Happy Friday Follow!

Welcome to Take A Mom's Word For It!! I'm glad you stopped by! While you're here please have a look around and get to know me :) I have 2 GIVEAWAYS up right now...

• Win a Hand Crocheted (by me!) Beanie and Boutique Flower! This giveaway ends at midnight on the 30th so be sure to check it out. There are under 100 entris so far so your chances are great!

• Win a $15 Credit to Jenni's Bowtique - Boutique Bows and Accessories at affordable prices (ends 5/14)

Here's a quick re-cap of some of the "Mommy-isms" that have happened this week...

• The doorbell rang and Little S (my 2 year old) shouted, "PIZZA!" ... it was 10 in the morning! *yes, we may eat a little pizza*
• Over breakfast A was concerned about where she'd live when she grew up and "how will I buy a camera?".
• A told me that she wished her twin sister was a boy - you know, so she could marry her :)
• H said she's been thinking about marrying a boy in her class, but she doesn't love him yet cause he's not very nice. "Maybe when he's big he'll be nice and we'll fall in love".
• While at my daughters' school waiting for the children to be let in, another Mom asked me if my girls dress themselves... uh... should I be concerned about this?! I dressed them that day! LOL!!

And so it goes...

Jenni's Bowtique Review & GIVEAWAY!

I have 3 girls… make that, 3 “girly girls”. As such, I consider myself to be somewhat of an expert when it comes to pretty. I recently received 4 hair clips from Jenni’s Bowtique to review, and I am quick to tell you, they are pretty!

Jenni’s Bowtique was founded by Jenni (go figure!) in January of this year! She is a work-at-home-Mom to a 13 mo. old princess and has a real talent for creating all things pretty.

The following is a picture of the 4 alligator clips I received. Each one is beautifully crafted with a distinct attention to detail. They were also all double lined and one even had “grip” added – perfect for my youngest’s fine toddler hair!

When I opened the envelope from Jenni my older 2 daughters LOVED them and immediately put them in their hair! They are definitely little girl (and Mommy) approved!

Jenni has a huge selection of hair accessories consisting of prints, solids, intricate to classic.

Take this Mom's word for it... if you’re in the market for super cute (did I mention pretty?!) hair bands, clips and bows Jenni's Bowtique is one-stop shopping! Have a super cute outfit that needs a super cute clip? Jenni happily accepts custom orders and will work with you to create something truly unique and beautiful.

Buy It!

Stop by Jenni’s Bowtique and pick up some lovely accessories of your own – your girls will thank you!

Win It!

CLOSED

Jenni of Jenni’s Bowtique has generously offered one of my lucky readers a $15 credit in her shop! (Oooh, think of the possibilities!)

Mandatory Entry

Visit Jenni’s Bowtique on Facebook and “like” her. ALSO have a look through her photos and comment under your favorite. Come back and leave me a comment below telling me you did these 2 things. Please leave me your FB name to verify. This must be done BEFORE the Bonus entries will be counted. Be sure to leave me your email address!

Bonus Entries

(Leave a separate comment for EACH entry completed)

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

1 Entry: Follow Jenni's Bowtique on Twitter.

2 Entries: Sign up for email notifications from Take A Mom’s Word For It (left side bar). Be sure to check your email to confirm your subscription through Feedburner.

1 Entry: Become a fan of Take A Mom’s Word For It on Facebook (please leave me your FB name to verify). Already a fan? Tell me!

2 Entries: Post my button on your blog (please leave me the link).

3 Entries: Post about this giveaway and include a link back to our blog (please leave me the link).

5 Entries: Make a purchase at Jenni’s Bowtique – leave me a comment telling me what you purchased.

Giveaway Ends May 14, 2010

Open to US and Canada only.

Good Luck Everyone! Winners will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond.

Disclosure: I received 4 complimentary hair clips for review purposes. No other compensation was received. All views and opinions are strictly my own.

Wordless Wednesday

Although the weather looks nice outside today it's REALLY windy! So, a little indoor painting! Little S is more interested in the water than the paint! She usually tries to sneak a drink of it!

Happy Friday Follow!

It's Friday again... thank goodness! It's been a long and crazy week... can you say "cake induced coma"?!

Welcome and thanks for stopping in! I love FF - finding new blogs to read, giveaways to enter and of course gaining a few new followers myself!

Be sure to check out my current giveaway HERE. The entries are low so your chances of winning are pretty good - and who wouldn't love a hand crocheted beanie and boutique flower made by me?! Do I have an etsy shop? No, but I should! So check it out! Also, I am super pumped about my upcoming giveaways... Bebe Bablet Designs, Jenni's Bowtique, Belly Charms, Smart Mom Jewelry, Epicure Selections... just to name a few. Check out their links from my side bar and please, get excited with me! Check back often, your odds are good!

3 in 1 Birthday Bonanza!

All 3 of my girls celebrate their birthdays in April... between this and Easter we've done a lot of gift opening and sweets eating! ...ugh... we still have 3 partial cakes kicking around the house!

While we had a small get together for S when she turned 2, we hosted a "3 in 1 Birthday Party Bonanza" this past Saturday to celebrate S turning 2 and H and A turning 5 with a larger group of people. We rented a bouncy castle - so the way to go... BUT despite it being +15C the day before, the day of the party the weather pretty much sucked. It was about +5C with a crazy cold wind. This was fine with the kids of course, but not so much with the adults! Ha! Here are a few photo highlights...

My SIL made the Mickey cake. You can see more of her creative work HERE.

Rewind 5 years to when my twins were born... 2 pictures that are forever burned into my memory...

My girls were born healthy at 7lbs8oz and 8lbs4oz!! Yes, believe it!

Happy Birthday sweet girls! It;s amazing how emotional I feel when thinking about my 'babies' growing up... 5,5 & 2... Crazy!

Wordless Wednesday

Friday Follow, Mommy Tips & a GIVEAWAY!!

Happy (Early) Friday Follow! It is going to be a CRAZY weekend here - so I needed to post early... now or never they say!! All 3 of my girls' birthdays are in April and this Saturday we are throwing a 3 in 1 Birthday Party Extravaganza - complete with bouncy castle, ball pit, pizza and 3 cakes!! ... please, wish me luck! We also have my hubby's family (mom, brother and fam, and sister and fam) coming later Friday night to spend the *entire* weekend! ... yes, wish me luck here too!

In the meantime, I am hosting my very own giveaway!! YAY!

My hubby and I were standing around with a couple of friends the other day - they had just entered the world of true suburbia and bought a minivan! Yes, you know you're old and practical when... Anyway, I was joking and said that the van wasn't a true mommy-mobile until someone threw up in it. When my twins were younger they both (though one a little more than the other) suffered from motion sickness! There's nothing like having to stop at a less than clean rest stop along the highway with 2 screaming children and a odor far worse than any rotten egg!

After about the 5th time (I'm a fast study - haha!), we had the ingenious idea to line their car seats with the blanket-like diaper changing pad. Presto! It's super easy and makes for a fast clean on those long drives! Our friends thought we were brilliant (ok, so they never actually said that, but I could see it in their eyes!).

And now for the GIVEAWAY!! I will be offering up one of my very own, hand-crocheted beanies (you can specify infant or toddler/school age) and a boutique large flower hair clip!

Entry is super simple!

Mandatory Entry

Comment below with one teeny tiny gem of a tip for other parents. Something that may not really seem obvious at first, but may just save someone time, energy or money! Be sure to leave me a way to contact you!

Bonus Entries!

Please leave a separate entry for EACH one. If it says "(3 entries)" please post 3 separate comments.

Become a public follower of Take A Mom's Word For It (1 entry).

Become a fan of my Facebook page HERE (1 entry).

Post my button on your blog and leave me the link in your comment (3 entries).

Update your Facebook page with this giveaway link and leave me the link (2 entries).

Follow me on Twitter HERE (1 entry).

Become a public follower of my SIL's blog HERE (1 entry). She has a cute blog all about crafty things!! And, she just so happens to be making one of the 3 cakes for this weekend!

That's 10 possible entries!!

Good luck to everyone! Giveaway ends on April 30th and is open to Canada & US only.

Toddler Slippers

Toddler Slippers

I have been crocheting for a number of years now. But until recently I have ONLY made baby blankets because I never knew how to read a pattern... well, the internet is a fabulous place! ;) I am pleased to say that my pattern reading skills are coming along and I've even had a few interested parties ask about purchasing my goodies!! Sure would be great to make a little mulah on the side! Here is a pair of toddler slippers I made earlier this week - super easy and even "a little" fun! ;)

Wordless Wednesday

**Proud Mommy!**

Green Living

For those of you living under a rock in the far corner of the earth, Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd! The importance of making environmentally wise choices has become more and more prevalent and really should be on everyone's minds.

I am by no means an expert on going green! I recycle, compost, use 'earth friendly' laundry detergent and clean without chemicals... and there's still so much more to be done! I recently happened upon a Facebook page I thought to be amazing... really!

Christi of Fat Bottom Bags is making a difference in this crazy, wasteful world one plastic bag at a time! What are Fat Bottom Bags?! They are re-usable bags made from plastic shopping bags - those same bags that contribute to the "plastic problem". What's more, these bags of hers are beautiful! She hand crochets each and every bag herself. She is a true pioneer in the green movement and although she does sell her bags online for a reasonable price, she also offers a "how to" video so you can make your own!

If that's not enough (do I sound like a used car salesman yet?!) she is also hosting an exchange. If you send her 60 coloured plastic bags, she will crochet you a mini-bag and send it to you! Please, stop by and check her out. Be sure to tell her Kady at Take A Mom's Word For It sent you!

"Going Green" may be a catch phrase, but we all need to do our part to make this a great place for our children. I find Christi's story to be inspiring and I urge you all to go and check out hersite and also become a Facebook fan - help spread the word!

Ultimate Blog Party 2010!

I'm still green in the world of blogging - started just last month(!), but happened upon The Ultimate Blog Party today, hosted by 5 Minutes For Mom... what a fantastic idea! I love to find new and interesting blogs and of course gain a few readers to mine... not to mention the flitterific (yes, I have little girls!) list of prizes!!

I am a Mom (well, duh!) and like other Moms know, when you're facing a hard day, a tough decision, a bragging moment, or a sweet memory who better to understand where you've been and where you're headed than another Mom?! And so, my blog (and FB page) were born!

And since this is a party, I thought I'd share a quick recipe for a fresh Nacho/bread dip that I LOOOVE (courtesy of my Moma)...

Dip (makes 1 7x11 sized dish)

1 pkg. Philly Cream Cheese

1/2 C. Sour Cream

1/4 C. Miracle Whip (Mayo)

1 C. Salsa

2 C. Shredded Cheese

1 lg. Tomato (finely chopped)

1 Green Pepper (finely chopped)

1 Bunch Green Onions (finely chopped)

Mix first 3 ingredients and then spread in bottom of dish. Pour the salsa over this. Then cover the salsa with cheese and then spread the veggies on top.

This is a super easy, super yummy dish! Enjoy...!

Now that we've filled our (virtual) bellies, here are my top 3 prize picks from the US & Canada List... *fingers and toes crossed*

From the US & Canada list:

1. $50 Target Gift Card offered by Peggy Gorman

2. $50 Paypal Money Transfer offered by American Muslim Mom

3. $50 Gift Card to The Recessionista Shop offered by Recessionista

If my top 3 picks have already been chosen, I'd love to win any of the following (in the listed order)... or anything else related to little girls - I have three of them!!

Prize numbers 39, 15, 13, 24, 30

Good luck and happy reading and blogging!! Let's get it started!

Happy Friday Follow!

Welcome Friday Followers!! Thanks for stopping by my small corner of the blogosphere! Take a minute and look around. I only started blogging last month so I'm hitting a bit of a learning curve, but I'm a quick study - haha! I look forward to checking in on you as well!

This week's edition is hosted by Midday Escapes, One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Buttons and Blogs. Thanks!

Wordless Wednesday

There is so much learning going on with some of the simplest things!

(I know, I know, it's supposed to be "wordless"!)

Support A Great Cause!

Someone I met through Facebook contacted me and asked if I would write a short piece on her efforts to make a difference in the world of cancer research. Her name is Julie Miller. Julie is walking in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day For The Cure. She is walking for her Mom, her Aunt and her Grandmother.

I don't believe there is a person whose life hasn't either been directly affected or indirectly affected by cancer. My father passed away nearly 8 years ago from cancer. My Grandfather, and my 2 great uncles have also been taken away because of cancer. Cancer has many forms and affects many people. It holds no prejudice for age, skin colour or background.

Please help Julie help cancer research. She is trying to raise as much funds as possible. Browse the items she has up for auction HERE. There are some really cute items from some really great companies and all money raised goes towards her fundraising! Also, please feel free to spread the word, the auction, the site. OR, if you have an item or two you'd like to donate (fantastic PR opportunity) please contact her HERE. A difference CAN be made. Thanks.

Birthday - check! , Easter - check!

We had a VERY busy weekend here! Not only was it Easter weekend, but my youngest daughter - S turned 2! As I stood in the livingroom Monday morning and assessed the 'damage' I knew it had turned out great! Sometimes a true measure of fun is the mess that's left behind! :)

Friday morning our street had organized an egg hunt at the local park. You could look over the hill and see nothing but the glimmer of foil wrappers! After only 10-15 minutes of searching, my little chocolate mongers walked away with a ton of loot! We'll be fighting them for weeks to not have chocolate before breakfast!

Sunday morning we woke up to discover that the Easter Bunny had visited us in the night, and left a pretty good bounty! Mommy was very pleased to find a "Family Sized" bag of Mini-Eggs! "Family" really?! Looked to be just about 'my' size!

Sunday was also my baby's 2nd Birthday! We had a small gathering - family and a couple friends who live nearby. Because my older girls celebrate their birthday in 2 weeks we will be having a giant 3 in 1 Birthday Bonanza! But for Sunday, it was nice to keep things a little more low-key. Here are a few photo highlights...

What a fabulously fun, busy and tiring weekend... check!

Happy Friday Follow!

Yay! Friday Follow again!! Welcome to everyone from FF! This is my 3rd week participating and once again I'm looking forward to reading some new blogs and gaining some new followers!

Going to be a crazy weekend here... neighbourhood egg hunt Friday morning, a visit and photo with the Easter Bunny Saturday, my youngest daughter's 2nd Birthday is Sunday ... and who could forget the baskets and chocolate?! I just may need a weekend after my weekend!

Thanks for following and while you're here why not pop by my FB page HERE :) Chat soon!