all good things must end

After three months of fun and prizes, we are reaching the end of the road. Well, the fun will still continue.... Visit my woodenspoon and enter HERE!

mega giveaway!

weirdstuffinmydesk is hosting a mega-giveaway as part of the bloggy giveaways carnial! You can enter here!

KLEAN Bath & Body - $100.00 Gift Code
http://www.kleanbathandbody.com/
Klean Bath & Body provides luxurious, hand-mixed, bath and body products at an affordable price.

Flying Needle Gallery - $20.00 Gift Certificate
http://flyingneedlegallery.com
Gifts for the body & home: Offering velvet scarves, silk pillows, eco-friendly napkins & handkerchiefs and more. Includes FREE shipping if the prize winner is in the US — but will ship worldwide.

Broken Teepee Designs - $25.00 Gift Certificate
http://flyingneedlegallery.com/
Beautiful beaded jewelry. Made in Montana. Free shipping on your order, will ship internationally

Get Happy Goat Soap - $10.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.gethappygoatsoap.com/
Handcrafted soap made with the milk from my Nigerian dwarf goats Pricilla and Abigail plus other rich ingredients. Get happy! Free shipping on your order, will ship internationally

Starring…! Fragrances - $26.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.starringfragrances.com/
Organic & Natural Perfumes & Body Products that Star you in Sweet, Sensual Scents!

Little Black Boxes - 2 $20.00 Gift Certificates for Little Black Boxes
http://www.thelittleblackboxes.com
The Little Black Box is the perfect place for consumers to learn about our wonderful online retailers before purchasing. It’s a handmade revolution!

Bovine Bubbles and Hogwash - Canadian Company - 2 $25.00 Gift Certificates
http://www.bovinebubblesandhogwash.com/
Udderly the best handcrafted body care in the world.

South Main Designs - $25.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.mysouthmaindesigns.com/155
Beautiful jewelry at affordable prices! Shipping to US and Canada.

Lillian Skincare - $50.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.lillianskincare.com/
At Lillian Skincare, we believe that caring for your whole body not only means being careful about what you eat, but also what you feed your skin from the outside.

Pampertini - $25.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.pampertini.com/
We offer a variety of pampering items for you to enjoy, whether you are a shower person or love to indulge in a tub of bubbles, come by for some ONE STOP SHOPPING fun!

Bauble Bath - $50.00 Gift Certificate
http://baublebath.com/
Thick Creamy scrubs as well as bath bombs in indulgent fragrances.

Crater Lake Company - $30.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.craterlakecompany.com

Delightfully Wed - $15.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.delightfullywed.com/
Delightfully Wed supplier of wedding accessories, supplies, decorations, and favors, specializing in western-themes. Shipping is free within the US - we will ship internationally if the winner wishes to pay the shipping costs.

Candles and Woodcrafts - $15.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.candlesandwoodcrafts.com/
We provide a wide array of items from wooden soap molds and displays to wax tarts, finished woodcrafts, clocks, lighted holiday items….way to much to mention in one line so come on over and take a look!

Ginger’s Garden - 2 - $10.00 Gift Certificates
http://www.gingersgarden.com/
Come visit Ginger’s Garden for handmade soaps, skin and body care, gift baskets, toiletries, Zodiac Perfume blends, sculpted soap flowers and more. US Shipping Only.

Snowberry Creek - A Gift Certificate for a sampler box valued at $22.95
http://www.snowberrycreek.com/
A box full of luxurious, fragrant samples and full-sized items, such as handmade soaps, lotions, massage oil, bath teas, bath salts, shea butter, votives, tarts, bath bombs, teas, coffees, decorative soaps, potpourri, jewelry, candles, bubble bath and much more. Shipping is free within the US - we will ship internationally if the winner wishes to pay the shipping costs.

FeltLikeStitchin - $20.00 Paypal Gift Certificate - UK Company
http://feltlikestitchin.etsy.com/
DiDi Dolls are small, unique hand stitched felt dolls, each with a note in its pocket with the name and date of creation. Will ship worldwide from their store.

Things That Make Scents - $25.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.thingsthatmakescents.com/
Things That Make Scents is a Jersey Shore-based candle manufacturer offering superior customer service and a diverse menu of all-natural soy wax candles and scented wax bears. With many scents available, you are sure to find a favorite! Carrying candle accessories, gift baskets, jewelry and great gift items, its your one stop shop for your gift giving needs! Ships to the US and Canada.

Linda’s Gifts and Decor - $25.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.lindasgiftsanddecor.com/
Shipping to Canada and US ***Come by on Wednesday for a special offer from this retailer.

The Bath Project - $25.00 Gift Certificate
http://TheBathProject.com
Handcrafted body care, inspired by nature, crafted in small batches using certified organic ingredients. Will ship internationally.

Chunky Butt Candle & Bath Co. - $20.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.chunkybuttcandles.com/
As a small business, Chunky Butt Candle & Bath Company, we are dedicated to making a unique candle and bath & body experience. World wide shipping

Bad Girlz Bath Co. - $50.00 Gift Code
http://badgirlzbath.com/
Do you have a Fragrance Fetish, a Lust for Lather, Massage oils make you Hot & Bothered? We’re NOT your mother’s Bath & Body shop, we’re SO much more fun!

Just Right Candles - $15.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.justrightcandles.com/
Just Right Candles you a No Flame, No soot, SAFE alternative to traditional candles.

Lindsay’s Candles & Stuff - Canadian Company - $25.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.lindsayscandles.com/
Lindsay’s Candles & Stuff proudly handcrafts scented candles, soaps and bath & body products.

Lily Gulch Soaps - $30.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.lilygulchsoaps.com/
Handmade 100% natural cold process soaps, unique bath & body products and natural bath accessories. International Shipping Worldwide using United States Postal Service (USPS).

Bin Hog Designs $25.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.binhog.com/
Custom embroidered Luggage ID Handle Wraps - choose from one of our many designs or get them personalized!

Pacific Scents $20.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.pacificscents.com
Hand-poured Custom Candles, Bath and Body Products. Over 150 scents!

J.Lynne Cosmetics - $25.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.jlynne.com/
Handcrafted mineral makeup. Purely beautiful, naturally you! Shipping to US and Canada.

Manic Trout - $25.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.manictrout.com/
Handmade jewelry that is both colorful and unique, using unusual and quite often vintage materials. Worldwide shipping.

Vintage Body Spa LLC - $15 Gift Certificate
http://www.vintagebodyspa.com/
Vintage Body Spa handcrafts natural, luxurious and paraben-free spa products designed to ‘Indulge Your Body’ ™.

Flower Peddler - $30.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.flower-peddler.com/
Naturally-sourced bath, body, and skincare - always fresh, never boring.

Wylde Ivy - $50.00 Gift Certificate
http://www.wyldeivy.com/
Wylde Ivy is all about unique and inspired scent blends, high quality handmade products, and exquisite little luxuries!

Weird Stuff In My Desk - $20.00 Sephora Gift Certificate
http://weirdstuffinmydesk.com

Soapier - $30.00 Gift Certificate
http://Soapier.com

The Blue Raven Tea Co. - 2 $10.00 Gift Certificates
http://blueraventea.com
Let us delight you with our irresistible and fragrant teas. Every cup is a journey. Shipping to US and Canada

NEW PRIZES ADDED!

Marr Williams - $25.00 Gift Card/Discount Code
http://marrwilliams.etsy.com
Pamper yourself. Simply. Naturally. Shipping to the US And Canada.

Be Cool - Stay in School!

We are in year round so we ALWAYS are back in school before the good sales and giveaways begin... This year more kids are on year round in our school district and I have noticed the trend that the sales and promotions are starting earlier too.

Mom of 2 Dancers is getting in the game early this year! Please stop by her site to register for a great backpack from Land's End. You can enter HERE!

Win a year's supply of cosmetics

Perfect for me (or my 13 year old who keeps getting into mine!)

Enter HERE!

Updated directory!

I keep having to bump this up.

If I have stopped by your site and you do not see your blog listed below please email me or respond via comment. I will make sure that it is added to the list!

Giveaway resources:
Prizey
theprizeblog
blogcatalog
prizeatron

Art / Crafts / Design:

fanniecarte
frombetsywithlove
fatedfolliesstudio
lamiadesigns
plumpearapple
ravenxxxx
theothersideofme
Spiral Sun

Authors:
kayedacus

Beading
firamarina

Beauty:
bionic-beauty
coutureinthecity
hairsmystory
honeybrownsugar


Home, Organizational and Frugality:
mygoodcents
afrugalhousewife
tipjunkie

Going Green!
5minutesforgoinggreen
greenmomfinds
greenmommyguide
greenandcleanmom
healthygreenmoms.com
mygreening
goodforthekids

For Moms
(I lost a several of the 1 - 10, A- J links when editing- if yours is not on here please email me! or post here!):

5minutesformom
amominredhighheels
adventures in mommyland
aordinarylife
babylyonstreasuries
babyluxedaily
busymommyproductreview
celebtots
chicthingsgiveaways
cpamomva
classymommy
coolbabykid
coolmompicks
designhermomma
designmom
dkmommyspot
deardrmoz
fromdatestodiapers
goodforthekids
herbigidea.com
hipmammasplace
insidemotherhood
jasfamily
jessandashlee
li-kids
lillepunkin.com
littlepaintedpolkadots
lyricandariasmom
mamanista
mamaslike
mamalovesgiveaways
memoirsofachaoticmommy
metropolitanmama
michelestreasures
modmom
momgenerations
mom of 2 dancers
momsational
mommielovesfreebies
momfinds.com
mommymatter
mommygoggles
mommymandy
momreviews
momstakeonthings.com
momsinablog
mumsthewurd
musingsofahousewife
my-cool-kids-gifts
mytrendytykes
mymomshops
pinkwithsparkles
poshpointofview
sevendogsandababy
sew-gracious
springcart
superdumbsupervillain
svmoms
totsmag.com
thefullmommy
themommiesunited
themommydesigner
theopinionatedparent
thewellmom
theweereview
thisfullhouse
travelingwithbaby
travelingmamas
tresfun
unexpectedbliss
winnermama


Entertainment - TV, Movies, Reading, etc.

edgyinspirationalauthor
literaryillusions
lorisreadingcorner
myloonyverse
newtotv
screenhead
thekoolaidmom
upcomingdiscs
weekinrewind.com

Food, Fashion and Fun!
1happycorner
4theloveofanimals
apresentaconcept
boutiquecafe
chefdruck
chicshopperchick
customcreationsbysydnei
divinecaroline
donttryit.com
educationaltoyfactory
freebirthdaytreatsblog
funandfreegiveaways
gadgenista
ginaagain
glamasaurus
goodyblog
hostessblog
inevergrewup
imnotobsessed
islandlife808
itswhimsy
karenkooper
kirtsy
lisacooking
lipsticktocrayons
littlewindowshoppe.com
ittlebugsboutique
littlewindowshoppe
livinwithme
mollysfavoritethings
myfavoritethings
mywoodenspoon
ourreviewblog
our3day.com
peekaboopicks
petitelefant
pensieve
poprs - eat your veggies!
purplepinkandorange
reluctantentertainer
ribbonrockstarhairbows
sassyfrazz
shakadoo
simple-reviews
suburose
sunflowersinthekitchen
thekitchn
thriftyjinxy
thevintagepearl
thisoldhenhouse
topsyturvystyle
trashbagaesthetics
tresfun
vanillajoy
winnermama

Pets
discovery.com/pet_trends_blog

People, Places and Things
aniowamom
ramblingsbyreba
propsandpans.com

Blogging
bloggingbasics101
flibbypie

What was once lost is now found...

Not the missing links that I recovered for my directory from an old email...

Through a template formatting change I lost the buttons on my site which were on the bottom. I needed to re-add these so simply did so manually the old fashioned way - visiting sites and grabbing code. I have now finally figured out how to add these to the side bar. It was so simple I am embarrassed that I spent so much time trying to figure it out.

Lessons learned - 1) Back up. 2) Don't make things more difficult than they are.

Reverisble Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Reverisble Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Another fabulous giveaway from Grosgrain! She amazes me.

iPod Nano Giveaway

cVillain, Charlottesville News and Gossip blog, is giving away an 8GB iPod Nano.

Just post your favorite recent article from one of the sister sites. Contest ends Friday, August 1st at Noon. They winner will be chosen at random and notified by email.


My favorite article in on the difficulty in recycling plastic bags (and why it is better to use reusable totes).

You can enter HERE.

Bookroomreviews mega book giveaway!

Great book giveaway - one of my favorite authors books is featured in the bunch (Billie Letts) . to win 14 thoroughly readable books, enter here!

Flip out in tech style - Giveaway

wonder how everyone else except for you is creating videos and posting online? Me too. I found the solution. Even the most tech challenged can figure out how to use the Flip video camera. A Daycare Life is giving one to a lucky visitor.
All you need to do is check out the new line of Flip Cameras and post what your favorite color is. You figure out how to do that, right?

You can check it out and enter HERE.

Clean up relief is on the way - Giveaway

Sick of picking up crayons? Encourage your little one to pick up after them selves - Check out the crayon keeper bag up for grabs which can be personalized. Also love the aprons featured .

Enter to win HERE:

Help fight against Breast Cancer

Be my Bra sponsored by Lifetime. Customize your own virtual character.


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Homework creativity - recycle and reuse

Today I helped my youngest daughter with her homework. Usually it is my husband's job but today I received the honor.

The assignment? "Create flashcards using your spelling list".

As if I haven't mentioned it about 1000 times already, we are moving .....thus all of our craft supplies are now packed up. Being the creative mom that I am, we used a capri sun box to create the cards. At first she protested but then her slightly older sister and idol said "wow" and all was good. Cutting the thick cardboard was not fun at all . When I finished cutting it was obvious that the cards were not uniform and the sides were slightly uneven. Overall I think that I did a pretty good job though. My daughter used a pencil to write the words and I used the sharpie to trace her letters. (If you read my earlier post, sharpies are for mom and dad ONLY).

End result? Ta da! Pictures on one side and words on the other - granted, the pictures don't match the words like they do on normal flashcards as we were using a set list but she did not notice. The favorite card was the one that had a picture of macaroni and cheese on the back. Capri sun must be teaming up with Kraft.

Vintagesque inspiring Haiku - Giveaway

Subu is giving away a lovely vinage inspired necklace. I just am thrilled with the comeback of vintage inspired pieces. Whether authentic or not, the old is new.

Stop by subu and then visit pretty betty designs. Go back to subu and write your inspirations in the form of a haiku post (5-7-5). That's it! You are entered to win. On your way out, stop by sister site suburose.com and check out the beautiful handcrafted notebooks.

You can enter the giveaway HERE.

You are never too old to learn...

I am amazed at the things my children teach me. Everyday is a new learning experience:

- If you don't have a napkin, wiping your hands on the nearest item is acceptable. This can be the shirt I am wearing, the kitchen counter or clean clothes hanging in my closet. Ditto for blowing your nose.

- Why play with your own stuff when someone else's things seem so much more fun? I have opened many a lipstick to discover that I was not the last one to enjoy wearing it. The caveat to this lesson is that just when you think you can reclaim your own items, your child turns 12 and your things are AGAIN no longer your own. I did have to emphatically stress to my preteen that razors and toothbrushes are for INDIVIDUAL use.

- Stains that you thought could NEVER come out of clothes/fabric actually do! today I learned that melted "Silly Putty" easily comes out of sheets. I think the only way it could have been melted ON the sheets is by someone sleeping on it. The blanket was simply trashed. I did not have the energy to tackle that one. I have also learned this lesson with crayon, marker, nail polish and permanent marker. the last one was a life long lesson - Do NOT buy Sharpies again until the kids are 18. (my daughter drew "rain" on the siding of the house with a blue sharpie. After months of scrubbing it DID come out)!

- Something scary is under the bed - If you have kids this is actually true. Not for the kids but for the parents. I recently retrieved a petrified bagel from behind the dresser and a pencil box with a strange pink liquid concoction floating in it. Finding things like this are a daily occurance at my home. Strange as they are not allowed to eat or drink in their rooms.

- Empty boxes can go in the fridge - or the freezer, under the bathroom sink, etc,.. Take your pick. If it is empty, never (Alas!) recycle or discard! Nope - put it back where you found it.

- Unscrewing the bottom of a lamp, setting it on the floor and putting a blanket on top if it can cause a fire - This was during my oldest "busy", child's take-everything-apart-and-try-to-put-it-back-together phase. I won't elaborate much further than to say that in addition to my oldest I had a toddler, a newborn and a fortunately husband that is good in an emergency. *** In all fairness it was not the ONLY fire we had in the house. I also learned (the hard way), that turkey bacon cooks MUCH quicker than regular bacon. ***

Nail polish that is stuck shut can explode when opened. Thankfully this lesson was learned in the kitchen where nailpolish remover could be used on the floors and the kitchen table. Sadly it was learned AFTER I said "do not try to open that".

Please feel free to post YOUR lessons learned here :)

I found the missing links!

No - not THE missing link....

Rather the 30 or so links I accidentally deleted from my directory of blogs during an unfortunate editing disaster. I am in the process of updating!

I must polish the silver today...

See bottom of post for giveaway details! Giveaway is sponsored by TresFun

I love chandeliers. I adore the little crystals dangling from the metal work of traditional chandeliers, scattering light prisms throughout the room and giving a room the ambiance of old refined taste and "wealth".

Today's chandeliers however come in so many different varieties though, that mirror the tastes of the owner. Here is a sampling of just a few different styles available:
- shabby-chic - dripping with pearls and adorned with mini-lampshades in rich golds and silvers.

- Victorian - similar to shabby-chic, adorned with pearls, crystals, bows and/or lampshades, but also in victorian shades of cream, pink, blue, lavender, etc.

- Outdoorsy - chandeliers made from branches, wood, or deer antlers. (The latter is certainly not the animal rights driven).

- Contemporary, traditional or modern- wrought iron with warm amber glass accents - sometimes very basic - other times ornate with accents.

- Modern - clean lines, simple, functional.

TresFun is hosting a great contest where you can win a "chandelier"vinyl decal - fun in a bedroon, study or even dining room! You can enter HERE

my wooden spoon

My wooden spoon is hosting a few more cooking themed giveaways! (see banner on the bottom of page!)

Create your own cookbook - what inspires you? You can pick and choose when you "design your own cookbook" with Tastebook! Click HERE to enter.

Win a surprise! - View the tasty ghoulash recipe to see the not-so-secret giveaway! Click HERE to enter!

Crazy Quilting

I really like quilts - what is so appealing are the infinite combinations through the use of various fabrics and patterns. If I was a better sewer I may have ended up a quilter. Instead I bead and draw which is so much more forgiving when you make a mistake.....

Old Red Barn Co. is giving away one of the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen. I love the spring colors - it has a dual vintage / modern appeal. Check it out HERE!

So much more....

A wrestling addicted mom is giving away a $75 Gift Certificate to More Than A Photo. Visit the Website and leave her a comment letting her know what you would buy if you won the $75 gift certificate to More Than A Photo.

Register to win HERE

MB's Favorite Things - Prismacolor!

If you draw with colored pencil you have most likely heard of Prismacolor. I love the variety of colors, smooth texture and blendable qualities of the lead when working with these.

I have picked up drawing after a 15 year sabbatical (work / kids). It took a while to get the hang of things again but it was kind of like riding a bicycle - once you learn, you never forget. Now the challenges I face are WHAT to draw.

Want to be inspired? Check out other artists on Etsy. Hopefully after we move I can hook up the scanner and upload a couple of my illustrations.

MB's favorite things - Greenworks!

If you have pets, kids or a husband, you are constantly cleaning. Although you want a clean, healthy home, you don't want to expose your family to harmful chemicals.

I am a member of a mom's group sponsored by Clorox. As a "perk" I have received several full size samples of products in the mail, coupons, helpful information, etc. Although I have enjoyed many of the items, I was overly impressed with their new product line and feel compelled to share

A few months ago Clorox sent some coupons for their new "Green Works" line. Seeing as I am Green-minded and open to new things I figured I would check it out. Honestly I was not too sure how I would like these. I felt that since the cleansers were "Green", they would not work as well as traditional products. I pushed my hesitations aside, purchased 4 items in the line and now I am hooked. These cleaners work better than my old, non-green cleaners plus they are safer to use.

My favorite is the Natural Dilutable Cleaner - with this product, less is truly more. Just a little bit diluted with water can tackle my entire first floor. One thing that really impressed me is the quick bubbling and the great, clean scent. It also does clean effectively and efficiently.

The Green Works line is available at most major stores carrying cleaning products. I picked mine up at the grocery!

Kids and Internet Safety - THE RULES

Thanks blogmommas.com for posting such a great link about internet safety. All parents who have kids using the internet should read and share with their children. The "Rules" can be found HERE

MB's favorite things - B&BW DCHS

OK - I am not Oprah but I have some favorite things too.... I have decided to share these with you - not annually but hopefully daily. Heck, weekly at least!

My favorite item of the day....

Bath and Body Works Deep Cleaning Hand Soap! I first started using it in the kitchen. Initally I tried the Kitchen Herb and Kitchen Lemon varieties. After the first bottle I was hooked. Now I have a bottle of this B&BW DCHS in all of the rooms in my home that have a sink installed. I also buy in a wide variety of scents. So far my favs are Moonlit Garden, Midnight Pomegranate and Brown Sugar and Fig.

I love the fact that it is anti-bacterial but with a kick. The little granules in the soap are beads that moisturize AND deep clean your skin. Great after cooking or gardening. I am so fond of this product that I have forgiven B&BW for discontinuing both the "Sandalwood and Rose" Body lotion AND "Cinnamon Tutti Dolce" body wash that were staples in my daily beautifying routine.

Interested? You can check it out online or next time you are in the mall. The anti-bacterial handsoap line is on sale this week at Bath and Body Works for 3 for $1o .

Blog Carnival??? yes!

It's back - less than two weeks another blog giveaway carnival. Alas, we will be in the midst of our move but hopefully I can get a couple entries in. Next year I hope to be able to sponsor a giveaway.

more info can be found HERE!

Another addiction.....

Ok - I have admitted that I am a bath and body junkie. Another confession.... I also am addicted to candles. I shy away from floral candles. I prefer scents that smell earthy or have a mouth watering bakery scent. Cinnamon, vanilla, sugar cookies, etc.

dailydoseofmotherhood is hosting a great candle contest - vote and post here. If you want extra entries, blog about it!

Bumping Blogtastic Blog directory!

I keep having to bump this up.

If I have stopped by your site and you do not see your blog listed below please email me or respond via comment. I will make sure that it is added to the list!

Giveaway resources:
Prizey
theprizeblog
blogcatalog
prizeatron

Art / Crafts / Design:

fanniecarte
frombetsywithlove
fatedfolliesstudio
lamiadesigns
plumpearapple
ravenxxxx
theothersideofme
Spiral Sun

Authors:
kayedacus

Beading
firamarina

Beauty:
bionic-beauty
coutureinthecity
hairsmystory
honeybrownsugar


Home, Organizational and Frugality:
mygoodcents
afrugalhousewife
tipjunkie

Going Green!
5minutesforgoinggreen
greenmomfinds
greenmommyguide
greenandcleanmom
healthygreenmoms.com
mygreening
goodforthekids

For Moms
(I lost a several of the 1 - 10, A- J links when editing- if yours is not on here please email me! or post here!):

5minutesformom
amominredhighheels
adventures in mommyland
aordinarylife
babylyonstreasuries
babyluxedaily
busymommyproductreview
celebtots
chicthingsgiveaways
cpamomva
classymommy
coolbabykid
coolmompicks
designhermomma
designmom
dkmommyspot
deardrmoz
fromdatestodiapers
goodforthekids
herbigidea.com
hipmammasplace
insidemotherhood
jasfamily
jessandashlee
li-kids
lillepunkin.com
littlepaintedpolkadots
lyricandariasmom
mamanista
mamaslike
mamalovesgiveaways
memoirsofachaoticmommy
metropolitanmama
michelestreasures
modmom
momgenerations
momsational
mommielovesfreebies
momfinds.com
mommymatter
mommygoggles
mommymandy
momreviews
momstakeonthings.com
momsinablog
mumsthewurd
musingsofahousewife
my-cool-kids-gifts
mytrendytykes
mymomshops
pinkwithsparkles
poshpointofview
sevendogsandababy
sew-gracious
springcart
superdumbsupervillain
svmoms
totsmag.com
thefullmommy
themommiesunited
themommydesigner
theopinionatedparent
thewellmom
theweereview
thisfullhouse
travelingwithbaby
travelingmamas
tresfun
winnermama


Entertainment - TV, Movies, Reading, etc.

edgyinspirationalauthor
literaryillusions
lorisreadingcorner
myloonyverse
newtotv
screenhead
thekoolaidmom
upcomingdiscs
weekinrewind.com

Food, Fashion and Fun!
1happycorner
4theloveofanimals
apresentaconcept
boutiquecafe
chefdruck
chicshopperchick
customcreationsbysydnei
divinecaroline
donttryit.com
educationaltoyfactory
freebirthdaytreatsblog
funandfreegiveaways
gadgenista
ginaagain
glamasaurus
goodyblog
hostessblog
inevergrewup
imnotobsessed
islandlife808
karenkooper
kirtsy
lisacooking
lipsticktocrayons
littlewindowshoppe.com
ittlebugsboutique
littlewindowshoppe
livinwithme
mollysfavoritethings
myfavoritethings
mywoodenspoon
ourreviewblog
our3day.com
peekaboopicks
petitelefant
poprs - eat your veggies!
purplepinkandorange
reluctantentertainer
ribbonrockstarhairbows
sassyfrazz
shakadoo
simple-reviews
suburose
sunflowersinthekitchen
thekitchn
thriftyjinxy
thevintagepearl
thisoldhenhouse
topsyturvystyle
trashbagaesthetics
tresfun
vanillajoy
winnermama

Pets
discovery.com/pet_trends_blog

People, Places and Things
ramblingsbyreba
propsandpans.com

Blogging
bloggingbasics101

giveaway for the generous at heart

Momsational (love the name) is hosting yet another fabu giveaway. You can find the fun link to her site at the bottom of my sidebar. Or you can click here

What is the great prize? The children's classic "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein! This is a true classic and deserves a home in every child's bookshelf.

Kung Fu Panda Party at home

adventuresofabreastfeedingmother is giving away a fun Kung Fu Panda gift pack! There is a activity and dance video, stickers, cards and frames - sounds like something to keep the kiddies busy while you blog.

Bath and Beauty giveaway

My secret (or not so secret) obsession is bath and body products. I am addicted. I go through phases of what type of scents I use - currently I am using more exotic, earthy scents with amber, musk, patchouli, sandalwood. But I also love fruity, floral and "bakery" (vanilla, cinnamon, butter cream, etc) fragrances.

An islandlife is hosting a contest sponsored by flower peddler. The prize? A fabulous $50 gift certificate so you can pick what YOU want! Yes, I am seriously hoping that I win this one.

THE giveaway

Baby Lyon Treasuries has a great giveaway page with several featured products. Love that their current giveaway page is titled "The Giveaway". With several sponsored contests it seems very appropriate!

Let's countdown the current happenings:
9th-mommy-giveaway - Fabulous baby sling aka Rockin' Baby sling/pouch, up for grabs!

8th-mommy-giveaway - $50 Gift Certificate to The Warm Biscuit Bedding Company.

7th-mommy-giveaway - set of 2 Personalized Burpies (Burp Cloths) by butt-ums up baby.

Etsy Shops

Is anyone else addicted to browsing Etsy? I love the fact that this is an auction site dedicated to artists who create quality handmade treasures. I have found such a variety of items on Etsy.... clothing, jewelry, paintings, purses, pillows, woodwork, paper crafts, bath and beauty, candles and my new fav - recycled items. These are just a few - there are hundreds of other items listed.

A new hot trend are products that are refurbished by the artist - from dated but fun and kitschy items to "old" items updated with new details.

Another favorite and a hot fad are the scrabble tile pendants.

On Etsy you can search by color, category, geographical area, featured items, recent sales etc. OR you can opt to shop local!

To top it off, Etsy has it's own blog!

Mama Loves Giveaways has moved to MomGenerations.com

They are hosting a huge giveaway in celebration! Head on over and check it out!

Yes, the cliche is true

When it rains it pours.

Let's back up a little - We are moving - hopefully. See the attached picture of what is hopefully my new fabulous kitchen. We have been in the process of selling our home since February - packing, putting stuff in storage, painting, repairs. We spent hundreds getting everything ready with supplies, storage fees, contractor fees, etc. During this time we also spend hundreds in unexpected car repairs and maintenance.

Finally in May we are good to go we list the house on the market. Fortunately we get an offer in less than 3 weeks. First response - Hurrah! no more keeping the house immaculate and shuffling the kids out the door. This is when the real fun begins.

It takes 4 weeks to get the contract in order. Finally the other contract is signed and we put an offer on another home. All is well until we get our home inspected. Apparently several unknown and unexpected problems exist - some are simple fixes - others are not so inexpensive or easy to fix. In a nutshell these problems equal at least $2,000 in repairs.

Another downer - after we got an offer on the house other things start breaking. Our freezer full of food dies thus an immediate replacement needed. 2 weeks later the air conditioning in the car stops working and over heats the engine - one of the belts is practically shredded. Another $1,500 total.

More bad news. Our home appraises at less than it sold for due to the many foreclosures in the neighborhood and poor housing market. After re-negotiations, we are out another 3K if the buyer's mortgage company approves. At this point I am no longer keeping track of the money we are losing.

Even more bad news - we are funding VA but lat last week discover that my husband's DD-214 is incomplete and cannot be accessed online. He needs to make a 3 hour trip to get a new copy so we can close in time.

Despite the horrible run of bad luck I am so excited about moving! Our new home has everything we are looking for - our children will stay in the same school and we will have twice the space - my kitchen will be 4 times the size of our current one, all of my girls will have their own rooms and we will have a shed AND a guest room! I keep reminding myself that my kids are healthy, we have good jobs and are fortunate in so many other ways.

Packed all day and keeping my fingers crossed that it is smooth sailing from here!

500 post giveaway contest!

In celebration of her 500th blog post on July 31, Christian writer Kaye Dacus is sponsoring a generous contest. There are several opportunities to win books, Amazon.com gift certificates, etc.

To read the details, click HERE.

To find out more about Kaye click HERE.

Artsy giveaways

Vanilla Joy is giving away not one, but two fabu prizes. The first prize is some nifty Vinyl Lettering sponsored by Scribble it. If I do not win, I have a strange feeling that I may be purchasing some. I am thinking of all of the projects I can start and actually finish using this!

The other giveaway sponsored by Simply Polished is just as wonderful - organizational products. I am a neat freak and love anything that feeds my mild OCD to keep things as organized and orderly as possible. The great thing about these products is they are not only functional, but decorative too. In a variety of fun patterns and colors, there is something to please all.

You can check it out HERE

Updated Blog Directory - July 2008

Updated on 07/15/2008 and reposted!

Search and win!

Yes I still google quite a bit, but another option is registering with many of the search and win sites out there. Most of these search engines are powered by the same ones we use every day including yahoo, live.com, askjeeves, etc. How do they work? Register under me (or a friend). Have your friends register under you. When they win, you win. I have won prizes on my own and through friends.

The ones I use most are as follows:

Blingo - Affiliated with publisher's clearing house. Offers numerous prizes from gift cards to large big ticket items

Winzy - Mostly points towards monthly drawings, but they also offer prizes like movie tickets, amazon.com gift cards and ipods. Can't go wrong with that.



Swagbucks - this is more of a "search and earn site". As you search, you occasionally will earn swag bucks. Earn enough and cash them in for fabulous prizes including gift certificates, gaming systems, cameras, etc.!

A great site for bloggin' mamas!

OK - I am new to this blogging thing. Apparently there is more than just putting thoughts into words on a website. There are blogs on everything and everything imaginable. Blogs with not just words, but also photos, videos, links, product reviews, contests, advertisements, etc.

Clueless as I am, mombloggersclub.com has been a great resource. I'm stuck in Mom Blogging 101, but there are many other sections too! mombloggersclub.com is kind of a social networking / blogging / information resource hybrid site. Or quite simply, "where mom bloggers converge".