winner, winner...chicken dinner

(not really, just a redbox code)

The winner is Greg. Greg send me an email or facebook me with your email address so I can send you the redbox code!

The answer was:


$723.86

That's right, folks. Our church made $723.86 selling used potties and Christmas ornaments. It was amazing. That's a lot of money for a bunch of people's old junk. And it's going to ministry!

The money's going to ministry, I mean. The junk went to people's houses that will be featured on hoarder's soon.

Electrolux contest/gift card giveaway.

Kelly Ripa and Electrolux are joining forces once again to celebrate the launch of Electrolux Appliance's new stand-alone refrigerator and freezer - that's right, the familiar duo has split up. And to sweeten the celebration, they're bringing in the "Emperor of Ice Cream" Stephen Bruce, owner and founder of Serendipity 3, the landmark New York City restaurant and dessert spot, into the mix.

Here's some information about a contest that I wanted to share with ya'll.

Kelly Ripa and Bruce teamed up earlier today to make banana splits for a cause. And now we want you to dig in, with your virtual spoon! Starting today, at www.Kelly-Confidential.com, you can build your ultimate banana split using virtual ingredients from classic whipped cream to caramel sauce to rainbow sprinkles. For each "split", Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund as part of its $750,000 commitment to help fight ovarian cancer.

As usual, Electrolux and Kelly find new and fun ways to say thank you to those who support this great cause. Everyone who logs on to the site and builds a split will be automatically entered for a chance to win the daily prize - $50 towards sweet summer treats - and the grand prize: the new stand-alone refrigerator and freezer from Electrolux.

I hope that you will take this chance to make a virtual banana split. Every dessert that you make goes to earn money to fight ovarian cancer. And, you might get a chance to win 50 dollars or a new frig/freezer from electrolux.

If you enter the contest, leave me a comment and let me know. On Monday of next week, I will let Maggie pick a lucky winner from the comments that I have received. Then, Electrolux will send a 25 dollar gift card to the lucky winner for me!

Science Adventure Summer Camp

Are you looking for something fun for your kids to do this summer? I know that I am always looking for ways to keep Maggie from getting "bored" during the summer.

I heard about this great science summer camp. Science is not my strong suit, so I try to encourage Maggie to explore science activities.

Here's some information about this great camp that I heard about. This year, two new exciting camps have been added, including: Mystery of the Pharaoh’s Treasure and Go Wild! In these camps, children help to solve an Egyptian mystery and investigate amazing wildlife and plants. Plus, two popular camps – Gizmo’s Robot Factory and Space and Rocketry – return.

Each camp is one-week long with half-day and full-day options. Parents can enroll online athttp://www.scienceadventures.com and have the option to register their children for all four camps, or just one program. Camp program fees and schedules vary by location.

I've included a webisode that is linked below about Champions Summer Science Adventure Camps. Here's a promotional code “summerscience10” so you can save $50 on a week of summer camp.


Go Wild Champions Adventure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvk3CsYk2B4

Winner of the Marble Racer

Maggie just randomly selected between the entries listed. I gave her a choice between 1 and 4. She chose........4! Noah won the cars!

So, send me an email with your address and I'll submit it. I don't think your kids can swallow a car. Can they?!

Thanks for all the entries!

Light Up Marble Racers

We have entered a new phase of toys in our home. I never thought that I would play into gender roles and what toys my kids choose. However, our house is being overtaken by a new breed of toys.

Patrick LOVES cars. He loves things with wheels and cars. He flips over Maggie's baby doll stroller and plays with the wheels. He's obsessed.

So, I was asked to review a new kind of car and I jumped on. I knew that we had a good tester in our home for this review. They are a little old for Patrick, but it's the perfect age for Maggie.

Here's some info about them:

· Combines the racing excitement of mini-toy sports cars and the classic amusement of marbles

· Customize Marble Racers with themed racing decals

· Race on standard tracks

• Available in 6 exciting styles – Police Racer, Fire Chief Racer, Cat's Eye Racer, Cyclone Racer, Confetti Racer, and Volcano Racer Crack & peel decals are fun, promote creativity, and are easy to use

• Watch as marble rolls to keep pace with their speeding car

There is nothing like it on the market. There are racing cars. There are marbles. But nothing else that combines these 2 classic stand-bys into 1 unique, fun "do it yourself" toy. Available in 6 electrifying styles – Police Racer, Fire Racer, Cats’ Eye Racer, Cyclone Racer, Confetti Racer, and Volcano Racer – this unique, colorful, new toy makes a great birthday gift or party favor.

Light up Marble Racers are only available at CVS stores.

Here's the best part:

You could win 6-car set! Leave me a comment by Wednesday, May 19th! Here's the even better part. I won't be in charge of getting the cars to you. I suck at getting the giveaway stuff to people. I don't have to handle it this time. It's handled by MomSelect. Yippee!

So, leave me a comment. Leave me your email address if I don't have it. I will contact you after Wednesday if you win and MomSelect will mail you a 6 car set.


We tried them out last night. Maggie loved decorating them. Helpful hint: don't put the stickers on top of the marble ball because it stops them from lighting up!

Bra makeover contest

Do slipping straps, riding up backs, or not enough support have you ready to write a Dear John letter to your old bras? Apply for a Bra Makeover from Playtex! Seven out of 10 women are wearing the wrong size bra, which can result in an ill fit for the rest of their outfit, back and shoulder pain, as well as bruising and digging.

We know that busy moms don't always have time to update their bras or even check to make sure they are wearing the correct size. That's why we wanted to let you know about this contest from Playtex! Playtex recently launched www.PlaytexBraMakeover.com, a site where women can go to apply for a bra makeover or nominate a friend. If chosen, the winner will be flown to New York to receive a Bra Makeover with style expert Alison Deyette. Deyette is a fashion and trend lifestyle expert who has been featured on Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker and TLC's Ten Years Younger, as well as in print publications including Good Housekeeping, The Washington Post, and O Magazine. Apply for your chance to win a Playtex Bra Makeover today. The last day to apply is Friday, May 21st, 2010.

The 10 winners selected for a Bra Makeover will also star in their very own webisode wherein a makeover candidate will receive a fitting with Deyette and walk away with the perfect Playtex products. A new webisode will premier on every two weeks.

Playtex has teamed up with MomSelect to offer the first 100 bloggers to publish a post about this contest a free Playtex bra!

By posting this information, I am entered into a contest to win a free bra from Playtex. I did not receive any compensation for this post and thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Rainbow Brite giveaway

Do you remember Rainbow Brite? She was a part of my childhood. She was beautiful and she wore bright, beautiful clothing.

I was recently sent some CDs from Mom Select. It contains games and downloads and a cartoon from the new Rainbow Brite. She had a makeover!

I have about 5 CDs to giveaway. If you would like one, leave me a comment and I will get it to you.

Maggie loves playing the games and I think it would be best for girls around her age or maybe a little older.

Life insurance

Do you have life insurance? It's hard to justify this when we are "just stay at home moms". But, we decided to cover me for life insurance. It's important to my family's well being.

Ask any Mom on the street why she does the things she does for her family, and the answer will likely be simple - love. Our love for family, and desire to show it, drives just about everything we do as Moms. Whether baking cupcakes until midnight the night before your child's classroom party, dressing up like a princess to host a tea party with your kids or working overtime to be able to afford a special family vacation - sometimes we're willing to do just about anything for love.

And with the holiday dedicated to love just around the corner, it might be time to look past heart-shaped chocolates and consider a different way of expressing your love...with the purchase of a life insurance policy.

You might be asking yourself what love and life insurance in common. More than you might realize! Simply put, life insurance is a product you purchase because you love someone and want to make sure they'll always be protected financially, even after you're gone.

To learn more and add some laughter into your day, check out the video below, from a very special "spokesperson" who knows a thing or two about love.

As we know from the Valentine's Day celebrations taking place in classrooms and romantic restaurants everywhere, love and fun go hand-in-hand! To get Americans thinking about life insurance as an expression of enduring love, the nonprofit LIFE Foundation is sponsoring the Crazy4Love Photo Contest. From now until February 19, you'll be able to visit the popular microblogging website tumblr.com and share a photo that captures how you've expressed your love to someone dear to you. One Grand Prize winner will receive a $1,000 gift certificate toward a romantic getaway weekend. Go to www.insureyourlove.org to learn more about the contest and to enter.

Win a new washer and dryer and help out others at the same time!

This is a great campaign from Frigidaire. They are showing that even though the holidays have come and gone, we're all committed to finding ways to keep the spirit of charitable giving going in the new year.

That's why Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner are teaming up once again to support Save the Children's U.S. Programs, dedicated to helping children living in poverty in the United States.

Their new Spin & Win game gives you the opportunity to win gift cards for spending quality time with your tykes - whether it's curling up with some new books, starting a craft project or taking in a family flick. They're giving away a prize every day. Plus, you could also win a brand new Frigidaire Affinity washer and dryer, with time-saving features that give you more time for the important things in life.

Best of all, every time you play, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children, as part of their $250,000 commitment to support Save the Children's CHANGE program, dedicated to providing nutritious snacks and promoting healthier lifestyles for children living in poverty in the United States.

So, be sure to go to the website and play. You could win a gift card and also help out others at the same time. Here's the link: http://www.maketimeforchange.com/

Mother's day book giveaway

In honor of Mother's day. I'm giving away 3 books on my blog. If you would like to enter to win it, just leave me a comment with your name and what books you would like to be entered to win.



The first one is entitled Dear Mom. This was a great book. I read a couple of books with my teen small group when I was in youth ministry by Melody Carlson. It's a great book for moms who are parenting teenaged girls.

Here's a little summary.
Popular novelist Melody Carlson gives moms straight talk on the secrets their teen daughters harbor—without the angst, arguments, or arm-wrestling. She looks at the heart and illuminates how to talk to teens so they hear, connect despite the differences, and strengthen the bond every mom and daughter ultimately wants.
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than one hundred books for adults, children, and teens, with sales totaling more than three million copies. Beloved for her Diary of a Teenage Girl and Notes from a Spinning Planet series, she’s also the author of the women’s novels Finding Alice (in production now for a Lifetime-TV movie), Crystal Lies, On This Day, These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking, and A Mile in My Flip-Flops. A mother of two grown sons, Melody lives in central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. She’s a full-time writer and an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.


The next book is entitled Mama’s Got a Fake I.D. This book is perfect for us moms who are trying to figure out where we fit in. So many of us struggle with our identities. Who are we? Who are we besides being moms? How do we figure out our identity in Christ as moms? It's a great book.
Here's a summary.
Caryn Rivadeneira helps women reclaim their full identity as multi-talented people whom God wants to use in a variety of settings—including in their homes. This inspiring, practical guide shows women how to break free from false guilt, learn how to express who they are, and follow God’s lead in sharing their true self with others.
The former managing editor of Marriage Partnership and Christian Parenting Today, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has been a trusted voice writing and speaking to women for more than a decade. Today she is the managing editor of GiftedForLeadership.com, an online community for Christian women in leadership. Rivadeneira works from home in the Chicago suburbs, where she lives with her husband and their three children.

The last book is entitled Enduring Justice. This last book is good, but not my type of book. It's a mystery book and just not my thing. However, I think it's cool that she is from Lawrenceville, GA where Steven was a youth intern. Here's the summary:
Hanna Kessler’s secret remained buried for decades. But when the shadows of her past threaten those she loves and the system fails FBI Agent Michael Parker, setting a white supremacist free, they must learn the difference between vengeance and justice is their choice to heal.
Amy Wallace is the author of Ransomed Dreams and Healing Promises, a homeschool mom, and self-confessed chocoholic. She is a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizens Police Academy and a contributing author of several books including God Answers Moms’ Prayers and Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia.

A giveaway

As you know, Maggie has troubles with her tummy. I found out about this new product that is available for kids. It's called Florastor KIDS. It's a natural, yeast based probiotic that adds in the growth of good microorganisms. It's in a powder form that can be placed in your child's water or juice.

I have a box of FLORASTOR KIDS to give away. There are 20 powder packets. Please leave me a comment and I will include you in the drawing. I will draw from all entries next Friday.

I have included a Q and A from a pediatrician about this product.





Q&A with James Sears, M.D.

Tiny Tummy Troubles and Florastor® Kids

Pediatric diarrhea can be extremely stressful for parents, especially in babies and toddlers. Adult anti-diarrheal medications are not recommended for young children, which often leaves parents with only “watchful waiting” as an option.

Probiotics are a new health buzzword, and can be a drug-free method of helping to manage children’s intestinal issues. However, it’s important to do your homework. Because probiotics are supplements and therefore not subject to government regulation, it’s important to look for a probiotic that has sound scientific testing behind it, and that is appropriate for your child’s issues.

Dr. James Sears, board-certified pediatrician, author and co-host of the CBS-TV show “The Doctors,” has recommended Florastor Kids to patients for years, first of all because he’s seen its efficacy in pediatric diarrhea, and because it’s backed by scientific studies.

Dr. Sears answers some common questions about Florastor® Kids below:

Q: What are the most common causes of pediatric diarrhea?
A. Like most things in pediatrics, diarrhea is usually caused by a virus. The most common diarrhea-causing viruses are Rotavirus and Norovirus, but most parents just call them “stomach flu”. Kids can also get diarrhea as a side effect of antibiotics.

Q: How should a parent handle food and drink for a child with diarrhea?
A: The key to treating diarrhea is to keep your child hydrated and nourished. Breastmilk, formula, or electrolyte solutions are best for this, also, easy to digest foods will help keep the tummy happy. Cow’s milk can make diarrhea worse, so lay off this for a few days.

Q: At what point should a child with diarrhea be taken to the emergency room?
A If your child is losing more fluid than he can take in, he runs the risk of becoming dehydrated. This is especially true if he is also vomiting. It’s often the second day of illness when a child will become dehydrated, so watch for decreased urine output – number of wet diapers is less, or trips to the bathroom are less. If your child becomes lethargic, this is also a reason to call the doctor.

Q: Do you recommend probiotics for kids?
A: I’ve been recommending probiotics for years, and it’s now a recognized treatment for kids when they have diarrhea. When kids get diarrhea, a probiotic can help replenish the “good” bacteria that is supposed to be living in the intestine – which will improve their digestion.

Q: What is Florastor Kids?
A: Florastor Kids is a natural probiotic that supports the presence of beneficial (“good”) microbiota in the intestines, which helps keep pathogenic (“bad” or “disease-causing”) microbiota (like bacteria and viruses) from attacking the gut.

Q: What is the active ingredient in Florastor Kids and how does it work?
A: The active ingredient in Florastor Kids is a freeze-dried form of yeast called Saccharomyces boulardii lyo. It helps promote the growth of good microbiota, while attracting and removing pathogens from the intestines.

Q: Have any clinical tests been done to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Florastor Kids?
A: Yes. The active ingredient in Florastor Kids, Saccharomyces boulardii lyo, has been studied in more than 40 clinical trials. Studies have been published in top medical journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and Gastroenterology magazine.

Q: How do the effects of Florastor Kids differ from those of bacteria-based probiotics, such as acidophilus?
A: One of the key differences in a yeast-based probiotic, such as Florastor Kids, is that it can not be killed by antibiotics, and it, in turn, protects the body’s own flora during the course of antibiotic treatment to guard against antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea occurs when antibiotics disturb the natural balance of “good” and “bad” microbiota in the intestinal tract, causing harmful bacteria to grow far beyond their normal numbers. The result is often frequent, watery bowel movements.

Q: Which kids could benefit from Florastor Kids?
A: Florastor Kids has been proven effective in managing a wide variety of intestinal problems, but is often used to help with:
• Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea (AAD)
• Acute gastroenteritis (general, sudden onset diarrhea)
• Traveler’s diarrhea
• Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (C. diff)
• Chronic inflammatory intestinal conditions, such as Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s

Q: Why would a parent choose to treat a bout of diarrhea with Florastor Kids as opposed to an anti-diarrheal product?
A: Anti-diarrheal medications such as loperamide (Imodium) are typically not recommended for young children. Florastor Kids helps remove toxins from the intestines and at the same time bolsters the body’s defense against the pathogens.

Q: How should Florastor Kids be taken?
A: Florastor Kids is a fruit-flavored powder that comes in packets. The powder can be mixed into water, milk, juice or soft foods (such as applesauce), and should be taken twice a day.

Q: How long can Florastor Kids be taken?
A: There is no reason that Florastor Kids can not be taken every day, but it is most often taken once symptoms start, and until symptoms stop. It is recommended to start taking the same day as antibiotic treatment and stopping it once the course of antibiotics is complete. For those wishing to protect themselves from traveler’s diarrhea, it is recommended that Florastor Kids be taken starting four days before the trip starts, and finishing four days after the trip ends.

Q: Who should not take Florastor Kids?
A: Children under two months of age, as well as those with yeast allergies and central venous catheters.

Q: Does Florastor Kids need to be refrigerated?
A: No. Florastor Kids’ freeze-drying process means that the product does not need to be refrigerated, making it ideal for travel.

Q: I went to a few pharmacies in my area and could not find Florastor Kids on the shelves. What can I do?
A: Try asking the pharmacist. Even though it does not require a prescription, many pharmacists may keep it behind the counter so that they can explain its benefits, particularly if they recommend taking it with antibiotics. On www.florastor.com there is a list of local and online pharmacies that stock Florastor Kids.

Last day for the drawing

Be sure to enter the Build a bear workship gift card giveaway. The drawing will be tonight!

I love getting the mail!

Tomorrow is going to be a really rough day. I was on the phone with a student who wanted me to give him every answer to the final and the doorbell rang. It was a package. YAY! Maybe it was something that I sneakily ordered from Amazon?!

Nope. EVEN. BETTER!

I won a free Moose from Build a Bear Workshop!

A while back, I posted that I wanted to get a Moose for Christmas. I thought he was so cute. He has light up ears. And today, I won him! How cool is that?

So, I won this moose!http://www.buildabear.com/shop/productdetail.aspx?ProductSKU=14386&Category=Christmas&CallingPage=ProductSummary

And a free book! Maggie wanted to sleep with him tonight, so I shared my moose with her.

And, I have a 10 dollar gift card for Build a Bear Workshop to give away to my loyal readers. Just post a comment here and I'll have a drawing by Friday.

And if you want to get the 2 little guys, you can get them for 24 dollars total and the book comes free. Otherwise, they are 12 dollars a piece.

Woot.

Contest winners announced

Drum roll please....

Maggie picked 2 random numbers and the winners are:


Rochelle and Sarah!

I will send everyone who wanted one an online code.

Rochelle and Sarah, please send me your addresses. You can email it to me or message me.

Contest ends tomorrow

Be sure to enter the drawing for the 2 books and codes up for grabs. Leave your name/email address and I will draw tomorrow morning.

Book giveaway

I joined MomSelect. Occasionally, they will send me emails to see if I am interested in reviewing a product and giving away the product. Right up my alley!

I have 2 books to give away and 5 web access code cards.They are scratch-off cards for a FREE premium "Rainbow Membership" trial on PreciousGirlsClub.com.

The book is really cute. It's about a little girl who has an guardian angel that only she can see. Maggie and I have been reading a chapter at a time. She begged to read some more of it tonight. I like the references to God and praying for guidance. Of course, an imaginary friend really resonates with Maggie.

The website isn't ready for us yet. We preregistered to be a part of the website. It looks cute. It's a virtual reality site, kind of like a webkinz site. You have a world and decorate your room and play games. Very girl friendly.

The book is called: A Little Bit of Faith. If you are interested, post a comment and I will randomly select the winner and send the winner an email. Be sure to include your email address in your comment. I have 2 books to give away.

I have 5 web access codes. The first 5 people who post that they are interested, I will send a code to them.