This is How You Try To Win a Cool Contest!

Tell us the one thing you can’t travel without, and be entered to win a FREE 3-night stay at The Signature at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, courtesy of PC Housing, a San Diego corporate housing company with short-term rentals available nationwide. ENTER NOW through Friday Aug 12th for your chance to win!

For me,the one item I absolutely MUST have when I travel is my Chapstick Lip Balm! Especially on a plane where the air is so dry!

If you want to enter for yourself, just go here

Give it a shot! You never know!

"Monte Carlo" - A Summer Movie We Both Can Love!!

This post brought to you by Monte Carlo. All opinions are 100% mine.

It's Movie Time! "Monte Carlo" is in Theaters Friday!!

One of the biggest problems when I go to a movie with Sarah is finding one that we will both enjoy.  Her " teen flicks" make me want to scream and my "old person movies" bore her to tears.

Which is why  I am really looking forward to seeing Monte Carlo!

Starring Selena Gomez, it is about an ordinary girl who becomes an accidental heiress when a summer trip to Paris turns into the fantasy of a lifetime. On a dream vacation, Grace, along with her best friend and step-sister, discover that the greatest adventure is finding out who they really are. Check out the trailer:

Looks pretty good huh?  I am really looking forward to enjoying this movie with Sarah.  So much so that I want you, my dear readers, to know that you can skip the inevitable long, snaking lines at the box office and purchase your tickets in advance ( 6/29) at Fandango

These days no movie is complete with it's own Facebook page to give you all the inside scoop on the movie and it's stars. 

Finally - a feel good movie that neither I nor Sarah have to cringe while seeing!  Let me know if you see it what you think of it too!

Verizon FiOS: Making Life So Much Easier!

Last summer I switched from cable to Verizon FiOS due to a really great promotion they were running.  I was fed up with the poor service,frequent outages, and outdated technology from my local cable company. I figured I had nothing to lose.

For my family, there is no going back!  I was recently challenged to come up with five ways that Verizon FiOS makes me life easier:

(1) I love the fact that you can access all sorts of cool widgets from the TV menu!  Especially for my teenage daughter, who just can't live without Facebook.  Even when she is away from home, as long as the person has Verizon FiOS, she can keep updated on all the Facebook info that she craves!

(2) The on-demand feature is a lifesaver when you hear the inevitable " I am soooo bored and there is nothing to watch despite having hundreds of channels" cry!  Even better is my discovery that much of the content is FREE!  A few clicks and major broadcast as well as niche channel content are available when you want it!

(3) So many of the speciality channels that come bundled with my particular package appeal to different members of my family.  My daughter really loves her anime and teen programming while my husband enjoys Discovery and DIY programming.  And when your child and husband are entertained, you are free to do your own thing..like write posts for your blog!

(4) I was surprised to find that Verizon actually has a channel to teach you to use your remote!  This actually impressed me as so many features that come with your TV service is normally discovered through trial and error.

(5) The whole notion of losing your TV or Internet service during storms no longer applies since Verizon FiOS is not usually affected by severe weather.  When I need information the most, it is there to inform me and let me get the alerts I need to ensure that my family and home remain safe.

With packages that suit any budget and the ability to upgrade and downgrade without penalties as needed for our family there is no other choice but Verizon.

You can check here to see if it is available where you live.


Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Verizon FiOS blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here

One of the advantages to being a blogger is that oftentimes you have the chance to preview some really cool products before everyone else!


"Cepia, the brand behind the popular ZhuZhu Pets, is coming out with an awesome new toy. It’s called DaGeDar and its unlike any other toys or games on the market! From the moment a child picks up a DaGeDar ball, they will know it’s something different. Drop the ball down the track and swoosh – you are hooked. This simple game of speed and skill is innovative and addicting!"

Check it out!

I will have more info for you about this amazing new toy later this month!


Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post but may receive a product for review purposes.

Tinyprints: It's Graduation Time!

Remember your high school graduation?  I do!  It was 1981, I was 16 and looking forward to college.  I remember my dress - it was a gauzy, strapless multi-colored ruffle number ( this was the eighties) and my mom splurged on a pair of high heeled Candies for me that matched one of the colors of the dress.

It was a scorching hot day and as in years past, the ceremony was being held on the football field with no shady areas.  My last name comes at the end of the alphabet and I remember this really long line of people waiting to enter the field.  We got the cue to begin our entrance and as I so proudly started to walk - BAM!  The heel on my brand new Candies shoe broke!  Yes, I was the one who walked barefoot on the burning hot tar of the track until we reached the coolness of the grass field.

I don't remember anything about the myriad of speeches or awards.  I do remember sitting there thinking how happy I was to be leaving high school.  I remember how proud my Mom and Stepfather were to see me actually graduate, especially since this was a particularly hard time in my life.  And I remember the absolute joy of knowing that college was ahead of me and another step on my way to being an adult.

I think that day taught me a very valuable lesson about life - with my fancy shoe breaking and all.  It taught me that every success comes with it own share of pitfalls and imperfections and that when something unexpected happens, always at the very worst time, to not let it interfere with the fact that you have succeeded.

Tinyprints understands celebrations.  Tiny Prints provides stylish, modern and unique graduation stationery including graduation announcements, graduation invitations,and thank you cards for teens. When graduation season has come and gone Tiny Prints will still be here to fill all your stationery needs with their exclusive designs from the nation's top designers. You'll find summer party invitations, personalized greeting cards, thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations. Come try the easy card personalization, powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality for yourself! With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch!


Disclosure:  I will be compensated for this post with merchandise or credit from Tinyprints, but that did not influence what I chose to write about for this post.

bareMinerals Skincare: Time For My Review

Recently I blogged about the brand new bareMinerals Skincare line and I was really excited to learn that I was one of the bloggers chosen to get a chance to try some of the products myself!

Skincare is very important to me, especially as I get older.  I look for products that can not only help my skin but are reasonably priced and as natural as possible.  Walk into any department store and you can see how hard that actually is - especially the part about reasonably priced!

I was given the Naturally Luminous Skin Renewing Trio to try which consists of three distinct products:  A cleanser, a moisturizer, and an eye treatment product.  Here's what bareMinerals has to say about this trio of products; ( and BTW - the whole trio costs $26!)

"This 30-day cleanser, moisturizer and eye treatment trio is the perfect introduction to bareMinerals Skincare. Our Purifying Facial Cleanser removes makeup and impurities while also hydrating and renewing skin. Our Purely Nourishing Moisturizer keeps your skin moisturized and protected so you can have younger-looking skin day after day. Our Skincare Firming Eye Treatment, completes your routine, restoring firmness and reducing puffiness around the eye area. All 3 formulas are powered by our 100% pure RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex clinically proven to deliver incredible skin-renewing benefits, including faster cell turnover, smaller-looking pores, increased luminosity and antioxidant protection.

Collection includes:

• Purifying Facial Cleanser (60 mL / 2 Fl. Oz.)
• Purely Nourishing Moisturizer: Combination Skin (30 mL / 1 Fl. Oz.)
• Skincare Firming Eye Treatment (5 mL)"

I have fallen in love with the Purely Nourishing Moisturizer!  It goes on so lightly and does not clog my pores or feel heavy on my face.  And I love that I don't have to pump or scoop in order to apply the product - a big plus to me since I have long nails and anything I have to scoop becomes too messy for me to use. 

The Purifying Facial Cleanser takes off my makeup as well as the grime that seems to settle on my face after a busy day without being harsh and drying.  Again I don't have to scoop or pump out  the product so it is super easy to apply.  I only need a small amount to really make my face feel clean and fresh!

The Skincare Firming Eye Treatment seems to be just the thing that I need to combat the dark circles and general puffiness that seem to plague my under-eye region.  The directions are clear in how much to apply and so far it seems to be effective at making that delicate under-eye region look and feel better overall.

Here is some great info taken directly from the website: it is chockful of useful and interesting information.

           Here's what women have said about our Purifying Facial Cleanser*:
         

91% of women agreed their skin felt hydrated.

88% of women agreed their skin felt smoother.

88% of women agreed their skin improved with continued use.

Here's what women have said about our Purely Nourishing Cream for Combo Skin*:
• 100% of women felt their skin texture was noticeably improved.
• 98% of women saw an improvement in firmness and elasticity.
• 90% of women saw a reduction in the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles.

Here's what women have said about our Skincare Firming Eye Treatment*:
• 85% felt the eye area looked firmer, more youthful and revived with continued use.
• 94% agreed the eye area looked and felt softer and smoother both immediately and with continued use.
• 70% saw an instant reduction of puffiness around the eye area.

* Based on an independent consumer study

Directions

• Splash face with water and massage Purifying Facial Cleanser over face using a gentle circular motion. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Apply Purely Nourishing Moisturizer to freshly cleansed skin. Repeat morning and night.
• For Skincare Firming Eye Treatment, apply six dots in a "C" curve-from brow bone to under-eye area-and gently pat into skin until absorbed. Use twice daily.

Did I mention already that you can get ALL THREE PRODUCTS for only $26?  That is a great price and a painless way to try this trio out for yourself.  Let me know if you do and what you think!



Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review but I did receive a free sample for review purposes.  This in no way influenced my blog review.

Happy Passover! My Famous Pickled Turkey Recipe!

I cannot believe that it is time again for the holidays!  What a year this has been!  In keeping with past years, I am making a traditional Passover meal for friends and family. 

Yes - I can cook!  Just ask my husband!  One of my most requested meals is Pickled Turkey.  Yes - I know - sounds gross.  Take it from me ( and mom) - it tastes delicious.

I found it here and  it is reprinted here for your amusement:



Ingredients


3 1/2-4 lbs corned turkey (pickled turkey roast)
1 cup ketchup
1/2-3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Directions

1) Leaving the strings on, place the pickled turkey roast in clean water and bring to a boil. Lower the flame to low and cook for one hour.

2) Pour off all the water and rinse the roast well.

3) Refill the pot with clean water and cook again, this time for several hours until the roast is very tender (the roast should be nearly falling apart when you poke at it with a fork).

4) Pour off all the water and rinse again.

5) Now combine remaining ingredients in a pot and slowly heat up. When sauce is smooth add turkey roast, coating well on all sides.

6) Serve hot and enjoy!

I find my pickled turkey in my local kosher grocery store, so I suggest that is where you can find it as well.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!!

blue sky scrubs: The Place For All Your Medical Scrub Needs!

Scrubs.  Say the word and most people think of green cotton shirts and pants.  How many people have you seen wearing scrubs that actually look good in them?

Since the medical personnel who wear scrubs are the ones who interact with me the most, it makes me feel more confident when they look professional and well put together.   It somehow softens up the whole , " I hate the doctor" experience for me.  I always wondered where one could buy quality scrubs online at a reasonable price.

I  thought I would share with you, my dear readers, a really cool place to buy quality medical scrubs and accessories online. 

blue sky scrubs has loads of choices.  Take their scrubs for men. I am liking these:

I love the fact that they are jet-black.  What man does not look good in black?

How about this nursing uniforms scrubs:

Again, I love the whole idea of scrubs being black - screams classy to me!

blue sky scrubs has lots of other items too - Check out these really stylish lanyards that anyone who has to wear a name tag would drool over!

This paired with the black scrubs - who wouldn't look good!

blue sky also has earrings to match the scrub colors and the lanyards so any medical professional can look put together and stylish - and for a reasonable price!

Just because one has to wear scrubs does not mean that one has to sacrifice quality and fashion.

Remember - blue sky for all you scrub needs!


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated to write it.  That however, in no way affected my opinion of the product.

Soft Garlic Knots

Guest post written by Khandis Roswell


I've never been a big fan of hard bread. I was reminded of that when I went out to eat at a local Italian restaurant I hadn't been to in a long time and I had some garlic knots that were almost crunchy. That's just not how garlic knots are supposed to be though, so I thought that I would do something better and try to make one on my own.

I had never made garlic knots on my own before, so I went online to try and find a good recipe that I would bale to use with my limited cooking abilities. I went online to come up with the recipe and while I was looking for one that would make soft garlic knots, I came across some information about a wireless internet service and after I read through it some, I decided to Getclearwirelessinternet for our home internet provider.

The soft garlic knots really were great and I made sure not to cook them for too long, which I think was the problem with the ones at the restaurant that I had.

Sometimes The Little Switches In Our Lives Have The Greatest Impact!

I love being challenged; I truly do!  So when the SocialMoms blogging program asked me to write about the little switches in my life that I would like to make I really started to look at the big changes that have happened recently as well as the little things I could change to make an impact for my family.

Obviously the major change in my life has been getting married earlier this year.  Oh boy, talk about change!  But with that large change, many small changes also started to take place.

One small change is family dinnertime.  Before getting married, meals were takeout or something simple for my daughter and I to eat while watching television.  A small change that has taken place is that more meals are home made and we now strive to eat together at the kitchen table.  I encourage ( okay pull teeth) everyone to talk about their day and whatever things are happening in the world around us.  It is not an easy change, but I have noticed that meals are more social and pleasant and the aroma and taste of the food is much more appreciated since we are paying attention to what we are eating rather then watching a television show.

Another change that goes with family meal time is the elimination of soda in our house.  My daughter was not happy about it but my pocketbook has seen the difference.  Not only financially a good idea, I think overall we are healthier drinking water, juice, and ice tea instead.

We are also changing our physical environment as well.  My husband brings to this marriage a host of handy skills and has taken the task of  making a better place for me in Sarah to live in.  He has ripped up old, musty carpets and is painting walls and ceilings which are long overdue.  Small changes in our surroundings are really helping to make where we live belong to us, rather then just to me.  And these changes are also having an impact on my health as my allergies and asthma seem to be abating just a little without the carpet on the living room floor. 

My daughter, Sarah, has also been making small changes in her life as well.  She recently obtained her first real job as a hostess in a major chain steakhouse.  She has a whole new set of responsibilities and I am hopeful that this change of being responsible to someone other then herself or me will aid in her growing up and taking her first steps into the adult world she has avoided until now.  She also has to improve her time management skills and although progress is slow, she is beginning to understand a concept which will aid her greatly when she is independent and living on her own.

Big changes; small changes - change is good!


Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Cottonelle blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Keeping The Honeymoon Going; Eden Fantasys Can Help!

At this writing I have been married just over a month!  Wow!  Time goes by so quickly, doesn't it?  One of the things I am most eager to do is to keep that "honeymoon" feeling alive.  Eden Fantasys to the rescue!


You guys know they have tons of the latest and greatest adult toys, but did you know they also have a great selection of lingerie and items of a more sensual nature?  Here are a few of my favorites - forget a box of chocolates for Mother's Day - buy me some of these!

I love the whole idea of the Kamasutra Bath Salts - Everything from the color to the cool shell you use to scoop out the salts into your tub.

I think that The Bed Of Roses Deluxe Kit would be perfect for when we have some alone time.

This Breast Balm sounds like it would feel great and smell wonderful!

I could actually care less what this does - the fact that it is called Worship Me makes it a no brainer in my book!

Now if I can only get my mother to look around Eden Fantasys - would make for one interesting Mother's Day gift exchange - don't you think?




Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post but will receive a gift card in appreciation for posting about this company on this blog.  That in no way influenced what I wrote. 

Tinyprints: Custom Mother's Day Cards To Make Her Day Special!

I remember my first official Mother's Day.  Sarah was a few months old, I was all alone, living in Rapid City, South Dakota and still trying to grasp the concept that I was indeed a mother.  Money was tight but I wanted to find some way to make it special.

Circus geek that I am, I decided to splurge on two tickets to the local circus that just happened to have a special Mother's Day show.  I dressed Sarah in her Sunday best, spruced myself up as good as I could, and out we went for our first special day.

Sarah was a few months old and only drank her formula but I feasted on cotton candy, popcorn, and hot dogs.  She slept through most of it, but I enjoyed looking over at her sleeping every now and then with the knowledge that she was my daughter and I had now earned the title of, "Mom".  Sure, it wasn't a fancy meal in an expensive restaurant and sure there were no big gifts to open but I felt like the most important Mother in the world. 

Making mom feel important is what Mother's Day is really all about.  Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Father’s Day Cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations or photo birth announcements. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch! They offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo books and calendars to commemorate the event.

Take a few minutes to check out the Tiny Print's Mother's Day cards at http://www.tinyprints.com/greeting/shop/mothers-day-cards.htm



They offer Mother’s Day greeting cards for all sorts of moms – mom friends, moms, mothers-in-law… You want to tell her she’s doing a great job as a mom or thank her for being there for you? We have the card for it!

What is your favorite Mother's Day memory?

Yoplait: Greek Yogurt That Really Makes Your Day!  A Review And A Giveaway!

If you are anything like me, you struggle everyday to incorporate healthy food into your diet and the diet of your family.  Too cool that I had the chance to try Yoplait Greek Yogurt to help me do just that!  It is so easy to take a cup to work with you for that midday pick me up or include it in your husband and/or kids brown bags for a wholesome sweet treat instead of cookies or donuts.

It has two times the protein of regular yogurt and is a delicious way to help satisfy hunger!

Now with 14 to 17 grams of protein in each cup, the new and improved Yoplait Greek yogurt is a perfect choice for a snack in between meals. Protein is an important component of a healthy diet, serving as a building block for strong muscles and maintaining healthy bones. With twice the protein than regular yogurt and a thick and creamy texture, the new Yoplait Greek yogurt helps satisfy your hunger - meaning you can feel good about choosing this tasty, fat-free snack.

New Yoplait Greek is available in six delicious flavors like Blueberry, Strawberry, and Peach (each with fruit on the bottom) or Honey Vanilla, Key Lime, and Plain - all with zero percent fat and at least 14 grams!

The good news doesn´t stop there. Yoplait Greek is making it delicious, easy and free to eat a better snack through the Yoplait Greek Better Snacking Sweepstakes on Facebook+. Just visit the Yoplait Greek tab at Facebook.com/Yoplait starting March 21st through May 31st, 2011 and enter to win a Yoplait Greek snack pack and other cool prizes.Visit Yoplait.com/Greek for more information and yummy recipes.

Visit http://bit.ly/greekcoupon to download a printable coupon for $0.35 towards the purchase of the new Yoplait Greek yogurt today!




I am happy to offer you guys a cool giveaway associated with Yoplait Greek Yogurt:  I have a really cool gift pack with a coupon organizer, a magnetic customized meal planner board, a mini pocket fold-up tote, an electronics case, retractable ear buds, a magnetic shopping cart note holder and a pen.

If you want to win, here's what you need to do! ( and it is so good that I am back to being able to offer giveaways again!

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


AND

(2) You MUST tell me which of the flavors Yoplait Greek Yogurt offers appeal to you the most!
That's it! Too easy!!

BOTH (1) and (2) MUST be done for your initial entry! Leave me ONE comment stating that both items were completed. If you already follow me just let me know.

If you want additional entries:

(3) Follow me on Twitter

(4) Like me on Facebook

(5) Tweet about this giveaway - you can do this daily - leave a separate comment for each tweet

(6) Blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment with a link to your post and link back to this give-a-way post as well!

(7) Subscribe to my blog via email ( see email sign-up on sidebar)

Give-a-way to run until 11:59 pm EST on April 17, 2011. 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.



Disclosure:: I was provided with the items in this giveaway, all the information, and all the links/images by MyBlogSpark, 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 conduct a product giveaway.  No other compensation was provided for this blog post.

 Wholly Guacamole Celebrates The Biggest Loser With A Big Giveaway!

 

 

Feel like you need reinforcements in The Battle of the Bulge?

Does The Biggest Loser®  give you inspiration?

 

Wholly Guacamole is celebrating Battle Buddies with an awesome giveaway!

Go to eatwholly.com/thebiggestloser and, in 200 words or less, tell them how you and your Battle Buddy inspire and support each other in your weight loss journey.

They're giving away tons of prizes including a trip for 2 to attend  The Biggest Loser: Couples season finale, a trip for 2 for a week's stay at The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge Malibu® and airfare allowance!  And don't forget to watch The Biggest Loser: Couples, Tuesdays 8/7c! 

 

Click here to learn more!

Main:  http://eatwholly.com/promotions/biggest-loser-contest.html

Prizes: http://eatwholly.com/biggest-loser-prizes.html

Partners: http://eatwholly.com/biggest-loser-partners.html

Rules:  http://eatwholly.com/biggest-loser-rules.html

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this post but may receive samples of product to facilitate review and I

am entered into a contest for posting.

Pier 1 Imports: Outdoors Never Looked So Good!

This post brought to you by Pier 1. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

The sun is finally shining and the snow is finally melting!  Time to start getting my porch ready for cool spring days and hot summer nights.  I know that the place to find everything I need is Pier 1.

I am really loving what they have done to the traditional Papasan chairs they are known for: this Swingasan is really quite unique and looks very comfy!  I would pair it with this really cool accent table for a "hippie-chic" type of vibe!

I also found these cute Garden Stools in some cool colors that are inexpensive enough to place all around my porch.  I can even use them as a side table when I throw one of my famous barbecues!

Speaking of barbecues the Metal Beverage Tubs is so much classier then a Styrofoam cooler - at this price I can easily use two or three for different types of beverages.

What makes these items even cooler is that they can be used both outdoors and indoors; if  I had a sunroom that was enclosed these items could easily be moved indoors during cooler temperatures.

Pier 1 Tweetups might be cool to check out.  Atlanta's is April 5th and NYC's is April 20th.  Check out this link for the time and location if you are interested.

 

 

bare Minerals Introduces a Brand New Skin Care Line!

Experience a revolutionary new skincare line powered by a proprietary miracle ingredient RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex-clinically proven to deliver brighter, younger-looking skin and that famous bareMinerals Naturally Luminous glow.

bare Minerals is introducing a variety of cleansers, moisturizers, and skin treatments all based on their philosophy that you should not only feel good about your skin, but also what goes into the products that you use on your skin.  Their new Skin Care lines delivers in a major way!

You are probably already a fan of their foundation and makeup and you already know what a great product this is.  Just in case you don't you can check out the company and this new line of Skin Care here.

Personally I am most excited to try the moisturizer ( I just finished the last little bit of my current moisturizer) and Sarah is looking forward to the blemish treatments for her own skin,  Check out the links and tell me which product you are most looking forward to trying?

Follow bare Mineral on Facebook and Twitter!


Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post but may receive free samples in order to facilitate my review.

Baby Brezza Mealtime Manual: Submit your favorite baby food recipe for a chance to win
 
Thought you guys might be interested in a contest going on over at Baby Brezza, the makers of this really cool one-step baby food maker.  Here's the deal:
 
They are looking for original baby food recipes that they can feature in their new cookbook. If you have any recipes or know of anyone who might have some recipes for baby food now is the time to let the world know!  You have until April 8th to submit the recipe for inclusion in the cookbook.  What's in it for you?
 
· A chance to be published: Every recipe in the Baby Brezza cookbook will be attributed to the submitter. If you own a blog, website or business, we'll promote that in the book as well. The Baby Brezza Cookbook will be sold at a major retail chain, as well as on well-known websites.


· Helping other Moms: In addition to the recipe, we're asking all submitters to share their best piece of Mom advice with the reader. Containing more than just recipes, the Baby Brezza cookbook will be packed with smart solutions from experienced Moms.

· A chance to win: Everyone who submits a recipe will be entered to win their choice of a Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker OR a complete set of Baby Brezza accessories. Your favorite recipe will be even simpler to prepare when you whip it up using this must-have tools.

Here's a link to the fine print, so please take a moment and read the rules! And remember - you only have until April 8th, 2011 to submit a recipe so stop reading and start cooking!

Disclaimer: Although I received no compensation for this post, I am entered in a contest through MomSelect for posting about it to this blog.

If You Are Pregnant Or Know Anyone Else That Is, Here's A Free Bellybag!

This post brought to you by CryoCell International. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

Yes, you can get a free really cute BellyBag if you request an information packet and consult with an advisor from .www.Cryo-Cell.net.

 Cryo-Cell is a company that, since 1992, has helped more than 230,000 clients worldwide preserve their newborn's umbilical cord blood for potential use against many diseases. Along with cord blood banking,  www.Cryo-Cell.com 's Cord Blood Bank is pioneering the way in research, to find more solutions to preserve stem cells in a noncontroversial way. Cord blood is just the first step in new medical advancements. You have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve your baby's cord blood, trust it to the experts at Cryo-Cell Cord Blood Bank . 

It's actually a pretty easy process and can be done from the privacy of your home right after your baby is born.  Cryo-Cell sends you everything that you need including a DVD and access to online video's from their site.  You can even give this great service to someone else in the form of an attractively packaged gift certificate.

So don't click on this offer just to get the way cool Belly Bag - do it instead to take the first step towards preserving your newborn baby's umbilical cord blood to ensure their healthy future.

So This Is The Reason This Blog Has Been So Quiet For The Past Few Months!!

Yes, I do have some story to tell!  As you can see, my dear readers ( who are still left after so many months of me being away) I recently got married in Las Vegas - 02/25/2011 to be exact!

You might be wondering to whom?  If you look at this wedding picture, you can see my husband SiouxBoy - and yes, that is his real name!  Here's my story:

In a post from December about Oprah Winfrey's new network I talked about possibilities and taking chances and referenced someone who had recently contacted me via FaceBook who was from my past.

That person was SiouxBoy, someone I had been very much in love with 20 years ago and who had pretty much disappeared after we broke up.

Fast forward twenty years later and all of a sudden feelings which I thought were dead and buried had resurfaced with a vegenance!  It only took a few telephone conversations to find out that he still loved me and had professed to thinking about me all the time during the times and tribulations of his own active life.  Funny how we both came to find out that neither of us had ever married, depite numerous opportunities to do so.

I could not beleive just the words so I decided, in secret, to fly down to New Mexico where he was living and see for myself what was real and what was possibly a beautiful fantasy.  It took two planes and a three hour drive, but within the first minute of seeing him again after so many years I knew it was no fantasy- just a really beautiful love story.

Determined not to be apart any longer we arranged for him to come to where I was living to see if we could make two lives into one. He asked me to marry him right away, and for the first time in my life I could say " Yes" without any hesitation.

We decided to get married quietly ( you can see the video here) or watch it in the post after this one.

By the way, here's my smokin' hot husband!

Now we are back home and settling into married life and I am committed to trying to resurrect this blog.  I have a lot of catching up to do so stay tuned!

The Wedding of Siouxboy and Wendy in Las Vegas, NV on 02 25 11