31DBBB Day 1: Write an Elevator Pitch

I have been a bit MIA from my blog lately. I have taken on quite a few projects, one of which is an online magazine catered to the military spouse. This project is doing extremely well, but it has taken quite a bit of my time away from my own blog as well as other aspects of my life. I am sure it will all pay off in the end though.

When I first started blogging, I had some idea of the direction I wanted to go in with my writing. As I got deeper into the world of blogging and social media, my attention was turned toward other things and my blog turned into a small product review blog. This was not my intentions at all when I began, but that's how it ended up.

I am going to totally revamp my blog and the direction that I want to go in. This will take a considerable amount of time with all of the other things that I have going on, but if I don't blog about what I want then what is the point.

I joined the ProBlogger Build a Better Blog in 31 days Challenge. Here is our first assignment:

1. Write a short elevator pitch.

Sometimes you gotta fess up.......I like mine and will keep it

2. Did completing this task change your blog, or change the way you think about your blog?

Completing this task helped me put my blog into perspective. I originally started blogging about military life and military vet advocacy. Since I have started learning more about social media, I want to share what I am learning along the way with other bloggers.

JumpStart Wii Game WINNER!!!

CONGRATS TO EMMI AT MOMMY'S FREE TIME!!!!! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED!!!

JumpStart Wii Game Review and GIVEAWAY!!!!

For years, JumpStart has been creating games for kids. Their new Wii game, JumpStart Get Moving: Family Fitness had my four year old glued to the Wii! JumpStart has combined family fun with fitness expert, Brooke Burke.

Similar to Jumpeez on www.jumpstart.com, you get to design your character from their hair to their shoes. You also get to choose the type of environment you play in (beach, Egypt, etc.).

There are more than 15 sports challenges, and Brooke Burke gives you tips throughout the game and also demonstrates moves. You can use the balance board, Wii remote and Nunchucks. You can play a series of games or choose more players to go head to head.

Game categories include volleyball, basketball, racing, football, baseball and many more!

My Daughter's favorite game, hands down, was baseball. She enjoyed being able to swing the "bat" and try to hit the target. I love the fact that technology is incorporated with the fitness aspect and is geared toward children.

Here are some images from the game:

PINBALL


BICYCLE RACE
BASEBALL
FOOTBALL
GIVEAWAY!! LEAVE A COMMENT TELLING ME WHY YOU WANT TO WIN THE GAME! (MANDATORY) PLEASE LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN NOTIFY YOU OF WINNING.

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

1. FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK AND LEAVE A COMMENT LETTING ME KNOW THAT YOU DO. (1 EXTRA ENTRY)

2. TWEET ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE THE LINK. (CAN BE DONE ONCE PER DAY FOR 1 EXTRA ENTRY PER DAY)

GIVEAWAY ENDS JULY 17, 2010 MIDNIGHT EST. GOOD LUCK.


“Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of JumpStart Get Moving: Family Fitness at no cost by Knowledge Adventure in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.”

WINNER!!!!! 500 UPRINTING BUSINESS CARDS

Congratulations to Echo at Barely Mommy for winning 500 business cards from UPrinting!!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

U-Printing Giveaway-500 Business cards-GIVEAWAY CLOSED!!!

This printing company is giving my readers a chance to win a free set of Business Cards! These cards can be really useful: from the classic business card, to blogger cards, designer cards, and so much more. Business cards have evolved from the classic rectangular shape, to more edgy and modern square and slim cards. They offer them all!

Giveaway: One Lucky Reader Will Get......

500 Business Cards
500 Premium Business Cards
2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card)
14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Full Color Both Sides
Limited to US residents only 18 years old and above

Mandatory: Tell me how you would use these cards. Leave your email address so I can contact you. Thats it! Easy right?!

Extra Entries: Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link. Can be done once a day. Don't forget to leave your email address. (2 extra entries )

Giveaway ends July 6, 2010 at 12pm EST. Winner will have 48hrs to respond. You must be at least 18 years of age to win.

Good Luck!

Disclosure: I will be receiving a blogger appreciation prize for doing this giveaway.

WINNER of Baby Dipper Bowl Giveaway!!

Congratulations to Lindsay S. for winning the Baby Dipper Bowl!!! Thanks so much to everyone who participated!

Baby Dipper Review and Giveaway

The Baby Dipper Bowl has been a life-saver for me. I am often confronted with the challenge of feeding my one year old. Either I am holding the spoon and the bowl so that she does not spill anything on the floor, or I am constantly wiping up the spill she made by tipping the bowl over. The Baby Dipper Bowl has rescued me!

My hands are free, and I don't have to hold the bowl while I try to feed her. I can also let her practice feeding herself and not have to worry about the bowl tipping over! No more picking up cheerios and baby food off the floor!

The Baby Dipper Bowl is heavier than most bowls, has a contoured interior, a non-slip base, a spoon-shaped lower corner for easy scooping of food, and colorful, transparent sides. The spoon fits into her hands perfectly, and I don't have to worry about the bowl sliding around the high chair tray!

Feel free to follow Baby Dipper on Facebook, Twitter, or sign up for their newsletter.

GIVEAWAY!!!!

One lucky reader will win a Baby Dipper Bowl! All you have to do is tell me how the Baby Dipper Bowl will help ease your frustrations while feeding your child. PREVIOUS WINNERS OF BABY DIPPER BOWLS SPONSORED BY BABY DIPPER, LLC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO WIN! Please leave your email address!!!!
Giveaway ends midnight EST Friday, June 26, 2010.

GOOD LUCK!





This review was made possible thorugh www.mommadethat.com. The views expressed in this giveaway are mine only. I received the product associated with the review and no other form on compensation. Receiving the product did not influence this review in any way.

Yoplait Greek Yogurt Spa Giveaway Winner

Cheryl at The Lucky Ladybug Congrats!!!!

Yoplait Greek Yogurt Spa Giveaway

Sometimes you need to unwind and find your inner goddess! As a busy mom of two, I know all too well how much a few moments to yourself can help you to rejuventate. For me, a long hot bath surrounded by scented candles does the trick. Yoplait and MyBlogSpark have given me the opportunity to review the Yoplait Greek Yogurt and host and awesome giveaway.

Yoplait teamed up with Izabella Miko who plays the Greeek Goddess Athena in the Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures film new epic feature film "Clash of the Titans." Yoplait 'Greek Yogurt has 12 grams of protein and comes in strawberry, blueberry, honey vanilla and plain flavors.

I was given two VIP coupons for two cups of Yoplait Greek Yogurt. The store nearest to me only had the plain and the honey vanilla left so I tried those. The yogurt has a very thick texture, although its creamy. I was not fond of the plain yogurt and was pretty disappointed in the chalky taste. On the other hand the vanilla honey is delicious, and I would consider trying it again. The texture was thick, but not as thick as the plain yogurt and there was a great balance of flavors.

GIVEAWAY!!!!!

I was given a Nourish Your Inner Goddess Gift Pack from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. The gift pack contained a terry cloth robe with velcro attachment, slippers, a towel and other great spa items to help you relax.

One lucky reader will be given the chance to win a Nourish Your Inner Goddess Gift Pack along with two VIP coupons! All you have to do is tell me how you nourish your inner goddess!

For an extra entry:

Tweet Nourish Your Inner Goddess Contest with Yoplait @mymomfessions (leave link)

Please leave your email especially if you do not use google connect or another winner will be chosen via random.org. GIVEAWAY ENDS TUESDAY MAY 18, MIDNIGHT EST!!!! MUST HAVE SEPARATE ENTRIES!!

In the meantime feel free to visit http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=62092&ci=1&c=GM&p=aI8UZzdb and download a coupon to save $0.30 on one cup of Yoplait Greek Yogurt today!

*This coupon offer is not valid in California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Disclosure: These products were provided to me by Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. This opinion is my own and receiving these items in no way influenced my opinion and review.

Crafty Baby Nap Pack Review

Jill from Crafty Baby was kind enough to send me the pink dots Nap Pack for review. My daughter loves it and takes it everywhere! The fleece blanket is approximately 48 inches long, with a rectangular 11" x 16" pillow attached to the top. It is designed to fit on a preschool mat but my daughter uses it for playtime and nap time at home. Just lie down on the blanket and pillow and cover yourself with the other half of the blanket. Easy!

The best part about it is that it has velcro straps, and my daughter can roll it up and put it away on her own. Talk about being independent! No clean up for mom! No extra pillows, no extra blankets, no mess! This nap pack is designed for children ages 2-7 and comes in many different designs for boys and girls.


Disclosure: I received this product for review and no other form of compensation was given. The views are mine only and receiving this product did not influence this review in any way. This review was made possible through MomMadeThat.

WysiWipes Daily Giveaway and One Week Trip Grand Prize!!!

I received two packs of WysiWipes for review. They have been such a convenience for me. I have used them around the house and on my children. I even used them at a get-together for wiping things down and my baby's face and hands. I also used them on my laptop screen.
So many uses for one little wipe.

The best part is that the wipes are environmentally friendly being that they are biodegradable, all natural, and disposable. You can even re-use them. You just add a small amount of water to a tablet and it turns into a cloth. You can use other liquid such as disinfectant and use as an antibacterial wipe. The size is so convenient for fitting into a small purse or diaper bag. I even stashed a few in different places around the house for when I need them. The cloths are very soft and scent-free.

WysiWipes also come as a Wysi Cloth 10 Roll, a Wysi 12 Travel Pack and a Wysi 100 piece bag.

Check out the video and you will see why this product is so great.

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WysiWipes will be giving away a travel pack everyday until July 2, 2010. A grand prize winner will be drawn from all of the entries for a one week stay at ANY Interval World Resort of YOUR CHOICE! The giveaway will be changed every month to a new theme so come back often and enter for the grand prize. Who wouldn't love a free trip?

To Enter: Visit WysiWipe and tell why you would love to win WysiWipes. Come back and leave your comment here for Organic Girl.

Remember that you can enter daily. This giveaway is open to all US citizens and Canadians. Giveaway ends July 1, 2010. Winner will have 24 hours to confirm the win or a new winner will be chosen!

Good luck!




Disclaimer: I did not receive any other form of compensation for this review other than the product itself. This did not influence my review in any way. I will not be held responsible for any parts of the giveaway grand prize. The details of the grand prize should be worked out with WysiWipes and Organic Girl.

I Wish My Scale Was Off by 50 Pounds

*Sigh*

I had my daughter 11 months ago and I was doing so great. I was working out, eating better, and losing weight. I lost over 20 lbs and things were looking up. Now I am almost back to my pregnancy weight. Ugh! Actually, only 6 lbs away from it.

It's not all my "fault" though. My husband was hurt in Iraq and came back early, I had to drive around this island from this place everyday from appointment to appointment, and I just didn't make time to keep up with the weight loss routine I had established. I did so much snacking during the day and basically stopped almost cold turkey with the exercise. I've also done a lot of stress and boredom eating. Fast food places were not far from reach while I was driving from place to place and I indulged on a bunch of crap!

I went shopping today for my trip to the mainland and decided to try on a few things only to discover that I had gone up a pant size AND a shirt size. Major blow!

I have made a vow to myself to get back on track and lose this weight for good. Join me on my journey, or at least send some positive vibes my way!

WINNER Flowerz In Her Hair $20 E-Gift Card Giveaway!!!

AND THE WINNER IS..................................................................

CONGRATS TO REBECCA WILLIAMS!!! THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!

Flowerz In Her Hair review and GIVEAWAY!!!!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!!!

I have daughters. This means there is a lot of hair to do around here! Anytime we have to go somewhere my husband always jokes that there are too many women in the house, because it takes so long to get ready. Having to do my daughter's hair plus my own takes a bit of time, so I have to get ready extra early if we are headed out. Even though we have tons of hairbows EVERYWHERE, I can never resist the urge to buy more.

Amy from Flowerz In Her Hair asked me to review some of her products. I received a beanie, a clip holder, and a flower clip. These items are super cute and can be worn individually or clipped onto the beanie. My oldest daughter is into head gear. Needless to say she was in love with the beanie. I have purchased many hair bows in the past and have come across some that were made poorly with cheap glue and fell apart rather quickly. This is not the case with Amy's products. The hair clips are durable and the beanie hasn't stretched out of shape.

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

LEAVE SEPARATE POSTS FOR EACH ENTRY!!!

Amy has generously decided to give a $20 e-gift card to one lucky reader to use at Flowerz In Her Hair!

All you have to do is tell me what product you like the most at Flowerz In Her Hair.

For an extra entry: tweet about the giveaway and let me know you did

Tweet - win $20 e-gift card for Flowerz In Her Hair from @mymomfessions

DONT FORGET TO LEAVE AN EMAIL OR SOME WAY TO CONTACT YOU.

GIVEAWAY ENDS APRIL 27, 2010 AT 12 PM EST. WINNER WILL HAVE 48HRS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL TO CLAIM GIFT. GOOD LUCK!

Disclaimer: This is my honest review of the products I received and receiving the products in no way influenced how I feel about the quality. I did not receive any other form of compensation for this review. This review was made possible by mommadethat.com.

Invisible People TV

Imagine having little or no money.....Imagine living under a bridge, in abandoned buildings, and constantly moving from shelter to shelter....Imagine using a cardboard box for cover....Imagine having no shield from the outside elements....Imagine having no home....

I was researching the plight of homelessness as it relates to military vets and came across this wonderful blog, Invisiblepeople.tv. My husband and I spent about two hours on it; reading and listening to the stories of people of all different backgrounds who ended up on the streets. Some of them are alone, with a spouse or partner, and some of them are homeless with their children. Most of them lived normal lives like you and I, and one circumstance changed everything. After visiting the site I realized that on the days when I complain about "little" things, it could never compare to being homeless.

Invisiblepeople.tv is traveling across the country to capture the stories of people without a home. By visiting tent cities, motels, and other modern-day accomodations for people without a home, this tour will unearth the modern-day realities of homelessness while providing a venue for "invisible" people to tell their story, raw and unedited. (Invisiblepeople.tv)

Feel free to subscribe to the site, follow them on twitter, myspace, facebook, or youtube.

photo

Orglamix Mineral Eyeshadows Review

I admit I'm not much of a beauty addict, but I do wear makeup sometimes. I only wear two brands
faithfully, but I am looking into trying others. When I was contacted by Orglamix to review their eye makeup, I felt that this was the perfect time to try something new.

I received the Obsidian, Blueberry, and Peppermint eye shadows. Now, I have experimented
with other brands and have been highly disappointed. Either the color wore off by the end of the
day and I had to reapply it, or the eye makeup itself just wasn't made really well.

I applied the Orglamix eye makeup and was satisfied with the results, although the Peppermint was a little more shimmery than the picture on their shop site displays, and I didn't use that much.

I wore it all day to see if it would pass my "all day wear" test and it did!
The makeup is finely ground and blended well with my skin tone.

The products are not expensive, which is another thing I look for when buying makeup. Sometimes you get what you pay for, but in this case the product is worth it.

All Orglamix products are proudly formulated without:
Nano Particles, Bismuth Oxychloride, Synthetic Dyes, Parabens, Synthetic Fragrances, Petrochemicals, Parabens. Orglamix is a proud member of PETA. You can check out their shop or follow them on facebook and twitter.

Disclaimer: This is my honest review of the products I received and receiving the products in no way influenced this review. I received no other forms of compensation for this review. This review was made possible my MomMadeThat.com

Wordless Wednesday

Recent Giveaway Winners

Outback Steakhouse $45 Gift Certificate Giveaway Winner is Julie The Army Wife

(since there were two different posts for this giveaway participants were numbered by the time of their post entry)

Outback Steakhouse Military Spouse $25 Gift Card Winner is Emmi from

Mommy's Free Time

UPrinting Giveaway Winner is Cheryl Henderson

JumpStart 3 Month Membership Giveaway Winner

JoeyRes from Big Teeth & Clouds

Army Wife 101 Snack Pack Winner

Gerry Wilson

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Hitting children at Wal-Mart???

Just when you think you've heard it all....! There is another story on the news or in the papers that makes you go "WOW!".

I am sure you all have heard about the "grandpa" who went around wal-mart hitting children with his closed fists, keys in hand. Now these children didn't have to be doing a thing except breathing, but he would take it upon himself to hit them as hard as he could then run away. Luckily, one mom acted quickly and caught the little sucker before he could do it to another child. His excuse.....he liked the feeling of being able to get away with hitting someone's child while they were nearby.

I can only imagine what I would do if I found out that any of these things happened to my child. What can we do to protect our children more? What would you have done in this situation?



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The Greatest Casualty is Being Forgotten

I know firsthand all too well what the effects of war can do to a soldier. I have seen so many people in the military community deal with the physical and psychological aspects of war, and it is often left unspoken of. Countless numbers of soldiers deal with PTSD and TBI. Some even come home missing limbs. Many times they don't have a voice to advocate on their behalf and miss out on great opportunities for themselves and their families.

I recently came across a wonderful resource called The Wounded Warrior Project. According to their website, their mission is to honor and empower wonded warriors, raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service members and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members.

The Wounded Warrior Project provides countless programs including benefits counseling, caregivers retreats, coping/family services, warriors to work, peer mentoring and so much more.

One of the most intriguing programs is Soldier Ride, which is a rehabilitative cycling event designed to challenge wounded warriors who deal with the physical and mental wounds of war. Check them out on the Soldier Ride Blog, their facebook fan page, and twitter. You can also lend your support here and 10% of the proceeds support their cause.

You can also follow The Wounded Warrior Project on Facebook.

I plan to highlight some of these amazing organizations in the future!

~Savory Sunday~ Carrot Cheesecake Bars

~Savory Sunday~ Carrot Cheesecake Bars

This week's recipe comes from Kraft Recipes for Carrot Cheesecake Bars. The recipe is as follows:

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time 6hrs 5 min

Makes 24 servings

What You Need:

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted

1-1/2 cup HONEY MAID graham cracker crumbs

1 cup sugar, divided

1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon divided

3 pckg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA cream cheese, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN sour cream

3 eggs

3/4 cup finely shredded carrots (about 2)

1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP whipped topping

Make it!

Heat oven to 325 degrees

Mix butter, crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon: press onto bottom of 13X9 inch pan. Bake 10 mins.

Beat cream cheese, vanilla, and the remaining sugar and cinnamon in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time,. beating after each just until blended. Stir in carrots; spread over crust.

Bake 45 to 50 mins. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hrs. Serve topped with COOL WHIP.

Kraft kitchen tips

SOUR CREAM-TOPPED CHEESECAKE BARS

Omit COOL WHIP. Prepare and bake cheesecake as directed. Mix 1 container (16 oz.) BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN sour cream, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla. Spread over warm cheesecake. Bake 5 mins. Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hrs. Refrigerate leftovers.

SPECIAL EXTRA

Top each serving with a PLANTERS Pecan Half.

For my last ~Savory Sunday~ I posted the recipe for Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies. I made them last week, but hubby took off with my camera in the truck, and I wasn't going to wait around for him to return before my daughter and I devoured the batch! Fortunately, Krystel at Army Wife 101 made them also. I'm stealing this pic from her Facebook Page. I'm sure she won't mind!

DON'T FORGET to enter the Outback Steakhouse Gift Certificate Giveaway and the UPrinting Business Cards Giveaway!

Outback Steakhouse Gift Certificate Giveaway

T

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!

Outback Steakhouse is a huge supporter of troops in the U.S. They recently donated $1 million to Operation Homefront, which is a non-profit org that provides emergency and morale support to veterans, active troops and their families. Outback Steakhouse has also sent volunteers overseas to give soldiers in combat a "taste of home. They have also contributed to the relief effort in Haiti.

I am thrilled to host a giveaway with this great company. Outback Steakhouse is giving a winner a certificate with a value up to $45. This is good at any Outback Steakhouse in the U.S. and includes appetizers, beverages, and desserts.

To Enter the giveaway: Tell me what food(s) you would like to try at Outback Steakhouse. Please leave your email address so that I can have a way to contact you.

Extra Entries:

Follow my Facebook Fan Page by clicking the link on this side of my
site --------------------------------------------------------------------------------> (1 extra entry)

If you already signed up here you have been entered automatically.

One winner will be chosen on March 31, 2010 via Random.org and have 48hrs to respond via email. Good Luck!

I Won An Award!

I received this award from Amanda at Thecurlyblogger.

She totally made my day!

Thanks so much!!!

I am Leading a Double Life

It never ceases to amaze me how little civilian people tend to relate to my military experience as a spouse. I have witnessed the most offhanded comments, which I now attribute to lack of knowledge or someone just really not knowing what to say. I have been married to the army for seven years. Out of those seven years, that little mistress has taken my husband away from me for about four years. During those times when he is gone I have gone through a range of emotions. Sadness, confusion, pride, loneliness, bitterness........But, recently I have found myself missing the single life. Not the single life of not being married, but the single life of being married while being single. Does that make sense?

Don't get me wrong, I love when my husband is at home, away from the dangerous confines of war and working 18 hours a day. But I do miss my single time. You know those times when I can just pig out on Baskin Robbins and leave the container by the recliner cuz I feel like it. Or not having to cook a well-balanced meal Sunday through Thursday cuz my soldier is coming home hungry after a long day's work or he is just hungry period! Or feeding my anxiety and loneliness by giving Ross or Target an extra $50 that I know I should tuck away for something more important, but I'm an Army wife so I can do whatever I want while my husband is fighting for our freedom and I am feeling crappy at home alone. Or leaving the bed unmade cuz I wanna crash on it when I feel like it and will mess it back up anyway. Or not doing laundry and letting 4 loads build on top of one another cuz I don't have ACU's to wash so I really don't care at that point. Or having all the televisions to myself with the DVR's set to Property Virgins, The View, Ellen, Chelsea Lately, Oprah and all the other shows my hubby doesn't care to watch.

Sounds like I'm lazy now that I have reread it but that's hardly the case, believe me. I guess its a way of dealing with my emotions, those emotions that most women won't ever get to experience on the same level as I have. Whatever the case, I do miss it. Selfish? Maybe. I dunno. What do you think?


pic courtesy of

If you are in the military or are the spouse of someone in the military, leave your current location and email address below. I have something special for one lucky winner!!!

Nothing Can Be Salvaged. I am Doomed!

We've all been there. Myself more than once...more than a few times actually. In a few short minutes everything can literally be destroyed. What you worked so hard to get is now gone! It's useless. Nothing you can do, in most cases, can ever bring it back. You stand there in utter disbelief wondering how you could have let this happen, holding the remnants of what once was in your hands. This time it was no fault of my own. It was his fault. Yep! My husband did it. He ruined the laundry!

He was just trying to help out. This isn't the first time he has ruined my mommy wardrobe though, so I should have known better than to entrust him with my minimal garments. Hey I don't have lots of clothes, especially to throw away!

The pic below shows a few pieces I care to share out of a large load of laundry. It's just too painful to take a picture of all at once. Yes it hurts that much hehe. Out of that load of laundry everything is speckled with green dots from a permanent marker left in one of the pockets of his ACU's. The entire load kind of looks like the leftovers you'd find in the street after a Mardi Gras Parade. The pic does not do it justice though. Since I posted it you can barely see the green stains, but trust me they're there. They're EVERYWHERE!

So, lesson learned here. Check the pockets of everyone's clothing thoroughly, even before my husband does the laundry! Or be prepared to get rid of most of your wardrobe.

If anyone knows of a way the clothes can be salvaged please let me know. I'm not sure Clorox can fix this one.

UPrinting-500 Business Cards Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!



The folks at UPrinting have done it AGAIN!

They are giving my readers a chance to get a free set of Business Cards! These cards can be really useful: from the classic business card, to blogger cards, designer cards, and so much more. Business cards have evolved from the classic rectangular shape, to more edgy and modern square and slim cards. They offer them all! UPrinting also offers a print online discount.

One Lucky Winner will get:

500 Business Cards

Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (slim card)

Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock

Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

Mandatory: Tell me how you would use these cards. Leave your email address so I can contact you. Thats it! Easy right?!

Extra Entries: Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link. Can be done once a day. Don't forget to leave your email address. (2 extra entries )

Giveaway ends March 30, 2010 at 12pm EST. Winner will have 48hrs to respond. You must be at least 18 years of age to win.

Good Luck!

Disclosure: I will be receiving a blogger appreciation prize for doing this giveaway.

JumpStart Review and Giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

As a former preschool teacher, and mom to a four year old, I am always looking for ways to provide fun learning experiences that are also educational. Video games are all the craze these days, but few teach children learning concepts. I was excited to receive a free membership to www.jumpstart.com. JumpStart is a browser-based virtual world for children 3-10 years of age that teaches everything from math to reading.

I logged in to the 3D virtual world, and added my daughter to the account. She was ecstatic, as you can see in the picture below.

She created her own avatar, which are called Jumpeez, and started exploring the different worlds. There is AdventureLand and MarineLand for Kindergarten to 2nd grade, FutureLand for 3rd-5th grade and StoryLand is aimed at 3-5 year olds.

We spent a lot of time in StoryLand since it catered to her age group. In StoryLand she could decorate her own house and play games that taught colors and numbers and shapes. She could also watch a movie in the theater.

She enjoyed the following game, because the bugs would crawl around through the leaves and she had to catch the correct number and color of the bugs shown on the notepad and place them in the box.

This game was also a favorite. The monkeys would come out of the trees and she had to choose the one with the correct card number that corresponded to the number in the middle of the tree.

Once my daughter figured out how to manuever her Jumpee, and it wasn't hard to figure out, she had a blast! I did have to help her along the way a few times until she got the hang of it depending on what she had to do, but it wasn't too difficult for her. She loved the fact that she could make the Jumpee fly and swim, and she could earn coins to spend on her Jumpee in the Downtown area.

Buggy Racer was also a cool game! She had to drive the jeep and launch ice bolts at the tiki's to collect all of them and win.

JumpStart is a great fit for my daughter. I would recommend their products if you are looking for something educational and entertaining. They also have a blog with content for parents where you can stay up to date on the latest happenings with Jumpstart!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED. CONGRATS TO BIGTEETHCLOUDS! HOPE YOU ENJOY!

Win it! The lovely people at Jumpstart will give one of my lovely readers a free 3 month membership!

MANDATORY: Go here and tell me which character you think your child(ren) would enjoy the most AND why.

Extra Entries: Single post for each entry. Please leave email address for each entry or comments will be deleted.

GIVEAWAY ENDS MARCH 23, 2010 12PM EST. Winner will be notified and have 48hrs to respond via email.

Follow me publicly (1 entry)

Follow Jumpstart on twitter. (1 entry)

Grab my button and leave link so I can find it (1 entry)

Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway (You can do this once a day). Leave comment with link to your tweet (1 entry per day)

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GOOD LUCK!

“Disclosure: I was provided with a JumpStart membership at no cost by Knowledge Adventure in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.”

1-2-3 Preschool Projects Review

1-2-3 Preschool Projects is a professionally designed preschool curriculum that offers a variety of textural materials that encourages the love of learning in a young child. They offer monthly packets that contain full theme based activities to encourage development in the areas of fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, language, math, drama, science and tactile skills for children ages 2-5 years old.

I received a free sample from them in the mail a few days ago. I was impressed at the neatness and contents of the packaging. I received 3 activites with cut-outs and textures that related to the number 4 and fish. My daughter colored fun faces on the fish. She then glued bubble wrap and the number 4 onto blue card stock paper. She glued the four fish onto the bubble wrap to create fish swimming in the ocean. We counted the fish and traced the number 4 with our fingers. We also popped some of the bubble wrap and sang The Fish Song. we talked about what kind of animals live in the sea and how the water is different from the water in our bathtub. We pretended to be fish in the ocean and read the book Rainbow Fish by Marcus Herbert.

We both enjoyed the activities in the project. I like how all of the materials were already packaged. My only gripe would be that the fish cutouts and the number 4 cutout could have been a little bigger for her to pick up being that we had to put glue on the back of them. It was hard for her to pick them up at times and draw the faces on them.

I think this company would be a great avenue for homeschooling parents and preschools alike.

I was not asked by this company to do a review of their product. These views expressed are mine solely and I did not received any type of compensation for this review.

MyMomfessions Monday with Army Wife 101 and Giveaway

Since we PCS'd to Hawaii two years ago, I have seen many people come and leave. I am used to it now. The military life causes you to become somewhat numb to the friendships you create. Not in a bad way. It's just that you know pretty soon you will be leaving, or your friends will be leaving before you. You have to prepare yourself to have long-distance relationships, and hope that one day you will see those friends again. Maybe even live on the same base or city as them. Rare. But it could happen.

I met Krystel, Army Wife 101, on a website called Hawaiimomslikeme. Usually people send you a message and you correspond for a while, maybe even meet, but then lose touch. Krystel sent me a message and I thought it was prob one of those messgaes I had received time and time again. "Hey how are ya! I'm so and so and would love to get to know you better. Maybe we can meet up with the kiddos and have a playdate?! Hope to talk to you soon!" I don't remember the verbage of her message, but I did respond and she responded back in a few hours. We talked on the phone for a few days and finally I went to her house on base for chat and lunch that consisted of pizza, chicken wings, and salad. The rest is history. Although there have been gaps in our communication, we have kept in touch. When she told me about creating a blog I had no idea what she was talking about. Now, I have one lol.

If you haven't been to her website yet, you have to visit. We had a very candid interview at Starbucks while we sipped on our Grande White Chocolate Mocha Latte's with lowfat milk and whipped cream. With that being said, I am more than excited to share more about her with you! There is also an awesome giveaway!!!

1. Describe yourself in 3 words. Calm, Cool, Informed

2. What trait to you like the most about yourself? I like the fact that I am a giver. I like doing for others, especially when it comes to helping other military spouses.

3. Do you have a motto? My motto has to be my favorite quote ever, even though it's popular. "Do not make someone a priority who only makes you an option."

4. How long has your husband been in the military? My husband spent 8 years as a marine and 4 years in the Army. He is currently on his second deployment.

5. How is this deployment different from the first? Well for one, it's shorter. The first deployment was 15 months, this deployment is only 12. Secondly, I didn't understand what to expect with the first deployment. I was scared, stressed mentally and physically, I stayed home most of the time, and was overcome with loneliness and anxiety. This time around I have the worries of any other normal military wife with a spouse deployed overseas. I also get to talk to my husband more this time around.

6. Why did you decide to start Army Wife 101? The idea started when my husband was on his first deployment. My cousin suggested that I start a deployment blog. We were already into his fourth month of deployment, so I figured it might be pointless. I was moderating a few military spouse forums online and for some reason seemed to be the go-to person for all things military when people had questions. So I figured hey, why don't I just answer their questions without them having to flip through pages and pages of books and magazines related to the military. So I started to blog.

7. What would be your ideal project to work on with Army Wife 101? My ideal project would be to work with Michelle Obama. I think that she could do a lot for military spouses to help bring an awareness to things that are going on in our lives. While people go about their day doing their normal everyday routines, our soldiers are defending our country so that they can enjoy those very freedoms. I think she can help make people more aware of what miltary spouses sacrifice everyday, especially during deployments.

8. Where do you see the future of Army Wife 101? I see the future of Army Wife 101 growing into an international site in the sense of conus and oconus. I want it to be a community where military spouses can share what we all endure on a daily basis.

9. Do you have any advice for miltary spouses whose other half has deployed or is deploying? Be patient. Be supportive. Know that just because your other half hasn't called you for a few days doesn't mean that they don't want to. Don't be afraid to show your feelings. Make sure you have all of your paperwork in order.

10. Any advice for spouses who have PCS'd or looking to PCS soon? Stay on top of things. Research what you don't know about your new duty station. Prep your house months ahead of time. Throw away things you don't need and get organized.

Any other thoughts? Google is your friend, but Army Wife 101 is your BEST FRIEND!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED: WINNER IS GERRY. CONGRATS! BLOGGER IS ACTING UP SO I WILL POST SCREENSHOT OF RANDOM.ORG WHEN IT LETS ME.

*GIVEAWAY* Krystel, aka Army Wife 101 has some fave snacks and you get to win them! Thats right, you get to win a package that includes one of each: NaturesValley Sweet and Salty Almond Bars and Nut Clusters, French Onion Sun Chips, Sour Cream and Onion Pringles, Nacho Doritos, and Honey Roasted Cashews. Plus a $5 Target gift Card!

Mandatory: Follow me publicly on my site from an authentic site or blog.

I must have a way to contact you. Please leave your email address!

For Extra Entries:

Follow me on Facebook and tell what your fave snack is. (1 extra entry)

Follow me on Twitter and tweet about giveaway...can be done once a day for extra entries...please come back to my Facebook fan page and post your tweet with your twitter name so I can find it ...you can post

Win an Army Wife 101 Snack Pack and a $5 Target Gift Card from mymomfessionshttp://www.mymomfessions.com/2010/03/mymomfessions-monday-with-army-wife-101.html

Follow Army Wife 101 on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway...can be done once a day for extra entries...please come back to my Facebook fan page and post your tweet with your twitter name so I can find it

(1 tweet per day=2 entries per day). List a separate entry for each tweet.

Follow Army Wife 101 on her blog (1 entry)

Giveaway ends March 19, 2010 5am EST. GOOD LUCK!

If you would like to be featured on MyMomfessions Monday email me at stephanie@mymomfessions.com with MyMomfessions Monday as the title.

~Savory Sunday~ Easy Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies

I found this recipe on www.kraftrecipes.com . It looks so yummy I thought I'd share this with you!

Ingredients:

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

1/2 cup finely chopped PLANTERS Unsalted COCKTAIL Peanuts

HEAT oven to 325°F.

MIX peanut butter, sugar and egg until well blended. Refrigerate 30 min. Roll into 18 balls. Place, 3 inches apart, on baking sheet. Flatten each ball, in criss-cross pattern, with fork.

BAKE 18 to 20 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 5 min. Remove from baking sheet to wire rack; cool completely.

MELT chocolate as directed on package. Dip ends of cookies in chocolate; gently shake off excess. Coat with chopped nuts; place on parchment- or waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm.

These easy-to-make cookies don't need any flour!

HOW TO MELT CHOCOLATE

Microwave chocolate in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted