Keep it Poppin

I took my youngest kids to the movies this week and we ordered popcorn! I love, love, LOVE movie theater popcorn! I would love to have a popper like this for our house! I looked at Costco and Sam's Club... and online. I found this website, Keep it Poppin, that had some great deals on poppers! Maybe a family gift for Christmas??

Current Giveaway - Look & Cook Creative Appetizers

Mexican Turnovers with Chicken and Cheese!!! Yummy!

That is the recipe that most intrigues me from this very colorful cookbook! This cookbook is one in a series by French Chef Anne Willan. The Look and Cook approach to cookbooks is Anne Willan's way of sharing her tips and secrets... one step at a time. Every step is documented with a full color picture and detailed instructions. You WILL master the recipe each and every time you try a new one.

A big thank you to the reader who generously donated this fun cookbook for a giveaway.

So, please leave a comment, by Sunday, June 7 at midnight to be entered into the drawing for this fun cookbook! And be sure to leave a way from me to get in touch with you!!!

Sally Huss

I discovered the art of Sally Huss years ago on a trip to LaJolla with my husband. I fell in love with her style immediately! She calls her art "Happy Art." And it is!! You can't help but feel happy in her galleries or peeking around her website!

I love how she has utilized her Happy Musings in to a fun gift line. This key chain below is so sweet!

Oh, and Sally has a great and happy blog... take a look!

Whimsy Press Journals

I have journals that I share with each of my daughters. We call it a Journal Share and we take turns writing to each other. After we write, we leave the journal somewhere (usually under the bed pillow) that only the other person will find. The key to these journals being successful (for my family) is that each daughter knows that the journal is only for her eyes and my eyes. No one else can read what we wrote.

There are no rules (beyond not reading other people's journals). The girls are free to write whatever they want. We ask questions and answer questions. We share dreams... and fears. We talk about goals. And we talk about all the reasons we love each other! It is so fun! Sometimes we get on a good roll and write regularly... other times we may go several days, a week even, between writing. It is a flexible, no pressure tradition!

And I love it.

The above journals are from Whimsy Press.

Addicting Games

Free activity?

Supreme time waster?

Fun summer activity??

Skill builder?

Educational?

Addicting?

Yes... to all of the above!!!

Check out Addicting Games for some fun games. I found a game on the site that helped my daughter learn the locations of the 50 states... that is why this is an educational site. But don't tell her it is educational... she (we) had a great time checking out the fun games on this site.

Memorial Day 2009

Dyson Animal

I love my Dyson Animal!

Love it!

It came with an Animal Turbo Tool... for pet hair removal in confined spaces... like the car! It also came with a Carpet Care Kit... to remove spots and spills. And it also came with a Floor Tool... to get under the couches and low tables. Oh... and the wand is incredible... it extends so far... I can clean the air conditioning vents while standing on the floor!!

And I love not having a bag!! Yucky!!

I have NEVER met a Dyson owner that doesn't LOVE their Dyson!!

Perler Beads

It is summer. Officially!!! Yesterday was the last day of school! Yippee!!

One of my children's teachers gave her a gift set of Perler Beads. Oh, I forgot how much I love Perler Beads. It is a perfect activity for kids!!

This website has some amazing Perler Bead sets. Too fun! They also sell buckets of beads, extra bead pegboards to create different designs (my favorite is the t-shirt pegboard... wait, maybe it is the girl pegboard... oh, the monkey pegboard is too cute, argh!!) and I saw ornaments too. Cool!

You can also find Perler Beads at toy stores, craft stores and Target and Wal Mart!

If you've been living under a rock, or don't have any kids aged 4 to 12, let me tell you what Perler Beads are...

Perler Beads are colored beads that are placed on pegboards (the boards are reusable, the beads are not) and then fused together with an iron on medium heat. You use either Perler Bead paper, or parchment paper to protect the iron, and the beads! Without even knowing it... kids learn patterning, eye-hand coordination and creativity!! Love it!

Ice Cream Social

Tangarang is a favorite blog for me to stalk visit regularly!

Earlier this week, we hosted our annual teacher appreciation dinner for our childrens' teachers. It is something that we started doing when our two oldest children were in 7th and 8th grade. I was perplexed at what to do for so many different teachers (we also have five younger children, all with teachers of their own) and we came up with the idea of hosting an evening, in our home, where we invited the teachers and their families to join us!

It was an instant hit and a wonderful new tradition for our family!

This year we decided on serving ice cream sundaes and I turned to Tangarang for a favor idea. And I was NOT disappointed.

Click here for the *FREE* downloadable file for this adorable cone favor!

Carolina's Tortillas - Shredded Chicken Burritos

In Arizona... theeeee very best place to get homemade tortillas is Carolina's. This means a trip downtown.

But, earlier this month... the tortilla gods shined down on the west side of Phoenix!!

We have a Carolina's at 91st Avenue and Peoria!!!!

And yes...

they have the best darn tortillas in Arizona!

We used the tortillas to make shredded chicken burritos for dinner. YUMMY!!! And we love this recipe. Enjoy!!!

Heelarious

These baby shoes are designed to look like high heels... they are extremely funny, completely soft shoes for babies 0-6 months! The company was started by two girlfriends... one who is completely shoe obsessed and wanted something hilarious for her new daughter. Hence... the name of their company... Heelarious! Get it?

Each pair are $35 and come in a purse shaped gift box. My two favorite styles are Brooke and Lily.

Pedestal Bowls by Rosanna, Inc.

These pedestal bowls from Rosanna, Inc. are incredible!! I love them. They range in price from $39 - $65. I love the texture of each of these bowls and how they are each different. I think they would make an incredible addition to a buffet!!

Trader Joe's - Frozen Garlic

Trader Joe's is one of my favorite stores. I don't get there as often as I'd like... but when I do... I have a ton of fun!

The frozen garlic cubes are a recent discovery. What an easy way to use garlic!!

The garlic comes in a small package in the frozen food section. Each package contains 20 cubes of garlic... and each cube is equal to one clove of garlic!

They have a freezer shelf life of two years!!

Yankee Candle

Yankee Candle is having a sale. All of their big jar candles (normally $25 each) are $20. And if you order online shipping is $6 for all orders under $100.

I love these new seasonal scents! Not only do they smell good... they have very cool names!! Of the candles shown below... my two favorites are Spa Fresh and Sun & Sand! Not shown is another favorite... Island Spa.

Quilt Giveaway at Pigtails and Snails

Pigtails and Snails, a darling blog, is giving away the cute quilt above!

Cell Phones for Soldiers

In 2004, a brother and sister, who were 12 and 13, started a nonprofit that collects old cell phones and resells them to a recycling company. Proceeds buy calling cards for U.S. soldiers abroad to call their families. 27 million minutes have been provided so far!!!

Mail your phones (even really old ones!) to:

Cell Phones for Soldiers
2555 Bishop Circle West
Dexter, MI 48130-9916

Go to CellPhonesforSoldiers.com to print a receipt. You can even print a postage-paid label... making this donation totally free for you!

Whaddup? - Horrible License Plates

HorribleLicensePlates

one of my favorite blogs!!

Yesterday, a picture that my daughter snapped with her cell phone was used in a post. It's a good one!!

If you haven't already... mark this blog as a favorite. Then check it everyday!

Mabel's Labels

"Please label all belongings." Those instructions always cause me stress.

My kids are old enough and busy enough to be attending all sorts of different summer over night camps, tournaments, day camps, etc., let alone all their school year activities. Labeling their stuff has always been a nightmare. Tape and regular stickers wear off, permanent markers rub or wear off...

Mabel's Labels promises to solve all those dilemmas. Their clothing labels are designed with washing, drying and wearing in mind.

They have two different types of clothing labels. Stickers (75 labels for $21.00) that you can apply directly to the clothing label... no sewing or ironing required. They also have iron on labels (50 labels for $21.00). Both types shown above.

The label shown here are the Skinny Mini's... created to resist dishwasher and microwave use. A package consists of 80 labels for $18.50.

What a great product. Should make the directions "Please label all belongings" far less stressful.

Hagar the Horrible - Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all moms...

but most especially...

to MY MOM!!!

National Birth Mothers Day

Today is Birth Mother's Day... it is always the Saturday before Mother's Day.

I found some information on this holiday at this website.

The day was established by birth mothers to educate, to remember, and to cope.

I am beyond fortunate to have been touched by the choices of seven birth mothers in my life.

Mine

My sons' and daughters'

A high school friend who chose adoption

My brother's

I honor, appreciate and love these women.

Super Slide by Sportspower

It is HOT in Arizona!! HOT, HOT, HOT!

Time to break out outdoor waterslides. I love that these are affordable for home use!!

This water slide is available at Costco.com for $250.

Nothing bundt Cakes

At a fundraiser a number of years ago, Nothing bundt Cakes donated a cake as a silent auction item. I'll be honest... I was shocked at the stated value for this item. $30 for a standard, 10-inch cake.

Then...

I tasted the cake...

Oh manna from heaven.

I had the Lemon Cake. The flavor of the month currently is Almond Poppyseed. That sounds wonderful!!

But, I think I really want to try their Red Velvet Cake.

And because I'm struggling with which flavor to choose...

I might just order their Bundlets.

A dozen mini cakes, packaged perfectly for gifting (LOVE THAT!!!), is $45.

Click here for more information.

Chalk Mat/Place Mat

This is a reversable placemat! One side is a durable, wipeable placemat and the other side is a chalk mat. What a clever idea. There are multiple fabric choices available and each set ($22) comes with chalk.

Click here for more info about the Chalk Mat. And check out The Polka Dot Platypus to see their other fun stuff too!

The Winners Are...

Gma G

Marie

Lisa

Congratulations to the three winners of the Romano's Macaroni Grill Restaurant Favorites Gift Set!!!! This is a great set and you are going to love the ease of preparing these yummy meals!! Enjoy! (Email me your addresses... please!)



Thank you so much to MyBlogSpark for this awesome giveaway!!!!

Senorita Margarita

Lather up and enjoy a refreshing margarita scented shower with philosophy's famous multi-tasking formula that can be used as a shampoo, shower gel or bubble bath...

In a pinch I use the 3 in 1 philosophy products as a shampoo because I am pretty loyal to my regular shampoo... HOWEVER... I do love these products as a shower gel or bubble bath! They are always so richly scented.

So... in honor of Cinco de Mayo tomorrow... enjoy a philosophy margarita!!! You won't need a designated driver!

The Retro Baby

This would be so perfect for the photographer's kid! I love it! $36
I think my brother had this shirt when he was little. I bet my nephew would LOVE it! $23

Oh how I love Grover! $20

These fun shirts, and many, many more styles, are available at The Retro Baby. Free shipping on orders over $75.

Pirate's Booty

This is our family's absolute favorite new snack!! It is Pirate's Booty Aged White Cheddar Snack!

We buy it at Costco and it is about $7.50 for two big (10 oz each) bags... a little pricey for a popcorn snack, but worth it in my opinion. It is promoted as an All Natural... Good for You snack... and my little guy (who is a world-class picky eater) absolutely loves it!

Click here for more information specifically about the Aged White Cheddar flavor! Click here for more information about the company, Robert's American Gourmet Snacks, that makes this yummy snack with the very clever name. Seriously... can you think of anything cuter than a little four-year boy asking for some more booty??? Really?

Back to the Booty snack... Robert's has an interesting website... clearly some thought went in to the setup! That is worth a lot of points in my book... HOWEVER... it could use a little updating! We are almost half way into 2009, yet the website tells me that effective Feb 2008 there will be a price increase??? Huh??

I'm interested in giving the Veggie flavor a try... a sneaky way to get said four-year to eat some veggies.