CSN Stores - Upcoming Review

Ok, Ok, by now you have all heard about CSN Stores. How could you not, they have OVER 200 online stores... a little of everything! So, it seemed only natural that since we've been looking to change a few things in our house that we had a look at the dining room sets CSN Stores have available.

I was recently selected as a CSN Stores Preferred Blogger and that means I get to do a little window shopping and chose an item to review for you.... I'm just cursed with these tough decisions ;)

So, while I 'page' through all the options tell me, what would YOU choose?

Wordless Wednesday

As I mentioned in an earlier post HERE, my big girls finished JK and decided we needed to celebrate with cake! Hello Summer! xo

Welcome Wednesday

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by!! Welcome Wednesday is hosted by the gals at Take It From Me. While you're here please be sure to poke around a little... I have 2 great giveaways posted (right sidebar) and they both have LOW ENTRIES!

Cheers!

Good Bye JK, Hello Summer!

Well, today was the day... my girls finished their very first year of school today - JK. I was so excited for them! They chose dresses to wear and were pumped to see their friends and teacher one more time. I dropped them off at school as I have been doing every school day since they started in September. I drove home, said hi to my hubby (he works from home and was busy feeding our youngest her breakfast), and sobbed.

I sobbed for a good 3 minutes. Thing was, I was feeling sorry for myself. Today was the last day I get to take any of my children to school. I've alluded to it a couple times before, but come September of this year, I'll be returning to work. I am an elementary school teacher which means, I would need to be at work before the girls are off to school. Not only that, but it was my last morning to spend some quality time with Little S, just the two of us.

I know, I know, I was lucky to have been able to stay home for the 'extra' year after my maternity leave. I know, I know, teachers have the summers off... blah, blah, blah. I was, AM still sad about the whole thing. The silver lining - because hubby works from home he'll be able to take them this fall, not a sitter or daycare and for that I'm glad.

On a happier note... Miss H and Miss A got to choose how we celebrated the start of summer. So true to them, they decided they wanted CAKE! What's a celebration without cake?!

Meet Me On Monday

Monday again... time for Meet Me On Monday hosted by Java at Never Growing Old

Here are this week's questions AND my answers!

1. Are you a collector of anything? Um, no.

2. Do you have any tattoos or piercings? I have a tribal sun tattooed on my stomach and 5 earrings in one ear and 3 in the other... I got my tattoo and my last ear piercing when I was 18! I should also mention that not one of my 3 girls have their ears pierced! Maybe one day when they're much older and ask, but for now, none :)

3. What is your favourite salad dressing? Ranch all the way!

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Breakfast - Honeycomb!

5. What was the last movie you saw? We're big movie watchers here! Last *new* movie I saw was Toy Story 3... it was fantastic!!

See you all next week!!

Keeping the Kids Busy! < Part 2 >

Well, we did a few things this weekend that we haven't really done before with the girls that I thought I'd share with you all.

I taught Miss A how to braid. Braiding is just one of those things, a "skill" maybe, that I learned how to do *ages* ago. Both my older girls have long and beautiful hair so I often find myself making mini-braids, ponytail braids and french braids.

We used 3 different colours of yarn, tied at the top and then pinned with a safety pin to a sofa cushion. I sat directly behind her and we were off. She did a fantastic job and all I did was hold the yarn ends down. When we were finished she decided to wear it as a necklace - she was so proud!

The other thing we did was had a water gun fight. Guns bought from the dollar store worked great and we had a blast! Poor Daddy was cutting the lawn though so he didn't have any defences!

Both activities are super simple and maybe that's why we don't think of them often. It's always great to do some of the things I used to do when I was young, you know, before T.V. was on all day long! Who doesn't have great memories of building forts with blankets and chairs?!

WINNER!

Thanks again to everyone who stops by and enters my giveaways!! The winner of the $25 Gift Certificate from Daisy Bags is...

Congratulations Heather!! You will be like a little kid in a candy store spending your $25 at Daisy Bags! So many great options!!

I will be emailing you shortly. You have 48 hours to respond to my email before another winner is chosen.

WINNER!

Thanks to everyone who enters my giveaways!! The winner of the $20 Gift Certificate from Epicure Selections.... Yummy... is...

Yay Jayda!! Congratulations! You will have a great time spending your loot on delicious goodies! I will be emailing you shortly. You have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

If you didn’t win the Epicure Selections $20 Gift Certificate you can still earn the items you were interested in for FREE just by hosting an Epicure Tasting party with Lori! Invite a few friends over and be prepared to sample, sample, sample the yumminess!

There are 2 ways to do this… Lori can come to you and help you host a tasting party OR if you don’t live local to Toronto and surrounding area you can host a catalogue/tasting party yourself and STILL earn FREE products! Friends can come to your place and sample a few things and/or you could offer the online catalogue to your out-of-town friends and family! So simple AND so yummy!! Feel free to contact Lori directly at loritoon@rogers.com

tmomotwins22 Etsy Shop Review & GIVEAWAY

I like to think of myself as an organized person. In fact, before I had children *gasp* I might have been lovingly called “obsessive”. However, a marriage and three children later I’m not nearly as up tight about things as cleaning and organization – maybe you remember my Wordless Wednesday pic of my dish soap? But I do still try - after all, I am a Mom AND a school teacher.

Assisting me in this effort is Lisa and her Etsy Shop - tmomotwins22! Lisa’s shop offers a “little of this and that” (as stated on her shop page), but it’s clear, her passion is with Memory Boards.

What’s a Memory Board you ask? Simple. It’s a functional, chic and affordable way to organize your papers and pictures on a daily basis – without damaging them with pin holes! Lisa was generous enough to let me choose a memory board of my choice from her shop – hard decision. I chose the board shown here.

I hung my memory board in our kitchen – the epicenter of our family life. This is what it looks like today…

We’ve been using it for the last few weeks now and as you can see it’s been home to photos, drawings, appointment cards and notes. It has become an incredible organization tool for us!

Whenever I discover a fab Etsy Shop I am always intrigued by the creator’s “story”. Lisa of tmomotwins22 was a cake decorator for 13 years before having twin girls – already I’m in LOVE with her story! ;) With the birth of her twins she became a SAHM and has been kept very busy! My twin girls are only 5 but I can a test to that! Lisa started making Memory Boards when her girls couldn’t find anything they liked that matched their rooms. She then started doing a few local craft shows then opened her Etsy Shop.

Lisa’s work, while functional, is also very fashionable. I chose a fabric that accented my kitchen, but she offers Memory Boards in a variety of fabrics appropriate for bedrooms, offices or classrooms. She is also open to custom orders!

Here's a little something for the Nascar fan...

A fab Board for a breakfast nook…

A student’s college dorm room…

tmomotwins22 Shop also offers custom wooden letters,

a fleece baby blanket,

and even photo frames and bows! - A little of this and that!

Lisa of tmomotwins22 has generously offered one lucky Take A Mom’s Word For It reader a Memory Board of YOUR CHOICE!

BUY IT!

Head over to Lisa’s Shop and pick up the perfect birthday or back to school gift to accent any room.

WIN IT!

CLOSED

Win a Memory Board of YOUR CHOICE from tmomotwins22!

Mandatory Entry

As always, please leave your email address with every comment (unless it’s in your profile)… you don’t want to win and then have me not be able to reach you!

Visit tmomotwins22 and choose your favorite item and come back and tell me what it is.

Bonus Entries

1 Entry: “Like” tmomotwins22 on Facebook HERE and tell her I sent you. Please leave me your FB name to verify your entry.

1 Entry: “Like” Take A Mom’s Word For It on Facebook HERE. Already like me?! Aw shucks! Please tell me!

3 Entries: Update your Facebook status telling all your lovelies about this great giveaway. Please include “@take a moms word for it” in your post.

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It Blog through Google Friend Connect.

1 Entry: Follow me on Twitter HERE. Please leave me your Twitter name.

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway. You can use this sample tweet:

“Win a Memory Board of your choice! Visit @amomsword #giveaway ends 7/9 http://tiny.cc/gafwx"

This can be done once a day for 2 entries each day until the giveaway closes. Be sure to include the permalink to verify.

2 Entries: “Heart” tmomotwins22 on Etsy. Please leave me your username.

3 Entries: Post the Take A Mom’s Word For It button on your blog. Please leave me the link.

5 Entries: Enter this giveaway into a giveaway linky on another blog. Please leave me the direct link. (5 entries for EACH giveaway linky you enter it into - max. of 3 linkys)

10 Entries: Make a purchase at Lisa’s tmomotwins’ Shop. Leave me your name, what you purchased and when.

Good luck to everyone! Open to Canada & US only.

Giveaway ends 7/9 Winner is chosen using random.org

Disclosure: I received a memory board for free for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was made. All opinions are my own.

Blog Hop Friday!

Welcome to the 7th edition of Blog Hop Friday! Blog Hop Friday is hosted by My New Life As Mom, Chubby Cheeks Thinks, Take A Mom's Word For It, Bree Bee's, This Adventure Our Life and Belly Charms! We invite you and your friends to link up every Friday and join us for a wonderful blog hopping adventure! We're all about making friends and having fun so come join us!

While your here please be sure to check out my current giveaways from some fantastic sponsors! They are all located on the top of my right sidebar... good luck!!

Here's how you can join in on the Blog Hop fun;

Link up to your blog, using our inlinkz link list, below.

Follow the host/hostesses located in the first 6 slots.

Follow any other blogs that you feel appropriate! :)

Add the Blog Hop Friday button to your sidebar.

When following a new blog, please remember to leave a little personal comment love.

If you get a new follower, please feel free to reciprocate the love.

This is a new list every week, so please remember to come back and link up, every week!

Please remember to send a little comment love when you follow someone's blog. The point of this is to gain new followers and new friends, so please take a second to send a personal comment on their latest post, something you like about their site or maybe something you find interesting.

We understand that not everyone has time to follow and comment on every Blog Hop Friday Participant, just do what you can and are willing to do. We will do the same! Take your time and go at your own pace.

The link list is only open to add new blogs on Fridays but will be visible all week long.

So go link up and hoppy blog hopping!

It's A Social Parade!

Social Parade time again! The parade is hosted by Smart and Trendy Moms. Welcome and while you're here please take a minute and enter the giveaways on the right sidebar. They all have pretty low entries so your chances of winning are great and two of them end FRIDAY at midnight - good luck!

Wordless Wednesday

I should really STOP calling this "Wordless", I mean really, who am I kidding?! Anyway, we've had a busy couple days! Here are a few photo highlights...

Little S snuggling Daddy on his special Day!

Daddy's most favourite things... his girls AND ice cream cake!
Little S trying her hand at skipping!

Miss A and Miss H finished another session of gymnastics lessons and earned their White Level 5 Ribbons! *Proud Mommy!*

Meet Me On Monday

This week I'm joining in on the 2nd edition of Meet Me On Monday hosted by Java at Never Growing Old It's a chance for my 'peeps' to get to know me a little better. Here are my answers to this week's questions...

1. How many brothers and sisters do you have? I have 1 younger brother.

2. What is your favourite thing to do? Snuggle with my girls!

3. What countries have you visited? United States (hello cross-border shopping!), Dominican Republic, Cuba and that's about it - I live in CANADA!

4. Are you a morning or a night person? I'm kind of a mid-morning person :)

5. What's your favourite cereal? Honeycomb - I recently re-discovered it and can't seem to start my day without it!

That's it for this week, catch y'all next Monday!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Daddies in our lives!

This is a pic of the top of the cake my daughters picked out for today... Daddy LOVES ice cream cakes!

A special Happy Father's Day to my hubby (who is still sleeping... what better gift than to sleep in!)! You really are a "SUPER DAD"!

xoxo

DADDY (to the tune of "Bingo"

I love him and he loves me and Daddy is his name-o

D-A-D-D-Y,

D-A-D-D-Y,

D-A-D-D-Y,

And Daddy is his name-o!

** the girls are pumped to sing this later!*

Winner of the Elmo Crayons...

Congratulations Kristi!! Your comment was selected by random.org... you are the winner of a Set of 5 Hand-Poured, Non-Toxic Elmo crayons from Gaddy Nipper Crayons!!

I will be emailing you shortly. You have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner.

Didn't win? As you know, Gaddy Nipper Crayons are great for all sorts of occasions - keep them in mind when searching for that truly unique (and affordable) gift!!

Stamp Out Online Review & GIVEAWAY!

A little while ago I was super lucky and won a product from a blog giveaway (shout out to Jana at Boobies, Babies & A Blog) that I love! I love books… no, not novels or history books, but children’s books! Afterall, I have 3 children of my own (all book lovers) AND though I am currently on leave, I am an elementary school teacher! My collection of children’s books is vast, and somehow continues to grow.

I didn’t win any books, but the next best thing… a personalized stamp or Mommy notepad of my choice from Stamp Out Online, I knew right away what I wanted…

As any teacher knows, it can be very difficult to keep track of all your personal materials in the classroom! But this stamp will help! I will be returning to work this fall as a Kindergarten teacher and one thing I like about this stamp is that it’s clearly recognizable. My kindergarteners, though unable to read, will know which books belong to me – as will my colleagues who ‘borrow’ materials!

Aside from being able to personalize my stamp, I was able to choose an ink color. I ordered mine in purple (although there are 7 other colors)! The stamp itself is super easy to use – no need to worry about even pressure or getting ‘half-images’. Each time I press it down, the image is extremely clear – EVERY time!

In fact, I was so impressed with the quality of my stamp that I placed an order for another one – this time for my twins’ Junior Kindergarten teacher as part of her end-of-the-year-gift! I am super excited to give this to her as I *know* it is something she will use and appreciate!

Stamp Out Online offers so much more than personalized Library Stamps ( though these would be a great asset to any home with little ones!), they offer Signature Stamps, Wedding and Monogrammed Stamps, Kid/Name Stamps and Address Stamps – just to name a few.

And a little something for the crafty type...

Stamp Out Online also lists fantastic Mommy Pad and Card Sets. The personalized notepad would be great to send notes to school on! You not only get a personalized notepad, but also coordinating cards… More and more I see and hear of Moms and families having their own cards. How great would it be to give someone your ‘card’ when arranging a playdate or get-together?!

Unlike some sites, Stamp Out Online has a very user friendly site! You will quickly be able to see what’s available and what kind of personalization you can make. You will definitely find something to your liking as all of their high-quality graphics ooze personality!

Alli from Stamp Out Online has generously offered one of Take A Mom’s Word For It readers a personalized Stamp or Mommy Notepad of your choice!! Thanks Alli!!

BUY IT!

Check out Stamp Out Online and purchase a quality personalized item for yourself or as a gift.

WIN IT!

CLOSED

Win a personalized Stamp or Mommy Notepad of your choice!

Mandatory Entry

Of course, this entry must be completed BEFORE any Bonus Entries will be counted! As always, please leave your email address with every comment (unless it’s in your profile)… you don’t want to win and then have me not be able to reach you!

Visit Stamp Out Online and choose your favorite item (this may prove difficult!) and come back and tell me what it is.

Bonus Entries

1 Entry: Become a follower of the Stamp Out Online Blog HERE.

1 Entry: “Like” Take A Mom’s Word For It on Facebook HERE. Already like me?! Aw shucks! Please tell me! (Please leave me your FB name to verify)

1Entry: "Like" Stamp Out Online on Facebook HERE and tell them I sent you.

3 Entries: Update your Facebook status telling all your lovelies about this great giveaway. Please include @take a moms word for it AND @stamp out online in your post. This way I can see it!

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It Blog through Google Friend Connect (left sidebar).

1 Entry: Follow me on Twitter HERE.

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway. You can use this sample tweet:

“Win a Personalized Stamp or a Personalized Mommy Notepad from Stamp Out Online on @amomsword http://tiny.cc/rn5uj #giveaway"

This can be done once a day for 2 entries each day until the giveaway closes. Be sure to include the permalink to verify.

3 Entries: Post the Take A Mom’s Word For It button on your blog. Please leave me the link.

5 Entries: Make a purchase at Stamp Out Online. Leave me your name, what you purchased and when.

Good luck to everyone! Open to Canada & US only.

Giveaway ends July 2, 2010.

Disclosure: I did not receive products for the purpose of this review. I won a personalized stamp and then subsequently purchased another one. All opinions are my own.

Fun Follow Friday & Blog Hop Friday!

YAY! I was chosen for spot #3 on Fun Follow Friday!! Thanks to the hosts: Simply Stacie & My Wee View!

There are so many tools and links out there now allowing me to network and I LOVE it! I have come to follow some really great blogs and enter some really great giveaways along the way!

Welcome to everyone visiting!! It's so nice to have you here! Please be sure to poke around a little... I posted a super cute, budget friendly Father's Day idea I found HERE.

PLUS, there are always great giveaways to mix things up!

• Win a Set of 5 Hand-Poured Elmo Crayons *ENDS MIDNIGHT FRIDAY* (6/18)
• Win a $25 GC to Daisy Bags (6/25)
• Win a $20 GC to Epicure Selections (6/25)
• Win a Personalized Stamp or Mommy Notepad (7/2)

Friday also means the 6th edition of Blog Hop Friday!

Blog Hop Friday is hosted by My New Life As Mom, Chubby Cheeks Thinks, Take A Mom's Word For It, Bree Bee's, This Adventure Our Life and Belly Charms! We invite you and your friends to link up every Friday and join us for a wonderful blog hopping adventure! We're all about making friends and having fun so come join us! Here's how you can join in on the fun;

Link up to your blog, using our inlinkz link list, below.

Follow the host/hostesses located in the first 6 slots.

Follow any other blogs that you feel appropriate! :)

Add the Blog Hop Friday button to your sidebar.

When following a new blog, please remember to leave a little personal comment love.

If you get a new follower, please feel free to reciprocate the love.

<center><a href="http://www.mynewlifeasmom.com/2010/05/blog-hope-friday-week-1.html"><img border="0" src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s317/stephaniesblog/button-2.png" /></a></center>

This is a new list every week, so please remember to come back and link up, every week!

Please remember to send a little comment love when you follow someone's blog. The point of this is to gain new followers and new friends, so please take a second to send a personal comment on their latest post, something you like about their site or maybe something you find interesting.

We understand that not everyone has time to follow and comment on every Blog Hop Friday Participant, just do what you can and are willing to do. We will do the same! Take your time and go at your own pace.

The link list is only open to add new blogs on Fridays but will be visible all week long.

So go link up and hoppy blog hopping!

It's A Social Parade!

Social Parade time again! The parade is hosted by Smart and Trendy Moms. Welcome and while you're here please take a minute and enter the giveaways on the left sidebar. They all have pretty low entries so your chances of winning are great!

Bag Giveaway!

Ok, so I usually don't post about other blogs' giveaways, but I think I will be making an exception from now on... I will only post about blogs giving away super cool bags! What Mama doesn't need another bag?!

Don't forget I have a super cool giveaway going on for a $25 GC to Daisy Bags to spend as you wish on the bag you wish - don't miss out, entry is simple!! Click HERE

The giveaway I found was for a super chic Hobo Boutique Shoulder Bag (in Amy Butler Fabric!). The giveaway is being hosted by Love Stitched - fantastic blog for the creative at heart! Click HERE

Good Luck!

Wordless Wednesday

This is what we call "the white box" - fancy term, I know! This is our go-to box for all things tiny (not to be mistaken for the junk drawer!). This little box has actually been a fantastic addition to our livingroom. It holds lonely Polly Pockets and PP clothes, plastic rings, dice, lip balm (not sure how Little S has missed this one!), bracelets, bubbles, play money and Ken's missing flip flop!

Welcome Wednesday

Welcome and thanks for stopping by! Welcome Wednesday is hosted by Take It From Me (they have the linky posted there!).

While you're here check out the Father's Day Idea I posted yesterday - Kid-friendly "Beer" HERE

I also have a few giveaways posted and all of them have LOW ENTRIES so your chances of winning are great! They are listed at the top of the left side bar... Good Luck!

Father's Day Idea

I came across this link when looking for Father's Day inspiration and thought it was a fantastic idea...

What Dad wouldn't enjoy a "kid-friendly" pint of beer?! The 2 great things about this - the kids can make it, and it's LOW budget! You could even go so far as to decorate the mug with glass paints. Enjoy!

Here is the link to the original post: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12349901.tip.html

Keeping the Kids Busy! < Part 1 >

Since summer vacation is quickly creeping up on us I have been thinking a lot about what I can do to keep my girls occupied. Aside from the usual trips to the splash pad, library, grocery store, and visits to friends and family it would be great to have a "go to" list for those times when the weather is not so great or when you just don't feel like packing up and going somewhere.

So, as Part 1 of "Keeping the Kids Busy" I want to share with you a fantastic recipe for Play Dough. There are a lot of recipes out there, but I have made this one NUMEROUS times for both my children at home and the children I teach at school (I'll be headed back to work this fall - but that's another story! *sniff, sniff*).

Cooked Play Dough

Ingredients

1 C. salt

2 C. flour

1 tbsp. cream of tartar

2 tbsp. cooking oil

2 C. water

*optional food coloring or Kool-Aid drink mix (half package) for color (the drink mix makes it smell so yummy!)

Instructions

1. Mix ingredients in a pot. Add the food coloring or drink mix.

2. Cook on medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring CONSTANTLY until the dough becomes stiff.

*Note: The dough will become extremely difficult to stir and you may need another person to hold the pot. Also, I prefer a hefty wooden spoon for this job.*

3. Let the dough cool.

4. Store dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The dough will last for quite a while and it has the consistency of commercially prepared play dough

Reference: Children's Arts and Crafts, pg 64

Have fun and don't worry about buying 'special' rollers and cookie cutters. Around here we use everything - plastic spatula, plastic cups, cans for rolling, plates, coins for impressions...

To address a comment below (sorry you didn't leave me a contact email)... the food coloring/drink mix does NOT stain the children's hands. If you choose food coloring only a few drops are necessary and once the dough has been well mixed there is no chance of transfer. The same is true with the drink mix!

I've Been Featured!

I have been featured on a fantastic blog - big shout out to Stacie at Simply Stacie! Head on over and check it out HERE. It was written some time ago as you may notice that it says I've only been blogging for a month and it's really been 3!! I know, I know not a big difference, but a lot has happen since then.

After you check out the feature let me know what you think.

Cheers!

My Lip Stuff WINNER!

The winner of the 6pk of ALL NATURAL Lip Balm from My Lip Stuff is...

Congratulations Kate!! I will be emailing you shortly. You have 48 hours to respond.

Thanks to everyone who entered!! Please be sure to check out my current giveaways. All have pretty low entries :)