Wow..I can't believe that it is 2010 already!!  Where did this year go?  So many things happened..good things, bad things, and even in-between things.

I started "It's Really Only a Purple World" early this year and am so happy to have seen it grow to what it is today.  From product reviews to give-a-ways, to events coverage to social issues I seemed to have touched on it all!

I hope that the coming year brings an even better blog experience for you, my dear readers, and I am open to any suggestions you might have about how to improve "It's Really Only a Purple World" as well as suggestions on the types of things you would be interested in hearing about in the upcoming year!

A joyous and safe Happy New Year 2010 to All!!!

No matter what you may be celebrating this season, I wish you Happy Holidays!

Thank you for being a part of this blog and for your support!

A Wrestling Addicted Mommy's Secret Santa 2009: I Got the Coolest Gift and Guess What....It's PURPLE!!!

Those of you who frequent my blog have seen a button on the side for the past month or so regarding A Wrestling Addicted Mommy's Secret Santa 2009 event.  Yesterday I received the most beautiful purple handmade crochet supply bag I have ever seen! 

Obviously Josie from Payley/Oh Baby Boutique took the time to make me something special and personal and I love my Secret Santa for doing so!

I participated in two online Secret Santa exchanges this year and both were fun and fabulous!  I can't wait to do it again next year and I encourage my readers to participate if given the opportunity!

Thanks again to A Wresting Addicted Mommy for hosting thie Secret Santa exchange!  Please take the time to visit both her blog and my Secret Santa's two Etsy shops as a favor to me!

 And Now A Few Words From The Folks At MomSelect: " America's Cutest Last-Minute Tax Deduction" Contest



All Moms would agree that the joy that comes from having a new baby is priceless! The sweet sounds of cooing, chubby cheeks and the intimate bond between parent and child can make any family feel rich with love. But, as any new parents can attest, raising children can have an impact on your checkbook, as well as your heart. In fact, the typical family spends more than $221,000 raising a child through age 17.

TurboTax® the nation's No. 1 rated, best-selling tax preparation software from Intuit Inc. is conducting its third annual nationwide search for America's Cutest Last-Minute Tax Deduction. The parents of one lucky baby, born in December 2009, will win $5,000.

To enter, parents or legal guardians should submit a photo of their baby born between Dec. 1-31, to www.cutesttaxdeduction.com. The deadline for submissions is January 7, 2010. Judges will select 10 finalists, and America will determine America's Cutest Last-Minute Tax Deduction and the $5,000 grand prize winner!

Further details, rules and eligibility are available at www.CutestTaxDeduction.com.  You can follow @TurboTax on Twitter (#TTbaby) or visit TaxBreak, the new TurboTax blog for updates.

Starting Your Day Off Right: Community Coffee, A Review

There is nothing I like better then a great cup of coffee to kickstart my morning especially during the cold New York winters.  Commercial coffees are okay, but never what I consider to be " great".  Coffee house coffees are not only just okay they also can cost a small fortune.

Enter the Community Coffee Company!  Based in Louisiana, the Home of Great Coffee, they have a long tradition of excellence.  Read this excerpt about how they got started:

For four generations, the Saurage family of Louisiana has owned and operated Community Coffee Company. In 1919, Henry Norman "Cap" Saurage discovered the secret of making this great-tasting coffee in his country store in Dixie, Louisiana, near Baton Rouge. He named his coffee "Community" in honor of his community of friends. In 1924, he closed the store and converted his backyard barn into a coffee mill, using coffee beans purchased from a local roaster. In 1941, Cap's son H. Norman Saurage Jr. purchased the company's first coffee roaster, having decided that Community should roast its own coffee to ensure quality at every step. A roasting plant was built in Baton Rouge in 1946.

Over the years, Community Coffee Company would take countless steps to ensure the quality of its product. In 1955, the company began importing green coffee beans directly from coffee plantations in Brazil. In 1970, a new plant was built on the Mississippi River in Port Allen, Louisiana. In 1980, Community introduced the nation's first vacuum-sealed coffee package.



The first CC's Community Coffee House opened on the corner of Jefferson and Magazine Street in New Orleans in 1995. Dozens more opened during the 10 years that followed.

It's been more than 90 years since Cap Saurage founded Community Coffee Company, but our mission has never changed – to share our passion for great coffee with our customers!

I contacted Community Coffee to express interest in reviewing their products ( since I am a major coffee lover) and I was delighted when they responded positively to my request.  In the spirit of full disclosure I received no money for this review, although I was provided with products to sample at no cost to me.

Here is what they sent me:

A 12 oz bag of Their Cafe Special Ground Medium Dark Roast

A Taste of the Holidays Sampler Gift Set

2009 Holiday Tumbler

Time to brew some coffee!!!

First I have to say that the aroma of the ground coffee made my coffee taste buds sing with joy!  Rich and dark and full of flavor....The moment when you have your first sip of a great cup of coffee is always an " Ahhhh" type of moment for me.  The kind of moment when the world stops for an instant and the only thing that exists is you and that mug of java in front of you!

The flavors of the sampler gift set were intriguing: Holiday Jazz, Cinnamon Roll, Pecan Praline, and get this...Bread Pudding!  I thought I had tasted every type of flavored coffee out there but "Bread Pudding" took even me by suprise!  They are all packaged in the cutest gift box ready to be given to your favorite coffee lover.

The tumbler is well made and sturdy and kept my coffee nice and hot when in the car!

Besides having great coffee they really know how to put the "community" in Community Coffee.  Among the many programs they support is the Military Match Program where they will match your purchase for up to four bags of coffee if the coffee is shipped to a person in the military who is stationed overseas.  That means if you purchase four bags of coffee they will ship eight!  I think this is a great way to honor those who are serving to protect our way of life and brings a little bit of home when they are very far away.

Right now they have a great special going on where you get 20% off with free shipping included!  Just use the code: SPECIAL and you will get this great deal...only it wont last forever so order as soon as possible!

Thank you to Community Coffee for not only making a great product but for trying to make a difference.

It's Time to Talk: A Series of Discussions with People Who are Making a Difference Regarding Domestic Violence and Teen Dating Abuse: Discussion 7 of 7 -  Judith Kahan, Chief Executive Officer, Center Against Domestic Violence

This is the last of my blog posts regarding the interviews I conducted during the " It's Time To Talk Day", sponsored by Liz Claiborne and it was also one of my most memorable.

Ms. Kahan is a strong and powerful woman with a long history of providing services to the people in our communities who need it the most.  From the mentally ill to the homeless to domestic violence victims, she has advocated for and effected change on a grass roots level.

As Chief Executive Officer of The Center Against Domestic Violence she oversees a multitude of programs that protect, provide for, and reintegrate people who get involved in a abusive relationship and want to learn how to live a life free of domestic violence.

She was most proud of the RAPP program - NYC's Relationship Abuse Prevention Program which utilizes the concepts of Pride, Education, Equality, and Respect to teach middle and high school children the warning signs of an abusive relationship as well as how to escape from one if they are already being victimized.

Her agency, The Center Against Domestic Violence, located in Brooklyn, NY services an average of 30,000 women and children each and every year.  They provide support, education, and prevention for both adults and teens.

I admire Ms. Kahan for her devotion to the mission to end domestic violence.

Tonight Jews around the world celebrate the first night of Chanukah, this Jew included!

If you are interested in knowing more about this Jewish Festival of Lights, I direct you to this Wikipedia post about Chanukah!

Enjoy!

It's Time to Talk: A Series of Discussions with People Who are Making a Difference Regarding Domestic Violence and Teen Dating Abuse:  Discussion 6 of 7 - Stephanie Orr, Executive Director, Casa Center for Prevention of Abuse and Violence.

Ms. Orr has been Director of the Casa Center for Prevention of Abuse and Violence for the past 21 years. Her agency has succeeded in reaching out to 60,000 teens over the past 25 years.  Think about that.  60,000 lives having been touched by one single agency.  Now imagine those same 60,000 people without the intervention that CASA has provided.  Do you see the same thing that I am seeing?

Ms. Orr also stressed the need to integrate Social and Emotional literacy and optimal relationship skills in our school's curriculum.  She is the MADE Arizona State Action Leader and is passionate about linking child abuse, bullying, and domestic violence as being part of a much larger issue-  violence. 


What struck me as being especially powerful when I visited the site was this statement, in the section on Mission and Vision:


We are all responsible for Abuse and Violence, if for no other reason than we allow them to continue.

We are all responsible.  Whether it is my teen or yours they are still all " our children."

This is the message that I wanted to share about CASA; This is the point of the whole reason for the " It's Time to Talk Day"....

By educating ourselves and our children we make the statement that we will NOT allow abuse and violence to continue.

Think about it.


“I received a $50 Juicy Couture gift card in conjunction with participating in Liz Claiborne’s “It’s Time To Talk” day.”

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep: The Battles of Bedtime

Although my daughter is a teenager, I still face the same issues that all moms face in not only getting your child to go to bed, but to actually go to sleep.

Twittermoms and St. Eve Kids has challenged bloggers to  post about "What are your five tips & tricks for getting your kids to bed on time and getting them to stay in bed?"  This is what I have to say about the answer to that question.

(1) I found early on that abruptly asking a child to go to bed doesn't give them the time that they need to wind down from their busy and active days and go from an active awake state to a sedentary sleepy state.  Kids of all ages need a gradual shift towards settling down enough to drift off to sleep when in bed.

(2) It is important to make sure that all attempts at eating and snacking are done prior to your child going to sleep as well.  If ones body is busy digesting food it will have a terrible time quieting down enough to drift off to sleep.

(3) If your child wants the light on or the door open, so be it.  Better that then to make a child feel afraid in their own bed.  Don't make it an issue; it just isn't worth it.

(4) When my daughter was younger, I used to periodically put cool lamps in her room that created designs on the ceiling.  She often used these peaceful designs to help her drift off into sleep.

(5) Most important is keeping a childs schedule consistent.  When they have long breaks from school, try not to let them sleep in to late ( this is the one that I am usually the most guilty of doing).  It will be that much harder when the break is over.

Thanks Twittermoms and St. Eve Kids for bringing up this topic!

It's Time to Talk: A Series of Discussions with People Who are Making a Difference Regarding Domestic Violence and Teen Dating Abuse:  Discussion 5 of 7 - Senator Beatrice A. Lanzi, District 26, Cranston - Rhode Island Senate

Senator Lanzi is the primary Senate sponsor of the Lindsay Burke Act, the first in the nation that requires schools to provide dating violence education for students in middle school and high school. Senator Lanzi also has a long history of supporting anti-violence initiatives in a variety of sectors. 

She was clear in making the point that teen dating and domestic violence ,"...is not a family issue, it is a crime".  I thought that was an important point to make since many people object to government regulation within the household.  If one recognizes that it is a crime, it becomes much easier to prosecute.

Senator Lanzi quoted statistics that " 1 in 3" teenagers were exposed to domestic violence either in their own homes or through their own peer and community relationships.

Her commitment to this issue came through loud and clear.  With all the things our political representatives have to think about, it is nice to know that at least one Senator is still thinking about our children.

Just a Note:  Take a look at the Lindsey Burke Memorial Page if you have any doubts in your mind what an important issue this really is!

“I received a $50 Juicy Couture gift card in conjunction with participating in Liz Claiborne’s “It’s Time To Talk” day.”

"My Entry For the Kia Sorento Ultimate Road Trip Sweepstakes"

Seems like the folks at Momlogic are having a contest where I could win some really cool things for the holidays if I write a blog post and answer this question:

If you could take your family on a road trip anywhere, where would you go and why?"

My answer would be that I would take my family on a road trip from Maine to California, with the goal to hit everyone of the lower 48 states.  This would be a great way to show my daughter all the different choices she has when she becomes an adult and starts to think about where she wants to live her life.  It would open her up to vastly different communities and she could see for herself the flavor of each corner of America and the diversity that makes this country such a great place to live in.

Cross your fingers and toes and hope that I win!!

BTW....One random commenter on the winning blog post will win a $100 gift card.  Comment on THIS post to be in the running!

It's Time To Talk: A Series of Discussions with People Who are Making A Difference Regarding Domestic Violence and Teen Dating Abuse: Discussion 4 of 7 - Melanie Mannarino, Deputy Executive Director, REDBOOK

I must admit I was quite suprised when I was told that I would be talking to the Deputy Executive Editor of Redbook.  Redbook?  What did they have to do with teen dating and domestic violence?  Well, I'll tell you dear readers....plenty!

REDBOOK helped to launch MADE last December and Melanie has been instrumental in both REDBOOK and Marie Claire magazines domestic viokence awareness campaigns through feature stories, rallies, and national tours in partnership with Liz Claiborne.

One of the wonderful things I leanred from talking to her was that REDBOOK has a long history of being at the forefront of womens issues and continues to be a driving force for change.  Don't get me wrong...you can still find great features about fashion, the home, and sex. And as a magazine devoted to that which drives us as women, what better vehicle then to champion the cause of teenagers and parents.

Thank you REDBOOK for being such an American icon!

“I received a $50 Juicy Couture gift card in conjunction with participating in Liz Claiborne’s “It’s Time To Talk” day.”

It's Time To Talk: A Series of Discussions with People Who are Making A Difference Regarding Domestic Violence and Teen Dating Abuse: Discussion 3 of 7 - Cindy Southworth, Founder/Director Safety Net Project


I sat down with Cindy Southworth, MSW, who is the Founder and Director of " The Safety Net Project" a division of the National Network to End Domestic Violence.  She was very vocal about the fact that technology has not increased the incidence of domestic violence in this country and in fact aids in prosecution .It often leaves an electronic evidence trail in the case of texts, emails, and social media postings ie: Facebook, MySpace, etc.

She was also insistent about the need to create a space for discussions when talking to your child about teen dating violence and that it was important " not to have a knee-jerk" reaction in the presence of your child when something disturbing comes to the surface.

She did point out that victims of dating abuse can access lots of valuable information online, but that one should always be aware of the use of Spyware for tracking purposes on phones and computers.  She told me about a program that places safe computers in domestic violence centers that is accessible to those still living with their abusers that can be used to safely communicate, plan, and learn.

Thank you Cindy for allowing me to see technology in a whole new context!


“I received a $50 Juicy Couture gift card in conjunction with participating in Liz Claiborne’s “It’s Time To Talk” day.”

We have a winner in the Protect-A-Bed Premium Mattress Protector Giveaway!

Thanks to Random.org, comment #63 was chosen as the winner!

Missybeez said...


follow your blog on Google friend connect.
I would like the Plush pillow protectors!
honeybeez80@yahoo.com

Missybeez has been contacted, confirmed as the winner, and her information has been forwarded to the sponsor for fufillment!

Thank you to everyone who left a comment and remember..I have lots more to give-a-way!

It's Time To Talk: A Series of Discussions with People Who are Making A Difference Regarding Domestic Violence and Teen Dating Abuse: Discussion 2 of 7 - Kim Davidson and Amanda Gorman, Founders of "Kari's Candle of Hope"

This is a picture of Kari Gorman, murdered by her boyfriend on July 26, 2008.  She was 18 years old.

I had the privelege of meeting with her mom, Kim Davidson as well as her sister, Amanda Gorman at the " It's Time To Talk" Day sponsored by Liz Clairborne.  I was struck with the beauty of both these women and the strength that they both have shown in turning their tragedy into a rallying point to help other teenagers in a similar situation as their daughter.

They both stressed to me how important it is to let our children know that we want them to talk to us if they have issues with their peers, and that we, as parents, need to stress that " Caring is NOT control" when it comes to dating. 

They promote the " Love is Not Abuse" curriculum and are pro-active in voicing how important education is to stopping the type of violence her daughter fell victim to.

" Kari's Candle of Hope" is a great website chock full of links if you are in need of more information.  Take a look at Kari's picture and imagine it was your daughter.  Share the site with your children and friends and help Kim and Amanda in their efforts.

To Amanda I leave this personal note: You are a powerful woman and have the ability to change the world and hekp others.  Pursue your dreams and I wish you all the happiness and success in this world.  I hope if my own daughter ever in in a similar situation she has something like you to turn to.

“I received a $50 Juicy Couture gift card in conjunction with participating in Liz Claiborne’s “It’s Time To Talk” day.”

It's Time To Talk: A Series of Discussions with People Who are Making A Difference Regarding Domestic Violence and Teen Dating Abuse:  Discussion 1 of 7 - Dr. Jill Murray

My first discussion at the It's Time to Talk Day, sponsored by Liz Clairborne was with Dr. Jill Murray, LMFT, who is a Licensed Psychotherapist and author of a number of books about relationships and violence.  Her most recent publication is entitled, " But He Never Hit Me: The Devastating Cost of Non-Physical Abuse to Girls and Women".

Dr. Murray made some great points in the course of our discussion and one specific phrase really seemed to me to be the key from her point of view:

- " Love is a Behavior" - Dr. Murray stressed over and over that we need to learn to love in much the same way that we need to learn other behaviors as we grow into adulthood.  She states:

"Talk to your children about love as a behavior, rather than a feeling and encourage them to judge their friends and potential boy or girlfriends solely on the behavior they see.


As the mother of a 16 year old daughter who potentially can be a victim of teen dating violence and abuse, it was this concept that resonated the most with my own personal experiences.  It allows me not to assume that healthy love is a given and that I am responsible for modeling and reinforcing the concept of "positive love" as it relates to my child's upbringing.

Listen to her on Oprah:


Dr. Jill Murray's website is chock full of resources and information in a variety of formats; I encourage you to utilize it and contact her if you have any questions.

I thank Dr. Jill Murray for taking the time to sit down and talk to me and applaud her work in such an important field.

“I received a $50 Juicy Couture gift card in conjunction with participating in Liz Claiborne’s “It’s Time To Talk” day.”


-

In the next few days I will be posting about some amazing conversations I had with eight extraordinary women:

- Dr Jill Murray, LMFT author of " But He Never Hit Me: The Devastating Cost of Non-Physical Abuse to Girls and Women"

- Kim Davidson and her equally amazing daughter Amanda Gorman, President/Founding members of Kari's Candle of Hope, dedicated to the awareness and prevention of teen relationship violence.

- Cindy Southworth, MSW Founder/Director of The Safety Net Project ( The National Network to End Domestic Violence)

- Melanie Mannarino, Deputy Executive Editor, REDBOOK

- Beatrice A. Lanzi, Senator, District 26, Cranston, Rhode Island Senate - Primary Senate sponsor of the Lindsay Ann Burke Act, Rhode Island's first -in-the -nation statue requiring schools to provide dating violence education for students in middle school and high school

- Stephanie Orr, Executive Director, CASA Center for Prevention of Abuse and Violence, located in Arizona.

- Judith Kahan, Chief Executive Officer, Center Against Domestic Violence

Watch this blog and learn about what is being done in your own community and across this nation to educate our children about stopping the violence BEFORE it happens!

In the meantime, check out and join the voices of MADE and find out what you can do to take action in your own communties.  It costs nothing and it might save the life of someone that you love!

Thank you to Liz Claiborne and Mom-Central for the honor of being a participant!

“I received a $50 Juicy Couture gift card in conjunction with participating in Liz Claiborne’s “It’s Time To Talk” day.”

It's Really Only a Purple World is participating in Liz Claiborne Inc’s sixth annual "It’s Time to Talk Day" -  a day dedicated to ensuring that Americans speak-up about a subject that most people simply prefer not to discuss — domestic violence.

It’s Time to Talk Day events will be held nationwide, including at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC with Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. I will be participating in a "Talk Radio Row” on domestic violence at Liz Claiborne headquarters in New York.

Major partners for this year’s event include The Department of Justice, CBS Evening News, REDBOOK, Seventeen, DoSomething.org, one, MTV, the Joyful Heart Foundation, Talkers Magazine and Talk Radio News Service.

For more information visit http://www.loveisnotabuse.com/

Look here this weekend for a report of who I talked to and what message they have for all of us with teenagers!

“I received a $50 Juicy Couture gift card in conjunction with participating in Liz Claiborne’s “It’s Time To Talk” day.”

Rebelle Friendship Bags: Two Bags in One - What a Great Idea For a Holiday Gift!

I recently received the Rebelle Butterfly Friendship Bag in order to play around with it and see what I thought.

The top one in the above picture is called the "Fuschia Rebelle" and is one of those accessories that you just know your pre-teen recipient is going to "ooh" and "ahhh" over, especially when she finds out it's unique property.

You see this  bag actually unzips and forms two seperate bags of the same design so that she can trade with her friends ( who will be so jealous when they see it that will will beg and cry and drive their Mom's nuts in order to get them to buy them a Rebelle Friendship bag too!



All Friendship bags zip and unzip together in perfect symmetry so that she can wear it and share it, both at the same time!  And get this: each bag has a secret code, obtained only by cutting open a special tag hidden inside the bag that can be used at the website to unlock a whole bunch of features!

So much more then just a bag; such an original gift for the holidays!

These bags retail for about $40 and can be purchased at Amazon and QVC!

Thank you to Dasiy Cook for providing me with this bag for this review!

We Have a Winner in the Simply Soles $50 GC Winner!

Random.org chose comment #51:

"Sky said...
Following on Twitter and tweet!

http://twitter.com/SeeryusMama/status/6068684320

seeryusfam@msn.com"

She has confirmed her win so stop over at her blog ,  say " Congrats"

and keep on entering...Next time it could be YOU!



November 25, 2009 9:04 PM

My Black Saturday: The Night He Kept On Walking

Throughout the history of this blog I have been dating a man named Daryl; he is referenced in a number of my posts over the past few months and was a tremendous help in the editing and correction of my numerous grammatical and spelling errors.

This past holiday weekend Daryl walked away from me and never looked back.

I know this has nothing to do with product reviews or give-a-ways or life with my teenage daughter; it does have to do with the real life issues that we as adults face everyday.

I am okay and am trying to look ahead at new opportunities and adventures instead of trying to figure out what went wrong;...It's my way of trying to obtain the closure that often eludes me in these types of life events.

For now, I will continue to offer my twist on what I am writing about, albeit with possible spelling and grammatical errors intact.

Feel free to jump in to the position Daryl held and let me know of any errors you find.

And to Daryl...thanks for helping this blog and this woman over the past year.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil: My Review and Giveaway!

I recently received from Tropical Traditions a sample of their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.  I must say that at first I was at a loss as to what to do with this product.  After discovering a wealth of recipes here that problem was quickly solved!  Take a look at how easy this one for Roasted Winter Squash Soup really is:

Roasted Winter Squash Soup


4 cups roasted winter squash

1 large onion, diced

2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil

32 oz chicken or vegetable broth

32 oz regular milk or unsweetened almond milk

2 tablespoons Coconut Cream Concentrate

pinch of nutmeg

Seed and cut the squash and bake in 1/2 inch of water in a pan at 350 for about 1 1/2 hours.

When the squash is done, sauté onion in coconut oil for a few minutes until caramelized. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer together in a pot. Season with salt and cayenne to taste. Blend mixture in blender until smooth and return to pot to warm before serving.


Doesn't that sound like a yummy addition to your holiday meals?

The Tropical Traditions website has a whole host of information related to the use of coconut.  Check out this video about how  “How We Discovered Virgin Coconut Oil - An Interview with Brian Shilhavy, CEO
Tropical Traditions”

They also have a referral program where you can receive a FREE book with your first order, "Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy".

Here's what you have to do to get the free book: ( it is a little complicated so I advise that you contact customer service  if it is too confusing)

If you place an order with them as a first-time customer, please select “Referred by a friend” and in the box that says “How did you hear of us?” enter my sponsor ID number… 5627928. By telling Tropical Traditions that I referred you, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy with your first order! This book is filled with testimonies and research showing how healthy coconut oil is, and it also includes over 85 recipes showing how one can incorporate coconut into their diet. Here are some easy to use directions for your referrals:

1. Add the items you would like to purchase from the order form linked to Tropical Traditions. Visit www.healthybuyersclub.com/orderform.cfm

2. You'll be directed to the Order Form at the Tropical Traditions/Healthy Buyers Club website. You do not have to be a member or purchase a membership to buy from Tropical Traditions. Membership in the Healthy Buyers Club allows you to purchase in bulk amount at club member discounts if you choose to join. If you choose not to purchase a membership to the Healthy Buyers Club please order under the heading “Retail Sale Items”. This will enable you to purchase less than case amounts of any of the individual items without a membership.

3. Select the items you would like to purchase.

4. When you are ready to check out please click on the "Continue'' link which will take you to your shopping cart.

5. Review your order and then click on the "Check Out" button from your shopping cart.

6. Fill in your account information as directed. In the box: "How did you hear of us?'' you must select: "Referred by a friend'' on the drop down arrow. When you make this selection, a box for your sponsor's User ID number should appear if you are a first time customer.

7. Enter your sponsor's User ID number 5627928.

8. To complete your order click on "Save and Proceed to Checkout" at the bottom of this page and follow the instructions through the checkout process. You will receive an order number when you have successfully placed your order.

By following these steps, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy. Your sponsor will receive a coupon for a complimentary gift to redeem on their next order.

If you have stuck with me until this part of the post, you have reached your reward!  Tropical Traditions has agreed to sponsor a give-a-way of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil Certified Organic 1 Quart (32 FL. oz.)  which is exactly the product that I was provided with by Tropical Traditions!

Here's what you have to do:

(1) You MUST be a follower of my blog ( this will be verified)

AND

(2) You MUST subscribe to the Tropical Traditions email Sales Newsletter via this link!

BOTH  (1) and (2) MUST be done for your initial entry!  Leave me ONE comment stating that both items were completed and make sure the email address that you subscribed to the newsletter with is provided within your comment.

If you want additional entries:

(3) Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway ( leave one comment with a link to your tweet)

(4) Blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment with a link to your post.

Give-a-way to run until 11:59 pm EST on December 9, 2009.  Winner will be chosen via Random.org.  Email will be sent to winner with a response needed within 72 hours of winning email with shipping information.  If winner does not respond to email, an alternate winner will be chosen.  Good only within the continental USA.  Make sure you leave a contact email within your post or check to make sure that I can email you via your blogger profile. 

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was
under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

This is a test!

RZ85WF77YN8X

Happy 16th Birthday to My Daughter, Sarah!

Yep, today is Sarah's 16th birthday!  I can't believe that this child has now become this child!!

Where did all the years go?

Twilight New Moon: Why I loved the movie but hated the ending!

Last night, Sarah and I went to the Lafayette Theater to see the new Twilight movie.  I enjoyed the first one although to be honest I have never read any of the books  (yet). 

The movie itself was quite enjoyable; good music, great special effects, a good overall storyline, and appropriate to see with my soon to be sixteen year old daughter.  What I did not like was the abrupt way that it ended ( I won't give it away for any of my readers who have yet to see it).

I have nothing against a movie that opens itself up for a sequel ( or in this case a double sequel) and I have been told that the way the movie ended is the same way that the book ended.  I needed closure on some level to at least one the the storylines in order to feel "satisfied" that the story had a beginning, a middle, and an end. 

That is what was missing - and ending.  To me it all felt abrupt and unfinished.

But then again, I am a not a swooning teenager on either Team Edward or Team Jacob.

Your thoughts?

To Sleep Perchance Not to Sneeze All Night Long: My Review of the Protect-A-Bed Mattress Protector ( and the best part is that it will include a give-a-way of the same product too!)

I have a great life.  I really do.  Granted, not everything is the way that I would want it, but overall I am a pretty happy person, although I struggle with chronic allergies and asthma.  There is nothing that can quite kill a good mood like an allergy attack, especially one that occurs in the middle of the night.  I am particularly allergic to dust mites so it is a given that when I climb into bed I stand a good chance of having an attack as soon as I drift off into a peaceful slumber.  I have pillow encasements on all my pillows and had been using a mattress protector as well but it didn't seem to be doing me much good.

I was offered the opportunity to test for this review a Premium Mattress Protector from Protect-A-Bed!  Although I was provided with one with no cost to me by Protect-A-Bed, I really took my time and gave this product a month to see if it could deliver and it sure has!  I have seen a significant reduction in my night-time allergy attacks and I am a much happier person during the day.  It was easy to use and very comfortable to sleep on. 

Here's some info provided by the company which does a good job explaining what makes their product different then the other mattress protectors offered for sale:

Protect-A-Bed mattress and pillow products:



• Are made of a natural terry cotton surface that stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter, providing a soft, quiet and comfortable sleep zone.

• Are ultra thin with four-way stretch that does not detract from the comfort of the mattress.

• Feature the proprietary Miracle Membrane®, a new age air vapor porous fabric, which is waterproof and protects against all liquids and bodily fluids that may otherwise revoke a mattress’s warranty.

• Are especially helpful in cases of incontinence and bed wetting.

• Include Allerzip® mattress encasements, which feature the patented Bug Lock® three-sided zipper system with Secure Seal™, the world’s first scientifically proven bed bug entry, escape and bite proof innovation.

• Are hypoallergenic to permit a hygienic and anti-allergy sleep zone.

• Prevent dust mites, bacteria and other allergens from breeding in a mattress, which can cause respiratory illnesses like asthma, eczema and rhinitis.

• Can be machine-washed and tumble-dried up to 200 times without losing effectiveness.

• Are recognized as a Class 1 Medical Device by the Food and Drug Administration and have received the Good Housekeeping Seal.

• Are manufactured in all bed sizes, including a unique crib-sized protector which stretches to fit tightly like a fitted-sheet.

In addition to the mattress protector I was given for review, they also make full mattress encasements, mattress pads,  crib protectors, pillow protectors, and other accessories, all with the same features as the item I just reviewed. 


You can purchase Protect-A-Bed products through their website and they are also offered for sale in many retail stores throughout the country.  Here is a dealer locator page to help you find one close to you!

Wishing you a sneeze-free sleep!

If there are other allergy free products out there that work as well as this one did, please let me know!

In the meantime, Protect-A-Bed has graciously offered to sponsor a give-a-way of the very same product that I reviewed in your choice of mattress size for one of my dear readers to win!  Here's what you have to do:

(1) You MUST be a follower of my blog ( this will be confirmed and besides how else will you know about all the fantastic give-a-ways I have planned for the next few weeks)

AND

(2) You MUST visit Protect-a-Bed and tell me another product you would be interested in and why it would help you

This information MUST be left in ONE comment for your initial entry!

For an additional entry:

(3) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this give-a-way.  Leave me the link to that tweet in a seperate comment for your second entry.

(4) Blog about this give-a-way, link back to this post, and leave me a comment with a link to that blog post

Give-a-way will end on December 2, 2009 at 11:50pm EST.  All winning comments will be verified.  Winner will be picked via Random.org and have 72 hours to respond to winning email with shipping information that will be forwarded to sponser for fufillment.  If initial winner does not respond in time, an alternate winner will be selected.  Offer good only for the continental US.

And dear readers...MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS TO CONTACT IF YOU ARE CHOSEN AS A WINNER.  EITHER LEAVE IT IN YOUR POST OR MAKE SURE IT IS VISIBLE IN YOUR BLOGGER PROFILE!

Disney on Ice: Celebrations - My Review of a Fabulous Show!

I had the privilege on Tuesday of attending the opening night of Disney on Ice: Celebrations at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.  What a fabulous show it was!  All my favorite Disney characters, great music, fantastic sets, amazing special effects....this show really had it all!

Here are some pictures Sarah took for you, my dear readers:

That is real "fire" during a Lilo and Stitch number

                                                                                  

It would not be a Disney Show without Mickey Mouse, would it?

Now it is your chance to see this great show at a great discount, courtesy of Mom Central! Use coupon code "MOM" when ordering your tickets. This code is valid for four tickets for $44 for Monday-Friday matinee shows (any additional tickets are still priced at $11), and $4 off Friday night and all weekend shows.

Take it from me....you won't be disappointed!

Let me know what you think of the show!

Shoes: My Secret Obsession (otherwise known as A Give-A-Way from SimplySoles.com)

Okay..I'll admit it. I love SHOES! What red-blooded American woman ever really has enough shoes? No one that I know! I for one talk endlessly with my girlfriends about the newest designer, the latest styles, and the hottest colors.

When I discovered SimplySoles the drool started dripping from the corners of my mouth! A great selection of shoes by the hottest designers and all at a reasonable price.

Like these by Bettye Muller:


or these by Lillybee ( which by the way is exclusive to SimplySoles)




Anyone notice the color on the Lillybee shoes? Can anyone guess why I picked this particular pair?

They also have accessories and tons of other items.

The best part is that they have decided to offer, you, my dear readers, a chance to win a $50 dollar Gift Certificate to their site. If you take a look around, you will find a nice variety of things you can get without spending a dime of your own money. If you feel like splurging, you can apply the gift certificate to that
" to die for" pair of shoes you've always wanted to own. Here's what you have to do:

Main Entry: ( this must be done in order to obtain additional entries)

(1) You MUST be a follower of my blog ( this will be verified)

AND

(2) You MUST comment on your favorite item from SimplySoles

Both (1) and (2) must be in the SAME initial comment!

For additional entries:

- follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway ( please leave link for verification)

- Blog about this give-a-way ( please leave link for verification)

Give-a-way will end on November 25th, 2009 at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen via Random.org. Potential winner will have 72 hours to respond to winning email. Once verified, information will be forwarded to SimplySoles for fulfillment. If winner does not respond as outlined, an alternate winner will be chosen.

Please Note: Make sure you either have your email visible in your Blogger profile or leave it in your comment. If you don't, I have no way to notify if you are chosen as the winner.

Now go ahead, look around SimplySoles and you too can drool just like I did!

Greening The World: Three Ways at a Time

I wanted to take a moment to let my readers know about LighterSaferGreener.com, a website devoted to spreading the word about " going green". It highlights Airwear eyeglass lenses, which are made from 100% recycled materials. There is also a contest on the site that challenges you to live a greener life.

TwitterMoms, a site I belong to, also challenged me to come up with three ways that I can make the world a greener place.

1 - I already try to use my own cloth bags when I go to the grocery store, but did you even consider using those same cloth bags when you go shopping at the mall? Just think..no more ripped handles, no more broken bags!

2 - For my birthday, my boyfriend Daryl just bought me a Multi-Use Power Pad that charges three electronic devices at a time. Not only is it convenient I found out that I am also saving electricity as well!

3- Instead of just throwing things away when you longer need them, why not FreeCycle? There is a group on Yahoo for every community where you can post unwanted items for free. Other people can then claim the item and pick it up from you. No money is ever charged and lots of items get a new life instead of going to the dump.

What are some of the ways you are living a greener life? Let me know!

Name Your Tune Personalized CD's: A Review

I went to Macy's yesterday to do some shopping and I could not help but notice that the holiday season has begun! With the beginning of the season comes the ultimate search for holiday gifts for those on your list. Always looking out for something a young child can enjoy over and over I came upon a great idea for a gift that I thought I would share with you, my dear readers.

NameYourTune.com is a great company that specializes in personalized music CD's for your child. The winner of an iParenting Media Award, they produce custom CD's consisting of 18 songs that feature the name of the recipient over eighty times! They have a library of over 4000 names and are still growing!

Here is a sampling of the songs on the CD:

1 - If You're Happy and You Know It
2 - Wheels on the Bus
3 - Boom Boom Aint it Great to Be You
4 - Head and Shoulders

and many more!

The CD also comes with a printed label with the name of the child and a special message from you as well!

This makes a great gift and is easily mailed directly to your recipient, at a cost of only $20 or $18/each if you buy two! They also have lots of other personalized products if you want to send a whole package of items!

Take a look at NameYourTune.com yourself!

The Cougher....I Mean The Clapper: A Birthday Gift from My Daughter, Sarah

My birthday was Friday and my family took me to dinner at Mt. Fugi, a Japanese Hibachi restaurant very beautiful ( and very expensive) located in Rockland County, NY. We had a great dinner, a lot of laughs, and I got some great birthday gifts. Among those gifts was " The Clapper", a device made famous by countless late-nite commercials. You know, " Clap On, Clap Off...The Clapper".

Now I wont bore you with the rationale as to why my daughter ( with the help of my boyfriend) decided to buy this for my birthday. Suffice it to say I was under scrutiny by my daughter to get it set up and operational ASAP.

It was actually fairly easy to set up and worked just like the commercials demonstrated. Two hard claps and the lights turn on, two hard claps and it turns off.

Easy and simple.

Now, this should be the end of the story, but we all know that my stories are never simple. Daryl, my boyfriend has the most annoying chronic cough, and after setting this up in the living room, he happened to cough twice...

Yep, you know what comes next! My lights proceeded to turn off! We laughed but the real funny part was when I called Sarah in from her room to see. A coughing match ensued between Daryl and Sarah with the turning on/off of the lights being the coveted prize!

Lol! So now, I not only have a Clapper, I have a Cougher! I'd like to see that in the next commercial!

We have a Winner in the It Works! Body Applicator Give-a Way!

The winner is:

Michele said...
I follow you on twitter

@mrsmiki77

Congratulations and I hope you lose many inches!

We have a Winner for the Family 4-pack to Disney on Ice on Long Island, NY:

It is:

Dwalline said...
My favorite character is goofy! I follow your blog!

Congratulations! And I look forward to hearing back what you thought of the show! BTW...if you see me, stop and say " Hi!".

Please note: I had to end this early due to the need to get the winners info to the sponsor for the " Will Call" list. My apologies to my readers.

Feddie Girl: My Review of a Great New Novel by Nona David

From their website:

FEDDIE GIRL

The international adventure/thriller by Nona David

FEDDIE GIRL is an international adventure/thriller about the experiences of an American teenager in a Nigerian (West Africa) boarding school. This novel offers a unique reading experience--witty, fun, and exhilarating. The masterful suspense, action, and sub-plot will curl your toes, keep you reading all night, and leave you thirsting for more.

Back Blurb:

Carlotta Ikedi (A.k.a Feddie Girl) has never liked school. Not in California. Not in Oklahoma. When her exasperated parents ship her off to boarding school–in West Africa–Carlotta faces a life, culture, and existence unlike anything she’s ever known.

School rules and regulations, rising bell, lights-out, manual labor, inspections, dining time, prefects, punishments, mean bunkmates, and visiting days–it’s all here. But author Nona David takes Carlotta’s story a step further when her adventure’s lead to unfortunate incidents that threaten to drive her American family into the clutches of infidelity and organized crime.

Boarding school doesn’t get any better than this…

For those who have experienced the boarding school life, the adventures of Feddie Girl will bring those memories crashing back… For anyone else, get ready to see the world as Feddie Girl

My take on the book: I couldn't put it down! Really, who would have thought that a book about a Nigerian boarding school would be so interesting? Yet as you start to read about Carlotta and her bunk mates at the school, you get engrossed not so much with how they are different from typical American teenagers but instead by how similar they really are! The language and syntax were a bit hard to follow at times, but it still read well and I can not wait to get to the next chapter to see what happens.

According to the book, there is another novel due out that follows a parallel story about one of the minor characters and it will be interesting to see what she does with that character arc!

You can buy it at Bernard Books or at Amazon

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Give-a Way: Disney on Ice Family 4-Pack to Opening Night at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, New York

Thanks to the folks at Mom Central Daryl, Sarah, Jaymie and I will be attending the opening night of Disney On Ice at the Nassau Coliseum on November 10th, 2009. They have generously provided me with an additional family 4-pack of tickets to give away to one lucky family...maybe that will be you!

Please note: This contest is only good for this date at this location.

This is what they have told me about the show:

Disney On Ice presents Celebrations! is one colossal party on ice, with all your favorite Disney friends! Enjoy a winter wonderland with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, a Halloween haunt with the Disney Villains, a Very Merry Unbirthday Party, a Royal Ball with the Disney Princesses and more in a magical medley of holidays, celebrations and festivals from around the globe. Come join the party when this spectacular ice show visits your hometown!

Even if you don't win tickets from me, you can still go with the coupon code "MOM" This code is valid for four tickets for $44 for Monday-Friday matinee shows (any additional tickets are still priced at $11), and $4 off Friday night and all weekend shows

I can't wait to tell you all about it! Won't you join me?
If you want to win, here's what you have to do:

(1) You MUST be a follower of this blog publicly ( this will be verified)

AND

(2) you MUST leave me a comment with who your favorite Disney character is.

That's it! Fairly easy! If you want an additional entry comment to any other post on my blog and leave me an additional comment with where you posted.

Note that tickets will be picked up at the " Will Call" window at the venue on the day of the show and proper ID will be needed.

Contest will end on November 4th, 2009 at 11:59pm. Winner will be picked via Random.org and have 48 hours to respond to the winning email with contact information. If winner does not respond in time, an alternate winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: I am being provided with a family 4-pack of tickets by Mom Central, but that will not influence my review of the show.

"Once in a Blue Moon" by Eileen Goudge: A Review

Read Any Good Books Lately?

I have and it's called " Once in a Blue Moon" by Eileen Goudge.

Thanks to the One2One Network, I was provided with a copy of this book to read and review.

From the One2One newsletter:

Eileen Goudge is the New York City-based author of The Diary, Domestic Affairs, Woman in Red, One Last Dance, Garden of Lies and Thorns of Truth.

Sisters Lindsay and Kerrie Ann have known hardship from an early age. Without guidance from their neglectful mother, their only aid came from an unlikely source, a retired exotic dancer by the name of Miss Honi Love. When the girls’ mother was sent to prison, Miss Honi tried unsuccessfully to save them from being separated and sent into foster care.


Thirty years later, Lindsay is still trying to reconnect with her sister. The owner of a bookstore in the sleepy California seaside town of Blue Moon Bay, she was lucky enough to have been adopted by a loving couple. Unbeknownst to her, Kerrie Ann has suffered a very different life. Bounced from one foster home to the next, she ran away as a teenager before becoming a drug-addicted single mother. Now, newly sober, Kerrie Ann is fighting to regain custody of the little girl who was taken from her.


Neither sister’s expectations are met when they’re finally reunited. But as the two sisters engage in the fiercest battles of their lives, they are at last drawn together despite their differences, restoring belief in the unshakable bond of family.

I found this book to be engaging right from the start. The characters really drew me into the story. As a sister myself, I could really identify with some of the emotions of the two main characters. Much more then a "chic book", it is a story of a bond between two people that supersedes the events that surround them.

It even has it's own website: http://www.onceinabluemoonbook.com which I found to be cool and informative.

If you are interested in purchasing this:


and while you are at it, why not sign up to be a Facebook Fan!

An Update to My Post about the Demi Lovato/David Archuleta Concert

Wishing on a Blog......

Waaay back in August I had posted about my daughter's disappointment with the cancellation of the Demi Lovato/David Archuleta concert. It has been rescheduled for November 1, 2009 (it would have to be the day after Halloween, huh?). The same group consisting of me, my daughter Sarah, her friend Danielle, and my sister Jaymie are rearing to try it again! We made reservations to stay at a hotel and needless to say Sarah is starting to get excited!!!

Soooo...I figured I would put this out in the blog universe and try to create some good vibes. If anyone from the tour is listening, is there any way you could possibly arrange for some swag and/or a meet and greet for the girls? It would be a great way to up my mommy status with my daughter and I would love the chance to do something really special since she will be sixteen on November 22, a few weeks after the concert!

If you are listening out there, please contact me here or via my email at madamerkf at aol dot com.

What harm can a little wishing on a blog do?