Michelle's Favorite Things

Coack Madison Wristlet Giveaway

2013-01-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hosted by NYSavingSpecials, Your Fashion Resource, Stuff I Love, Monica's Rants Raves & Reviews, Spend With Pennies, Kaisy Daisy's Corner and Charisma Media

One lucky winner will win

COACH MADISON DOTTED OP ART SMALL WRISTLET

Value $ 48.00

This giveaway will be from:

Jan 15 to Feb. 14, 2013

US Only

18+ years or older.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NYSavingSpecials and Michelle's Favorite Things is not responsible for prizes. Every entry on this giveaways is optional.

Jellybean's Update Week 13

2013-01-09T23:34:00.000-08:00

Jellybean is 13 weeks today which means we are successfully into our 2nd trimester. Lets hope it continues the way its started. I am feeling pretty great this week. No nausea unless I eat something that has become a food aversion! It was kind of hard to tell in the first trimester exactly which foods I couldn't eat since I felt

nauseous pretty much every minute of everyday. For a while I thought oranges were a no no then I realized it was just a bad day not the oranges. Its a good thing I have plenty of peppermints left over to help take the nauseous feeling away when I do run into some food that is now a no no!

Snickerdoodle (Taj) is sick this week (from the junk daddy brought home) and I am hoping this is something I've already had. The first few weeks of being pregnant we had all gotten sick several times but there was one round that came through that daddy and Snickerdoodle didn't get sick. Being pregnant and sick is the worst since I have to just suffer through it with no meds.

Symptoms: Sheer exhaustion feeling is gone I am feeling pretty good. I have much more energy but breathing is slightly more difficult. I'm out of breath just doing household chores or carrying Snickerdoodle from one room to the next.

Jellybeans Development: Jellybean's vocal chords and teeth are appearing this week. Its no wonder they are so good at crying by the time they are born they've had 27 weeks or so of practice time :).

Looking Forward To: Moving! We are sitting in limbo waiting for the new house to be ready so we can get moved in. Hopefully by the end of January we will be moved. What I'm really looking forward to is getting the majority of everything left packed up so there won't be much to do at the end.

Mission Accomplished: I am still going strong with the prenatal vitamins so I'm giving myself a little pat on the back there!

Thanks for checking in on Jellybean and I and I look forward to seeing you for Week 14! :)

Keurig Giveaway!

2013-01-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

Seeing Double! Keurig Vue V700 Event

Hosted by Mom To Bed by 8 and Donna’s Deals and More

Brew with a Vue. Keurig has done it again with an entirely new brewing system that gives you more of the tasty beverages you love, exactly the way you want them. Now, you can decide how
strong you want your coffee to taste and how hot, no matter how big or small your cup is! From creamy hot chocolate to delicious iced teas and frothy cafe beverages, the Keurig Vue V700 delivers the size, strength, and consistency you love, with every single-serving.

Still deliciously simple. At just the touch of a button, Keurig's revolutionary Custom Brew Technology adjusts water pressure, timing, and airflow to deliver the perfect cup of coffee or tea every time. You'll love the Vue's quiet operation and shortened steep time, as it whips up cafe-quality treats in a matter of minutes. Plus, there's no grinding beans, measuring, or cleanup needed--just add water and enjoy.

Countertop coffee shop. With the Keurig Vue system, you get the single-serve brewer with interactive touchscreen display, 66 Vue packs and a water filtration kit. And, for your convenience, it comes with two 16-oz iced coffee tumblers to get you started right out of the box.

Well, if that isn't the pot calling the Keurig fabulous!

Includes Keurig V700 Vue Brewer, 10 Variety Vue packs, 12 travel-sized Breakfast Vue packs, 12 Vue House Blend Vue packs, 16 Donut Shop Vue packs, 16 Celestial Iced Tea Vue packs, two 16-oz tumblers, and a water filter kit
Variety pack includes one each of Gloria Jean Hazelnut Coffee, Timothy's Decaf, Tully's French Roast, Celestial Seasoning Southern Sweet Tea, Green Mountain Breakfast Blend travel-sized, Celestial Seasoning Sleepytime, Barista Prima Italian Roast, Cafe Escape Milk Chocolate, GMC Nantucket Blend, and Donut Shop
Tumblers: plastic/acrylic construction
Colored touchscreen user interface
Eight brew sizes: 4 oz, 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, 12 oz, 14 oz, 16 oz, and 18 oz
74-oz water reservoir
Brew coffee from 187F to 197F
Strength selection for stronger flavor
Removable drip tray with adjustable plate
Vue packs are #5 recyclable plastic

One winner will receive a Keurig Vue V700 + K-Cups!

Giveaway ends January 30th at 11:59pm, open to US & Canada, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Special thank you to our co-hosts: Penny Auctions Canada, Homeschooling Mom 4 Two, Simply Sherry, The Dragyn's Lair, Spend With Pennies, Sparkles and a Stove, Freebie Spot, The Frugal Batavian, Cherished Handmade Treasures, Iowa Mom, Just Davey and Me, My Four Littles, Down South Savings, Powered By Mom and Baby Costcutters!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Michelle's Favorite Things is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact Mom Powered Media with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

30 Things I Want My Kids To Know About Me - No.2

2013-01-05T21:15:00.002-08:00

What is your sillies fear and your biggest fear?

My sillies fear is my fear of roaches!!! I know they can't hurt me and they don't even bite. Here in Texas you'll see ones that can
fly which really freak me out. If I see a roach I will find the highest place and stay there until its been killed. I have tried to be brave and reason with myself but I just can't seem to deal with them rationally!

My biggest fear is of something happening to my husband or myself (or heaven forbid both of us) before my kids are grown. No one could ever love them the way we do and no one could love them as much as we do. I want the very best for them and I feel that the only ones who can give them the life they deserve is their father and I.

See complete list here!

Sizzling Superbowl Giveaway

2013-01-03T22:13:00.003-08:00

PRESENTS

Prize:

Blacktop 360 Party Hub Grill-Fryer (A.L.L. Review)

ARV $250

Hosted by:

A Lucky Ladybug

and

Mommy's Favorite Things

Blacktop 360 Party Hub Grill-Fryer is a deep fryer, infrared grill and griddle all in one. Each section has independent temperature controls as well as a lid which fits over the grill, griddle or warming plate. This grill packs "24,000 BTUs total with three separate cooking functions". Its cooking functions include but are not limited to: grill, fry, griddle, warm, steam, wok/stir fry, boil, sauté, sauce pan, searing and fondue!

When: 1/3-1/18

Who: Open to US residents in the continental 48 states

"Make Our Own Network" solely organized this event. I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are 100% my own and may differ from your own. Michelle's Favorite Things is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jellybean's Update Week 12

2013-01-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

So each Thursday is the start of a new week for Jellybean so I will be updating each Thursday to let you guys know whats going on and how we are doing!

Today I am 12 weeks YAY! One more week and I will be in my 2nd trimester. Which I'm
not sure if its a good thing or bad thing. With previous pregnancies that was always my hardest trimester. The reasons why escape me right now but I remember just hating the second trimester and counting days until I was out of it.

Symptoms: Right now nothing tastes good to me and I have no desire to eat. I eat more because I have to rather than eating cause I want to or feel hungry. Nausea was bad the first 10 weeks I threw up more than I have with any pregnancy. By week 10 my nausea had almost left completely and as of yesterday its back with a vengeance. *bleck* Within the last couple of days back pain has started. Prior to now my back would hurt when I was standing too long in one place, like when I was washing dishes, but it would feel better after a few minutes. Now my back just hurts pretty much all the time.

Jellybeans Development: Jellybean is actively rehearsing “breathing” by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid (umm yuck) to prepare the lungs for future air respiration. The big news is that Jellybean's poop-n-pee factory is now up and running!

Looking Forward To: Right now I have 200+ days to go so I am looking forward to being in the 100's. Also I can't wait until next Thursday when I will be in my 2nd trimester! One down two to go!

Mission Accomplished: Have done wonderfully at remembering my prenatal vitamins. Go me!!

30 Things I Want My Kids To Know About Me - No.1

2013-01-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

First Up: 10 Places I Hope to Visit One Day

1.) Rome - When I was younger I would daydream about moving their as I've gotten older I've decided I'll settle for visit!

2.) London - I love the English I love to listen to their accents! I have a slight obsession with a British Show that we actually get
here called Eastenders.

3.) Paris - It's known for its romantic atmosphere and it'd be an amazing place to visit.

4.) Canada - Duh it's connected to the United States and just seems like it deserves a visit. Plus I am part French Canadian and I'm told I (by Canadians) resemble people from there. I'd like to see if its true.

5.) India - Your dad talks about it all the time and I'd love to be able to see so many of the places that he tells us about.

6.) Ireland - It's beautiful and I'd love to be surrounded by the culture.

7.) Tahiti - To just be able to spend a couple weeks with just your dad in such beautiful surroundings would be to good to be true!

8.) Egypt - For the history!

9.) South Africa - For their beautiful beaches.

10.) Australia - Listed last not because its least of importance but because this is where I hope to end up living for good one day!

See complete list here!

30 Things I'd Like My Kids to Know About Me

2013-01-02T04:09:00.003-08:00

So I saw something like this on A Mothers Design who got the idea from Baby Making Machine who got the idea from Hopes and Dreams and I thought it would be a lot of fun to do! It started out being 30 things that you'd like to tell your spouse and then was altered to 30 things my kids should know about me. I've changed mine up some to suit my life a little better and now, for me, its become 30 Things I'd Like My Children To Know About Me.

I would love to do 30 posts in 30 days but that is so unrealistic
with three kids and being pregnant so I have decided to make April 1st my due date for completion. I am really going to try to finish them before my "due date of completion" but we'll just have to see how it goes!

I hope you follow along as I complete my list and if you decided to make a list of your own please leave a comment with a link so I can follow you on your journey as well!

1. 10 Places where I would like to visit!
2. What is your silliest fear and what is your biggest fear?
3. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
4. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
5. If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for?
6. What is your dream job, and why?
7. What are 5 passions you have?
8. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
9. Describe a typical day in your current life.
10. What’s the hardest part of growing up?
11. Describe 5 weaknesses and 5 strengths you have.
12. 10 Random things about you.
13. Describe when you knew your spouse was the one or how you fell in love.
14. What do you think your spouse loves most about you?
15. How did you feel the moment you became a parent?
16. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
17. Describe your relationship with your parents.
18. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
19. If you could have a superpower what would it be and what would you do with it first.
20. What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about parenthood?
21. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
22. What’s your favorite quality in your spouse?
23. What are your hopes and dreams for your prosperity?
24. If you could have dinner with anyone in history who would it be.
25. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
26. What was the hardest thing you ever had to forgive?
27. If you were an animal what would you be and why?
28. What is your favorite season and why?
29. Describe your relationship with your spouse.
30. What piece(s) of advice would you like for your children to remember as they grow up?

Wordless Wednesday 1.2

2013-01-01T19:58:00.000-08:00

My best girl (aka Little Lady) and I had a BLAST doing fireworks on New Years Eve! She and I are already planning which ones we want for next year!

BLOGGERS: Coach Madison Wristlet Giveaway

2012-12-20T00:47:00.000-08:00

Blogger Opportunity

This giveaway will be from

1/15/2013 to 2/14/2013

Come and be part of this awesome giveaway!

COACH MADISON DOTTED OP ART SMALL WRISTLET

Value $ 48.00

Options to join

**FREE FACEBOOK OR TWITTER with announcement (If no announcement pay $5.00)

*Additional links $1.00 each (optional)

* Host a page $5 fee (Optional)

*Be one of the Host $10.00 (Optional) -Host does not pay any other fee As I host you will get: -Will be part of the giveaway without the $2.00 charge -Name with link of your blog as a host on the post -Mandatory entry links on the rafflecopter (up tp 4 links) -Host a page

*The blog that refers more bloggers will get FREE host :) Here is the promotional post!

Agree to post the giveaway html on the date the event begins and promote at least 3x a week

Please send any Payments:

Paypal melisurveys1978@gmail.com

Any payment received will go to pay for prize that I already purchased , shipping charges and futures giveaways with no sponsors.

Sign Up HERE

and tell them Michelle's Favorite Things sent you

Wordless Wednesday 12.19

2012-12-18T21:36:00.002-08:00

Taj loves loves loves to swing so we try to do it as

much as possible. Usually he sits in the swing toward the back (the "normal" way) but for some reason on this particular day this was his position of choice. So bottom lip tucked in and all this is how he swung!

What a precious little man he is with those chunky chunky cheeks!

Check out my other Wordless Wednesday on A Fluff Addicts Blog

I'm Linked Up With Wordless Wednesday

Tuesdays Tasting Party - Tortilla Soup

2012-12-18T00:37:00.001-08:00

So about a week ago we went to BJ's for dinner and hubby ordered Tortilla Soup (he's not a salad man) for his side dish. It comes and he liked it so much that he had me taste it, needless to say he lost his soup to our six year old and myself! I was determined to
find a recipe for Tortilla Soup. I know that sometimes you can find recipes for the actual restaurants so of course I tried this first. I was unable to find their exact recipe so after reading over lots of recipes I decided to pick and chose what I wanted mine to have based on how theirs tasted. The first time was good the second time was just yummy and even though I do not claim to having cracked BJ's secret recipe I think it's a very yummy Tortilla Soup.

Enough talking .... it goes a little something like this!

Michelle's Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

1 diced onion

4 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup diced tomatoes (can or fresh)

1/2 bunch of cilantro finely chopped

2 minced cloves of garlic

1/2 teaspoon of chili pepper

1 teaspoon ground cumin

7 oz diced green chilis

1 12 oz bag of frozen corn

42 ounces of Swansons chicken broth

28 ounces of water

2 chicken breasts (cut into small pieces)

Garnish:

Avocado

Corn Tortilla Strips

Monterey Jack Cheese

In a large sauce pan add olive oil, onions, and diced green chilis and cook until onions become translucent.

Add cilantro, tomatoes, garlic, cumin, and chili pepper and stir fry for 3 minutes.

Add chicken broth, corn, water, and chicken cut up and cook on medium heat for 1 1/2 hours. You can cook it for just an hour and it will be ready but I've found the longer it cooks the better it tastes.

Once fully cooked serve in soup bowls and add desired amounts of Avocado, Monterey Jack Cheese, and Corn Tortilla Strips.

ENJOY!

Here are some of the (harder to find) items that I used!

**I found the Corn Tortilla Strips in the grocery store over by the bags of prepackaged lettuce.

Please include a link back!

Time to link up your Tuesday Tasty Treat!

BLOGGERS: Sizzling Superbowl Giveaway

2012-12-17T05:31:00.004-08:00

Please say that Michelle's Favorite Things Sent You! Thank you!

PRESENTS

Prize:

Blacktop 360 Party Hub Grill-Fryer

ARV $250

Hosted by:

A Lucky Ladybug

and

Mommy's Favorite Things

This Blogger Giveaway Event is FREE for the first link with announcement post.

Additional links are $2

Link Options:

Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

~~~~~

Daily Picket Fence Votes or Daily Klout are $3

~~~~~

If you choose to not post the announcement the cost is $5

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HOST Pages are available for $10

When: 1/3-1/17

Who: Open to US residents in the continental 48 states

**Bloggers worldwide can join in the participation as long as you have at least 50% US readership

Sign-ups close 1/1

**The blogger with the most referrals will receive the additional links at no cost

Click HERE to sign up and for more html info.

M.O.O.N. has now added several perks/discounts for frequent participation in our events but you must be a member of our Facebook group to be eligible. Please visit the M.O.O.N. group if you are a blogger and would like more information regarding these perks and other group events.

Bums Away Baby Dryer Ball Review and Giveaway

2012-12-14T06:23:00.000-08:00

Bums Away Baby is an Etsy shop owned by Sianna Rose an army wife and mother of one precious little boy. Sianna has been sewing since a young age which came in handy when her son was born. In addition to using her sewing skills to create many different projects she began making her own cloth diaper safe rash cream and wipe solution. Not long after that she decided to share these with others. It was something she
could work on in downtime doing something she loved and others could use her products as well.

I recently had the opportunity to try Bums Away Baby Dryer Balls and Caribbean Fruit Smoothie Wipe Bits. I was very impressed with the marbled look of the dryer balls but more importantly the quality. They are tightly woven and felted enough that they last dry after dry. I added fragrance to the dryer balls and loved the scent left on my clothing. It was not an overpowering left over scent but it was noticeable and pleasant. I've always been one to use dryer sheets although because I didn't think I would get the same outcome with dryer balls. However, I can say that I love using them more than my dryer sheets and have given my dryer sheets to my mom, who now wants a set of dryer balls for herself.

At the same time I decided to purchase a jar of Wipe Bits. I use a spray bottle for my wipe solution and up until now I have been making up my own concoction of baby oil, water, Tea Tree Oil, and baby soap. So you can imagine how frustrating it was when it was the middle of the night and I had used the last of it up and either had to make up more or I had to make more up first thing in the morning. Which of course resulted in my getting my sons diaper off and reaching for the bottle just to find out I was out.

With Bums Away Baby Wipe Bits I tried using 1 bit then using 2 bits by putting them in my spray bottle then adding hot water. I didn't notice a signifigant difference between using 1 or 2 bits so since my initial experiment I've only used 1 at a time. Once the bit has been put in warm/hot water you'll notice that it dissolves very quickly. The scent was pleasant but not over powering. The best thing about this wipe solution is that he was clean, he smelled clean even slightly yummy, it didn't leave any soapy residue on his skin, and the scents did not irritate his skin. A jar of 25 bits is only $4.50 and they will last you a long time depending on the age of your baby and how many diaper changes you do a day. I cannot wait to use these up so that I can try some of her other scents! Head over to Bums Away Baby to check Sianna's shop for yourself. You can also follow Bums Away Baby on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Sianna has generously decided to offer a set of three dryer balls to one lucky winner! Be sure to enter now to win!

Prize Package

Enter Now to Win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keurig Giveaway Coming Soon

2012-12-14T01:32:00.003-08:00

Seeing Double! Keurig Vue 700 Event

Hosted by Mom To Bed by 8 and
Donna's Deals and More

Prizes: Keurig Vue V700 Brewing System + K-Cups

Event dates: 1/7 - 1/20 and 1/21 - 2/3

Free Blog Event! Sign-up here, BLOGGERS WANTED

Welcome!

2012-12-14T00:30:00.002-08:00

Eeeek! I am so thrilled you made your way over to my new blog! Some of you know me from A Fluff Addicts Blog and some of you I may not have met yet! I know ... I know its a little crazy starting another blog but if felt like it made the most sense! I made the mistake
of making my blog so...... topic specific. I felt that people that were wanting to know about fluff were being bombarded with other random topics and giveaways. Not to mention, once my baby days {"sniff sniff"} are behind me and I have no more babies wearing fluff doing reviews will be basically impossible until I have grandchildren!! :)

Therefore, this blog will be about myself and the things I love. A Fluff Addicts Blog continue to be fluff related! Of course, one of the biggest part of who I am are my kiddos so I will be doing kid related giveaways at times and I will be mentioning my kiddos as much as possible! Thank you all for visiting and please be sure to follow me via E-Mail, Facebook & Pinterest. My Twitter will be the same and you will be "in the know" of all of the important things happening on each blog!

On Tuesdays I will be hosting a recipe link up called "Tuesdays Tasting Party" where I invite ALL of you to come link up your favorite recipes new or old! Don't have a recipe to add? Link up a recipe you saw that you'd like to try! You can get all the info for this by clicking on the "Tuesday Tasting Party" button at the top!