2 Little Muffins

5 Fun Christmas DIY Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 01:41:00 +0000

I am in a really festive mood lately; I'm ready for Christmas and it's showing in my projects lately! I have had a ton of fun trying some new crafts so I thought I'd talk about a few of them here and maybe give you some fun Christmas DIY inspiration at the same time.

1. Making Your Own Garland

If you live near evergreen trees of any kind, you can make beautiful garland that looks super expensive but is FREE. Love that word. This is the first year I've tried making my own garland and I was really surprised at how easy it is - time consuming, but easy. It's also a lot of fun and can be a great family activity to do with the kids.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of the process, but there are a lot of good tutorials out there, like this one from Lily White Designs.

2. Frosting Your Own Garland

So now that you've made your own garland, you can make it look quite festive by frosting it, to make it appear as if it's been dusted by freshly fallen snow. This one I did manage to capture pictures of, and it's super simple. Make sure you do this in a well ventilated area. Hang the garland up so you'll have your hands free to work.

Simply mix 1 cup of white flour or corn starch with a tablespoon or two of glitter.

Next, spray parts of your garland with clear spray paint and then dust on the glitter mixture. It's that simple and it's super pretty.

After hanging the garland, I decorated it with ornaments and I'm really happy with how it came out!

3. Make Your Own Wreath

So, there are tons of ways that you can make your own wreath. You can even use your own evergreen cuttings if you have a foam or wire wreath form. For these wreaths, I cheated because I started with finished wreaths - a grapevine one and a regular artificial evergreen one.

For the grapevine wreath, I used some of the evergreen cuttings I had for the garland. I simply created a little spray using wire to secure the pieces together. Then, I wired the spray to the wreath and finished it off with a bow.

For the evergreen wreath, I wrapped it in ribbon and then added some clip-on pieces I found in the Christmas section as well as some ornaments. I finished it off with a huge red bow and voila - done!

4. Create a Swag for Above Windows or Doors

Again, using the evergreen cuttings that I had for the garland, I created a swag. I simply wired the pieces together with the needles facing different directions. Then, I added a few pine cones using fishing line. I dressed it up using ribbon and over-sized ornaments.

5. Jar Snow Globes

Finally, you can make fun snow globes just using recycled jars and small figurines or trees like I used here. I didn't add water, but you can. Also, adding mineral oil is the best way to get the glitter or snow to fall slowly and beautifully. Mine are empty, but they still have the same sort of look and they're part of my little Christmas tree village.

I just super glued the trees to the lid and sprayed some clear spray paint inside the jar before adding glitter. Then, I closed the jar and hot-glued some ribbon to hide the lid.

I hope you enjoyed these fun projects! Do you have links to your own Christmas DIY projects? Share them here - I'd love to see them.

How to Make Rice Hand Warmers

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:14:00 +0000

For a long time, I've created rice "heating pads" for tummy aches, etc. but I never thought about using them for hand warmers. Then I saw some on Facebook and thought they were really cute, so I decided to create some for my daughter and her little friends to use while they waited for the bus on cold mornings. I love these, and they're perfect stocking stuffers for kids or small gifts for co-workers, mail carriers, etc.

What You'll Need:

1 Small Square of Felt for Each Warmer (you can use any size you want; mine were about 4 inches by 4 inches).
2/3 Cup Uncooked Rice - not the instant kind. I've read that you can also use beans and corn kernels.
Needle and Thread
Ribbon (if you want to pretty these up a bit).
Essential Oils (optional - these are just to make them smell yummy).

How to Make Them:

As you can see in the picture (sorry for the poor pic quality), I started out by just sewing some little hearts to my ribbon to jazz it up a bit.

Next, you're going to fold your felt square in half. If you've chosen to add ribbon, place it on top of the felt square and fold the end over so that it will tuck into your felt.

To sew the felt, I just used a simple blanket stitch and started on one end.

You will sew the two sides all the way around, making sure the stitches are close enough together to keep any rice from falling out once the hand warmer is finished.

Now you're going to add the rice to the hand warmer. I filled mine about 3/4 of the way and it took about 1/3 a cup of uncooked rice but it will take more or less depending upon how large your hand warmer is. If you're going to use essential oils, now is the time to put 1-2 drops inside! Once you've filled the warmer with rice, go ahead and stitch up the remaining side.

Voila! You have neat little hand warmers that are great on cold mornings. Just pop them in the microwave and heat them for 30 seconds to 1 minute (be careful - they can come out pretty hot at first) and they'll stay warm for quite a while. These stayed nice and warm for about 20 minutes before needing a re-heat.

These are not just great for keeping hands warm; they're perfect for bumps, bruises and aches. A friend told me she made them for her father who suffered with arthritis because they eased the stiffness and pain. There you go - couldn't be easier! Have fun making your own hand warmers. If you liked this tutorial, please use the buttons below to pin and share it!

Win a $30 Girlz Lyfe Store Credit

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:16:00 +0000

You know how much I love Girlz Lyfe! Well you can win a $30 store credit to shop for their adorable items. Entering is super simple - you just create an account with the website so you can spend your credit, and share their FB post. :) The full rules can be found here:

http://blog.girlzlyfe.com/2012/03/girlz-lyfe-giveaway-win-a-30-store-credit/

Win a $100 Girlz Lyfe Gift Card!

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Here's your chance to win a $100 gift card! The contest is fun, too - it's an art contest. Check out the details here: http://blog.girlzlyfe.com/2011/06/girlz-lyfe-art-contest-win-a-100-gift-card/

Eagleton Coven: Amaretto Flame Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 23:26:00 +0000

If you love Young Adult Paranormal Romances, I have something lined up for you. 3 readers are going to win an ebook copy of Eagleton Coven: Amaretto Flame by Sammie Spencer. Now, this author is very close to me, *wink* so I'm really excited to do this giveaway.

Book Trailer:

Summary:

Olivia has spent her life learning about her enemies, the deadly Venator - including how to kill them. What she knows nothing about is whiskey, playing poker, or rugged, copper-haired musicians. As punishment for a small 'crime,' Olivia is sent to a safe house in a human town and forced to live as one of them for a summer. There, she meets the charming Jackson Vance, and her real education begins. She soon discovers that she's being hunted, and figuring out why means she uncovers a secret that threatens to end everything she's ever fought for.

About the Author:

Sammie Spencer is a paranormal romance and urban fantasy author. When she's not creating her own worlds, she can be found traipsing through worlds created by her favorite authors - Richelle Mead, Cassandra Clare, Raymond Feist, Robert Jordan, Marion Zimmer Bradley...and many more!

How to Win:

- Leave a comment letting me know what you think of the book trailer - 1 Entry
- Follow Sammie Spencer's Blog - 1 Entry
- Follow Sammie Spencer on Twitter - 1 Entry
- Tweet this giveaway and leave a link. Example - "Win a Copy of Sammie Spencer's Amaretto Flame - http://tinyurl.com/5vy49td" - 2 Entries
- Put the book trailer on your blog and leave a link - 5 Entries.
- Follow Sammie Spencer on Facebook and leave a comment saying '2 Lil Muffins sent me!' - 2 Entries

That's it! The giveaway will end April 5, 2011 at 8PM Central. Remember to leave a comment for each entry so they can be counted properly. The winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Good luck, ladies!

If you want to skip the giveaway and buy the book, find it here for Kindle and here in other formats!

Girlz Lyfe $20 Gift Certificate Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 04:40:00 +0000

And the winner is...

Jackie! Congratulations, Jackie. You've been sent an e-mail. You'll have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Thank you to Girlz Lyfe, who sponsored this great giveaway!

GirlzLyfe.com $20 Gift Certificate Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:21:00 +0000

It's that time again, guys! If you've missed out on the GirlzLyfe.com giveaways of the past, here's your chance to try again. We're giving away a $20 gift card, and just check out some of the neat things you can get...

Love Swallow Necklace - $12

Hello Kitty Rainbow Striped Socks - $14

Bitten Vampire Necklace - $18

Drunken Masters Ninja Swizzle Sticks - $18.99

There are so many different things to pick, and right now, there's a super sale going on with items from $.99 to $5.99 so you can get more bang for your buck! Here's how to win:
Mandatory: You MUST be a follower of 2 Lil Muffins to win. Leave a comment telling me you are a new follower or that you've been here all along! ;-)

Extra Entries:

- Like GirlzLyfe on Facebook - 3 Extra Entries. Say hi on their wall and let them know 2 Lil Muffins sent you!

- Follow GirlzLyfe on Twitter - 2 Extra Entries. Tweet this giveaway. Ex: "Win a $20 GirlzLyfe Gift Certificate and Get Your Shop On! http://tinyurl.com/67y2qh9"

- Make a Purchase from GirlzLyfe - 10 Extra Entries. Leave a comment letting me know what you purchased and when!

- Comment on any other post on this blog - 1 Extra Entry. Let me know which post you commented on!

That's it! The giveaway will end March 1, 2011 at 8pm EST and the winner will be selected randomly. Remember to leave a comment for EACH entry so they count. Ex: if you gain 10 extra entries for purchasing an item, leave 10 comments. Also, make sure I can get your e-mail address from your profile or leave it in the comments. Thanks and good luck!

My Unique Christmas Ornaments

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 06:08:00 +0000

Some of you may have noticed that I've been MIA lately and for that, I apologize. My fiance and I have recently been entrusted with the care of two little ones, a boy age 4 and a girl age 3. We received these little angels a bit unexpectedly and as you can imagine, it was quite an adjustment. Although my 7 and 9 year old have been very helpful, I have forgotten just how much work the little, little ones can be!

That said, I hope everyone is having a fantastic time decorating, holiday shopping, and making Santa lists. This is my FAVORITE time of year (not favorite weather, but what is Christmas without that freezing wind that threatens to rip the skin right off your bones?)...in fact, my sister says that during the holidays, the 'elf' comes out in me. It's true...I have the Christmas spirit.

One of my favorite family traditions is ornament gifts. Each year, the kids get a special ornament from Mom and Dad, and Mom and Dad give each other a special ornament as well. Aside from that, if I see a unique ornament, I HAVE to snatch it up. I have a bit of an unnatural obsession with ornaments, especially if they are different than the typical Christmas ornament. I thought it would be fun to show you some of the ones I've collected over the years.

Just after Hurricane Katrina, a couple in Key Largo sent my family a Christmas 'love' package, and this ornament was in the box. I was in love with it immediately and it has been on my tree every year since.

I have a bit of a thing for peacocks, and I saw this lady online and HAD to have her.

Another peacock that I couldn't resist.

I saw this ship ornament at a local boutique store and we made eye contact...it was love at first sight.

This little Santa was at Michael's when I was shopping for crafts. It was so glittery; it beckoned to me from across the store. Look at Santa's sweet little face!

I LOVE Christmas ornaments! And here is how they all look on my tree, complete with the TRILLION-feet paper chain the kids and I made last year:

So, what does your tree look like? Do you have a hodgepodge of different ornaments like I do or is your tree themed with precise colors and types of ornaments?

Want to Win a Chi Air Pure Pink Flat Iron? Valued at $99...

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:44:00 +0000

I am the new follower of A Jeweled Life, a wonderful review and giveaway blog. She's offering readers the chance to win a gorgeous Chi Air flat iron valued at just under $100! Check it out here.

Rar! Monster T-shirt Giveaway from GirlzLyfe.com

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 23:38:00 +0000

The air is getting cool, the leaves have changed colors, and it's so close to Halloween! It's my favorite time of year, and to celebrate, I've partnered with Girlz Lyfe to give away a fantastic Rar! Monster T-shirt to one lucky winner. If you don't know about Girlz Lyfe, you have to visit and check out their line of completely awesome accessories.

They have everything, from things for the pets...
...to the best jewelry on earth...

...fashionable clothing...

...and novelty items.

Girlz Lyfe is the perfect place to go when you want to get some Christmas or holiday shopping done, or you want to reward yourself with a treat or two! Veronica from Girlz Lyfe has generously offered one of my lucky readers the chance to win the Rar! Monster Tee in your size.
How to Enter: You must be following this blog to enter. Simply 'like' Girlz Lyfe on FB, and leave a comment that 2 Lil Muffins sent you.

Extra Entries:

E-mail subscribe to this blog. - 2 Extra Entries

Subscribe to the Girlz Lyfe blog. - 2 Extra Entries

Make a Girlz Lyfe purchase and leave a comment telling me what you purchased. - 10 Extra Entries

Comment on any other post in this blog (leave a comment detailing which ones). - 1 Extra Entry for Each comment, 1 comment per post.

The giveaway will end October 19, 2010 at 8PM EST and the winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck all! Remember to make sure your e-mail address is visible in your profile, or that you leave it in the comment. Also, leave 1 comment for EACH entry so they will all be counted.

Top 10 Feel Good Songs

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:41:00 +0000

Feeling a little low? Never fear - music is here! For centuries, music has been a great way of fighting off the blues...or at least documenting them in a melodic way. When you need a quick pick-me-up, check out the top 10 feel good songs below.

10. Queen - We Are the Champions

Corny? Em...absolutely not!

9. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop Thinking about Tomorrow

Who is more beautiful than Stevie Nicks? No one.

8. Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now

If this one doesn't make you feel good, you need a hospital!

7. My Girl - The Temptations

"He needs his glasses. He can't see without his glasses!" - Oh...the point was to feel GOOD. Nevermind.

6. Survivor - Eye of the Tiger

For the record, I absolutely KILL this song on Guitar Hero. ;-)

5. Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl

Try not to sing along. Go ahead.

4. Natasha Bedingfield - Pocket Full of Sunshine

Great melody...toe tapper.

3. Mista - Blackberry Molasses

Sigh - Brings back memories!

2. Jackson 5 - I Want You Back

Spirit-lifting!

Drumroll, please...

And my choice for #1 Feel Good Song of all time...

1. Joan Jett - I Love Rock and Roll

By the way, have you seen her lately? She hasn't aged a day!

It was super hard to choose only 10, considering I am a music fanatic...leave a comment and tell me your favorite 'feel good' song of all time.

New Etsy Shop Items

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 03:51:00 +0000

I've added some new items to my Etsy shop...have a look!

There's a lot more, too! If you want to check out the other hair clips and paintings, click here. I hope you like them!

Review of Kidzsack: The Eco-Friendly Backpack You Can Color!

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 05:49:00 +0000

Art is super important to me, whether it's painting, drawing, coloring, sculpting, writing - any kind of art.

I honestly believe that children benefit when they're exposed to many different kinds of art, and when they're given the freedom to be creative and to try many different kinds of art. When I was given the opportunity to try Kidzsack, I was so excited!

What is Kidzsack?

Kidzsack is a backpack created from 100% eco-friendly materials, including recycled plastic bottles. The outside of the backpack has a printed picture for your child to color. You can pop it in the wash and your child can color it over and over again.
There are several different designs you can choose from, including a sports theme, a jungle scene, a beach picture, and more. We received the ballerina kitties scene to try out. (Total WIN for my daughter, who snapped it up immediately!)

How'd We Like It?

The Kidzsack comes with 8 non-toxic markers that your child can use to color the picture, which I thought was super-neat. Sure, it's just markers, but the fact that they're included is a mini bonus for this product.The kiddies went right to coloring (with made-up rules that my son was only allowed to color the leaves and surrounding pictures while my daughter colored the cats. Yep, they made up this rule because a.) my son thought he was too macho to color cats in skirts and b.) my daughter wanted the privilege of doing that!)

I loved the fact that they had so much fun coloring the bag. They worked together until they had the picture filled in and colorful. In fact, my son was already asking me to buy a boy-themed bag for him. I had reservations, though. See, one Christmas, my daughter got one of those bears you can write on and then wash...except when you put it in the wash, all of the marker didn't come out.

I figured the Kidzsack would be the same way, but I was wrong. It looked brand new when I took it out of the washer. (Lazy Mom Confession: I didn't look for washing and drying instructions so I was hesitant to place it in the dryer. I just let it dry flat on the counter rather than risk the dryer.) The kids loved it, which is what I really look for in any product that is designed for kids. It's not enough for the moms to think it's a great idea - the kids must love it too!

The one thing we did notice is that the bag is quite small. If your kids are in pre-school or kindergarten, it would be perfect but for bigger kids that have to carry folders and books - it's probably not going to be large enough. That didn't matter here, because my daughter used it as an overnight bag when she went to stay the night with her grandparents. After that, she shoved little girl make-up and various other things in it and has been carrying it around ever since.

We give Kidzsack a big thumbs up, and couldn't have been happier with it. My partner, Yona, also reviewed a Kidzsack with her adorable nephew, so jump over and check out her Kidzsack review. This is a PERFECT Christmas gift, so if you're shopping for little ones, keep it in mind. Stop by the Kidzsack website to check it out further and pick up one for your little ones today.

Note: I was not monetarily compensated or compensated in any way for this review. Kidzsack sent me a free product to review and provide my opinions on. All of the opinions in this post are 100% mine and uninfluenced by the company that created Kidzsack.

Funny Friday #2: "Tell Them I'm the Gardener!"

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:45:00 +0000

When I was in 5th grade, I tried out for cheerleading. We had to stay after school, and our parents were supposed to pick us up a few hours later. I should first tell you that the school I went to was filled with kids who came from upper-class families. Everyone drove the newest shiny cars, all the kids had the nicest clothes, etc.

So, the day before the tryouts, our car breaks down and has to be taken to the shop. "What are we going to do?" I asked, over and over. "Oh, we'll figure something out," my parents answered. I should also tell you that our neighbor, and one of my dad's good friends, drove this truck - if you want to call it that.

Let's just say that if it had been a horse, it would have had to be shot. It was several different colors, slathered in Bondo, had broken mirrors and the sound...it was what I imagine the apocalypse might sound like.
After the tryouts, my friends and I walked toward the front of the school, where the car-riders got picked up at.

We were sitting there chatting, laughing and carefree, when I heard it. It came from around the corner..."PUTT-PUTT-PUTT-PUTT." The ground practically shook with the noise. Immediately, I knew...this sound was somehow for me. Son of a horse, I thought. I looked around quickly, calculating my chances of escape.

It was too late. That *truck* pulled around the corner, looking like absolute death warmed over - like the evil ghost of something that used to resemble a vehicle. My eyes automatically went wide and I looked to either side of me. This is where everything turned slow-motion. I could see one of my friends' eyes get wide too, and sloooooowly, she mouthed, "OH MY GOD."

I wanted to die. I didn't move for a few minutes, but there was my dad in the driver's seat, waiting for me. Shit. I thought about running, but looking at his face, I changed my mind and stood up with all the courage of someone going to face their horrendous, torturous death. Now, if it was bad until this point, it gets even worse. Why, you ask? Because the passenger side door on this monster did not open.

This meant that right there, in front of my friends, my father had to get OUT of this thing, and let me climb through the driver's side, before he got back in and pulled away. While I was dying a thousand deaths of embarrassment, my father got out of the vehicle. Obviously, something showed on my face...

...because my dad looked over at the kids, and then back at me. He whispered encouragingly, "Just tell them I'm the gardener." Thanks, Dad. I'm sure that'll work. To this day, he believes it was a character-building experience...I believe it's the cause for deep-rooted fears involving Bondo and gardeners.

Little Handfuls: Can You Handle the Cute?

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:03:00 +0000

Recently, I won a giveaway hosted by a woman named Liza Adams. The giveaway was for a beautiful little bear named Peaches. I was instantly in love...

I should tell you that I have a bit of a thing for bears. Before Hurricane Katrina, I collected tiny bear figurines - little bears wearing Halloween costumes, daddy and mommy bears, Valentine's bears...I had a ton of them. After the collection was demolished, I never really picked it back up again, but after discovering Little Handfuls, I think I may have to start all over again.

About the Artist:

Liza Adams is a mommy of 3 from New Zealand, and began needle felting about 6 years ago when she purchased a kit from a local craft show. I think it's safe to say she found her calling, because her bears are absolutely precious!

Now, I won't even pretend to know how needle felting works, but I think these bears have a distinct look that makes them so much cuter than the majority of 'teddy bears.' In addition to that, Liza manages to give every single one of her bears a different personality...

This is Cinnamon. Doesn't she look like she's waiting patiently for you to join her tea party? I love those eyes, with so much personality and sweetness.

Meet Bella and Buddy. I absolutely adore that little hat and those big feet! Buddy is probably one of my favorites...he's just so darn cute. He definitely demands an "awwww!"

This is Pippin. What beautiful colors! And I love that nose.

This is Abner. Look at the expression on his beautiful face! Am I the only one turning all mushy and gushy from the absolute cute-ness of these bears? Well, if you want to see more, you can visit Little Handfuls on Flickr, and you really should because you have no idea how hard it was to choose which bears to post here - they're all so darn adorable.

Also, if you want to start your own collection of these sweet and charming babies, visit Little Handfuls on Etsy.

Question: Do any of you collect anything, and if so, what?

$25 Gift Certificate Winner - Girlz Lyfe - New Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:38:00 +0000

Unfortunately, I've had to pick a new winner because I haven't heard back from our original one :( So, the new number is...

The winning comment is:

Ava said... 4: yummy tote bag!; August 3, 2010 7:38 AM

Congrats Ava! I've sent you an e-mail and you'll have 48 hours to respond!

Funny Friday #1

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:35:00 +0000

It might make me a terrible mother, but when my kids were smaller, I loved hearing them mess words up. In fact, it was very difficult for me to correct them because they sounded so darn cute.

For instance, when my son wanted to say 'basketball,' it came out 'spacketball.' Or, 'balloons' were 'abloons.'

When we were teaching him about 'clocks,' he somehow made it come out sounding like 'fuck.' We'd say, "Where's the clock?" and he would point excitedly at the clock on the wall, shouting, "Fuck, fuck!" We'd point to the numbers for him and count them out - "1, 2, 3..." and so on.

We were shopping one day, and my son was in the front of the shopping cart. We maneuvered around the crowds of people to get to the produce section and my son spotted the fruit and vegetable scales. Thinking they were clocks, he points very excitedly and starts screaming, "FUCK, FUCK, Mama. FUCK!" Being so used to him saying this for clock, and immediately knowing he was referring to the scales that he thought were clocks, I nodded enthusiastically and said, "That's right, man!" and I give him a high-five.

When I looked up, several people were staring at me and one older woman was looking at me as if I were the scum of the earth. It registered then that these people were seeing me vigorously encourage my 2 year-old to curse like a sailor. With burning and bright red cheeks, I turned to my son and began immediately correcting him...what I should have been doing all along. "CL-ock. CL-ock, Christopher."

With bright eyes and what was evidently a great desire to get it right, he said very slowly, "C-ock."

Del Monte Freeze and Eat Fruit Chillers ReviewTubes

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:08:00 +0000

It's HOT...so very, very hot. There's nothing better (just ask my kids) than a yummy popsicle on a hot summer day. However, most popsicles are basically nothing but sugar. Sure, this is fine once in a while, but when your kids are like mine and bounce off the walls at 90MPH when they've had too much sugar, you start to look for alternatives.

When I spotted the Del Monte Freeze and Eat Fruit Chillers, I thought, hmmm. So I decided to buy them and try them out on *the* pickiest critics alive - my 2 lil muffins. Here's what we thought:

Price: The price is ok. You get 8 in a pack for around $1.99 - as opposed to probably 20 regular popsicles in a pack for the same price. My kids like to have these as 'after school' snacks, so I can almost make a whole week with one pack, or 2 bucks...BUT they never last this long! Ha!

Taste: I didn't just rely on my kids' for the taste test, because I enjoy a great popsicle now and again as well. ;-) In comparison with regular popsicles, the Del Monte Freeze and Eat Fruit Chillers win hands down! Whereas a normal popsicle tastes like frozen kool-aid, these taste like frozen fruit smoothies. We bought the Strawberry Snow Storm and they were very full-flavored and delicious.

Nutrition Comparison: The calories in a normal popsicle and the Fruit Chillers are about the same - around 50. However, the Fruit Chillers are actual frozen fruit sorbet, so you get some good vitamins in there as well. For instance, the Fruit Chillers have 25% Vitamin C, whereas popsicles have 0 Vitamin C.

The Fruit Chillers have 1g of dietary fiber, whereas the popsicles have 0. Popsicles have about 3g of Carbohydrates, while the Fruit Chillers have about 13g of Carbs. Also, the Fruit Chillers have about 50g of Potassium, while popsicles have 0.

We haven't tried the other flavors yet, but I can't wait. All in all, I love these and I think they're a great way to get in a bit of fruit instead of just a ton of sugar. The taste is definitely better than popsicles, and although the price is a little higher, I believe it's well worth it! I'd highly recommend these for your little ones...or even yourself!

Winner - $25 Girlz Lyfe Gift Certificate

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:31:00 +0000

We have a winner, folks...You'll find the winning comment below:

MissTM said... 70: forgot to post this twice too.
8/4 Tweet
http://twitter.com/TeeTee_Baby/status/20355600950; August 7, 2010 2:46 PM

Congratulations, MissTM!!! I'm sending an e-mail now to get details. Don't forget - if you entered Yona's giveaway, you can check now to see if you've won over there. :-)

Hypothyroidism: One Little Problem and a Ton of Big Symptoms

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:24:00 +0000

I've recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and after researching, have discovered that it's much more common that I originally thought. In fact, many people (especially women) suffer with some degree of hypothyroidism and don't even know it.

I thought it would be a great idea to share my story, and maybe it will help others out there who may be experiencing the same symptoms I did...

What is Hypothyroidism?

Your thyroid is a gland that controls many different things in your body, mainly your metabolism. Hypothyroidism means that this gland isn't producing enough hormone to control those necessary processes. Many times, this happens due to an autoimmune disorder that causes your antibodies to attack the thyroid gland. Sometimes it can happen due to thyroid cancer, or other conditions that leave the thyroid damaged.

Symptoms I Experienced:

I'll start by saying that for many, many years, I have been unable to tolerate cold. When others in the room were comfortable, or hot even, I was wrapped up in blankets with my teeth chattering. Sometimes, I would feel 'bone cold,' meaning I was just absolutely cold all over and couldn't seem to get warm at all. During these occasions, the only thing that seemed to help was a hot bath - and I took LOTS of those.

Another thing I noticed for many years was that I didn't sweat like other people...most things that would cause others to start dripping barely affected me. I thought I was blessed - ha! Also, there were times when I would just be completely tired - as if my batteries suddenly drained, leaving me absolutely fatigued. However, other than this, I felt okay. I didn't have much trouble maintaining my weight, even when I wasn't actively doing any exercise programs regularly.

However, several months ago, I began to feel really ill. I noticed that my concentration went from excellent to not-so-good to completely non-existent. I was grouchy, tired ALL the time, and always cold. Now, when I say tired all the time, I don't mean I felt like sleeping. I don't mean I could have taken a nap and that I felt lazy. I mean that it was HORRIBLE - it was an effort to move...just getting up to walk across the room felt like an insurmountable chore. This does not work when you have 2 children...and so on top of feeling terrible, I felt guilty because it was all I could do to muster up the energy to give them meals, etc.

I didn't think too much of this, because I've always had issues sleeping at night. I figured it was just catching up to me. Soon after, the muscle cramps started. It started with a few muscle 'spasms' - what felt like a charlie horse in different parts of my body - arms, sides, etc. Within a few weeks' time, I was having a very difficult time with anything. Putting on a shirt or buckling my seat belt would make muscles in my arms and sides 'seize' up, and it was incredibly painful.

I had also started gaining weight - this I blew off, thinking...I'm getting older, I work at home on the computer...I just need to exercise more. I also had a few really bad migraines...I mean, I thought I'd had migraines before those headaches, but apparently not. These made me feel like my skull was going to split open, and I was actually vomiting throughout both of them. It was the muscle cramps that really got to me. I started to think something was really wrong. One day (after the realization that I needed to exercise more), I decided to go for a walk. I got my MP3 player and took off out the door. I didn't get very far at all (embarrassingly) before my legs didn't want to work anymore at all.

Both of my legs became so exhausted...it was like I was losing the ability to use them. It was terrifyingly painful. I turned around and began to go home. I honestly wasn't sure whether I would make it home. My legs were in so much pain and it felt like I was walking around on tree trunks. It was hard to bend them, and each time I moved them, the muscles screamed in agony. When I did make it home, I was in tears. My family thought perhaps it was because I didn't exercise regularly. This didn't sit right with me...sure, I wasn't a marathon runner, but I have 2 kids so I'm fairly active. My little 'walk' didn't even amount to the number of steps I would take to run in the grocery store and grab something for dinner - and I felt completely paralyzed.

I can confidently say that by this point, more than one of my family members probably thought I was going nuts. Still - I called the doctor and made an appointment. A friend of mine pointed out that lack of potassium could cause muscle cramps and fatigue, and I thought there was a possibility I was anemic. When I explained to the doctor what was going on, I was told that there was probably nothing wrong with me - I was 27 years old and fairly healthy. She said that I might need more calcium, but she agreed to do blood work.

When the blood work came back, and the doctor told me that my thyroid numbers were low, I was so relieved. I was so thankful that there was a name for what was wrong with me, and that it could be controlled. However, she told me that most people don't complain about muscle aches and cramps when they have thyroid issues. Interestingly enough, after doing my own research, I found that it was one of the most commonly listed symptoms.

Medication

So, I was started on Synthroid 25mg. 5 weeks later, a blood test showed I was still too low. I was moved up to 50mg. Another blood test revealed that I was still too low. I was moved up two more times, and am now taking 100mg a day. I will have another blood test in a few weeks to determine whether my numbers are good or I need a higher dosage.

Within a few weeks of taking the Synthroid, the muscle aches were completely gone - a HUGE relief. However, it took much longer for the pain in my legs - every time I walked, I had that same exhausted, horrible pain in my legs. Now, I still feel it occasionally, but it's nowhere near as bad. I've also started to lose the extra weight I gained. I feel fairly okay, but I am still having some weird symptoms.

One of them is random swelling and pain - I've had this happen in my feet, my fingers and wrists, on my sides (near my ribs) and in my knees. It happens out of the blue, and the affected area turns red and hot, along with the pain and swelling. Most of the time, it goes away overnight. This is something I plan on discussing with my doc at my next checkup, and I guess I'll have to hope that she is willing to look into it. I also get extremely tired still, from time to time, but I still have more energy than I did have. Overall, I'd say I feel about 70% better - but I'm still working on 100%.

All THAT From One Little Problem?

This is what I was thinking - how in the world can one little problem cause so much pain and so many symptoms? For a while, I was really thinking that there was something SERIOUSLY wrong with me. I expected to get some horrible diagnosis...I was even scared to visit the doctor. But hypothyroidism can cause so many symptoms - it's just unreal. In fact, if it's left untreated for a long time, sufferers can actually go into a fatal coma. Some of the most common symptoms are:

Feeling tired, fatigued - This can range from just fatigued to being so low on energy it's debilitating.

Gaining weight.

Loss of concentration.

Muscle aches/pains.

Irritability

Being intolerable to cold.

Menstrual irregularities.

Constipation.

Headaches/Migraines.

These are just a few of the common symptoms. I really recommend you read this article, which goes into the many bodily processes that are governed by or directly affected by the thyroid. I am so glad that I'm feeling better, and I hope that as we get the proper dosage of medication going, I'll feel even better than this. With hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism being so common, many women could be feeling horrible and blaming it on not enough sleep or the need for more vitamins.

A Bit of Funny:

While none of this is really funny, I have to point out some of the differences I've been experiencing since taking the medicine. I found out that I am not blessed and that I DO sweat. I also don't experience that 'bone cold' feeling anymore - and lately, I've felt our Southern Mississippi heat more than I care to. I will suddenly start fanning myself and saying, "Geez! Is it hot in here to everyone else?" That's when my loving sweetheart yells, "It's just your thyroid kicking in!" Ha! It's actually NOT my thyroid kicking in - it's the medicine, which I'll most likely have to take every day...forever.

Another thing I've noticed is that my metabolism has definitely increased...I am hungry. A lot. I guess this is okay, since I'm still losing weight.

If you're experiencing the symptoms above, have your doctor do a blood test and check out your thyroid performance. Because many doctors don't have the commitment necessary to really find out what's wrong with their patients (especially when initial tests come back clean because hypothyroidism can be difficult to diagnose), it may be necessary to shop around for doctors, or to find a great endocrinologist. This may be what I have to end up doing. I'll keep you updated on how I'm feeling, and in the meantime will hope that this post might help someone who could be having thyroid problems and not know it!

Image Credit: http://www.righthealth.com/topic/Congenital_hypothyroidism/Images

Keurig B-30 Mini Brewing System Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:42:00 +0000

I am trying my darndest to win a Keurig...not too long ago I tried to win the super duper system from a particular blog, but didn't. Now, Real Moms is giving away a mini-system which is just PERFECTO for me. So, I'm trying to win that one.

If you want a shot - go here and enter.

2 Lil Muffins Presents: The Top 10 Hottest Celebrity Stud Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 03:54:00 +0000

As an ode to the great art of procrastination, I will now delight your senses with my picks for the most gorgeous men...and trust me, this isn't some spur-of-the-moment list. I've studied these men PA-LENTY (research, of course) in an attempt to bring you only the highest-quality stud muffins. Without further ado...

10. Edward Norton ♥

I have absolutely no defense for this at all. I just think Edward Norton is incredibly hot.

9. Colin Farrell ♥

Colin is one of those guys who can be completely hot one second and totally not hot the next. However, accents make me weak in the knees (ESPECIALLY IRISH ACCENTS) and so...he makes the list. Also, if you haven't seen Ondine, that is such a cute movie!

8. Jared Leto ♥

Ok. Let me tell you my little Jared Leto story. First and foremost, I was a HUGE fan of the MTV show My So Called Life, where of course Leto played the heartthrob Jordan Catalono. I was probably about 14 when this short-lived show aired, and I was in L.O.V.E.!! Many years later, when Leto formed the band 30 Seconds to Mars, I was able to see them live at CPRfest, a local concert event that happens here yearly.

It just so happened that the band was kicked off the stage early because the main act was ready to go on - and Jared was NOT happy. He was ranting over by his trailer when yours truly passed by and became STAR STRUCK...and actually had a conversation with him. Got a hug and a CD too. Yay me!!!

7. James Franco ♥ ♥

I can't help it - as you'll see with one of the celebs that's much, much closer to #1, there's just this thing about the dark, mysterious type that is irresistible!

6. Gerard Butler ♥ ♥

Hot. Accent. "This is SPARTA." If you've seen 300 or P.S. I Love You and didn't develop a crush on Gerard Butler, you're a stronger woman than me!

5. Jason Statham ♥ ♥ ♥

Bad boy. Accent. Alpha Male. He makes bald look hot.

4. Leonardo DiCaprio ♥ ♥ ♥

I've had a crush on Leo for YEARS - like, since the Romeo + Juliet days. Now, some of you will argue that Leo is too 'pretty boy-ish,' but to that, I say, Blood Diamond. If you haven't seen him in this movie, you must. It's that rugged, butt-kicking thing that makes our feminine instincts kick in - you know, the ones that point us in the direction of the alpha male. Hot.

3. James McAvoy ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I adore James McAvoy. He is absolutely gorgeous, and has a delicious accent. Also, the movie Becoming Jane is probably #1 or #2 on my favorite movie list.

2. Orlando Bloom ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Just 100% totally and completely adorable.

1. Johnny Depp ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Oh my. My oh my. My, my, my. I absolutely LOVE Johnny Depp, and have since forever. He is absolutely the hottest male celebrity alive, and seems to just get hotter and hotter. The coolest thing about him - he doesn't tout himself as being sexy, and deliberately takes roles that actually downplay his looks, but we all know what's hiding under the Mad Hatter's make-up, don't we?

I honestly think that Johnny Depp will hold the title of 'sexiest male celebrity alive' until...well, until he dies. And he's so sexy, that he may have the power to hold the title even after that.

Ok - so, in the comments below, tell me who would make your list, and what you think about mine!!!

iPad Giveaway!!!! (Ends September 6, 2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

If you've had your eye on an iPad, here's your chance to get one FREE. GirlzLyfe.com is giving away 1 iPad and the entry process is SUPER easy...

Enter the iPad Giveaway Here!!!

While you're there, you need to check out their ADORABLE items - they have back-to-school stuff, eco-friendly accessories, jewelry, and so much more. The greatest thing is that the prices are VERY reasonable. Plus, a purchase earns 10 extra entries in the iPad giveaway.

Don't forget to enter our $25 GirlzLyfe.com gift certificate giveaway, too!

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy...

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:13:00 +0000

What brings me joy?

- Finding a hand-written letter in the mailbox from a friend or loved one (as long as they're not asking for money.)

- That moment during a great meal when I'm comfortably full and satisfied (just before things start to get uncomfortable because I've taken a few bites that I really didn't need.)

- Chocolate (covering cherries, drizzled over granola bars, in milk, in coffee, in cake-form, dark and light, baked in cookies, and pretty much every other way. I don't really discriminate.)

- My Children (even when they're trying to kill each other, embarrassing me in public, asking for insanely expensive electronic items, and refusing to go to sleep.)

- The Love of My Life (even when he's embarrassing me in public, asking for insanely expensive electronic items, and refusing to go to sleep.)

- Fantastic books (especially ones that allow me to pretend I'm a butt-kicking half-vampire, apocalypse survivor, governess at an estate with a ruggedly handsome master who's hiding a crazy wife in the other wing of the mansion, parter of the mists that lead to a secret island, or other such delicious things.)

- Writing (and envisioning my name on the New York Times bestseller list.)

There you have it...so, what brings you joy?

This post is part of SOYJOY‘s What brings you joy contest. Learn more here.”

$25 GirlzLyfe.com Gift Certificate Giveaway (CLOSED)

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha Cummings) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:20:00 +0000

Let me just start by saying I LOVE the Girlz Lyfe shop! They have the cutest stuff, and it's all reasonably priced. The owner, Veronica, is super nice, and has agreed to do another giveaway with us - so one of you lucky readers gets the chance to win a $25 gift certificate.

Since everything is such a great price, you can choose from a ton of items for just $25 - or, add to it and get even more goodies. Girlz Lyfe has great gift items and things for the home along with all that fantastic girl merchandise. Or, pick up something for your favorite pooch. There are things for little girls, grown-up girls, and even baby girls!
One thing I love about the things in the store is that they're not seen everywhere - so if you purchase a necklace or a t-shirt, it's not likely that you're going to see someone else wearing it. Also, they have a ton of items that are whimsical and funny.

You really have to browse through the store to get a real appreciation of what's available! It's a miracle that I haven't bought them out of everything they carry! So...without further ado...

How to Enter: Follow this blog publicly, and visit the Girlz Lyfe shop. Browse through the adorable items and let me know what you'd purchase with your gift certificate.

Extra Entries:

"Like" Girlz Lyfe on Facebook and leave a message on their wall, saying 2 Lil Muffins sent you. (2 Extra Entries)

Follow Girlz Lyfe on Twitter and tweet about this contest. Leave me a comment with the link to the tweet. This can be done daily. (2 Extra Entries)

E-mail Subscribe to this blog and confirm, or leave a comment if you're already a subscriber. (1 Extra Entry)

Purchase an item from Girlz Lyfe and leave me a comment with the details. (10 Extra Entries)

Sign up for the Girlz Lyfe newsletter (left of the website, little blue box). You'll get discount details and much more. (1 Extra Entry)

Want another chance to win AND another entry here? Enter Yona's Girlz Lyfe giveaway and leave me a comment letting me know you did. (1 Extra Entry)

Good luck everyone! The contest will end 8/12 at 8PM and the winner will be chosen by Random.org. Please remember to leave a comment for EACH entry so it will be counted - and don't forget to add your e-mail address if it's not on your public profile.