What Would My Kids Miss If I Were Abducted By Martians?

With the upcoming release of Mars Needs Moms on March 11th it poses the question: "What Would Your Kids Miss About You If You Were Abducted By Martians"? This is funny to me. I say this because I think sometimes my kids wish I were abducted. My oldest son, Austin is currently grounded for bad decisions and my middle child, Dane, he is going through the middle child stage where he believes we like the other two kids more. I think both boys would prefer that I was abducted at least for a few days.

My top ten list of What My Kids Would Miss About Me If I Were Abducted would be:

• My cooking- I have heard stories of the foods/ combinations that my husband has fed the kids and I know that my kids enjoy their Momma's cooking.
• My bedtime routine- Everynight I tell them "Goodnight I love you, Sweet Dreams." Whether I am tired or not I tell them every night.
• My supervision of their school work- My husband tells me that he honestly would not know what to do if I were not the one to do this because he just can't keep track of everything.
• My little surprises- I am frugal with my money but I still like to surprise my kids with special games or special outings.
• My nagging- they would miss this because it would be inevitable that they would forget their lunch money, their homework or would be late for school. I always have them organized for an easy morning.
• My money-I really don't think that needs much explanation but I seem to be the one that they ask for money for the movies, to run for a snack at the gas station, or for book orders at school.
• My knowledge- ok that should say how nosey I am. Austin calls me a Facebook Creeper because I am always looking around at his friends and whats going on but it does broaden our conversations.
• My nurturing-I am always talking to my kids asking them what are they going to do when they grow up, what classes should you take, teaching them how to play sports and games.
• My couponing-they would miss the treats that we are able to have because of my couponing, their Dad would stick to the list.
• JUST ME- I think that they would miss everything that encompasses me, my diva like attitude at times but then my loving, gentle, caring ways at other times.

I hope to never be abducted by Aliens however if that should happen, please let my kids know that it never would have happened if they would have just cleaned their rooms. (wink, wink)

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

Falling in Love Again

I've heard it said that a successful marriage requires falling in love with your spouse multiple times.

Yesterday John and I decided that we would give the kids a "surprise". We don't often buy these little "surprise gifts" however Olivia had started asking for the Michael Jackson Experience Wii game and it happened to be an Amazon Deal of the Day this past week. With my Amazon Mom account I received free 2 day shipping and with Swagbucks Amazon Gift cards that I had sitting in my account we decided that spending $15 out of pocket for a game that all three kids would enjoy would be a good deal and a great "surprise" for the kids.

So Olivia, the one that has been asking for "Uncle Jackson Game" so she could dance, would not even hold the controller. So John starts playing the game. He is sitting on the couch playing and I tell him, "you would probably do better standing up." He says,"Crap!" He gets up and starts dancing to "Billy Jean". OhMy Goodness! Hilarious! Austin and I are laughing so extremely hard, he does the crouch grab and all. All for his little girl to start dancing and playing the "Uncle Jackson" game that she has been talking about for several weeks. In that moment....I feel in love with my husband all over again. He is a wonderful father and a terrific husband.

We all did take our turn playing the game, all having fun and laughing with and at each other. We will get better (hopefully) but it has provided us with memories that will last a lifetime and that was just in the first day of having the game.

Where in the World Have I Been?

Hello!! It's great to be back. I has been a while since I posted last, for that I am sorry. I have been dealing with sick kids, traveling kids, and school referendum business. I am sad to say that none of that is over with as my little Olivia is sick again today, she has gone to school 1 day this week. Austin is almost done with his Choral Competitions but not until around the end of March. Dane has finished basketball and he is now ready to move on to baseball. To top it all off, our schools are in a bad financial state and we are trying to pass a new tax referendum so I have started helping out with that. Due to all of those issues I have not been blogging or doing any deals. I did begin to organize my coupons, to hopefully get me headed in the right direction for getting my deals and lowering the outrageous amount of money that I have been spending at the stores. I do have a new review and giveaway to post this weekend hopefully (if Olivia will help me out) and I have been in contact with some AWESOME companies for upcoming reviews and giveaways.
I am hoping that March will be better for me so that I can get back to business.
I will also be selecting the Glee Gum winner and contacting the winner today!

How do you share happiness?

It's a crazy world we live in, people are always rushing to do this and multi-tasking trying to get everything done so that they can move on. Sometimes never even realizing that they have spent so much time trying to get things done that they haven't taken a moment to stop and enjoy a smile. Do you think about if you have helped out another person in our wonderful world have a happy day? Do you share your happiness? Or are you simply to busy to even think about it?

These questions got me thinking about what I do to share my happiness. As I was thinking about it, my mind went into categories...family, friends and extended family, strangers, and co-workers.

I think the easiest group of sharing my happiness with is my family. Obviously those that mean the most to you get a majority of your love and kindness. I love to surprise my kids with special treats, sometimes its a dinner out, maybe a toy while we are at the store but the most special to me is when I can spend extra quality time with them. I love being in the kitchen with Olivia, she drives me crazy trying to help out with the dishes but she loves playing in the water. With Austin it would be making his favorite food and Dane it would be making a special dessert. I think that I love to be in the kitchen with my kids because my Dad liked to cook or create however you'd like to look at it or depending on if you were eating what he was making and that is when I feel closest to him.  Sharing my happiness with my husband is a little tricky because we work separate shifts but I think that by sending him nice, cute text messages or leaving him a surprise cookie or something is how I would share happiness with him. 

Friends and Extended Family I think that we all share happiness together just by simply being together. Sometimes laughing and joking around other times just simply by offering a simple smile when they need to see it most. I have a friend that brightens my day when I get a "Good Morning-have a great day" post on Facebook. She definitely brightens my day. I know that when I call my Mom for nothing more than to talk that I have added a little happiness to her day, I can tell by her tone in her voice.

Offering a little happiness to a stranger could be a smile, helping them carry something or maybe even a random act of kindness like paying for their meal. I love the feeling I get when I have helped someone out even if it is just helping them get the best deal for their money.

My co-workers often hear me say "Good Job" and I sometimes surprise them with a treat. I had a special co-worker who left to raise her family but I love surprising her with her favorite lasagna....well yeah she was a friend too but it happened at work.  Sometimes co-workers just need a simple "Thank You" or "I Appreciate Your Hard Work" to put a smile on their face. Taking a minute and asking how they are doing or offering to help finish a project would add a little happiness to their day.

I don't think that I spread nearly enough happiness so I am going to work on that. What about you? How do you share happiness?


I wrote this post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hershey's blogging program  for a  gift card worth $25 and some product. For more information on how you can participate click here.

Winners!

Sorry guys I have been away. Just been plain busy!!!
Winners for Purex
#3
#10
#24

Winners for Bioron
#7

Winner for Roundabouts
#6

Winner for Brilliant Cleaning Wipes
#4


I will be contacting all the winners and you have 48 hours to respond to me with a valid mailing address so that the companys may ship out your product. Thank you all for entering.
I have some awesome products reviews and giveaways coming up so please check back often.

Current Giveaways-Low Entry

Don't forget to enter my current giveaways all are low entry at this time.
Boiron's Cold and Flu Value Pack ends tonight!
Roundabout's Cupcake Sleeves ends 2/12
Brilliant Cleaning Wipes ends 2/15
Glee Gum Kit ends 2/21

Good Luck!

Power Rangers Samurai Review



I remember Austin watching Power Rangers when he was a little boy. He never got into the action figures but I remember him and his friends playing Power Rangers and pretending to be which ever one. He always wanted to be the Red Power Ranger.

The Power Rangers are back! They have a new cast, a new look, and a new network. Power Rangers-Samurai debuted last night on Nickelodeon but they will move to their regular spot of Sundays at noon starting this weekend. The worlds most successful kids action series is in it's 19th season and has moved from Disney to Nickelodeon and just got a shiny, martial-arts influenced reboot. This season will combine comedy with action filled storylines, the new half-hour series features a new cast of Rangers and never-before-seen villians, as well as high octane, martial arts and advanced special effects.

The Power Rangers will also have an emPOWER movement that will launch along with the new series. emPOWER provides parents and kids with the tools they need to work together to grow healthy kids and support healthy communities.
emPOWER inspires participation in schools, online and in local communities to demonstrate the Power Ranger values:
*Standing for What's Right
*Teamwork and Cooperation
*Confidence
*Health and Physical Fitness
*Caring and Friendship

I watched the preview of Power Rangers Samurai and my family and I loved it. It is very entertaining for Dane, who is 9. I believe that  Power Rangers can teach children good life lessons. The action packed episodes are something I know Dane is looking forward to continue watching.

As a member of One2One Network, I am now eligible to win a gift card for expressing my opinion on the show. Opinion is 100% my own, your may differ. I received no other compensation for this post.

Clorox Get the Dirt, but Keep it Clean

Clorox has always been my brand of choice for cleaning. I just love knowing that whatever I am cleaning will be clean. Be it laundry, toys or my bathroom.

We know it, you know it: women love celebrity dirt. This Valentine’s Day, a new mobile campaign from Clorox^® Regular-Bleach helps women clean up their own dirt while they enjoy their Hollywood news.

Clorox is sharing quick clean-up tips on how to keep fashionable winter whites white, keep flowers fresh longer and host a Hollywood-style party. And with Valentine's Day just around the corner, a girl can use some help. Tips like…

 * Nothing says “I love you” like roses. Want to enjoy those flowers longer than a celebrity romance? Just add ¼ teaspoon of Clorox^® Regular-Bleach to each quart of cold water you put in the vase.

 * Got a stain from a heart-shaped chocolate on your favorite whites? It’ll come out in a snap once you add ¾ cup Clorox^® Regular-Bleach to the hot water and detergent in your washing machine.

To get more tips from Clorox^® Regular-Bleach and extend the Valentine’s Day romance, readers can enter the Get the Dirt, but Keep it Clean sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip for 2 Hollywood, CA! To enter and view official rules, visit www.Clorox.com/GetTheDirt

I received no compensation for this post. As a member of One2One Network I will be entered into a drawing to possibly win a years subscription to a magazine for this post.

Glee Gum Review and Giveaway ends 2/21 US Only

Did you know that in the U.S. alone, the total amount of chewing gum sold in one year would make a stick 3.5 million miles (5.6 million km) long? That’s long enough to reach the moon and back seven times or to circle the earth’s equator 150 times.

I recently received a "Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit" from Glee Gum. I had never really thought that it was a possibility to make gum at home. When I mentioned to some friends that the kids and I would be making our own gum, they were even shocked at the thought. Besides the kit, the wonderful people at Glee Gum, sent some Glee Gum packets and some information pieces in regards to their products.

In addition to the chewing gum kit they also have make your own gummy candy kit and make your own chocolate kit. These kits are comprehensive, you actually make your own chocolate from scratch with cocoa butter and cocoa powder and your gummy candies are made from natural gelling ingredients found within seaweed. All the ingredients are included with the kits and each kit includes a wonderful story that relates to the kit. These kits are easy to do and are wonderful to use at home or in the classroom. Be sure to check out Glee Gum on Facebook and Twitter.

Dane, my 9 year old son and I made our chewing gum. As I mentioned here we had a blizzard this week and we had been snowed in and were getting a bad case of cabin fever.  This was a perfect activity for Dane and I to do while Olivia took a nap.

To start off with we softened the gum base in the microwave. This took about 2 minutes in our microwave, we stirred it up to make sure that it was all softened then added the corn syrup.  Thats where Dane started having fun. We then poured out some of the powered sugar to started kneading the gum.

After kneading the gum it was time to add the flavoring. Our kit included two flavors-fruit and cinnamon. Dane decided he wanted to make the fruit chewing gum so I went ahead and made the cinnamon. You can experiment with more flavors by adding Kool-Aid or Jello or by adding food color to change the color.   After kneading the flavoring into the gum it was time to roll out the gum. We just added some of the powdered sugar to a cup and rolled the gum out.  It was then time to cut out some pieces of gum.

Dane was the first to try out the fruit gum and as you can see he gave it two thumbs up! Overall, the gum was great, the mess wasn't bad and the experience and time with my son was AWESOME!!! It was an awesome way to spend some time on a snow day and all in all I think Dane and I really enjoyed the "Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit" from Glee Gum.

The amazing people at Glee Gum have offered one lucky Finding Blessings in Everyday Life reader their choice of one kit (Chewing Gum, Gummies, or Chocolate). This giveaway is open to the US only. The giveaway will end at 11:59 PM on February 21, 2011.

To enter you must publicly follow Finding Blessings in Everyday Life on Google Friend Connect. You must leave a comment letting me know that you follow and include a valid email address so that I can contact you if you are the winner.

For extra enteries (1 each)...

Follow Glee Gum on Twitter

Follow Glee Gum on Facebook

Follow Finding Blessing on Twitter

Follow Finding Blessings in Everyday Life on Facebook.

I received one Glee Gum Make Your Own Chewing Gum kit  to use for my review. The opinions expressed are completely my own. Your opinion may differ. I received no other compensation.

Weekend Bloghopping

Friday Bloghops

A Billion Reasons Why- Book Review

A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck is a Christian romance novel that will leave a smile on your face.

Katie has moved across the country to be a special education teacher. She is now engaged to Dexter who appears to be the "safe" guy to fall for. Insert Katie's ex Luc. Luc is now a famous multi-millionaire and he wants Katie to come back to New Orleans to sing for his brothers wedding. Katie mentions that she is engaged to Dexter and that she is waiting to get her Grandmother's ring before she gets married. Luc offers that he will take her there on his private jet and will donate supplies to her school if she goes back with him. Reluctantly Katie goes back with him and together they confront their past and the mistakes that they made.  Will Katie marry Dexter or will Luc win back her heart?  How will Dexter react to Katie going off with Luc?

Throughout the book I seriously think I had a smile on my face. This is definitely a good romance novel. It is a happy, feel good book.  I loved it! I can not wait to read more from this author.

I did not receive any compensation for my review. I did receive a copy of this book free of charge for my review from BookSneeze. The opinions expressed are 100% my own. Your opinion may differ.

Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipes Review and Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

I don't know about you but I get really nervous when it comes to cleaning my electronics. So when I received Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipes to review I was so excited. I immediately opened it up and tried it out. My laptop screen and my phone screen were disgusting!

Product Description:
Brilliant screen cleaning wipes with SR-8 provides gentle, superior  cleaning to any electronic screen and removes dust, dirt, finger prints and makeup while imparting an invisible, durable barrier that protects screens 50x more form scratching. Helps protect against re-soiling to keep your screen brilliantly clean!

My Review:
I was amazed at how clean Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipes got my screens.  Nice and clean and smudge-free!!!  I love them. 2 thumbs up!

Screen Wipes are available in New York at Duane Reade, Southern California at Ralphs, and Nationally available at Walgreens and Ace Hardware. 
You can also find them here and here.

One lucky reader will win one package of Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipes. US only.
To enter you will need to be a Google Friends Connect follower and leave me a comment letting me know that you are following and leave a valid email address.

For extra entries you can follow Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipes on Twitter .
Follow Finding Blessings on Twitter.
Follow Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipes on Facebook.
Follow Finding Blessings on Facebook.
Leave me a comment letting me know what you have done.

This giveaway ends 2/15/11 at 11:59 PM. I will contact the winner via email. They will have 48 hours to claim their prize.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Blizzard Warning...I am Blog Hopping!!!!

I think that February and March got confused...isn't March supposed to come in like a lion?? Well we are under a Blizzard Warning here in Central Illinois. I have a work from home day and my kids have a snow day. Just hoping and praying for my husband. He works nights and thats when we are expected to get blasted. What weather are you expecting today? This storm is supposed to hit TONS of the US. Be safe friends.













Have a great day friends!