Make Way for Joy

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2009-11-07T07:13:00.001-08:00

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2009-11-02T18:44:00.001-08:00

Kids' Events | Kids' Activities
Daycare | Summer Camps

Playing House Review and Giveaway

2009-09-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

Playing House by Fredrica Wagman

From the FSB Publisher:

When Playing House appeared in 1973, Publishers Weekly hailed it, "A probing descent into madness that will fascinate the same audience that appreciated I Never Promised You a Rose Garden." This nationally bestselling story of one woman’s struggle with the lasting effects of a childhood sexual relationship with her brother shocked American readers; it remains a literary work of enduring quality and value. In his foreword Philip Roth writes, "The traumatized child; the institutionalized wife; the haunting desire; the ghastly business of getting through the day -- what is striking about Wagman's treatment of these contemporary motifs is the voice of longing in which the heroine shamelessly confesses to the incestuous need that is at once her undoing and her only hope."

This story struck me fast and hard. It left my heart aching for these young children who were left on their own to play house. It saddened me to see how the parents over looked what was happening with their children. I had full empathy for the child narrator. I carried that all the way to the end of the book. She had to deal with adult issues and situations when she should have been living her childhood. That is enough to make anyone have mental issues.

I can see where someone would think she was crazy because of the repetition of her thoughts and events. This really drove home that she was a victim of childhood incest and abuse and that her wanting to play house was not something normal. She never knew any different. I admire her strength and desire to keep going.

A story on such a topic with these strong descriptions has to come from someone who has deep ties to this subject with first hand knowledge. The author did her work and made the characters very real.

There is so much more I want to tell you about this book but I really want you to read it for yourself. After you read it feel free to come back here and post your thoughts. I would love to discuss it with you. The book includes A Reader's Guide! I love books with a reader guide!

The author, Fredrica Wagman, is the author of five novels, including His Secret Little Wife and The Lie!. She has four grown children and lives with her husband in New York City.

Check out my review of The Lie!

Thanks to Julie at FSB for allowing me to review and offer 2 copies of this book for a giveaway. I really hope that you will enter to win this book. If you don't win please buy it. It is a heart wrenching, passionate story that you won't want to miss.

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2 winner will get a copy of Playing House

To enter visit FSB Media and tell me another book that you would like to read from there. Make sure you leave your email addy.

Extra entries if you subscribe to my blog, tell me your favorite author, tweet the giveaway at least once a day, tell me what you are reading now and/or follow me on twitter as @susieqtpies. One entry given for each comment you make! Do all or none!

Thanks! Giveaway for U.S. readers only. Ends October 10th.

Coffee Bean Direct giveaway by The Mom Reviews

2009-09-26T14:52:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge coffee fan and really want to try out The Coffee Bean Direct!

Thanks to The Mom Reviews I have a chance as well as you do!!!!

GO to

To enter your chance of winning!!! CoffeeBeanDirect has made a generous offer to one winner!

They will receive the Sampler Pack that retails at $47.99!! Giveaway ends 10/7!

Million Minute Family Challenge! You up for it?

2009-09-03T18:01:00.001-07:00

According to their site the purpose of the Million Minute Family Challenge is to provide a simple but fun way for family and friends to enjoy the benefits of board games.

Games are a fun way to interact with a group! I know that my daughters love to play APPLES TO APPLES when they have a group of friends over. It is a great way to interact with everyone!

What do you need to do? Minimum they are wanting every team to commit to playing a game for at least 20 minutes between September and December and record their time on the website.
Their goal with groups working in all 50 states is to reach 1 million minutes in 2009. They figure if 1,000 families, groups or organizations X 50 states X 20 minues of game play = 1 million minutes!

How fun! I hope you take the challenge, create a group name and log your minutes! Pass this information on to your child's teacher. I bet the class would have fun with this. If you are homeschooled then you can easily do this daily or weekly! Their goal is 20 minutes of game time one time in those 3 months. Just think if you played 20 minutes once a week!
Pass this information on to Libraries, Senior Living Homes, Schools, Girl/Boy Scout Troups, PTA/PTO, Preschools, Daycares,etc.

So take up the challenge and join my group CrAzY gAmErS and have some fun!

We will post our minutes and games we play as the Challenge continues!

WANTED- YOU for Elly's Down Syndrome Walk

2009-08-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

(CLICK Cute ELLY TO GO TO HER PAGE!)

Here is the information for the walk! If you can't join them and want to help them raise money for the Down Syndrome Association of MN then click on Cute Elly to go to her page!

This year the annual St. Paul Walk has a new name: Step Up for Down Syndrome (formerly Buddy Walk) and we want ya'll to put on your boots and join us for a great time!! The walk is September 20th and we are getting so very excited for another fun afternoon of music, food, and exercise.

The walk will once again be held at Como Park-Midway Picnic Pavilion in St. Paul,MN with check in beginning at 10:30 and the walk starting at noon.

This year we will have team bandanas and the Down syndrome association will once again have tee-shirts and lunches for everyone registered. The deadline for shirts is fast approaching (AUGUST 21) so I am asking your assistance in replying asap if you plan to attend so that I can have a shirt for you. The following link will take you to my Google Spreadsheet where I am collecting the registration data/shirt: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHdfc2RnbXZHNENsN253Z19kNjdHd2c6MA..

I have also set up a First Giving page to offer further support for the Down Syndrome Association of MN. Their work is essential in providing awareness, advocacy, and support for individuals with Down syndrome and their families in Minnesota. Our page can be viewed at: http://www.firstgiving.com/wanted . Please feel free to share this link!!

We hope to see you on September 20th and have you join us in showing support and advocacy for Elly and other individuals with Down syndrome. Thanks for your support!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Host:	Greg, Connie & Elly Snow and Down Syndrome Association of MN
Type:	Causes - Fundraiser
Network:	Global

Date:	Sunday, September 20, 2009
Time:	10:30am - 2:30pm
Location:	Como Park
Street:	Midway Picnic Pavilion

Phone:	9523610186
Email:	family@gotsnow.org

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See ya'll there!

Sushi Review and Giveaway

2009-08-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

Mom of 2 boys wife of 1 is having an awesome Giveaway on her blog! Click her button to get the entire SCOOP and to enter the Sushi Combo Set giveaway!!!

The Asian Food Grocer has offered one of my readers their very own Silver Sushi Combo Set. This set includes: a Sushi Cookbook, Gourmet Roasted Sushi Nori, Calrose Rice, Wasabi, Sushi Powder, Ginger and a Bamboo Mat for rolling your own sushi. I LOVE SUSHI! (Lisa said this and I agree with her! If we lived near one another we would be eating sushi together)This giveaway is being sponsored by Asian Food Grocer. You must visit them too! I spent an hour there looking and drooling and wishing! We live in a small town without sushi or resources to make our own. I can't wait to place that first order and have it delivered!!! Now if I can only get the Fuji Sushi place to deliver to me (over 30 min. away!).

So don't forget to enter at

The Lie: A Novel Book Review

2009-08-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

The Lie is about a woman's quest for authenticity in a world of lies, brutality, and pretend.

By Fredrica Wagman
Published by Zoland Books
April 2009;$14.95US/$16.95CAN; 978-1-58642-157-1

From FSB Associates:

Ramona Smollens has a chance meeting on a park bench with an older man, Solomon Columbus. The two became lovers, and soon Ramona is leaving the home of her mother and recently deceased father for marriage and the trappings of adult life. She takes with her a dark family secret, the sort of secret one simply did not talk about, one that would stalk her as she matured into her role as wife and mother. Coming of age in 1950s America, Ramona gets her cues about a woman's role from the world around her, and about female sexuality from the silver screen. But when experience teaches her that Hollywood's ideal is in fact "the lie," truth and desire collide with a force that is deeply moving and unforgettable.

Author Bio
Fredrica Wagman is the author of six previous novels. They are Playing House; Magic Man, Magic Man; Peachy; and Mrs. Hornstein and His Secret Little Wife. She has four grown children and lives with her husband in New York City. For more information please visit www.fredricawagman.com

My take on the book:
This little book of 224 pages had many hidden treats and treasure. How appropriate today to read such a book where we all seem to be hanging on to every word, every style, every action the "Hollywood" types do and say! Ramona, who was coming of age in the 50s did exactly the same thing with Rita Hayworth! I wonder if the stars really want us to worship them? Are we to only worship their public appearances or is it ok to dig in head first and be in their daily life at home behind closed doors? Some times I don't think they "get it". They want privacy yet they flaunt their stuff for all to see at their choosing.
I love Ramona! You will know her when you read this book. She will be someone you recognize. It might be you! So what is The Lie? Is it Ramona's Lie? I would love to tell you but I don't want to ruin the book for you. You have to get to at least page 198 to begin to really realize what it is all about!

Thanks to FSB Associates for the review copy!

Happy 1 Month and GIveaway from Just a Mom

2009-08-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

Today, August 4th is Just A Mom, HA!’s first month -aversary!! Congrats! She is giving away 5 vouchers that are good for all Minute Rice products (up to 14 oz.) including brown rice, Premium rice, Ready-to-Serve bowls, and the traditional boxes! Click to visit her blog and get her Green Chili Casserole recipe! It looks yummy and that is how she got the vouchers for her giveaway! She promises more recipes to! Visit Just A Mom, HA!'s for all the info on the giveaway!

The Castaways Audio Book Giveaway

2009-08-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

Giveaway~ The Castaways Audio Book

Look what Reading at The Beach is hosting!

Click her button to go right to her blog for all the details to enter!

I've got 3 copies to give away, many thanks to Anna at Hatchette

THE CASTAWAYS
By Elin Hilderbrand
Read by Katie Hale

Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy's closest friends for what will be revealed.

Rock on with ROCK OF AGES CD Review

2009-07-29T17:39:00.000-07:00

(this review was taken from Scraps of Life Blog... go there to leave comments)

As a member of One2One Network, I have been given the opportunity to review the soundtrack to the Broadway musical: Rock of Ages. What a fun soundtrack to review! My almost 15 year old asked me " What are you listening to, Mom?!" She has been bitten by the Classic Rock of the 80s bug. The Rock of Ages CD when from my player to hers in a flash!

(click album cover to see and order on Amazon)

New Line Records just released the Original Broadway Cast Recording of five-time Tony Award nominated "ROCK OF AGES." For those of you not in the know (apparently I was one of them but my daughter was in the know), Rock of Ages is the new Broadway musical starring American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis (We loved him on American Idol. This music was made for him to ROCK TO!)

The setting of this Broadway production is in 1987 in a legendary Sunset Strip rock club, a small-town girl meets a big-city dreamer and they fall in love to the greatest metal songs of the 80's. The musical is an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and more.

ROCK OF AGES Cast Album

Tracklisting
(click tracklisting to hear music sampler from Amazon)

Just Like Paradise / Nothin' But A Good Time
Sister Christian
We Built This City / Too Much Time On My Hands
I Wanna Rock
We're Not Gonna Take It
Heaven/More Than Words / To Be With You
Waiting For A Girl Like You
Wanted Dead Or Alive
I Want To Know What Love Is
Cum On Feel The Noize / We're Not Gonna Take It (Reprise)
Harden My Heart / Shadows Of The Night
Here I Go Again
The Final Countdown
Any Way You Want It / I Wanna Rock (Reprise)
High Enough
I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Can't Fight This Feeling
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Oh Sherrie
The Search Is Over
Don't Stop Believin

Last summer I walked down memory lane of 80s pop music with one of my twins. This summer I did the same thing with her sister to 80s Rock of Ages! Rock on Sister Christian!!! Oh Sherrie you know that Every Rose Has Its Thorn. If you have Too Much Time on Your Hands, here is The Final Countdown so Don't Stop Believin and know The Search Is Over for some summer music. Click the Album cover and buy it NOW. Cum on ..... I know you want to ....Feel the Noize!

(Hit Me With Your Best Shot and click the album cover and you will find Nothin' But A Good Time)

Pope Joan by Donna Woolfork Cross Giveaway

2009-07-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

One Persons Journey through a world of Books Blog

Bookjourney just posted this on her blog. It is a direct post so please go to her blog to find out about the entire post and giveaway.

Below is a post from
Posted on July 26, 2009 by Bookjourney

"I recently started an amazing book called Pope Joan by Donna Woolfork Cross. I am still reading it and hope to finish it today and have my review posted, but this I felt couldn’t wait!

The author, Donna Woolfolk Cross and I have been emailing back and forth and we have been discussing the movie coming out this fall based on this book. What? You didn’t know? Yes, this fall the movie is going to be out in theaters. See trailer here

Pope Joan movie trailers, official trailer, worldwide trailer, teasers, clips, videos

Want to win a trip to the Movie Premiere for two with paid airfair and hotel? Follow this particular link : Walk the Red Carpet with Pope Joan!

Chatting with Donna, who is just a delightful person, she has offered my readers a signed copy of Pope Joan autographed and inscribed just to you! I am very excited about this giveaway and want to get started on it right away!

Book sales on this book over the next 3 weeks will determine in part how widely the movie will open in the U.S. So from our little corners of the world I would love to see if we could help out."

Thanks BookJourney for hosting this giveaway! Please check out all the great book reviews on her blog as well as the giveaways!

HAPPY Bloggiversary ResourcefulMommy

2009-07-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

How many people do you know would have an Anniversary Party- put it on her self, celebrating her 1 year Blog Anniversary with gifts to give out to her blog followers? The one and only Amy, of ResourcefulMommy.com is the one to do it! She is going all out to have one of the biggest blog / twitter parties this year! Yesterday when I checked (that was 24 hours ago ) she had 40 or so comments..... today... 24 hours later she has over 550 comments! Right now as I post this the prize list has been updated AGAIN!!!

She is now up to 60 prizes, well over $1500 in swag!!!

Click her link to join in the fun! I will be their tweetin' with my twitter friends! I'm @susieqtpie. Say HI to me when we are tweeting!

CLICK THE BUTTON FOR THE PARTY!!!!

Book Giveaway: My Name Is Will by Jess Winfield

2009-07-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

Book Giveaway: My Name Is Will by Jess Winfield

This giveaway is going on at Alison's Book Marks. Click her blog link to see the full giveaway. This entire post is straight from her blog. Happy Birthday Alison!

From Alison's Book Marks

" My birthday is coming up in a few days, and I love, love, love getting presents!! So, this year, I'm passing on some love. Valerie, at Hachette Book Group, has hooked me up with 5 copies of My Name is Will by Jess Winfield. I will be posting a review of this amazing book soon, but before I do, I need to make sure that at least five of my friends are going to feel the love with me, and join me in chatting about this great book!

First, a little bit about the book:

My Name Is Will
A Novel of
Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare
by Jess Winfield

A Tale of two Shakespeares....

Struggling UC Santa Cruz grad student, Willie Shakespeare Greenberg is trying to write his thesis about
the Bard. Kind of....

Cut off by his father for laziness, and desperate for dough, Willie agrees to deliver a single giant, psychedelic mushroom to a mysterious collector, making himself an unwitting target in Ronald Reagan's War on Drugs.

Meanwhile, would-be playwright (and oppressed Catholic) William Shakespeare is eighteen years old and stuck teaching Latin in the boondocks of Stratford-upon-Avon. The future Bard's life is turned upside down when a stranger entrusts him with a sacred relic from Rome...This, at a time when adherents of the "Old Faith" are being hanged, drawn and quartered as traitors.

Seemingly separated in time and place, the lives of Willie and William begin to intersect in curious ways, from harrowing encounters with the law (and a few ex-girlfriends) to dubious experiments with mind-altering substances. Their misadventures could be dismissed as youthful folly. But wise or foolish, the bold choices they make will shape not only the 'Shakespeare' each is destined to come...but the very course of history itself."

SO TO get the full details and visit Alison's Book Marks click her blog name! Thanks.

Carolina Pad: School Supply Giveaway for Grown ups!!

2009-07-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

Carolina Pad: School Supplies for Grown Ups {+Giveaway}

Thanks to Mel, A Dramatic Mommy and Carolina Pad her blog is giving away a sweet prize for Grown ups!!! How fun!

This is what Mel, A Dramatic Mommy has to say about having fun school supplies: "I've always been a sucker for notebooks and folders. If it has multiple tabs, folds out like an accordion, has a place for pens, metal rings that snap shut, pretty covers or an elastic band to keep it closed? I. Want. It. And if it all matches? Swoon. Opening the email from Carolina Pad was like my birthday and back to school rolled into one. Would I like a selection of things with tabs, accordions, cool covers, snappy rings and elastic bands to review? Hell yes I would!"

Her giveaway is for either the Eye Candy or Simply Chic designs. Value is placed at $150!!! So I agree with Mel, A Dramatic Mommy in saying "Hell yes I would" want this giveaway! LOL

Mel, A Dramatic Mommy also gave us some history on the company. She said "Did you know that the Carolina Pad company began in 1945 selling school supplies out of the back of a truck? And that they donate regularly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society? And they have an entire product line made with environmentally friendly products? Me neither. But now that I do I like them even more now. They are having a design contest right now. All you creative types can submit a notebook cover for the Studio C line."

NOW I know that I used their products as a kid. They didn't have all these eye candy designs! As an adult I love knowing about a company and love hearing how they give back! Thanks, Carolina Pad! You RoCk!

Click on her blog name, Mel, A Dramatic Mommy, and go visit her cute blog and fun giveaway! This one ends July 19th!

ALLYOU New SiteWarming Party!!!

2009-07-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

Raise your hand if you love Twitter parties? *WAVING HANDS* I love ResourcefulMommy.com and her wonderful SiteWarming Parties! Her parties are always fun and educational!!!

This Friday join us at 9 p.m. to party with AllYou.Com! They are relaunching their site! It is so bright and beautiful!

ResourcefulMommy said "AllYou.com - the go-to site for value-driven consumers - has been known for some time as not only a great source of trusted, money-saving content both online and in print, but also as a provider of exclusive, high-value coupons, daily discount offers, and more!"

The new site will have a coupon database of all their coupons found in their Magazine. Have you ever looked through a copy? If you are a user - a coupon user that is- you will LOVE this magazine. It is the ONLY magazine I buy each month at WalMart!

I buy AllYou for the coupons, recipes, money saving articles and style tips. Do you buy it? What do you like about AllYou? If you don't buy it I challenge you to go get it NOW! It will be the very clean, fresh and inviting magazine on the rack!

Go to AllYou.com and check out their awesome site!

This Friday join us at 9 p.m. to party with AllYou.Com , ResourcefulMommy.com and many many other wild and crazy Twitter/Blog moms!

Click the button to be taken to ResourcefulMommy to RSVP and get all the details!!

100th post and Giveaway

2009-07-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Carolyn in Carolina!

She has been blogging since January and just reached her 100th post! In the blog world that usually means "lets have a giveaway". The rest of the blog post is coming straight from her blog! Please click any "Carolyn in Carolina" to go straight to her blog and read more on this giveaway.

This is what she has to say about her 100th post:

"So in honor of my 100th post I am hosting a giveaway. I am doing this because it seems to be a tradition in the blogging world. As you loyal readers know because I have mentioned it 5,000,000 times, I am Costa Rican. Though born and raised here in the US, I have a special place in my heart for Costa Rica. So I thought what better giveaway but a gift bag of Costa Rican treats for my readers. I am giving away a cute little tote bag that has Costa Rica written on it. Included in the tote bag will be a bag of authentic Costa Rican coffee (beans), a bag of coffee hard candies, a bag of chocolate covered coffee beans (yes, sounds weird but they are oddly delicious) and some Salsa Lizano. Now those who read my blog know that Salsa Lizano is like the Worcestershire sauce of Costa Rica. It is so good. And I might have other goodies in the bag as well. My sister just came back from Costa Rica and we will see if she has some extra goodies to send me. If she does, I just might pick more winners to get any extra goodies she sends. It's not guaranteed but I might get crazy."

How do you enter for this unique and cool prize?
Click right now on "Carolyn in Carolina" and find out more!!
Good luck! IF you win can you share the coffee with me? LOL

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You can also find her @carogonza on twitter
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Win The Host and Bonus Twilight!

2009-07-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

Win The Host giveaway with Bonus Twilight at Bookin' with "Bingo"!!!!!

THE HOST GIVEAWAY & TWILIGHT BONUS!

This post came straight from Bookin' with "Bingo" blog. Please click the blog name to go to the contest to enter!!!!

THE HOST

by STEPHANIE MEYER

GIVEAWAY AND
A TWILIGHT BONUS
ENDS JULY 15

ABOUT THE BOOK:
The author of the Twilight series of # 1 bestsellers delivers her brilliant first novel for adults: a gripping story of love and betrayal in a future with the fate of humanity at stake. Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves-Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love. Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Stephenie Meyer graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English literature. After the publication of her debut novel, Twilight, booksellers chose her as one of the "most promising new authors of 2005" (Publishers Weekly). She lives with her husband and three young sons in Arizona

THANKS TO MIRIAM AND
THE HATCHETTE BOOK GROUP
FOR SPONSORING THIS GIVEAWAY

I HAVE 5 COPIES TO GIVE AWAY AND
ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL ALSO RECEIVE
A BRAND NEW COPY OF
TWILIGHT FROM ME!

GO ENTER at BOOKIN' WITH "BINGO"! Thanks for hosting and thanks for letting me post it on my blog!!!!

Win Sweeties Secret Sweeps Membership!

2009-07-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

Sweeties Secret Sweets is such an awesome place to learn about sweepstakes and giveaways! She really has a great thing going! She is offering 5 free membership into her private site! What a deal!

Click on her button to go straight to her site!

Here is her contest. The below info is straight from her site! You must go there to enter!

"How would you like to win a one-year membership to my new private site, Sweeties Secret Sweeps? My new site will focus on restricted sweepstakes and local giveaways that give you more of a chance for winning prizes because there is less competition. It will be ad-free and chocked full of great restricted sweepstakes all of the time. It will also be a place where I post sweepstakes that are not highly advertised on lots of other sweepstakes sites. What is posted on the new site will not be posted on this site.

Because of the work and time it takes in finding and posting these restricted sweepstakes and local giveaways this site will not be free or open to the public. That is why it is called Secret.

The cost will be $25.00 a year to join for the first 500 Charter Members. After 500 have joined the cost will go up to $35.00 a year. If you want to get in on the lowest price available you will want to sign up soon."

So don't miss out! Go there now! Click the magic button and it will take you there ..... NOW!

Win ZUMBA - Hottest Latin Dance Workout

2009-07-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Ditch the Workout, Join the Party!

THIS giveaway is being held on Things Moms Like blog. You will need to go there to put your entry in to WIN! She is a fun twitter friend! We chat about The Young & The Restless and looks like we both love to watch Gossip Girls (shame on us.. haha)

ALL THE BELOW CONTENT IS DIRECT from Things Moms Like Blog. Please go to her blog to get giveaway instructions and enter!!!!

There’s a Zumba® class at our local YMCA, but it always seems to be during a time that I can’t make it. I found out about Zumba® originally from my son’s teacher who lost a LOT of weight and seemed really energetic toward the end of the school year. I asked her what she was doing and she told me all about Zumba®. Sounded like a party to me instead of a workout!

When I got my Zumba® Fitness Total Body Transformation Collection, I realized that it’s actually BOTH! The Zumba® DVDs are a lot of fun and a great workout!

Someone asked me if you have to be coordinated to do Zumba®. I hope not because I am NOT that coordinated! The introduction DVD has step-by-step instructions on how to do each of the dance moves. The girls broke it down and made it very easy to learn some RED HOT Latin dance steps! Even just visiting the website got my hips moving!

With the Zumba® Fitness Total Body Transformation Collection , you get:

Zumba Fitness Basics Workout
Zumba Fitness 20-Minute Express Workout
Zumba Fitness Sculpt & Tone Workout
Zumba Fitness Cardio Party Workout
Zumba Fitness Live! Workout
Zumba Fitness Flat Abs Workout
2 Zumba Fitness Toning Sticks

Now the Toning Sticks are really cool! My son loves the way they sound and he’s so tempted to play with them, but he’s not allowed! They sound like maracas and have a little bit of weight to them, but not too much. Just enough for toning.

Here’s what the company says about the Zumba® Fitness Total Body Transformation Collection :

Loaded with red-hot dance steps, pulsating Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow routines, this invigorating dance-fitness “party” will have you movin’, groovin’ and shakin’ the weight off to the sexy, exotic rhythms of salsa, cumbia, samba, merengue and more! Work your body from head to toe with four DVDs and six exhilarating workouts that teach you all the basics and hit your favorite targets, like your core, thighs and abs. You also get maraca-like Toning Sticks to add some muscle to your body sculpting routines. Now’s the time! Get ready to “Join the Party” and see a whole new side of yourself!

What IS Zumba®?

Zumba® fuses hypnotic latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program that will blow you away. Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba® Fanatics achieve long term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exhilarating hour of caloric-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life!

There are Zumba® classes ALL OVER THE WORLD!

You can see a commercial for Zumba DVDs HERE

Zumba® and Things Moms Like are giving away THREE Zumba® Fitness Total Body Transformation Collections (retail $59.95 each) to lucky Things Moms Like moms.

So GO enter! Click the picture to go right there!

Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on July 20th

Win a iPhone 3GS

2009-06-27T05:15:00.001-07:00

Win an iPhone 3GS

from House of Gems

and Momfluence

Millions of people around the world use Twitter daily to connect, network, work and play.

Just a tweet on Twitter could win you an iPhone 3GS.

Anyone on Twitter who tweets with the hashtag #HouseofGems before noon eastern Saturday, June 27th will be entered to win an iPhone 3GS! U.S. residents 18 years and older is eligible. The winner will be announced during the #houseofgems SiteWarming party Saturday, June 27th at 9 p.m. eastern.

Good luck!
This contest is sponsored by House of Gems and brought to you by Momfluence.

Please tweet this! I'm trying to start my online jewelry business at SilkFair! House of Gems will help ROCK my business!!!! Check it out!

Scraps of Life @susieqtpies on twitter

Win LTDchix TShirt via But Mommy..... Blog!

2009-06-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

Enter to Win a LTDchix T-Shirt from But Mommy..............Blog!!!!

This is straight from her blog of what she thinks about LTDchix T-Shirts ....."I am so excited to be doing a review for LTDchix, they make shirts that portray the realities of motherhood but in a way that brings humor to it. I received the Laundry Mom T-Shirt which couldn't be more true to life for me I am constantly battling with laundry so much so that you would think I house a NFL football team. The shirt is a light, soft, comfy cotton which is great since it is already pretty warm where I live. The design I love each shirt depicts situations moms deal with on a daily basis and under the picture is the phrase "Living the Dream" which could be taken with a bit of sarcasm if taken into account with the image sitting directly above it. More than that I believe it is to be taken literally, because with all the stuff moms have going on at all times during the day the truth at the end of the day we wouldn't trade the opportunity to raise, spend time with, and love our kids and families for anything. I love my shirt and already know that there are a couple more shirts I need to add to my wardrobe..."

Go visit LTDchix blog too!

Winner will be chosen randomly. Click now and sign in! Contest ends on Monday June 22, 2009.

Win Scholastic Book Basket via Momtrends BLOG

2009-06-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

WIN a FANTASTIC BOOK BASKET from Scholastic Books on Momtrends Blog!

STRAIGHT FROM MOMTRENDS BLOG about her giveaway

"It's never too soon to get your kids into reading (in fact, I read to my belly when I was pregnant). Little Scholastic is line of books just for the 3 and under crowd.

Little Scholastic introduces babies and toddlers to a lifetime of reading, learning, and interaction at an early age. Babies start by touching the textures and pointing to the images on irresitible first book like the bright Number book (shown right). Between the ages of one and two, toddlers are starting to listen and repeat the words. Older toddlers, ages two to three, learn the concepts and connect the meaning of the words and images. Each book in the Little Scholastic series features rhyming, repetitive text, vivid contrasting colors, familiar subjects and surroundings, easy to learn concepts, and interactive components."

Contest ends 6/30/09 so hurry and join in!!!!

Cooking Fun & Crafting Fun Giveaway by Brimful Curiosities

2009-06-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

Cooking Fun & Crafting Fun by Rae Grant - Book Review and Giveaway

"Children often enjoy hearing memories about recipes and treats that have a relationship to family history." - Cooking Fun: 121 Simple Recipes to Make with Kids by Rae Grant

What fun nostalgia books that are being given away at Brimful Curiosities!!!!

The Cooking Fun book has the recipes are divided into the following sections:
Beverages • Toasts, Sandwiches, and Soups • Eggs for Breakfast, Lunch or Supper • Salads and Vegetable Dishes • Meals • Quick Breads and Cakes • Cookies and Simple Desserts

The Crafting Fun book's projects are in order by seasons: Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer.

• Contest ends on Monday, June 22th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
Go enter and good luck!

April Shower's Blog Designs

2009-06-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

I found the cutest blog this morning! Even her name is cute "April Showers". She is pouring out blog designs! Her current giveaway is a post signature or a blog button! I'm entering to win the blog button. People keep asking me for my button but I don't have one :( The button would be for my "Scraps of Life" blog or "The Homeschool Messenger" blog.

I would love to win a button for my Scraps of Life blog http://cafescrapper-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/ . "Taking our Daily Scraps and making a Life with them"
I really want a blog design in the future. I was thinking with the button it would be fun to have someone holding a cut out of hearts or people and if and when I do a header that would be larger with things written on the hearts like coupons, family, etc. Anyhow just dreaming!

So please go check out her designs! You won't regret it! Make it quick because this is just a Father's Day Weekend Giveaway!!!!!