Wednesday, November 18, 2009

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: More Christmas Decorations

Well over the weekend, we put up the rest of your Christmas decorations. (If you missed the photos yesterday, click here.) These photos are from my formal dining room and my second Christmas tree.

The inspiration for the tree was the Lenox Winter Greetings Everyday China.


My (second) tree is filled with birds, nests and other such ornaments:


JCP Sales Code - $10 off $25

If you are interested in the sweater dress I posted yesterday, or something else from JCP, there is a $10 off $25 sale code valid through Monday, 11/23/09. The promo code is 104YOU. Happy shopping.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Alice.com manages your household essentials online

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Alice.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever heard of Alice.com? I admit, I had not until today.




Alice.com provides you a cost effective way to manage all of your household essentials online. (Basically, they help you budget your funds and tell you when you are running low on products!)

I am talking about thousands of products from toilet paper to band aids to trash bags.
Alice.com offers the low prices and free shipping on every order--yes, every order! (You don’t find that often!)

This is great for my household. Since I only work part-time, I have to stick to a tight budget and Alice.com allows me to manage this! With $50 a month for cleaning supplies, I would be able to purchase top brand laundry detergent, stain remover, glass cleaner, and daily shower cleaner…and still have dollars left over for room freshener or a new shade of eye shadow!


Are you still skeptical? Well, the web site even offers automatic coupons! No more searching and clipping the Sunday paper for the best deals. The site claims that the average user can save $100 annually with their automatic coupons!

Membership is free, so please set up an account today. It's simple. They first ask you how many members in your home, then you check off which products you use, and last give your information (name, address, email).

Oh, and on a last note, Alice.com Refer a Friend program (located under the "My Account" section on Alice.com). This is an affiliate program where users can give their readers $10 off once $50 is spent on the site, and then they get 3% back of the purchases for a year.


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The Sweater Dress is Back!

The sweater dress is hot this season and you can find one at budget prices. Here are a few of my favorites that won't break the bank!



Kohl's Speechless® Ruched Turtleneck Sweater Dress (Sale $24)


Old Navy Marled Turtleneck Sweater Dresses ($36.50)

JCP 3/4 Sleeve Pleated Cowlneck Dress-Black ($49)

Want to make a few extra dollars each month?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Sponsored Tweets. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you are anything like me, you would love a few extra dollars each month! (I mean, what girl wouldn't want more money for shoes or makeup each month, eh?) Well there is an easy, ethical, honest way to do it. Take a minute to sign up for sponsored tweets.


IZEA recently launched SponsoredTweets.com, a new marketplace that is designed to help tweeters monetize their Tweets. I am not talking about “spam” on twitter, but ethical advertising. Please take a minute to learn more.


Getting involved is easy; it's a simple three step process. First, you set your price. Second, you choose your offers. And third, receive payment!


I have worked with Izea (the parent company of Sponsored Tweets) for over a year now , and let me assure you the company can be trusted and abides to a Code of Ethics. (The web site states: The Tweeters that engage in a sponsored tweets program are required to disclose their relationship with marketers in their communications with other consumers.) Also, the business is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business.


Oh, and get this: Izea even has many celebrities participating in the program including Sister Hazel, Leann Rimes, Kim Kardashian, and Bob Vila! Sponsored Tweets is a place were people big and small can make money tweeting.



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Sick of being sick

I had a sinus infection, both kids had the flu, and now I have another sinus infection. Geez. I am so ready for our household to be healthy again. In just six days, we spent over $320 in co-pays at doctor appointments and filling presciptions! I am just hoping we all get better so we can enjoy the Thanksgiving holidays!

Monday, November 16, 2009

More Christmas Decorations around My Home

I mentioned on Friday that I let the kids put up their tree. Well I put up a few more decorations over the weekend. My reasoning is (a) I love Christmas so why not extend it! and (b) we will be out of town for Thanksgiving and I didn't want to rush to put it all up in early December.

The mantel with our stockings and Christmas pictures of the kids.
Cookies for Santa (on the fireplace) The kids have a Little People nativity scene that I keep in the den. I grew up loving the Peanuts gang and my mom has given me lots of Charlie Brown Christmas items over the years......including a 4-piece set of Snoopy Christmas dishes which I keep on the breakfast table.

Recipe: Wild Rice Soup

Last year, I made this soup for Thanksgiving and everyone LOVED it.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Wild-Rice-Soup-III/Detail.aspx

The secret is using a rice mix with good seasoning. (I used Mahatma Long Grain Wild Rice with seasoning). I also added some garlic salt and Cajun pepper). I actually fixed the soupthe day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday afternoon), let it sit in the fridge overnight and reheated on Thanksgiving.

Oh, and this is funny. I didn't have any chicken in the house, so I went to KFC, purchased a chicken breast, took off the fried crust and added it to the pot...ha...it worked great!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Friday Fotos: Decorating the Tree

Since we are stuck (aka quarantined!) to the house this week, I figured "what the heck" and let the kids put up their Christmas tree on Wednesday. "Their" tree is for fun ornaments and stuff they make at school. They loved every minute of it, as you can imagine!


The ornaments were all the bottom branches so when they napped I tried to redistribute to the rest of the tree.This is a pre-strung tree which I thought was a good idea...but notice onesection in the middle is out, and I have no clue how to fix. Oh well. Hopefully no one will notice, ha.

Teaching your child the MEANING of Thanksgiving


I think as parents, we all want our children to be grateful, but how do we do it? Here are some links that could help you this Thanksgiving season:

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Are you trying to find Thanksgiving crafts for your kids to do while you are cooking in the kitchen? I searched the 'net to find four you may like.

Ask your kids to fix dessert (FamilyFun.com's Sweet T.O.M. Turkeys)


NickJr.com encourages Max & Ruby's Pilgrim hats (printables)

Parents Magazine shows you to make a "What a Turkey".


Kaboose.com offers directions for a super cute paper cup turkey craft.
If you prefer simple crafts, here's a link to some coloring pages and printables: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/thanksgiving/mthanksgivingposter.html

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Funny New Blog

If you want a chuckle, please check out "Monkey Mae Says" blog:
It's a new blog started my a friend of mine. You will enjoy!

(Another) Wordless Wednesday Photo


(Yes this is my life this week. If you missed it Princess has Type A Influenza. Although, I will say she is doing much much better. In fact, her case was pretty mild.)

Wordless Wednesday


Tuesday, November 10, 2009

ABC Family Countdown to Christmas Lineup

Each year, I look forward to ABC Family's 25 Days to Christmas lineup. But last year they started adding "Countdown to 25 Days to Christmas" which basically means two full months of Christmas shows! yea! So if you are interested, here is the schedule for this year:
http://community.abcfamily.go.com/25-days-christmas/schedule.

Tonight (Nov 10) is 7/6c Snow followed by 9/8c is Snow 2 Brain Freeze

Traditional Thanksgiving Recipes with a Twist

Last year it was my first time hosting and cooking Thanksgiving lunch for the family. I wanted to give everyone the traditional side dishes, but with an updated twist. Here are four recipes I loved and plan to use again this Turkey Day.

Most people like the traditional sweet potato casserole with either marshmallows or pecans on top, but I recommend you try Sweet Potato Balls this year!

Cranberry molds are too dated (I mean truly I think of my deceased great Aunt who would always "mold" her fruit in jello!). Why not serve cranberries in a salad, like an apple-cranberry salad toss?

Pass up the green bean casserole and opt for Lemony Green Beans which have a tint of lemon and basil.

As for mashed potatoes, I like to do them a few hours before in the crock pot! Add some cream cheese and sour cream for instant YUM with these Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes.

Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving recipe?

Monday, November 09, 2009

Christmas Toys for Kids


Two years back, a good friend told me that her kids get THREE gifts from Santa to represent the THREE wisemen. What a great idea! So here is what I am thinking for my children this year.

Princess Mimi just turned four. She will get:

  1. Belle Dress Up Ball Gown (Disney)

  2. Disney Princess 3-wheel scooter (Huffy)

  3. V.Tech VSmile game system

Tom-Tom is 2-1/2 and is "all boy". He will get:


  1. Buzz Lightyear Talking Action Figure (Disney)

  2. Disney Cars 3-wheel scooter (Huffy)

  3. Disney Cars Race Off Ridge Track Set (Mattel)

Have you started Christmas shopping for your kids yet?

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Fever = Swine Flu

Princess Mimi had a low grade fever all day yesterday. At 2am, it was above 102. I gave her Tylenol and Motrin; and applied a cool compress. This morning, I brought her to an urgent care center where they swabbed her nose. It was positive for "Type A" flu so assume swine flu. She got a Rx for Tamiflu. I was instructed to give her lots of liquids like Gatorade and to keep her home from preschool all week.

Of course this is just day two, but truly she is not overly sick. She has a fever, but it is controlled with meds. And she is drinking juice often.

I just hope she doesn't pass it on to little Tom-Tom. (He DID get a swine flu vac earlier in the week but I just learned it is not effective for THREE WEEKS!)

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Sale at Target: Halloween Costumes and Toys

The kids and I went to Target this morning. I found some great things.
I found this cute purple long sleeve dress for less than $5:
And Halloween costumes on clearance for $1.99!
Also, Freebies 4 Mom has great coupons for Christmas toys at Target: