The Life of a Home Mom

Sick and not Getting Better

2009-11-03T10:59:00.003-06:00

In case you hadn't noticed i've been a bit absent for a while, i was and still am sick. At first it started off with what i thought was a tummy thing this last two days, the third day i was tossing my cookies with a fever as the kids would call it. from then on i've had a figh fever from anywhere 100-104.

i didn't go in right away and apparently you really should withink 48 hours after your FIRST fever, otherwise they can't test what you have for anything or it comes back negative. but they are going to try treating me for bronchitis and influenza. ikkk. in the meantime i feel dizzy and weak but thankfully i've got a swell family helping me get through this and friends that continue to write guest posts for me to help me there. i'm staying awak emore today but i think that's because it is just me now and hubby is at work so i know there is no one for our young one to watch after. I'll probably make lunch, give him a small bath and send him for a nap before i take mine since they put me out. he sleeps for three hours, just in time for his brother to be home, just in case i need it.

just giving you an update where i've been.

Kiss Halloween Nails: Decorate Your Nails this Halloween

2009-10-26T18:49:00.010-05:00

Ya'll know how much I LOVE Halloween so it should be no surprise to you that when I was asked to review some Kiss Limited Edition Halloween Nails I jumped at the chance. They sent me three sets of nails to try out. Here's what I got:

- Kiss Limited Edition Halloween Nails: Spider webs in black and white with a silver spider

- Kiss Limited Edition Halloweenn Nails: Blood red nails with beautiful black swirls (my favorite)

- Kiss Limited Edition Halloween Nails: half/half white nails with black skull and cross bones, and black nails with white barbed wire going across.

Each box comes with 24 nails, 12 different sizes and of course the glue tabs. The back of each box has easy to follow instructions on how to prepare your nails, apply them and remove them. I will admit that they are easy to get off. Soaked in warm water they easily pop off.

Each set of nails are available between now and November 1 at Walgreens, CVS and Kmart. The set costs about $4.

Don't they look like a lot of fun? Now picture them on Halloween. The girls and I are planning on getting our nails all dolled up, course I think they'll be upset when they hear they can't wear them to school. But it'll sure be fun in the meantime. :)

Monday Begins Again

2009-10-26T13:25:00.003-05:00

Well just to update everyone, I'm still on my quest at a better, thinner, healthier and a happier me. I've actually lost at least 6 lbs since I have began, I have found it easier to drink water which at one time I absolutely hated and when I get hungry during the day to just grab a salad. I think it'll be easy to lose that first 20 pounds, but after that it sounds a bit harder. Over the weekend I walked 3.3 miles (this was with the whole family) and on Sunday I learned that it is actually 1 mile (a little over) to get that Sunday paper and back home. So I have my routes but won't do the 3 mile one by myself, it is too far a walk in an area that isn't the best places to go. Not to mention if you recall a few years ago I crashed my bike and really messed up my knee, well most of the time it is fine but that 3 mile walk swelled it up. So between the walking, healthier eating and Jillian videos I'm doing much better. I must admit that Fall is my favorite season and it helps that all these trees look so beautiful, only thing I don't like is the cool wind that blows through. (beautiful trees right?)

I know many of you have sent emails about my posting last week. I won't say everything has been resolved because it hasn't and I doubt it will. I have my belief and he has his. The following day I was told to get a real job before I complained about how he spent money. That didn't go very well and long story short when I said I would get a job on top of everything else he got upset. The issue has been once again swept under the carpet, not by me but it seems there will be no talk on it. The weekend was peaceful, there was no bickering as long as we stayed off all subjects dealing with money. We did get in a moment when I found out in the future when we move I will not have any animals. Remember that dream of having a farm? Well that is gone now. But the kids watched movies with daddy as I played online, I'm not much for anime. hehe. We did watch some funny shows later and even Barney. Friday night the two of us went shopping with the wee one while Soccerboy watched the two girls and he showed me what he'd like to get the kids for Christmas so we got to have a little fun there. I think SoccerBoy will love his gift.

But things are quiet and all seems well. Right this second my youngest is going through a box we just got to review...it is full of toys. Wait until you read the reviews, all I'm saying is he keeps clapping and shouting "I did it!" How was your weekend?

3 Holiday Gift Ideas

2009-10-25T18:48:00.008-05:00

This is for the 60 days until Christmas Countdown. Hope some of these will help you out.

Toddler:
My first recommendation is going to be the Playskool Busy Ball-Tivity Center from Playskool. Why? This was one of my son's favorite toys last year and he was about 18 months old. Even today he plays with this. He loves to watch the balls go round and round, and he has now learned that if he takes off the tree he can make the balls float up. This little toy is currently $26.49 at Amazon right now.
Tween:
Has your little tween started asking for a Gameboy or something along those lines? Well you could always get them the LeapFrog® Didj Custom Learning Gaming System. It looks just like a Gameboy but you (they) play educational games on it. Currently it is $50.97 at amazon.

Teen:
Oh with how popular "Twilight" has become I don't think you can go wrong if you purchase anything twilight, at least not when it comes to teen girls. My kids and I have always loved those Scene It DVD games and now they have the new Scene It? Twilight Deluxe Edition
. Currently it is at amazon for $29.73

60 Days Until Christmas....

2009-10-25T18:15:00.002-05:00

Are you ready? With only 60 days until Christmas I bet some of you are starting to really begin to feel the pressure of getting that perfect toy or even just any toy these days. For the next 60 days I plan on bringing you 3 toys per day to help you prepare, due to the fact I have four kids and one (at least) in each age range. Baby-Tween-Teen. Plus I'll even update the Top 10 toy lists from various toy stores/companies so stick around.

For those that need a reminder you can always go to the Christmas Countdown, it's Santa's official countdown location.

Winners of Child Safety Kit/book

2009-10-25T14:57:00.003-05:00

The winners for the Safety Guide for Parents and 4 winners (1 will be included in the grand prize) were all selected by the Random.org generator: 4, 10, 5, 9, 13

The winners are:

- IdentaKey Medical Records Storage would be very valuable to have.
# posted by ydsddd (GRAND PRIZE, meaning you'll get the book and child safety kit)

- I like the wean machine, for making your own baby food.
# posted by jlmk

- I like the CARES Kids Fly Safe Aviation Restraint.
# posted by Gabriel J.

- the CAR SEAT ORGANIZER, would be helpfull to keep everything in place
# posted by rb109972

- safety tip -- never leave your baby alone with the dog, no matter how sweet the dog seems. # posted by Shane

Congratulations!!! For those on this list please email me at homemom3@gmail.com with your mailing address.

Anger Envelops Her

2009-10-21T12:26:00.003-05:00

I wrote this post yesterday and wasn't going to post it but I think I need to do it, just so I can later look back and remember.

There are only some points in my life that I actually get on my blog and just rant about my feelings and this is going to be one of them once again. Do you remember earlier this year where I told everyone that life really likes to throw wrenches at you? Well I've learned that isn't the truth, the truth really is that you can change whatever it is you want to change. I thought earlier this year I was able to change everything in my life, things got better and everything seemed honky dorey (sp). Well I was wrong, the truth was everything got swept under that carpet and stayed there just out of sight.

For a while now I felt tension and I could tell that things weren't right but I blamed other things. Life was too calm, my weight might be an issue and yes the house was a mess. But all those things can be changed, so that wasn't it. What was it? Today I found out the one thing that could ever turn me completely around and throw me for a loop was staring me square in the face. I know this probably makes no sense but when you've vowed never to deal with something again because there is only one option you don't exactly what to know that it is back. Right?

Issues rose about the way I cleaned the house, course when I did clean I got to hear, "Wow, a first in 13 years," or something equally as bad. I gave up on the house when I started getting ignored or when he started hanging or leaving the house. Plus why should it always be me doing it. I have four kids, yes it is hard to keep a house but yes I'm a lazy housewife too. I also got tired of hearing that I was a nag every time he would spend money when bills needed to be paid. How many women like to hear: Nag, nag, nag? I don't think a single one would. I was told I don't ever want to hang out with him, course when we did actually get the son to watch the others and went to a bar there was no hand holding, standing by one another, etc. Instead he smoked outside, played one round of pool with me and hung out at the bar chatting with others. That wasn't what I had hoped for. I know he isn't a sentimental/romantic but I am and do like it from time to time. Those are just a few things, there are more but not going into everything. I won't lie I nag about money, I want things paid first. I had a coffee habit too but oh well that is gone now too.

It is back, that big issue between us and now I must decide exactly what it is I'm willing to do. For an entire year I lived in hell of worrying and uncertainty. I won't live like that again. I went to places I never thought I would, I daydreamed about things that I shouldn't and now it all comes back to hit me square in the face. I know now that avoided it or just saying something is dealt with (granted I thought it was) doesn't work. Decisions must be made, whether I'm ready for them or not.

One thing I know for sure is this:

I want to go back to a point where I was only happy, not worrying about things like I do. I know my own work will need to come first, the work I do online but also within myself. I need to totally focus on me and getting my weight back down for myself. Back to where it'll make me smile when I look into a mirror and to when I knew someone would be glad to hold my hand and walk through a park, zoo, amusement park or even just down the street with me. I refuse to go back to last year, absolutely will not have it. I want to live as a family, happy and together but I don't want to worry about having to wonder ever again.

Confession Time: When I Strip for Ya'll

2009-10-19T13:26:00.009-05:00

It is time that I be completely honest with all my readers and this post is truely doing just that, in a way I'm about to strip completely naked right here for you. No, I'm not going to show you a bunch of naked photos, for all those sicks that found this post through google you can now leave. Many moms have found themselves where I am today, many moms have done the very thing I am doing and now it is time for me to do it. Okay, so are ya'll ready? Here goes.....

I'm mad at myself! In the 13 years of marriage I have allowed myself to get to twice the weight I was when I got married. (just about twice anyways) No, don't think I'm telling you what my weight is just yet, I'm not that bold. But I've just did the one thing that no woman does and that is to even admit that. I know earlier this year I ranted about wanting to lose weight, that was during a very stressful time in my life and when I was ready to walk out the door here as it was. Things calmed, waters grew silent and I ate and sat around the house. It is now time to re-awake that part in my body again, I won't say waters are calm, in fact lately it has felt like a storm was brewing just above me waiting to explode but it won't. But that is besides the point. Right now my focus is me and me alone, no one else. I'm not here to blame anyone except myself, no the kids didn't do this and no the hubby wanting to eat out all the time didn't do this. I chose to eat snacks the kids left behind, I chose to go out with the family and eat salmon, shrimp, etc. I could've easily grabbed sticks of carrots or a salad when we went out.

So what am I going to do about it? First, I ordered 2 Jillian Michaels DVDs to start working out. I'll let you know right now....she kicks your but especially if you are out of shape. For those that don't know she's one of the trainers on that show "Biggest Loser" sorry I don't have cable so I don't know actual details. I started watching the shows on youtube though and man is she mean but she gets results and that is what I want. I want to be where I was 10 years ago and I wish I had a pic but haven't found one so I'll be looking so I can use it on my vision board. I plan on working out to Jillian's 30-day shred for the next month then I have one other, I eventually want all her videos. My sister heard about my quest and sent me the collection of Biggest Loser books: Cookbook, simple swaps, calorie counter and 30 day jump start. Expect a review on those soon, at least the cookbook. I won't be able to fully review the others until I know if this works.

So, I'm working out now, but I've also started counting calories. Calories should be about 1400 per day, I know some of you are thinking it doesn't sound like a lot but it really is. I mean a strawberry (small) is only 2 calories, medium is 4 so can you picture how many you could have? Exactly many fruits are like that. My issue is breads and pasta, my other is STARBUCKS and I need to really cut that out all together. Right now I'm limiting 1 every other day and then 1 a week and no more. I have noticed the more water I drink the less fraps I want. Oh and tea is free until you put sugar in it.

So there you have it, in total I want to lose about 65 pounds, I don't have to lose that much but that is my ideal weight. I can easily lose 50 and be fine or lose 80 and look awesome..maybe too thin though. I am included one picture of myself from about 8 years ago, which gives you an idea of how I looked, one how I looked 11 years ago and two current.

My biggest obstacle will be the willpower to see this through and ignore all those temptations around me. Remember just because you want to lose weight and get in shape not everyone does or can. So those tempting cupcakes the kids eat for school are off limits. :)

SoccerBoy's Mouse Mobile

2009-10-18T14:38:00.004-05:00

SoccerBoy is taking IT (Industrial technology) or wood shop like we probably called it as kids. Well it seems they created CO2 cars and he really loved it, he made his in the shape/color of a mouse. I found it really cute. What do you think?

The car didn't beat the rest of them but he said he had fun making it. He's upset that 7th graders only get to have a quarter of the class and must wait to take a full semester until 8th grade. He also brought home a key holder for us in the shape of a key. Oh and it does work and I haven't lost my keys in a week since he brought it home. Well it is time to play Operation so I better get going.

Child Safety Book Giveaway

2009-10-17T16:34:00.003-05:00

Kay over at My Precious Kid wanted to help everyone out and give one lucky "The Life of a Home Mom" reader a chance to win a "Child Safety Book." This book will include the following topics:

Childproofing
The safe crib
Safe baby sleeping
Safe infant products
Product Recalls
Car seat safety
Choking Hazards
Poison Hazards
Water hazards
Window Hazards

Definitely good topics to know about, I know some thinking placing duct tape on everything makes it child-proof but this book will explain how to make your home safe for your child and other things you should watch out for. This book is great for new parents or expecting parents and if you aren't one it would make a great gift to give upcoming parents. If you don't want to wait to see if you won you can order it online now for only $4, it is normally priced at $12.99.

COUPON CODE for 1st time users: 10FLL09 for 10% off their first order

GIVEAWAY TIME:

PRIZE: 1 Lucky winner will get the Child Safety Book
5 lucky winners will get a child safety ID Kit

RULES: Head on over to MyPreciousKid.com and tell me one other item you'd like to get.

Extra entries: - Tell me one safety tip for new moms
- stumbleupon this post
- tweet this post
- blog about this post

Deadline: October 24th, I'll announce the winner on October 25, you'll have 24 hours to respond. My email address is homemom3@gmail.com

The Balloon is Down

2009-10-15T14:37:00.002-05:00

The balloon is now down, the man running to it apparently stopped it and they are currently popping it to get the helium out. So far it seems like they can't find the door to the balloon. By the way the balloon looked more like a UFO. The sad news, there is no boy in the balloon. They are believing that he may have fallen out between the time it took off and landed.

6 Year Old Floats Away in Air Balloon

2009-10-15T14:21:00.002-05:00

Just a little while ago CNN broke news channels around the United States, sorry not sure if it went around the world. Truth be told I only know as I got a quick call to go to cnn.com and check it out. At first I laughed, a 6 year old in a hot air balloon. But then I thought, wait it's a 6 year old, by himself in an air balloon. What if he falls?

CNN reports:

Officials are trying to rescue a 6-year-old boy who climbed into a balloon-like experimental aircraft built by his parents and floated into the sky over eastern Colorado.

The boy's family had been building the experimental aircraft at their home on Fossil Ridge Road in Fort Collins, CNN affiliate KUSA reported.

Everyone knows I love little kids, so since I don't have cable I've enlisted friends to keep me informed. Basically the father is a weather chaser and was making this balloon-like thing. The little boy's brother reportedly saw him get in right as wind picked up, took the balloon and little man. So far some reports state he thought the little one fell out, but other reports are stating he is still in the balloon. Either way it is a very scary situation.

The fear is the boy (if he is in the thing) is so light that the balloon is becoming unsteady and going anywhere it pleases. They have re-routed airplanes, flights in order to make sure they don't smash into this little guy. Army National Guard has been out and it seemed that they deflated it some but not enough, they are now stating Black Hawk is 5 minutes away. Not exactly sure what they will do at that point.

Part of me is still hoping that little boy fell out before it took off and is just hiding somewhere in fear of getting in trouble. Unharmed. But due to how serious this is sounding he may be laying, curled up at the bottom of the balloon. Too scared to move.

CNN has just update, it seems the basket-like area is made of thin plywood, if the boy is in fact in it and it crashes it'll break apart. A friend tells me the balloon is only 100 feet now and in an open field, a man is running towards it.

Disney Living Yahoo Video: Mickey Mouse at KC Union Station

2009-10-15T09:28:00.002-05:00

&> " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340">
The Disney Living video where Mickey Mouse came to KC Union Station. I didn't have the code before to put it on here but they were kind enough to send it. So click it and watch the kids and Mickey Mouse as they dance, sing, play with trains, color, etc. You already saw the pics of my kids there so it shouldn't be hard to spot them.

Wordless Wednesday: Kids and Mickey Mouse

2009-10-14T11:11:00.007-05:00

The pictures below will not take you to the youtube page. But I wanted to show their special moments.

The Kids (BalletGirl, BabyGirl and Little A) made it on the Disney video when Mickey Mouse came to KC Union Station. It doesn't let me load it as a video so here is the Disney Living Video. Happy WW! Don't forget to look at WordlessWednesday and 5Minutesformom.

Healthy Halloween Treats from Disney FamilyFun

2009-10-12T21:09:00.002-05:00

Kids on candy overload? Here are six fun – yet healthy – recipes for parties or after-school snacks from Disney FamilyFun magazine. Black Bean Cat Crudite´sNo bones about it, this kitty skeleton makes a healthy centerpiece for Halloween parties or school gatherings. Just arrange assorted fresh vegetables and a bowl of your favorite black bean dip in the shape of a spooky cat.
Edible Eyeballs- Set out a platter of these creepy peepers, and your party guests are bound to do a double take. Simply slice carrots into 1-inch-thick chunks, top each with a blob of cream cheese and one half of a pitted black olive, and they’re ready to serve. Salty Bones- It wouldn’t be Halloween without a skeleton—in this case, one that’s been disassembled into a pile of tasty bones to pick. Unroll a tube of refrigerated breadsticks we used an 11-ounce tube to make 12 bones) and separate the rectangular pieces. Working with one piece at a time, stretch the dough to lengthen it a bit and then use kitchen scissors or a knife to cut a 1K-inch slit in the center of each end. Shape the resulting four flaps of dough into knobs that look like the ends of a bone. Place the dough bones on an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them a few inches apart, and sprinkle on a little coarse salt. Bake the bones at 375° until they are light golden brown, about 12 minutes.

English Mummies- These yummy mummy pizzas make a quick and fun Halloween lunch or dinner. To create one, first spread a tablespoon of pizza sauce onto half of an English muffin (toast it first, if you like). Set olive slices in place for eyes and add round slices of green onion or bits of red or green pepper for pupils. Lay strips of cheese (we used a pulled-apart cheese stick) across the muffin for the mummy’s wrappings. Bake at 350° until the cheese is melted and the muffin is toasty, about 10 minutes.
Pumpkin Roll-Ups- Here’s a wholesome snack to serve before the kids head out to trick-or-treat. Lay American cheese slices or spread cream cheese on sun-dried-tomato tortillas, then roll them up and cut them into 1-inch sections. Use a toothpick to secure each roll-up, topped with a sprig of cilantro or parsley. Melon Brain- Created from nothing more than a small, round seedless watermelon, this spooky cerebral creation is bound to turn heads. First, use a vegetable peeler to remove the entire green rind, exposing the inner white rind. Then slice off the bottom of the melon to make a flat base that will keep it from rolling. With a toothpick, outline squiggly furrows that resemble the folded surface of a brain. Finally, carve narrow channels along the tracings with a sharp paring knife (a parent’s job) to expose the pink fruit beneath the rind.

Little A's New Jacket

2009-10-12T20:58:00.003-05:00

Little A hasn't needed a jacket until recently, he had all types of warm clothes but a jacket he was lacking. That is until today, yep, it got way too cold out here and we were determined to find one. So far we hadn't been able to find a single one that looked warm enough. Walmart had one that was a 4-piece and included hat and gloves for only $25. The jacket is really warm and he loves it so that's all that matters.

Check it out here: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11007309 his jacket is actually red, black, gray and white.

Had to update this post with the jacket on him, as you can see it does cover his face. Now if I could just get him to keep it on.

Baby Einstein: Animail World DVD

2009-10-12T20:15:00.003-05:00

You know I just love the Baby Einstein products, one reason, as many of you know is I have a child at that perfect age. The other reason I love Baby Einstein is because they are all about educating young minds. Baby Einstein just came out with the World Animal Adventure DVD, a review is below written by BalletGirl, well by me but she told me what to write.

This is about these two monkeys that go on an adventure around the world to see all types of animals. At the beginning there is slow (calm) music and just show animals like polar bears, pandas, monkeys, etc. During the middle they talked about the animals, like where they live, what they eat and stuff like that. It was the narrator talking, not the monkeys. The polar bears would scratch the snow in order to cover their home up.

<--That was told to me by BalletGirl, age 9. I simply typed what she said. Little A watched this show, basically I should've put it on a loop. The older two weren't so fond, but the younger two loved it. I really wish I could've got him on video as he danced along with the music.(ages 2 & 6) Here is an Amazon review of the movie:

Babies love animals, and now you can bring animals from the seven continents home to your baby. Meet dozens of exotic animals including Asian pandas, Australian kangaroos and Arctic snow monkeys...all filmed in their beautiful, natural habitats. Rhythms and songs inspired by faraway lands have been orchestrated especially for little ears and encourage your baby to sing, dance and play to the world beats. You'll laugh together at the funny puppet shows featuring moms and their baby animals. It's an exciting world for you and your baby to discover together!

This is definitely a great dvd for little minds between birth to 5 years old. Don't forget that additional items could be purchased along with this dvd to really make it into an adventure or a learning experience. I mean you could give this as a gift along with some musical instruments, stuffed animals (polar bears, monkeys, etc) and some Baby Einstein books. Either way, with the holidays this could be the perfect little gift for a little one. If you like the Baby Einstein products you can follow them on twitter (www.twitter.com/babyeinstein) or watch their clips at youtube.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Baby Einstein and received a World Animal Adventure DVD to facilitate my candid review.”

Five Ways to Make Family Travel More Affordable This Fall

2009-10-12T07:35:00.004-05:00

This is a guest post by: Barbara Messing, VP Travel-Ticker.com

Being a mom who works in the travel industry, I’m always getting questions from other parents about how they can plan a getaway with the kids that won’t break the bank. These questions range from “Where should I go to get the best value?” to “How can we save money on holiday travel?” to “What is a great family-friendly destination?”… just to name a few. And while the state of the economy has many families feeling stretched, there is a silver lining when it comes to travel. The travel deals out there are better than I’ve seen in years, making this fall a great time to take a family vacation.

I am seeing two interesting trends in the industry these days. First, people are booking their vacations closer to the actual travel dates, as they want to have the best picture possible of their life before they make the decision to book their travel arrangements. Second, I see the “power of the purse” in action, with more women making the majority of travel decisions and taking responsibility for booking family getaways. I call it the “anti-Clark Griswald effect.”

So how do you get the most for your money when booking travel for your family? Here are five ideas to make family travel affordable this fall:

Picking the right destination: Deals are abundant, but especially at family destinations this year, so now you just need to decide where to go. Occupancy levels at popular family resorts were already low, and with families back to school the hotels have even more empty rooms. If you can steal a break with the kids this Fall, San Diego, Orlando, Hawaii and Los Angeles all offer amazing value this season and plenty of entertainment for your family.

Finding flights: Prices are great right now as airlines are trying to fill seats with earlier and more aggressive fares than normal fall sales. Airline prices change constantly, so look for these low fares now and when you see a great fare, book it immediately. A handful of airlines still offer child discounts, but as a general rule, you will find a better deal if you look out for the lowest fares you can find online and special sales. These are inevitably lower than the full-priced child fares. You can sign up for sale and fare alerts with your favorite airlines and travel sites.
Consider All-inclusive resorts: All-inclusive resort vacations are a family’s best friend and are offering some of the best discounts I’ve seen in years. Perfect for a cross-generational family beach vacation - everyone can eat, stay and play at an all-inclusive with one set price. Plus, most resorts offer a “kids camp” so that the parents can enjoy some downtime with a fruity drink and a book by the pool—a rarity on most vacations.

Timing is everything: If you want to save even more money and score some incredible deals on flights or beach vacations, try between now and December 19th, when the demand and prices are low. The next few months before the holidays are a great time to visit Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean for some of the lowest rates of the year. Vacation packagers will often offer rates at 4-star All-inclusive resorts that include airfare for around $100 per day during these low-season times. Often children under 12 are able to stay and eat for free at these resorts, so check around for the best pricing.

Booking holiday travel: If you haven’t booked your holiday travel yet, I would suggest doing that now. October is a very good time to book travel because you will still see some good options on pricing and routes. I have a couple of recommendations to keep both your costs and stress in check. If possible, try to fly nonstop out of a popular airline hub. You will find more competition among airlines and thus better pricing. More importantly, by flying nonstop you will not get stuck at one of your connections with your tired and cranky family, nor will your luggage with all of the Christmas presents end up at the wrong airport. If you do have to make a connection, try flying on the off-peak days of the holiday and when picking your routing, avoid hubs that get frequent weather delays. Finally, treat yourself well. If you don’t want to sleep on grandma’s air mattress, check out the amazing hotel rates during holiday weekends. Business travelers who head home for the holidays leave empty hotels, which translates to great discounts to gain your business. Or even better, leave the kids on the air mattress and enjoy a hotel getaway for yourselves.

About Barbara Messing
An avid traveler with stamps from over 50 countries on her passport, Barbara Messing applies her passion for travel to her role as vice president of Travel Ticker® and new business development at Hotwire®. Barbara is responsible for overseeing the new Travel Ticker product, which delivers handpicked, insider deals to motivated travelers. Over the past seven years, Barbara has held a number of key leadership roles at Hotwire, including ownership of the Hotwire airline product, management and oversight of product development for the company's airline, car, hotel, cruise and package products, and strategic leadership. Most recently, Barbara was vice president of customer experience. Prior to joining Hotwire, Barbara worked as a director at Ingenio and as a segment producer for the Travel Channel, a television network of Discovery Communications. Barbara received a B.A. from Northwestern University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. You can also find Barbara’s profile on Twitter @Travel_Ticker, which was ranked by Condé Nast Traveler in its October 2009 issue as one of the Top 21 Twitterers to Follow.

Our Morning with Mickey Mouse

2009-10-11T10:07:00.013-05:00

The girls, Little A, daddy and I all went down to Kansas City Union Station to see Mickey Mouse yesterday morning. Let me say one thing, it is always wise to bring a jacket with you in the morning if going to Kansas City. Thankfully I made all of us bring jackets, however it was still cold. Brrr. The place is huge, I never knew really how big it was until I stood in front of it. Look at that picture of the outside of Union Station. WOW! But inside and outside the architecture is marvelous.

Isn't it pretty?

Once inside I had to quickly call the PR lady that contacted me as I had never been inside and the place looked huge. Of course it turned out I was right around the corner, had I walked around I would've immediately found it. We arrived around 9: 15-9:30am, they let us go inside a bit before 10 to have some fun at the stations, there were only about 3 families at this point, one being my own. Course the girls spotted two Marines for Toys for Tots and asked if they could get a picture with them before going inside. They said yes, there is the girls but the pic is a bit blurry.

Once inside there were four stations, each child is given a passport that they need to get stamped at each one. At the end they go back to the front, show that they hit each station and are given a conductor's hat. The stations were: Storytime, train play, coloring pages and finally looking at the artwork. The girls seemed to enjoy the coloring pages and the story, Little A loved playing with the various trains that they had on display. I'll write another post once I find out the names of those trains. One went around on a track, another was the type you push the level down and let go and it zooms, the third was a train that created its own tracks. (like I said, I'll post a new post in regards to all those)
When they got to the coloring pages one guy (who I was later told was the Disney Photographer) kept taking their pictures, he did try taking some of Little A smiling but he wouldn't cooperate. Typical of the males in the family, they learned it from daddy that was a Marine. But he was able to get a picture of Little A holding up his artwork. Over at the art exhibit they asked if they could film our three watching one of the toy trains go round the track, to which we said yes. (this is a surprise as we normally never do, but I thought it was a great thing) Once again he would not smile, course I'm not sure I would if the camera was looking at me. I think he's a bit photo shy, unless mommy is behind the camera. Oh but they may actually appear on youtube for this, I'll update when I know a bit more.
That's when Mickey Mouse came in, it was around 10:10 am when he walked through the doors and all the kids yelled. I got a few pics but where I was wasn't the best place for pictures as there was a big bar in the way. But I got some of Mickey Mouse getting a letter from the Mayor and then dancing the "Hot Dog Dance" with all the kids and even with the Radio Disney ladies. The kids got a kick out of it, as did I, but must admit I had forgot how to do the dance. We left shortly after this so I'm not sure if the kids would've won any of the prizes, but I do know they enjoyed the stations, seeing Mickey Mouse and giving the Toys for Tots. I want to thank Disney, Mickey Mouse and Norma (the pr person) for inviting us to this event. It'll definitely be something to remember.

Mickey Mouse is Coming to KC

2009-10-09T14:34:00.003-05:00

Mickey Mouse will be arriving at Kansas City Union Station on Saturday, October 10, 2009. He and a few friends, including a few Marines for Toys for Tots will be briefly stopping in town around 10 am until noon. This is a free event for those that want to attend, however they do ask that you bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.

Here is the info:

Mickey Mouse will pay a visit to Kansas City’s Union Station this Saturday to unveil “The Walt Disney Express,” a traveling art exhibit that celebrates Walt Disney’s love of trains. The collection features unique historical artwork, sketches and artifacts from the Walt Disney vault.

Kids & families are invited to join Mickey and participate in the festivities, which will include dancing, toy demonstrations, various train-themed play stations and a chance to learn to draw Disney characters with John Quinn, Disney Master Artist.

WHEN: 10 a.m. - noon, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 at Union Station, 30 West Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108 – art exhibit display will continue for one week at Union Station

WHO: Mickey Mouse! Also long-time Disney artist, John Quinn, Radio Disney and U.S. Marines representatives for “Toys for Tots”

COST: Free. Guests are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation as Disney helps kick off the annual holiday campaign.

DID YOU KNOW: Walt Disney spent most of his childhood in Marceline and Kansas City.

PUBLIC INFORMATION: Union Station, 816-460-2020, www.unionstation.org

Yes, I do plan on being there but not sure how long I will stay. I'm also thinking of donating a stuffed animal as well as a few books. I absolutely love Mickey Mouse, even have one from many moons ago that Mickey himself signed at Disney Land. As for Toys for Tots I couldn't think of a better program at the holiday times for kids. They are wonderful to the little ones.

U-Play Mat Review

2009-10-08T13:08:00.021-05:00

I was recently asked to review the U-Play Mat and I will admit at first I wondered if my 2-year-old would get any use out of it besides as a runway. Instead once the package came and I pulled it out and started placing the cards in their slots I thought about whether or not Little A would be able to match up the pictures. I called him over and he quickly caught on, I mean really quickly too, so much that once we did the first batch he wanted the new deck of cards.

Before I get too far ahead of myself here is what we got:

- U-Play Mat
- 8 decks of cards (ends up being 240 cards total)
- tote with front pockets (this can hold the decks of cards)

The U-Play mat is an aqua color with orange trim and is the shape of a "U." On the topside there are 15 plastic sleeves where your child can place each card in. This makes viewing the car that much easy and if your child (like mine) decides to get up in the middle of the game and walk over it they won't go all over. The "U" shape makes it easy for the child to view all the cards and they have full access and will be able to reach each pocket. (take a look at the pic)

U-Play was designed by Dr.J, she has two sets of twins and got the idea after one of her twin boys ruined a bunch of cards that a speech therapist had. She figured out that it would be better to have a mat that went around the child with the little sleeves just in case they stood up.

The 8 themed decks are: U-Animals, U-Dress, U-play, U-Home, U-food, U-Fruits & Vegetables, U-Go, and U-Outside. Little A loves the U-go, his favorite is the bus. Oh and he can tell you if it is the wrong deck just by the color of the box, he will state, "No bus. Me bus." Meaning there is no bus in that deck and he wants the deck that has the bus. Each card has a brightly colored picture on it, the opposite side of the card is the same color of the deck box it belongs.

The little booklet that comes with that package teaches you different ways to interact with your child and teach them at the same time. One of course is memory, another is asking them where something is. For example: Sissy and BalletGirl ride what? How does sissy go to school? He'll then look through the deck until he finds the bus, or look around the mat until he spots it. She (Dr.Jen) states you should ask them what things are, point to a picture and ask what it is, if they don't respond tell them and then ask again. Don't forget to praise them when they get it right. There are 10 exercises in the booklet, with little tips and notes for you to read.

(In this pic you can see he is placing the cards that match below the pic, he had been placing them on it. He created this new game of his own)

Every morning after the older kids leave he grabs my bag out of my room and says, "Play, Mom, Play." He will then bring it to the living room and sit in the middle of the floor and wait. Sometimes he'll move things out of the center if there are toys. He knows this is now his time and by the way he's the one that started this, I did not instruct him to play U-Play mat every morning, he asks.

The best part....no batteries needed, you don't have to hook it up to the television and it makes YOU spend time with your child. Trust me it can be a lot of fun and rewarding when you realize how smart your child really is.

U-Play costs $84 for the entire thing that I got, or $49 for the tote, mat and 3 decks of cards. There is also the option of only getting the cards which are 3 decks per package at $19 each. Here is the link to purchase U-play.

(This is a product I reviewed and got to keep, no I wasn't paid.)

Wordless Wednesday: Found Them

2009-10-07T10:43:00.004-05:00

Guess what we found? I'll give you one clue, no longer will you spot BabyGirl like this:
But instead you'll find her like this:
Did you guess? Yep, we found the glasses, apparently she has a side part inside her dresser that we never knew about and it was inside there, behind the drawers and just under the dresser but not under it. Phew. Happy WW!

Why Did I post a Disclosure?

2009-10-06T11:50:00.002-05:00

Okay some of you are probably wondering why I just posted a Disclosure as a post. The reason for this is because of the FTC report that came out yesterday, I'm just covering my butt if you know what I mean. For those that don't know here is the part that seems to be freaking everyone out:

FTC Changes Affect Testimonial Advertisements, Bloggers, Celebrity Endorsements:

Under the revised Guides, advertisements that feature a consumer and convey his
or her experience with a product or service as typical when that is not the case will be required to clearly disclose the results that consumers can generally expect. In contrast to the 1980 version of the Guides – which allowed advertisers to describe unusual results in a testimonial as long as they included a disclaimer such as “results not typical” – the revised Guides no longer contain this safe harbor.

The revised Guides also add new examples to illustrate the long standing principle that “material connections” (sometimes payments or free products) between advertisers and endorsers – connections that consumers would not expect – must be disclosed.

These examples address what constitutes an endorsement when the message is
conveyed by bloggers or other “word-of-mouth” marketers. The revised Guides
specify that while decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis, the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement. Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service. Likewise, if a company refers in an advertisement to the findings of a research organization that conducted research sponsored by the company, the advertisement must disclose the connection between the advertiser and the research organization. And a paid endorsement – like any other advertisement – is deceptive if it makes false or misleading claims.

Okay so the bold is the big reason why I blogged about my disclosure, this way no one can state I've never let others know. The italics part is the part I don't think many are noticing but since I do blog tours which sometimes gives me an amazon gift certificate I thought I should mention it. Sometimes I also get donation cards where I sign in and donate money to teachers, I don't normally post that I just got a donation card and donated...that's been a personal thing for me. So there it folks, some of you may want to update your own blogs if you get FREE products just to make sure you are covered.

Disclosure

2009-10-06T11:21:00.006-05:00

Written by Elizabeth (Eliza) Ferree

This is my personal blog where I write about anything and everything under the term "mom." As many know, I am a stay (work) at home mother of four children and wife. So basically anything that comes across my life is part of "Homemom" and I can and will blog it. If you have any questions in regards to my blog and would like to contact me the email is homemom3 (at) gmail (dot) com.

This blog accepts forms of products, events, and other forms of compensation. Blog tours I normally get the product and sometimes an Amazon Gift Certificate, most of the reviews I just get the product for free. Sometimes when I hold a giveaway I will normally get the product being advertised or something as a thank you for the mention.

Since this is a personal blog I do not get paid per post, however I do have Google Adsense and Amazon on here in order to make a few bucks a month. (I'm not kidding by saying that either) I will use any Amazon Gift Certificate to buy products for my home, which are normally used at Christmas/birthdays and of course to buy movies. One day I may place ads on my site for sale, currently those on my sidebar are affiliate ads.

As the owner of this blog I will state if I received the product, bought the product or if I will be given something for the review. But I will state my review of the product honestly, which I have been known to do and did not expect payment in return. I believe it is hard enough being a mom, there is no point being dishonest and making you spend money when you shouldn't. The views and opinions on this blog are mine and mine alone, except on occasions when my kids review products, which I normally post their nicknames with their reviews. If you try a product out on my recommendation, keep one thing in mind we are two different people you may and may not like it.

One more thing, sometimes I will post tips, or advice from Doctors, teachers, hotels, etc, just because I think it may benefit a few of you. Those will state they are "guest posts."

Okay, that's my disclosure policy. Sure it isn't beautiful or elegantly written but it is the hard, honest truth and that's why you read this blog anyways. If you have questions the email is homemom3 (at) gmail (dot) com.

Winner of the Wendy's GC

2009-10-06T10:36:00.001-05:00

Yes, I'm a day late and very sorry. But here is the winner of the contest. First, this contest had over 100 entries which I haven't seen lately on this blog so looks like some of ya'll are really hungry. Sorry I don't have more than one to pass out, but the winner was......

#131 which is Sarah Z

I was in the Orchestra!ThanksSarahbelievedreamcourage (at) gmail.com
# posted by Sarah Z

Wow, the orchestra! They never once had orchestra in any school I attended, but they did have band and choir. Congratulations, if you could email me at homemom3@gmail.com with your address I'll put this in the mail this weekend.