The Purple Pug Winner

Congrats to #17 Lisanne! I'll be forwarding your info to Kristy and she'll be in touch!


Lisanne said... Tweet - Your "Twit This" link is great! lisanne411(at)yahoo(dot)com

(and I'm so glad the Twit This link came in helpful!)

Share pics when you use them! =)

Friday Fragments 2.27.09

• My son EJ was saying how he has to unbutton the adjustable waist in his jeans lately. I jokingly told him he's becoming a little fatty and his response? "You can call me daddy2" ha ha I bet daddy won't think it's so funny!
  
• I don't know why but Lucas has been calling his poop a "bomb". "that's a big bomb mommay!" Don't know where he got it, but he sure is right!
• I need some chill pills. All I do lately is YELL at the kids. Seems like they don't listen any other way. I think there's a book somewhere about this. Maybe I should read it before I really blow a gasket.
• The countdown is on! In 13 days, I'll be leaving for a weekend away. Where you ask? FLORIDA! Yippee! My old neighbor Michelle moved down there six years ago if I'm remembering right and I'm going to visit! We're actually getting a hotel and we're gonna eat, drink, chat & be merry! Woo hoo! (Now I need to find some snazzy clothes to wear....)
  
• We have a babysitter coming two nights in a row! I have paint class tonight (love it!) and hubby won't be home until tonight from the lovely septic convention in Louisville. Tomorrow we're going out for dinner then to watch a band play. Two whole nights out!
• We've got 3 camping trips already booked for the summer! One is a week long stay. I feel good knowing it's already done and that we'll definitely be using the camper this year!
• Lastly....today's the last day to enter my giveaway. If you have a birthday party coming up, you must enter!
  

A Thousand Words Thursday 2.26.09

Here's a picture from 2004 when Maddie was 2. It was June and she decided to go in the little pool. That's fine but she was fully clothed, shoes & all! The kids all loved that little kiddie pool!

Birthday time and the Purple Pug Review (giveaway)

My daughter Maddie is having her 6th (omg...6?) birthday party in a few weeks. I'm doing cupcakes since we're going to a local pool for her party. I didn't want to deal with the mess of a cake and thought cupcakes would be so much easier. But what to do to really make them stand out? Kristy over at The Purple Pug had the solution....cupcake toppers!

Absolutely perfect!

The cupcake toppers are handmade by Kristy. Yes, handmade! She put an "M" on them in glitter with fun polka dots around them and used purple, pink and blue to match the Ariel party wear. My daughter LOVES them. They will stand out well on the cupcakes in the cupcake stand!

The Purple Pug can do everything you need for a well coordinated party:

• handmade custom invitations...
  
• the cutest Party Favor Bags....
• matching thank you notes...
• banners...
• and even juice box labels...
• and so much more!
  

She's got lots of fun designs for boys or girls! I love the monkey designs she's got going on. She can even match your theme like she did with me.

Do you have a birthday party coming up? Would you like to win 24 cupcake toppers for yourself? Leave a comment on which design you'd choose to enter to win! Twitter this post and leave a comment for an additional entry. Subscribe to my feed or follow this blog and leave a comment for another entry (or let me know you already do). Simple! You have until Friday, February 27th, 11:59pm to enter. Good luck and happy party planning!

Why not go become a fan of The Purple Pug on Facebook too!

Video Games = Annoying

For the mom anyways!

I feel like I'm having a constant battle here over my son playing video games. We decided awhile ago that he could only play for an hour a day (and I think that may even be too long). The latest thing is that once the timer goes off, I hear "But I'm in the middle of a level!" and he wants to keep playing. It happened again today and finally I lost it, turned off the system and told him no more games this week because he won't listen.

I also hate the fact that some of my son's friends are allowed to play games rated T and even M! I'm constantly reminding my husband that our son is only 8 and that T games are just not appropriate for him! Does he really need to learn to shoot people electronically?

What are the rules in your house for playing video games? Do you only let them play age appropriate games? I need some help in creating and enforcing the rules! Give me some ideas please before I just throw the Playstation out the window! ;)

mmmmmmMashed Potatoes

If you don't know it...I'm a meat n potatoes girl. I could eat any meat and any type of potato all week long. Pasta? No thanks! Rice? Um...no. But give me a potato side dish and I'm in heaven! Scalloped potatoes are yummy. My sister makes a good cheesy potato dish. But my favorite is good ol' mashed potatoes. Mmmmm....

I made them last night and they came out so good. So good that I need to write down exactly what I did so I know next time! I used russet potatoes. Never used those before for mashed but now I'm convinced it's *the* potato to use from now on. (white potatoes work good for potato salad generally) While my potatoes are boiling, I added some Jane's Krazy Mixed Up Salt. This stuff is wonderful....I use it on everything from home fries to veggies to grilled steak.

Once the potatoes were soft, I drained them in a colander and put the pan back on the hot burner. I added my smart balance spread and some milk to let it warm up. I added the potatoes back to the pan and then got out my trusty beaters. I whipped them til they were creamy.

They were oh so good....and I had leftovers for lunch today!

What do you add to your mashed potatoes? Have any good potato recipes to share with me?

Munchie Mug Winners

Congrats to Kat & Jen for winning a Munchie Mug!


Kat said...:

besides the colony of cheerios planning a coup under my couch there is also the goldfish carcass crisis, I know I can't prevent every mess but the munchie mug would at least slow down the mayhem to an acceptable level

mommyjen99 said...

Just blogged about your contest on my blog here
http://mommyjen99.blogspot.com/

Woo hoo! Please send me your address and I'll get these out next week! =)



PS. I'll be having a giveaway from the Purple Pug next week! Come back to enter to win!

Friday Fragments 2.20.09

• I've been going to the gym for one whole month now! YEA me! I put on a pair of jeans that I haven't worn in awhile and there's at least 2" in my waist! I can practically take them down without unbuttoning them! Woo hoo!
• Hubby and I are going to sit down with the kids and plan our camping trips for the year tomorrow morning. Maybe thinking about summer trips will bring the warm weather back? We can dream, right?
• Going to my first ever Tastefully Simple party tonight. Should be fun to hang out with the girls. I'm brining Buttershots. Yummmmmmy. Let's just say I won't be counting points tonight!
• Make sure you enter my Munchie Mug giveaway if you haven't yet...ends tonight!
• Next week I'm going to have a giveaway from The Purple Pug so keep checking back!
  

Birthday Madness

March is getting closer. Closer to the birthday madness around here. March is our crazy month for birthday parties. We have 5 cousins to celebrate: Kate, (my) Maddie, Katie, TJ and Charlotte. That means that there's usually a kids birthday party every weekend in March unless we double up. And that's what Maddie & Kate are doing this year with Saturday/Sunday parties.

There's also family adult birthdays in March too...mine, my husband's and his step-sister Karen's. But we adults don't matter anymore!

My good friend Michele also has two kids with March birthdays....so there's another party to figure into the mix. (My friend Anne's birthday is in March too but that's a good excuse for a girls night out!)

Thank goodness Easter isn't in March this year!

What is the crazy month in your family....because I know everyone has at least one! =)

Little Devil!

Sunday was a rare day where Lucas actually took a nap. But instead of letting him sleep...oh, maybe for only...an hour, hubby let him sleep until he woke up. That would be three hours! Needless to say, he wasn't tired at all when it was bedtime.

At 9:30, hubby put him back in bed once again. As hubby made his way downstairs, a little voice called out "daddy?" "daddy? come here!" So hubby when upstairs to Lucas' room again.

"You know what daddy?"
"What?" says hubby
"Chicken butt!" ::giggles::

We have a little not-quite-three-year-old jokester apparently.

No more messes! (and a giveaway)

While at the gym a few weeks ago, I saw a postcard for a great little snack cup....The Munchie Mug. It looked like a great idea so I had to buy one for Lucas. Guess what? It IS a great idea!

The cup has a screw on top that has fabric stretched across it with a slit in the middle. Little hands can reach in a grab some of their cookies, crackers, goldfish etc and come out with just enough to eat. And....no more messes! The snack doesn't spill all over the place! Now, I don't have to find cereal under the couch or goldfish on the floor! Moms everywhere just got a big smile on their face and can give their vacuum a bit of a rest.

The Munchie Mug is great at home, in the car, at daycare or anytime your kid is on the go. Lucas uses his all day long and gets mad when I have to wash it. The mug is top rack dishwasher safe too! It's a big 16oz size and comes with a cover to keep snack fresh when the little one is done munching. This is a great alternative to open bowls or flimsy baggies!

Another great thing about the Munchie Mug is that it's 100% Made in the USA and made from environmentally friendly products. You can buy American and know you're helping the environment too! The Munchie Mug retails for $12.95 (plus $3.00 shipping) through their website.

Want to know what's even better? I have TWO of these great Munchie Mugs to give away...one of each color!

To enter:

• Visit the Munchie Mug website and then leave a comment on why you want to win this mug!
  
• Twitter this giveaway & leave a comment for another entry.
• Subscribe to my feeds & leave a comment for another entry (or let me know you already do).
• Blog about this giveaway & leave a comment for another entry.
  

I will give one mug to two winners. This giveaway will run until 11:59pm February 20th and I'll post the winners that following weekend. Please, US Residents only.

You can also meet the folks from Munchie Mug at the American Baby & Family Expo in Boston March 21-22.

Fab 5 Favs

MamaKat has these great writing prompts on her blog. And I can tell you, I need them lately since I'm drawing blanks when I sit to write!

I thought about writing about my first cassette. But then I realized that I have no idea what my very first cassette was. The first cassette that I fondly remember being so excited to buy was Poison's Look What the Cat Dragged In in '86. I loved that one and listened to it over and over and over and over. I bought it while we were on vacation in Florida. But I digress.

I choose to List My 5 Favorite Things. My five favorite things as of this moment:

1. Working out. I'm loving going to the gym. I just hope this love continues!
2. Paint Class. I'm so excited paint class started up again because I love to paint the projects Jess creates AND I get to socialize with the gals!
   
3. Facebook. I'm addicted to facebook these days. I love peeking into my friend's lives all day long. And I love doing the Hatchlings egg hunt and the Scavenger Hunt.
4. Skinny Cow Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Sandwiches. Oh so yummy!
5. The song So What by Pink. It really gets me going for #1.
   

Wordless Wednesday 2.11.09

(Ok, it's semi-wordless...this pic is from 2004 and I'm aiming to look like that again with all my working out and Weight Watchers. Maddie was only 1!)


You can see more pictures at Wordless Wednesday, MomDot and 5 Minutes for Mom.

Yup, I'm lovin' it.

I've joined the gym a few weeks ago. I was nervous because I didn't know if I could make myself go. Or thought I'd go for a week and then say forget it! But something very weird happened.

I actually like it.

Yes, I'm finding myself enjoying the workouts. Am I crazy? Have I grown up? I don't know but it's nice! I usually go in the morning but after dinner I really have a hankering to run to the gym and workout! I haven't actually followed through in the evening but it's usually because my hubby isn't home or I have something going on.....but you wait...I will!

I've been going 6 days a week. Cardio everyday and weights Tuesday, Thursday and a day on the weekend. I just wish the weight would come off faster! But it's coming off. That's what matters, right?

Anyone else loving the gym this "resolution" around? ;)

Color Me Company Giveaway Winner

Wow...only FOUR entries!?!?!?!?

Forget random.org...I threw the numbers in a hat and drew the winner the old fashioned way! lol

The winner is.....

MICHELLE!

Congrats Michelle....email me your address and I'll get Color Me Company to mail our your pillowcase!

Don't forget you can use code colormelovesmoms to save 20% off your order!

=)

Friday Fragments 2.6.09

• OMG people...you MUST checkout this blog: Cake Wrecks. It's freakin hilarious and I had tears running down my face from laughing so hard at so many of the cakes on there. This one had my giggling all the way to the bus stop for some reason! Seriously funny sh&t! Bookmark it and also check them out on Facebook!
  
• I'm very happy with myself and my gym commitment! I've gone every single weekday (and even on the weekend a few times). Very unhappy that the scale isn't really moving like I thought it would. But I must be patient I'm told. =)
• I'm taking the kids to Disney on Ice on Monday. I think they will like it! I have a feeling the best part of the trip for my 2yo will be him taking the "big bus" into Boston!
• I'm in such a dinner rut! I need some new "basic" recipes please!!! Crock pot recipes would be great too!
• Anyone else on Facebook addicted to their Scavenger Hunt and Hatchlings? It's one of the first things I do every morning! I even put a "nest" here on my blog. Don't blame me if you do get addicted....
  
• Today's the last day to enter my giveaway! I have ONE entry as I write this....she's one lucky gal if no one else enters!
  

What the heck is with....

....all the fake american accents? Everytime I see one of my favorite actors being interviewed, I'm shocked at their non-american accent! And amazed that they really don't sound "American"!

Take Hugh Laurie on House. The first time I heard him talk while not on the show, I couldn't believe it was him. He has a British accent!

Simon Baker (left) on the Mentalist is a hottie! But when I heard him with his Australian accent...it just didn't do it for me. So I'll just stick with watching him on his show!

The latest dude-with-an-accent-I-didn't-know-about is that guy on Life On Mars, Jason O'Mara. He's got a bit of an Irish brogue, lass. Never would have known!

Another hottie that I love to watch do those sex scenes act is Julian McMahon (right) on Nip/Tuck. He can come visit me any time. He's another one with an Australian accent. You'd never know it watching him on the show. Although even if he did speak with the accent...I'm not so sure I'd notice...I'd be too busy drooling.

Color me some fun (and a giveaway!)

I got these great cards in the mail last week from Color Me Company. When I opened them, my daughter (the artist) immediately grabbed them from me to check them out. They are blank inside and have an outline on the front for the kids to color in (and even came with 4 crayons). The kids can totally customize them however they want for any occasion! My daughter immediately started coloring them and was pondering who she should send her creations to.

Color Me Company not only sells cards but they have tshirts, pillowcases and seasonal items for your little artist to customize. What a great way to have your kids send a personal item to grandma that they "made" themselves! They "combine the thoughtfulness of a greeting card and the fun of a coloring book." Yea...my daughter was hooked!

You know what else really caught my eye? Their "giving is good" philosophy: Ten percent of their gross proceeds are donated to a charity. AND...you get to choose which charity when you checkout from a drop down list! How cool is that?

Another cool thing is that all the artwork is actually drawn by kids and you can actually submit your child's artwork to be considered on their products! I love how their products foster kids creativity. Any of their items would be great at a birthday party, a slumber party, your scouts meeting or as a gift!

The Color Me Company is generously giving away a Horse Pillowcase for one lucky reader! All you need to do is visit their website and let me know what you like about their products in a comment. You can Twitter this post and leave a comment for an additional entry. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment for an additional entry! You have until 11:59pm February 6th to enter....I'll post the winner on February 7th!

If you don't win....don't cry! You can still order anything off their website and save 20% using code colormelovesmoms!

Come over from Rocks In My Dryer? This is what works for me today!

What do you call them?

Your kids that is! Do you shorten your kids names to a nickname? Or do you still refer to them by their *long* name? I ask because with my daughter Madelyn....I always refer to her as "Maddie" when I talk about her or write about her. But I never CALL her that...she's always Madelyn. So I think it's odd that I do that!

I always refer to Lucas as Lucas. But in person I call him Lukey with the occasional Lucas. Friends call him Luke. (We also call him Tank!)

EJ's real name is Eric. But since that's also hubby's name, he's always been EJ. E and J.....no nicknames for that right? Wrong! My husband and some of his friends call him Eeg (Eej?)...I don't even know how to spell it! (and it really annoys me to do E.J. No periods in there please...just EJ)

So I guess no matter what the kids name is...there's always a "shorter" version of it!