Sometimes a Gentle Reminder Of What Could Have Been Is a Good Thing...

It is amazing how time changes things, very few things remain unchanged with time.
I was reminded last night how much EVERYTHING for me has changed in the last 8-ish years. I got a message from an old friend, a friend who has been through a lot with me. In the message she said that she is glad she found me still alive and actually doing good. That statement kind of took my breath away.
Had God not changed my life, I probably would not be alive today. If I were to still be alive in the life I was living, I can guarantee you that there are very few people who would consider me to be doing good.
I needed that reminder. The reminder of how awesome God it. How He can change anything, if we let Him. How much He blesses me with - I have an amazing husband and three daughters and actually have relationships with my family members.
Something that my pastor said in church this Sunday was that whatever we are going through now, God is using to prepare us for what will come next. I think that I appreciate my life now and the people in it more because of my past. I am not sure if that makes much sense, but it is true.
Looking at my life right now, things don't seem so bad. My little gripes about things, seem less important...

Have you had any gentle reminders, that seem to come at just the right time, to help put things in perspective?
Have a Blessed Day!!

It's December Already??

My, oh my, time sure flies! It is already December!

My little Emily is going to be turning 5 on December 6 - she is almost ready to start school. I am not sure if I am ready for it, but this marks a BIG milestone in our lives.

It is the third of December, that means that Christmas is creeping up on us in just over 3 weeks, eek! For us Chirstmas is going to be a little different this year. On December 21 the girls and I are leaving to go to Montana. Zack has been there for a few months now and we are ready to be together as a family again.

I know that things have been few and far between around here, but I have been busy with school and packing. Ok, not as much packing as I should be doing, but what can I say, it is seriously crazy in our house. We have a total of ten, yes TEN, people living here right now. As much as I enjoy having the company, I am going to love the peace and quite when life gets back to normal...or maybe I will miss it, who really knows!

Affordable and reliable ... TracFone

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone. All opinions are 100% mine.
Value
Cell phones can be ridiculously expensive themselves, not to mention outrageous monthly plan rates. In the past I have had issues with overage charges and crazy fees, but with TracFone there is none of that! With TracFone you buy your phone -- for very reasonable prices! -- and you pay as you go. There are minute cards that start under ten dollars!!
One of my favorite features of the TracFone "plans" is that you can purchase what is called "double minutes for the life of your phone" for only $19.99, and some of the phones come with it automatically. That means that if you are out of minutes and only have ten or twenty dollars, you can not only get minutes, but get double the minutes that you are paying for!! nice way to stretch a dollar, huh!?
With school back in full swing, it is nice to be able to get a hold of the student in your life - or if you are the student knowing that you can have a cell phone for more than just emergencies without breaking the bank with TracPhone. TracFone has great reception and connectivity where ever you are!
If you have friends and/or family in other countries you will love that you can call them for the same price as any other call!! A unique feature of TracFone is that with the International Neighbors program, your friends and family in both Canada and Mexico can call your TracFone using a number that is local to them!!
Here are some short videos for you to check out and see more benefits of TracFone, enjoy!

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Wordless Wednesday - Tea Party Time!! {{linky}}

Every year when Uncle Blake comes to visit he ends up having a tea party with the girls, this year was no exception!

Hope you have a great Wednesday! Link up your posts below:

SwagBucks - Halloween Collector Bills - Collect & Earn!

SwagBucks is great any day! You search, earn, win, and spend without paying a dime!
There are times when SwagBucks is even better than their regular wonderfulness, one of those times is happening right now!! While you are searching, you can earn collector bills.

There are five Halloween-themed SwagBucks that are randomly awarded FOR SEARCHES! If you are able to collect all five varieties, you will be awarded an extra 13 Swag Bucks!!
You don't have to try to remember each collectible buck that you earn, you can just log into the "My Swag Bucks" area under your account. :)
If you have not signed up for SwagBucks, what are you waiting for?? Click here and sign up to start earning now and you will receive 30 SwagBucks for signing up!!

Winner!!!

Congratulations to @CallieNicole7 who is the winner of the My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software!!

For anyone else who is interested in digital scrapbooking or know someone who is and think it would make a great Christmas gift, the coupon code STMMMS71005 will give you $10 off the purchase price of the My Memories Suite software and will also give you a $10 credit in the My Memories store (where there are many beautiful packages!!)

Wordless Wednesday - A Reason To Wash Your Produce {{Linky}}

I bought some raspberries to make jam the other day, and when I was washing them I found this little guy:

Yes, it is a snail...on the raspberry. No, I'm not adding it to the jam!! :) No extra protein needed!!

If you have a Wordless Wednesday and would like to leave a link, please do so below!!
Have a blessed day!

Quest For Zhu -- The New Zhu Zhu Pet Movie!!

We love ZhuZhu pets, seriously there are more squeaky little hamsters with attitude running around my house than there are children! So naturally, when we were given the opportunity to get the movie and have a little premier party, my kids were ecstatic!!

Synopsis of Quest For Zhu:
The heartwarming tale of four lively young teens (who just happen to be hamsters) on a quest to find the Palace of Zhu, where they believe all their dreams will come true. Join the feisty and lovable Pipsqueak as she gets swept away to the other side of the Zhuniverse. On her adventure, she befriends Chunk, Num Nums and Mr. Squiggles, and when they arrive at the Palace of Zhu, they realize it is just the beginning of their remarkable journey. A mean-spirited and controlling reptilian creature, Mezhula, tries to stand in the way of making all of their dreams come true but, by working together, our true Zhu heroes save the day! Pipsqueak realizes she already had everything she ever dreamed of and all she really wants is to find a way back home.

For our party we were sent a copy of the DVD The Quest For Zhu, some limited-edition figurines, posters, twizzlers, and some fun themed recipes and games. We decided that we were going to have "Pipsqueaks Pizza Bar" at our party, and we each got to make our own pizza -- ok, the kids each got to make their own half! It was fun!!

We also made "Quest For Zhu Kettle Corn" and that went over very well, with us all!!! It was a great treat while we were enjoying the movie!

The kids and I had a couple friends over and everyone enjoyed the movie! The kids who were watching the movie ranged in age from about 2 to 6. A couple parts of the movie could be considered "scary" if you have a fairly sensitive child, but overall it was a great family friendly movie. There is a great theme to the movie -- the power is inside of you! Throughout The Quest For Zhu the hampsters, Pipsqueak, Chunk, Num Nums, and Mr. Squiggles learn some valuable lessons while having fun. A couple of times in the movie there are some songs, which my kids are very into! The music videos can be found on the menu at the end of the movie as well.

One of my daughter's favorite things about The Quest For Zhu is the music videos - she likes to dance along with the "hams." I think it's super cute!! Here is Emily's thoughts that she would like to share on The Quest For Zhu:


This movie comes out on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 (tomorrow!!)
I am sure that you will be able to find it at your favorite store, or you can preorder/order it from Amazon now! If you have little kids or any zhu-natics(!) this would definitely be a great movie for you....or a great Christmas gift!


Disclosure: I was sent a movie party pack and received products for free to host this party. All opinions are mine/ours.

Thank you for stopping by, have a blessed day!!

Wordless Wednesday -- DIY Pizza Bar!! {{with Linky!}}

Last night we had a movie premier party for the new Zhu Zhu pet movie The Quest for Zhu! For dinner with the movie we had a DIY pizza bar, it was actually quite fun!!

Link up your WW post to share below:


If this is your first time here, or if you are not signed up for my updates, feel free to sign up for email updates or subscribe to my RSS feed in the right side bar, and then come back tomorrow to see some fun pictures and more from the Zhu Zhu party! Also since you are here, check out my giveaway for My Memories - an award winning digital scrapbooking software!

This Is What I Want For My Children, What About You?

We need to teach our daughters to distinguish between a man who flatters her and a man who compliments her, a man who spends money on her and a man who invests in her, a man who views her as property and a man who views her properly, a man who lusts after her and a man who loves her, a man who believes he is God's gift to women and a man who remembers that a woman was God's gift to man.

This was one of the many random facebook statuses that get posted, reposted, and posted some more. But it was one that really spoke to me. I want this for my daughters (in 35 years, lol!!)! When it is time for them to start thinking about guys, dating, marriage (wow!) I want them to find someone who treats them properly, loves them, compliments and invests (time, energy, emotions, etc) in them, and who always remembers that they are a blessing from God. I also pray that my daughters are raised to reciprocate all of those things. If I ever had a boy, I would want him to be like the man described above.

Just thought I would share this with all of you... Just in case some day one of my daughters meet your son. LOL, I am kidding! :) 

Easy, Fun Digital Scrapbooking *~*Review and Giveaway!*~*

I love pictures - I love taking them, seeing them, arranging and displaying them. When I was contacted by My Memories to review and host a giveaway of their award winning digital scrapbook software, I was thrilled.
I have always wanted to really get into scrapbooking because I think it is a fun and beautiful way to preserve memories, but have never really gotten into it as much as I would have liked. Digital scrapbooking, I like much better - it seems easier for me.

With the My Memories Suite I was able to start creating amazing pages in minutes. There are so many designs and layouts that you can use or create your own with tons of layouts, pages, designs, embellishments, etc. You can also add to your collection from the My Memories Store - there are many designs that are free and others that are very reasonably priced!
In addition to creating scrapbooks you can also create note cards, calenders, and many other items. It truly is fun and the possibilities are endless. I have included a couple of the first pages that I have created. It was easy to do because there is a help feature that will walk you through how to create exactly what you want.

**Giveaway**

I am very excited to be able to share this great software with you by offering one lucky follower their very own copy of My Memories Suite!! In order to win this giveaway you must be a public GFC follower of this blog! If you are not a GFC follower, you can become one in the box on the top right side of my page!
To enter to win, please leave a separate comment below for each of the following entries, #1 is required and must be completed before the other entries will count. :)
#1 - Visit My Memories and tell me a design that you like!
#2 Like my blogs FB page - can be done on the right sidebar. Leave your FB name in your comment so I can verify please.
#3Like My Memories on Facebook, while you are there you can tell them you are coming from Prov 31 Mom & Wife! ;)
#4 Follow me on twitter, can also be done on the right sidebar
#5 Follow My Memories on twitter
#6 Tweet about this giveaway, you can get a daily entry for tweeting. Please leave the URL to your tweet in your comment, thanks! Sample tweet :

Amazing digi-scrapbooking software giveaway @tinymansmom @mymemoriessuite Easy entries!! http://bit.ly/pmHNf6

#7 You can get an extra entry for commenting on other posts, just let me know what posts you commented on!
#8 Share this giveaway on ANY other forum, just leave a link so that I can verify it. Unlimited entries for sharing!
 If you would like to purchase My Memory Suite, you can do so here I have a coupon code for you that will save you $10 off the purchase price and will give you $10 to spend in the My Memories store!! The code is : STMMMS71005 (feel free to copy and paste!!) If you do purchase a copy, you can email me (kat.brandenburg@gmail.com) your confirmation email for 5 extra entries into this giveaway - this would make an A-Maz-Ing Christmas gift!!

Good Luck to everybody. This contest will close at 10 PM PST on September 30, 2011 and a winner will be announced shortly after that! I will use the random integer generator at random.org to select the winner!

Disclosure: I was provided a product free of charge to review. All opinions are mine, you may have different experiences with the same product.

A Late Wordlesss Wednesday -- Come Check It Out Anyway!!

Have a beautiful day!!

Thinking Christmas?! A great gift idea for the toddler in your life!!

It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas, right?! Ok, well I am not to Christmas yet - all of my kids have birthdays from August through December so I am still more "birthday-minded." I was looking today for something fun for Emily, who will be 5 soon. I came across a great game for the Wii --
Nickelodeon has a Fit game for kids, with characters they know and love. I think this is great, especially during winter months when the kids dont get outside as often to play. There is even a cute little child friendly Wii remote and nunchuck!

Amazon's (HOT!) Deal Of The Day

There are some shows that  I like to watch and some that I like to have the seasons on DVD so I can watch them any time!

Today's Amazon deal of the day is many TV Show Seasons under $12 you can get any (or all) of seasons 1-7 of House for only $9.99 in regular def or $11.99 in HD - these are digital downloads, not DVDs!! There are some other titles as well, you can see them all by clicking the link above!!

A look back to #TheDayBabyWasBorn

December 5, 2006 started out like any other day, progressed like any other day, it really was like any other day – until about 8:45 that night, then it all changed. I was two days past my due date and was sure that my baby girl was as stubborn as her mama and was staying right where she was FOREVER… as it turns out, I have never been happier to be wrong!
I was on the phone with my Oma and was telling her good night. I brushed my teeth and was getting ready for bed when my water broke. At first I wasn’t sure what was going on. I always envisioned “water breaking” to be like a giant water balloon popping and a bunch of water and then it’s over – well it didn’t take too long for my husband and I to realize that is not how it happens at all. As soon as we agreed that my water broke, we called labor and delivery at the hospital (like they told us in the classes) and got our bag packed and went to the hospital.
It was right around 10:30 when I was admitted and it took forever for labor to progress – I mean forever! I got an epideral, which is something that I was unsure about until I felt the pain of strong contractions. My husband, mom, mother-in-law, and sister were all waiting for me to finally have the baby, it was comical.
At 12:12 pm on December 6, 2006 my first beautiful, precious baby was born. Emily Felicitas came into this world and seeing her for the first time, holding MY BABY for the first time…there is nothing better in this world!
There are many things I remember about that day. The weather was cold, it was snowing and we could see the snow flakes falling out of our hospital room. I remember the name of the nurse who helped deliver Emily and who, along with Zack, gave her her first bath. I remember the people who came to meet her in the hospital and the flowers that she received both in the hospital and at home. There is so much that I remember about that day. Sitting here thinking of it as I type this brings it all back, I wish I would have kept a pregnancy journal though, it would be fun to give to the girls later!

Tommee Tippee is a leading brand of infant and toddler feeding and other products. They now offer a great digital storybook called “The Day Baby Was Born” it looks like a great resource to track your pregnancy right up until the day your baby is born!
With The Day Baby Was Born, you can capture some or all of the following, depending on how much time you want to spend:
· Facebook Wall comments and well-wishes by friends and family through pregnancy and birth announcements
· Your pregnancy journal from each week of the journey to the birth day
· News, facts and information from the day your baby was born
· Your personal story and letter to baby to preserve forever the feelings from that day
· It’s is a simple way to create a beautiful record of the world at the moment your baby arrived
Start your own storybook today.

I wish this would have been around while I was pregnant!!
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Tommee Tippee blogging contest for a chance to get a gift pack worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Wordless Wednesday - My baby with Her baby! {linky}

She loves her baby!!

I think that she slept better with that baby than any other nap in a long time!!

If you have a Wordless Wednesday that you'd like to share, come and link up!!

Have a blessed day!

VBS Was Amazing!

This was the first year that my girls were able to go to VBS, and they loved it!! The theme was Hometown Nazareth and they got to go to Mary's house, the marketplace, had fun songs and crafts and got to pray for one of Mary's neighbors who did not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. It was amazing!!
Here are some pictures of the girls all dressed up for Nazareth!!

On Wednesday nights our church has a missionary themed program for the kids during the summer. Emily loves to pray for the unreached people and for those whose hearts need to be softened. At VBS when they prayed for Agnus (Mary's neighbor) it seemed to really bring the point home to Emily that we should be praying for lots of people, some right here not just those in distant and remote places. I think of everything that the kids learned while attending VBS, this was the most important!

Did your kids go to VBS this summer? What did you/they enjoy most about it?

I just watched my husband leave...

With the car packed full of as much as it can be, I just watched my husband drive away. Up until last night when we were loading the car with a table, clothes, food, a few pots & pans, other kitchen gadgets, and the fireworks we have that we can't light off here, up until that point all of this seemed a little different. Now, as I watched my husband drive away, knowing that it could be four months until we see him again, I just want to cry. BUT I am not going to - not now.
This is a separation that will be good for our family in the long run. Zack starts his new job in a couple of days so he has to be there now. For the girls and me to stay and finish this semester, it will make getting into the nursing program at MSUB a lot easier and I won't have to retake any of my classes. I keep reminding myself that it will be worth it!
If you could please keep Zack in your thoughts and prayers, as he is driving 14.5 hours today and then just a few hours tomorrow, I would be so thankful!

Wordless Wednesday - A Scrapbook Page For My Dad {{Linky}}

I created this digital scrapbook page of our trip to my dad's house in Montana this summer using MyMemories Suite - it's awesome! If you like digital scrapbooking make sure you sign up for my feeds, email updates, or just keep coming back because I will be giving away a copy of this software soon! 

If you have a Wordless Wednesday that you'd like to share link it up below!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Blowing out the 1st candle! {{linky}}

Olivia turned one on August 2!

This was her birthday cake for her actual birthday - I will post pics from her birthday dinner/party later!

Come link up your WW!

Get a $10 CVS Gift Card For Only $6! Today Only!

Saveology is a new daily deal website, similar to Groupon. If you have never used Saveology before, then you are going to love the deal they have today exclusively for first time users! Today's National deal allows you to buy a $10 CVS gift card for only $6! That is a 40% savings before you even walk in the dook at CVS - think of the amazing ways to use this with your ECBs, coupons, and the sale prices to maximize your value!!

Time For Change

No, it's not a political slogan...all though that is a whole separate post...My husband and I have been talking about moving to Montana for a long time. In fact, when he proposed to me I told him that I was going to live in Montana and that he could take back the marriage proposal if he didn't want to move. Our original plan was to move to Montana before our first daughter was born. Well that all happened over five years ago, I guess that was not God's timing for us to move.
Last week my husband got a call from a company that he had been talking with and they offered him a job...starting in just over 2 weeks! We have been praying about moving for so long, and this door opening up for us is amazing. Soon my husband will be leaving and the girls and I will be staying in our home until we get it rented out, then we too will be off to Montana!
I am really very excited, this is a whole new start for us. While it is exciting, it is also quite scary. We are moving to Billings - a city that my husband and I know fairly little about. I anticipate many wonderful things. One of the greatest things about us moving is that our oldest daughter, Emily, will be able to be off of her daily medication because her allergies did not bother her at all when we were in Montana before!
I have so much to do to get ready, I am not sure where to start. OK, that is not entirely true - I know firsthand how cold a Montana winter is, so I started by buying Olivia her first pair of snow boots today, one size bigger than her feet are now!!! I am going to love this!!!!!

Make Diaper changing Fun & Easy with #SlipOnHuggies !!

When I first heard that Huggies came up with a slip-on diaper, I was curious. Now that I have seen them, I am ecstatic! Olivia just turned one last week, and she is a squirmy little lady when it comes to diaper changing. We never really had any problems with her being a little wiggle worm until she started becoming more mobile, then she didn’t want to stop for much of anything. Now that she is running – or at least her version of running – around there is no such thing as a nice, calm and still diaper change!

The biggest thing that we have going in our favor at diaper times is that we have had plenty of experience so we can change a diaper fairly quickly. The faster the better…as long as it’s on the correct way!

Another thing that we have done in the past is to take the baby somewhere quite, where there is not a lot going on. Minimizing the distractions makes the chances of our sweet baby turning into a squirmy go down at least a little. J Unfortunately, with big sisters around who want to be a part of everything, there is not always a place to go where distractions are few – at least in our house.

I cannot stand to use the strap on the baby changing stations in public restrooms – they are plain old nasty to me, so that is not one of my suggestions. In place of using the strap, I have found that keeping one hand on the baby’s tummy helps keep her in place and not moving. I am not sure if she stays still because my hand is holding her, or that she gets interested in playing with my fingers and forgets about moving – either way, mission accomplished!

Whatever method I use to making diaper changing easy, there will always be times when nothing is going to work. I am so glad that there is relief in sight with new Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers! All you have to do is get the baby, wipe ‘em clean and slip on a new diaper. Sounds easy right – so easy that if your little ball of energy decides they are not going to hang out and stay still for a diaper change, you just have to catch them and slip the diaper on and they are off to play, explore, and have a good time! I know that this will make Olivia happier to get a new diaper.

And as an added bonus, the little guys and gals who have already figured out how to take their diapers off will have to learn something new before their little bottom gets out of the new diapers!!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Huggies blogging program, for a gift card worth $35. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Wordless Wednesday: My Soccer Diva {{linky}}

Emily started soccer camp this week, we weren't sure how she was going to like it, but it seems that as long as she can wear pink and have a pink soccer ball she's all for it!!

If you have a WW on your blog, link up so I can come check it out too!!

Heathy tips for back to school #transitionslenses

Even though we all try to keep our children healthy all the time, summer tends to bring with it some less healthy habits – more snacking, video games, playing on the computer. Fortunately, there are also many opportunities for fun outdoor exercise to balance out those other things!

As everyone starts thinking about getting ready for back to school, we might also be thinking about starting some new healthy habits for our little ones. Here is a list of a few of my ideas to get the kids healthy and thinking “healthier” for back to school!

**Healthy Snacks** Forget about the Twinkies and Oreos, no more cookies and cupcakes! Think of healthy fun snacks like carrot and celery sticks – what?? Those don’t sound fun to you?? Add a small container of ranch for dipping and – viola – it’s fun!

**Go for a walk!** Even if it is just to the mailbox and back, get moving! Pretty soon the kids will be asking to go a little farther each day, go with it! Who knows, you might even meet some new friends walking around the block!

**Be involved!** There is always something for kids to be involved in – sports change each season, they are sure to like something! And then there are things like dancing, gymnastics, and music that are generally available year round. Not only is there the added benefit of the exercise, but it is also an opportunity for the kids to practice listening, paying attention, practicing, and more.

**Crank up the music!!** Nothing like a great cd playing while you guys dance around the house, having fun and burning a few calories. As an added bonus, there are also giggles sure to be included!!

**Chores** I know, it’s not any child’s favorite. Again, however, it helps the kids learn responsibility…and it helps mom out too!

**Read** Reading is not actually a physical activity – incase you were wondering – but it is a great activity for your brain! Besides, reading something that the kids enjoy outside of school reinforces that books are not just for school.

**Make your own lunch** School lunches are convienent sometimes, but when you make your kids lunch – you are in control of what food groups and portions your child is given. Besides, you can add a little love note from mom!

**Ditch the soda** Water, milk, and juice are all so much healthier for the kids – and for us! Not only will it cut out a bunch of sugar and calories, but it will make the dentist happy too!!

**Keep an open mind** Let the kids pick things that they want to do, you might be surprised at what they choose. I have found that when the kids are in on the decision making, they are more into it!

**Try new things** You don’t know if you are going to like something until you try it! This applies to everything – healthy foods, sports, exercises, activities, etc. We are trying soccer for the first time tonight for our four year old. She has everything pink that she needs and now is excited so we will see how it goes!!

About Transitions Optical, Inc.Transitions Optical is a joint venture of PPG Industries, Inc. and Essilor International. The first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990, today the company is a leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers worldwide. Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names.
Transitions® lenses are the ideal everyday choice for healthy sight. They are clear indoors and at night. Outdoors, they automatically darken as light conditions change. Transitions lenses provide visual comfort, and enhance visual quality by reducing glare and enhancing contrast, helping you to see better today. Transitions lenses block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays – helping to protect the health and wellness of your eyes – so you can see better tomorrow as well. More info on Transitions Lenses: www.transitions.com

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Transitions Lenses blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Save Big on Your Cell Bill With Straight Talk

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
When you have your cell phone service through one of the leading carriers that require that you sign up and sign a two year contract, you are paying too much!! Straight Talk is a no contract cell service provider that offers a couple of great price plans - either $30 or $45 a month depending on your usage needs. Think of how much money you could be saving!!
Some of the things that I like best about the Straight Talk plans is that there are a variety of phones in every budget and that you can buy your minutes when you can afford them. I also love that the mobile web (and navigation on applicable phones) is included in the price and is unlimited -- that is a huge extra charge with most of the other carriers.

What is included with Straight Talk??
*411 calling at no additional charge
*Calls, texting, picture texting, and web are all included in the monthly plan
*No activation, disconnect, or overage fees -- EVER!!


There are a variety of phones available, with reconditioned phones with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability starting at only $10. There are also Smartphone available -- touch screen and app capable phones!
Here are some You Tube videos for you to check out if you would like to learn a little more about Straight Talk's services, benefits, and prices:
Scott, a member of the Straight Talk Fantasy Fishing Team tells how much he is saving! hook, line and sinker
If you are in need of international long distance, you will love this! call a friend
An example of the amazing Smartphones offered. everything you need

If you have heard of Stratght Talk before and were just skeptical, or were waiting for your current contract to end to make the switch, think about this: the amount of money that you will be saving will cover the cost of the disconnect fee quickly -- especially if you use the web, texting, and apps on your phone. Straight Talk is available exclusively at Walmart, so what are you waiting for?!!

Swag Code Extravaganza Today!!

There is a Swag Code Extravaganza today!! That means that through out the day today there will be multiple Swag Codes, and if you were to get all of them then you would get an EXTRA 50 SwagBucks!! If you are not sure about what Swag Codes are or how to redeem them, check this out!

I am a huge fan of Swag Bucks. I was a bit sceptical at first - why would I be able to get gift cards for free just for searching, playing games, taking a fun daily poll, etc. I have been using Swag Bucks for quite a few months now, and am not skeptical any more!! I have been able to get quite a few Amazon gift cards -- totally free!
So, if you are not yet a member of SwagBucks, now is the time to start earning. The search results are as good as Google, even better when you figure you are earning rewards for searching!!

Good luck with the Swag Code Extravaganza today! If any of you get all the codes, comment here and let me know!!

How important is education to you?

A startling statistic: Every nine seconds of each school day one young person drops out of high school in the United States. According to my calculations, in an 8 AM to 3 PM school day, 2800 kids drop out of high school each day! That seriously breaks my heart. Knowing how important education is to each individual's future as well as the future of our nation, I want to know what can be done about this. More personally, what can I do to  help?

Well, thanks to Procter & Gamble's new campaign GIVE Education, I can do something simple to help - and so can you! There are a couple of ways we can help:
**Each month P&G releases a brandSAVER in the Sunday newspaper. The P&G brandSAVER released July 31 is a special one -- for each coupon that is redeemed, P&G will donate two cents to Communities In Schools! There is no cap on the amount that P&G are willing to donate - the more we save and redeem, the more they donate.
** Watch an exclusive video from John Legend on Facebook. For each view P&G will donate 25 cents, up to $10,000 to CIS.
Here is a little more about the GIVE Education campaign:

P&G’s new campaign, GIVE Education, will increase awareness of the student dropout crisis in the U.S. and raise funds to help keep millions of students in school. By partnering with Communities In Schools (CIS), one of the nation’s leading dropout prevention organizations, and one that is proven to increase graduation rates and decrease dropout rates, GIVE Education will enable CIS to continue channeling much-needed resources to students who are at greatest risk of dropping out.
P&G has improved life for more than 300 million children around the world and focused its efforts on helping children in need get off to a healthy start, receive access to education and build skills for life. GIVE Education will enable P&G to touch even more lives by bringing together the power of P&G's education commitment and reach, CIS's innovative programs, and Grammy Award-winning recording artist and philanthropist John Legend's passion for education.

FREE Freschetta By The Slice Pizza Event!!

As a Freschetta Fresh Connections blogger, I get to bring you some great news! Freschetta wants everyone to be able to try their {fairly} new pizza by the slice, so they are having a free pizza even on August 4th.

Starting at 11 AM Central time Thursday August 4th --that's 9 AM here in the Pacific time zone-- head on over to score some FREE Freschetta by the slice coupons on their FreeFreschetta site. Mike, your "free pizza concierge" will be giving away 5,000 free slices of pizza every half hour! There will also be fun, interactive games where you can win additional coupons! Sounds great, right!? Well, if you are like me you might forget a few hours after reading this post, eek! Freschetta thought about that too, just head on over to the and sign up for an email reminder that you will get August 4th!! Nice work Freschetta!!

If you'd like a little more info, check this out:

My kids' unique styles #jcpback2school

When it comes to style in my house, we have some similarities and some major differences with the girls. I think that all kids have their own styles and I enjoy letting my children explore and develop their own styles, as long as I find them to be appropriate! I am going to tell you a little bit about Emily’s style and Natalie’s as well.

Emily is my girly-girl. She loves just about anything pink and if it sparkles she likes it even better. Lately, she has been in this stage where she only wants to wear dresses. She loves them! So, of course, we have quite a few pink dresses in the laundry room at any given time!! J

She is learning to compromise and wear skorts and even shorts and pants (gasp!) when she needs to. Emily is my kid who loves to match and will literally show her dad why certain clothes do not match! I love it!

Accessories are a must with Emily! She loves to spruce up her outfits with bracelets, necklaces, earrings, purses, and sunglasses! She tells me that she wants me to add sparkles to some of her clothes, so when she gets a bit older I can totally see her altering her clothes to fit her eccentric style! I honestly can’t wait! I love it!!

Natalie is not that extreme, all though she does like to wear dresses too! A few weeks ago we went and got the girls some new dresses and as soon as we got home they needed to change – of course!! Natalie put on one of her new dresses, followed by her bib overalls! She prefers purple and blue to pink, so I get to shop in multi colors, which makes it more fun for me!!

In the stores, when Natalie sees a shirt or some other clothing that she likes, she could not care less whether it is in the girls’ section or the boys’. It was really funny at first having two children whose tastes n clothing were so different, but it has been fun to watch! Natalie is now in the stage where she wants to be more like her older sister in every way … including choices of clothes!

As the girls get older, I look forward to seeing in what ways their personal styles change…and seeing if I am right about Emily wanting to alter or design her own clothes!!

What about you, does your child have their own unique style that you would like to share?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and jcpenney blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Do everything in love!

Do everything in love.
This is a concept that seems so simple, yet can be so difficult at times. At least for me.
Being a stay at home wife and mother is one of the most rewarding positions that I have ever had. I get to teach my children and instill in them the values that my husband and I choose, I get to be here for all of the milestones, I have a little window into their minds when I watch them play! There are so many blessings that come with staying home and raising a family.
There are also so many thankless tasks that need to be done. It is so easy to complain when I am starting the third load of laundry in a day, or doing the dishes again, making beds, etc. Really, it is easy to grumble and complain -- mostly in my head!
When I remember that God wants us to do all things in love (1 Corinthians 16:14) it helps me to find enjoyment in the things that I do. I am happy to teach the kids how to make their beds, even though I sometimes have to re-make them. When I am doing the dishes or cleaning up, cooking dinner or dealing with cranky children, and I do it thinking of the love I have for my family, it doesn't seem like so much of a chore any more. Now my prayer is to continue to think of the love that I have to give because of the love Christ has for me!
I wish you all a great day and that you would reflect upon the love of Christ and how when we show that love in our lives how it makes us feel better and those around us too!
Be blessed!

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

I absolutely love this!



Olivia and Papa
"buds"

Ten Time Savings Tips including the #StarbucksApp

As a mother of three small children, four years old and under, I know that every second counts in a day. There are many days that seem to fly without half of what needs to get done being done. I am sure that I am not the only one who wishes there were a few more hours in the day, but since that is completely out of our control, I would like to offer ten time saving tips to make your busy life as a mom a bit easier!

1. Get organized and then stay organized. There is nothing worse than being in hurry and not knowing where everything is that you need. The one thing that I am absolutely horrible with is my key ring. I have been trying, and doing pretty well, to always put my keys on the key rack. Seriously, organization makes a huge difference when it comes to saving time.
2. Keep healthy snacks easily accessible. One thing that I have started doing is buying a large bag of carrots and peeling them and cutting them into carrot sticks and keeping them in a container of water in the fridge to keep them fresh. This saves a lot of time when you or your kids want a little snack – and it promotes healthy eating habits as well.
3. Pick out your outfit for tomorrow tonight! Picking out an outfit to wear and getting it all together for yourself and children is time consuming. Doing it the night before saves that time in the morning.
4. Set your coffee pot the night before and put it on a timer. Not only will this help save a little time in the morning, you will have hot fresh coffee when you wake up! Nice!!
5. When you are going out to go shopping or whatever, have a tentative itinerary. Of course, allow for more or less times at places, but knowing what you want to do and accomplish in a given time sets a pace and saves time.
6. Multitask!! While you are getting the kids breakfast ready and sitting them down at the table do the dishes from making breakfast, while you are talking on the phone pick up the toys, etc. Women are amazing multitaskers!!
7. Cook a little extra when you are making dinner and have enough for leftovers or enough meat to make another, different meal. Cooking once for a few days is a definite way to save time, and money – you are less likely to go out to eat if you have it at home!
8. When you are going grocery shopping, make your list ahead of time and get whatever coupons you will be using together with your lists. This saves tons of time and makes check out a breeze! I still bring the rest of my coupons with me too, just in case I deviate from my list!
9. Schedule playtime, especially during busy days. Kids need time to unwind and be kids! When you give them the play time they are less likely to have melt downs while they are doing your stuff with you.
10. Most of the grocery stores that I shop at have loyalty cards, I find that it saves time to use my phone number as opposed to having to dig around and find the card that goes with the store. On the other side, make sure you use the same phone number or it takes more time!

Starbucks has made it easy and fast for you when you go get your favorite drink. Here is some information on how to save time using your smart phone at Starbucks:
Starbucks for Android™ and the Starbucks Card Mobile App for BlackBerry®, iPhone® or iPod® Touch have five core features:

• Pay with your phone: Enjoy the fastest, more convenient way to pay at nearly 9,000 Starbucks locations. Just download the app, enter your Starbucks Card number, scan and go.
• Manage your card account: Access your Starbucks Card balance directly from your phone.
• Reload your card balance: Use your smartphone to reload your Starbucks Card using any major credit card.
• Check your My Starbucks Rewards status: Find out how close you are to earning your next free drink.
• Find nearby Starbucks stores: Save time by finding a Starbucks store near you.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Do you have a GPS?? Great deals on a few, looking for advice!

We are getting ready to go to Montana in about two weeks. I am pretty sure that it is a route that I could drive in my sleep -- for the most part. {that was a slight exaggeration, I don't drive while I sleep} Zack and I have been talking about getting a GPS. I have been looking at them and researching them for a while now. I have my eye on two and am looking for any advice and experiences that might help us select a user-friendly, efficient GPS. Here are the ones that I have been thinking about - they have smokin' hot deals on them on Amazon too!!


Honestly, I am not sure what the big difference is between these two. We have also heard good things about the Garmin nüvi 1300LM 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map Updates. I think that any of these three will be a great choice. I think that since they are all so similar, we will probably end up going with the cheapest of the three. If you have suggestions or advice I would love to hear it! Thanks!!

Wordless Wednesday -- Peach, Blueberry, and Blackberry Cobbler -- LINKY

Summer time means fresh berries and fruit!! I saw this recipe on Guy's Big Bite and knew that I had to make this cobbler. It smells so good. It literally just came out of the oven - I'll let you know how it was later!!


If you have a Wordless Wednesday and want to link up, do so below!
Have a blessed day!!

Wordless Wednesday -- Katrina Versus Weeds {{linky}}

The other day, the girls and I decided to take a walk to the mailbox. When we were almost home I asked if anyone wanted to pull weeds for a few minutes. Emily got excited and wanted to have a weed-pulling party -- everything is more fun when it's a party, right?!? Anyways I got into it, and quite a while later was wore out. Here is what happened:

I pulled a lot of weeds! The stupid weeds gave me two blisters and a fairly nasty little hole in a part of my finger (cut?) But, I am going to claim the victory for this round!

Weeds:0  Katrina:1

Check back later for an updated score!!

If you have a Wordless Wednesday that you would like to share, please link up below!

Some *cute* Father's Day printable coloring sheets!!

What daddy doesn't want something that their kid(s) made or colored for them?? I don't know any! Here are some cute Father's Day printables from Kiboomu.com. To print them, just click on the image and it will enlarge and is ready to be printed, colored, and given to daddy!!

Enjoy!!

Father's Day is June 19 - Personalized Father's Day cards for only $0.99!!!

If you have ever bought anything from TinyPrints.com you know how amazing both their products and customer service is!! They've got you covered for Father's Day too! You can create personalized (wording, photos, or both) Father's Day cards for only 99 cents when you use the code GC99 !! In fact, I am pretty sure it works on all of the greeting cards.

The cards will ship free to your home with an optional (free) printed addressed envelope that all you have to do is stamp and send, or you can pay the 44 cents for a stamp and TinyPrints will mail it to the recipient for you -- you select the date they will receive it! Go check it out, click here and go see all that TinyPrints has to offer!!

Disclaimer: The link I provided is my tell-a-pal link and I will get store credit if you order from my link - thanks! :)

Traveling this Summer? Here are some Travel Safety Tips! #SafeliteSafe

In a few weeks the girls and I are going to head out on quite a long drive to Montana. I think that the total miles that will be driven (not including doing stuff while we are there) is somewhere around 2534 miles -- according to MapQuest! We will be spending a lot of time in the van. Thinking of the distance and time that we will be traveling, safety comes to mind.
I am going to share with you ten travel safety tips from me and a few from Safelite AutoGlass.
Here are some safety tips from me:
1. Make sure that your vehicle is all tuned up before you leave. If you need an oil change, go get one - or have your husband do it! :) This is also a great time to check all of your cars fluid levels and top off as needed. <-- I believe that if you get your oil changed at Jiffy Lube they will do this for you.
2. Plan your route ahead of time. Whether you are using MapQuest or some other online mapping site or a paper map, it is good to know the route you will take prior to leaving home. One of the reasons that I like using MapQuest is that some of the driving directions will tell you something like, "If you see Main Street you have gone about 0.1 miles too far." I also like to make sure that there are people who know what routes I am taking and where I plan on stopping - you can never be too safe!
3. When the car is on, wear a seat belt! This seems like such an obvious thing that I should not even bother to mention it, but there are so many people who don't wear their seat belts - it's scary. My philosophy on seat belts -- aside from if you don't wear them you can get a BIG ticket -- is that it is a simple way to ensure safety. I always make my girls buckle up and will continue to as they grow out of car seats, so I need to be a good example by always buckling up myself.
4. When you are traveling with children, PLEASE make sure their car seats fit them correctly. If your child is buckled into a car seat, you should expect that they are safe. However, if the child is not harnessed correctly, they could be very dangerous to the child. Every car seat and booster seat comes with installation and use directions - read them! The level of the straps in relation to the child's shoulders changes with the positioning of the seat - rear facing it should be at or below the shoulder level and at or above in forward facing car seats. The straps should be snug - two fingers should be all that fits between the child and the restraints. The chest clip needs to be at chest level. And a huge safety issue with car seats is that children should not wear jackets in their car seats, put the jacket or a blanket over them after they are buckled if necessary.
5. Be sure that the car seats are properly installed. Again, if the seat is not installed correctly it looses much of the safety value. The owner's manual should give instructions for proper installation. Most towns and cities have a service available to you where a person who is certified in car seat installation will either check the installation or will install the seat for you. Call you local fire department for more information, you can also check with your auto insurance carrier for locations.
6. Know how to change your tire. I hate this, but it is necessary. Even with roadside assistance, there is no guarantee that you will have reception for your cell phone - or what if the battery is dead, etc. Knowing how to change your tire will at least give you the peace of mind that if you need to you will be able to.
7. Keep your cell phone charged. In the event of an emergency (like the one above, or a real medical emergency) you will be able to call for help. Even if you have to keep driving to get reception, you will have the ability to call for help as soon as you get service.
8. Keep water, snacks and activities on hand for the kids and water and a snack for yourself. If you have to stop every time that you hear a little voice tell you that they are thirsty or are hungry or bored, your trip could take considerably longer -- trust me, I know! Keeping some water and maybe some juice and some healthy snacks within reach is always a good idea. For activities, I have a bag for each of the girls with a little bit of coloring activities and a book. Whatever makes life a little easier!
9. Plan on stopping to walk around at least every 4 hours. Getting the blood flowing through your legs and getting some fresh air are always good before getting back in the car. It definitely helps on longer trips.
10. Bring music! Relying on the radio can be ...well, unreliable. We like to listen to Christian music and there is not always a Christian station available. The kids have some CD's that they like and I have some, so bringing a variety keeps us all happy!

A little about Safelite AutoGlass Safelite AutoGlass:
Safelite AutoGlass® was founded in 1947. Throughout our more than 60 years of service, our company has grown from a single store in Wichita, Kansas, to a national auto glass provider, serving nearly 4 million customers per year.

Through industry-leading 24-hour instant scheduling, convenient in-shop or mobile service, top-of-the-line materials and SafeTech™ certified technicians, you'll find that Safelite AutoGlass offers superior customer service, value and quality.
More info: http://www.safelite.com
Follow Safelite on Twitter: @safelite
Safelite on Facebook

Some tips from Safelite AutoGlass:
* Think you can ignore a chip in your windshield? Think again! The windshield provides up to 30% of your vehicles structural integrity, and a chip smaller than 6 inches (or the size of a dollar bill) can easily be repaired by filling it with a special resin.

* With many insurance companies, there is no deductible for the repair.

* Safelite AutoGlass brings you peace of mind by emailing you a Technician Profile before your appointment, showing you a photograph and credentials of the technician coming to your home or place of business.

* Scheduling a windshield chip repair is easy! Companies like Safelite AutoGlass provide mobile service – wherever your car is – often within 24 hours of your initial call.



I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Safelite blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Wordless Wednesday -- Tis The Season, Yum!!

I love this time of year, when all kinds of fresh fruits and veggies are in season. We started this Spring off with a blackberry pie!!

It was delicious! The lattice work on the crust leaves a bit to be desired, but it was my first attempt at it, so not bad! :)

If you have a Wordless Wednesday that you'd like to share, please link to it below:

5 #GreatGetaways Every Kid Should Experience

It is almost Summer, schools are getting out for summer break, and it's time to have some fun! We love taking little trips in the summer -- and in the winter, spring, and fall :) There are so many things to see and do. I have compiled a list of 5 things/places every child should get to experience at least once. So, here it is:

5 Summer Getaways Every Kid Should Have -- at least once :)

* Disneyland *

We have never been able to go yet, but we are planning on going to Disneyland within the next couple of years! There is so much to do for even toddlers as young as two! Some examples of rides and areas a little kid-o would enjoy are It's a Small World (ride), Dumbo the Flying Elephant (ride), the Monorail (ride), Toontown (area), and Redwood Creek Challenge Trail (area.) For bigger kids and adults there is limitless fun to be had. I know that - with all girls - seeing the Disney Princesses is going to be high on the priority list when we get to Disneyland!

* Zoos  *

So far, we have only been to the Sacramento Zoo - a couple of times. The zoo is a great place to take kids - it is educational, exciting, and makes amazing memories! From a fairly young age my kids have been interested in different animals, they see them in stories, in cartoons, etc. Seeing them in a habitat like the ones they would be found in in nature is great for the kids to see. My daughters love the zoo, they could spend a whole day there...OK, my husband and I probably could too!

* Yellowstone National Park *

I have so many memories from my own childhood in Yellowstone National Park. There is so much to see, it is amazing! Old Faithful geyser is awesome - seriously, it inspires awe! As a child I remember standing there just watching it erupt, wanting to stay and watch it again. There are many other geysers in the park as well. The wildlife is beautiful - bison, elk, moose, bears, deer, big horn sheep, and more. I think it is good for children to experience things like this and see how amazing our natural world is!

* Museums *

It seems like almost every where there is a museum relatively close by. Museums offer a wealth of information on the past and on specific topics. There is fun, neat stuff to be seen. There are also children's museums which are tons of fun for the kids. They generally have things for the kids to do, play with, play on, make, etc.

* Ocean *

I think that everybody - child or adult - should go to the ocean, walk on the beach, see an endless expanse of ocean at least once. We love going to California and going to the ocean. One of our favorite things to do is go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. You get to see so much ocean life, there are interactive exhibits, a kids zone and everything! We went out on the ocean last time we went for a whale watching cruise - what an experience! Can't wait to go again when it's a little warmer!! There is so much to do when you are at the ocean, it almost makes you want to pack up and move -- but for now it's just a great summer getaway!

What are some of the summer getaways that you and your family enjoy?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Will you please help me?!?! EASY request - I promise

My Oma entered to win a makeover for her sewing room from Bernina USA. The contest is being held on Facebook and the room with the most votes wins, I believe. f you could help me out by voting for Oma - just once or daily - I would be so appreciative!! To vote, all you have to do is "Like" the Bernina page and click vote - there are no forms to fill out or anything, just click to vote. Here is a link to my Oma's picture - thank you to whoever will take a quick second and vote for her to get a sewing room makeover!!

Mmm, Pasta! A recipe and my "Pasta Personality" #Carrabbas

In my house, we love pasta. Almost any kind of pasta is welcomed by my family. Lately, because it is has been so warm outside, we have enjoyed pasta salad. It is delicious, nutritious, and importantly it is so simple to make! This pasta salad is also a great dish to take to potlucks! I hope that if you try this pasta salad, your family enjoys it as much as mine does!!

Italian-Style Pasta Salad

Ronzoni Garden Delight Rotini - 12 ounce box

2 carrots - julienned

1-2 rib(s) of celery sliced - thin

1/2 can of baby corn - cut into pieces

1/2 cucumber - cut into slices, then cut in half

1/2 pound of cherry tomatoes - cut in half

Your choice of Italian Dressing - to taste

Cook the pasta to el dente, add vegetables and mix. Add dressing (as much or little as you like) and toss to coat. You could top with some fresh grated Parmesan cheese too!

My husband seems to think it would be even better with a little red/purple onion in it...that may be the case, but I can't stand raw onions so I will probably never make it that way!!

Carrabba's is an Italian restaurant that makes every pasta dish by hand! There are more than 230 Carrabba's restaurants nationwide, you can find the one nearest you here. Right now, on the Carrabba's Facebook page, you can take the Pasta Personality Quiz to see which of Carraba's Signature Pasta meals best fits your personality.
So I found the Pasta Personality Quiz that is on Carrabba's Facebook page a little silly and fun! My results...well, my pasta personality is Spaghetti! (I do like spaghetti by the way!)

You’re genuine and well loved, like Carrabba’s Spaghetti and Meatballs. Your warm and comforting personality makes you everybody’s best friend. So go for our equally popular hand-prepared meatballs over perfectly cooked imported spaghetti.

Here are some of the Carrabba's specials right now, they all sound divine! These specials are all good through July 2011!

Featured Signature Pasta Meal:

Pasto Rambo – Named for the chef who created it, it’s made with shrimp tossed with imported Italian linguine, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes sautéed in our basil lemon butter sauce. Lobster is available instead of shrimp for an additional cost.


Other Limited Time Offers:
Parmesan-crusted Chicken – Topped with fresh arugula and grape tomatoes tossed in a hand-prepared lemon vinaigrette, served with choice of side. Substitution of wood-grilled chicken also available. Pairs well with Estancia Pinot Grigio.
Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin – Three pork tenderloin medallions wrapped with prosciutto, wood-grilled and topped with an apple and fig infused port wine sauce, served with the vegetable of the day. Pairs well with Coppola Pinot Noir.
Limoncello Bread Pudding – Back by popular demand! Brioche bread pudding made with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans and a rich custard, served hot out of the oven. Topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and drizzled with Carrabba’s homemade Caravella Limoncello liqueur sauce.

Do you and your family have a favorite pasta dish? If so, feel free to share it here, or link to your own post with a recipe!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Carrabba’s blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here