2011 Bracket

Chi Chi Chi Chia...

Available here for less than $19.00 each.  Please note:  there are two styles available... Happy and Determined!

The Winner is...

Comment #11...

Katie !!!

Congratulations!  I will contact you in order to get this package sent off to you!

Thank you to Fiber One and MyBlogSpark for this great giveaway!!

Fiber One - Giveaway!!!!

I recently had the opportunity to try Fiber One Oats and Chocolate Chewy Bar. And let me tell you... I LOVED THEM. And my kids LOVED them! Not only are they a good source of calcium, each bar has 9 grams of fiber! Yummy!

I also tried the Fiber One Honey Clusters cereal. And I'll be honest and admit that I've never found a "serving size" of cereal to really be enough. But, I tried just one cup of cereal (the listed serving size) and it was very filling... an actual good serving!!! And it was so good!!!

So... thanks to MyBlogSpark and Safeway, I have a fun giveaway to announce!!

A coupon for a free box of Fiber One Cereal and another coupon for a free box of Fiber One Bars... PLUS a $25 Gift Card for Safeway. (Gift card is also good at Von's, Dominick's, Tom Thumb and others...)

Awesome giveaway... I know I spend a lot of money on groceries in November and December, so this is perfect!

To enter, leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite guilt free snack. Leave another comment indicating what Fiber One cereal or bar you would try first! That is two entries per person... leave a separate comment for each entry!

I will use Random.org to select a winner on Friday, November 19, 2010.  So enter by midnight on Thursday, November 18.

Good luck!!!

The Winner is...

Congratulations Karen!!!

You are the winner of the Old El Paso Gift Set!!!

I'll shoot you off an email!!!

Thank you to Old El Paso and MyBlogSpark for this fun set.  I used our chili pepper trays this afternoon for a chips and salsa snack for my kids!

Old El Paso Tacos- and a giveaway!!

Family dinners at our house are pretty predictable... if only because they are unpredictable.  I never know how many of my kids are going to be home for dinner... and sometimes I'll start out feeding just a couple of kids, and by the time they are done eating, the next set of kids is home and ready to eat!

Recently, I was offered a chance to sample Old El Paso Taco Seasoning through MyBlogSpark.  Old El Paso sent me a seasoning packet, some chili serving plates and a cute cactus chip and dip set.  Plus, they included a gift card so that I could buy the needed ingredients for a family taco night!

We chose to make chicken tacos... yummy!!!  This is how I made them...

I put 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in my crock pot.

I sprinkled the packet of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning over the top of the chicken.

I mixed one jar of Old El Paso Taco Sauce with one can of cream of chicken soup.

I cooked it on low for about 6 hours.

Then, I shredded up the chicken (and let me tell you the extra sauce was yummy... save it for the rice!!) and set up a taco bar for the kids to go crazy!

It was a crazy fun night!!  The kids love tacos and just calling our night "family taco night" made it a special occasion.  And we celebrated the night by planning ahead so that everyone was home!  And the tacos were so delicious and so easy!!

Something else that we did was we played the El Tacodor game from the Old El Paso website.  Click here to print your copy...  free game!  And then I just dare you to try to say "carrots" with your mouth closed, not open even a crack!  Hilarious!!

Ok... so who wants their own Old El Paso Prize package... that includes an Old El Paso Taco Seasoning packet, 3 chili serving plates and one cactus chip and dip set??  And a $10 gift card to use to buy the other ingredients you need to have a Family Taco Night!  One lucky reader will win their very own package... thanks to the generous folks at Old El Paso and MyBlogSpark.  To enter... leave a comment here and tell me what is your family's favorite Mexican food.

I'll use random.org to select a winner on Saturday... so you have until Friday, November 5 at midnight to enter!



A Good Read to Celebrate...

October 14, Thursday, is National Chocolate Covered Insects Day.  I'm not kidding!

Here are some fun ways to celebrate...

You can check out this book.  Read it with your family.

Then you can make some chocolate covered ants with your kids.  Click here for a recipe.

If domesticity is not your strong suit, you can click here to buy some.

Enjoy!!!  And happy day!!

90

It's been 90 years since women gained the right to vote.

I LOVE voting!

I LOVE IT!!!

I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to vote.  And I take the responsibility of voting very seriously!

Vote your conscience!!!

Scoop and Stack

Scoop and Stack  $15

http://www.cuisiprousa.com/

imagine...

9

The percentage of Americans who donate blood annually...

9%.

On June 14, World Blood Donor Day, if just an additional 1% more of us donated blood ALL NATIONAL blood shortages would disappear... for the foreseeable future.

Sign up to give a pint!

Visit Redcross.org to find a donation center near you!!

Random-with-a-Mission

One of my daughters told me recently that if there was a contest for "BEING RANDOM" I would win!

I thanked her!

'Cuz it was a compliment, yes?

Here is the background to her telling me I was so random...

She was with me in the car, running errands.  I needed to call home for some reason.  My 9 year old daughter answered the phone.  I asked her what she was doing.  Then I said... what kind of shoes do you have on?

The kind of shoes that my daughter had on had nothing to do with why I was calling.

It is just that this particular daughter has questionable phone manners... she answers questions with the most clipped voice.  Leaves you with the feeling that you were interrupting something really important.  Ugh!  And she mumbles when she talks.  Oh, and she lowers her voice to practically a whisper.

I was giving her a safe opportunity to talk on the phone.

And asking... "what kind of shoes do you have on?" was the first question I thought of.

We had a lovely conversation and I was able to ask her all sorts of questions about her shoes.  I was able to gently suggest that she talk a little slower so I could understand her.

At one point, I whispered back.

She couldn't hear me and she asked me to speak up.

And then she giggled.  She realized I was just copying her.

And she started talking a little louder, a little clearer.

I'm random-with-a-mission!

Tonight after my 5-year old got out of the bathtub... I spent a little time telling him how much I love him.  I thanked him for not splashing all over my bathroom during his bath.  I told him how glad I am to be his mother.

I could sense he was growing tired of my compliments.  After all... they were predictable.  He's heard them a million-zillion times.  (And he'll hear them a million-cazillion MORE times.)

Anyway... I said...

And I love it when you help me by putting all the placemats away after dinner, without me asking!!  Oh how I love that!

He's head snapped around to look at me.

What the heck?  He didn't say it, but he was thinking it.

So, I gave him one last squeeze and sent him off to play.

And guess what he did...

he put away all the placemats.  Without me asking!!

Random-with-a-mission!!!

Inner Goddess Giftpack WINNER!!

The winner of the "Inner Goddess" Giftpack, generously donated by MyBlogSpark and Yoplait is...

JILLIAN!!!

Yea, Jillian!  Congratulations!!!  I'll shoot you an email to get your mailing address.

Thanks!!

Oh, and guess what I had for breakfast this morning???  Strawberry Yoplait Greek Yogurt.  I'm LOVING this stuff.  It is the perfect blend of tart and sweet... and the perfect creamy!!!  Yummy stuff!



True Random Number Generator



Min:  1

Max:  5

Result:


4

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Keep Calm~Snap On

Cool print!!

Check it out here! 

$15 - perfect for gift giving!

Yoplait Greek Yogurt - GIVEAWAY!!!!

I am not the biggest yogurt eater... I use it in recipes, but not so much for a snack.

When MyBlogSpark offered me the chance to try this new yogurt, I jumped at the chance.  I was intrigued with the idea that this yogurt was such a great source of protein.

Yoplait has introduced four flavors... Strawberry, Blueberry, Honey Vanilla and Plain.  I tried both the strawberry and honey vanilla.  I'm a believer in yogurt as a snack!!

I loved it and my five year-old son who is a world-class picky eater devoured it!!  In addition, I went ahead and used the honey vanilla flavor in fruit smoothies for an after-school snack for my older kids.  Yummy!!!

Every new product needs to align itself with something Hollywood... yes???  To celebrate its new Greek yogurt and to encourage women to nourish their inner goddess, Yoplait has teamed up with actress Izabella Miko, who plays Greek Goddess Athena in the epic adventure new Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures film "Clash of the Titans," in theatres April 2 in 3D.




Clever!!!
 
Now for the good news... The very good news!!
 
1.  You can click here to download a coupon on a cup of new Yoplait Greek!
 
2.  Want to win a gift pick that includes two VIP coupons (free cups of Yoplait Greek) and some fun items to help "Nourish Your Inner Goddess" and relax???  Oh, yes you do!!!  Thank you to MyBlogSpark and Yoplait for this fun giveaway!!
 
 

 
Leave a comment on THIS post and tell me how you get in touch with your own inner goddess.  Be sure to leave me a way to contact you if you win!!!
 
Enter by Monday at midnight!  I will randomly select a winner on Tuesday morning!!!

Venus in Red

I'm speechless!

What was she thinking???

Oh Venus... Oh Venus.

A Place Between Us

Do you have a faraway friend?  Click here for suggestions on where to meet halfway.

Anything fun to do in Winnemucca, Nevada??

Color Me Tables

ColorMeTables has a great product that is perfect for family get togethers!  Or birthday parties...  or a craft room...

For about $50, plus shipping and handling, you get one table and four chairs that are ready for your budding artists.  I have a daughter that would go nuts for this!!!  A birthday tea-party... ohhh laa laa!  For $75, plus s/h, you get the table and 6 chairs.  What a fun birthday activity!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Tape!

Japanese tape?  Never heard of it!  But... I think I've fallen in love!

Happytape is made in Japan and uses traditional washi paper.  Each roll is 50-feet long and comes in 2 different widths and over 120 fun colors and patterns.  And on most papers it is repositionable.

The Happytape website suggests using the tape in scrapbooking, gift wrapping and all manners of crafts.  I love the idea of taking a plain gift bag, or gift box and decorating it up with this awesome tape!!

Each roll is approximately $5.

Always My Child

I'm just days away from celebrating the birthday of my first born! He is turning 17. I'm not ready for this. 17!! I remember being 17. I was practically a grown up. I was fiercly independent and found very little need for parents and especially for parents' rules. I'm not ready for what I know has already started.

I found this video that made me cry...

I know that this blog is called "Laugh Until Your Cheeks Hurt" but maybe... just for a day or two, I'll call it "Cry Until Your Throat Hurts." Does anyone else get a sore throat from crying???

Anyway...

grab a tissue and click play!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Kideos

My young kids, ages 4 - 11 are really into searching youtube to watch videos from their favorite shows, or of their favorite songs, or other funny things they have heard about.

It gives me stress.

I recently stumbled on Kideos: Videos for Kids and we love it!  It is a carefully monitored site with fun, age appropriate videos.  Click here for one of our favorites.

Cherry Creek Designs

I discovered this fun etsy shop not too long ago! Oh, her stuff is so darling!! The shop is called Cherry Creek Designs and you have to check out Heather's stuff. These are two of my favorite items:

I have this ring!!! I LOVE it!!

DIY: Cake Stand

I saw this cute and inexpensive craft project on prudentbaby.com. Click here for all the instructions! Easy!!!

Our local Hobby Lobby just opened last week. On my list (which I suspect I'll always have a HL list) are the cake boards I need to give this craft a try! Very excited about the possibilities.

pen n' paper flowers - GIVEAWAY

Check out this adorable print...

The amazingly talented Jess from pen n' paper flowers created this beautiful, inspiring print!!

And she's giving two of them away!!!

Click here for the fun giveaway. And enter!

And... when you enter, tell her that I sent you! She is giving ONE of the prints away to the person who sends the most people over to her blog!!!

If I win... I'll do a giveaway for a gift card. You can pick Hobby Lobby, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble or Target... those are the places I go most often... and I'll send you a $10 gift card!

Rules for my giveaway... you HAVE to enter the drawing at pen n' paper and you have to mention me in your post. You can either say that Alison sent you... or that Laugh sent you... she'll know they are both me! I will then put every one's names that entered the pen n' paper giveaway into a drawing and randomly select the winner!!!

Hurry, the pen n' paper giveaway ends tomorrow (Tuesday) night!! Be sure to check out her blog while you are there... you will seriously be inspired, perhaps motivated and most certainly awestruck at the creative talents of this girl!!!

I really want the print! Can you tell?

Good luck!!!