenge while takinga giraffe to the Sodor Wildlife Center, Percy learns to be gentle with theanimals of Sodor and Belle and Toby discover the importance of listening toothers. Join Thomas on his wildest adventures yet!

This DVD features 4 full episodes and fun bonus features:

Thomas’ Tall Friend
Percy’s New Friends
Toby and Bash
Big Belle
Bonus: “Find What Doesn’t Belong” Game
Bonus: “Determination” Song Karaoke Music Video
Bonus: Exclusive Activities & Fun with Driver Perkins

Thomas outshines himself in Curious Cargo! It is full of animals and delivers a fun message of listening to others. The animals add pizzazz and a different take to the usual happenings on Sodor. It makes for a lively dvd that my boys just adored!

Thomas is suitable for preschoolers and is a classic hit with my children. He has been delighting little ones for over sixty years! I highly recommend Thomas and Friends as the sweet stories and life lessons are timeless.

BUY IT:
You can purchase Thomas & Friends Curious Cargo DVD at the Lionsgate Shop for $11.98!

WIN IT:
Would you love to win a copy of Thomas and Friends Curious Cargo DVD? One lucky reader will win their very own copy of this hit movie! This giveaway ends on February 2, 2012 at midnight and is open to US readers. No person winning duplicate copies will be allowed per sponsor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas from Interflora

2012-01-24T10:50:00.000-05:00

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner!! Spreading love to your most cherishedvalentine through valentines giftsis a way of showing how much we care, and appreciate our loved ones. Eachyear my husband surprises me with a wonderful, heartfelt gift. I know these gifts have varied through theyears and each one as special as the next. When I was expecting our secondchild he surprised me with a body pillow for comfort and he also warmed my heartby having flowers delivered,too. I think beautiful, fresh flowerswill be a welcoming gift to any one, whether it is your wife, girlfriend, ormom. I have always enjoyed a sortedarrangement of fresh flowers. The brilliant color combinations just pop and adda memorable experience each year as my husband chooses a different arrangement.

Choosing the perfect present can sometimes be a challenge,depending on your recipient. I you reallyare certain of their favorite selections, choosing can be a cinch or you couldstart off with gift baskets. I also love gift baskets! I love baskets filledwith not only flowers, but scents, wine, and chocolate, too! What girl doesn’tadore chocolate? If you are looking forsomething a little different than a floral arrangement , you can choose from anarray of gifts, including personalized balloons, cupcakes, a romantic gift set,and a combination of delicious treats as well as beautiful floral bouquets,that are customized just for your sweetie! Valentines gift giving can beaffordable, romantic and very personal depending on your selections. You canalso “wow” her (or him) with elegant arrangements fit for a queen, or loadedeloquent gift baskets. If you are stillstumped for what to get that special someone in your life, try these valentine’s day ideas.

Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it and opt fora heartfelt gift, one that will delight your sweetheart now and in years tocome by choosing a show stopping arrangement or gift. She will thank you for it!

Valentine Treat Bags for Kid's via Pinterest....

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

Source: asmallsnippet.blogspot.com via Christiana on Pinterest

Source: thefryfamilyblog.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: fiskars.com via Elle on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Elle on Pinterest

Just a few ideas for treat bags for Valentine's Day...What's your favorite treat bag idea?

Monday's Motivational You

2012-01-23T00:05:00.008-05:00

Source: futurefabulous.blogspot.com via Deirdre~ on Pinterest

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Deirdre~ on Pinterest

Source: the-happy-and-healthy-me.tumblr.com via Claire on Pinterest

Potty Training for the Eco-Friendly

2012-01-22T21:41:00.000-05:00

If you are beginning potty training, it is pretty much a "green" experience, eventually anyhow. In order to give up diapers regardless of cloth(which I prefer) over disposables, you eventually have to resort to cloth, because it is similar to underwear. While there are many trainer's on the market, I can tell you a few I really like. The first featured above is Super Undies and is very similar to big boy underwear, yet it will hold an accident. Cloth rocks and in my opinion, it makes potty training transitioning a little easier.

I also like Blueberry Trainer's. They are made of soft, cotton velour and will hold one accident, but are pull on just like regular underwear.

Cloth trainer's are ideal for beginner's, naps, and night time, until your little one can get the hang of it.

You will also need some wipes for accidents as toilet paper, just will not do. While you can get disposable potty wipes, I suggest reusable wipes for the environment, and your wallet!

I can tell you that I like wipes from WAHM's, like on Etsy, and I also like Bummas wipes. There are many others on the market, but I am only familiar with these.

I suggest getting a nice wet bag for your bathroom with a wet and dry section, one to keep dry wipes, and the second for dirty ones. I like Planet Wise and Go Green.

You will also want to use some good detergent for your cloth trainer's and wipes, like Rockin Green, Crunchy Clean or something eco-friendly. Crunchy Clean also has dryer balls with matching scents! Both are green alternatives and dryer balls are better for the environment than dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are also a big no no with cloth diapering.

What are your eco-friendly potty training choices?

A Sweet Valentine Book for your Toddler

2012-01-22T14:00:00.000-05:00

This is such a sweet book, a Rebus poem, perfect or toddlers. I read this to my oldest and now I am reading it to my youngest. It is an ideal and short story for toddlers.

What is your favorite toddler book for Valentine's Day?

Monday Mingle Google + Blog Hop - Join my circle!

2012-01-22T11:54:00.001-05:00

Beginning Potty Training, Elmo Style!

2012-01-21T20:31:00.000-05:00

I have been on and off potty training my son, and I will admit that he could have probably been trained before now. He turned two this Fall, and even before his second birthday was showing signs of readiness. I dread the potty training and constant staying on him to get to the potty in time, BUT I also dread going out in public when he has to potty. I am so used to changing a diaper and not having to worry where the closest potty is, etc. I know that's lazy on my part, but we travel 40+ miles (one way) to therapy twice weekly for my oldest son, and there isn't really anywhere to stop in between for potty breaks. I am dreading that, but looking forward to leaving all the diaper washing and sorting behind, although I absolutely LOVED cloth diapering and would do it if I ever had another child and recommend it to everyone.

My son was all about Barney, but now is shifting a little to Elmo. He has been sleeping with an Elmo book lately, so I thought I would go with the Elmo theme for potty training. I comprised my picnic basket and transformed it into a potty training basket. This basket with handles is big enough and has handles to make it easy to carry. Included in this potty training basket is cloth training pants, big boy underwear, a Munchie Mug filled with his favorite M&M's to ~~coax~~ bribe him into going to the potty, dollar store toys in treat bags, like bubbles, hot wheels car, Elmo book, and activity packs, Elmo Potty book with reward stickers.

You could put virtually anything in your potty rewards basket that appeals to your child. Little ones are usually eager to please with a little incentive and you don't have to spend a lot. My system consists of M&M's OR suckers for peeing in the potty and a treat bag for pooping in the potty. I think putting the prize in a bag, makes it a little more exciting, too! I found a few other treats to give, if/when these run out:

Elmo Homemade Suckers using a candy mold...You could also make Elmo Soap, or Elmo Crayons, too!! These molds are reusable and usually less than $3!

I also ordered some Elmo underwear, since I could not find any here, but I found them on sale at Kohls and I got 30% off, too!

We also have a Potty Watch, and it's really cute, however, I cannot get Bryce to wear it more than a minute or two. The concept is awesome, but he is not as interested in wearing it.

I just opt for our homework timer, which I paid less than $3 for at the dollar store. It is a basic kitchen timer and works just as well...

I also would consider ordering Elmo Temporary Tattoos, since my boys love these! You can get them really cheap!

You can also get some great reading material for little ones, by comprising a few potty books nearby, like this(the bag is from a kid's meal, so we are recycling=) -- the bag is also perfect for keeping crayons and other activity books in :

I made my potty chart on My Memories software. I will be hosting a review and giveaway soon, but in the meantime you can get a discount, a $10 discount by clicking below. You can create hundreds of projects!

Wish us luck as we begin potty training today.....

More posts to come on cloth trainer's, cloth wipes, tips and tricks.

What are your best potty training tips and solutions?

Perfect dessert for Kids!

2012-01-20T10:07:00.001-05:00

I love simple, easy, colorful-kid-friendly! I also love Pinterest, where I find all of these wonderful ideas to pass along to you!

Source: blogs.babble.com via Karen on Pinterest

You can see a really neat how to tutorial from Real Mom Reviews.

Favorite Friday Find - Soft Shoe Learning Toy - Children's Woodland

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

Another cute toddler creation from Children's Woodland! A Soft Shoe for your little one to learn on!

#Win a Family 4 Pack of Tickets to see the Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey Circus at the Bi-lo Center in Greenville, SC!!(Ends on 1/29)

2012-01-18T09:26:00.000-05:00

The GREATEST show on Earth has a new show "hatching" soon!!

DRAGONS!!

Watch this sneak peek video and get ready!

The Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus is coming to the Bilo Center in Greenville, SC on February 1-5th! Tickets are on sale now!

The Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey support local families and education by their Reading with Ringling program! In many libraries around the country, the children can earn free tickets to see the circus by reading books! Check to see if your library is participating! The Greenville libraries are!

Okay on to the really good part.......FREE TICKETS!! We are giving away a family 4 pack to the circus at the Bilo Center!

WIN IT: Family 4 pack!!

Thank you to the following blogs for your help in promoting this event: Mama to 4 Blessings, The Three Under, Acting Balanced, I'd Rather be Changing Diapers, JDaniel4's Mom, Coupon Savings in the South,and The Mommy Times.

ENTER BELOW USING RAFFLECOPTER

a Rafflecopter giveaway

South Carolina #Love

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

One of my dear friends is a magnificent photographer and I had to share this great shot!! Audrey you are amazing!!

Exercise is the best medicine!

2012-01-17T21:01:00.000-05:00

This week has been a whirlwind of stress for me. I can usually handle it, but lately it's been a little more to deal with. As you know, my Mom has Alzheimer's, and I went over today and she was placing her dishes in her hutch and I crumbled to pieces. This is not unusual and she hides everything, but it struck a nerve today and as I looked around the room and see the pictures draped on the wall, each one telling a story, I couldn't help but think of life before Alzheimer's.

I also have other personal issues and could not seem to shake the blues away. Today I was so down, but I took my boys outside and we road bikes. When my husband came home he joined us and I peddled fast and even in the cold, the wind blowing and my hair flapping back in the wind, made me feel as free as a bird. I worked hard, enjoyed my family and my mood is so much better.

I had been walking daily and with the cold weather not going nearly like I should. I have to do something each day for my physical well being BUT also for my mental well being. It makes all the difference.

What do you do to relieve stress?

A Hauntingly Killer App....

2012-01-16T03:52:00.002-05:00

You know we now glorify pet's pages on Facebook as well as memorials set up for the departed...but how about if you could speak from the grave.....

Read about this super creepy app here.

This spooky app works by picking three trustees from your Facebook friends list who will receive a message asking them to confirm your death. After all three confirm the user’s passing, a pre-recorded video or written message will be published on the user’s Facebook wall.

WEIRD....

I can just imagine would some people would say because let's face it, we all are not eloquent, and some would leave hate messages or something no one wanted to know...

And what about the one who picked the wrong three to leave as trustees, can you imagine??

I can even see a court case around this...who gets what...a will played out in the media, and no, not a celeb, a regular Joe.

I don't think I am ready for that, do you? I can see people falsely saying a person was deceased. I can see other problems...

Um, I for one, don't want to make a creepy death video for FB. Has dying now become a status boost??

I think of this soul departed and his take on the future, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." -Andy Warhol 1968

He had some insight into our now socially veracious way of life.

Let's all be good to one another while we're here, promote peace and love, and step back a little and not get swallowed by our own egos...

I think in this instance we all need to get over ourselves...what is your take??

Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches are a perfect afternoon snack #Cbias #TysonGoodness

2012-01-16T00:25:00.000-05:00

My son is ravenous when I pick him up from school and always trying to get me to stop for fast food. I try not to give in to fast food and have a quick and nutritious snack waiting for him at home. We had the opportunity to try Tyson's newest product, the Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches, and they were a hit with our family! We are big fans of Tyson, and regularly buy their "any-tizers" and chicken strips, so I knew their chicken mini's would be equally delicious.

Both of my boys enjoyed the mini chicken sandwiches and they make the best quick snack that is so much better than fast food.

I like that it only took a little over a minute to heat up and that it's a hot and ready.

See how yummy these look? They are very satisfying and filling and I LOVE that they are egg and peanut free. We have to read every label due to the boys having food allergies. I also like that both of these sandwiches are 100% all-white chicken on a bakery bun, which is so good!! Another plus for me is the mini's only contain 370 calories for both! That is a lot better than a cheeseburger!!

I really liked how these were easy to find at our Wal-mart, although check the helpful store locator, as they are not in all Wal-mart stores yet.

You can view my Wal-mart shopping experience for Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches by clicking here on Google + story.

I think Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches make a quick and inexpensive after school snack that your kids will love!

**Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches Offer**

Buy 2 Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches at a participating Walmart and receive a $5 Walmart Gift Card!! http://bit.ly/vHyJS3

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as a part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are 100% my own.

Monday's Motivational Children

2012-01-16T00:05:00.000-05:00

Source: wedovinyl.blogspot.com via Dani on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Marissa on Pinterest

Source: modernparentsmessykids.com via Liz on Pinterest

Honoring a TRUE Peacemaker - Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Honoring one of the greatest American's who ever lived, a true peacemaker, who gave his life for what he believe our nation could be. I have tried to tell my boys how this man, through love, changed our nation. I cannot imagine leaving such a beautiful legacy to my children. His mark will forever be imprinted on our society that has and will impact generations, all because one man....had a dream!

"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today."

low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Source: bhamwiki.com via Sandy on Pinterest

Read his eloquent and beautiful letter here. I am awe inspired by such an amazing man!!

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral,
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy.
Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
Through violence you may murder the liar,
but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth.
Through violence you may murder the hater,
but you do not murder hate.
In fact, violence merely increases hate.
So it goes.
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence,
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness:
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

(One of my personal favorites!!)

Monday Mingle Google + Blog Hop - Join My Circle -January 15

2012-01-15T15:32:00.001-05:00

Train Valentine Sweets: I Choo-Choose You!! Valentine Craft

2012-01-14T11:06:00.001-05:00

Source: wmcraftgoodies.blogspot.com via Donna on Pinterest

This is an adorable find on Pinterest, since my boys LOVE trains!!

I also found these adorable Train Cupcakes:

Source: livinglocurto.com via Karen on Pinterest

Diamond Candles Review & Giveaway (Ends 1/27/12)

2012-01-14T07:31:00.001-05:00

Be prepared to fall in love with this review and giveaway!! Diamond Candles, yes *DIAMOND* Candles is a unique and eco-friendly business offering their customers more than just a beautiful,quality soy candle, but a ring valued at $10, $100, $1,000, or $5,000!! A treasure for women to discover while enjoying the ambiance of their favorite candle!

Marilyn Monroe coined the phrase best, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend!"

From the Diamond Candles site:

"The combination of highly fragrant premium quality soy candles, an exciting and fun 'ring reveal' experience (what ring will you find?), and a ring to wear for months and years to come means making something as boring as burning candles in your home something to look forward to."

"You can take a tour and learn more about us here, watch some 'ring reveal' videos, or go ahead and take the plunge and get your first soy candle!"

My Review:

I had the pleasure of reviewing the 21 oz. Fresh Snow Soy Diamond Candle. It smelled wonderful, is perfectly themed for winter, AND there was a ring hidden inside! The Fresh Snow candle was very fragrant, reminiscent of sweet buttercream, although it has some peppermint aromas, too, it smelled heavenly. I enjoyed the sweet scent filling up my living room and looking at the cutest little snowman on the front of the candle. It is delightfully decorated in a winter theme! This candle will burn 125-160 hours of fragrance, which is an added bonus! I still could not wait to see what ring I would receive! It was so fun as the anticipation mounted as I waited and wondered what treasure was lying just beneath the sur-face! As you watch and enjoy the ember like glow from your candle, you will see your ring becoming more accessible..like this:

Can you tell it has begun separating a bit from the heat?? As it melts further down, it becomes very easy to obtain your treasured ring. After you blow out the flame and your candle is cool, you can then grab your ring! You could also use tweezers to get your ring out. The foil lined paper, gives way to a tiny bag which holds a beautiful ring that is all yours!! Open your bag and surprise!! Check out my lovely ring!!! It is so pretty, although I am sure it is an inexpensive ring, it is still worth it! Costume jewelry can be costly and with Diamond Candles you are certain to receive a minimum $10 ring and a very large candle, so it is still a wonderful deal at $24.95!! I would have loved to had a genuine diamond ring, wouldn't that be fantastic, to pull out a very expensive diamond ring??

Diamond Candles has a large variety of delicious scents, sure to please anyone and at $24.95 + the free ring inside, make this gift and purchase worthy. This would make an ideal Valentine's or Mother's Day gift and a quite unique one at that! Their shipping is only $5 and these gems will soon be available in stores!!

Would you love to have a Diamond Candle?? If you have not tried Soy Candles, you will love them!! You can win one right here!! Diamond Candles is participating with thirty bloggers to give away some "scent-sational" one of a kind soy candles!

Connect and shop with Diamond Candles on their website, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube Pinterest, and their blog!

WIN IT:

Thirty candles will be given away during this blog bash from Diamond Candles, so enter today here and around the web for your chance to win your very own Diamond Candle!($24.95 Value)! If you are the lucky winner, be sure and share and show off your ring on Facebook! This giveaway is open to US readers 16 and up and will end on January 27th.

GOOD LUCK!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monster Jam Tour Family 4 Pack Tickets(Greenville, SC) Giveaway

2012-01-13T22:35:00.002-05:00

Hello!! What little boy doesn't love LOUD DIRTY HUGE MONSTER TRUCKS???

The Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam Tour is stopping in Greenville, South Carolina on January 27 & 28 at the Bi-Lo Center in celebration of the 30th anniversary of.....................

GRAVE DIGGER!!

This crowd favorite is going to make a special appearance- a 30th anniversary experience!

" The Grave Digger 30th Anniversary Experience, which will tour to allMonster Jam events in which Grave Digger will be performing, features a historical timeline from Grave Digger's humble beginning to its risein popularity, exclusive vintage attractions, limited editionmerchandise like the Grave Digger 30th Anniversary DVD, broadcasts ofthrilling moments from Monster Jam events spanning three decades, andmore!"

This is not a show to miss! Grave Digger, Batman, and Monster Mutt will be racing across the dirt at the Greenville, SC Bi-Lo center on these days:

January 27th 7:30 PM

January 28th 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Kids tickets are just $6 each!

WIN IT: Home Grown Families has partnered up to give away a Family 4 pack of tickets for Opening night to see the Advance Auto PartsMonster Jam at the Bi-Lo Center! PLUS+ you will win a Mattel GraveDigger Playset to keep the Monster truck appreciation going!

ENTER BELOW USING RAFFLECOPTER

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer:
By entering this contest, you certify that you are 18 years old or older and that you have read and agree with the rules, our giveaway policy and disclosure:

U.S only except where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. Giveaway starts at the moment of the posting ofthis article and will run until January 21, 2012 at 11:59PM! The prizeis a pack of 4 tickets to see Monster Jam . All prizes will be awarded. Alist of winners will be available after 7 days by writingMomToSprouts {at} yahoo {dot} com. All prizes are awarded and forwardedto the winner by the sponsor; in this case, Harlu Media. Please see Official Rules for more details.

We are disclosing this in accordancewith the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerningthe Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Many Uses for Vaseline!

2012-01-13T20:45:00.000-05:00

Source: mythirtyspot.com via Danielle on ;Pinterest

I love Vaseline year round, but especially in the winter. I found these tips on Pinterest, some I did not know about!

It makes your eyelashes grow: Lather Vaseline all over your eyelashes overnight and watch them thicken, even without a prescription!
To Soften dry and cracked elbows.
Dry cuticles: Store a mini-Vaseline container in your purse and utilize for emergency dry cuticle moments.
It is a misconception that Vaseline clogs pores, so smear it all over your face, neck and arms for softer skin.
It eases eyebrow plucking: Tame your eyebrows and lube up the under-skin so you can pluck with ease.
To make your accessories look brand spankin’ new: New job interview? Scuff the crap-ol-la out of your patent leather heals thanks to pitcher night? Put a small dab on your shoes and shine away!
It’s your new exfoliating body wash: Mix with sea salt and come out of the shower feeling soft.
And sexy. Can be used to smooth and soothe skin after shaving.
Bonus - For Halloween - Once you carve your Halloween pumpkin, rub Vaseline on the exposed edges. it keeps it from rotting or going dry.

Crayon Valentines Reusable Craft

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

A Fun way to recycle and make a reusable craft for your child's class...I love ideas shared on Pinterest!!

Source: flickr.com via Kyra on Pinterest

Easy Nail Art

2012-01-11T10:49:00.001-05:00

I love painting my nails, especially my toenails and since it has been forever since I have been to the salon, this is an inexpensive and fun way to decorate your toes(or fingernails) in the drab winter months! I had to share this because it really looks like something I could do myself and it's creative and fun! I love my painted toes!! I use decals sometimes, which are really cheap and easy on Ebay. What do you like to do to pamper yourself?

Source: avainwoman.blogspot.com via Paula on Pinterest

As you may know, I am a huge Autism Advocate for my son and I found these "Hope" decals and I love to wear this in the Summer especially. I feel like I am promoting awareness everyone my feet can take me!

You can get really creative and use scrapbooking punches, too!

Source: howdoesshe.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Wordless Wednesday--Happy Birthday Mom

2012-01-11T02:41:00.000-05:00

My Mom turned 64 last weekend. I am so thankful for many things, but for her sweet smile that evening and she enjoyed her party. I thought this year it might be even worse with the fast progression of #Alzheimer's, but I think it was a wonderful day for her!!

Spring Event is right around the corner!!

2012-01-11T01:58:00.002-05:00

I am participating with several other wonderful bloggers in a Spring Fever Event, which will run from April 15th-21st and it will be tons of great giveaway's with up to 100 bloggers participating!!

If you are interested in participating, you will need to get a minimum $50 giveaway package together and be ready to post on 12:01 am on April 15th. You can find all the details on not quite Susie Homemaker's blog.

A $5 entry fee to participate is required. I am so excited about this event and hope that you will join me in spreading the word! You can apply through this link.

EdenFantasys

2012-01-11T01:39:00.002-05:00

**This Post is PG, however the links are to an adult store and not meant for children under eighteen. *PLEASE READ* do not click on the links while your children are present.**

I love pampering myself, but with two small children, it is really hard to find the time and energy to search for the right products. EdenFantasys has taken the work out of searching and has tons of pampering products that moms just like you deserve.

While browsing their wide selection of wonderful pampering products, I discovered a really nice gift set, the Terme Trio Hair Care Set, priced under $60, and contains luxurious lather and conditioning for your locks. It contains no No Phthalates / No Triclosan / Parabens free, which is really important when choosing a hair care product. It looks to be absolutely exquisite and packaged nicely, perfect for Valentine's Day. Want to know more about this kit? Please read below Edenfantasys description of Terme Trio:

Terme trio hair care set – sensual kit:

Pamper your hair with Luxe hair care formulations that will cleanse & moisturize with the finest ingredients and heavenly scents to leave your locks shiny, silky soft and healthy. Its like a visit to the spa for your hair. Includes a mini Bianco Breeze Hair & Body Powder, Terme Tresses Ultimate Softening Shampoo & Terme Tresses Ultra Hydrating Conditioner.

Edenfantasys has many great bath and body products to choose from. I was very impressed with the quality and variety of items that they offered and I absolutely love reading reviews before I purchase a product.

Edenfantasys also offers many great sensual products for couples. Check out their website for suggestions, and a large variety of products and as always they have free shipping!

Disclosure: I received a gift card for posting about Edenfantasys. All opinions are my honest opinion. *This Post is meant to be PG, however the links are to an adult store and not meant for children under eighteen. *PLEASE READ* do not click on the links while your children are present.**

Rafflecopter Celebrates the new year with an EASY giveaway to win an iPad or Kindle Fire!!

2012-01-09T23:27:00.002-05:00

I love Rafflecopter!! It has made managing and entering giveaway's super easy and user friendly! I was thrilled to find out they were updating the original widget because I knew it would be ideal for me and my reader's! Enter their super easy contest below and pretty please with Sugar on top, let them know that The Mommy Times referred you! I would love to win a Kindle or an iPad! On a serious note, my son uses one in therapy and it would be so nice to have one at home, too! Here are the details below directly from Rafflecopter:

This giveaway will be open from January 9th until February 9th.

Rafflecopter makes the whole process of running giveaways on your blog really, really easy. Over 80,000 giveaways have been created with Rafflecopter, and if you didn’t know yet, there’s a new version in town! Oh yeah, it’s free. If you haven’t used Rafflecopter, sign up and launch a giveaway in the matter of minutes.

To celebrate the new year, we’re going to give away a 16GB Apple iPad2 and several Kindle Fires. The giveaway starts Monday 1/9 at 12:01 a.m. and lasts for a month. To enter, simply tell us who referred you to this giveaway! You can receive additional entries by tweeting about this giveaway, following us on twitter, and giving us feedback. In addition, we’re doing something a little special to make things more fun:Suggest a Mascot Name – You’ve seen the Rafflecopter smiley-face dude hanging around the web. The poor guy needs a name, and we want to leave it up to you to decide what his (or her?) name should be. For an additional entry, suggest a name! After the giveaway is over, we’ll go through the list of names and pick out our favorite suggestions (be creative!) and bring it to a vote on Facebook. If your name is chosen, you’ll win a Kindle Fire and be immortalized in Rafflecopter history :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: I am posting to spread the love because I support Rafflecopter and I am also eligible to win prizes for referring others.

Moon Sand Recipe

2012-01-09T16:12:00.000-05:00

Source: playbasedlearning.com.au via Jenna Cloward on Pinterest

4 cups sand + 2 cups cornflour + 1 cup of water = moon sand!

Great to make with the kids!!

Discount Decorative Flags #Valentine's Review & Giveaway(Ends on January 23rd)

2012-01-09T00:56:00.002-05:00

Discount Decorative Flags is full of beautiful decor to dress your home inside and out. They specialize in flags, and indoor/outdoor mats and have such a wide selection to suit just about any customer. I was excited to be able to review and outdoor doormat, Tropical Floral Natural Fiber Outdoor Doormat by Evergreen. I was so pleased when it arrived and could not believe how fast I actually received it, which speaks highly of their customer service. The beautiful natural fiber outdoor rug was just perfect for my front door. My old doormat was just falling apart and I wanted something cheerful, colorful and completely functional. I really could tell this was a nice quality doormat that would last for a long time. It was heavy and sturdy and looked to be very easy to keep clean. I need something durable with my two boys! See the specifications below directly from Discount Decorative Flags.

Tropical Floral Natural Fiber Outdoor Doormat by Evergreen

Price: $11.99
16" x 28" Natural Fiber Outdoor Doormats by Evergreen. These mats are made of 100% natural coir with vinyl backing. Extremely durable and weather resistant. Great functional accent to the entrance of your home...welcome your visitors and keep the dirt out all at once!

This rug really brightens up the drab winter and adds a bit of whimsical charm to my front porch. I love the look and quality of this rug and the price is unbeatable!! A rug similar to this one would be double or triple in a department store! I was absolutely thrilled with their pricing!

Discount Decorative Flags have so many beautiful home decor items such as their large house flags, mini garden flags, mailbox covers, yard signs, address markers, windsocks, and indoor/outdoor doormats in popular themes, seasonal and holiday favorites and even something for the dedicated sports fan, too!

When it comes to decorating your home for Valentine's and upcoming Spring and Easter, you will not want to miss the wonderful deals that Discount Decorative Flags has to offer and at their prices you can afford to splurge a little! With over 2000 products to choose from, there is literally something for everyone! This would also make a wonderful gift for someone and also perfect for Mother's Day, too!

Just look at their Valentine's selection! It is bright and cheerful and I love decorating for the holiday's and season's! It just really makes your home look more inviting! So what which Valentine flag are you in love with?? With their broad selection, it is really hard to choose, and each one is festive and cheerful perfect for the holiday!

BUY IT:
You can purchase a gorgeous outdoor doormat just like the one I reviewed, Tropical Floral Natural Fiber Outdoor Mat for $11.99! That is a really good deal!!! You can also purchase a decorative Valentine's Flag on their website for less than $20 and many less than $10!

WIN IT:
One lucky reader will win a Mini Garden Flag in Valentine Motif to help celebrate this wonderful holiday! Winner will get to choose one mini garden Valentine flag under $10. *Substitutions may apply depending on current stock.* Giveaway is open to US readers and will end on January 23rd, 2012 at Midnight.

*Double your chances of winning by entering on my friend Julie's site, Mamawj's Moment Away!*

Connect with Discount Decorative flags on their website, Facebook, and Twitter. They have wonderful discounts on their Facebook page, so be sure and visit them often for sales, specials and deals! Use the coupon code, "social10" to enjoy 10% off your next purchase!

Enter to win below using the easy Rafflecopter entry form! Best of luck everyone!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday's Motivational Getting Fit

2012-01-09T00:03:00.005-05:00

Today is Monday's Motivational...

I am trying harder to work out and set realistic goals and each week, whatever your goals, I hope to encourage you, too! Enjoy!

Source: thegetfitgirls.com via Leila on Pinterest

Source: get-thinspiration.tumblr.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: sharondt.tumblr.com via Hope on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Hope on Pinterest

January Giveaway Linky

2012-01-08T12:56:00.001-05:00

Welcome everyone to my January Giveaway Linky! Please feel free to spread the word, and be sure to enter your giveaway's.

Come and link up January Giveaway's here! Please remember to leave me a comment and be sure and include the name of the giveaway and end date. Also make sure you only link back to your giveaway and not your blog!! Glad to have you here!!

Hope everyone is enjoying the new year!

Monday Google + Mingle Blog Hop - Join my Circle!

2012-01-08T11:51:00.001-05:00

monday mingle

2012-01-08T11:31:00.000-05:00

Sweet Valentine's Crafts for Little Ones

2012-01-08T08:00:00.003-05:00

A few Valentine crafts to make with your little ones that I found on Pinterest.

Source: 373virtualpta.wordpress.com via Madelaine on Pinterest

Check out these adorable sucker butterflies! Perfect and easy craft to do for Valentine's Day!

Source: familyfun.go.com via Elaine on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Chanin on Pinterest

Source: allfreecrafts.com via Amber on Pinterest

Peace for the New Year...

2012-01-07T15:45:00.000-05:00

Source: google.com via Jenna Cloward on Pinterest

Hostess Gifts

2012-01-07T15:42:00.001-05:00

Hubby and I almost never have a night out, but occasionally we do get invited to a party or an event and I am always stuck at what to bring a hostess. I think it’s just polite to bring a small token of your appreciation. I guess I look at it like if they are providing your meal and entertainment, the absolute least you can do is bring something and I have found it is very appreciated. Here are a few of my picks that are small, thoughtful, inexpensive and some are a little unique.

Cheers to You by Vera Bradley is only $15 and I would love to receive this, because it is beautiful, thoughtful and most likely your hostess won't have one yet! I love getting pretty gifts that I would not directly buy for myself, but it is super nice to receive it from a friend. You could also make one similar and embellish it. I am not very talented, so I would have to buy one. I really wish I could sew!

I got these beautiful tulips on New Year's Eve for myself! I wanted something to bring me in the new year and a bright cheerful color! I picked these gorgeous purple tulips up at the grocery store for $4.98! They are still beautiful and sit on my table. It is simple and pretty and a nice gesture. Most people love flowers! You could also arrange them in a simple glass vase and embellish a little for a more professional look.

Another nice little gift is something anyone can make, especially if I can-wool dryer balls. This would be a great way to introduce a friend into eco-friendly products. My dryer ball is a little fuzzy now, but I have been using it for over a year now.

This $12 mini desk set by Vera Bradley is also a perfect and compact little gift that any hostess would appreciate!

I also love the Tune In Case for $16.00. It is another handy little carrying case for smaller iPod's and MP3 players. Is it obvious my love of Vera Bradley products?!

You can also use personalization for wrapping such as this one I found on Pinterest.

Source: olderandwisor.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

This is a gift I gave to my husbands cousin and she loved it! This is not a great picture, but at the time I was taking it to show my aunt.

You can also give a special gift that only the hostess would love, such as stationary, a small collectible, etc. What are your suggestions for hostess gift giving?

Favorite Friday Find - A Valentine's Shirt for Boys!

2012-01-06T08:00:00.003-05:00

Isn't this adorable for a little boy??!! I found this on Etsy from Joy Shine Designs. I just fell in love with it!

Angelina Ballerina: Sweet Valentine DVD Review

2012-01-05T11:41:00.005-05:00

Angelina Ballerina
Sweet Valentine DVD
HIT Entertainment ~ Lionsgate
Release date 1/3/12

Synopsis: Love and friendship take center stage in these sweet stories. Angelina uncovers the mystery of her secret admirer with some help from her friends. Angelina and Alice help Marco realize the true importance of helping his friends. The students celebrate Ms. Mimi, and although it may have been for the wrong reason, they do it with a lot of heart! And when Angelina and her girlfriends try to make a girls’ club, they realize a friendship club is much sweeter. Spread the love with dancing, skating, singing and best friends forever!

Enjoy these five heart-filled episodes with your Valentine!

Angelina’s Secret Valentine
Angelina and the Hearts on Ice
Angelina’s Big News
Angelina and the Mouslinghood of Dancing
Angelina and the Laughing Poet

DVD Bonus Features also include Angelina's Picture Game and "Get Up and Dance" Music Video.

My nieces just love Angelina and my boys really like her too! They were thrilled to see a new episode focusing on love and friendship. It is a perfect little gift for Valentine's Day!

This DVD is about 61 minutes long and is geared towards 2-7 year old children. I know a lot of little girls who adore Angelina!! This DVD retails for $14.98 and is available now!

For more Valentine's Day fun with Angelina, be sure and check out her website! Angelina is also on Facebook!

BUY IT:
You can purchase Angelina Ballerina "Sweet Valentine" DVD on Amazon for $11.99!

WIN IT:
One lucky reader will win this Valentine DVD from Lionsgate and Hit Entertainment! Enter to win Angelina Ballerina Sweet Valentine DVD below on the easy Rafflecopter form. This giveaway is open to US reader's over 18 and will end on midnight, January 16th, 2012. *Remember if you have won this DVD on another blog, you will be ineligible to win on this one per sponsor's request.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine Treats

2012-01-04T22:35:00.000-05:00

Source: bsinthekitchen.com via Tamara on Pinterest

Dr. Pepper Cupcakes...YUMMY!! I love Dr. Pepper!! What could be sweeter for Valentine's?? Check out the recipe!

Source: theberry.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Perfect treat for Valentine's!!

Source: passthesushi.com via Maegan on Pinterest

Can you tell I love sweet cola drink's? It's a major weakness!! Click here for the recipe.

Maybe one day I can come up with some of these mouth watering treats! Thanks to all of the talented ladies that did!

The Rescuers

2012-01-04T09:57:00.000-05:00

"Faith is a blue bird, we see from far. It's for real and as sure as the first evening star, you can't touch it or buy it or wrap it up tight but it's there just the same, making things turn out right." -Rufus the Cat

I love Disney movies and yesterday my little one and I curled on the couch and watched The Rescuers. I saw it back in 1977 with my parents and my brother. I loved it then, and I enjoyed watching it again.

What are some of your favorite movies from your childhood? I could name a zillion others including Charlotte's Web, but this one I remember going to the movies as a family and seeing it on the big screen.

Hamburger Casserole

2012-01-03T14:09:00.000-05:00

It is freezing here in South Carolina and I have been trying to plan my meals for the week. I do so much better with planning and preparing ahead of time, but sometimes get slack! Today I have made a really easy Hamburger Casserole dish and modified my recipe just a bit.

Ingredients:

1 to 1 1/2 pounds lean ground, browned
1/2 cup chopped onion
salt and pepper
3 large potatoes, sliced
~~2 Carrots, shredded(optional)~~
~~1 can cream of mushroom soup~~
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preparation:

Brown ground beef in a skillet with chopped onions; cook until onions are tender. Drain off excess fat; transfer ground beef and onion to casserole dish. Add layer of hamburger meat, sliced raw potatoes, sliced onions and cheese, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Repeat. Add 2 Cream of Chicken soup's on top of dish. I normally use Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken, however I goofed and bought two Cream of Chicken Soup's! Bake at 350° for 40 to 50 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese over top and bake for about 5 minutes longer, or until cheese is melted.
This dish serves 4 to 6 and it is very filling. My family loves it and it is absolutely perfect on a cold winter evening.

End of the Year Reflections...Good News and Encouraging Poetry...

2011-12-31T11:07:00.000-05:00

THE OPTIMIST CREED
By Christian D. Larsen

Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

Make all your friends feel there is something in them.

Look at the sunny side of everything.

Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

Give everyone a smile.

Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others.

Be too big for worry and too noble for anger.

LIFE IS...
by Mother Theresa

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

A NEW DAY
Dr. Heartsill Wilson

This is the beginning of a new day.

I have been given this day to use as I will.

I can waste it, or use it.

I can make it a day long to be remembered for its joy, its beauty and its achievements, or it can be filled with pettiness.

What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever, but I shall hold something which I have traded for it.

It may be no more than a memory, but if it is a worthy one I shall not regret the price.

I want it to be gain not loss, good not evil, success not failure.

BE THANKFUL
By Author Unknown

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

Have a Safe & Happy New Year's Eve!!!

2011-12-31T00:53:00.001-05:00

Saying Good-bye to 2011 and HELLO to 2012!!

Be SAFE and have a wonderful New Year!!

Wordless Wednesday-#Milestone and More

2011-12-28T11:25:00.000-05:00

As you know my oldest is Autistic. He's 8 and never been able to ride a bike, until now...with training wheels, but still....he has accomplished a goal!!!! He is so proud and so are we!!!

Our little one riding his power wheel...he loved it!!
We are proud of both of our boys and so glad that they are enjoying their Christmas toys!

Time Management in the New Year...

2011-12-28T00:35:00.000-05:00

Time is not usually on my side. Each day I wonder how I will cram everything in and most days something falls by the wayside...

Starting a fresh new year gives me more *hope* for a better way to manage something so precious - my time. It sounds easy, right? It's harder than you may think, especially if you are like me and wander off the course from time to time. I hate to admit it, but I do get sidetracked, especially with a toddler. Sometimes even with the best of intentions or a schedule, life just takes unexpected twists and turns, but we can try to have a plan in place. I am working on a better plan for 2012.

I think it all begins with a routine as boring as that sounds. You must first write it down and prioritize and then put that into action. Oh how simple it all sounds, but between prioritize and put into action - procrastination creeps in...I am going to try and keep procrastination out of the equation...

I am beginning to make subtle changes, taking baby steps to hopefully make life easier for me and more fulfilling...What are your plans as 2012 gets closer? Any tips for time management, organizing, and setting those plans in motion?

Left Over Ham??

2011-12-26T17:37:00.000-05:00

What do you do with your left over ham?? Why ham biscuits, of course!! Ham biscuits are super easy and quick to serve up!

For Unto Us a Child Is Born....

2011-12-25T00:02:00.001-05:00

2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son,
and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger;
because there was no room for them in the inn.

2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD. 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and The Government shall be upon His Shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty GOD, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His Government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this"
(Isaiah 9:6-7).

May we all give thanks today and always remember this sacred day by our actions every day.

Let Us Love One Another as HE loved us.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

The Day before Christmas and last minute preparations for Santa....

2011-12-24T11:37:00.000-05:00

Santa is in route!! He will be here before we know it... We are scurrying about cleaning house, making sure our home is Santa-ready and our yard ready for landing, just in case Santa misses our rooftop.

Below is our last minute Christmas to do list.

Make Cookies for Santa
Make Reindeer Food for the Reindeer
Send the Elves M&M's...I hear they are the perfect size for little Elves...
Ride around and enjoy Christmas Lights

Quick Santa Cookies:

I really wish I was a better baker, but I am not...with that said I hear Santa loves Chocolate Chip Cookies and lucky for us I can quickly bake them!

Magic Reindeer Food Recipe:

- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon-

- 1 cup of Oatmeal
- Handful of green or red sugar sprinkle

I had to alter mine a little and use Rice Krispies, Cinnamon, Green Sugar Sprinkles, and Gold Glitter. I made two big bags for each of my boys. It turned out cute and the Cinnamon makes it smells so good!

I saw the above picture online and wish my reindeer food looked as inviting...I wanted to share. I just put mine in reusable bags.

Once everything is mixed well, place the magic reindeer food in a zip-lock bag or a jar with a lid, so it will stay fresh until Christmas Eve.

"Sprinkle on the lawn at night,
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
Santa's reindeer fly and roam,
This will guide them to your home!"

Remember to use caution and please do not overfeed Rudolph. ;-)

For Santa's hardest working little people, the Elves....M&M's are ideal and just the right size. Don't forget to leave them out!! Santa will take them back to the Elves!

Now we clean and wait for evening where we will ride around and look at lights and maybe spot Santa's sleigh!!

Merry Christmas!!!!! I hope you have a fantastic day!!!

Christmas Greetings

2011-12-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!! Please all remember the reason for this season:

Luke 2:9-12
"And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."

Favorite Friday Find-Personalized Chore Charts from Childrens Woodland

2011-12-23T09:35:00.014-05:00

I love this Chore Chart and it's a great way to kick in 2012! I am going to start making some positive changes. You can buy this chart here.

Disclosure: I received no product or compensation for this post, just wanted to share a great Favorite Friday Find with my reader's. All opinions are mine.

Holiday Wishes Weekly Winner’s Post:

2011-12-22T20:53:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to this week’s Holiday Wishes Winner’s!!

· Winner of the Neat Oh! Hot Wheels ZipBin Wheelie Pack was Entry #14Julie C.

· Winner of the Hot Wheels Wall Tracks was Entry #29Julie C.

· Winner of the Scholastic Night Before Christmas DVD set was #Entry #13Kimberlie S.

· Winner of the Shoe Clips $25 Gift Card is Entry #12sarah shult

All winner’s are located at the bottom of each giveaway in the Rafflecopter and picked via random.org. Thanks everyone for entering and our generous sponsor’s who made this event a big hit!!

Why I don't have Outdoor Christmas Lights, Exquisite Holiday Decor or Baking Delights.....

2011-12-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

'Tis the Season to be tacky, FaLaLaLaLa... I am speaking of tacky Christmas and very overdone lights...

Inasmuch as I hate to admit this, my yard would be filled with those tacky lights in excess, because I over do everything. I wish I did not, but I do, so it's a good thing, as Martha would say that, I can't afford to really dress my yard up. I love looking at Christmas lights and admire those that have just the right balance...like this one below..

I would also love for the inside of my home to look more like this...

and less like this:

(Most days this living area looks better than mine-lol!!)

I also envisioned myself a wonderful baker who made lots of holiday goodies, something like this:

However mine would be more like this:

Did your holiday decorating, cooking etc. turn out anything like mine and be not so Martha Stewart like? Maybe one day it will, but on second thought - nah! LOL!

(Pictures were obtained from different sites, they are not my pictures but it helped gave me inspiration for me to write the post)

Slim Down the Holiday's

2011-12-22T02:12:00.000-05:00

Your Family Today: Parenting

Slim Down the Holidays

By Louise Tutelian for Your Family Today

You want to dial back the holiday spending this year, but you don’t want to disappoint friends and family -- especially your own kids. Is there a way to do both? Absolutely. The trick is to think “special,” not extravagant. Here, ways to keep the spirit while sparing the cash.

Lay It out There
Your first goal is to lower expectations as much as you can, especially if you’ve gone over the top in previous years. “Explain to your children that every year is different,” says Maureen Healy, author of 365 Perfect Things to Say to Your Kids and founder of the Web site Growing Happy Kids. Tell them, “This year there might be fewer gifts to unwrap, but I promise we will still celebrate together and learn how to be happy with whatever magically shows up. Can you do that?”

For kids who believe in Santa, explain that even the big guy has to watch his budget so that every child receives a good present, says Cynthia Edwards, professor of psychology at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C. For older kids, play it straight: Tell them that while there is ample money for necessities, you are being especially careful with holiday purchases this year. Reassure them that all your family rituals are intact -- and that they are gifts as well.

Play “Gift Games”
To shrink the number of gifts with as little pain as possible, take a cue from the Victorian adage “Something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read,” says Heather Sokol of the blog Inexpensively.

Items on the kids’ lists have to fall into one of those categories -- but they can give several suggestions for each. In that way, you’ve reduced expectations without giving away the surprise. “The kids like to figure out which one is coming next and how it fits into the category,” says Sokol. Fill in with low-cost items such as markers, a squad of plastic Army men, a pack of baseball cards, flip-flops, barrettes and hair bands -- all brightly wrapped.

Go DIY With Decorations
Instead of buying new decorations, pick up pinecones to decorate, and milkweed pods to paint silver or gold. Have the kids cut up photos of themselves and paste them on the inside of large seashells strung with colorful yarn. Older kids can string popcorn -- and eat the leftovers. You can also print out ornament templates from such Web sites as Family Fun. To make it extra festive, invite a handful of their friends over for a holiday decorating party.

Shrink the Party, Not the Fun
If your children look forward to your family’s holiday party or open house, don’t sacrifice it; swap it for a scaled-down version. Instead of a full spread of food, invite only your nearest and dearest to a hot chocolate tasting, served with a variety of cookies. Prepare three types -- say, chocolate peppermint, mocha and traditional, with optional mini-marshmallows -- and ask everyone to vote on a favorite. The spirit is the same; the price tag isn’t.

Extend the Experience
If you have fewer gifts this year, increase the entertainment value of each one by having a treasure hunt for them on holiday morning, says Karen Gallagher of the Web site Lollipop Book Club. Write -- and even wrap -- clues or use a simple “hotter/colder” style. Take turns with each member of the family to make the experience last longer.

(Article courtesy of Studio One)

Wordless Wednesday - Feeding the Animals at Hollywild's Safari of Lights...

2011-12-21T00:54:00.000-05:00

Hollywild has been an annual family Christmas tradition since Brock was a baby(nearly 8 yrs. ago. sobbing that my baby is 8!!) It is filled with beautiful lights, animals, family fun and even Santa Claus!! We enjoy going as much as our boys!! My oldest was over the moon excited to see Santa and the closer we got, the more he flapped his hands like a little bird in pure and childlike anticipation and excitement...My little two year old on the other hand was a little more apprehensive. He isn't afraid of anything, except, well...a jolly old Santa! ;-)

For my boys...

2011-12-20T00:48:00.000-05:00

This day I will love you as only I could,

I will hold you, speak with you, touch you, kiss you, play with you, and be yours for the moment, hour, for the day, for always.

I will hold your hand and we will make memories together.

We will walk in the soft grass, look in the blue sky for objects and giggle and exchange silly words like only we can.

I love you boys, I love the whirlwind that engulfs you ,the light cascading around you always, those beautiful smiles and innocence that you carry with you and your brilliant minds that entertain me, surprise me, and make me so proud to hear that sweet name, Mommy.

You boys carry with you a wonder and excitement that if bottled could change the course of our world as we know it.

You have a magnificent aura that bursts with energy, mischief, and a loving way that only you possess.

Your laughter flows and flows and gives me a radiant and renewed spirit.

Your curiosity and sweet spirit are the qualities that wake me up on cold winter days.

Your warm and loving smiles and gracious hugs make it all worthwhile.

I love you my dear sweet boys...You are my perfect little boys, made just for me, your sparkling ray of sunshine gets me through each day. I treasure my gifts, my blessings, my sweet boys....

This is my little gift to my boys from my heart which they have broadened, opened, guided, and inflated it with a spellbound love eternally. Life never could have been lived without them, for they are the seeds that make me learn, love and grow with a richness never known before they existed.

Time Capsule Christmas Ornament...

2011-12-20T00:13:00.002-05:00

I love Disney Family Fun and wanted to share this wonderful idea that they featured. I always make sure to get a family ornament with the year, but I LOVE this idea so much, that I plan on making one or two in my case, hopefully before Christmas!! I think this is precious, and we forget some of those sweet little things that are children do or say, and it's nice to write in your own words a few highlights from your most precious little gifts; your children. This would be nice for a Mom to be to write to her little one, too. Now, I am getting all weepy!

Materials

Fillable clear plastic ornament (ours is 80 mm)
Double-sided tape (we used Terrifically Tacky Tape for its extra-strong hold)
Rickrack or ribbon

Scrapbooking paper cut into strips (ours are 5/8 inch wide)
Small photos or other memorabilia that fits inside the ball (optional)

Instructions

Separate the two halves of the ball. Apply a strip of tape around the outside of the wider half. Carefully press the ribbon to the tape so that it's close to but not touching the outer edge.
Write notes on the strips of scrapbooking paper, then roll them up and tuck them inside the ball. Add pictures, a photocopy of your child's newborn footprint, and other mementos, if you like. Put the ball back together, then tie some ribbon and a tag with the year written on it onto the plastic loop.

Head over to Disney Family Fun for this craft and more fun crafts and recipes, etc.

Christmas Remembered....

2011-12-20T00:09:00.002-05:00

The nostalgia of the deep past she knows the most of, her legacy she knows little, she is just trapped inside a mind wilting and withering away which she nor we can escape. I held her close as she was frightened...saying I just want to go home...I do, too Mom, a home where you are you again and away from all the heartache Alzheimer's brings...

Each day my Mom slips away, and the stress the holiday's sometimes brings is just overwhelming for her. As my siblings and Dad stand by her with unwavering love and most of all comfort, I wonder if for just a moment we could turn back the clocks only a little, to where my Mother was once whole and no longer confused in a world and era surrounding her that she had long forgotten, could we just for a moment in "time" have my sweet Mother, that wonderful Grandmother and wife who loved her family more than life itself? Could we please see her again and allow her to enjoy these precious moments, that we all take for granted? Can I have back a moment in time? For this would be one of my biggest Christmas wishes.

My Mom and I on Halloween. She did so great in this picture. I will cherish it always!

-For my Mother, I love you dearly...I am thankful for each day you are here and would do anything to have you "back with us" again. I pray for constant peace in your mind where you only know love and that everyday tasks we take for granted are no longer a hurdle. I will fight your battles Mom with this ugly disease until we have a cure.

Gifting for a Child on the Spectrum?? The Sensory Spectrum Shop has wonderful products this Holiday season.

2011-12-19T14:54:00.000-05:00

As you may know, my oldest has Autism, and I fully support products to aid in learning and fun that will help my child succeed in life while having fun. This holiday season you can shop for a really special gift for a child on your list. Special products for children on the spectrum is a must and can make a huge difference in the way they play, respond, interact, etc. I was contacted by a wonderful Mom, and the owner of The Sensory Spectrum Shop to tell me more about what she offered to Mom's like me.. Read below to see just what her shop has to offer...

Our goal at The Sensory Spectrum Shop is to make the world a little easier and less overwhelming for the autism and special needs community. Our mission is to empower our community by providing a one stop shop of excellent autism and special needs products, as well as having a place to come to for support, encouragement and reliable information. Spend some time. You will discover hundreds of therapy products, wonderful toys, DVD's, books, and teaching resources. Our safe and appropriate toys for children with special needs have been chosen because of their quality, play value, educational value, and contribution to learning goals. We have hundreds of special needs toys without the price that's often associated with sensory toys, specialty toy catalogs, and occupational therapy toys. Your child should enjoy his toys and learn from them whether you have a typically learning child or a child who has special needs. Most importantly, a portion of our annual proceeds will go to organizations that help fund special needs programs nationwide. Feel free to contact us with questions, thoughts, or suggestions. Welcome to our community!

I fully support any parent promoting beneficial ideas, products and support for families like mine. If you have a child on your list that would benefit from these products, I am sure his/her family would greatly appreciate it. It means everything just to get the right fit for your child, whether that is a chew stick, or other sensory product that makes their lives better. Please spread the word and let's support this wonderful store.

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation product or monetary for this post. This is my honest opinion. Just wanted to share with you a great find to support a wonderful cause.

Rambling Rants about Diagnosis and More...

2011-12-19T08:55:00.001-05:00

This is a little bit of rambling and a little bit of rant... It has taken quite a while to write this and I am sure whatever you are passionate about you have encountered the same issues...With all of that said...

I have had a bad few days over the last month with Brock's diagnosis. About at my sheer breaking point, exhausted from spinning my wheels and contacting this person and that.... I began to think about all of those not only who let me down, but most importantly let my son down. Before I get into the professional community, let me start by easing into a community whom I thought was there out of support, love, and understanding. We all have different opinions, and thank God for those differences. As you wander into the unknown world of diagnosis, something somewhat unfamiliar in the beginning, which becomes all too real later on...you discover others who are in the trenches too. You feel for them, you relate in a way others may never grasp. There is a tainted wound in the soul that we all carry, an ache, a drive, a love, a patience and compassion that no one really could fully grasp unless you are in the my shoes. This winding road of similarities can become a force of unity and comfort on dismal days and one of rejoicing through tiny triumphs...but it can also slam you in the ground when you least expect it. Just because someone you may feel is empathetic, and traveling in the same direction with their child, they may have their own agenda. Don't put your faith in a person, you will be sadly let down each time. I don't know why sometimes in the special needs community, sometimes what you believe will be sisterly support is received or given as something quite different from "who" you believe them to be. I hope I would never discourage another Mom, especially one living with Autism. Just be careful when reading and partaking in groups and thinking that someone may be carrying your torch, you may be altogether mistaken, because human beings always have their own agenda. My hope and goal is to always be supportive and agree that we may not all agree, but if I can offer support and not arrogance to another family, I am willing in any way to do that.

Now to the real professionals, who have upset me beyond measure. If you have ever read my other post on our road to diagnosis, it has been a arduous journey, one full of tears, challenges and hurdles that I can not even begin to write it all in one sitting. As we walked into the office on our long awaited appointment, I sat more calm for this consultation with the psychologist. I knew what would be asked, I was past the point of tears at the moment, since my son is eight.years.old. and we have been dealing with an "elephant in the room" with professionals for as far back as his second birthday. Through the years, I was given a host of explanations from trained professionals, and the best ones were just "developmentally delayed", and "ADHD", not until YEARS of begging did I finally get everyone on board, with it is more than just delays. My son hovered just under the radar, and I advocated for him. I had him in therapy in preschool and PUSHED each step of the way, knowing in my heart it was Autism all along, I prayed otherwise. Last year after my son was evaluated for the 5th time, he was given the diagnosis of PDD-NOS Autism. Finally at seven we have on paper a diagnosis...and I learn of ABA therapy which we can not be put on a waiting list for because we have a label, not one I wanted to embrace but I knew I had to familiarize myself with every bit of it's connotations to advocate more fervently for my son. I find out that although the psychologist performed oodles of testing, one test was not completed...the one we needed to get us on the coveted list for ABA therapy, which has become the gold standard for Autism. Even after years of this, being beaten back down and to square one is still not easily digested. The thoughts of what's next and when...is always a downer..So many children are suspected of Autism, and there are HUGE waiting lists in my area, so I went back to our developmental pediatricians and was assured he would be back on the list. This was April-May...I was told to go through DDSN and maybe they could get the other test everyone "left" out. I do this and I wait, and we wait...we have ANOTHER evaluation but it is still not enough.. we need another test for insurance to pay...we wait and then I read on the website that after age 8 my son will no longer be able to be on the waiting list for ABA. I start in July since his birthday is in October. I was assured over and over that he would be fine until he turned 9. I said let's push anyway, I CANNOT hit ANY more road blocks. I cried, I screamed, I was relentless, I advocated like a lion. Sitting in front of a new psychologist, who knew nothing of Brock, I was coldy told so sorry, but he will not be able to get ABA therapy through the state(Tefra Medicaid pays for therapy if you have a child with a disability regardless of income). WHAT?!! Good news, though--your insurance if it follows "Ryans Law" *should* pay for it. Grand, since ABA therapy is upwards of $50,000 a year and at a $500 deductible and 20% being our responsibility, we could not afford it. What bothers me if we had not had missed diagnosis for YEARS, my son would most likely be receiving ABA therapy FREE. I feel like I let him down, but more importantly I feel these professionals over the years could have aired on the cautious side, but chose not to. Our lives our affected. It's not a whoops, we accidentally overcharged you or made a mistake on your account, you altered the course of our road to making life more manageable for my son first and our family second. We are still waiting on a FINAL medical diagnosis as absolutely RIDICULOUS as that sounds...We did get a consultation which was not needed, BUT for insurance to pay we had to go through this AGAIN! As I navigated my way through Autism years ago, it was a Babylon of unknowns, and at this point it still is. I wish the community professional and otherwise would be more united, offer more true support, and solutions.
Our speech and occupational therapist are the bright shining lights in all of this. They have made life better for my son, taught me so much, and will work together with me to improve our lives. Thank you to the dedication of our therapist. I do not think I could handle being let down again, and they are the constant angels who go above and beyond to make a difference in their patients.

Thanks for listening to the rambling rants....Press on if you feel there is a problem, until you cannot press on anymore, and do not get wrapped up in advocates who will let you down no matter the cause. If you visit communities and it's a one way street, such as you can not comment, or respond, that's never a good sign. It shows how very one sided things are, and how the person you hoped was like you, has little in common with you.

What would you like Santa to bring you?

2011-12-19T00:05:00.000-05:00

I feel like if I could ask Santa for just a few things this year, it would be a much needed Nanny to help out when I am in super stressed mode, to play with my boys when I am too exhausted and sing songs and rouse creativity, while getting them to be completely well behaved, too.

A Cleaning and De-Cluttering Fairy for all year long, since I seem to have a problem getting rid of "stuff", although I am a tad better as I get older.

I would like to also have a Motivational Fairy to sit on my shoulder and demand more productivity, as in my fitness goals, writing, and everything else Mom has fallen short on lately.

With all of that being said, Santa, maybe you can send a Money Fairy and I can hire the above fairies?? I think that would be ideal, don't you, Santa??

What Fairy could Santa bring you this year? Don't you wish, a wish was that simple? I sure do!

Seconds Sale at Cotton Babies...

2011-12-18T21:56:00.000-05:00

Cotton Babies is a favorite cloth diaper store of mine, with always free shipping and everything you need to cloth diaper, as well as many eco-friendly products. I have purchased these "seconds" before and in my experience I could not tell ANY difference. This would be a great time to build a stash, and also wonderful gift ideas for a Mom to be! These diapers go fast, so hurry on over.

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation product or monetary, just wanted to let my reader's know about a wonderful deal.

The LG Doubleplay - an ideal gift for sharing...

2011-12-18T18:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

'Tis the season for giving and sharing and what better way to share than a new phone equipped with making your online social sharing a snap? If you are browsing the market, The LG Doubleplay™ has some outstanding features such as, it is equipped with dual customizable touch screens ¾ a 3.5-inch main display and 2.0-inch sub display ¾ that operate independently or in tandem, as well as a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Swype® for easy text input, LG DoublePlay™ allows users to perform multiple tasks at once such as updating their Facebook pages while simultaneously surfing the Web, texting or checking email. I love that this phone will multitask, perhaps even better than I could.

The LG DoublePlay™ also comes with a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p HD video allowing users to capture and share pictures and videos via messaging, email or Facebook without dragging your camera around this holiday season.

This phone also offers multiple messaging options, including Cloud Text™ and Group Text™, giving users the ability to send and receive texts from a PC or tablet or create group chats on-the-go for faster, more efficient content sharing. I love all of their multiple options.

This phone is completely user friendly and features Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) with access to Android Market™ and delivers complete user customization with seven home screens and up to nine touchscreen shortcuts for one-touch navigation.

If you love social networking via Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. this phone is for you! It features all of the innovative gadgets to help you get through your day socializing and networking with friends, family, and work. The multi-tasking handset, featuring a split QWERTY keyboard and dual capacitive touch screens, making simultaneous mobile activities easier than ever.

This phone is available exclusively at T-Mobile.

If you are like me and spend hours online, you need a phone to keep up with you, make posting and multitasking easier than ever and sending and receiving texts a cinch!

Check out The LG DoublePlay and see how it can help your social networking today.

Magic Reindeer Food

2011-12-18T15:13:00.000-05:00

Mom's don't forget to put out some very Magic Reindeer Food just for Rudolph and the reindeer.

(This picture was taken a couple of years ago, but we do this each Christmas Eve.)

Magic Reindeer Food Recipe:

- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup of Oatmeal
- Handful of green or red sugar sprinkles

Once everything is mixed well, place the magic reindeer food in a zip-lock bag or a jar with a lid, so it will stay fresh until Christmas Eve.

Remember to use caution and please do not overfeed Rudolph. ;-)

Christmas Cupcakes - EGG Free!!

2011-12-18T15:12:00.000-05:00

I love baking holiday goodies!! My son has a SEVERE egg and peanut allergy, so we have the same goodies as most people, only modified a bit. I use a regular cake mix, like Duncan Hines and sometimes I make my own frosting and sometimes I use store bought. In place of each egg, I substitute 1 1/2 tbsp water, 1 1/2 tbsp oil, 1 tsp baking powder. It is really easy and the only difference is my cupcakes fall apart a little easier. The egg is what holds it together so to speak. I have found by refrigerating them, they seem to look better.

I love the Reindeer Cupcakes, especially the chocolate frosting!

The cupcakes below are super easy and just include little marshmallow candies from the dollar store. They dress up plain cupcakes and are really yummy, too!

Easy Chocolate Frosting:

2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Virtual Christmas List...

2011-12-18T15:06:00.000-05:00

Santa, I have been a good girl, so pretty please let Mr. Rafflecopter Elf be in my favor as I enter these fantastic giveaway's around the Blogasphere!!

iPad 2 Giveaway is going on right now at Mommies with Cents. Hurry this giveaway ends on 12/20/11! Enter here.

My Organized Chaos has an Otterbox Protective Case Giveaway that I would also LOVE to have for my Droid. I really needed this a few weeks ago when I dropped my phone! This giveaway ends on 12/27/11. Enter here.

Monday Google + Blog Hop

2011-12-18T12:47:00.000-05:00

Grab My Button!

Happy Holiday's Everyone!! Google is changing things up a bit and will be discontinuing Google Friend Connect BUT we will have a new way to share: Google +! You can add people to your circle and follow in an all new way, building new relationships and salvaging old ones! From what I understand GFC will end at the end of the year. With social media constantly evolving I am sure this is just one of the new changes in motion.

Let's all support each other and follow each other through Google +!

Just leave me a comment so that I can follow you back. My only request is that you follow me and my co-host, Nancy @ Arizona Mama and we will return the favor.

Grab my button and re-post and spread the word. The more follower's, the more we all benefit. Join me each and every Sunday night to begin Monday's G+ Mingle!

7 Days Until Christmas - Elf on the Shelf leaves a Message

2011-12-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

Only 7 more day's!! The PS at the bottom is a running joke: my son has been pulling for our rival in football, and the Elf just wanted to send a message...=D

The Mommy Times

Wordless Wednesday - Circus

Tuesday's Pinterest Tips: Grandparents

Motivational Monday - Sesame Street Logic and then some

Monday Google + Mingle Blog Hop - Join My Circle

Celebrate the Super Bowl! Ideas for the big game!

Dripping Roast Beef Sandwiches Recipe

RECIPE TIPS

Favorite Friday Find - CharleeRose Designs on Etsy - Autism Awareness Wreath

Wordless Wednesday - Diapers on the Line

February Giveaway Linky - Spread the Giveaway Love!-

Tuesday's Pinterest Tips: Kid

Tuesday's Tips - Creative Edibles for Valentine's ( Pinterest Inspired )

Motivational Monday - Celebrating Black History Month

Monday Mingle Google + Blog Hop - Join my Circle Today!

Gotta Go? Potty Training while on the Go...

Tanner's Totes - Helping Children Cope with Long Term Hospital Care

Favorite Friday Find - Apricot and White Tea Facial Scrub

Love Vera Bradley? Take a look at some of these crafty finds!

Wordless Wednesday..Rain Boots

Finding Nemo 3D Coming this FALL!!

Timmy Time: "Timmy Needs a Bath" DVD Review & Giveway (Ends 2/3)

Thomas & Friends Curious Cargo DVD Review and Giveaway (Ends February 2nd)

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas from Interflora

Valentine Treat Bags for Kid's via Pinterest....

Monday's Motivational *You*

Potty Training for the Eco-Friendly

A Sweet Valentine Book for your Toddler

Monday Mingle Google + Blog Hop - Join my circle!

Beginning Potty Training, Elmo Style!

Perfect dessert for Kids!

Favorite Friday Find - Soft Shoe Learning Toy - Children's Woodland

#Win a Family 4 Pack of Tickets to see the Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey Circus at the Bi-lo Center in Greenville, SC!!(Ends on 1/29)

South Carolina #Love

Exercise is the best medicine!

A Hauntingly Killer App....

Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches are a perfect afternoon snack #Cbias #TysonGoodness

Monday's Motivational *Children*

Honoring a TRUE Peacemaker - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday Mingle Google + Blog Hop - Join My Circle -January 15

Train Valentine Sweets: I Choo-Choose You!! Valentine Craft

Diamond Candles Review & Giveaway (Ends 1/27/12)

Monster Jam Tour Family 4 Pack Tickets(Greenville, SC) Giveaway

Many Uses for Vaseline!

Crayon Valentines Reusable Craft

Easy Nail Art

Wordless Wednesday--Happy Birthday Mom

Spring Event is right around the corner!!

EdenFantasys

Terme trio hair care set – sensual kit:

Rafflecopter Celebrates the new year with an EASY giveaway to win an iPad or Kindle Fire!!

Moon Sand Recipe

Discount Decorative Flags #Valentine's Review & Giveaway(Ends on January 23rd)

Tropical Floral Natural Fiber Outdoor Doormat by Evergreen

Monday's Motivational *Getting Fit*

January Giveaway Linky

Monday Google + Mingle Blog Hop - Join my Circle!

monday mingle

Sweet Valentine's Crafts for Little Ones

Peace for the New Year...

Hostess Gifts

Favorite Friday Find - A Valentine's Shirt for Boys!

Angelina Ballerina: Sweet Valentine DVD Review

Valentine Treats

The Rescuers

Hamburger Casserole

Ingredients:

Preparation:

End of the Year Reflections...Good News and Encouraging Poetry...

Have a Safe & Happy New Year's Eve!!!

Wordless Wednesday-#Milestone and More

Time Management in the New Year...

Left Over Ham??

For Unto Us a Child Is Born....

The Day before Christmas and last minute preparations for Santa....

Christmas Greetings

Favorite Friday Find-Personalized Chore Charts from Childrens Woodland

Holiday Wishes Weekly Winner’s Post:

Why I don't have Outdoor Christmas Lights, Exquisite Holiday Decor or Baking Delights.....

Slim Down the Holiday's

Monday's Motivational You

Monday's Motivational Children

Monday's Motivational Getting Fit