WW #101 "Red Sox Umbrella"

A few weeks ago, I mentioned I wanted either a Red Sox t-shirt or mug for my birthday. Well I didn't get either.

But my husband got me some Red Sox earrings & a Red Sox umbrella instead. Which is OK. And I have been putting the umbrella to a lot of good use lately anyway, with all the rain we've been having.

Red Sox Opening Day (technically night) This Sunday! Psych!

Visit Wordless Wednesday , 7 Clown Circus, Sunnymama, & 5 minutes for Mom for more participants.

Country Bob's Sauce Review & Giveaway (Ends 4/14) - ENDED

Recently I won some Country Bob's Sauce in a blog giveaway.  So now I am happy to announce that I am able to offer my readers a giveaway.



My Review:

I have been loving my Country Bob's Sauce that I won in a giveaway. I love chicken cooked on the grill. So when I received my Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce, I immediately wanted to try it out on the grill. My husband cooked up our chicken breasts, and they came out great. The flavor is really good, and really stands out. It also made the chicken so moist. So a week later I wanted grilled chicken again, this time on some drumsticks, and with Country Bob's they came out awesome.

There are a lot of great recipes on the Country Bob's site. Such as Country Bob's Baked Beans. I might have to try these. Everyone in my family loves Baked Beans. And I'm sure making them with Country Bob's they will turn out terrific.

Information on Country Bob's:

It was 1968 when Country Bob Edson perfected his steak sauce recipe and he called it an All Purpose Sauce because it was more than just a steak sauce. Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce has remained the flagship item since 1982 when Country Bob, Inc. was established. 

Along the way they have been dedicated to offering their customers the best tasting and highest quality steak sauce or All Purpose Sauce (gluten free), Barbeque Sauce (gluten free), and Seasoning Salt available anywhere in the world.

Buy It: Visit Country Bob's Online to purchase their products.

Win It: Two (2) lucky readers will win two (2) bottles of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Country Bob's and tell me what your favorite recipe is or one you would like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES: (leave separate comment for each entry you do. For example if you blog about this giveaway - worth 5 entries - please leave 5 separate comments)

1. Follow my blog on Goggle Friend Connect (publicly)
2. Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway (use retweet button above if you like)
3. Daily entries: tweet giveaway
4. "Grab my Button" and post it on your blog (worth 3 entries)
5. Become a fan of STAY AT HOME MOM on Facebook (worth 3 entries)
6. Follow STAY AT Home Mom on Networked Blogs - see sidebar (worth 3 entries)
7. For 5 extra entries blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post.

Bonus Entries:

1. Follow Country Bob's on Twitter (1 entry)
2. Become a Fan of Country Bob's on Facebook

RULES: Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Giveaway ends April 14, 2010 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be chosen via Random.org. Must have valid email in blog profile or leave email in comments otherwise you will be disqualified. Winners will have 48 hrs. to confirm by email, If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer:  I received 2 free bottles to sample from Country Bob's, for the sole purpose of reviewing. Country Bob's is supplying the winners with the products for this giveaway. I received no monetary compensation for this post, and receiving the free products in no way influenced my review.

Mrs. Renfro's Salsa Giveaway (4 jars to one winner/Ends 4/12) - ENDED

If you read my blog, you may recall me mentioning I won some Mrs. Renfro's Salsa in a blog giveaway. Well now I am excited to announce that the good folks at Mrs. Renfro's are letting me host my own giveaway. One lucky reader will win 4 jars of their choice of Mrs. Renfro's Gourmet Salsa.

Information on Mrs. Renfro's:

For 70 years, their family has been bringing you delicious and innovative products at affordable prices. From their Green and Habanero Salsas to their Peach and Black Bean Salsa, they are proud to offer the finest flavors and authentic tastes of the Southwest.

You'll find their salsas and condiments online so you can order your favorite Renfro products from the comfort of your home. If you're looking for new ways to spice up your meals, please visit their Recipes section for some great ideas. You can also read about more about them by going here: our story.

When I won my giveaway I chose the Mild Salsa (1 jar)

The Peach Salsa (1 jar)

And the Pineapple Salsa (2 jars)

 My family and I, loved all the salsas we tried. They were all delicious. And we really especially loved the Pineapple salsa. There is also some great recipes you could make using Mrs. Renfro's Salsa. Like the Pineapple Salsa makes a great Pineapple Salsa Pizza.

Buy It: Visit Mrs. Renfro's to buy your own Salsa, Relish and other products. (such as Nacho Cheese sauce)

Win It: One lucky reader will win four (4) jars of Mrs. Renfro's Salsa.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Mrs. Renfro's and tell me what salsas you would like to try if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES: (leave separate comment for each entry you do. For example if you blog about this giveaway - worth 5 entries - please leave 5 separate comments)

1. Follow my blog on Goggle Friend Connect (publicly)
2. Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway (use retweet button above if you like)
3. Daily entries: tweet giveaway
4. "Grab my Button" and post it on your blog (worth 3 entries)
5. Become a fan of STAY AT HOME MOM on Facebook (worth 3 entries)
6. Follow STAY AT Home Mom on Networked Blogs - see sidebar (worth 3 entries)
7. For 5 extra entries blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post.

Bonus Entries:

1. Follow Mrs. Renfro's on Twitter (1 entry)
2. Become a fan of Mrs. Renfro's on Facebook (1 entry)


RULES: Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Giveaway ends April 12, 2010 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org. Must have valid email in blog profile or leave email in comments otherwise you will be disqualified. Winner will have 48 hrs. to confirm by email, If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chosen.

 Disclaimer: Mrs.Renfro's is providing the product to the winner for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are solely my own. I received no compensation for this post.

Leather CPR Cleaner & Conditioner Review

I received some Leather CPR Cleaner & Conditioner to review. I decided to test it out on my leather purse.

Information on Leather CPR Cleaner & Conditioner:

Application:

Leather CPR can be used to treat leather furniture, automobile upholstery, jackets, shoes and boots, purses and bags, and much more. It is also safe on exotic leathers. (alligator, ostrich)

Instructions:

Apply liberally using clean, soft sponge. Do not use a cloth or will be absorbed into cloth not leather. Leave on for 1 to 2 minutes. Rub with sponge. Wipe off excess. Repeat if necessary.

Features and Benefits:

• Cleans and conditions in one step
• Safe to use on glove soft leather
• Prolongs life of leather
• Breaks in and softens new or stiff leather
• Leaves no greasy residue
• Reduces appearance of scuffs and scratches
• Removes Winter salt stains
• Tested by dermatologists and will not irritate skin
• Awarded the Queen of Clean Seal of Approval
• 100% satisfaction money back guarantee

My take on Leather CPR Cleaner & Conditioner:

I put a small amount of Leather CPR on the sponge, and began to rub it into my purse. I noticed right away that it made the purse shiny. There were a few scuff marks and some dirty spots on the purse. And the Leather CPR seemed to get them clean right away. Leather CPR made my old purse look new again! Another thing I liked about Leather CPR, is the smell. I don't like harsh smelling cleaners. And Leather CPR is virtually odor free. So that was very pleasant.

I would recommend Leather CPR to anyone looking for a quality Leather Cleaner & Conditioner. I could see this working great on a baseball glove to condition it. Or on leather furniture. This would work great. I think I will let my sister borrow some of my Leather CPR, because she has a leather couch and this would be great for it.

Suggested Retail Price & Availability

Leather CPR is $6.95 for a 4-ounce tube, $9.95 for an 8-ounce tube, $12.95 for a 12-ounce tube. And 24.95 for a 32-ounce refill bottle. And is available at stores nationwide such as Ace Hardware, Bed Bath & Beyond.  Also available online at http://www.leathercpr.com.


Free Sample:

Visit http://www.leathercpr.com/specialoffer/ to receive a free sample of CPR Cleaning Products. Hurry quantities are limited.

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of Leather CPR Cleaner & Conditioner for the sole purpose of reviewing the product. Receiving a free sample in no way effected my review. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Winner Announcement

The giveaway for the games "You've been sentenced," has ended. And the winner is:

The Lowry's said... 77

We love playing games. “You’ve Been Sentenced!” appeals to all ages and skill levels. jclowry@telus.net

March 21, 2010 4:26 AM  

The winner has been emailed and has 48 hrs. to respond, or a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to everyone for entering. Be on the look out for a couple of new giveaways within the next few days.

Aloha Friday/Friday Follow

An Island Life hosts this meme. Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.


My Question: Do you ever use the self checkout at stores?


My Answer:   Yes. Sometimes. And I must be a glutton for punishment, because 90% of the time it doesn't work right. Never mind the time when a lady who works there totally yelled at me one time.


Now on to Friday Follow. I hope you will follow me - let me know that you are, and I'll visit you as soon as I can to follow you.

Brought to you by:




And this week's Sponsor:





A few other places I found, who have  Friday following blog hops:









Hope you all have a great Weekend!♥

Winners!

The "Three Cups" giveaway has ended. Two winners were chosen via Random.org. And the winners are:

skgaff said... 1

I love the idea of using the 3 cups for saving, spending and charity and I really would like a good go-to resource for teaching my kids about money since it's such a vital thing for them to learn glass.stephanie(at)gmail(dot)com

March 11, 2010 12:35 AM 

JL said... 12

I'm a fan of yours on facebook #2.

March 11, 2010 12:30 PM

 

I have emailed the winners. And they have 48 hrs to respond or new winners will be chosen.

WW #100 "Soccer Ball"

Just realized this is my 100th Wordless Wednesday! (even though lately, they're not very "worldess" lol) Cool.

Anyway, last Wednesday through Saturday was so nice out. Especially Saturday at 70 degrees. We spent pretty much everyday outside. And the kids were having a good time playing "soccer." We went to some soccer fields and they like kicking the ball around.

The cool thing too, is we received this soccer ball for free. My daughter's class is doing a fitness program with the hospital. Once a week they come in and talk about different things. And to encourage kids to get out and exercise they offered a free ball of your choice (basketball, soccer ball, baseball, softball.) We chose the soccer ball.

Visit Wordless Wednesday , 7 Clown Circus, Sunnymama, & 5 minutes for Mom for more participants.

Carpet CPR Review

I was recently sent a bottle of Carpet CPR to review. I tested it out on the carpet that gets the most traffic. And that is the TV room carpet. Let's just say the kids make a mess of this rug.

Information on Carpet CPR:

Instructions:

Spray soiled area with Carpet CPR Spot & Stain Remover. Allow to penetrate for 3 to 5 minutes. Blot or rub gently with a clean colorfast cloth.

Features and Benefits:

• Eliminates stains and odors in one step
• Deep Cleans to remove both new and old stains
• Repels dirt and prevents re-soiling
• Awarded the Carpet & Rug Institute Seal of Approval
• Awarded the Queen of Clean Seal of Approval
• 100% satisfaction money back guarantee

My take on Carpet CPR:

Friday afternoon I began using Carpet CPR. I sprayed a spot that was on the rug. I let it sit as instructed for about 5 minutes. I then used a cloth to start scrubbing the spot. It really did take up the spot. And let me say also that the spot was not a recent one. The stains on my TV room rug have been there for awhile.

I noticed while I was spraying Carpet CPR on the stain that it seemed to "lift up" the stain right away. I was happy with the results on the one stain, I then proceeded to use it on other stains on the rug. By the end of the weekend I had pretty much removed all the stains on the rug, and am pleased with the results.

Also everyone in the family noticed the smell of the Carpet CPR, and actually liked the smell. It was a "clean" smell.

Suggested Retail Price:

The suggested retail price for Carpet CPR Spot & Stain Remover is $8.95 for a 24-ounce bottle.

Availability:

You can purchase Carpet CPR Spot & Stain Remover at Bed Bath & Beyond or online at http://www.leathercpr.com

Receive free sample:

Visit http://www.leathercpr.com/specialoffer/ to receive a free sample of CPR Cleaning Products. Hurry quantities are limited.

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of Carpet CPR Spot & Stain Remover for the sole purpose of reviewing the product. Receiving a free sample in no way effected my review. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Winner!

The "Toxic Friends" giveaway has ended. Thank you everyone for entering. And the winner is....

Sarah Lynne said... 17

I have a Sister who has problems with some of her friends. I would love for her to read this. sarahcoulsey03 at gmail dot com

March 9, 2010 1:07 PM 

I have emailed the winner & they have 48 hrs to respond, or a new winner will be chosen.

Aloha Friday/Friday Follow

An Island Life hosts this meme. Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.


My Question: Anyone having problems with their comments?

My Answer: Yes. For about a week now I have been having problems with the comment system on Blogger. Someone told me they commented & I never received it. Comments are being emailed to me but not showing up on the dashboard. And some comments can only be found when I click over to the comment moderation page.


With that being said - I hope I receive all your comments - lol! And if you are stopping by from Friday Follow, I hope you will follow me. I will return the favor as soon as possible. Hope you have a great day everyone! ♥

Edit: also check out these blogs for Friday Following too.

Kissimmee Vacation!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Kissimmee Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you looking for a great itinerary for a vacation? Then you may want to consider Kissimmee. Kissimmee is right in the heart of Florida. It is in a perfect place for your Florida vacation. It is just south of Orlando and close to all the major attraction in central Florida too.

Of course when you think of Florida, you think of theme parks. And Kissimmee is a great place to start your theme park fun. Whether you want to visit Walt Disney World parks, Universal Studios, or Sea World then staying in Kissimmee is a great launching pad for that.

Some other fun things to do in Kissimmee include some of the areas most famous water parks. I have been to both Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. And they are so much fun! Here's a picture of a guy going down the "Summit Plummet".
Which at 120 feet high is one of the world's tallest and fastest free-fall body slide. We didn't actually go on this one though. But my husband and son went down the one in Typhoon Lagoon, called the Humunga Kowabunga. Which is very big too!

After you visit the water parks, you may want to go shopping, play golf or do some other outdoor activities. Well there is plenty of that to do in Central Florida. How about taking a boat ride through the Florida Everglades? You will visit wetlands on a scenic lake tour watching for birds, turtles, and alligators. Or how about trying an exhilarating air boat ride across Lake Toho? I would love to do that!

So if you are looking for a great place to get your perfect itinerary for your Florida vacation, then check out Kissimmee!

WW #99 "Nashua River"

Lot's of rain in the past week. Has caused major flooding in places in my state. One of our favorite places to take walks is called "Mine Falls Park."

The Nashua River runs through it and there is a dam there. I took some pictures over the past week of the rising waters. With yesterday being at it's peek. It was like the Niagra Falls there! We talked to a man who works for the town, and he said it hasn't been this high in 70 years.

Pictures from a week ago:

Picture from Saturday:

Pictures from Yesterday (Tuesday 3/16)

Visit Wordless Wednesday , 7 Clown Circus, Sunnymama, & 5 minutes for Mom for more participants.

Ready for a Spring Vacation?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't know about you, but I am so glad that Spring is almost here! It would be great to take a vacation right about now, don't you think?

I would love to go stay at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or the Hilton Branson Convention Center. Both hotels are within driving distance of some of Branson's awesome attractions. Branson is considered the electrifying entertainment capital of the Midwest. There guests have access to some great shops, boutiques, restaurants and even a river walk.

Some other attractions include championship golf courses. There is also great museums nearby, lakes and theme parks. Branson also has 49 live entertainment theaters! This is sounding like a great place to go for a Spring vacation.

And during spring there is also some terrific events happening in Branson. Such as the 14th annual Branson Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show. More events going on include: NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament, Branson’s Best Boat and Recreation Show, Silver Dollar City’s Family Spring Break Day and the memorable Young Christian’s Weekend; not to mention a series of amazing concerts on the Branson Landing including shows from 65 South, Colgate Country Showdown with KHOZ 102.9, EXILE, The Nashvegas All Stars, and David Letterman Stupid Human & Pet Trick Auditions!

Check out the great packages available at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. For example if you use your Visa Card, you can enjoy 25% off their Best Available Rate. Or there is a special Golf Package. Many more too, check the website for availability.

If I were to go to Branson my itinerary would be:

• Branson’s Best Boat and Recreation Show
• David Letterman Stupid Human & Pet Trick Auditions!
• Shopping
• Restaurants
• River Walk

With all these events happening and so much to do in Branson, don't you want to leave that chilly Winter weather behind and go on a Spring vacation?

Aloha Friday/Friday Follow

An Island Life hosts this meme. Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

My Question: Do you do or want anything special when it's your birthday?

My Answer: Not to toot my own horn, but today is my birthday. I really don't do much to celebrate it anymore. And when my husband asked me what I wanted I told him a new Red Sox mug, because I broke mine the other day. Maybe he'll get me that or a new Red Sox t-shirt, that's all I really want. I saw a t-shirt similar to this yesterday that I'd like:


Hi from Friday Follow! I'd love if you followed my blog & I promise I'll follow you too! Hope you have a great Friday everyone!

Review And Giveaway: "You've Been Sentenced " ENDED

I recently received some games from McNeill Designs. Which I was very excited about reviewing and offering one lucky reader a chance to win a set in a giveaway.

I was excited about this, because my family and I really love to play games. For the past 3 days we have been testing out these games. The games we got are "You've been Sentenced," including 5 add on decks:

Reader’s Digest National Word Power Challenge Deck
Sports Highlights Deck
Sci-fi and Fantasy
Pop Culture Deck
Gourmet Cuisine Deck

Also included was a fun card game called "Twisted Fish." and the "Wheel of Chore-ture.

Information about You've been sentenced:

The latest in the evolution of games, “You've been Sentenced!” is the first game in history to really turn making sentences into a very funny, playable, and challenging game. Using a unique word deck of pentagon shaped cards containing conjugations of funny words, famous names from throughout history, familiar places, and wild cards, players have to make grammatically correct and justifiable sentences. The real fun begins when players have to read their sentences out loud and explain what they mean to the rest of players. They form the jury and vote thumbs up or down on whether the sentence and justification stand and the points are scored. 540 cards with over 2,500 words insure billions of possible sentences so the game is never repetitive and has unlimited re-play value.

My take on the games:

We first played "Twisted Fish." Here's a picture of my daughter playing it. This is a fun game similar to Go Fish, but with a twist. She wants to play this again soon.

Last night my son, daughter and I all played "You've been sentenced." Here's my son getting his cards ready to play:

The kids really enjoyed playing this. And were really getting a kick out of making some very silly sentences. Any game that is fun and includes learning is great in my book. The kids liked it so much, they wanted to play again and weren't concerned about watching TV, playing video games, or anything else last night. So to me that says it all!

And don't forget the Wheel of Chore-ture. My daughter has been spinning this and has even been doing some chores using this.

Buy It: If you would like to purchase any of these products for yourself please visit McNeill Designs.

Win It: One lucky reader will win a complete set of these games. You've been sentenced, all 5 add on decks, Twisted Fish, and the Wheel of Chore-ture (approx. $80.00 value!)

Mandatory Entry: Visit McNeill Designs and tell me something interesting you found. Or simply tell me why you want to win these games.

EXTRA ENTRIES: (leave separate comment for each entry you do. For example if you blog about this giveaway - worth 5 entries - please leave 5 separate comments)

1. Follow my blog on Goggle Friend Connect (publicly)
2. Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway (use retweet button above if you like)
3. Daily entries: tweet giveaway
4. "Grab my Button" and post it on your blog (worth 3 entries)
5. Become a fan of STAY AT HOME MOM on Facebook (worth 3 entries)
6. Follow STAY AT Home Mom on Networked Blogs - see sidebar (worth 3 entries)
7. For 5 extra entries blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post.


RULES: Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Giveaway ends March 26, 2010 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be chosen via Random.org. Must have valid email in blog profile or leave email in comments otherwise you will be disqualified. Winners will have 48 hrs. to confirm by email, If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a complementary set of these games from my sponsor for the sole purpose of reviewing and offering a set in a giveaway. Receiving a complementary set in no way effected my review of these games. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

WW #98 "Girl Scout Troop"

My daughter's Girl Scout Troop raised a lot of paper goods donations at their school. They did this for about two weeks. And when they were done they had quite a collection of donations.

They then donated them to our local soup kitchen. And even had a someone who works there come into collect them and give them a little talk about what they do there. This picture even made it into our local paper.

I "hearted" out the other girls faces. Except for my own daughter which is pictured in the back second from right.

Visit Wordless Wednesday , 7 Clown Circus, Sunnymama, & 5 minutes for Mom for more participants.

Book Review & Giveaway: "Three Cups" - CLOSED!

I was sent the book, "Three Cups" by Mark St. Germain, to review and to offer two (2) lucky readers a chance to win their own copy in a giveaway. "Three Cups," is beautifully illustrated by April Willy. And is based on a true story by Tony Townsley.

Information on the book:

Tony Townsley was inspired one day when listening to the radio on how he could give back to his community in a meaningful way. He decided to pursue something using the allowance system he and his wife had been using for 15 years, with his own children.

With the help from his friend Scott Willy they tell their story through a children's book. The story mirrors their weekly allowance system. Which is to divide the allowance into three cups. One for:

• Savings
• Spending
• Charity

My take on the book:

This book is a great foundation to teach children the importance of managing their money in a responsible way. "Three Cups" will help teach children positive habits about money.

I was very happy, when my daughter seemed very interested in the concept of this book. She had me read her the book. And wants to try out the 3 cups system. We have even incorporated her doing some chores around the house in order to earn some money! This is a win-win for everyone.

I would recommend this book to parents, grandparents, etc. who would like to teach children money management.

"Three Cups" is available to order on the Three Cups website and on Amazon.com.

Win it: Two (2) lucky readers will win a copy of "Three Cups"

Mandatory Entry: Please visit the Three Cups website and tell me something interesting you found. Or simply tell me why you want to have this book.

EXTRA ENTRIES: (leave separate comment for each entry you do. For example if you blog about this giveaway - worth 5 entries - please leave 5 separate comments)

1. Follow my blog on Goggle Friend Connect (publicly)
2. Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway (use retweet button above if you like)
3. Daily entries: tweet giveaway
4. "Grab my Button" and post it on your blog (worth 3 entries)
5. Become a fan of STAY AT HOME MOM on Facebook (worth 3 entries)
6. Follow STAY AT Home Mom on Networked Blogs - see sidebar (worth 3 entries)
7. For 5 extra entries blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post.


RULES: Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Giveaway ends March 24, 2010 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be chosen via Random.org. Must have valid email in blog profile or leave email in comments otherwise you will be disqualified. Winners will have 48 hrs. to confirm by email, If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chosen.


Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of, "Three Cups" for the sole purpose of reviewing the book and offering two copies for a giveaway. Receiving a complementary copy of the book in no way affected my review. The review and or products were provided free of charge and I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Edit: Chosen as Editor's Pick on Prizey:

Film Licensing

Do you like to make short films? Or maybe you like to make animated films or even educational/instructional films.

Well there is a great website that can help you to get film licensing for your projects. It's called mDistribute.com, and they can assist independent filmmakers to instantly license their films to buyers in the mobile and web industries.

Check it out if this is of interest to you!

Aloha Friday & Friday Follow

An Island Life hosts this meme. Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

My Question: Do you wake up using an alarm clock or do you just wake up on your own? And if you have kids - do they have their own alarm clocks?

My Answer: I totally need an alarm clock to wake up! And even then it doesn't always work. The other day, I totally overslept and my son missed the bus. Let's just say when that happens it is a pain in the neck. So I decided it is time my 13 year old son has his own alarm clock. Now in case I hit the snooze - he can be the back up!


Here from Friday Follow? I hope you will follow me and I will be sure to return the favor as soon as possible. Click button below to join:

Book Review & Giveaway: "Toxic Friends" - Closed

I was recently sent the book: "Toxic Friends: The Antidote for Women Stuck in Complicated Friendships," by Susan Shapiro Barash to review and to offer one lucky reader a copy in a giveaway.

Information on the book:

From childhood through high school, careers and motherhood, and on through the golden years, friendship is one of the most important components in a woman's life. So why are female friendships so complicated and so often fraught with pain?

Author Susan Shapiro Barash, a nationally recognized gender expert, explores the 10 types of female friends in "Toxic Friends." The 10 types are The Leader, The Doormat, The Sacrificer, The Misery Lover, The User, The Frenemy, The Trophy Friend, The Mirroring Friend, The Sharer, The Authentic Friend.

My take on the book:

Reading this book, I learned women feel that losing a friend is more upsetting sometimes then losing a boyfriend or husband. Women can always count on their friends, right? Well what if those friendships are harmful or even toxic?

Susan Shapairo Barash explains the various types of female friends and what to do to get "unstuck" from the worst kind of friend. Also how to recognize a true friend.

I've had a few very close female friends over the years. One in particular I'm thinking of - she was my best friend for about 15 years. But some things happened and we are no longer friends. "Toxic Friends" really called to me because I saw myself in some of these catagories. For example "The Doormat," (I was the Doormat) and "The User" (she was the User).

I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to discover how to recognize "toxic friends." And how to make and keep the friends that are worth it!


"Toxic Friends: The Antidote For Women Stuck in Complicated Friendships" by Susan Shapiro Barash is available at Amazon.com.
St. Martin's Press
ISBN13: 9780312386399
ISBN: 0312386397

Win It: One lucky reader will win a copy of "Toxic Friends" by Susan Shapiro Barash (a $24.99 value)

Mandatory Entry: Please visit the official website for the book Toxic Friends. Tell me something interesting you found or simply why you want to win this book.

EXTRA ENTRIES: (leave separate comment for each entry you do. For example if you blog about this giveaway - worth 5 entries - please leave 5 separate comments)

1. Follow my blog on Goggle Friend Connect (publicly)
2. Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway (use retweet button above if you like)
3. Daily entries: tweet giveaway
4. "Grab my Button" and post it on your blog (worth 3 entries)
5. Become a fan of STAY AT HOME MOM on Facebook (worth 3 entries)
6. Follow STAY AT Home Mom on Networked Blogs - see sidebar (worth 3 entries)
7. For 5 extra entries blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post.


RULES: Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Giveaway ends March 18, 2010 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org. Must have valid email in blog profile or leave email in comments otherwise you will be disqualified. Winner will have 48 hrs. to confirm by email, If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of, "Toxic Friends" for the sole purpose of reviewing the book and offering one for a giveaway. Receiving a complementary copy of the book in no way affected my review. The review and or products were provided free of charge and I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Award From Some New Blogging Friends

I received a nice award from two of my new blogging friends. I got this award:



Both Amy from Keeping up with the Schultz Family & Joy from Joyful Journey gave me this award. Thanks ladies!

I think I'm supposed to list some random things about myself & then pass it on. I will list a few random things. And anyone who hasn't received this yet consider it passed on to you.

1. My birthday is next Friday
2. It is the same day as The Girl Scout Birthday
3. My MIL & SIL left for Disney World yesterday
4. They have been there I swear 15 times already
5. I wish I was going to Disney World again!

Hope you all have a great day!

The Weather Looks Good For The Weekend

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of AccuWeather. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to driving. Especially if it there is any kind of bad weather. Like just this morning I had to go out to run a few errands, and there was a few snow flurries coming down. I was undecided for a few minutes on if I should go or not.

And I also was thinking today about planning some things to do for the family. I think Saturday, we are going to the movies. We didn't end up going last Friday, because when we got there the theater didn't have electricity! That was actually another case of weather affecting something. We had very high winds the night before, and many places lost their electricity.

So I really want to go this Saturday to the movies. And I was mentioning it to my sister, and she just called me back and said her and my mother are going to meet us at the movies. Which I was checking the weather on AccuWeather for this weekend. And it looks like it's actually going to be somewhat nice out. It will be 45 degrees Saturday and 44 Sunday and sunny both days.

So that is great! Because my mother & sister are driving up from their house, which is about 45 minutes away from me. So now that I know the weather will be OK for this weekend, I know they will be coming. Because if I thought I was a wimp about driving in bad weather, then my mother is even worse. The new AccuWeather site was really great for looking up this weekend's conditions!

WW #97 "Birthday Week"

As I mentioned last week, it was my daughter's birthday. She turned 10 on Sunday. Double digits!

Every year it ends up being more of a "Birthday Week." This year was no exception. She had 3 different parties. My son said we should call it her "Birthweek" instead of "Birthday."

Here's a picture I took of her at her party with her friends:

And here is party #3 with her Grandma and Aunt (not pictured):

Visit Wordless Wednesday , 7 Clown Circus, Sunnymama, & 5 minutes for Mom for more participants.