Celebrating Dad Giveaway Event! {‎#CelebratingDad}

 The Celebrating Dad giveaway event is finally here!

Father’s Day is just around the corner. I don’t know about you but buying gifts for the Super Dad in my life is not always the easiest thing to do. I am always open to suggestions and I am always on the lookout for great gift ideas for the dads in my life. Look no further! The Celebrating Dad Giveaway is filled with chances for you to WIN the perfect Father's Day gift for the dad in your life.

#Win IT! Dyson DC23 TurbineHead Vacuum #Giveaway

As many of you know I am a bit of a neat freak. I like to keep a neat and tidy household whenever my children allow. I believe that having a clean home helps to make life a little easier {I guess this is my inner 50's housewife talking}. One household item I cannot live without is my vacuum cleaner. 

Since my vacuum cleaner is one of the most important household products I own and brings me such happiness I thought that I would team up with a group of fellow bloggers to bring you the chance to win an awesome DYSON DC23 Turbine Head Vacuum of your own. 

#CelebratingDad Sponsor Spotlight – GourmetGiftBaskets.com

The Celebrating Dad giveaway event is just a hop skip and a jump away… okay it is launching tonight at midnight and there are some amazing prizes to be won! This sponsor spotlight is highlighting a fabulous brand that I have recently been introduced to and plan to use again in the near future, Gourmet Gift Baskets.

GourmetGiftBaskets.com’s Snack Gift Basket – Classic Review

 

I am always puzzled over what to get my husband for Father’s Day. My hubby loves to golf, but I have no clue when it comes to golf paraphernalia. My hubby loves sports, but everything he wants he already owns {a jersey for every favorite sports team and then some}. So what do you get the man who has it all?  Yummy treats of course!

In my house we like to snack. We try and keep our snacks on the healthy side most of the time, but sometimes our sweet tooth kicks in and some buttery toffee popcorn is what we crave. When I was offered the chance to review the Gourmet Gift Baskets Classic Snack Gift Basket I jumped at the chance, thinking that it would make a great gift for my husband, and it did!

Wordless Wednesday: Rock-ing good time.

My boys really like to play with rocks. We go on walks around the neighborhood and collect rocks. We make rock piles and hide rocks all around the house. We play rock-n-seek and we even load up the toy cars with rocks to transport to various destinations.

Park time with two toddlers

My friend recently asked me how I handle going to the park with two little guys who can both run around. Who do I chase after? Who do I monitor? How do I relax?

Memorial Day

Each Memorial Day weekend my family makes plans to head over to Indiana to visit relatives. This has been our little family tradition for the past couple of years and I look forward to it all month long! The weekend is filled with family, fun, and frivolity. The kids all get together and take pony rides and play in the hot tub/pool. The evenings are spent playing games or relaxing in the gazebo with a nice cool beverage. It is a fabulous weekend.

Memorial Day is a day to remember the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is a day to celebrate the freedom we have, thanks to the sacrifices others have made. It is a federal holiday observed each year in the United States and is usually spend honoring traditions.

Quick and Easy Recipe for Salmon with Honey Mustard Glaze

This is one of my families go to meals. It tastes like it takes forever to prepare, but in reality it is a really quick recipe. I usually make the salmon with roasted asparagus, but a side of rice compliments the fish as well. This meal is requested whenever extended family comes to visit.

A little bit of Star Wars goes a long way…

In a galaxy far far away lives a houseful of boys who love to play with toys. Not just any toys will do for these boys, only the best! And according to their father {No, not Darth Vader} the best are Star Wars toys!

A not so secret garden

Like most children, my boys like to explore the world around them. They live for making discoveries. They are thrilled to learn all about something that is completely and totally foreign to them. Gardens are definitely a foreign concept at my house.

Vintage Door Knob Envy

I am in full on new house mode. As many of you know I am planning on moving soon, if all goes according to plan. I have been crossing my T’s and dotting my I’s and praying daily for everything to go well. I even have my children including the sale of our house in their evening prayers! I figure it can’t hurt.

With moving on the horizon I have started to think about the NEW house. I have been dreaming about what I want to do to make the new house a home. Visions of paint swatches dance in my head and Pinterest has become my new best friend.

 

I got it in my head to search for vintage or reclaimed door knobs and plates for the new house. I think that taking something old and making it new is a great way to add some character to a house. I like the idea of each door have a different and unique door knob.  This could be fun!

Wordless Wednesday: Not a baby anymore.

My little guy is no longer a baby. He is a toddler and has been since he was 11 months old. My baby boy started crawling at six months, walking at 11 months, and is now spending most of his time running after his big brother.

Win Tommee Tippee Explora Tableware & Bright Starts High Chair Giveaway! #ShakeRattleWin

Are you ready for a HUGE giveaway event?

The Shake Rattle & Roll giveaway is a huge event involving over 80 blogs. Each blog will be hosting a giveaway package worth at least $25. The Mom Mart prize package is worth over $100! Each blog will have a linky at the bottom of their post so that you can hop from blog to blog entering each one! All will be incredibly easy to enter!

You have from May 22^nd through June 5^th at 11:59PM EST to enter to win all of the 
“Shake Rattle & Roll” Giveaways.

$3000 Disney Cruise Giveaway!

*CLOSED*

I could not be more excited about being a part of this amazing giveaway. I love all things Disney and I love a vacation… who doesn’t love a good vacation? What better way to kick off summer than with the chance to win a $3000 Disney Cruise?

#ShakeRattleWin Sponsor Spotlight – Tommee Tippee

 

The Shake Rattle & Roll giveaway event is just a hop skip and a jump away… okay it is launching tonight and there are some amazing prizes to be won! This sponsor spotlight is highlighting a fabulous brand that I have come to know and love, Tommee Tippee.They create innovative products for real moms.

#ShakeRattleWin Sponsor Spotlight – Bright Starts

 

Shake Rattle & Roll is almost here and I am super excited about my amazing sponsors and their generous donations for this event. This sponsor spotlight is all about Bright Starts!  Have been a long time fan of the Bright Starts toys and have now had the opportunity to venture into their baby gear and could not be more pleased.

#SuperEvent Kindle Fire Giveaway!

I love giveaways. I also love nothing more during the summer than to sit back and relax with a good book. With all the new technology out there today, people are no longer tied down to carting around heavy books. As a kick off to summer I am participating in this fabulous Kindle Fire giveaway. Want one? I know I do!

Welcome to another #SuperEvent Giveaway hosted by Full Price? Never! and contributing bloggers CuzinLogic and MyCraftyLife! 

 I'd like to introduce you all to Big Fundraising Ideas!

"Big Fundraising Ideas is a company that works with various groups such as schools, sports teams, churches, and non-profit organizations. We provide a turnkey fundraising program that is able to generate substantially more income for these groups than the typical fundraisers that are being used today. These events involve no selling and no buying. We are also hiring sales reps! This is the ultimate work at home opportunity and perfect for today's Moms"

The big 3-0!

It is that time of year again; the time of year when I celebrate my birthday. I do not dread or fear getting older. Instead, I embrace the passing of each year and like to look back on where I have been and how far I have grown.

I believe all birthdays are a cause for celebration and I like to celebrate the heck out of my birthday! If I could celebrate my birthday all month long I would… but alas I cannot {Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and the Indy 500 all take place in May}. So I take what I can get and I try and stretch out my day as long as I can because this mom wants to celebrate her birthday!

I spend a ridiculous amount of time planning and preparing for parties. I hand make invitations. I scour the internet and Pinterest for party ideas. I order and/or create decorations, centerpieces, and party favors. I clean my entire home for parties that I host and I prepare the food {although over the last couple of years I have enlisted the assistance of family for side dishes}. It is a lot of work to host a party, but it is also a lot of fun.

The Bright Starts Sunnyside Safari Chair Top High Chair Review

I have a confession to make. I am obsessed with baby gear. Technology changes every time I bat an eyelash and people are inventing new and innovative ways of meeting parent’s needs. There is always something new and amazing coming out and I love testing and reviewing the latest and greatest products. I have been a fan of Bright Starts toys for a while now and thought it was time to check out their baby gear.

Tommee Tippee Explora Tableware: Perfect for little hands learning to self feed!

This time last year I had no idea what Tommee Tippee was and how much I would eventually come to rely on their products. I relied on their single electric breast pump while traveling with my newborn and I depended on their Closer to Nature bottle set to help me wean my child from breast to bottle. These products have helped me navigate the challenging early days of motherhood with confidence and ease.

When I was offered the chance to review the new Tommee Tippee explora tableware I was ecstatic! With my little guy transitioning to table foods this could not have come at a better time. My baby boy is no longer a baby and has become quite independent when it comes to feeding himself. With this major milestone on the horizon I have been on the lookout for great tableware for my toddler. Tommee Tippee’s new explora line of tableware does not disappoint! The dishes are perfect for little hands learning to self feed. My boys love them too!

Wordless Wednesday: Fun in the sun!

Yesterday was such a beautiful day that the boys and I spent most of the day outdoors. We walk trails, played at a park, colored on the sidewalk in chalk, and took every possible toy we could find out of the garage to play with in the driveway. Needless to say everyone had a bath before bedtime and everyone slept well last night.

The Voice

My children have discovered the wonder and joy of talking into fans. You would think that this would only be entertaining for a short period of time, but it amuses them to no end! The giggles and squeals that emerge from the boys when they hear their voices through the fan are simply contagious. You cannot help but crack a smile {yes… even before coffee I found this entertaining}.

The best advice my mother ever gave me:

My mom is my best friend. I talk her almost every day and sometimes a couple times a day. Whenever something big happens I have to share it with my mom. Whenever I am stressed out and feel like my head is going to explode, I call my mom. Whenever I need real advice {she keeps it real... even when I am in the wrong.} I confer with my mother. Some of the best advice I have ever received I got from my mother.

I have decided to share some of these golden nuggets of advice with you.

The Art of Pretend: When Superheroes Come to Play

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. Nope, it’s my child flying around the house in his batman pajamas. Because life is not nearly entertaining enough on its own {sarcasm}, one must take on the persona of a super hero to add a little amusement to the day.

Part of me wants to fully embrace this new infatuation of superheroes. Another part of me wants to crawl into bed, pull the blanket over my head, and hide until this phase is over. Why such a mixed bag of emotions… Superheroes are fun but they can be violent. As much as I love playing pretend with my children, I foresee a lot of boo boos in my very near future.  

I adore the fact that Batman, Superman, and Spiderman are taking up residence in my home. William runs around the house singing theme music while jumping from coffee table to sofa and back. There is nothing cuter than seeing my tot run around the house in a cape pretending to fly. He comes to my rescue even when I don’t really need to be rescued. He is such a little gentleman.

Today’s Toys for Tots!

I have such a fantastic time watching my children play with their toys. Toys have definitely advanced by leaps and bounds since I was a child. My mode of transportation was a big wheel that was passed down from sibling to sibling until my feet graced its pedals. Being the second youngest of five children, this was the way of the world and it worked well for our family.

Now I can look out in my garage and see a child motorized Ford F150 truck, a Little Tikes police cruiser, a ride on Thomas the train toy, and a vintage looking Radio Flyer tricycle. Spoiled… I have a tendency to spoil my children, just a little bit.

If I am being perfectly honest I will own up to the fact that these toys are just as much for me as they are for my children. I have a great time playing trains with my two boys. I love pretending we are in a diner and letting them prepare meals in their play kitchen. If I could fit in the motorized truck I would drive it around the neighborhood. My children give me the excuse I need to play with all of the fun new toys being made today and I am perfectly okay with that.

DIY Cinderella Theme Wedding Shower Centerpieces

I love party planning. One of my favorite things to do is pick a theme and go to town on organizing and creating a fabulous and fun party. To me, a party is more than just the food people eat and the activity being celebrated. I believe that a great party is one that you will remember; it evokes a feeling.

DIY Cinderella Theme Wedding Shower Invitations

I am co-hosting a wedding shower for my little sister this weekend and I have been getting my craftiness on. I thought long and hard about what the theme of the wedding shower should be. I wanted to do something a little whimsical but not off the wall crazy. I decided to go with a Cinderella theme… but more about the shoes than anything else. My little sister just loves shoes!

 

When is the right age for children to play sports?

My oldest son goes a mile a minute. He has the most insane amount of energy and he doesn’t stop unless he is asleep {NO exaggeration}. There is no down time, there is no resting and relaxing, he is a go getter who never slows down.
 

This can make following directions a challenge. It is not that he doesn’t listen… he is a very good listener when I can get him to focus. It is the slowing down to focus part that can be a challenge. I know he hears me. There is NO WAY that he has learned to tune me out this early in his life!

 
I have taken multiple classes through the park district with my firstborn since he was a baby. We took tumbling classes, music classes, art classes, pre-pre-school classes, and now we have taken a karate class. As a side note - I am not sure how wise enrolling him in karate was. He tends to kick and hit everything around the house now while he yells “Hiyah!”

I give him kudos for performing the moves correctly. He obviously paid attention in class when the instructors were teaching the routine. He has the punch-punch-hammer down pat. But once the routine is over he starts running circles around everyone… literally. He gets up and does laps around the kids in his class. This is obviously something that we are going to have to work on.

I do understand that I am raising boys and that boys typically have a lot of energy and are often quite rambunctious. I do not think that there is anything wrong with my child. He is a typical 3 year-old boy. My concern is the age appropriateness of enrolling him in sports and/or activities that require a lot of directions. Is it worth it at this early stage of his life or is it just glorified babysitting?

Wordless Wednesday: A Day at the ZOO!

Our family zoo membership is expiring soon and we decided that we were not going to renew it this year. There are some other establishments that offer family memberships that we are looking into for this coming year that are a little closer to home and easier for me to navigate when I am alone with the kids.

We took one last trip to the zoo before our membership expired this last week and had a fabulous time. We like to go first thing in the morning before the zoo gets crowded. We park right up in the front {2^nd spot from the entrance this time!} and head in as soon as the gates open. We don’t battle crowds and the animals are really active. We picnic for lunch and then head for home soon after. We love going to the zoo and will miss our family zoo membership immensely. At the same time, we are very much looking forward to trying something new and closer to home.