Saturday, July 28, 2012

Book Review: Quest For Light: Adventrue of The Magi



You guys know how much I love a good book, and I have been trying to get back into reading a lot again, like I used to. (Ahh, pre-child life!) Recently, I got a chance to review a really great book, adn I am excited to share it with you! 

This book was really not something I would normally choose to read. But, just like always, the things that I think I am going to dislike, I end up loving! As was the case with this book! The book takes us along for the journey of the Magi, the warrior priests who were called to the birth of Jesus. The book is pretty enlightening, sharing the story of the Magi in a way that I would have never thought of it.

I never really took into consideration the hardships that the Magi must have faced, and what all went into their journey to meet the Messiah. The book is full of adventure, not really what you would think of from a book about the Magi and baby Jesus, but it really was action packed! It was really crazy to think about all the things that The Magi had to go through and all that they had to sacrifice. 

The journey along the Silk Road was not always an easy one, but it was so cool to read about the different happenings of the time. They really overcame a lot of obstacles to make it on their path, both natural and man made obstacles. It really was pretty cool to read the book and think about all that the Magi went through. It really causes you to do some soul searching and think about your own relationship with God.

I highly recommend this book! It is a unique and interesting read that will really get you thinking! To check out the book's website and learn more about the author, click here!




Thursday, July 26, 2012

SAVE makes San Antonio an affordable vacation destination!

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

As many of you know, we have never been on a "real" family vacation, although we are preparing for one in August. If I had to choose a destination, I would probably pick San Antonio. I love Texas, I love the atmosphere, the culture and the attractions! However, we all know how quickly vacation costs can add up, especially when there are kids involved!

 

That's why I was excited when I heard about theSAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience program. The SAVE program makes it super easy to get deals and discounts on all kinds of must see and do attractions in San Antonio!

Alamo04.jpg

I checked the list, and I saw a ton of things that we would like to do! Hmm, let's see.. Sea World, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the San Antonio Zoo, Splashtown, all the fun on the River Walk, and so much more! I better hurry because thse are Limited Time Offers and I don't want to miss out! If you want to learn more, check out the  SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience

You can follow them on Twitter @SAVEinSA!

Visit Sponsor's Site

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Solar iPhone Charger? I'm In!


A lot of you may not know this about me, but I am kind of an emergency-preparedness freak. I mean, I guess you could say that I am a "prepper." I mean, not like a 2012-end of the world as we know it-doomsday-prepper, but I like to know that whatever happens, my men and i are going to be able to handle it. So, when I recently read about a solar iPhone charger, I was definitely intrigued.This sounds like something that could be incredibly useful to me!

This thing looks super cool, and would be a lifesaver (literally maybe!) in a no power situation! You simply leave the solar panel pack out in the sun, and then you can use the USB cord to plug up your phone. Plus, it charges in 1-2 hours? That's how long it takes my phone to charge on the wall! I mean, really, this is a great idea. I know, I do a lot of posts about cool stuff, but this is really a product that is right up my alley! I am definitely looking into getting one of these soon, and I will be happy to share my review with you guys when I am ready!

This has been a sponsored post for goal zero, however all opinions and views are 100% my own. 
 

Bankruptcy Attorneys Really CAN Help!


Back about six or seven years ago, I faced a huge dilemma. I was only 19, and I was facing bankruptcy.
Most teenagers and young adults face money issues and debt, but mine was a little more than, well.. a little. 
I had accumulated tons of student loan debt that I couldn't pay back, blown through my inheritance from my father, and racked up credit card debt like crazy. It wasn't the only bad choice that I was making in my life at that time, but it's definitely the one that still haunts me today.

I was so afraid of what was going to happen to me. If I had had a website like billsbills.com, it probably would have been a little easier for me to navigate all the hard times I was going through. 

I had so many questions about bankruptcy, and none of the answers. Was this the right choice for me? Was I making a decision I would regret for the rest of my life? Was there a way out of this mess without bankruptcy? A consultation with a rude and unhelpful attorney made me even more unsure and left me with more questions than answers. I wish I had found a lawyer I could trust who would have made me feel comfortable.

Bottom line here? If you are considering bankruptcy,shop around for a law firm who will respect you and your needs. It can make all the difference!

This has been a sponsored post for John T. Orcutt, however, all opinions and ideas are 100% my own.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Great Yoga E-Book On Sale For Just $.99!


Looking for a great e-book download for cheap? Today I have a great deal to tell you about! 
A great ebook " Super Simple Yoga: 20 Simple Yoga Poses To Start Looking Great!" is currently on sale for only $.99 to download. It was originally $8.97, so this is a great deal!

The book is written by Sharon Whistler, who is a yoga instructor in Portland. The poses are ones that she teaches to her beginning yoga classes, but they are also great for losing weight! If you have never tried yoga, I totally recommend it as a great way not only to get in shape, but also to relax and feel good all around! I especially love that yoga is an easy workout that you can do in the comfort of your own home, which is super important if you have crazy kids running around like I do! 



If you are interested in learning some super simple yoga for under a buck, click here to download now! But hurry, this is only a limited time offer!

I just found next year's birthday party!

So, we have a lot of birthday party issues. You guys know this. This year, it was the zombie party that got cancelled due to the 110 degree heat, followed by the pizza party place that was kind of a bust. Well, Tater had decided that next year, he wanted to have his birthday at a local laser tag place. Which was totally fine with me.... Until I checked the price! 

$24.99 PER KID???? Are you kidding me!? Sure, Tater, sweet dear, you can have your party here, just invite one child, honey! Yeah, right! So, I was off to find something else! 

And, find it I did! 

Do you know what this is? This is a Tiny Tag. Do you know what a tiny tag is for?? Wait for it...

A miniature game of LASER TAG!! I am not kidding, how cool is this!?
You order as many Tiny Tags as you need for the number of kids at your own laser tag party, and they each get their own Tiny Tag.

The Tiny Tag takes the place of the "gun" usually used in laser tag, and the kids use them to shoot the laser beams at each other.

Just read what the Tiny Tag website says about the product:


"Over 250,000 TinyTags have been sold. Tiny Tag has been seen on The Today Show, CBS News, TechNow, Tech TV and in hundreds of publications. And, according to Dan Dubno at CBSNews, "Your kids will, guaranteed, love playing with these..."

With TinyTag you can do bounce shots off the wall, floor, and ceiling to hit your opponent. Use your hand as a mirror and shot around corners. When you get hit, TinyTag peppers you with names like "Knucklehead, Lamebrain."
TinyTags come in three colors - black, green, and purple. The green and purple even GLOW-in-the-dark.  Use them at night to playflashlight tag.
TinyTag uses the same "child-safe" technology as a channel turner. It even works with your TELEVISION REMOTE. Press any button on your channel turner, point it at the TinyTag and the TinyTag will light up and call you a Loser. Now that's a cool trick!
They make great party favors. Batteries are included. When your package arrives you will have everything you need to begin playing lazer tag."

I absolutely LOVE this idea! I LOVE that they don't look like guns, and we won't have to be blowing each other's "brains everywhere" like usual! I love that they glow in the dark, and can be used for flashlight tag. I want to try to have a night time laser tag party for Tater's next birthday!  What I really love is that the Tiny Tag was created by a six year old! Just like my Tater! He really enjoyed that, when I told him a kid just like him made this awesome toy! Seriously guys, what a great idea is this? And, best part, 10 of them are only $50! Hmm, maybe I will be able to buy a cake for Tater's next party after all! ;)


 

Sunday, July 22, 2012

(Book Review) Rayne: Queen Water Supplier of The World



As you guys know, we are always trying to look for new and interesting books for the boys. I like for them to have things to read that they probably wouldn't pick out on their own. (If I didn't pick out different books for them, they would only read zombie books!) So, when I found this really cool book by Elizabeth Rooks, I wanted to share it with you guys! The book is called Rayne: Queen Water Supplier of the World, and it is so cute! 

The story follows Rayne, an adventurous and imaginative little girl, who tells everyone that she is the queen water supplier of the world! She tries to convince all of her animal friends, Cora the Cow, Dale the Dolphin, Betsy the Bird, and Bella the Butterfly, but they don't believe her! This is such a cute story, and it actually teaches kids about water without them even realizing it! 

Elizabeth Rooks did a great job with this book, and I would recommend it to everyone! I am really excited to read more of her children's books in the future!

This Dog Is Driving Me Crazy.

Seriously. We have had Tucker for almost four years now, and he has always been a good dog.I really don't know what's up, but he has been so bad lately. Almost like a rebellious teenager.??? I don't know how to explain it, but he is really getting on my nerves with this new bad dog behavior. Last week, he peed on THE COUCH not once, not twice, but THREE times! He has NEVER done that before, and I mean ever! 

I don't know what to do with him. Maybe I should take him to a doggie boot camp? My hubs suggested maybe finding some pet forums online or something to talk to other pet owners and see if anyone has any advice. That sounds like a pretty good idea. I don't know.. part of me wants to just to give up but I know  I can't do that... 

Anybody have any advice for me?

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Laughing Cat Studio: Perfect Gift Ideas!

You guys know I am always on the lookout for cool, unique gift ideas, and I have found another great company for us! Laughing Cat Studio creates unique, handmade jewelry, gifts and other accessories. They have some really awesome pieces that I am in love with! They have a wide variety of pieces, made with a mix of vintage and modern materials. I think they are fun, eclectic and just plain cool. Best part of all? All the items found at ALaughingCat.com are affordable!! What could be better?? 

I can't wait to show you some of the really cool stuff that I found! 

You know I am a sucker for earrings! Look at these!They are called "The Watcher". They have antique brass dangles, Swarvoski crystals and serpentine beads! And, you wanna know the price? $16.50, y'all! 

And, look at this print! Oh my goodness! Okay, listen to the story behind these prints! Each one is based on a real life actual cat, either a pet or a shelter cat. AND... each print is printed on reclaimed vintage dictionary pages. I LOVE this idea! The price for an awesome, one of a kind gift like this? $18.00! 

I could keep on for days, showing you all of the cool stuff that you can find at Laughing Cat Studio, but then, what would you have to do? Go ahead and go on over and check them out now !

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Book Review: The RX Factor by J. Thomas Shaw


I am going to be totally honest. When I started this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it or not. It didn't seem to be at all the genre that I am usually interested in. Nevertheless, I decided that I would tough it out and give it a try! I am so glad I started it! By the second chapter, I was hooked! 
I seriously felt like I was reading a movie! Wanna hear about the story? Ryan Matthews is a former cancer researcher whose wife is battling ovarian cancer. It just so happens that he had developed a drug that he believed would be the cure for her and others battling the disease. His dreams are crushed when he learns that the vaccine that he created and believed in so much was actually accelerating her cancer. 

After a devastating loss when his wife and children die in a plane crash, he sinks into a depression in the Bahamas, until he meets Jordan Carver, a female FDA researcher who is developing a clinic in Mexico where patients can go to receive "affordable treatment" with experimental drugs that have not been FDA approved in the USA. Upon further investigation, one of the drugs being offered in the Mexican clinic sounds suspiciously like the drug that Ryan helped to create. Remember, the one that was killing his wife?

This is where the book turns into a well thought out action movie! The twists and turns were enough to keep me on the edge of my seat! I couldn't put the book down! Ryan and Jordan go undercover to discover the truth behind this secret drug and this clinic that is supposed to be offering hope to suffering patients. They end up getting WAY more than they bargained for, and the ending... JUST WOW! If you read this book, make sure you keep reading until the ending! 

I am seriously starting to reevaluate the kinds of books I like to read, since I enjoyed this one so much. I am not sure if this story is true or not, but it sure seems like it could be, and that is scary! I was really impressed by this book, the writer, and his attention to details! I will be back for more of his books in the future! 

About the Author: 
John Thomas Shaw was born in Quincy, IL, graduated from Illinois State University in Normal, IL and then relocated to Chicago. Following a successful career with a national mortgage company, he co-founded Guaranteed Rate, Inc. which is now one of the fastest growing independent mortgage banks in the United States. He now resides in Southern California with his wife, two children and two dogs. 

To learn more about John Thomas Shaw, visit his website!
You guys know me. It's July, and I would have to say that I am around 30% finished with my Christmas shopping. It's just how I am. I hate stress, and Christmas shopping produces SO much stress for me! I just have to get it done early to avoid the madness! 

Anyways, you know when I find something that I just have to have for a gift, that the first place I share it is here with you guys! Today I have another great gift idea for you! 

This gift idea is from Etsy, come on, the #1 place for great gift ideas of all time! This Esty shop is by a seller named Anastassia Orehova, and her work is marvelous! She creates custom oil portraits on canvas, and they are so beautiful! The pieces that she has are really beautiful, and anyone would be thrilled to get one of these as a gift!


Look at this one, it's absolutely amazing! The painting looks exactly like the photo! Now, tell me what parent or grandparent would not like to receive such a thoughtful gift! I love these!

But, of all the paintings, would you like to see which one is my favorite?

Check it out! Didn't she do an amazing job! It looks just like him! I would totally hang this one in my bedroom. (I'm so weird!) But, really, I love, love, LOVE this one!

If you guys would like to check out some of her paintings, you can do so here! 


Beacon Hill Holiday Cottages= My Dream Vacation!


So, the other night, the hubs and I were talking about vacations.

 We have never been on a "proper" vacation, money has always been tight for as long as we have been together, and there have always been either newborns, babies, or toddlers to deal with, and I am just not brave enough to venture far from home with them!

So, imagine his surprise when he asked me what my dream vacation spot would be.

I quickly replied, " Beacon Hill Holiday Cottages!"

"Where in the heck is that?" he asked..

"Oh, just in Northumberland, United Kingdom."

Needless to say, we won't be heading there this year!

But, I found Beacon Hill Holiday Cottages online awhile ago, and they look like so much fun!

They have everything I could ever want in a vacation destination.

What really made me want to go, though, are their children's activities.

They have the usual suspects, great pool, game room, etc, but there were some really cool extras I noticed that made me want to go!

The covered adventure playground looks amazing! It has a roof so you can play on it in the rain, and it looks like part playground/part treehouse. It just looks like it would be so much fun to explore!

They also have a Harry Potter Trail in their woods, which I know Tater would adore!

There is also a big lake there in the woods, and they encourage you to hang out in nature, build a campfire, and cook some dinner! I love this idea!

There are so many wonderful things that Beacon Hill Cottages have to offer, and I know that, even though it may take me awhile, I will get to stay there one day!


Sunday, July 15, 2012

Great Giveaway To Build A Bear Workshop!



Hey guys! Happy Sunday! We are celebrating a lazy rainy day while the husband goes to play paintball..And I am patiently waiting for tonight's Season Five premiere of Breaking Bad! 

Anyhow, I wanted to share a giveaway with you guys! My friend (all the way from elementary school) Stephanie, is having her very first blog giveaway, and is giving away a Build A Bear Workshop gift card! 

I would love it if you guys would stop by her blog and say hey!
If you would like to enter, just click here!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Sesame Street Live: Can't Stop Singing! Family 4 Pack Ticket Giveaway!!!



It's that time again! I have to admit, one of my very favorite times of all, is when Sesame Street Live comes to town! 

This year, Sesame Street Live's show is called "Can't Stop Singing!", and I can tell that it is going to be a super fun show! The Sesame Street gang is coming to Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky this Fall! They will be here from Friday, October 19- Sunday October 21, 2012! I can not WAIT to check out the show this year! 

Here's a little more info about the show: 


Doesn't that sound like fun! I know that the boys are going to have a fantastic time at the show, and there is one other thing that is new this year, that I am really pumped about! 

Sesame Street Live has a new feature this year, the Play Zone Experience! Play Zone opens one hour before the show starts, and it is absolutely FREE! What is it, you ask? A whole new way for kids (and parents!) to experience our favorite street! Kids can hang out in Big Bird's nest, Oscar's Trash Can, Zoe's Dance Studio, and even make a visit to Elmo's World! And, you never know WHO is going to show up! I am really excited about Play Zone, I know I am going to get some GREAT pictures of the boys here! 

Sesame Street Live: Can't Stop Singing will be in town for four (4!) great performances in October! Tickets went on sale July 9, and are available at the box office, or call Ticketmaster at 1800-745-3000! 

Ticket Info: Tickets start at $12, $16, $22, $30 (Gold Circle), and $60 (Sunny Seats)! Those are great prices! 

On opening night (Friday, October 19, 2012 at 7pm), ALL SEATS ARE $12!!! (excluding Gold Circle and Sunny Seats!) Are you wondering what Sunny Seats are??? They are the Ultimate Sesame Street Live experience, with VIP seating, a meet & greet with Elmo and another Sesame Street character before the show, and access to the Play Zone before everyone else!

There are also group discounts available for groups of 10 or more, you can call (859) 233-3535 for more info on that! (Additional fees and surcharges may apply). 

Here is the schedule of events: 

Here are some coupons for you to print off and use to get $3 off per ticket!! Or, if you are ordering tickets online, you can enter the code "ERNIE" to get the discount! 

And, now for the grand finale!!The folks at the Vee Corporation, and Sesame Street Live are giving us a Family Four Pack of tickets to give away to one lucky Flip Out Mama reader!! 
There will be one mandatory entry for this giveaway, and several extra entries. For each entry, please leave a comment below! Make sure I have a way to get in touch with you if you are the winner! There is nothing worse than having a winner who can't win b/c I can't tell them! 

**MANDATORY ENTRY**
Leave a comment below and tell me your favorite Sesame Street character!! 
**EXTRA ENTRIES**

+1 Follow Flip Out Mama on Facebook here 

+1 Follow Flip Out Mama on  Twitter here

+1 SHARE this giveaway with your Facebook Friends! Just post a link to this giveaway on your wall! 

+1 Like Sesame Street Live on Facebook here 


+1 Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect on the right sidebar of this page! 

This giveaway will end on 8/14/2012 at approx 11pm est. The winner will be chosen via random.org and will have 48 hours to claim your prize! The ticket vouchers will be mailed to the winner, and it will be the winner's responsibility to redeem the vouchers for tickets at the box office. I received a family four pack of tickets as a thank you for this post. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own!

Do You Shop At Aldi?


If you don't, I'm telling you.. you should.. Seriously.. This is not a review post, or a sponsored post.. This is just me telling you that I recently started shopping at Aldi, and that I am saving a lot of money since then! 

I had never shopped there until a few months ago, when I started staying at home, but since then, I have really enjoyed the deals there! Last week, a 2lb bag of white onions was $.69! Five pounds of potatoes for $.99, and 4 ears of corn for $.75! 

I have tried a ton of stuff since starting to shop there. At first I was a little bit worried about how the quality would be, since everything was so much cheaper, but we have been really pleased! We haven't tried a single thing that we don't like! In fact, some things, like the lunchmeat, and the popcorn chicken, we like better than the Kroger store brand versions! I was really impressed! 

I tried to upload some pics of my reciept to show you guys some of the great deals that I found, but I can't get it to show up right! 

But, next time you're near an Aldi's, go inside and check it out, you will be impressed!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

How About A Trip To Paris? (Well, Kind Of...)

So do you wanna go to Paris? 

Okay not really! But do you want to FEEL like you've been to Paris? 

Then you have GOT to check out the Welcome To Paris Event at Bath And Body Works on Saturday, August 11, from 1pm-5pm! The Welcome To Paris Event is to celebrate the launch of the new "From Paris, With Love" collection! There are three new "Paris-Inspired" fragrances: Paris In Bloom, Sweet On Paris, and Paris Amour.

You can enter to win a From Paris, With Love prize pack, and for each full size Signature Purchase, guests will receive a gift featuring a Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Mini Candle, trial size body lotion, and a Caramel Apple PocketBac and Holder in a mesh bag package! 

You can go here to see if your local Bath and Body Works is participating! 
 
Don't forget! Saturday,  August 11, from 1pm-5pm!

How About Renting Textbooks for Back To School?


I can not believe that it is already almost back to school time! It feels like this Summer has flown by. I must admit, I am ready for first grade to start! It will be nice to get a break from my Mr. Cranky Pants for a few short hours each day!

However, for a lot of college students, back to school time is not such a fun time. There are so many things to pay for with college, one of the most expensive being books! So, why in the world, would you choose to buy a textbook when you can RENT one instead?!? 

At http://www.campusbookrentals.com/, you can save 40-90% off of bookstore prices by renting your textbooks instead of buying them! Seriously, why would you even consider buying a book that you will never open again in a few months? They have a ton of great perks for ordering from them, including FREE shipping BOTH ways! Now that is a good deal! 

Another great perk of Campus Book Rentals is that you can highlight in the textbooks! You can also get live customer support whenever you need it, and they offer flexible rental periods depending on your needs! And, they donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rental! How cool is that?!

Still have questions?

Watch This!  




Hopefully, that cleared up all your questions!

Still not convinced? Check out this book on International Economics!

You can rent it for only $20.62 for the entire semester! That is an awesome price! (Especially considering if you were to buy the Kindle edition of this book from Amazon, it's almost $120!)

So there you have it folks! I can't think of any other way to get you to check out Campusbookrentals.com! If you want to waste your money on a book that you will never use after a few months, go ahead! But, if you have more important stuff to spend your cash on, you should really check them out!

This has been a sponsored post for Campus Book Rentals. However, all opinions and ideas are 100% my own.

Internet Marketing: It's the only way!

Seriously, when you think about internet marketing, what comes to mind? For me, it's Twitter and Facebook contests, coupons, QR Codes, videos and sweepstakes, "Like" to join us, and so much more. I really feel like internet marketing puts all other forms of advertising to shame. I mean think about it, do you find most of the products or services that you use? The Yellow Pages? A TV commercial? Radio Ad? Billboard? For me, it's online and online only! There is no close second. I use the internet for absolutely everything, and I think that I am not alone!

It really is crazy to think about how fast the internet has become such an integral part of all we do! I mean, I remember when I was in high school, and that was just eight or nine years ago. I didn't have a laptop, we had dial up internet, and I only used it occasionally. Fast Forward to now, where I am online almost 24/7. I shop online (just ordered Tater's shoes and backpack for school a few minutes ago!), I get recipes for dinner, I stay in touch with friends, I upload photos, I even WORK online now! How crazy! 

I would like to know y'alls thought on this? How has internet marketing changed the things that you do day-to-day? 

This has been a sponsored post for Orange Soda, however, all opinions and thoughts are 100% my own!

Mad Mimi Newsletter Templates Make Email Marketing Easy Peasy!


I have been thinking of coming up with an email newsletter for my blog for quite some time. When I discovered Mad Mimi newsletter templates, my mind was made up! I am going to finally take the plunge and create my own email newsletter! These templates are going to make it easy and fun! (Gasp!) I am really excited about this! I think this can bring a lot of new people to my blog, and keep my old readers happy and engaged as well!

I know that not every one has time to visit my blog every single day, and I am okay with that. But, what if there was a giveaway or article that they might really be interested in, and they didn't even know? That's why I think that an email newsletter would be great! I think Mad Mimi would be a great place to start! They do email marketing and they do it well! I really like that they aren't designed to only work with giant companies, this sometimes makes me feel a little out of place when I contact a company, so I am glad they are small-company friendly! :) 

What about you guys? Do any of you use an email marketing company? Very interested to hear other people's experiences!

This is a sponsored post for Mad Mimi, however all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own!

Shutterfly's Long Live Summer Photo Contest!

Okay, if you love Shutterfly, and I know you do, you are definitely going to want to take a few minutes and enter this new sweepstakes that they have going on on their Facebook page. It just launched on Monday, and I am really excited about it!

What's the prize?

A trip for four to the BAHAMAS!!! And, if that's not enough, a professional photo shoot while you're there, to remember your vacation forever!!

All you have to do is upload your favorite Summer photo and caption it based on the theme of the week! So easy!

And, you get a FREE gift from Shutterfly just for entering!! The sweepstakes lasts for FIVE weeks, and you can enter at any time during that five week period, so get going!

Here are the themes:

PHOTO THEMES
•       Week 1(7/9): Americana
•       Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors
•       Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun
•       Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities
•       Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations

And of course, the prizes: 
 
PRIZES

       Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo!
       Weekly prizes (contestants can enter one time/week)
       Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page and awarded a $500 gift card on Shutterfly and a copy of the new Lonely Planet travel photography book.
       Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot!

I mean seriously, what are you waiting for?? Go and enter right now! Just CLICK THIS! :) 

I will receive a promotional product in exchange for my time in writing this post. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

American Reunion Out Tuesday, Get Ready For It!!!



If you are looking for a great movie to watch at home with your honey (AFTER the kids are in bed, I'm telling you now!), you have GOT to pick up American Reunion when it hits shelves on Tuesday, July 10th! (AKA The Day After Tomorrow, Y'all!)

I have always loved the American Pie movies, in fact, I was the same age as the gang was when the first movie came out in '99! I was in high school just like they were, and I laughed and cringed right alongside them! So, needless to say, when we got a chance to check out the American Reunion BluRay Combo Pack I was super excited to see "my old friends" again!!

First of all, the Blu-Ray Combo Pack is definitely the way to go if you are going to buy this movie when it comes out. (And you are!) It includes the blu-ray (duh), the DVD, a digital copy, and the new UltraViolet. If you are confused, (and I was too, it's okay!), the digital copy is the one you can use to view the movie on your iPad, iPhone, iPod, etc.. and the UltraViolet is the new way for you to store movies in the cloud. From there, you can download them and use them on computers, tablets, smartphones and more! It really is cool to have all of these options available in one package! 

Anyhow, back to the movie. It was absolutely hilarious, as we knew it would be! Jason Biggs as a "grown up" Jim was absolutely hilarious to watch, and I still love Alyson Hannigan as Michelle! The hubs was happy laughing his ass off at Sean William Scott as Stifler and  drooling over Tara Reid as Vicky. (No comment on that one from me...... ) The movie was great, I loved watching the old gang come back together for their reunion, and the trouble they found themselves in was well, American Pie typical!

The hubs loves Blu-Rays for the great picture quality of course, he's a blu-ray snob! But, I love them for all the great bonus features! This one includes 13 extended scenes, alternate takes, an interactive "yearbook" of all the cast, and much, much more! 

Anyways, guys, what I'm telling you is that this is a hilarious movie, and you need to go get it on Tuesday! 

You're gonna thank me! 


I was provided with a copy of this film in order to conduct this review. No monetary compensation was given and all opinions are 100% my own.

Butt Ugly Sweaters = Best Website EVER!



Oh my goodness! I have a site for you guys to check out, and you are going to LOVE it! As soon as you hear the name, you know it is going to be good! Everybody loves ugly holiday sweaters, whether it be for a party or just for fun, and this website can hook you up for sure! It is called, wait for it.. ButtUglySweaters.com! I absolutely love it! It's cute, it's witty, and they have some damn ugly sweaters!

Planning a ugly sweater Christmas party? (If you're not, you should be, they are SO much fun!) Well, here are a couple of real doozies for ya! 



Don't wanna wait til Christsmas? Don't be bummed! I completely understand, sometimes the ugly sweater needs are just too great to only wear one once a year.. The folks at Butt Ugly Sweaters have sweaters for all types of occasions, not just Christmas! 

How about a sweater filled with random taxis? 

Or a sweater for all your aviation needs? 

Oh my goodness, I told you these people have everything! Even if you don't need a butt ugly sweater (but, believe me, you do!), head on over to their site and laugh your butt off at some of these awesome sweaters! Seriously, what are you waiting for!!!???


Thursday, July 5, 2012

Introducing the Elmer's First Day App!

Really exciting news to share with you guys! Back to school is almost here! (That's the REALLY good news if your kids are driving you nuts like mine is!) But, that is not what I am going to talk to you about today! 

Elmer's, (yes, the glue people!), have come out with a great new app! It's called the First Day App, and it is a photo sharing app and website dedicated to capturing and preserving first day of school memories! The app is free, and you can take pics and share them with friends and family. You then log into the website, and you can customize your photos, and share on Facebook or email! This would be great for sharing with our family members who don't get to see the boys very often!

Elmer's is such an awesome company, they are donating one school supply product for each and every photo uploaded using this app! Isn't that great!?! You can get this great FREE app from the iTunes store, or by scanning the QR code on Elmer's products! So, what are you waiting for? Go get this app today!

A Great Resource For Parents!

Today is one of those days that we are going to talk about a good resource for a bad problem, one that no one really wants to talk about. It is a great resource for families, and something we should all take the time to prepare for, even though no one wants to think about it. 

The website is http://www.preventabduction.net/ and it is a great resource for families to guard against child abduction. Did you know that around 2000 children are abducted every SINGLE day? Most of these abductions take place in a park, store, or other public area. That is just an absolute crazy number to me, and I can't imagine how it would feel to be the parent of one of those kids. 

The Prevent Abduction website helps families in a variety of ways, from showing videos, helping you to order ID kits, and child locators. This site is just a plethora of information for all families, and it can really teach you a lot by visiting the site. I truly believe that every family should be educated in these types of situations and that every family should have an emergency plan in place. I highly recommend that you visit the Prevent Abduction site and research some valuable information for your family!

Cancer Free Grocery List e-book by Julie Joyce!


Today I have a great ebook download to tell you guys about. The book is called "The Cancer Free Grocery List" and it is written by Julie Joyce. Julie is the Executive Producer and host of Cancer Free Radio and her mission is to help families lower the risk of cancer in their families. Did you know that one in three people will get cancer? ONE in THREE?? Those are crazy numbers!

This book helps you to fight those odds by helping you choose foods that can help fight off cancer and help you to be the healthiest that you can be! This book is a great resource for anyone who is concerned about their family and their health! And, the best part of all? This book download is priced at only $.99! Who doesn't love that!? If you would like to check out this book, you can do that here!


Loose Diamond Brokers Are Cooler Than Me!

I think my boys would like for me to have a cool job. I mean, right now, to them, I am just "mommy". I wonder what they would think if I was something cool, if I was some big time something or other. Like, if I worked on a TV show like The Walking Dead (our family's favorite) or something like that, I wonder if they would think I was "cooler". Or if I had a job that could make us some serious cash... What if I entered the world of loose diamond brokers or something totally awesome like that? 

I don't know, sometimes I wish I had a really cool job, and that I was able to make a lot of money and make my kids proud. But, all in all, I think they are proud of me for just being mommy. I hope that when they grow up, they know how hard I have worked for them and how much I have tried to make sure that they grow  up to be responsible and decent men. I know there are a lot of things that they don't understand and I hope that looking back when they grown, that they will see the reasons for the things I have done for them and the sacrifices that I have made. So, I guess for now, I am going to have to settle for being a not cool mama! :)

This has been a sponsored post for Atlanta Diamond Broker, however all opinions and thoughts are 100% my own. 

Monday, July 2, 2012

Please explain to me how it is possible that I am busier now that I am staying at home than I was when I was working? I really do not understand. But, things are coming along. I guess. 

Today I got our "emergency cabinet" cleared out. Well, before today it was a crap cabinet. Now it is going to be an emergency cabinet. 

This is where we are going to put our emergency supplies, bottled water, first aid kit, canned food, candles, etc... After a run of like 3-4 emergencies where I couldn't find/didn't have/couldn't get to what I needed, we are going to start being more prepared and ready for these situations. So, today, we cleaned out a cabinet in our hutch to use for emergency supplies.

Also on the list, finishing the hallway. I got it done today! I painted last week, and it has just been hanging out kinda "half finished" since then. So, today, I hung my curtains, put my switch covers on, and hung my pictures back up. It looks SO much better! 

Now, I still have so much to do! I am working on getting the yard stuff done, my brush cleared out, etc.. so I can move on to the next thing, which will be... getting ready for bunnies and chickens! I think I am going to go ahead and get started with our bunnies first, and work my way up to the chickens. Nice and slowly.. LOL!

Gonna have to repaint my kitchen cabinets next week too.. Tried to use this clearance paint that I had bought, but didn't notice it was flat paint.. I despise flat paint... So, yeah, that didn't work out! 

Anywho, those are just a couple of things we are working on this week. 
 
Getting ready to go sit down with the hubs and watch American Reunion, so I can give you lovelies a review about it tomorrow! (Don't forget, it will be available on DVD/BluRay on July 10!)

Night everyone!



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