From Friday, January 27 through Monday, February 20, Babies''R''Us and Toys''R''Us stores nationwide are holding the Great Trade-In event, providing our guests the opportunity to trade-in any used car seat, stroller, travel system, high chair, play yard, bassinet, walker, infant swing, bouncer, entertainer, crib or kid's bed in exchange for a 25% savings on the purchase of any new baby items, in any of these product categories, from select manufacturers.

The Great Trade-In event places an emphasis on specific baby products, such as cribs and car seats that, due to safety concerns, may not be the best candidates to be handed down or resold. Beyond recalls, certain older and used baby items can be potentially unsafe for a variety of reasons, including damage or lack of compliance with recent advances in product safety standards.

Visit your local Babies''R''Us or Toys''R''Us store to trade-in your used crib, car seat or other qualifying baby product. Day care centers or other organizations that wish to exchange items in bulk are encouraged to contact their local Babies"R"Us or Toys"R"Us store prior to returning their used items to ensure adequate availability of new merchandise.

Love this idea, because I have several things that I can bring in.  I would love to put the items that I have on eBay; however, the shipping of big items is something that I don't want to deal with.  Any any items that you can bring in?

And ... today is Fast Friday Fact day.

This week's theme is adventure ... and they are all yes/no questions.

Have you ever been ...

1. Scuba diving
2. Bungee jumping
3. In a helicopter
4. Sky diving
5. Cliff jumping

And my answer to ALL the questions is NO.  I have no desire to any of the above.  OK, so maybe I'm not very adventurous.  What about you?

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy your weekend!

I was a HUGE fan when he starred in 24 (gosh how I miss that show).  I'm hoping that this series strikes my interest from the premiere tonight.

A litte about the show ...

Blending science, spirituality and emotion, the series will follow seemingly unrelated people all over the world whose lives affect each other in ways seen and unseen, known and unknown. At the story’s center is MARTIN BOHM (Kiefer Sutherland), a widower and single father, haunted by an inability to connect to his emotionally challenged 11-year-old son, JAKE (David Mazouz). Caring, intelligent and thoughtful, Martin has tried everything to reach his son. But Jake never speaks, shows little emotion, and never allows himself to be touched by anyone, including Martin. Jake is obsessed with numbers—writing long strings of them in his ever-present notebooks—and with discarded cell phones.

We hung out together all day, and then mom and dad came over around 4pm.  Mom helped me finish making dinner, while the guys watched football.  Nicholas and Rebecca played before dinner was served.

We had roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and fresh greenbeans (with sauteed onions and bacon).  It was a very yummy dinner if I say so myself.  After a little relaxation from dinner, we had cake.

Here are some pictures from last evening.

She was one happy little girl.  She loved her two new Zhu Zhu pets (a puppy and a purple hamster) and her other gifts.  She was also thrilled about her rocking doll crib.  Mom and dad found my old (but in excellent condition) baby doll rocking crib, so they brought it over last night.  It didn't take Rebecca long at all to put all of her dolls (and stuffed animals) in it to rock them to sleep.

Happy Birthday sweet baby girl!

And, like I promised, below is my layout from the first month of Ella Publishing's Take Twelve challenge.

And if you are wondering ... yes, Rebecca happened to stay in her jammies all day that day.  Sometimes we all need those kind of days.

Thanks for stopping by!

1. What was the last movie you saw in the theater?
2. What was the last movie you watched at home?
3. Who is your favorite movie star?
4. What movie can you watch over and over again and not get sick of it?
5. What movie will you never watch again?

And my answers:

1. The Muppets (2011)
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Meg Ryan
4. The Wedding Planner
5. Heathers (came out in 1989)

And my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE ...

What are some of your favorite (or least favorite) movies?

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Can I just tell you how excited I am to get this layout created.  I will be following one of the sketch templates that was provided when I purchased the Take Twelve kit.  And, just to let you know, it is NOT too late to join in on the fun.  You can do the Take Twelve challenge several different ways.  For example, you can take 12 pictures on any day of the month (not just 12 pictures on the 12th), or create a layout with 12 of your favorite pictures from the month (not just on one particular day).  The possibilities are endless and so much fun.

Go here to learn more.

I have to admit, I listen mostly to country music, but I could listen to just about anything (except for RAP).  Whenever I am in the car, I HAVE to listen to music.  Most of time, I plug in my phone and listen to the music on my playlist, but there are days when I'm looking for a new song, or just want a change of pace from the songs I listen to all the time and switch to what is playing on the radio.

So, for the challenge, I'm going to list the songs that are constantly played from my playlist, and then I'm going to list songs from the 70's, 80's, and 90's that I've enjoyed listening to over the years.  Many of them bring back a special memory (don't you just love that certain songs do that).

• American Honey - Lady Antebellum
• Anyway - Martina McBride
• Beautiful Day - Lee DeWyze
• The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel
• Breakeven - The Script
• Colder Weather - Zac Brown Band
• Come on Get Higher - Matt Nathanson
• Dream Big - Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband
• Hallelujah - The Canadian Tenors
• Hello World - Lady Antebellum
• The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert
• I Am .... I Said - Neil Diamond
• I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
• It's Only Life - Kate Voegele
• Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri
• Johnny and June - Heidi Newfield
• Keep  Breathing - Ingrid Michaelson
• Keep Holding On - Glee
• Little Miss - Sugarland
• Pie Jesu - Marie Osmond
• Rhythm of Love - Plain White T's
• Say - John Mayer
• The Scientist - Coldplay
• A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
• 1234 - Feist

And now the songs over the years ...

Songs from the 1970's

• Dancing Queen - Abba
• You're So Vain - Carly Simon
• Grease - Frankie Vallie
• Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings
• How Deep is Your Love - Bee Gees
• Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain and Tennille
• You Light Up My Life - Debby Boone
• I Just Want to be Your Everything - Andy Gibb
• Escape (the Pina Colada song) - Rupert Holmes
• Even Now - Barry Mannilow

Songs from the 1980's

• Take on Me - aHa
• Walk Like an Egyptian - The Bangles
• The Tide is High - Blondie
• In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
• I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight - Cutting Crew
• Life in a Northern Town - Dream Academy
• Faithfully - Journey
• Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
• Toy Soldiers - Martika
• Send Me an Angel - Real Life
• Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
• Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
• Nobody - Sylvia

Songs from the 1990's

• My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
• Nothing Compares to You - Sinead O'Connor
• Give it Away - Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
• Everybody Hurts - REM
• Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
• Walk on the Ocean - Toad the Wet Sprocket
• Dreams - Cranberries
• I'll Stand by You

I hope you've enjoyed reading through my lists.  Do any of these songs bring back memories for you?

Here are some of the photos I took yesterday.

Watch for my layout that will be featuring 12 photos I took yesterday.

Okay, since today is FRIDAY, it is time to give my answers to the This is Me Challenge - Fast Fact Friday questions.

There was a theme this week ... All About Food!

1. How do you like your chocolate?
2. What dessert or treat can you never say "no" to?
3. What is your favorite meal?
4. What food do you dislike the most?
5. What do you think is the healthiest thing in your pantry right now?

And my answers:

1. I love ALL chocolate, but dark chocolate is my favorite.
2. I can never say no to cheesecake.
3. My favorite meal is roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable (usually corn).
4. Macaroni and cheese ... I know, a comfort food for many, but not me.  The traumatic experience I once had as a child has stayed in my mind.
5. Popcorn

Thanks for stopping by everyone.  Enjoy your weekend!

Here is the list:

1. Abolone
2. Absinthe
3. Alligator
4. Baba Ghanoush
5. Bagel and Lox
6. Baklava
7. Barbecue Ribs - YES
8. Bellini
9. Bird's Nest Soup
10. Biscuits and Gravy - YES
11. Black Pudding
12. Black Truffle
13. Borscht
14. Clamari - YES
15. Carp
16. Caviar - YES
17. Cheese Fondue
18. Chicken and Waffles
19. Chicken Tikka Masala
20. Chile Relleno
21. Chitlins
22. Churros - YES
23. Clam Chowder - YES
24. Cognac
25. Crab Cakes - YES
26. Crickets
27. Currywurst
28. Dandelion Wine
29. Dulce De Leche
30. Durian
31. Eel
32. Eggs Benedict - YES
33. Fish Tacos - YES
34. Foie Gras
35. Fresh Spring Rolls - YES
36. Fried Catfish
37. Fried Green Tomatoes
38. Fried Plantain - YES
39. Frito Pie - YES
40. Frog's Legs
41. Fugu
42. Funnel Cake
43. Gazpacho
44. Goat
45. Goat's Milk
46. Goulash
47. Gumbo - YES
48. Haggis
49. Head Chese
50. Heirloom Tomatoes
51. Honeycomb
52. Hostess Fruit Pie - YES
53. Huevos Rancheros
54. Jerk Chicken
55. Kangaroo
56. Key Lime Pie - YES
57. Kobe Beef
58. Lassi
59. Lobster - YES
60. Mimosa - YES
61. MoonPie - YES
62. Morel Mushrooms
63. Nettle Tea
64. Octopus
65. Oxtail Soup
66. Paella
67. Paneer
68. Pastrami on Rye - YES
69. Pavlova
70. Phaal
71. Philly Cheese Steak - YES
72. Pho
73. Pineapple and Cottage Cheese
74. Pistachio Ice Cream - YES
75. Po'Boy - YES
76. Pocky
77. Polenta
78. Prickly Pear
79. Rabbit Stew
80. Raw Oysters
81. Root Beer Float - YES
82. S'Mores - YES
83. Sauerkraut - YES
84. Sea Urchin
85. Shark
86. Snail
87. Snake
88. Soft Shell Crab - YES
89. Som
90. Spaetzle
91. Spam
92. Squirrel
93. Steak Tartare
94. Sweet Potato Fries - YES
95. Sweetbreads - YES
96. Tom Yum
97. Umeboshi
98. Venison - YES
99. Wasabi Peas - YES
100. Zucchini Flowers

Okay, to be honest, I have never heard of more than half of these.  What about you?  Out of the 100 foods listed, I have only tried 30 of them.  Maybe I should be more adventurous in trying some of these foods.  Out of the foods that I haven't tried, what foods would you recommend for me to try?

1. How long have you lived at your current residence?
2. What is the exact shade of your favorite color?
3. How much sleep do you get each night?
4. Have you ever been able to do splits?
5. What is your favorite breakfast?

and my responses ...

1. a little over ten years
2. these days, just plain ole orange
3. about 6-7 hours
4. I have NEVER been able to do a split (don't know how to do a cartwheel either).
5. I usually like breakfast food at dinner time.  If I eat something for breakfast during the morning hours, I like to have a bagel or an english muffin.  If it is nighttime, I like bacon, eggs, and homefries OR pancakes OR waffles.

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

For example, today's prompt was to use a wide aperture on your camera.  I don't think I can do that on my phone (if I'm wrong, someone please let me know).  I took a picture of Rebecca and then did some fading within the picture.

I will be posting the pictures I take here (to the right), and will also be uploading the photos to an app on my iPhone called Photo365.  It is actually a cool app ... you place your picture within each individual calendar date.

How are you capturing photo's this year?  Are there any new sites I should be visiting?

In 2011, I planned on taking on so many creative projects.  I really had my hopes set high in completing all that I set out for, but I fell short on so many things.  The only thing I did keep up with was taking a photo every day for my Project Life book.  Yes, I still have journaling to do, but all pictures were taken, and my album is coming along beautifully.

So to SIMPLIFY in 2012, I am still going to do a Project Life book, but I will be creating a Shutterfly Project Life album instead of putting a manual album together.  I will most likely still be taking a photo a day in 2012, but the album that I will be creating will be a two-page spread for each month (seven or more photos on the two-page spread) instead of having a photo for every day in the album.  It will be a lot SIMPLER.

Here is a sample page of the digital album.

Another thing I am going to start doing again in 2012 is keep a journal.  I have been keeping a book for the past two years that I have felt obligated to write in every single day.  Keeping a journal with no dates takes the obligation and stress away for having to write something everyday (again ... trying to lead a SIMPLE life).

I also found a great idea that I want to start doing in 2012.  I want to start to take a weekly picture of our family (not sure how I'm going to work that yet), but I found the idea here.

One other way I'm going to SIMPLIFY in 2012 is to cut down on the TV shows that I watch.  The shows start to accumulate on my DVR and there have been times when I get stressed over all the shows I need to catch up on.  That has to STOP.  I want to spend more time reading, and I'm hoping my new Nook Tablet will help me accomplish that.

So, what are some of your goals for 2012?

Happy New Year everyone!

Last night we celebrated Nicholas' 8th birthday.  My little man is growing up too fast and I can't believe in two years he will be "double digits."  We spent the afternoon hanging out with my mom and Rebecca.  We went to McDonald's for lunch (where Rebecca enjoyed her first milkshake).  The milkshake was supposed to be for Mom, but Rebecca wanted to try it and then proceeded to drink the whole thing.

We then hit Kohl's and Toy's R Us to get some "birthday" things and spend some bonus cash I had at both places.

Mom and Dad came over last night to have some cake and coffee.  Here are some pictures from last night.

I want to thank all of you for stopping by to visit throughout the year.  I love to read your comments.  Whether you are a new (or old friend), I always welcome you to stop by whenever you like.  I have been slacking a bit on my posting these past couple of months, but one of my goals for next year is to improve on that.

In my next post, I will list some goals (both creative and personal) that I have for 2012, and will let you know about what my "One Little Word" for 2012 is going to be.  So, stay tuned!

Happy 2012 everyone!  Be safe and enjoy the last night of 2011.

It was an Angry Birds / Wimpy Kids kind of Christmas for us.  Nicholas is into the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and very much into playing the Angry Birds game (actually I love the game too), so a lot of his gifts were related to those two things.  He also received a DSi XL from Grandma and Pop-Pop and an iPod Touch from Nanny and Poppy (lucky kid).

Rebecca received a kitchen (she LOVES it), a doll house, a baby carriage, and several other things.  Oh, she also received a Zsu Zsu pet which she thinks is so "cute."

We had friends over on Christmas Eve, spent Christmas morning at mom and dad's, and then we came home and I made the four of us Christmas dinner.  It was quiet, but very enjoyable.  I just loved being home in the early afternoon and then relaxing the rest of the day, just the four of us.

How were your holidays?  What are some of the traditions you do every year at Christmas time?

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the days leading up to and on Christmas Day.

Thanks for stopping by!

In place of a "costume" for Rebecca, I ended up buying her this cute little "tutu" type skirt.  The other day I put it on her, and I'm glad I got the camera out when I did, because she didn't have it on for very long.  She doesn't mind wearing hats on her head for long periods of time, but she wanted nothing to do with having a skirt on.

Sure hope that she will wear her Christmas dress ... we'll just have to wait and see.

Enjoy your day everyone!

Each letter shown is the first letter of a word in the first line of a Christmas song.  For example, DTHWBOHFLLLLL would be D (deck) T (the) H (halls) W (with) B (boughs) O (of) H (holly) F (fa) L (la ... la ... la ...la).

See if you can figure out the rest.  Leave me a comment letting me know which ones you got, or which ones stumped you.

1. ICUAMC
2. GRYMGLNYD
3. TFNTADS
4. YBWOYBNC
5. RTRNRHAVSN
6. ISMKSCUTMLN
7. GGROBAR
8. OHNTSABS
9. DTTSIAOHOS
10. OTFDOCMTLGTM

Can't wait to see if you can figure these out!

And I'll leave you today with a photo of the kids getting ready to camp out in the room with Nanny and Poppy during their visit.  Actually, Nicholas was the only one to camp out in the room, but Rebecca wanted to do a little snuggling with Nicholas before it was time for bed.

Enjoy the rest of the day!