RaisingMy5Sons

Personalized Post-It Notes

2012-02-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

I love personalized products.

Typically when a company contacts me about reviewing a personalized product I get a little excited. The process of finding the right product and then going through the personalization on the site can often take a long time though and time is not something I have a lot of.

Not this time. Nope. This time around the ordering process was actually quite simple and didn't take me so long that I was wishing I hadn't sat down to do it. I simply went to the site, http://www.123print.com/Post-it-Notes to design my personalized post-it notes. Once on the site I scrolled through the products until I found the one I love (of course it was the one of a Mom juggling-that's me!) After selecting my design I just had to personalize it. I was even able to change the font style and size to my liking. From there you simply save and place your order-that's it!

I love my new personalized post-it notes and would definitely consider ordering them again in the future.

(Disclosure:We received a free set of personalized post-it notes for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.)

Casting Crowns Come to The Well Concert...

2012-02-22T15:19:00.001-05:00

We celebrated my birthday by going to a concert, and an AWESOME concert at that!

Can you believe that before this concert I have NEVER been to a concert in my life?

Nope, not one. I mean, I have seen some locals sing at the county fair, but I have never been to an actual concert. You would not believe how excited I was to be attending this concert. Not only am I a HUGE fan of all of the musicians performing, but I was going with 17 (18 counting me) of our wonderful church family members. I say family because we have all grown so close and are really just one big family.

We sat on the floor, not at the front of the stage, but still we were on the floor right in the center of the room, so I was able to get some straight shots of the musicians. I just ordered this new camera and have yet to read the instruction booklet, so the pictures didn't turn out as good as I had hoped, however the camera has an awesome zoom, so the musicians appear to be much closer than they actually were to us.

The first to perform was the lovely Lindsay McCaul.

I had never heard her music before, however after hearing her sing I'm sure we will be hearing her a lot on the radio. She has an absolutely lovely voice and is a beautiful person.

Next to grace us with their performance was the very talented Royal Tailor.
My boys LOVE him. I have compared him to the Christian Usher because his dance moves are awesome and his performances are so entertaining. Not only does he have an awesome voice, but he does back flips and moon walks on the stage...it's just great!

I apologize for the quality of the photos. As I stated earlier, this is a new camera to me and I failed to read the owner's manual before using it for the first time. I really wish I had though because I believe I could have achieved much better photos. I'm just glad I got some photos to share of these awesome performers!

Performing next was the AMAZING Matthew West!

I was SO excited to see him perform because he is one of my favorite Christian singers.

Not only did he perform well, but he has a great sense of humor too.

The photo on the left is my favorite photo from the whole concert!

And then there was Casting Crowns....WOW, is all I can say!

Talk about talented, they have someone in the band that can play just about every single instrument. I really wish I could have been close enough to capture photos of each and every band member, however there were heads in my way and the crowd was going wild for them!

The performances were all great, but what I loved the most is we didn't just get a concert, we got worship and so much more that night. I can't wait to hear them all play live again! We are already scouting to find a concert that we can take the boys too!

Have you ever attending a concert?

Which one, and what were your feelings after?

Waxelene GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-02-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Waxelene is an all natural petroleum jelly alternative.

You can use Waxelene for anything you would typically have used petroleum jelly for such as:

Skin Protection and Moisturizing

Chafing Prevention

Make-Up

Household Needs

Waxelene is great for babies' skin. Most babies struggle with skin-related issues, especially on their face and bottoms. Waxelene can be the key to keeping your little one's skin healthy and protected while providing the essential building blocks for repairing damaged areas.

Waxelene is not just a replacement for petroleum-based products, but it is a major improvement because it is noticeably more effective. The ingredients in Waxelene include Vitamin E, Beeswax, Organic Rosemary Oil, and Organic Soy Oil. These all-natural ingredients together make up this wonderful eco-friendly product that you can feel good about using on yourself and your family members. Not just that, but it is designed so that it won't clog your pores too! Knowing that it is made right here in the USA with sustainable ingredients makes consumers feel good about using it every day from their head to their toes.

Waxelene is available in nearly 300 stores across 23 states. Whole Foods recently added Waxelene to its shelves in most of its Southern California locations. Visit the Waxelene website for more information and a complete list of retailers.

So, what did we think of Waxelene?

I have tried the product on several spots that have been very dry and chapped...my fronts of my legs and my lips were the worst. The results? Waxelene took care of the itching and dry skin on the front of my legs. Not only did they feel soft and smooth, but they stopped itching! As for my lips, they are so soft after using Waxelene. My only negative thought is that I don't love the way it smells. The smell is by no means strong, however when applied to my face I could definitely smell it. It's not awful and could definitely grow on you though.

How would you like to WIN a FREE jar of Waxelene so you can try it for yourself!?

~*~GIVEAWAY~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Disclosure:We received a free product for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.)

Sick Boys...

2012-02-21T21:14:00.001-05:00

I recently downloaded the Blogger app onto my iPad for times like these. What times? Times when I simply can't make it to the other room to connect my computer and post. That's right, I'm sitting on my trusty old heating pad, which has gotten me through a lot over the years, while one child is laying over half of my lap sleeping and another over the other half of my lap. I must say though that after 4 days of taking care of sick kids this feels quite peaceful. Not only is it quiet, but I get to cuddle with my babies...and Daddy is on his way home from the business trip he left for on Saturday.

While I would love to get the newest giveaways up for you all tonight I think I will take advantage of the silence (which doesn't happen often when you have 5 boys) and I will get a bit of rest in hopes that I don't catch the sickness my boys have so generously been sharing with one another.

More to Come on Raising My 5 Sons...

Build-a-Bear Workshop...

2012-02-21T11:41:00.001-05:00

What child doesn't love a cuddly stuffed animal?

Although my older boys might not want to admit it, at one time or another each of my boys had a cuddly stuffed animal that they slept with every single night. Not only are they a great comfort for the child, but they are cute! Don't you agree?

Build-A-Bear Workshop will be celebrating two major milestones in 2012. The first milestone is their 15th birthday! (Woohoo! We love birthdays!) Since the company opened its doors in St.Louis Galleria on October 27, 1997 it has grown to become a global brand while being recognized as a company with heart.

So, what is the second milestone?

The second milestone is the celebration of selling their 100 millionth furry friend! (That's right, 100 MILLIONTH! That's a LOT of stuffing!) Now isn't that some beary special news? We think so!

In honor of their birthday and helping create 100 million best friends, Build-A-Bear Workshop wants to spread the word that Friends Count! Whether your best friend is one of your longtime gal pals, your spouse, your pet, or even your teddy bear, we can all agree that our friends have made our lives so much better.

I truly believe that Friends Count and that is why I wanted to take part in this special posting to let you all know about my friendship story.

My Sister...My Friend

While I am the oldest child in my family (I often like to tell people I'm the younger sister though. My sisters love that...he he!) I still find myself leaning on my younger sister. To be honest with you I do not know what I would do without my sisters. Being a stay at home mom has its ups and downs. While I love being home for my children, I sometimes find myself a bit depressed and shut off from the world outside of the walls of my home. That doesn't ever last long though because I have my friend, my sister.

Whenever I'm feeling down, she's there to turn my frown upside down. Whenever I need a shoulder to cry on, she lets me use hers. I really don't tell her often enough how much she truly means to me, but I know that she will read this and she will know. (Thanks sista!)

There is something about a sister. You can tell them things that you might not feel comfortable telling anyone else...personal things. While friends often come and go, family is forever. We may have had our fights growing up and we may not have always seen eye to eye, but that has never come between the fact that we are sisters and we have that special bond.

Here's to my sister...my friend.

Friends Count, we want to hear about your special friend. You know, the one you couldn't live without. Even if your friend is your spouse, pet or a stuffed animal that you have had from your childhood, we want to hear about them!

(Disclosure: By publishing this post, I was entered to win a gift card as part of a promotional offer from MomSelect and Build-A-Bear Workshop. All opinions are my own.)

Great Wolf Lodge....

2012-02-20T13:57:00.001-05:00

Family time is important to us. We live in a very small community and there isn't a lot to do here, especially in the winter. We recently took a little mini vacation to the Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio. While this was a bit of a drive for us, I have to say that it was definitely worth the drive it took to get there!

The Great Wolf Lodge is a massive, 84-degree indoor water park! There are over 33,000 square feet of water-packed excitement, including water slides, hot tubs, tubing, a pool strictly for swimming and playing water basketball (the boys loved this!), and there was even a very nice area for the little kiddos to play. There were even little slides in the kiddie pool area. It was great fun for all!

Maybe you think that a full day of swimming is too much (not that it is, but just in case you want something else to do) there is an awesome arcade full of fun for the whole family! While wondering through the facility we came across a nice craft room where the little ones can do crafts and color. There are nice souvenir shops, coffee and sweets shops, places to dine and even story time in the Grand Lobby every night by the fireplace! What a great way to end the day!

Our boys at story time

Wolf display in the lobby

Moose head in the lobby

What did we think of The Great Wolf Lodge?

We had a blast and will definitely, without a doubt be returning!

I wanted to include a list of things that I suggest bringing for anyone that might be planning a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge or another indoor water park.

Packing List:

1.) Bathing suits (it is nice to have more than one because they don't dry fast, however if you don't mind putting a wet suit back on then one is fine.)

2.) Flip Flops or sandals that are easy to kick off so you don't have to walk through the facility with your wet bare feet.

3.) A wetbag. This is one thing that I was SO glad I brought. You check out of your room fairly early, however you are able to continue to swim. Having a wetbag to throw your wet suits in is a must! If you don't own an actual wetbag (I had one from when we were using cloth diapers) you can purchase anything that is waterproof. We once used a Thirty-One insulated bag at the pool and it worked great.

4.) Clothing (of course you won't wear these much, but you will need clothing for in between swimming and for your trip home. This is a no brainer, but I felt like I should add it.) It's always nice to bring the little ones extra clothes just in case.

5.) Hairbrush and other bathroom products that you might need. While they do supply a couple of things (soap, hairdryer, lotion) I always feel the need to bring my own, especially since we have such a large family.

6.) Money! Be sure to bring cash if you plan to enter the arcade because that is the one area that takes cash only (there is an atm conveniently located inside the arcade in case you might need it.) The arcade is a bit pricey as is the dining.

7.) Earplugs if needed.

That's about it!

Yummy wrap and homemade potato chips

The only other thing I feel obligated to state is that the on site dining is pretty pricey. The food is great and we had a lot of fun eating there, plus it was very convenient, however it really did leave us with a thin pocketbook at the end of our stay. I think the next time I would pack more snacks for the boys and we might actually leave the facility to eat from time to time. Now with that being said, we did order a family pizza meal to our room which included Pizza, pop, salad and breadsticks all for under $30! That was a great deal for us and it fed everyone in our family, so you might want to consider ordering the pizza deal and picking it up in the lobby and bringing it back to your room.

Yummy burger and fries.

Plane inside one of the dining areas on site.

We had so much fun on our trip to the Great Wolf Lodge and we really can't wait until our next trip!

(Disclosure:We received free/discounted rates for our stay at the Great Wolf Lodge for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.)

WINNERS!!!

2012-02-19T16:35:00.000-05:00

Winner of the Sesame Street DVD Giveaway is...

Entry #510April G.

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Winner of the Lovable Labels Friendship Pack is...

Entry #213Wendy R.

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(4) Winners- Ocean Spray Fruit Snacks Giveaway are...

Entry #327Jennifer R.

Entry #286Maryann D.

Entry #145Anne N.

Entry #61Denise T.

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Winner of the Pillsbury Valentine's Day Prize Pack is..

Entry #45Juana E.

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Winner of the K-Y Valentine's Day Prize Pack Giveaway is...

Entry #186Melissa B.

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Winner of the 5 Boxes of General Mills Cereal Giveaway is...

Entry #934Janice W.

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Winner of the Shabby Apple Giveaway is...

Entry #524Karen H.

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Congrats to all of the lucky winners!

New giveaways coming soon!

Yesterday Was...

2012-02-19T16:04:00.000-05:00

...my Birthday!!!

We celebrated by going to a WONDERFUL concert that I will NEVER forget!

I will post photos and more details about the concert soon.

Now I am tending to sick children.

Our oldest son had a fever on my birthday, so we pretty much stayed home all day (except for our quick trip for ice cream because the boys thought I HAD to have something sweet for my birthday. I really think they just wanted ice cream though, but I went with it. I like ice cream and Dairy Queen's new Choco Cherry Love Blizzard is AMAZING!)

Last night and again today our 3 year old has had a fever.

Luckily our oldest is feeling better now, but I'm just hoping none of the other boys get it.

I must say though that if all they get is a fever and a little crankiness then we are very lucky because I have seen much worse stuff going around.

More to Come on Raising My 5 Sons...

The Boys Made Me....

2012-02-15T19:15:00.000-05:00

How sweet of my boys to make me lunch...

And Dessert...

Too bad they were made with playdough and I couldn't really eat them.

I must say that pretending to eat them was quite fun though.

Bright Futures for Children...

2012-02-14T14:26:00.000-05:00

We were recently given the chance to take part in the Bright Futures for Children Fundraiser through Bright Future International. I get so many emails on a daily basis that not everything that comes through my email is posted on this site. I just don't have enough time in the day to post all of the requests. With that being said, there are some emails that simply can't be ignored. There are often times when I am touched by a company and all that they are trying to do for others...the world. This was one of those times...

We were asked to visit the Bright Future International Facebook page, and to choose from one of the 3 different organizations. We were to choose the organization and initiatives in Kenya, Burundi and Russia, the one organization that meant the most to us. Well, I must say that choosing just one was really hard because all three organizations are great. With that being said, we had to make a decision and decided that the organization that we would be donating to is the Heshima Kenya organization that is helping young girls who have been through trauma.

Why did we choose this organization?

While all three organizations are great, my heart kept leading me back to the story about the young girl, only 14 years old, left to live on the streets alone and desperate. Not only was this young girl alone with no one to care for her, but she was pregnant and about to be a mother herself. Fourteen is such a young age and I couldn't imagine trying to take care of myself at that young impressionable age, let alone raising a baby on the streets with no home and no job. I think it is important that children feel safe and secure. They need someone to love them and care for them. This is the reason that I have chosen this organization.

This organization is here to provide critical shelter, protection, education and opportunity for young refugee girls like the one I described above. The organization can help to empower them to rebuild their lives, grow into leaders and believe in hope again. I want to help support that. I want to be one of the people to help show these girls the love that they need, we all need love. I want these girls to know that there is hope and there is help.

Because I want to help this organization as well as the other two organizations I am asking you all to take a minute to visit the Facebook page of Bright Future International and just read the stories under the Fundraiser tab. For every new "Like" they receive on Facebook a $1 Donation will be made to BFI. It may not seem like much to you now, however $1 can mean a lot to those in need. With just the click of your mouse you can be helping many children across the country. Feel like $1 isn't enough? That's okay because you can then choose the charity you wish to help and you can donate to them right from the Facebook page!

Feel free to spread the word!

The more people that know about this wonderful charitable cause, the more help we can get to these children in need. With your help we can make a difference.

Any person who makes a donation in the amount of $15 or more will receive a free DVD of the hit music video “A Merry Christmas,” featuring Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Larry King, Jordin Sparks, Jermaine Jackson and other stars. Put together by BFI, the goal of the music video was to promote community and peace by uniting people around the world regardless of race, religion and social status.

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central for Bright Future International. A small donation to Bright Future International was made in my name from Mom Central as a thank-you for participating.”

Handy Mandee.....

2012-02-14T12:43:00.000-05:00

Remember that investment property we purchased?

That has been the reason you haven't seen quite as many posts from me about what we have been up to. To be honest, we have spent so much time at the other property that we haven't been up to a whole lot else. (We did get away to a FUN indoor waterpark a couple of weeks ago and you will see that post soon!)

This is what the boys do when they get bored at the house...

They have been building little cities with cars and churches and theaters and everything. They are so creative!

The boy on the left is my 6 year old nephew and on the right is my 8 year old son. They were busy building their ponds and houses and ramps and stuff. I love seeing their little creative minds at work. They sure made a mess, but they had a lot of fun doing it!

And you can just call me Handy Mandee....

This is me laying hardwood flooring.

With my husband's back being messed up I have been doing a lot of things that I honestly didn't know I was capable of doing. I have been using power tools and hammers and all sorts of things. It's quite fun!

Have you ever found yourself doing something that surprised you? Maybe you didn't think you could do it or you thought it was going to be worse than it really was?

Make a Weeknight Meal Special With Bertolli...

2012-02-13T13:41:00.000-05:00

We love soup, but not all soup. My family can be a bit picky when it comes to what sort of soup they will eat. It is sometimes hard to find a soup that everyone equally loves. We were pretty excited about taking part in the Bertolli "Make a Weeknight Meal Special" challenge. I had really wanted to try out the new soups that Bertolli now has available now, and they were conveniently located at our local Kroger!

The soup was SO yummy! It's a restaurant quality soup, however it took no time at all to prepare (maybe 10-15 minutes tops!) Now the package says the soup feeds 2 (we got 2 packages) and I was a little worried that my whole family of 7 wouldn't have enough to eat, however 2 packages fed all of us and everyone was very pleased. I recommend making the soup with garlic bread sticks or butter bread, however it can simply be eaten alone as well if you like.

So, we were given one hour to make a special weeknight meal that all would enjoy and no one would forget. How did we do? We did great, of course! I love the fact that it didn't even take a whole hour and we had a very nice "sit down" family meal. There was wine (for the adults), breadsticks for all, and some of the kids had fun putting little oyster crackers into their soup (I didn't think they were necessary, but the boys think they are fun.) My top three tips for making a special weeknight meal are...
1.) Don't spend so much time preparing your meal that you are too tired to enjoy. You can make a nice meal in less than an hour.

2.) Let family members help out in the kitchen. I used to think that if the boys helped me in the kitchen it would just take longer, however I have found that the time we spend together in the kitchen is great bonding time that they enjoy as do I. (And if your spouse offers to help out let them.)

3.) A great meal doesn't have to cost $50 or require you to leave the home. You'd be surprised at what you can make from the comfort of your own home.

I love that Bertolli Frozen Meal Soups are so hearty and fresh-tasting. They contain just the right amount of vegetables, meats, pasta and herbs. They are so convenient since they are sold in the frozen food aisle at our local store and can be prepared on the stovetop in just minutes! There are so many different varieties to choose from, Chicken Minestone, Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta (this is the one we tried-and loved!), Tomato Florentine & Tortellini with Chicken and Tuscan-Style Beef with Vegetables.

Is your mouth watering yet?

We have never been disappointed with any of the Bertolli line of foods.
For more information and to find out where you can purchase these yummy Bertolli foods visit them at www.villabertolli.com. You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bertolli and Twitter at www.twitter.com/Bertolli.

Disclosure: I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge. We only give honest reviews and all content in this post is our honest take on the products tried.

Pourty Potty GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-02-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

We have been lucky and didn't have a lot of trouble potty training our 4 older boys. I say this, but clench when saying it because I sometimes worry that we may have a little harder time potty training our youngest. He is now 18 months and showing signs of potty training. While he is not 100% ready, he is interested and does go on the potty from time to time.

We received the Pourty Potty for review about a week ago. When it arrived I placed it in front of my little guy and explained to him that it was his new potty. What did he do? He picked it up, placed it on his head and chased his brother through the house! I wish I could say that I was making that up and that he pulled his pants down, walked up to the potty, sat on it and went potty...sigh. Not that easy!

With that being said...once I caught him, I placed the Pourty Potty again in front of him, took his diaper off and showed him that it was his new potty. What did he think now? He thought it was awesome! He now wants to take his pants off and sit on his new favorite seat all of the time! Has he gone potty in his new favorite seat? Not yet, however as I stated before, he is still learning and we first want to introduce these things to him, get him used to them and then train him. We are getting closer as I believe the first step is getting them to where they are not afraid of the potty and are willing to sit on it.

I did thoroughly check out the potty, put water in and dump it out (hey, I had to fully test it so I could tell you just what I thought). I love that with this product you don't have to pour the pee or poo over the area where the child sits, which can be quite a mess.

You can visit http://www.pourty.com for more information, tips on potty training and to find a store for purchasing your Pourty Potty. You can also download free reward charts and diplomas for your little one at the Pourty Potty site.

~*~GIVEAWAY STARTS HERE~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Disclosure: The product in this review was provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.)

A Day In The Life of a Mom With 5 Boys...

2012-02-10T10:44:00.000-05:00

You asked for it, so I'm giving it to you.

Mom wakes up at the crack of dawn (ok maybe not that early, but it sure does feel like it's that early since I didn't get much sleep through the night.) I try to go down the stairs as quiet as I can in hopes to not wake the younger boys that do not have school. I put the coffee on (unless my husband is home and he has already done so.) I then go back upstairs, wake the boys that have school (all the while telling them to shhhh so they don't wake their little brothers who are still sound asleep in bed-hopefully.) Once downstairs I give each of the boys their outfits and I slip into the bathroom (hey, everyone must do this first thing in the morning, I'm just the unlucky one that has to wait until other tasks are done before I get to go.) Now I'm going to give you a real visual, brace yourselves...

As I just get situated on the toilet the bathroom door goes flying open (hitting me and really waking me up-I should be used to this by now) and in comes one of the boys, probably one of the boys that is still supposed to be sleeping, but not always. Today I hear, Come out with your hands up! (REALLY!?) I try to explain to my 3 year old (who should still be asleep) that I can't put my hands up because I'm trying to wipe my butt! He says, "Just put one hand up, that will be fine." WHAT!? NO, how about you take a few steps backwards, close the door and ask Daddy to turn cartoons on? By now the baby is awake and just as I was beginning to think I was going to get my cup of coffee in I find myself racing up the stairs to get him. Of course, when we get downstairs he wants to nurse (Yes, he's still nursing. We are working on that.) So, I rush to get the boys their breakfast (unless Dad is home, then he will do this.) I sit on the sofa and nurse the baby hoping that he will go back to sleep so I can get the rest of my morning tasks done. Once he is back to sleep I finish helping the boys get ready, make sure everyone has coats, hats and backpacks before lining up for the bus and I start laundry. (Somewhere in the mix I do have some coffee. You didn't think I could survive without it, did you?)

Now that the boys are in school I sit the little ones down for a cartoon (they are allowed so much tv time and really like watching tv in the mornings while they try to wake up-of course I'm hoping they fall back asleep while watching, but that very seldom happens.) I get the house straightened up and of course check my email from my phone as I'm doing all of this. I make the phone calls that I need to make for the day, make sure we don't have any appointments that we have forgotten about and figure out what we will have for lunch. (Some days I'm just so tired and lazy that I take the boys to town and we eat fast food. Yes, I said it, I admit it...I feed my kids junk! At least I don't do it every day, right?)

I am lucky if I have had a shower by lunch (I can't leave the little two out by themselves because well they may do something that would require a hazmat team at my house or something and that just wouldn't be good. If I'm lucky and I'm awake enough I will get a shower before my husband leaves for work, but that doesn't always happen, especially when the youngest wakes before he leaves.)

Don't get me wrong, my life is great and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Not only do I get to do things on my own time (I don't have a boss telling me what to do or looking over my shoulder, unless of course you count my 3 year old who really likes to have things done his way). I also get the joy of seeing my boys grow up, take their first steps, talk, potty train (the not so fun things too, but I get to be here). While I think often times people think that my life is tough I really have to say that I am truly blessed. When I'm having a bad day I can always count on my boys to cheer me up. They are so innocent (yes there is innocence behind those ornery grins) and so loving and caring.

Now I was going to give you a full post about what a day in my life is like, but I only got to about lunch time and I'm tired, plus the kids are done with cartoons and the laundry and other chores are not going to get themselves done. You get the idea...

What is a day in YOUR life like?

We want to know.

God, I Need To Talk To You About... Review

2012-02-10T06:00:00.004-05:00

It is important to me that I raise my children right. I want them to know about God and all that he has done for us. Approximately one year ago I was the mother who sent her children to a religion program once a week, said prayers with them at night, and didn't really do much more with them. I didn't know how to raise my children to be good Christians. I didn't know enough about God and all that he had done to teach my children myself. That all changed the day we attended a new church. This was a church that my mother and one of my sisters had already attended a couple of times. From the first day I attended that church my life and the lives of the rest of my family have not been the same. Something happened to me the day I visited the church and it's really hard to explain, but all I can say is that it was good and that I finally got it...I finally understood the purpose of church and living our life for God.

I was recently contacted by a company that makes christian children's books. They wanted us to review a set of God, I Need to Talk to You About books. In the past I may have thought this to be a controversial product to post a review on my blog about, I might have turned them down simply because I didn't want to upset a reader that might not have the same beliefs as myself. Not now, today I want to review this product. The great thing about this blog is that it is mine and it is here for me to express my feelings, frustrations and findings with the world. If you don't like this post, I'm sorry, however I feel it's important for me to bring my children up as good Christians and I think it is important for me to teach others what I have learned along the way.

God, I Need to Talk to You About... is a wonderful little set of children's books. Not only are they the perfect size, they fit right in your handbag, backpack or nightstand drawer, but they have just the right amount of words for a young child (not too long and not too short.) God I Need to Talk to You About... is a great collection of stories that deal with concerns young children encounter in their daily lives. Each book points out the Good News of God's love and forgiveness, while supporting Scripture verse emphasizes the point of each story. I think they are just great!

We received 3 books for review, however there is a whole set of 20 books!
The books we received all held great lessons and are very well illustrated.
We received God, I Need to Talk to You About Video Games, Homework and My Bad Temper.

For more information and to find out where you can get your copies of God, I Need to Talk to You About... publications visit Concordia Publishing House.

Tommee Tippee GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-02-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

I have a very picky little guy. He doesn't love every sippy cup that I hand him and he actually prefers to drink from a "big boy" cup. The only problem is that when I give him a cup with no lid after taking a few drinks he immediately dumps his drink on the floor. This is not good, especially when we are not at home. I have spent a lot of money trying out different cups, trying to find the one that is perfect for our little guy.

We recently reviewed one of Tommee Tippee Spill Proof cups, the Explora Truly Spill Proof Drink Cup. What I like about this cup is that it doesn't have a big spout that your child sucks on. When one of our older children was younger he had to see a speech therapist after having his tongue clipped, and the speech therapist informed us that it is not good to give your child a cup with a spout for long because it can damage the teeth that are coming in. We have refrained from this sort of cup for the most part with our other children ever since. I like how the Explora cup looks more like a "big kid" cup, yet it is spill proof. While our little one doesn't absolutely love the cup (as I mentioned earlier, he would much rather have a cup with no lid) he does use the cup from time to time and does not show resistance in using it when we are out and about. The cup is easy enough for him to use as well.

I also wanted to mention that Tommee Tippee has a ton of other products ranging from cups, tableware, baby monitors and even a free digital storybook, The Day Baby Was Born, which is a simple way to capture moments of pregnancy and the birth day through the gathering of Facebook posts, a selection of birthday news and facts and the collection of precious memories through a pregnancy journal.

How would you like to WIN a set of 2 Explora cups like the ones we reviewed!?

~*~GIVEAWAY STARTS HERE~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nature's Sleep 50% DISCOUNT!!!

2012-02-09T19:06:00.000-05:00

I enjoy my sleep just as much as the next person, however I wish my bed were a bit more comfortable and I could get a full nights sleep without waking continuously, tossing and turning and fluffing my pillow. When Nature's Sleep emailed me to let me know about their awesome special I had to share it with you all! Seroiusly, 50% off!? That's just crazy!!!

Don't need a new mattress?

That's okay because Nature's Sleep has other products such as Pillows, Toppers and Foundations!

So, because I can't keep wonderful deals like this to myself and because I love my fans, here is your discount for 50% OFF at Nature's Sleep!!!

Just enter coupon code: BEARS50 at checkout.

Enjoy!

WIN Bejeweled Vaseline on Valentine's Day!!!

2012-02-09T16:39:00.000-05:00

This Valentine's Day why not ensure that your lips are kissably soft?

Vaseline is offering a FUN way to add a little sparkle to your lip care routine with the opportunity to WIN a Valentine's Day-edition Swarovski Crystal bejeweled Vaseline Lip Therapy Original jar!!!

The bedazzled jar includes fun lip design on its lid that was created specifically for the most romantic holiday of the year. Excited yet!? This must-have beauty accessory will instantly beautify your makeup bag while also instantly softening your lips! It's a Win-Win!

On Valentine's Day, Vaseline will be offering the limited-edition jars ($62 Value!) Those wishing to WIN can try logging on to www.VaselineLipTherapy.com on 2/14 at 1PM ET for a one-day flash giveaway for special Swarovski jars.

*Note: There are only 100 and they anticipate they will go fast!

Aside from being absolutely adorable and portable, NEW Vaseline Lip Therapy Original contains effective petrolatum and can be mixed with lipsticks to create a fabulous custom-colored gloss or dabbed on lips for a natural look.

*Standard jars are available at Wal-Mart and Target (SRP $1.99).

Baby Gourmet Review...

2012-02-09T13:48:00.000-05:00

We have never had much luck getting our youngest to eat baby foods. He's a really picky little guy and he knows exactly what he wants. When asked to do a review of Baby Gourmet foods I was quite excited because the packaging is fun and convenient and I really thought my little one would love it. That being said, he's no fool and he has yet to try this new fun baby food.

Because I couldn't leave you all with that, I decided to let my 3 and 6 year old boys try the product. Why not? They were ~~asking~~ begging me to try the product already and it's healthy and all natural, so I was all for letting them give it a try.

What did they think?

Well, they tried every package and have almost completely finished each of them. Not only did they say it was yummy, but they have chased their baby brother around trying to get him to try it (He's just too darn stubborn for it.)

Baby Gourmet is very convenient. It makes eating on the go easy and is great for the diaper bag or eating in the car or any other location that you might be limited in. There is no mess (or very little mess-they may still get a messy face, but by eliminating the spoon there is less all over mess.) We loved the slim pouch because it fits nicely in the diaper bag, handbag, or even in the refrigerator. You can still use a spoon, however we thought it was very convenient when on the go, and let's face it, it's fun for little ones to feed themselves! The packaging preserves nutrition and taste. It's not like glass jars, and ensures that none of the flavors are cooked out.

For more information or to purchase your super yummy Baby Gourmet products visit Baby Gourmet online.

Microsoft Tech Gadget Giveaway WINNER!!!!

2012-02-09T10:13:00.000-05:00

The lucky winner of the Microsoft Tech Gadget Giveaway (Prize Pack of Microsoft Products Valued at over $150!) is...

Entry #2347Kim A.

The winner has been emailed and has 48hrs to respond with shipping address in order to claim her prize.

Thanks to all who entered and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for another great Microsoft Giveaway coming soon!

Pillsbury Valentine's Prize Pack GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-02-09T10:04:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that my family loves cookies and other sweet treats. It's true, I have a real weakness for anything sweet and I am always tempted. I love to spend time with my boys in the kitchen whipping up something delicious for them. Heck, we even make our peanut butter sandwiches into little animal shapes with cookie cutters, it's fun!

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it's the perfect time to show those you love how much you care about them! Why not surprise them with a special treat? How about a treat that is straight from the HEART and fresh from the Oven!? We received a prize pack containing the New Valentine's Day Pillsbury Ready to Bake Heart Shaped Cookies. My boys love helping me back and this was just the thing to get them involved and have a little fun this Valentine's Day! Not only are the cookies super yummy, but they are so cute and have such a special meaning. Why not give the one you love your heart this year?

How would you like to WIN the prize pack I received (shown in the photo above)?

~*~GIVEAWAY STARTS HERE~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Disclosure: The VIP coupon, prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark. We only give honest reviews and did not receive any form of monetary compensation for this post."

Mrs. Field's Cookies Valentine's Day GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Mrs. Fields has some super yummy treats. If you are looking for the perfect gift for your loved one, children or anyone one your list you really must consider Mrs. Fields.

We received the Loveable Valentine's Tin for review. Not only were the cookies super yummy, but there were so many in the tin that even my 5 boys couldn't eat them all in one day, or even two days!

There were so many different flavors in the tin that we had everyone's tastes covered (not that there really is a flavor of COOKIE that any of my boys DON'T like!)

To purchase your Yummy Treats and Gifts for those important to you visit Mrs. Fields!

You can also find Mrs. Fields on Facebook and Mrs. Fields on Twitter.

How about a GIVEAWAY!?

~*~GIVEAWAY STARTS HERE~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday...

2012-02-07T19:04:00.000-05:00

This is our 3 year old son's favorite outfit. He thinks he has to wear the pants to church EVERY single Sunday since they have crosses on them and he calls the shirt his "Rock n' Roll" shirt. He will sleep in this shirt and insist I let him wear it as often as he can! It's a good thing I like the outfit or we would be in trouble...ha ha!

Make a Difference...

2012-02-06T11:27:00.000-05:00

I am contacted daily from PR as well as others wanting articles and similar things posted on my site. I couldn't possibly post everything that comes my way, however after watching the video attached to this email that I received and reading the story I felt that I needed to post this for all to see.

These little girls have come a long way and have worked very hard to make a difference, not only in their community, but all over! I think you all will be impressed by their story. I know I will be voting for them! (Will you?)

I was contacted by Laurie, who said...

I am a Mom on a nationwide community service mission with my 9- and 10-year old daughters and their friends to find out just what can happen when you take an idea and run with it---especially when that idea has a potential to make a positive difference in communities nationwide!

We call our mission The United States of Community Service (USCS) Make a Difference Day Almost-Sleepover (www.uscsnow.org)—a nationwide PJ party with a purpose, getting kids involved in and excited about community service and empowering them to make a difference in communities from coast to coast and everywhere in between, to celebrate Make a Difference Day (our country’s largest day of service).

In less than one year’s time, our little-project-that-could grew from 7 girls and an idea in Guilford, Connecticut, to 1,200 kids in 26 states making a difference in 38 communities for more than 100 charities nationwide.

Last year, our local project that started it all won a National Make a Difference Day Award and $10,000 from Newman's Own.

You can see our entire year-long journey in our less-than-five-minute video, We Can Change The World:

HERE'S THE SCOOP: Starting February 15 and continuing through February 29th, our project will be part of a nationwide online vote at www.makeadifferenceday.com to determine the winner of the 2012 Make a Difference Day All-Star Award from USA WEEKEND magazine and $10,000 for charity from Gannett Foundation!

Valentine's Day GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-02-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

We don't normally do any sort of "romantic" type giveaways on this blog being that the nature of our blog is about raising children, however with Valentine's Day just around the corner and since I think it is important to have a healthy relationship with your spouse, I thought this would be a great giveaway to offer my fans...plus, who doesn't want to win a discount to the movies!?

K-Y Brand has partnered with Moviefone.com to offer an exclusive set of DATE NIGHT Packs, which combine K-Y Brand's portfolio of premium intimacy enhancement products with a voucher for $10 off movie tickets for two!

What a perfect gift for that special someone for Valentine's Day!

How would you like to WIN a FREE DATE NIGHT PACK?

I knew you would!

~*~GIVEAWAY STARTS HERE~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway