lil bit of us

Missing Winners.....Is This You???????

2012-01-25T20:05:00.000-05:00

I've recently had two giveaways that ended and the winner did not leave an email address and their profile is private or they don't have their email on their profile.

This is your last chance to claim your prize!!! You have 48 hours to leave a comment with your EMAIL ADDRESS so that I have a way to contact you!!!!

The winner of the Fit Moms for Life Book giveaway was Jodi~if this is you leave me a comment with your email address

The winner of the IamthatIam book was Diane~if this is you leave me a comment with your email address

Normally, I would just pick another winner, but since these were the only two that entered these giveaways, I'm giving them one more chance to claim their prize.

Please remember, you must leave an email address or have it public on your profile or I have no way of contacting you if you win a giveaway, I will be forced to choose another winner and I hate to do that.

Also, if this happens again where only one person enters a giveaway and I have no email address for them, I'm going to start giving the prize away on Facebook (with the sponsors permission of course) so make sure you are a fan on facebook so you will be in know!

Thank you all for being loyal readers, and friends. I appreciate each and every one of you! I'm lining up some great giveaways as we speak so stay tuned for that!

Snow Fun!

2012-01-22T16:09:00.000-05:00

Luke is loving the snow! He gets so excited when he sees that it is snowing, and when we finally got a good snowfall he just had to go out and play in it. I, of course, took the opportunity to get out my camera and snap some pictures. I love the lighting when taking pictures out in the snow. The white snow reflects the light just perfect!

Of course it's always fun when I'm spending quality time with Luke and I have to admit that I had a blast too! Even though I fell, and Luke rode the sled right into a tree stump, it was still great. I think we both need to get out of the house and get some much needed outdoor time, and sunshine when we can in the winter months. It makes these months seem just a little shorter!

EdenFantasys now has bath and beauty products!

2012-01-22T15:41:00.001-05:00

I've told you guys before about EdenFantasys and wanted to let you know that they now have a huge selection of bath and beauty products! They are now carrying everything from bath and shower gels like this Sweet scape desserted island duo

To this Milk made smoothing white sugar scrub!

I'm always up to trying out new bath and body products. I love that EdenFantasys is now offering these items, and you won't find these things in the stores.

If you are planning a bachelorette party in the future, EdenFantasys also offers some really cute products to make it a blast! Over the summer I went to a bachelorette party for my cousin, and we went out to dinner and a movie (we saw the movie Bridesmaids) and it was a blast. The best part was making the bride to be wear a funny crown, boa, and a pin. She was such a good sport and wore everywhere we went! Those items made the party, they are a must have for any bachelorette party so don't forget about EdenFantasys!

With Valentine's Day coming soon, you'll definitely want to check out EdenFantasys for gifts, or even if you just want to treat yourself to a little pampering!

I will receive a gift code for writting this post, however these are my own honest opinions.

Bioken Enfanti Shampoo & Treatment Review & Giveaway!

2012-01-18T19:22:00.003-05:00

With all the hype that you hear lately about sulfate free hair products, I’ve been finding myself wondering if these really work, if they are really worth the effort to seek out. Well, I had the fabulous opportunity to try out a couple products from the Bioken Enfanti line, and I was pleasantly surprised!

Bioken believes that all things begin with nature, and thus all things must return to nature. It also became apparent when investigating thinning hair and scalp damage, that all things can be healed by nature. Since this discovery, Bioken’s objective has become to deliver the essences of nature (BIO) that promote beautiful, healthy hair from a secluded and intimate place (KEN).

Bioken’s exclusive Triple Balancing Action combines nature’s native qualities and therapeutic powers in a balanced formula full of vitamins, bee propolis and natural herbs. These quality ingredients work together in the Bioken Enfanti line to revitalize, nourish and rejuvenate hair. With this perfected blend of botanicals and their delightful aroma, Enfanti brings a luxurious and sensual quality to every hair care experience.

I was given the Enfanti Shampoo and Enfanti Treatment to try out!

Enfanti Shampoo is a special blend of organic herbs and therapeutic botanicals that revitalizes, rejuvenates and rapidly repairs all hair types and textures. Free from harmful sulfates, DEA and paraben, it detoxifies with natural active ingredients, protects hair color and shelters strands from UV rays using Bioken’s Nano Color Care Technology. With a full supplement of vitamins, along with its gentle, balanced and ideal healing technology, Enfanti Shampoo soothes scalp and roots by rebuilding and encouraging healthy hair growth.

Enfanti Treatment restores, moisturizes and smoothes hair into a velvety phenomenon. It also provides all of the essential vitamins and proteins that hair needs to rejuvenate and maintain its flexibility. This lightweight formula moisturizes, strengthens and revives dull, lifeless hair while adding volume, body and shine. It helps protect against hair loss and provides thermal and UV protection.

My Thoughts

I was pretty excited to give these two products a try. My hair has a mind of it’s own most of the time, and I usually resort to either straightening it, or putting it in rag curlers at night. My hair type is right between wavy and curly. You know the type of hair, the type of hair that if you get out of bed and brush it, it always looks like you just crawled out of bed and did nothing to it. This is why I have to force it to either go straight or go curly.

I’ve been using the shampoo and the treatment for about a week now and already I can tell a difference. The first time that I used them, I could tell immediately when I got out of the shower that my hair looked shinier. I went to bed on wet hair, and when I got up in the morning I simply brushed it out, ran my fingers through a bit, sprayed it with hair spray, and out the door I went! Finally, my hair looked like it should look normally. Not frizzy, not limp, not anything but bouncy waves. These are the main differences that I have been able to see since I started using these products:

More bounce
Shinier
More body
More manageable
Softer

I can say that I have used plenty of different hair products in my lifetime, but none have shown me the results that Enfanti has shown me. I’m sure that my hair will only get better the longer that I use them.

Want to purchase your own?

Shampoo: Available in 8oz, 16oz and 32oz sizes, Enfanti Shampoo retails for $12.00, $20.00 and $32.00.

Treatment: Available in 8 oz and 32 oz sizes retailing for $24.00 and $65.00.

You can purchase either of these products from the Bioken website!

One of my readers will win their own Bioken Shampoo and Treatment!

Mandatory Entry:

Head over to the Bioken website and have a look around. Come back here and let me know another product you would like to try.

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Like Bioken on Facebook

2 Extra Entries For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to my emails. Two extra entries for each way you follow!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this! You can tweet daily for an extra entry everyday! You can use this sample tweet:

#Win Bioken Enfanti Shampoo and Treatment! #giveaway @getinonthewins http://t.co/BKQLlVPz

1 Extra Entry: Enter any of my other giveaways. One extra entry for each of my other giveaways you enter!

3 Extra Entry: Put my button on your blog! Leave me a link!

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to the post!

This giveaway will end on 2/1 at 10pm and is open to US only. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. I received the mentioned chips for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

BabbaBox ~Creativity & Learning for your Child!

2012-01-15T22:29:00.001-05:00

I love when I find an activity that will foster Luke’s creativity and teach him something at the same time. But sometimes it can be hard to come up with new things to try, that will hold their attention. BabbaBox is an awesome monthly subscription box that will help you engage with your kids while having fun!

It’s a monthly subscription box that is delivered to your home with ALL the physical materials plus know-how content to really engage with your kids. It’s a theme-based box every month with activities, knowledge, and experiences that encompass all the ways kids love to learn!

Target Age: Great for 3 – 6 year olds!

Why We Love the BabbaBox!

Save TIME: No more running around to craft and super stores to gather all the materials. Oh, and by the way, you don’t need to clutter your house with 200 googly eyes and bags of pom pom balls! Get exactly what you need in each box without the errands!

Save MONEY: Each box has a retail value of $40-$50 plus the benefits you can’t even buy! The research, exclusive digital content, and special surprises in each box all add up to an amazing value.

Save MIND SPACE: Our panel of experts give you the peace of mind that these activities and resources are truly enriching your kids! We do all the research and validation, so you can focus on the quality time with your children. Finally, something NOT on your to-do list!

Enjoy a little convenience & inspiration.

We received our own BabbaBox to try out!

My Thoughts

I couldn’t agree more with the “why we love the BabbaBox” above. I think the worst part of crafting, with a child or by yourself, is trying to find all the needed supplies. Not to mention, the space that the extra’s take up. I have a whole tote full of “extra's” that I really didn’t need but had to pay for anyways. The BabbaBox comes with everything you need, including the ideas! I was so excited when this arrived. I love crafting with Luke, and having special activities for us to do together, but as I said before, sometimes it can be hard to come up with something new, or sometimes the “ideas” you see on the internet don’t always turn out how they say they will. The BabbaBox solves all these problems.

I was excited when I opened up my BabbaBox. I felt like a kid in a candy store. A box full of crafts, ideas, and activities for Luke and I do together. There was even a book for us to read! I couldn’t wait to tear into this box with Luke and get busy creating.

Luke is always up for a good craft, so I had no problem with him wanting to participate. The ideas in this box weren’t like anything I had tried before, which was great to get me outside my “box”

The theme of the box that we received was “Gratitude” which is a great theme, and something to talk about after the holiday’s have passed. It included everything you see below:

Painted serving tray kit

Thank you cards kit

Personalized Trivet Kit

A Gratitude Journal Kit including a disposable camera

It even came with some tea to try out too!

This was the perfect mix of crafty things to keep us busy. Luke has had so much fun creating things with this kit. We plan on using the thank you cards for Christmas gifts. His favorite item in the box was the disposable camera. He took this to our family Christmas party and snapped all kinds of pictures. He even slept with the camera! Wow, he takes after his mommy! I’ve loved creating with him, and the ease of having the ideas right in front of me, with all the supplies we needed was so great.

Head over to BabbaBox and have a look around! This would be great for any family, and would make the best gift!

I received the mentioned product for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own opinions.

Fit Moms For Life Book Review & Giveaway!

2012-01-02T14:54:00.002-05:00

As we start our new year and we focus on what we would like to get accomplished, I’m sure that most of us have “getting fit” on our list. I know that I’ve had that on my list of “to do’s” for awhile now. The only difference is that now instead of focusing on just a number, I’m focusing on actually becoming healthier. I’ve noticed over the last few months that if I don’t take care of myself, it really takes a toll on how I feel. Maybe it is a sign of my getting older, but I had a period where I was so tired that if I would have slept as much as I wanted to, I would have only been awake for maybe 5 hours a day. I was feeling so crappy all day, everyday, that there were times when I would be in tears from it. I found out that stress, coupled with poor eating and not enough rest, really will catch up to you. I started making small changes, like eating better, more balanced meals, taking a multi-vitamin, and resting when I needed to, I could start to see a change for the better, almost immediately. This is what made me decide that I needed to start taking care of myself, so that I could be there for my son, and be happy, fit, and healthy.

Dustin Maher’s book Fit Moms for Life takes you through 31 transformation stories, and he gives you tips to accomplish the same thing yourself!

FIT MOMS FOR LIFE chronicles the successes of 31 mothers who used Dustin’s fitness and weight loss program with stellar successes. Armed with personal stories with before and after photos, Dustin takes the reader through the five pillars of fitness: Mindset, Nutrition, Strength Training, Burst Training, and Environment. Ultimately leading to the end goal: Staying Fit for Life.

My Thoughts

If you like to read before and after stories for inspiration, this books for you. I absolutely loved reading about other moms, just like me, that met their goals. It is so inspiring to read about everyday moms making it happen. Dustin takes you through the simple steps of his program, which makes total since to me. He talks about eating healthy and “eating for fuel”, and he even talks about giving yourself two to three cheat meals per week! He also talks about exercise and different ways to fit into your schedule.

I found myself enjoying page after page of this book, and finding inspiration around every turn. I am finding it increasingly important to get fit, and pay attention to what you put in your body. This is a great addition to your library, and a great source of inspiration!

You can purchase this book HERE at Dustin’s site, Fit Moms for Life.

One of my readers will win their own copy of Fit Moms for Life!

Mandatory Entry:

You must leave a separate comment for each entry. If it says 2 extra entries, you must leave two separate comments for them to count, please.

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Follow Fit Moms for Life on Twitter

1 Extra Entry: Like “I Really Love Being a Mom” on Facebook

2 Extra Entries For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to my emails. Two extra entries for each way you follow!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this! You can tweet daily for an extra entry everyday! You can use this sample tweet:

Enter to #win your own copy of Fit Moms for Life by Dustin Maher @fitmomsforlife #Giveaway!!! @getinonthewins http://t.co/VSyy4Oc7

1 Extra Entry: Enter any of my other giveaways. One extra entry for each of my other giveaways you enter!

3 Extra Entry: Put my button on your blog! Leave me a link!

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to the post!

This giveaway will end on 1/17 at 10pm. The winner will be chosen by ramdom.org and will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. I received the mentioned chips for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

Homemade Play Dough!

2012-01-02T14:31:00.000-05:00

Luke and I made homemade Play Dough the other day. Luke loves playing with Play Dough at daycare but has never had any here at home, so I decided to try my hand at it. This was so easy to make, turned out perfect, and doesn't cost much at all. Some even got in my carpet and it came right out!

I made two batches to get this amount. It was so easy, I made both batches in less than 20 minutes!

Homemade Play Dough

1 Cup Flour

1 Cup Warm Water

1/4 Cup Salt

2 Teaspoons Cream of Tartar

1 Teaspoon Oil

Stir all ingredients together in a pan. Heat on medium, while constantly stirring until dough forms. Remove from heat and place dough onto parchment paper until it cools. Knead dough until it is smooth. Separate dough into sections and use food coloring to color. Knead the color into dough until you get your desired color.

That's it! I love that this used ingredients that I already had on hand, and that won't cost much!

I think next we will try our hand at homemade flubber!

Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips Review & Giveaway!

2011-12-30T18:48:00.003-05:00

If there is one thing that Luke loves, it’s a good potato chip. I would have to say this is one of his major weaknesses. I’m not a huge chip person, but when I find a good chip, it’s hard for me to turn them down. I have to say that I think we have both found a fondness for kettle chips, and Hawaiian Chips were no exception.

Hawaiian® Kettle Style Potato Chips has the Hawaiian tagline, “Lolo ‘Ono,” which translates to “Crazy Delicious,” Hawaiian® Kettle Style Potato Chips use the traditional Polynesian recipe that originated the Hawaiian® Kettle Style Potato Chip. Consumers who have yet to experience Hawaiian® Kettle Style Potato Chips and Snack Rings can look forward not only to superior taste and quality, but also to the artistic, colorful, tropical artwork that appears on every bag.

We received the Luau BBQ and the Sweet Maui Onion to try out!

My Thoughts

The first thing I noticed about these chips was the nice crispness that they had. I love a good crunchy chip, and these fit that bill. The Luau BBQ was spicy, but not too spicy. I was a bit skeptical about the Sweet Maui Onion, but was pleasantly surprised and found that this was my favorite.

Of course Luke was sitting right there with me when I opened these up and was waiting for his chance to taste test. He actually loved them both. I think the Luau BBQ may have been a bit on the spicy side for him, but he liked it. He ate is fair share of both!

If you’re a fan of kettle chips, or are craving a crisp crunchy snack, these won’t disappoint!

You can purchase these online at http://www.hawaiianbrandsnacks.com/

One of my readers will win their own assortment of Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips!

Mandatory Entry:

Head over to Hawaiian Brand Snacks and tell me which flavor you most want to try!

You must leave a separate comment for each entry. If it says 2 extra entries, you must leave two separate comments for them to count, please.

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Like Hawaiian Brand Snacks on Facebook

2 Extra Entries For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to my emails. Two extra entries for each way you follow!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this! You can tweet daily for an extra entry everyday! You can use this sample tweet:

Enter to #win an assortment of Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips #Giveaway!!! @getinonthewins http://t.co/xkHrO1EC

1 Extra Entry: Enter any of my other giveaways. One extra entry for each of my other giveaways you enter!

3 Extra Entry: Put my button on your blog! Leave me a link!

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to the post!

Zumba Fitness 2 for Wii Review!

2011-12-30T18:27:00.001-05:00

Yes, it’s that time again, where we all start thinking of getting into shape and losing weight. I, for one, am still fighting that battle, and have given it break for the holidays. This time though, I’m looking at it in a different light. I no longer have a certain number on the scale that I want to reach, I want to be fit. Which is why I’m going to make exercising a big part of my efforts this time around. It makes it hard when it’s cold outside, I love to go for walks, and that is one sure fire way I can fit in exercise. So in the winter months I really strive to find ways to fit in some workout time inside, where it’s warm. Zumba Fitness 2 for Wii is a fun way to fit in your exercise!

Four million players and counting have already discovered the exhilarating Zumba® Fitness interactive video game work out. Following the worldwide best-selling original, Zumba® Fitness 2 builds on that phenomenal success while elevating the exer-game category to a new high of fun, effective fitness. This cutting-edge experience layers in loads of new features and improvements, amps up the dance-fitness party and gives you even more ways to sculpt your body and party yourself into shape. Get ready for the sleek, sexy physique you’ve always dreamed of!

Features:

Get a total body workout with 32 electrifying new routines and music tracks, including hits from today’s hottest artists including Pitbull, Nicole Scherzinger and Yolanda Be Cool & DCup.
Follow along as celebrity Zumba instructors Tanya Beardsley, Gina Grant and Beto guide you through each routine. New 3D models of each instructor make playing the game feel like taking a real class with Zumba’s elite celebrity trio!
Learn 24 different dance styles across routines, from fan favorites like Merengue, Samba and Cumbia to new additions like Axe, Bollywood, Latin Pop, Ragga and Pasodoble.
Get in shape with four different game modes:

– Single Song: Dance a single routine of your choice. The new song preview feature gives you a feel for a track before you dive in and lose yourself in the music.

– Full Class: A work-out block of routines in 20, 45 or 60 minute formats. You can now create your own custom routines by saving a playlist of your favorite songs.

– Multiplayer: Up to 4 players can join the party in your living room with cooperative gameplay.

– Learn the Steps: Revamped tutorial mode lets you learn at your own pace by breaking down the core dance styles into the basics.

Get your party on in 5 stunning, dynamic environments, from a Miami Yacht to a LA nightclub. Watch the party grow as you match moves throughout each area!
New video cueing system makes the choreography easier to follow for new players.
New Progress Tracker lets you follow every stat relating to your gameplay, including: calories burned, trophies earned, overall rank, technique score based on how many moves matched overall, and more.
Approachable gameplay offers a full tutorial mode with Low, Medium and High Intensity routines tiered for all skill levels.
Affix the exclusive Zumba^® Fitness belt (included free in the game box) to your waist and slide the Wii Remote into the holster to dance hands-free.

My Thoughts

I am always up for trying out new games for the Wii. The whole reason that I bought a Wii in the first place was because I could use it for exercise, so when a new workout game comes out, I simply must try it. You could say I’m a Wii workout junkie! If only I could stick with it!

I already owned the first Zumba Fitness for Wii, so I knew the basics of what to expect. First I must say that I love the new graphics! To look at a “person” that looks more real is great.

The music on this ROCKS! It is all upbeat, fast paced, and fun. It is pretty easy to do, and my nieces played and had a blast. I followed along on my own with them, and didn’t even need the remote. It was so much fun, that you forget that your actually getting a workout. You can definitely get your heart rate up with this game, and there are different intensities to choose from. I love dance workouts, and this was no exception. I actually look forward to playing this!

This is a must have if your into working out with your Wii. I think it’s nice to have a variety of workouts to choose from to keep you from getting bored, and there is definitely a huge variety just on this one disc.

You can purchase Zumba Fitness 2 for Wii on Amazon HERE!

I was provided with the mentioned game for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

Kidtoons Dino Dan Prize Pack Giveaway!

2011-12-30T17:58:00.003-05:00

This month we have another awesome prize pack giveaway from Kidtoons! This month Kidtoons is featuring Dino Dan! While the weather is cold, and the holiday's are coming to an end, going to see a Kidtoons feature would be a great way to spend some quality family time! If you haven't heard of Kidtoons, you can go to their website HERE and see what they are all about!

Follow the adventures of paleontologist-in-training Dan Henderson as he imagines dinosaurs into the real world! Dan uses the scientific method to gather clues and solve mysteries. NCircle Entertainment Presents Dino Dan, filled with 4 action-packed adventures full of discovery!

He Shoots, He Roars: Dan figures out how to prove if dinosaurs were warm-blooded from Jim the reptile lizard and his puppet Denny the Dromaeosaurus. Bones in the Backyard: When Trek and Tristan find a bone in the schoolyard, Dan uses a paper-mache skull in Mrs. Hahn’s art class to figure out if it came from the Stygimoloch Active Imagination When a T-Rex backs down from a Triceratops, Dan learns that the T-Rex is a hunter AND a scavenger! To Flee or Not to Flee A substitute teachers encourages Dan and his classmates to engage in dinosaur role-playing)

This month’s prize pack contains:

One Dino Dan: Dino Trackers DVD
One Dino Dan theatrical poster

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me who you would like to win this for!

You must leave a separate comment for each entry. If it says 2 extra entries, you must leave two separate comments for them to count, please.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries: Sign up for the Kidtoons Birthday Club, if you already have, you can still take the five extra entries

1 Extra Entry: Like Kidtoons on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Kidtoons on Twitter

2 Extra Entries: Sign up for the Kidtoons newsletter

2 Extra Entries For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to my emails. Two extra entries for each way you follow!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this! You can tweet daily for an extra entry everyday! You can use this sample tweet:

Enter to #win Kidtoons Dino Dan Prize Pack #Giveaway!!! @getinonthewins @KidtoonFilms http://t.co/VrivoQnc

1 Extra Entry: Enter any of my other giveaways. One extra entry for each of my other giveaways you enter!

3 Extra Entry: Put my button on your blog! Leave me a link!

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to the post!

This giveaway will end on 1/17 at 10pm. The winner will be chosen by ramdom.org and will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. No compensation was received for this. These are my own honest opinions.

Why do we need a special occasion to be the person we want to be?

2011-12-19T21:20:00.000-05:00

It always seems like we need a special occasion or something major to happen for us to try to be the person we really want to be. Why is that? I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about what kind of a person that I really want to be, what kind of person I want my son to grow up to be.

I really want to be a kind and giving person. Someone who gives to those in need, even when I may be in need as well. I'm not talking about becoming a door mat here, so don't get me wrong, but being mean and rude and uncaring really hurts no one but ourselves. To extend a helping to hand to someone and not expect something in return. I want Luke to grow up knowing the satisfaction of helping out someone, of making someone smile, for nothing other than the satisfaction of it. I know this is a dog eat dog world, and I understand taking care of my family first....but when given the chance to help someone else out, I want to take that opportunity.

Changes are happening in my life and they don't have to be bad, they are only bad if I make them. I've done my fair share of feeling sorry for myself, and well, I'm not saying that I won't ever feel sorry for myself again, but, I guess what I'm trying to say is that change isn't always bad, it's all in how we look at it.

After losing my job, my income has decreased significantly. I hope not forever, but for now I'm trying to make ends meet on less. One change that is coming is that I'm turning off the satelite. I can't see paying $60 a month for tv that we only watch, oh about, 4 channels out of 120. There really is no sense in down grading because we won't watch those channels either, and switching will only make me have to sign a contract which I don't want to do right now. So, I bought a digital tv converter and an antenna and I'm going to hook it up and see what happens. Really I would be happy with local channels and pbs. Some people like to act like this is a life altering thing, in a bad way. No, it isn't. They way I look at it, it gives Luke and I more time to play, read, and do fun things. My dad says that Luke will be smarter for it, I agree. I only hope that Luke doesn't have Spongebob withdrawals, and I guess we can just watch episodes online if need be. I think this is going to be a good thing.

What do you guys think? Have any of you suffered a job loss or income reduction? What changes have you made? How have they affected your family?

Extending Two Giveaways!

2011-12-18T21:44:00.000-05:00

Alright guys, we have two awesome giveaways that haven't gotten any entries yet.

IamthatIam Book

F Bombs for Single Moms Book

I know someone must have a single mom friend or relative that would love to read these books and find some inspiration in them, I know I did.

You do not have to be a single mom to enter this and you don't have to be a single mom to benefit from them either. And remember, most single moms do not buy themselves things around the holidays, so what better way to show some love by giving them a book! You never know, you may just make her day :)

I'm going to extend the giveaway date for these until 12/28 at 10pm. If I have no entries by then, I'm going to take them down, so we need to get these entries in!! Plus, you get an extra entry into my other giveaways for entering!

Kidtoons Olivia Wintertime Cheer Giveaway!

2011-12-18T21:35:00.002-05:00

This month Kidtoons is featuring Olivia Wintertime Cheer!

Luke loves Olivia and will laugh out loud while he watches it, this is sure to be a great feature!

OLIVIA Talks Turkey

Olivia takes up turkey calling, and before long, she's attracted a turkey who refuses to leave her side!

OLIVIA's Snow Day

On a snow day, Olivia and her friend Julian form a news crew and track down the real story behind an alleged sighting of the legendary abominable snowman.

OLIVIA builds a Snow Lady

Olivia is thrilled when she's chosen to build the mascot snowman -or in her case, snowlady - for the annualMaywood winter festival. She's determined to build the biggest snowman anybody's ever seen! But when all the snow melts away, Olivia has to build her snowlady out of something else: cotton candy!

Princess for a Day

When a real live Princess comes to town, Olivia can't wait to meet her. But Olivia gets to do more than just meet her - when Olivia and the Princess realize that they look almost exactly alike, they make a plan to trade places! Olivia initially takes to life in the castle, but she soon misses her family, and realizes that being a Princess isn't all it's cracked up to be. When the royal family cuts their visit short, and decide to head home, can Olivia and the Princess swap back before it's too late?

If you haven't heard of Kidtoons yet, then head over to their website HERE and check them out!

This month Kidtoons has a great Olivia prize pack to giveaway to one of my readers!

This is what you will win (sorry no picture, they didn't have one for this month)

One Olivia: Princess for a Day DVD

One Big - Olivia Plush

One Mini - Olivia Plush

One Olivia Kaladeiscope

One Olivia Builds a Snowlady Book

One Olivia Princess for a Day Book

One Olivia Puzzle

One Olivia theatrical poster

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me your childs favorite t.v. show!

You must leave a separate comment for each entry. If it says 2 extra entries, you must leave two separate comments for them to count, please.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries: Sign up for the Kidtoons Birthday Club, if you already have, you can still take the five extra entries

1 Extra Entry: Like Kidtoons on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Kidtoons on Twitter

2 Extra Entries: Sign up for the Kidtoons newsletter

2 Extra Entries For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to my emails. Two extra entries for each way you follow!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this! You can tweet daily for an extra entry everyday! You can use this sample tweet:

Enter to #win Kidtoons Olivia Wintertime Cheer Prize Pack #Giveaway!!! @getinonthewins @KidtoonFilms http://t.co/3d9GgPgy

1 Extra Entry: Enter any of my other giveaways. One extra entry for each of my other giveaways you enter!

3 Extra Entry: Put my button on your blog! Leave me a link!

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to the post!

This giveaway will end on 12/28 at 10pm. The winner will be chosen by ramdom.org and will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. No compensation was received for this. These are my own honest opinions.

Rice Christmas Wreath Ornaments!

2011-12-16T10:26:00.000-05:00

Every year I try to come up with some great craft for us to make and giveaway as gifts to Luke's daycare teachers. In the past I've made snowman brick pavers, and terra cotta pot reindeer, but this year I needed something that would be cute but not expensive. I was looking at my best friends Christmas tree when I saw these cute little rice wreaths that her son had made at school. I had to have one! I looked on the internet and found the directions and we made a day and we all got together and made ornaments.

These ornaments are so easy and fun to make.

Rice Wreath Ornaments

Uncooked rice

Elmers white glue

Green food coloring

Red Hot candies

Put 1/4 cup of rice in a paper cup. Add enough glue to coat the rice well. Add in green food coloring until you get the desired shade of green.

Place mixture on wax paper and form into a wreath. You can use your fingers or a craft stick to do the forming, either way works.

Let dry several hours or overnight. Once dry, use glue or glue gun to glue on Red Hot candies for berries.

Use string or yarn to glue loop onto back of ornament for hanging.

I sprayed my wreaths with acrylic to seal everything and help keep the berries on. It made them have a shine. I like to spray everything with acrylic :)

Sorry I don't have any better pictures of this craft. I'm having problems with my memory card for my camera. It won't read half the time, and right now is that half of the time.

Honey Kissed Chocoalte Drop Cookies!

2011-12-16T10:02:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Luke and I spent the afternoon making cookies. I used a recipe that I found in one of my Mom's million holiday cookbooks :) I love the fact that Luke likes to bake with me. Mostly, he likes to use the mixer and get his hands dirty and taste each and every ingredient...but it's all good!

These cookies have no sugar in them...or eggs. At first I was a little scared that they weren't going to turn out, especially when I turned on the mixer after adding the flour and cocoa powder and it went POOF all over the place....but then we just used our hands and they turned out perfect. I like my cookies on the doughy side, so these are not my most favorite cookie, but they are good and very cute!

Just a few tips for baking these with a three year old:

You will end up with sprinkles everywhere. Seriously, sprinkles will go where no sprinkle has gone before!

That's ok because what's life without fun? So, I just let Luke go crazy with the sprinkles...he did refrain from eating them until I gave the ok..then when I said "you can eat the sprinkles now" he put a whole hand full in his mouth like he had been waiting his whole life to eat them :)

Honey Kissed Chocolate Drop Cookies

1 cup honey

6 tablespoons butter, softened

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Rainbow sprinkles

Chocolate candy kisses

Cream honey and butter until light and fluffy.

Beat in flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda.

Pour Rainbow sprinkles into separate bowl.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls.

Drop balls into rainbow sprinkles and roll around to coat.

Place balls on well greased baking sheet and gently press one kiss into center of each cookie.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Do not over bake.

Remove from baking sheet and cool.

This recipe says to beat in flour and cocoa powder. I wouldn't use the mixer because it all went poof when I turned mine on, I would use your hands and just smoosh it together until your dough forms.

F Bombs 4 Single Moms~Book Review & Giveaway!

2011-12-10T15:18:00.005-05:00

I have another awesome book review and giveaway from Christina Ciani! This is yet another awesome book for single moms. After searching the Internet for resources and stories from other moms, I realized that there is not a whole lot out there for us. Being a single mom is hard, but that doesn't mean that it can't be fun. Sometimes, you can feel as though no one cares, or no one knows how it feels to go through what you are going through, but that's wrong. That is why I was so happy to find F Bombs 4 Single Moms...a book to help you find bliss in everything that you do!

F Bombs are a way to change our minds. What we know, what we've learned in the past, isn't necessarily going to help us become remarkable achievers or daily divas of magical living. This list of 27 words and their use, are going to help you, if you use them every day, to be happier and better at everything you do. Reprogramming what we think changes problems into possibilities.

My Thoughts

If you've ever read self help books in the past, forget how they were, because you are in for a real treat. I've said before, there are signs in everyday life that tell us that everything is going to alright. Once again, when I received this book in the mail, it came to me as a sign of just that. This book is filled with inspiration about how to not think of yourself as a single mom, someone who is half real, but a "FiZGiG, I'm not afraid to craft my life, days, moments and memories no matter how bad the deck is stacked."

If you've been through a divorce, you understand how hard it is to keep your head up, especially when the divorce is a nasty one and it seems like nothing else could possibly go wrong, and we all know that when we feel that way, something else always goes wrong. So, being able to still find joy in the simple things, and enjoy life to the fullest no matter what, is a liberating thing. To know and understand how to give up what has happened to you in the past, forgive so your not burdened by pain, anger, resent, revenge, hatred or spite is freeing. This books tells all about how to achieve this.

I found it refreshing to read this, and found it amazingly inspirational. Just when you need it, God gives you the message you've been waiting for. It's so easy to just give up and let feeling sorry for yourself take away your happiness. It doesn't have to. You just need to learn how to see the great possibilities in every day. After reading this book, I left the laundry in the basket, the dishes in the sink and went outside and played with Luke. It didn't cost money, and it was a blast not only for Luke, but for me too. To me, playing is a stress reliever. I once asked my nieces (12 and 10) what their favorite memory was of being little, both of them answered "when mom played Barbies with us" Yep, that's right. It wasn't when they got their Ipods, or their laptops, it was when they played Barbies with their mother. That speaks volumes. F Bombs 4 Single Moms gives us the inspiration to see everyday for what it can be, what we should make it, not only for ourselves but for our children. This book helps us change the way we see ourselves as single moms, and the problems in our lives, and helps us get back to our "Funkified" life!

This book, along with Christina's other book IamthatIam, would make an awesome gift for the single mom in your life. Something that can be read again and again.

F Bombs 4 Single Moms is available in E-Book version by clicking the "buy now" tab below. Right now it is only $4.99!

You can also purchase this book in paperback form from Amazon HERE!

Once again Christina wants to give one of my readers their own copy of F Bombs 4 Single Moms! We are going to end this giveaway sooner than I normally would so that if you have a single mom on your Christmas list, you can get this to her in time!

Mandatory Entry

"Like" IamthatIam on Facebook

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Follow Christina on Twitter

1 Extra Entry: Become a follower of the IamthatIam blog

2 Extra Entries: Follow me on GFC, Subscribe to my emails, "Like" Lil Bit of Us on Facebook. Two extra entries for each way you follow. Be sure to leave separate comments for each way you follow for them to count.

1 Extra Entry: Share this on Facebook and leave a link. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday.

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can tweet once a day for an extra entry every day. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win a copy of F Bombs 4 Single, helping single moms find their bliss @blisstip & @getinonthewins #giveway #singlemom http://goo.gl/fb/iHmRo

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Put my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 12/14 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my email to claim their prize or I will choose a new winner. I received this book for review purposes only and these are my own honest opinions.

IamthatIam Book Review & Giveaway~Perfect Gift for Single Moms!

2011-12-10T13:02:00.008-05:00

Being a single mom is one of the hardest yet most rewarding things for a woman to experience. Single moms need all the help and support that they can get because, lets face it, they are human too. When I came across the IamthatIam book and the author Christina Ciani, I was searching for help, guidance and support through a terrible time in my life. I was feeling weak, and it felt like God himself sent this book to me. I am so thrilled to get the opportunity to share this book with other single moms, and give you guys the chance to win a copy of your own. This is probably the most near and dear to my heart review that I have written.

IamthatIam awakens the spirit and renews hope with the message” never give up because in the end God is always faithful to you.

My Thoughts

As I said before, when I found this book I felt as though God wanted me to read it. I found out about this book through a forum that I am member of where we share pitches for review and giveaway opportunities. Although I don't usually do book reviews, because after becoming a mom I don't have time to read them, when I saw the pitch for this book, I felt as though it was meant for me and had to contact Christina and see if she would work with me. I was excited when she agreed and eagerly awaited it to be delivered. I received the IamthatIam book and Christina's other book, F Bombs for Single Moms, and I opened the package, laid the books on the coffee table, to wait for time to read them. As Luke and I sat on the couch watching TV he saw the IamthatIam book on the coffee table and asked me to read it to him. Because it is a short book, I picked it up and started reading. This was a very trying time in my life to say the least, and, as I read the words in this book, I found myself fighting back tears because for me these words were speaking a message. "Do not be afraid of what I have called on you to do for this world." "I have chosen you, dear mother, because your heart is pure" Now I'm not a religious person, but I do believe in God and in prayer and believe that there are signs every day that everything is going to be okay if we just look for them. This book was one of those signs. Sometimes, when life is throwing everything at us at once, and we try to talk to our family and friends about our troubles, we don't really want advice. We want, and need, someone to just give us a hug and tell us that everything is going to be alright. For me, this book was my hug. Since coming into contact with Christina, I have gotten the opportunity to speak to her, and she is so wonderful, generous, and willing to listen.

The IamthatIam book is an awesome book, not only for single mothers, but mothers in general. The message in this book, although it may be short, speaks a thousand words when you are in need of that little nudge, that little voice that says "it's going to be alright."

I definitely feel that this book would be a great gift for single mothers, better than any body spray, or candle. Something that can be read, and heard over and over in those trying times in our lives, that are inevitable.

If you don't want to mess with entering this giveaway, you can order this book right here below. Just click on the "buy now" tab and it will take you directly to the shopping cart. Right now, it is on sale for only $14.99! I really hope that this book will end up in the hands of a single mom who needs it, much like I did.

Now, on with the giveaway!!!! Christina wants to give one of my readers their own copy of IamthatIam! We are going to end this giveaway earlier than I normally would so if you have a single mom on your Christmas list, you will have it to give to her!!

Mandatory Entry

"Like" IamthatIam on Facebook

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Follow Christina on Twitter

2 Extra Entries: Follow me on GFC, Subscribe to my emails, "Like" Lil Bit of Us on Facebook. Two extra entries for each way you follow. Be sure to leave separate comments for each way you follow for them to count.

1 Extra Entry: Share this on Facebook and leave a link. You can share this daily for an extra entry every day.

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can tweet once a day for an extra entry every day. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win a copy of IamthatIam, a must have book for single moms everywhere @blisstip & @getinonthewins #giveway #singlemom http://t.co/PvUwjMpK

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Put my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

Monogramed Christmas Stocking by Ugly Sofa Review!

2011-12-09T21:13:00.000-05:00

I have just recently been introduced to uglysofa.com and boy am I glad I was! They have some great slipcovers and some amazing kids products too!

I wish I would have known about uglysofa.com before I bought my new furniture. Do you guys remember the couches that were brown and had the pictures of cabins on them? Yes, that is what I had. I couldn't complain because it was free but boy was it not very pleasing to look at (to say the least). I would have loved to have one of the slipcovers to makeover that couch! Oh, and did I mention we had the matching recliner?? That furniture would have looked 100% better if it were covered by one of these slipcovers!

They also have some awesome stuff for kids as well! I love this Jumbo Colored Pencil Wall Hanging! It even has a chalkboard surface!

And I fell in love with this UglySak Anywhere Turtle Bean Bag Chair!

Isn't he just the cutest??

And right now they have what they call Recession Christmas Stockings, but don't be deceived by the name. These are the cutest Christmas stockings that I've seen!

Right now they are priced at just $4.99!!! That's right! How can you beat that price for a quilted stocking? These are very high quality that will last through the years! How do I know, well we received our own quilted monogrammed stocking for review!

I was very impressed with the quality of this stocking. It is so much nicer than the ones that you buy in the store and way cuter. I love that they had one in stock that had Luke's name on it, and I loved it so much that I replaced his baby's first Christmas stocking with this one.

The embroidery is great!

And I absolutely love the detail in the train!

You can't really tell in the picture but that train is corduroy!

I could go on and on about how much I love this stocking, but I must stop somewhere! You definitely don't want to pass up the opportunity to get your own quilted stocking from uglysofa.com, especially for $4.99! You can click HERE to purchase your own!

I received the mentioned product for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

ZipBin Review & Giveaway!

2011-12-09T20:25:00.003-05:00

Winner~Comment #38~Leann_Mac!

I love getting the opportunity to tell you guys about awesome toys! All too often we spend our hard earned money on toys that don't get played with, and that just sit on the shelf collecting dust. ZipBins are sure to be hours and hours of fun for your children!

Basically, ZipBins are a toy storage bin that unzips into a play mat and then zips back up with all the toys inside! This is an amazing thing to have, especially if your little one has tons and tons of little toys like cars, lego's, figurines, ponies and the like.

Neat-Oh! has a ZipBin for every childs interest too!

They have them for zoo animals

They have them for the digger in your life

They even have a Fairy Castle ZipBin as well!

This is just a small selection of the ZipBins that Neat-Oh has to offer. I know that I would love to have one of each for Luke!

We received the Train Depot ZipBin for review!

What’s the best soft sided storage for your fantasy theme world? This soft-sided, portable roundhouse opens to become a small village surrounded by train tracks with the same gauge as all popular wooden trains. The town, which borders farmland, includes several buildings, roadways and a construction zone. The ZipBin® Train Depot Playset is perfect for car and train enthusiasts. Includes two trains and every excuse to play conductor! When it’s time to refuel, take the trains back to the yard to stock up on coal and get ready for another day of travel.

My Thoughts

I think that Luke gets just as excited when we get a package in the mail as I do. When this package was delivered, Luke says "oooo what's in it?" I couldn't wait to open it and see what he thought of his new ZipBin. He couldn't wait to play with it and I could tell he was amazed by all the tracks and stations when we unzipped it and got it ready for him to play.

As you can see, the ZipBin unzips into an awesome play mat that has tons of tracks for the included train to ride on. The train is awesome in itself because it has two pieces that have a magnet that hold them together while playing.

When you zip your ZipBin up, it turns into a nice, neat little train station that holds all your trains, or whatever else you need to store in it! It even has a handle for easy carrying!

I love the ZipBin and would love to get more of them for Luke. His little imagination grows so much and his favorite thing to do is pretend so this toy is right up his alley. I love that we can store small toys inside and it still looks cool! And, this would even be fun to add in some animals along the tracks and maybe some people too! At $19.99, this is a steal!

Neat-Oh! wants to give one of my readers their own ZipBin! Winner gets to choose!

Mandatory Entry

"Like" ZipBin on Facebook

Extra Entries

1 Extra Entry: Head over to Neat-Oh! and have a look around. Come back here and tell me which ZipBin you might choose if you win

1 Extra Entry: Follow Neat-Oh! on Twitter

2 Extra Entries: Follow me on GFC, subscribe to my emails, "Like" Lil Bit of Us on Facebook. Two extra entries for each way you follow. Please leave two extra entries for each for them to count

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win your own ZipBin from @Neat_Oh & @getinonthewins Awesome toy and toy storage! http://t.co/W6dQwrgJ

1 Extra Entry: Share this giveaway on Facebook and leave a link. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday.

1 Extra Entry: For any of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Place my NEW button on your blog and leave a link. If you have my old button, you must replace it with my new one (the old one doesn't work anymore)

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 12/27 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond my email or I will choose another winner. I received the mentioned product for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

What do you think of the new look?

2011-12-08T00:10:00.001-05:00

So what do you guys think of the new design around here....and be honest?? I've worked almost all day today trying to get things up and going again, I know there are a couple more images that need to be replaced and I hope to get to those tomorrow. I don't like change, so I think it will take some time for me to get used to the new look around here. I'm also wanting to add some follow me buttons to link to my facebook and my twitter accounts, and add a share and tweet button to my posts to make sharing easy. If you have any suggestions for things you would like to see changed here, nows the time to chime in! I'm open to any suggestions...I want to make things as pretty and easy to look at as I can! And that goes for giveaways too, if you would like to see something different, let me know! I'm all ears!

I have some great giveaways coming up so stay tuned for that! One is going to be for single moms, so if your a single mom, or know of a single mom you will definitely want to keep your eyes open for that!

So, I hope everyone has been doing well. Luke and I have been doing great, getting ready for Christmas. We've got all of our decorations up, and are in full swing!

Oh, and one more thing..if you have my button on your blog, could you please change it out with my new one? The old one no longer works and if you enter giveaways, in order to take the extra entries for this in the future you will need to have my new button. Please and thank you!

Sorry for the Ugly Blog (Extra Entry Opportunity)!

2011-11-28T23:13:00.000-05:00

I'm so sorry for the blog being so wacky right now. All of my blog images were hosted on my Photobucket account. My Photobucket account was hacked and someone (I have a really good idea who did it, can we just say x?) deleted all my images.

So, now here I am with no images for my blog and no way of getting them back. I will have to start fresh and redo it myself because I don't really have the money to pay someone to do it for me. I'm sure I can figure it out, but I will have to do when I get time....which isn't right now. BUT, this will not get me down! I'll get this place looking spic and span once again, just bear with me for a bit.

And because no one likes to look at an ugly blog......you all can give yourself 3 extra entries into any of my current giveaways you have entered! Just put "ugly blog entry" in the comment section of the giveaway!

And hey, we needed to see some updated pictures on here anyways huh?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T10:19:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I have so many things to be thankful for!

I'm thankful for Luke and for the blessing of being his mommy :)

I'm thankful for my wonderful family who are always there for me and support me in everything that I do.

I'm thankful for my awesome friends who have my back when I need it, and not only celebrate the good times with me, they hold me up when I'm down!

I'm also thankful for our home and for the food that we eat. We really need to be thankful for each and every blessing that we are given, no matter how small and trivial they may seem. Though this has been a trying year, I have so many things to be thankful for, so many blessings in my life.

I hope everyone has a great day and gets to break bread with those you love.

Boogie Board~Review & Giveaway!

2011-11-23T09:18:00.003-05:00

Are you a list writer? Do your kids like to doodle and draw? Are you tired of waisting paper on the different things that need to be writen down and then just thrown away? Well, if so the Boogie Board by Improv Electronics is for you!

The original Boogie Board tablet that started a revolution. Ultra light (4 oz.) and thin (1/8″). One just isn’t enough. Get one for on the go, in the office and multiple places around the house. Almost anywhere you’d keep memo pads, sticky notes or scrap paper.

1.Erase your image with the touch of a button – and a friendly flash from the liquid crystal display – COOL!

2.Sealed 3V watch battery never needs replacing.

3.The Boogie Board tablet is an ultra 1/8″ thin and is easy to take with you in a purse, scheduler, briefcase or backpack.

4.The case and LCD are made from durable plastic materials. Safe for school use and all around the house, office and car.

5.The Boogie Board tablet’s pressure-sensitive LCD writing surface creates lines of different thickness based on how hard you push – just like paper and pen!

6.Write or draw with the included stainless steel stylus or any other suitable instrument – even your finger! You’ll never need to search for a pen or pencil again!

So, basically the Boogie Board is a writing tablet that you can write on and erase as many times as you want! It erases in a blink of an eye, you never need to replace the batteries, and you never need to waste paper or search for something to write with again!

My Thoughts

This has become a topic of conversation for anyone who has came to my house. Their first question is always "what is this?" and then once they get their hands on this writing tablet, they are always amazed! I have written so many lists on my Boogie Board, and I have drawn and doodled on this so much too! Luke has used this to draw faces, and my neices use this to draw on too. So much so that I had to set a timer so they could take turns on it!

There are so many uses for this, to do lists, to jot down notes, grocery lists, etc. The Boogie Board is small enough to fit in your purse and take it to the store with you. If you coupon, this would be great to jot down the deals you want to snag. You can hang this by your phone to jot down messages, and it comes with magnets so you can put it on your fridge too! I love that you can erase it over and over again, it's like an electronic magna doodle. It senses the pressure that you use to write with too, so when you write, it actually looks like your own handwritting. This would also be great for teaching your children to write their letters or their name too!

The Boogie Board comes in other great colors, including this awesome Green!

At $39.99 this would make the perfect gift for anyone on your list this year!

One of my readers will win their own Boogie Board!

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me why you want to win this!

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: "Like" Improv Electronics on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Improv Electronics on Twitter

2 Extra Entries: Like Lil Bit of Us on Facebook, Follow on Google Friend Connect, and/or subscribe to my emails. Take 2 extra entries for each way you follow.

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win Boogie Board: Awesome writing table! @Improv_Electron #giveaway @getinonthewins http://bit.ly/uxzHWR

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Put my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 12/6 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner. They will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner. No compensation was received for this post and these are my own honest opinions.

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-11-23T09:18:00.000-05:00

Getting my photography on again :)

Happy Feet Two Video Game for Wii Review & Quick Giveaway!

2011-11-22T17:05:00.003-05:00

Winner~Comment #98~Michelle!

Pump it Up is working in conjunction with the release of Happy Feet Two: The Videogame to get active and have fun together!

As part of this, they are hosting a video contest for kids and families (launched November 1st) to show off their “Happy Feet” by dancing, jumping, playing or doing any other physical activity on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/PumpItUpParty. The grand prize is a family home entertainment center!

I love that they are doing such a great giveaway, and encouraging something so important. Not only is it important for kids to get exercise, but playing with your children is such a fun activity to do! I love playing with Luke outside or inside, and he always has a huge smile on his face....and so do I! Plus, playing with your kids is a great stress reliever!

We received a copy of Happy Feet Two for the Wii to review!

It's Time to Get Happy! In the footsteps of the Academy Award winning Happy Feet comes a beat-bumping, musical adventure based on the coolest movie of the year. In Happy Feet Two: The Videogame, play as Mumble as he traverses the Antarctic landscape with his best friend Ramon to save their penguin tribe from extinction.

My Thoughts

Luke loves to play the Wii. I love playing the Wii with Luke, not only because it's fun but because it lets me fit in a little exercise while having fun with Luke. Luke was very excited when this game came in the mail. We put it in right away and tried it out. Your mission is to go through each level and collect peguin's by doing dance moves.

This game is a bit hard for Luke to play himself so I do have to help him, which I don't mind because I find this game very fun! You have to use the Wii remote and the Nunchuck to play this game. Luke uses the Nunchuck to make Mumble walk while I use the remote to do the dancing and smashing things that are in our way. Luke does a good job at navigating his way around, but sometimes needs some direction. This game is easy to catch onto, and I'm sure that kids that are a little older than Luke will have no problem with this. The graphics are great and I absolutely love the music! My only complaint is that at times I wish the game would zoom in a little closer so that I could see what we were doing a little better, this could be do to old age :) or the fact that we are using a 21 inch t.v. But despite that, this is one of my favorite games for the Wii and Luke and I have enjoyed playing this together a little bit everyday since we received it!

This would make a great gift or stocking stuffer as well!

One of my readers will win their own copy of Happy Feet Two: The Videogame for the Wii, valued at $49.99!

This is going to a quick giveaway so that the winner will be sure to receive it by the holiday's! So get your entries in as soon as you can! You don't want to miss out on this one!

Mandatory Entry:

"Like" Pump It Up Party on Facebook!

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Follow Pump It Up on Twitter

2 Extra Entries: Like Lil Bit of Us on Facebook, Follow on Google Friend Connect, and/or subscribe to my emails. Take 2 extra entries for each way you follow.

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win Happy Feet Two: The Video Game for Wii @pumpitupparty #giveaway @getinonthewins http://t.co/FyIxozN7

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Put my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 11/29 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner. They will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner. No compensation was received for this post and these are my own honest opinions.

BEARPAW Boots...For Boys!

2011-11-22T16:33:00.002-05:00

We all know that BEARPAW makes cute styles of boots and shoes for woman and girls....but did you know they made cute boots for boys too? I had no clue, but I am so glad I know now! There is nothing better in the cold winter than slipping your foot into a nice, warm, soft pair of boots! And Luke loves to wear a pair a boots any day!

Tom Romeo founded the BEARPAW brand in 2001 with the intention of redefining casual

footwear by utilizing sheepskin, nature’s own technical fabric, to create comfortable and stylish

shoes. Sheepskin naturally regulates body temperature so feet stay cooler and drier in the heat

and warmer in the cold.

In one of the most competitive footwear market segments, BEARPAW has carved out a niche

area by providing customers with comfort and sensibility to set itself apart. From slippers to

boots to casual footwear, only the finest materials are used to produce BEARPAW shoes. Built

to deliver quality and style, every pair of BEARPAW shoes focuses on comfort and fit, using the

highest standards of craftsmanship.

If your not familiar with BEARPAW boots, then you need to head over to their site and have a look around. Especially with the holidays coming up, a great pair of stylish boots is always a great gift for any child....young or old!

I love the Manhattan in Boysenberry for little girls! What little girl wouldn't love these!!

They also have the Stowe Boy for the little boy in your life!

These look great for a long day of sledding!

We received the Meadow Youth in Hickory to try out!

My Thoughts

I was so excited to receive these boots and see just how cute they were in person. It's hard to find cute boots for boys and usually while looking for just right the pair, I give up and go back to the old standard black rubber boots, which are fine but they aren't dressy enough to wear to something special.

When I took these boots out of the box, I could believe how soft they were inside! The BEARPAW website says that these have a cozy lining, and this is such an understatement! I can't help but put my hand inside them they are so soft and warm. Luke said "oooo, soft mommy" and he immediately wanted to try them on. Luke is like any other boy in that he loves to wear any pair of boots. He wore these around the house at first and I was pleased that the sizing was just right and they fit him perfectly. These are easy to get on, with no tight zippers or Velcro to come undone.

They look incredibly good with jeans, and just dressy enough to wear to special outings, but rugged and warm enough to wear outside to play.

It has been raining out for three days straight and today it was pouring cats and dogs when we went out to get Luke's haircut, and a quick trip to the store. I let Luke wear these out in the rain, and to my surprise, the rain didn't hurt these boots at all. They stayed on very well too, even getting in and out of the cart. In the past we have had problems with shoes coming off mid-run or getting in and out of carts so this was a pleasant discovery for me!

I am very pleased with these boots, and Luke loves to wear them as well. These will the perfect boot for playing in the snow, and will definitely keep Luke's little feet warm and dry!

Head over to BEARPAW shoes and check out the rest of their collection. While your their be sure to register and you can connect with BEARPAW on Facebook, Twitter, and you can register for their online magazine at http://bearpawstyle.com/!

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-11-16T08:01:00.000-05:00

I guess it is always more fun to play with the box!

Get Ready for Thanksgiving with Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit Book!

2011-11-15T14:50:00.000-05:00

So often Thanksgiving is passed over with the anticipation of Christmas. Store put out Christmas decorations right after Halloween, and people immediately start talking about Christmas. Thanksgiving is an important holiday to teach our children about. If your wanting a way to get your children excited about Thanksgiving, try reading them Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit by Norman Bridwell!

It's Thanksgiving--Emily Elizabeth's family is going to visit her grandparents and Clifford decides to go see his mom, who lives in the city; after the Thanksgiving meal, Emily Elizabeth and Clifford both rush home--thankful for each other!

My Thoughts

If your child is a Clifford fan, they are sure to love this book in the Clifford series. It tells all about Clifford's trip to see his mom on Thanksgiving. It's a cute book, full of Clifford's exciting adventures. This is definitely a great book to add to your collection!

You can purchase this book HERE on Amazon!

I received the mentioned book for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

Mommyhood Monday!

2011-11-14T09:46:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love it when you have time with nothing planned and you can just do whatever you feel like doing? Those are the best times, and those always seem to be the times when Luke and I have so much fun! Here recently we made the best cookies...Monster Cookies! I don't know if you've ever heard of them but they have no flour in them, just oatmeal, sugar, butter, eggs, chocolate chips, m&m's, and raisins. They were so yummy! And if you follow THIS recipe, you will have enough dough to make 100 cookies! Now we didn't make all 100 cookies, I made enough for myself and Luke and some extra to give to my parents and then I froze the rest which ended up being enough for two more huge batches! You have to try them! Of course Luke helped me, this is probably one of my favorite things to do with Luke. He loves to bake and it always tickles him pink when he gets to help.

After we made cookies, Luke and I just sat down and played. We threw the ball back and forth, which he is getting so good at. And then we sat down and played with his Little People Garage. "mommy play me" is something that I love to hear. It was so cute and before I knew it, we had played for over an hour! This is why I love times when nothing is scheduled and we get to just do what we want. Love those times!

Last weekend we went out to my parents and got to spend a little time with Miss Londyn. She is getting so big! And, I got to get some great pictures of Luke and my nieces too! One of these days I tell you, I will start taking pictures for other people other than myself! Here are a few of my favorites:

Ok, ok, maybe a few more than a few! I really love that last one, there is just something about it that makes my heart smile. I wish the sun flare wasn't in front of Kyla's face though. I can't wait to get our Christmas pictures taken!

Knex Roary Silver Hatch Garage Building Set~Review!

2011-11-13T16:53:00.000-05:00

We are really starting to love Knex products in my house. They really keep Luke entertained, and they foster his need to know "how it works" and his need to take things apart and figure them out! Our most recent Knex product that we were lucky to try out was the Roary the Racing Car Silver Hatch Garage Building Set!

Take a break from the race to tune up Roary® the Racing Car in the Silver Hatch Garage! Your child can build the Silver Hatch Racetrack Garage to really experience a day in the world of Roary®! Set includes 40 chunky pieces for easy building fun with buildable gas pumps, removable hood on Roary®'s car, floor mat, and other accessories for realistic and thrilling after-building play! Set also offers interactive packaging and an adapter that lets car run on popular train track systems you may already own. For ages 3+.

Your child can build the Garage from Silver Hatch Racetrack
Buildable gas pumps, removable hood on Roary®'s car, floor mat, and other accessories provide for realistic and thrilling after-building play
Included adapter lets car run on popular train track systems you may already own
Interactive packaging provides for more realistic play
Additional building ideas included

My Thoughts

Like I said before, I love the Knex building sets because Luke can use his imagination, and see how things are built and how they work. I especially love that they have building sets designed for younger children. Luke loves it when we get a Knex package in the mail. The Roary Silver Hatch Garage is definitely one of his favorites.

This is set is so great! It comes with everything you need for your own little garage, even a little wrench and tool box! I also love all the little details on this set too!

See all those cute little designs? See the little gas can? Love it! Luke loves this set and spends hours playing with it. He always asks "Mommy build me" and wants me to sit down and play with him. Usually when we build something, he always wants to immediately knock it down, but not this set!

Luke plays with this set for hours and would make a great gift for any child on your list! Head over to Knex and check out the Roary Silver Hatch Garage Building set and all the other awesome building sets that Knex has to offer!

I recieved the mentioned product for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

2011-11-13T15:59:00.001-05:00

Are you planning on purchasing some Melissa and Doug products for someone on your Christmas list? Well, Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

You are definitely going to want to take advantage of this offer! Melissa and Doug offer high quality toys!

I will receive a coupon in exchange for sharing this post. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

Tiny Prints 50 Christmas/Holiday Cards Giveaway!

2011-11-13T15:47:00.002-05:00

Tiny Prints has a beautiful collection of Christmas and holiday cards to offer this year! I love doing photo cards for Christmas, I love everything about it, from taking the picture, to creating the card, and then anticipating them coming in the mail. I haven't gotten our Christmas picture taken this year yet, but I have been trying to pick out which card I want to use this year. It's hard making a decision when there is so many great designs to choose from.

I love the Be Merry card! I think it has a great cheery look to it.

I also love how colorful the Fun Filled Christmas card is. I love the saying on it too.

I could go on and on about the designs that I love on their site. I can't wait to get started! This makes you want to do photo cards too, huh? Well, Tiny Prints wants to give one of my readers 50 Christmas or Holiday card of their own! How great is that!

Mandatory Entry:

Head over to Tiny Prints and have a look around. Come back here and tell me which card design you might choose if you win!

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Like Tiny Prints on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Tiny Prints on Twitter

2 Extra Entries: Like Lil Bit of Us on Facebook, Follow on Google Friend Connect, and/or subscribe to my emails. Take 2 extra entries for each way you follow.

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win 50 Christmas Cards from @TinyPrints #giveaway @getinonthewins http://t.co/cGmGPED2

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Put my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

Babar and Father Christmas DVD~Review & Giveaway

2011-11-09T13:43:00.003-05:00

Winner~Comment #20~Strawberry!!!

I pretty much love all Christmas movies. I love watching them to get us in the Christmas spirit and to me that signals that the holiday season is fast approaching! I love that I can now sit and enjoy these movies with Luke, and I love to add new Christmas titles to our collection. We recently were able to add Babar and Father Christmas to our Christmas movie list!

In this delightful holiday tale, Babar's children write a letter to Father Christmas to ask him to visit Celesteville at Christmas. Their letter, however, never arrives because it is stolen by Babar's Arch-enemy, Rataxes the Rhinoceros, who wants all of Santa's toys for himself! Can Babar find Father Christmas and save the day for Celesteville?

My Thoughts

I thought this was such a cute Christmas story! Luke loved it as well, and we sat on his blankey and had a picnic with popcorn while we watched it. This is a great addition to your movie collection and at $10.99 at Amazon, you can't be wrong. I, for one, love the animation in the Babar DVD's, and love that I can share these stories with my son!

One of my readers will win their own Babar and Father Christmas DVD!

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me what gets you and your family in the Christmas spirit!

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: "Like: BabarDVD on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow BabarDVD on Twitter

2 Extra Entires For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, and/or subscribe to my emails. You can take two extra entries for each way you follow.

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win Babar and Father Christmas DVD! #giveaway @getinonthewins @BabarDVD http://t.co/NEhurDVh

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Place my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 11/22 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. I received the mentioned dvd for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinons.

Kidtoons Thomas & Friends~Day of the Diesels~Giveaway!

2011-11-06T09:00:00.003-05:00

Winner~Comment #225~Suzanne!!!

We have another great giveaway from Kidtoons this month. If you haven't heard of Kidtoons, then head over to their website and see what they are all about!

This month the Kidtoons feature is Thomas & Friends~Day of the Diesels!

The Steamies and the Diesels face off in this action-packed movie adventure! When a fire breaks out on the Island of Sodor, two new firefighting engines - Flynn and Belle - join Thomas and Percy to save the day! When Thomas starts spending all his time with Sodor's newest heroes, Percy is left feeling alone. Diesel sees this and invites Percy to the Dieselworks, where Percy is made to feel special by none other than the master of mischief Diesel 10! But Percy doesn't know that he is part of Diesel 10's master plan to take over the Sodor Steamworks. Can Percy lead the Steam Team to reclaim the Steamworks or will the Diesels make it their new home? It's full steam ahead to sure-fire excitement in this all-new movie from Thomas & Friends™!

I wish that we had a theater near us that played Kidtoons! This would be great to take Luke to! If your lucky enough to have a theater near you that features Kidtoons, take your kids for some quality family fun! They'll love it!

Now, on to the giveaway! Kidtoons wants to give one of my readers a Thomas & Friends Prize Pack consisting of:

One Thomas & Friends™ TrackMaster™ Cranky & Flynn Save the Day!

(Fisher-Price, retail value $75)

One Thomas theatrical one-sheet/movie poster

This is an awesome prize pack, just in time for Christmas!

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me your favorite kids movie!

You must leave a separate comment for each entry. If it says 2 extra entries, you must leave two separate comments for them to count, please.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries: Sign up for the Kidtoons Birthday Club, if you already have, you can still take the five extra entries

1 Extra Entry: Like Kidtoons on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Kidtoons on Twitter

2 Extra Entries: Sign up for the Kidtoons newsletter

2 Extra Entries For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to my emails. Two extra entries for each way you follow!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this! You can tweet daily for an extra entry everyday! You can use this sample tweet:

Enter to #win Kidtoons Thomas & Friends Day of the Diesels Prize Pack #Giveaway!!! @getinonthewins @KidtoonFilms http://t.co/3d9GgPgy

1 Extra Entry: Enter any of my other giveaways. One extra entry for each of my other giveaways you enter!

3 Extra Entry: Put my button on your blog! Leave me a link!

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to the post!

This giveaway will end on 11/22 at 10pm. The winner will be chosen by ramdom.org and will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. No compensation was received for this. These are my own honest opinions.

Amazon Rain Lluvia camu c serum~Review & Giveaway!

2011-11-05T09:49:00.003-04:00

Winner~Comment #25~Soccermom1!!!

I can remember a time when I didn't have to worry about what I used on my skin. My complexion was clear and just plain old soap would do it. The older that I get, the more that I need to be choosy about the products that I use. My complexion is worse now than it was when I was a teenager and to add to that, I have a wrinkle. Yeah, I know "wow one wrinkle" but it is right between my eyes right where you look at me when I'm talking. And well, it bothers me. I've tried a lot of skin care products, but I have to be careful because the ones that say that they get rid of acne seem to make mine worse, and the ones that moisturize, make my skin oily. So I was happy to try something different when I got the chance to try out Amazon Rain Lluvia camu c serum!

Caress your skin with a topical infusion of all-natural antioxidants every time you use Camu C Serum. This superior treatment serum penetrates deep into the skin's surface, delivering key anti-aging nutrients and stimulating healthy collagen production. As a result, your skin looks younger, feels firmer, and glows just like it should!

My Thoughts

I've been using the camu c serum for a few weeks now. At first glance, when I put a drop of the serum on my finger, the color put me off a bit, it is a brown color. I'm so used to products with artificial colors that it took me a while to get used to this natural look. Don't get me wrong, the brown is a good thing. The last thing I want going on my skin is some kind of artificial chemical. I smoothed this over just my trouble spot (the wrinkle) the first time I used it just to make sure I didn't have a bad reaction. I didn't have a reaction at all so the next night I smoothed this over my whole face. I was pleasantly pleased with how it instantly made my face feel and look tighter. It did give me a glow as well. I continued to use this for a few weeks and am still pleased with the results. My wrinkle is less noticable, which makes me very happy and I plan to continue to use this product.

And as an added bonus, every single sale all year round supports two movements: ACEER and Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Center. One of my readers will win their own Amazon Rain Lluvia Camu C Serum!

Mandatory Entry:

Subscribe to the Amazon Rain Emails

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Follow Amazon Rain on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Amazon Rain on Twitter

2 Extra Entires For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, and/or subscribe to my emails. You can take two extra entries for each way you follow.

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win @AmazonRain Lluvia Camu C Serum! #giveaway @getinonthewins http://t.co/NdaVZx4j

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Place my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 11/22 at 10pm and is open to U.S. only. I will use random.org to choose a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner. I received the mentioned product for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

Zippies~Pals That Hang Around~Review & Giveaway!

2011-11-04T19:04:00.003-04:00

Winner~Comment #11~Katrina!!!

If you have any children in daycare or that go to school, you know the importance of keeping their things separated from everyone elses, as well as making sure that emergency contact information is on hand at all times. Zippies helps you with both!

What are Zippies you ask? Well, Zippies are round, flexible, characters help children to identify their things by simply clipping them onto any belonging -- water bottles, lunch boxes, backpacks, jackets, and even bicycles. Each collectible Zippies ID tag features a different character on one side with a place for contact information on the other.

Zippies give kids a fun and easy way to keep track of their stuff while parents rest assured that emergency contact information (last name and parent’s phone number) is with them at all times. Use the rubber loop - or detach it to clip the pal on a key ring. They can even help prevent the spread of germs by identifying water bottles and teach children the importance of being responsible for personal belongings. These kid collectibles can also prevent constant arguments over their belongings.

Available in 10 different characters, such as a walrus, Wally, or frog, Faina, Zippies sell for $3.99 each, $15.95 for a five pack or $29.95 for the entire limited-edition first series.

My Thoughts

I think the Zippies are great for marking your childrens things. So many times they can get their things mixed up with those of friends, and especially with drinks, they can spread a cold germ faster than you can blink. These keep everything marked and come in handy for daycare, and would definitely come in handy for school as well. I love that these are cute so it's not something that an older child would hate to have hanging around. I gave one of these to my nephew that is in kindergarten and he loved it, as did his mom.

Another great feature is that you can write your name and phone number on the backs of these so if something is lost, it can be returned. Just think: bookbag left on school bus~this tells the bus driver who it belongs to! That's great! I recommend these for anyone with children in daycare or school.

One of my readers will win a set of 5 Zippies!

Mandatory Entry:

Head over to the Zippies website. Come back here and tell which of the Zippies you like best!

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Follow Zippies on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Zippies on Twitter

2 Extra Entires For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, and/or subscribe to my emails. You can take two extra entries for each way you follow.

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win a set of 5 Zippies! @Zippiesfun @getinonthewins #giveaway http://t.co/dlBIBe2V

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Place my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

Kidz-Med VeraTemp Non-Contact Thermometer~Review & Giveaway!

2011-11-03T19:08:00.003-04:00

Winner~Comment #26~S!!!

It doesn't matter if we like it or not, cold and flu season is among us. I know that there are a lot of family members of ours that have came down with one form of sickness or the other, and even Luke and I have been battling a cough. It's hard having a sick child, and anything that claims to make it a little bit easier on them, I'm up for trying out. I was excited when I heard about the Kidz-Med VeraTemp Non-Contact Thermometer!

The Kidz-Med® VeraTemp® Non-Contact Thermometer provides convenience and accuracy in a trauma-free, parent tested and FDA approved thermometer. With VeraTemp® non-contact technology, there is no need to upset, startle or wake your child when taking their temperature. The elegantly designed Kidz-Med® VeraTemp® gives instant readings in Celsius and Fahrenheit and is easy to use with fussy or combative patients. The non-contact technology also allows you to use the thermometer to take other temperatures around the home like babies bath, bottle or nursery. This superior, non-contact thermometer delivers Truth, Accuracy and Precision® ... It is temperature taking, redefined.

•No need to touch, startle, upset or wake your child completely touch free!

•Pediatrician recommended

•Proven accuracy

•Safe, hygienic and easy to use

•Instant reading: measures temperature in the time it takes you to press the button!

•Back-lit LED display, take temperature in the dark while child is sleeping

•No probe covers needed

•Multi-Use: measures any temperature including core body temperature, nursery, bath, formula, food

•Celsius or Fahrenheit

•Affordable

My Thoughts

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this non-contact thermometer. Luke most definitely does not like to have his temperature taken. So between fighting him to let me put the thermometer under his arm, and fighting him to leave it there...he gets upset and that's the last thing I want for my sick baby. I've tried other thermometers in the past, like the ones you can buy that you just touch it to their temple and it wasn't accurate at all. I couldn't trust it. So the first thing I did when I got the VeraTemp thermometer was to test it out. I took my own temperature with it and with the regular old digital thermometer. The VeraTemp was just as accurate! Thank goodness!

You don't have to touch your skin with this thermometer, just hold it a couple inches away from your forehead and push the scan button. It almost instantly tells you your temperature. No fighting or squirming required! It will read in Fahrenheit and in Celsius as well. And, the screen turns colors depending on the temperature read. So if the temperature is normal, then the screen will be green, if it is in the low grade range it will turn orange, and if it is high it will turn red. I have to say that I am beyond pleased with this thermometer. My sister in law saw this thermometer and instantly asked "where can I buy one and how much" Well, you can buy the VeraTemp Non-Contact thermometer at major retailers like CVS and Walmart and it only costs $39.88 at Walmart! That's a great price for something that will come in handy when it is most needed. And, this would make a great baby shower gift! I would have loved to have had one of these when Luke was a baby!

One of my readers will win their own VeraTemp Non-Contact Thermometer!

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment telling me why you would want this!

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Follow Kidz-Med on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Kidz-Med on Twitter

1 Extra Entry: Subscribe to the Kidz-Med Emails

2 Extra Entires For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, and/or subscribe to my emails. You can take two extra entries for each way you follow.

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win a VeraTemp Non-Contact Thermometer! #giveaway @getinonthewins http://t.co/3RfXLcMR

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Place my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 11/22 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner. I received the mentioned product for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

eShakti~Beautiful Women's Clothing~Review & Giveaway!

2011-10-22T17:35:00.003-04:00

Winners~Comment #28~Sarah Hull
Comment #41~soccermom1

For the most part, I don't enjoy shopping for clothing. I can never find anything that is my style. Some of it has to do with my weight but most of it has to do with stores not carrying much selection. And I have always been too scared to shop online for clothing for myself. Sure, I've bought clothes for Luke online with confidence but for me...no way. eShakti has taken away that fear!

Our Mission:

• To make every customer look her absolute best.

• Provide amazing styles and a wide variety of fabrics and color choices in all sizes from 0-26.

• Ensure the best possible fit and fall by providing all customers with the ability to personalize any item.

Our Vision:

• One size does not fit all and all sizes are not created equal. For too long women have been forced to conform to standard sizing that too often doesn’t fit properly.

• At eShakti, a woman can shop for exactly what she wants - no compromise, no premium to pay. She can ask for the fabric, color, body, styling and sizing that she likes. Never again will a woman have to hear that her size is not available.

Our Policy:

• Offer trendy, comfortable styles in a selection of fabrics.

• Provide the full size selection from 0 to 26W. We also offer custom sizes.

• Empower the customer by providing the option to change the styling to suit her body.

• Simple, no hassle, money-back guarantee on sales returns.

• All items, including custom orders are shipped in 3 days or less and should arrive at your door within 7 days.

While browsing eShakti I was in shopping heaven! They had so many styles that I loved, that would flatter my body!

I thought this Hem Knit Top was beautiful!

And this Beaded Empire Waist Tulle Illusion Dress is breathtaking!

After ~~drooling~~ browsing their site, I finally chose the

My Thoughts

I am one that tries on everything before I buy it. Everything fits differently and I hate to buy something I really love only to find out it doesn't look good on me. I was a little scared ordering something online, but the eShakti site made it easy. You can easily customize your clothing to fit you because they let you give them your actual measurements so you are guaranteed a great fit! You won't find this in any store! One thing that I found that I loved was the fact that they have you give them your height. I'm pretty short, so dresses and longer shirts never fall where they should and usually don't look good on me, this feature is a must have for me.

I received the Pastorale Melange Tee for review.

When my top arrived, I was so happy with it! I loved how soft the material is and how comfy it is to wear. I love the fit and it's a dressy top that I can wear to work or to special places (like interviews) yet it is still comfortable enough to wear all day. The details on the shirt are great, even the buttons have beautiful print on them!

I wish I was brave enough to wear a dress because eShakti has so many beautiful dresses to choose from. And I know with their custom sizing, I would get the best fit for me.

eShakti wants to give two of my readers a $20 gift certificate!!

Mandatory Entry:

Head over to Eshakti and have a look around. Come back here and tell me your favorite item!

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: Follow eShakti on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow eShakti on Twitter

1 Extra Entry: Subscribe to the eShakti newsletter

2 Extra Entires For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, and/or subscribe to my emails. You can take two extra entries for each way you follow.

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win 1 of 2 $20 @eShakti gift certificates! #giveaway @getinonthewins http://t.co/ycSO9WGn

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Place my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 10/26 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner. I received the mentioned product for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

Fit Moms For Life DVD Review & Giveaway!

2011-10-21T13:25:00.003-04:00

Winner~Comment #2~Miller Racing Family!

In my quest to become fit (yes I know it is a slow quest, but one that I am bound and determined to do) I am always searching for workouts geared towards moms. At the same time, I want to know that it is going to work, and when I can see it work on real life women...it inspires me to do it too. Fit Moms for Life is a great workout dvd series that gets you moving and keeps you changing it up.

The Fit Moms For Life Monthly DVD program is perfect if you like to have structure and know what you are going to do each and everyday. This is our most comprehensive program and it includes eating plans along with the workouts. You can try out this monthly program for just the cost of shipping ($7.95) and there is no obligation to continue, just email us if you want to cancel. Each DVD contains a full 60 minute workout that contains 30 minutes of body toning strength training, 10 minutes of tummy toning abs, 8 minutes of burst training to burn the fat, and a nice warm up and cool down. It also features a 12 minute cooking or nutrition segment followed by an interview with the mom featured in the DVD. This is a 12 month program and each DVD progresses upon the previous. After a year you will be in unbelievable shape! The monthly program only costs $39/month which includes all taxes and shipping.

My Thoughts

I must say that I think that the "series" idea for this great. You may think "gee I need a whole series" but I love the idea of a new dvd coming in the mail every month. It keeps you motivated and keeps you from getting bored. I don't care how much you love a workout dvd, after a while they all get boring. This would definitely keep me interested and motivated. Each dvd progresses from the next, so you are taking your workout to another level each month. The dvd's feature a cooking and nutrition segment which you don't find on other dvd's and it also features a real life mom too! You do need an exercise ball and dumbbells for these exercises so if you don't have them, you will need to buy them, but I find that these are great things to have on hand anyways. They way this dvd is set up, you can select which section you want to do, wether it is cardio or strength or toning, and then you can select which specific exercise you want to do in that section. You can also choose to play all, and watch the whole dvd. This isn't like your typical workout dvd though. It's not set in a fancy studio or with a room full of models working out, it is a pretty plain setting with just Dustin and the mom of the month. In my opinion, it is like having your own personal trainer in your home which is nice for mommies. Dustin instructs you on proper form for each exercise. I have to say that this is kind of slow moving for me. There is too much time between exercises, but the exercises are effective. I received the first dvd in this series, so I'm not sure if the pace speeds up on the later dvd's in the series. But I do have to say that I needed that break in between on some of the exercises!

One of my readers will win their own copy of Fit Moms For Life!

Mandatory Entry:

Head over to Dustin Maher Fitness and have a look around. Come back here and tell me another product you like.

Extra Entries:

2 Extra Entries For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, and/or subscribe to my emails. You can take two extra entries for each way you follow!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win your own copy of Fit Moms For Life #exercise DVD! @getinonthewins
http://t.co/3HSdbPvZ

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Place my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 10/26 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my email to claim their prize or I will choose another winner. I received the mentioned dvd for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

Water For Elephants Coming Out on DVD November 1st!

2011-10-20T10:25:00.000-04:00

If you are looking for a great romance movie for your movie night, Water For Elephants will be out on blu ray and dvd on November 1st!

Take a journey back in time with the romantic tale based on Sara Gruen’s New York Times #1 Best-Seller novel of the same name, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, coming to Blu-ray and DVD on November 1st from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Starring Academy Award®-winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk The Line), Robert Pattinson (Twilight series) and Oscar®-winner Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), the film presents an epic tale of forbidden love in a magical place filled with adventure, wonder and great danger. Showcasing the decadence of a bohemian circus and the majesty of its animals against the backdrop and beauty of a bygone era, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS makes the ideal holiday gift idea for your favorite film buff, fashionista or book-lover!

Devastated by the sudden death of his parents at the height of The Depression, a young dreamer from the wrong side of the tracks, Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson), abandons his veterinary studies at

Cornell University. With no other family, no house, and no money, Jacob stows away on a train carrying the circus performers of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Hired as a veterinarian to care for the troupe’s animals, Jacob is temporarily filled with the promise of an exciting life that comes with a traveling circus troupe. However, as he builds a rapport and falls in love with the star of the show, Marlena (Witherspoon), they become prey to the circus’s owner, Marlena’s violent and abusive husband August (Waltz). As the circus begins to crumble from within and against all odds, Jacob and Marlena come together and fall in love through their compassion for a special elephant. With their love on the line, Jacob and Marlena come to a crossroads that will forever change their destiny.

Directed by critically-acclaimed filmmaker Francis Lawrence (Constantine), WATER FOR ELEPHANTS features fantastic supporting performances from Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl), Jim Norton (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), Mark Povinelli (The Polar Express), Richard Brake (Batman Begins), and Academy Award®-nominee Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild).

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS will be available on Blu-ray and DVD in the U.S. Pre-book is September 21st.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this romanitic movie. The story is great! I've wanted to see it since I saw the previews for it when it was in theater's but I don't go to the movies much. It definitely was as good as I expected! If your a fan of Robert Pattinson this movie doesn't disappoint. His character is great! You are not going to want to miss this one!

I received the mentioned dvd for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-10-19T20:44:00.000-04:00

Just having a little fun!

Pipsqueak Boutique Review!

2011-10-18T11:01:00.000-04:00

If your like me, when it's your child's birthday you like everything to be festive...even the clothes that they wear. This year since we had swimming at Luke's party he didn't have any special clothes to wear, but next year I know where I'm going to get his birthday shirt, Pipsqueak Boutique!

Pipsqueak Boutique launched in 2005 after the birth of my first niece. With her arrival I was thrown in to a world of baby products I never knew existed. I couldn't get enough of hunting for cute baby gear for this sweet little girl. When I moved shortly after from a city of 3 million to a small town with only 70,000 people there was no longer the selection I had grown used to. My solution to the problem was simple, start my own store and make a business out of what I enjoyed.

Five years and two kids of my own later, I still love hunting for great baby products. As the owner of Pipsqueak Boutique I have the amazing job of choosing the most unique products for babies. My criteria is simple: it has to be high quality, affordable and unique enough to pass the “giggle test”.

Pipsqueak Boutique has the cutest birthday shirts for toddlers. I mean, who could resist this cute Firemen birthday shirt?

Or this adorable Cupcake Tutu Dress!

They also have a very cute selection of personalized 1st birthday shirts like this birthday prince personalized shirt! And they have for the princesses too!

They have a huge selection of personalized shirts for everyday wear too. I was able to choose a personalized shirt for review. Luke helped me pick out the Construction Zone Personalized Shirt!

My Thoughts

I loved picking out this shirt. I had such a hard time picking out which style I wanted to get because I loved them all. Luke picked out this style so that is what we went with. This shirt is so cute. The fit is great and it is comfy for Luke to wear. This shirt is super soft, so soft that Luke even noticed! It fits perfectly, with just a enough room to grow.

I love the personalization and this style of shirt is great for fall weather. The colors are so vivid and haven't faded after washing.

I definitely want to go out and get some pictures of Luke wearing this shirt, and if you plan on having pictures taken of your child, these clothes would be great.

I love that they had cute styles not only for girls but for boys too. That is always something that I'm looking for in a store. They even have a little pumpkin personalized shirt too for halloween!

Be sure to head over to Pipsqueak Boutique and check out their selection. You are sure to find something that you and your child will love!

I recieved the mentioned shirt for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

Mommyhood Monday!

2011-10-17T11:58:00.000-04:00

Luke never ceases to amaze me with his big personality. He is such a goof ball at times and loves to make people laugh. He knows what he wants and he knows how to get it! He has no problem with begging and pleading either and if all else fails he will pull out the "plllllllleaaaassseee" trick, not that it ever "ahem" works :)

Here are Luke's likes and dislikes at this point in age 3:

Favorite Food: "roni and cheese" translation: Macaroni and cheese. But only the kind you make with butter and milk, no cheese sauce for this boy.

Favorite Show: Spongebob Squarepants. Although I don't like this show and never wanted him to watch it, he has somehow learned to love it and knows all the characters names by heart.

Favorite Toy: He plays with pretty much anything and has such a vivid imagination that even a hair barette becomes a steering wheel. I would have to say that he loves playing with his action figures the most, and his robot rubber duckies. Cozy Coupe is always a favorite too.

Favorite Movie: Toy Story is still hanging in there but he also loves The Brave Little Toaster and Happiness is a Warm Blanket Charlie Brown too.

Favorite Drink: Still chocolate milk!

Favorite Saying: "How it works?" Most kids say why, but Luke asks how it works. He wants to know how everything works, even if it's just a peice of bread! I figure that soon he will be tearing things apart to find out really how they work and not just mommy's explaination.

Luke still has his blankey and doesn't like to leave home without it. He loves to help out around the house with sweeping, mopping, cleaning, or anything that I am doing. He loves to bake and will help me cook anything. He knows how to crack an egg, I just wish he would eat them! He is still a picky eater but I'm working with him to try new foods. The other day he asked for a sandwich, I made him one but he only played with it. I was hoping that eventually he will get curious and take a bite. I think he has a thing with texture. Although he is picky, he still grows like a weed and puts on weight!

He is becoming increasingly affectionate and will tell me he loves me just out of the blue. There is nothing more I love to hear than him saying "I love you mommy" That just makes my day.

Luke continues to love art. He loves to paint and color and do crafts. He glued eyes, ears and tongue on his little pumpkin. He also loves to play spin art on Nick Jr. and I wonder how he would do with the actual spin art. I want to try different things with him like painting with bubbles and things like that. He loves those types of things.

Everyday is a new adventure for Luke and I try my best to foster his imagination and we play everyday. He is such a smarty, and I ask him questions about his colors and shapes in everyday conversation. His new thing is "C L Lukie" Yes he calls himself Lukie. But, he knows his name has an L in it but for some reason he thinks it has a C in it too :)

3 is such a fun age, and I keep finding new things for us to do and try.

I love you Lukie with all my heart and I am very proud to be your mommy! I hope that someday you will look back at this blog and read about what you were like, and it will bring back great memories!

Getting Ready for Christmas with Tiny Prints!

2011-10-16T10:10:00.000-04:00

This time of year I start thinking about the holiday's. One thing in particular that always crosses my mind is our Christmas cards. Since Luke was born, I've always taken our Christmas card photo myself and I always try to do something cute and unique. I always start coming up with ideas months before Christmas so I can have the perfect pose. I get all our Christmas cards online and Tiny Prints has a great selection!

I really love the vintage look of their Banner of Dreams card!

I love that this card features the photo on the whole front of the card.

I am also loving the Santa's Little Helpers card too! I always include our doggie Jake in our cards and this would be too cute for that!

I love the colors and the saying of the Creative Christmas card too!

With Tiny Print's selection, I'm definitely going to have a hard time deciding which design to go with this year! I'm getting excited about the holidays!

I will receive 50 free cards for writting this post. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions. If you would like to participate in this Tiny Prints blogging program you can go HERE.

Kidtoons Spookley the Square Pumpkin Prize Pack Giveaway!

2011-10-15T19:05:00.003-04:00

Winner~Comment #145~Lori!

This has to be my favorite giveaway from Kidtoons yet! This month Kidtoons is featuring Spookely the Square Pumpkin!

In a world where "the only good pumpkins are round pumpkins," Spookley the Square Pumpkin is often teased by the other pumpkins because of his square shape. Soon, Spookley is befriended by Edgar, Allan and Poe, three hilarious spiders, who convince Spookley that, square or not, he has a right to be the "Pick of the Patch" on Halloween. A square pumpkin the "Pick of the Patch"? Not if mean round pumpkins Big Tom and Little Tom can help it. These two bullies tease and taunt Spookley because of his square roots. Although he is encouraged to continue to become the "Pick of the Patch" by kindly Jack Scarecrow and his bat sidekicks, Boris and Bella, Spookley isn't sure he has what it takes until a mighty storm threatens to destroy the entire patch. As the storm rolls the round pumpkins across the patch towards a raging river below, Spookley's square shape helps him save the day. Spookley realizes "it's fine to be round while the weather is fair, but there are times it's better to be a square!"

And, October is National Bullying Prevention month and Spookley the Square Pumpkin has been named the official Spokes-Pumpkin through a partnership with PACER Center. PACER, a national organization based in Minneapolis, Minn., works to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of all children and young adults, including those with any disability, and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents . "The culture of bullying won't end until people across the country take action and show children and teens that they care," says Julie Hertzog, director of PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, which sponsors the month. "We love the way Spookley touches the heart and the mind with his message of tolerance and acceptance."

My Thoughts

If you have a theatre near you that shows Kidtoons, you will definitely want to take your children to see this. Luke has the Spookley DVD and it is one of his favorite movies to watch. He watches this all year round. It is a cute story with a great message behind it. It's a great way to celebrate Halloween and some awesome quality family time!

Kidtoons wants to give one of my readers a Spookley the Square Pumpkin Prize Pack containing:

One Spookley whirly flashlight

One Spookley DVD

One Spookley Square Pumpkin plush

One Spookley hardcover book

One Spookley theatrical one-sheet/movie poster

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me your favorite Halloween tradition!

You must leave a separate comment for each entry. If it says 2 extra entries, you must leave two separate comments for them to count, please.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries: Sign up for the Kidtoons Birthday Club, if you already have, you can still take the five extra entries

1 Extra Entry: Like Kidtoons on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Kidtoons on Twitter

2 Extra Entries: Sign up for the Kidtoons newsletter

2 Extra Entries For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to my emails. Two extra entries for each way you follow!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on twitter and tweet about this! You can tweet daily for an extra entry everyday! You can use this sample tweet:

Enter to #win Kidtoons Spookley the Square Pumpkin #Giveaway!!! @getinonthewins @KidtoonFilms http://t.co/3mhN1nJF

1 Extra Entry: Enter any of my other giveaways. One extra entry for each of my other giveaways you enter!

3 Extra Entry: Put my button on your blog! Leave me a link!

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to the post!

This giveaway will end on 10/26 at 10pm. The winner will be chosen by ramdom.org and will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. No compensation was received for this. These are my own honest opinions.

Freschetta Proud To Support Pink Prize Pack Giveaway!

2011-10-15T18:42:00.003-04:00

Winner~Comment #15~Teresa!

October is National Breast Cancer awareness month and Freschetta is doing their part to support reasearch by presenting the Freschetta Proud to Support Pink Program! From September 25th to October 31st when you purchase specially marked packages of Freschetta pizzas and Artisan Pizza Crusts you will be helping them reach their goal of a $50,000 dontation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Specially marked packages are printed with codes that you can enter at http://www.proudtosupportpink.com/ For each code entry, the makers of Freschetta products will donate a $1 to this center to support breast cancer research, up to $50,000. You can also go to the Freschetta site and share your breast cancer journey or the journey of a friend or loved one. These stories will be displayed on http://www.proudtosupportpink.com/ and on their Facebook page to inspire all those who read them.

They are also giving away 50 pink iPod shuffle players each week in October as part of a giveaway on the site to encourage participation and sharing in this program. Additionally, 50 pink iPod Shuffle players will be donated each week in October to four cancer centers around America to be enjoyed by breast cancer patients during treatments.

I think it is great that this month there are so many companies pitching in to help out this cause. Breast Cancer affects so many families and doesn't discriminate. The women who are affected are our mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, and best friends. I just want to say thank you to Freschetta and all the other companies who are doing their part to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a blessing to so many.

And to help spread the word, Freschetta wants to give one of my readers a prize pack containing: A coupon to try Freschetta pizza, 12 oz. or larger and Two pairs of Freschetta Proud to Support Pink earphones! One pair is for you to keep and enjoy and the pair is for you to share with an in-real-life pal or family member as a reminder of proactive health!

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me how you or somone close to you has been effected by breast cancer.

You must leave a separate comment for each individual entry. If it says 2 extra entries, then leave two comments, please.

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry: "Like" Freschetta on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow Freschetta on Twitter

2 Extra Entries For Each: Follow me on Facebook, Google Friend Connect and/or Subscribe to my emails. You can take 2 extra entries for each way you follow!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win a @Freschettapizza Prize Pack in honor of their Proud to Support Pink program! @getinonthewins http://t.co/Cv22uccE

3 Extra Entries: Place my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

I was contacted by the makers of Freschetta Pizza and provided products for me to review, but these opinions/thoughts/ideas are my own. No other compensation was received. This giveaway will end on 10/26 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner.

Can You See What I See~Toyland Express Review!

2011-10-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Now who doesn't love a good search and find book? I used to love these books when I was younger, and well, I still do! I was happy when we received the Scholastic Can You See What I See Toyland Express book in the mail because I got the chance to share this kind of book with Luke!

An amazing new search-and-find adventure from the creative mind of renowned photographer and author Walter Wick.

Amazing photographs accompany a search-and-find story by Walter Wick, the creator of award-winning picture books, the author and photographer of the New York Times bestselling Can You See What I See? series, and the photographer of the bestselling I Spy series.

Can You See What I See? Toyland Express, the eighth title in the bestselling search-and-find series, follows the life of a toy train from the workshop to the attic, only to be rescued at a yard sale and brought to life once again in a new home. As readers search for more than 250 hidden objects, they will also notice how the train takes on various transformations along its journey.

My Thoughts

As I said before, I love this kind of book. Can You See What I See Toyland Express is filled with colorful pictures that feature awesome pictures of trains and toys. There is definitely a ton of great things to look at. I loved how it followed one trains journey from creation to actic to yard sale to toyland! I thought that was so cute! This isn't just your usual search and find book. It was easy enough that Luke and I could sit and find things together and the great photography kept Luke interested. He also liked to point out other items too. My 10 year old neice saw this book sitting on the table and picked it up and started looking at it too. She liked it as well! It is a book for all ages and train lovers and would make a great gift or stocking stuffer!

I received the mentioned book for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

I'm Still Here!!!

2011-10-15T01:04:00.000-04:00

I wanted to take a minute to let everyone know that I'm still here! It seems as though as soon as I start to get ahead here on my blog things happen back here in reality that pull me away.

I haven't posted about this here before but I lost my job. Due to budget cuts they could no longer renew my contract so I had 3 months to find a new job. I decided that I was going to try to do something that I have been wanting to do for awhile...I've become an Educational Assistant! I am only a substitute for the time being but I love it. I've been called to work everyday that I have been available and have really enjoyed it. It is definitely a change from office work and the first day I was exhausted but happy. I'm hoping to get a full time position which would be great and I'm glad I finally got to do something that I've been wanting to do for awhile now. Job loss is a very stressfull situation to deal with, especially being a single mom and especially while going through a divorce but I'm doing fine. Through everything that I've been going through I've learned that you have to roll with the punches and there is no sense in stressing over things, just find a solution and do it. And I had an awesome thought.....if I could get on full time I would have my summers off which would be the perfect opportunity to start my photography business! Yay! I've come to believe that everything happens for a reason and God is watching and has a plan for everyone. When one door closes, another opens and we all have to try to stay positive and just believe. I can say that I've had my moments of weakness but I always remind myself that I have the best blessings in the world...the greatest son a mommy could ask for and a great family and great friends too. I recently read some great books (I think that is the most I've ever said great in one post) about being a single mom which has really helped with my outlook on things. Reading these books gave me a great sense of peace about my situation and a great way to look at life. I will be writting a review about these books in due time and I believe that you will even be able to get a chance to win your copy too!

I've also been spending some quality time with Luke. We've played and we've had a halloween party. We got out the paints yesterday too. I am so blessed to have him in my life. He really is my sunshine and he makes me laugh every single day.

I will be posting some more giveaways and reviews within the next week so be on the watch for those. I noticed that I lost a couple followers and that sucks but when life happens, I have to go with the flow and do what feels right for me and Luke. I just needed to take some time and take care of business. I hope that all of you loyal readers understand that. I'm still here and I just need to get back in the groove of things.

Getting Ready for Halloween With Books!

2011-09-29T12:23:00.000-04:00

Halloween is right around the corner, and what better way to get in the Halloween spirit than with books! I'm so lucky that Luke enjoys reading as much as I do. We sit down almost every night and read a story. Most nights we read the same story 4 or 5 times because that is what he likes to do. I love it when I can get Luke excited about holiday's that are coming up with books! We have been recently reading some Halloween books that were given to us by Scholastic!

I absolutely love Scholastic books! They always seem to have something new and fun. Luke and I have both been enjoying the books we were sent. I wanted to make sure we shared them with you, so that way you can get some Halloween books for your children and start reading!

The first one I want to share with you is Clifford's Halloween by Norman Bridwell

This book of course features Clifford the big red dog in his own Halloween adventure! This book is very cute and if your child loves Clifford the t.v. show then they are sure to love listening to this book!

The next one is Spooky Boo! A Halloween Adventure by Lily Karr & Kyle Poling

This is by far Luke's favorite Halloween book. It is filled with flaps to lift, different types of mirrors and even icky touch and feel things like "gum" ! You will see all kinds of things as you read this book and go through the haunted house. This is very cute and keeps Luke's attention throughout the whole book. For some reason he has been calling this "stinky bomb" and asks to read it every night!

Next up is Frangoline and the Midnight Dream by Clemency Pearce & Rebecca Elliot

Good Girl Gone Bad! An adorably dark picture book about the naughty midnight exploits of an impish little girl

This book is a bit dark for my taste. We don't read this as often as the others, but it does have a cute rhyme to it and it does talk about little ones being in bed when it's time for bed.

The last book is The Sleepless Little Vampire by Richard Egielski

This is a cute book about what is keeping the sleepless little vampire awake at night. It's a great read, at a great pace and I even found my 10 year old niece reading this out loud to Luke!

These are all great Halloween reads that are sure to get you in the spirit for the holiday! You can head over Scholastic to check out these and other great reads!

I was provided with the mentioned books for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

Great Costumes At Wholesale Costume Club~Review!

2011-09-29T12:21:00.000-04:00

It's the time of year when everyone is looking for the perfect Halloween costume. I know that I start thinking of ideas for Luke's costume months before Halloween. I love to find the perfect costume, that is not only cute, but funny, and is something that he loves. I love the idea of buying Hallween costumes online because I can usually find something that no one else in my neighborhood has. There's nothing worse during Trick or Treat, in my opinion, than walking down the street with 1654621 other little monsters that look just like your little monster! Wholesale Costume Club has an awesome selection of unique costumes for everyone, at any age!

Wholesale Costume Club has just what I was looking for! Browsing their boys costumes, I saw several that would be great for Luke! Luke was a Dragonasaurus last year and he loved it!

Wholesale Costume Club has an awesome selection of kids costumes too! After careful deliberation, Luke and I decided on the Peanuts Snoop Costume!

Bring the Peanuts gang home to your family with this Child Peanuts Snoopy Costume. Boys and girls can enjoy this Snoopy costume that features a plush white shirt with paws and pants, paw shoe covers, and a Snoopy hood mask with a red collar. The Snoopy outfit is available in one small size that will fit most toddlers in sizes 4 to 6. This is the ultimate in cute and adorable Halloween costumes and you won't find this costume at a lower price in any retail store or internet site. Your child can have a blast flying around the neighborhood in his Sopwith Camel just like Snoopy for candy and treats on Halloween. Add even more to the fun of the Snoopy costume with an authentic looking Bone. Be sure to check out all of the costume ideas for men, women, and children of all ages available here.

* Includes a head, shirt, pants and shoe covers.
* This is an officially licensed costume.
Available Sizes: Size: Small (Fits most sizes 4-6X)

My Thoughts

We decided on the Snoopy Costume because, thanks to Happiness is a Warm Blanket Charlie Brown DVD, Luke has grown to love snoopy. I knew that it was either Spongebob or Snoopy and I was thankful that Luke chose the Snoopy costume because I didn't want Luke to be the millionth Spongebob to walk down the street.

When we got the Snoopy costume in the mail, Luke knew exactly who he was and couldn't wait to try it on! This costume fits sizes 4-6x so I was positive it would fit Luke perfectly. When in doubt, always order larger than you think, you can always make too big work, but sometimes you can't make too small work.

This costume did fit Luke perfectly and was way too cute! I had him look at himself in the mirror, and he loved that he looked like Snoopy.

In Ohio, you never know if it is going to be warm or cold on trick or treat night so it's best to get something warm. This costume is heavy enough to keep him warm with clothes underneath, which is great!

This costume feels high quality and I should be able to pass it down to someone else next year! I can't wait to see what everyone has to say about his cute costume, and I love that Luke can now dress up like a doggy!

I received the Peanuts Snoopy Costume for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

10 Tips for De-cluttering & Organizing the Playroom!

2011-09-28T10:52:00.000-04:00

I am by no means a neat freak, but I do love to keep my home organized. There is nothing worse than needing something and not being able to find it. One area that is in constant need of organizing is Luke's bedroom. We don't have a playroom so all his toys are kept in his bedroom. The older Luke gets, the more toys he accumulates, and it became apparent to me that I had to find a good way to organize his toys or else they were going to run us out of house and home! I have compiled 10 tips for De-cluttering and Organizing the Playroom to help you get those toys under control!

1. First thing to do is go through all the toys, books and stuffed animals. Make sure to throw away anything that is broken. Toys that are missing pieces need to be thrown out, or if I think I can find another use for them, I might hold onto them. This is a good start to weeding through to the good stuff.

2. Decide what you are going to keep and what needs to be handed down or sold. Sometimes you just have to part with some toys that do not get played with anymore. If Luke outgrows a toy and it is age appropriate for my niece Londyn, I give it to my mom to keep at her house for her to play with when she is there. You can sell unwanted toys in a yard sale or online, or donate them to goodwill or your local daycare facility. As long as the toys are not overly worn and are still in working order, someone will get some use out of them.

3. Ok, now that we have gotten rid of the toys we no longer want, it's time to do something with the toys that we want to keep. I bought a toy storage bin like the one pictured to store Luke's toys. I try to have one bin for electronics, a few for cars, a couple for action figures and so and so forth so everything has a place. This is much easier when he is looking for that one particular toy for him to find what he is looking for. I love how much better this makes his room look too.

4. Does your child have an overabundance of stuffed animal friends? Well, Luke has his own little collection and we use a corner net to hold these. You hook it up on the corners, close to the ceiling and pile the stuffed animals in! This holds a great deal of weight and keeps the little buddies up off the floor, organized and pretty to look at too!

5. I like to make sure that all the pieces to certain toys are kept together. Like Mr. Potato Head, what fun is Mr. Potato head when you can't find his teeth, or hat or feet? I bought a small plastic tote and use this to keep all his pieces in one spot. When Luke is done playing, all the pieces go back inside so everything is kept together for next time. You can use these small plastic totes for everything from cars and trucks to crayons and coloring books!

6. If you are working with limited space, try to use every nook and cranny that you can. I put a shelf in on the top of Luke's closet. Now I can store more toys on the shelf and keep up off the floor. I also use the inside of his closet for bigger items like his shopping cart and sweeper. I have some bigger toys under his bed as well, like his Magnadoodle. If they are flat, they fit and we know where they are at all times!

7. For organizing books, you can use plastic crates, baskets, or tubs to store books. Luke had a changing table that turned into a night stand and we use the shelves on it for his books!

8. If you are still lacking on room, store out of season toys in totes upstairs or in your basement/garage. Luke has a ton of sand toys and toys that are just for summer. At the end of summer, these go in a tote and go upstairs until next summer. This way they aren't taking up valuable space in his room, and when it's time to take them out again, they are like brand new to him!

9. Be creative. You don't have to spend a ton of money on organizing supplies and tools. Just put a little thought into it. It cost me less than $5 to put the shelf in Luke's closet. We reused the changing table for books, I even saw someone use plastic buckets, they drilled holes in them and used zip ties to tie them together to make a toy organizer! You just have to be a little creative!

10. My last tip is to let your kids help you with organizing. That way they will feel like they have a say so in what goes and what stays and they may not fight you as much on what you want to get rid of. It will teach them about organizing, and teach them about donating to those less fortunate, and who knows, they may just take more pride in their rooms and help to keep them clean!

And, to help you in keeping organized Hot Wheels® has introduced the all-new Wall Tracks™ sets to help moms everywhere clean up toy clutter! Hot Wheels® has been listening to moms and found that we couldn't stand the mess from our kids’ toys.

Kids can now take their Hot Wheels® races where they've never gone before - off the floor and onto the walls! Now they can perform stunts, speed, turns, and tricks, powered by gravity and set up any way you can imagine it - and it’s off the floor! Kids can mix, match, and combine with other Wall Tracks™ sets to create all-new Hot Wheels® track layouts. And the best part? No more clutter for us moms! Luke has seen these advertised on t.v. and this is one of the only two toys that he is asking from Santa!

Now, lets get busy organizing our playrooms! Before you know it, there will be more toys to add to the mix!!!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Tropical Traditions All Purpose Cleaner Review & Giveaway!

2011-09-27T13:47:00.002-04:00

I have another awesome review and giveaway from Tropical Traditions. I have been really enjoying working with Tropical Traditions and trying out their organic and all natural products. I would have never known there were so many healthy alternatives for cleaning and beauty products if it weren't for working with them. This time I chose to review their All Purpose Cleaner!

Safe & non-toxic, this solution is for all your household/commercial cleaning needs! Replace all of your harmful, toxic cleaners with Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner! This environmentally safe botanical mixture contains no harmful detergents or solvents, no perfumes or dyes, and is easy to use! Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner is an enzyme-based botanical formula that can cut through the toughest grease or dirt, and is completely non-toxic.

Kitchens

Spray Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner on counter tops, stove tops, ovens, refrigerators and sinks and wipe clean. For more difficult areas, let sit for a longer period of time. May also be used as a dishwashing liquid in the sink or dishwasher. Put in soap dispenser or foamer and use for hand soap. Cuts grease, wax and oil.

Bathrooms

Spray Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner in the bathtub, sink and toilet. Wipe and rinse. Also spray on soap scum, mold and mildew; leave on for several minutes, then wipe and rinse clean.

Automobiles

Use 1-2 oz. Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner in 1 gallon of water when washing car.

Exterior: For bugs, tree sap and tar, spray directly on the area. Let sit for a few minutes, then wash off with water and a clean cloth. Works great for removing grease, dirt & oil!

Tires: Spray directly on tires. Let sit several minutes, then gently scrub with a brush and rinse clean.

Engine: Spray directly on cool engine. Let sit for up to 30 minutes, then wipe or spray clean.

Fruits/Vegetables

Spray on fruits/vegetables, then rinse clean.

Laundry

Pre-spray stains and spots with Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner. Use 1-3 ounces in wash cycle. Heavily soiled or large loads: Pre-spray stains and spots. If especially greasy or soiled, allow to soak for at least 30 minutes or even overnight if necessary, then wash as normal. Works great for removing blood, grease, wax, dirt & oil!

Soot/Tar/Grease/Grills

Spray directly on surface and let sit for several minutes. Scrub with a brush and wipe clean with a damp cloth. Repeat if necessary.

Other Uses

Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner can be used on carpets, walls, and floors. May also be used as carpet shampoo. (Substitute carpet shampoo with Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner when cleaning.)

My Thoughts

I chose this as my next review because of the different uses for this cleaner. An awesome non-toxic all purpose cleaner is always great to have around the house. I love that I can use this and not worry about toxic chemicals. So far I have used this in my kitchen on the counters and even to clean up a spill on the floor. It worked great and even left a shine behind! Do you see that you can use this on fruits and veggies too! Just spray them off and rinse! This is something that you would want in each of the rooms in your house so that you can have it handy and ready to clean anything! And at $6.99, you can't go wrong!

One of my readers is going to win their own All Purpose Cleaner!

Mandatory Entry

Head over to Tropical Traditions and have a look around. Come back here and tell me another product you would like to try.

Extra Entries

1 Extra Entry: Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter

If you already have, leave me a comment telling me.

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1 Extra Entry: For any of my other giveaways you enter!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry every day. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win All Purpose Cleaner from Tropical Traditions http://t.co/dpcJHgS8 @Troptraditions @getinonthewins

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This giveaway will end on 10/18 at 10pm. This giveaway is open to US and Canada. I will pick a winner using random.org and they will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. I received the All Purpose Cleaner for review purposes only and was not compensated in any other way. These are my own honest opinions.