Current Giveaways-Ending Soon!

Tide® Loads of Hope  
(Vintage T-shirt-3 winners)
Ends, July 10
Click HERE to enter.

Baby Signs Pop-Up Book
Ends, July 10
Click HERE to enter.

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Rude People have NERVE!

RUDE!!! This is not funny and the person should be thrown out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Put the phone on vibrate. Give me a break already.  


what is so important in your life that you feel the need to have your phone on RING for the world to hear?  

why would you think it was important to interrupt a very important session? get out right now. NOPE. security remove this person.

Friday, July 03, 2009

Why is it when you forget your cellphone in the car, you'll receive the most urgent phone calls and messages?*sigh* Am I the only one?

Bring on the Fun!

Getting ready for a fun weekend.


Family, Friends, Food, Fun and Games.

Taboo and Pictionary!  

Yeah Baaaaaaby!

What are your plans for this holiday weekend?

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

strolling with my kids

Taking my kids out for a stroll.  
Danyelle felt she was too grown to jump in the wagon with her siblings! 



photo: Fold It & Go Portable Wagon   

Dance your "A" off-Oxygen

Dance your "A" Off!


 Are you watching this show? Did the judge just say, "Make your a** and your routine as tight as your weave"?? 

Ummmmm.....OOhhhKaY! Lol

Suave®Skin "Shower Yourself Beautiful" Party




Suave®Skin knows how important it is for busy moms (and dads) to take time for themselves. That's why MomSelect along with the  Suave®Skin campaign provided us with everything we needed to "Shower Ourselves Beautiful" every day.

Suave® Skin has a really exciting campaign for the Summer called "Shower Yourself Beautiful"that offers great tips from Holly Robinson Peete, actress and celebrity Mom. 

Our group of friends had a very exciting party and each guest received a special treat.  A goodie bag filled with Suave®Skin products (Wild Cherry Blossom Indulgent Body Wash, the Apricot Exfoliating Body Wash and their Advanced Therapy Moisturizing Lotion) to continue on our pampering journey.



Click HERE
to find out more ways on how you can "Shower Yourself Beautiful" by entering the prize giveaways.  

Each week running from June 15-July 20, you can create a different registry for a chance to instantly win your chosen prizes and also be automatically entered for a chance to win the ultimate at-home shower for you and your friends!

Click HERE to read about how 

Holly Robinson Peete Offers Tips for Making the Most of Life’s Small Indulgences




6/29 Holly’s favorite “me-time” indulgences

7/06 Gourmet Cook

7/13 Living room comforts

7/20 Traveling in style

Thank you again to MomSelect for sponsoring our in home Suave®Skin "Shower Yourself Beautiful" party.  We greatly appreciate your generosity.



 

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents ZING ZANG ZOOM


Come experience the all-new Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents ZING ZANG ZOOM  

playing the Greater Los Angeles area with your family! 


Click HERE to find out more dates and locations in your city!

 

A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU! 

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 by logging onto 

www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code: MOM.** 

 

Show Dates: 


Anaheim

July

15:

7:30pm

 

July

16:

1:00pm,

7:30pm

 

July

17:

10:30am,

7:30pm

 

July

18:

11:30am,

3:30pm,

7:30pm

 

July

19:

1:30pm,

5:30pm

 

July

20:

1:00pm

 

July

21:

7:30pm

 

July

22:

1:00pm,

7:30pm

 

July

23:

10:30am,

7:30pm

 

July

24:

1:00pm,

7:30pm

 

July

25:

11:30am,

3:30pm,

7:30pm

 

July

26:

1:30pm,

5:30pm

 

 

Los Angeles

July

8:

7:30pm

 

July

9:

7:30pm

 

July

10:

12:00pm,

7:30pm

 

July

11:

11:30am,

3:30pm,

7:30pm

 

July

12:

11:30am,

3:30pm,

7:30pm

 

Ontario

July

29:

7:30pm

 

July

30:

7:30pm

 

July

31:

7:30pm

 

Aug.

1:

11:30am,

3:30pm,

7:30pm

 

Aug.

2:

11:30am,

3:30pm,

7:30pm

*Use promo code MOM when purchasing tickets at Arena Box Offices, Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800- 

745-3000. Enter code in the “MC Promotion Box” on Ticketmaster. Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; 

additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Not valid on VIP, Front Row and Circus Celebrity 

seats or combinable with other offers. Service charge, facility fee and handling fees may apply. 

Boxer Briefs vs. Tighty Whities

My son announced he only wants to wear underwear like Daddy!

Yikes!  When will the off the wall requests end?

I had NO idea preschoolers even cared about stuff like this.

Imagine the playground talk:

Boxers or Briefs?

Sigh.

Imagine my surprise to find out there are various stores that actually sell these types of underwear for little boys.

Who Knew.



I thought ONLY little girls were crazy about what they wanted to wear. I had no idea little boys are just as fanatic. (sigh)

Question: Are your kids dressing themselves? What fun ways have you found to help them 'discover' their newfound independence?

Baby Signs Pop-Up Book (Giveaway)




After recently giving birth to my sweet baby girl, I've marveled at the many ways possible to communicate with her.


For instance, when she cries, I come running!  Hey, sounds like she has that communication/responsive part down to a science.  As she gets older, there's a need to effectively assist with her progress and to communicate and respond to her needs.


Using simple hand gestures and motions to create "Baby Signs" is a great way to begin this journey.


The Baby Signs book is a colorful and informative tool to assist you when trying to communicate with your baby.


From the beginning of the book to the end, you'll find the most basic and useful 15 sign words, photos and gestures to ease through wake up, eating, playtime and well into bedtime.







BABY SIGNS is based on American Sign Language and will help encourage the use of non-verbal gestures to communicate. Research has proven that babies who are taught to use signs to express their basic ideas before they can say words are happier because they can communicate with others.


For more information on this product at the Scholastic site, click HERE


Now on to the giveaway!  I have 5 copies of the Baby Signs Pop-Up Book to give to 5 lucky readers.


How to enter:

Leave a comment with your favorite baby sign from the photos provided.


--

(OPTIONAL) For additional entries:

1.  Twitter about this contest and leave the link in the comments section

2. Grab my blog button and place on your blog sidebar:
Days Like These!
3. Blog about this contest and leave the link in the comments section
You must leave separate comments (with your email address) with each one you complete.
Good Luck and please spread the word!
Giveaway ends July 10 at 9am, PST.
USA residents only.


Materials offered for giveaway:

Five (5First Prize winners

  • Copy of Baby Signs Pop-Up Book

 Each book valued at = $25.99

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Choosing Battles and Clothes (very carefully)

The time has arrived. I knew it was coming. I thought I prepared myself for it. Obviously, I didn't prepare well enough. Here's the latest developments in our home. My son dresses himself. He's been doing it for a long time. I've tried to find ways to CONTROL suggest matching outfits to wear. It's working to an extent. For the most part, I've just given up and hopes he at least remembers to put on underwear. LOL

While he's in the tub, I go and layout outfits for him to choose from. These are the ONLY outfits he has to choose from. Before, it would entail him going through every drawer, his closet and taking up precious time that we rarely have when we're on our way out the door.

This technique has been working like a charm. He (thinks) he's making all the decisions on what he's wearing and I am not cringing waiting to see what he has chosen.

His new phase is, he doesn't like shirts with stripes or collars. He ONLY wants to wear shirts with faces. Meaning, character shirts. I personally LOATHE these types of shirts. It's like he's a walking billboard. I've given up. I've given in. The only time I put my foot down are formal (church, family photos) events where a shirt and tie are a must.

He's figured out that he can bring one of his face shirts to change out of as soon as church is over. He's too smart for his own good! LOL



Tide® Loads of Hope (Giveaway)



Dedicated to providing clean clothes to help renew a sense of hope to families affected by natural disasters, the Tide Loads of Hope program has provided free laundry service to families and relief workers for the past three years following major disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and the California wildfires.

How Cool is That?

The Tide Loads of Hope program features a truck outfitted with 32 energy-efficient washers and dryers that can do 300 wash and dry cycles a day (the average American family does 392 loads per year). 

The program has also expanded to include a fleet of vans that can pick up and drop off laundry to local laundromats. Relief workers, first responders, and individuals in areas affected are able to drop off their laundry to be washed, dried and folded by the Tide Loads of Hope team, free of charge. 

The truck and vans are implemented after consultation with disaster relief agencies and local emergency management officials when significant disasters occur and there is a widespread need for clean clothing. This is a truly unique and efficient way to help communities.

When you purchase the special Tide® yellow capped bottles of detergent 10¢ will go toward helping families affected by disasters. You can get even more involved by logging on to  Tide®Loads of Hope to enter the cap code from their bottle and send messages of hope for people who are still getting back on their feet, as well as hear stories of perseverance from people in the initial days after a storm. You can also purchase one of their very cool and comfortable vintage tees for $20 and proceeds will go to help affected families.

My friend Anna loves her new  Tide®Loads of Hope  Vintage Shirt.  I couldn't wait to share her very cute poses wearing the  Tide®Loads of Hope  Vintage Shirt.  If you'd like to purchase this shirt, click HERE for ordering information.

Now it's your turn to get a chance to win one of your very own. We are giving away one t-shirt to 3 lucky readers in hopes of spreading the word on what Tide® Loads of Hope is doing to help families in need of clean laundry affected by a major disaster.

To learn more about the Tide® Loads of Hope program click HERE

Special thanks to Tide® for sponsoring this very cool giveaway!
______________________________________________
Visit the Tide® Loads of Hope website.  Come back to leave a disaster area (and dates) that received help by the Tide Loads of Hope campaign along with your valid email address.

Example of a valid comment:

Galveston, TX
Hurricane Ike
September 2008
Your email:  Karen at hotmail

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(OPTIONAL) For additional entries:

1. Follow Tide Loads of Hope on Twitter HERE
2. Twitter about this contest and leave the link in the comments section
3. Grab my blog button and place on your blog sidebar:
Days Like These!
4. Blog about this contest and leave the link in the comments section

You must leave separate comments with each one you complete.

Good Luck and please spread the word!

Giveaway ends July 10 at 9am, PST.

USA residents only.


Siblings

I met two sisters yesterday. They were the sweetest women ever! I told them they are so blessed and most of all, they have each other. I've always wanted a sister. Someone that I could call and share my girly thoughts with.

I marveled at their friendship and told them how lucky they were to have each other. They were telling me how growing up they used to fight and not really get along but, over the years as they got older, they've become closer and closer.

How awesome is that? It was really nice meeting them and it gave me hope that my kids will grow up to love and take care of one another.

Do you have siblings? Are you close?

Monday, June 29, 2009

I have realized my 4.5 year old still needs naps. At least quiet time. Every.single.day. Wish me luck. This is a struggle.

set it and forget it

Set the Baby Monitor on in the bedroom, went to the front of the house and FORGOT to turn on the receiver. Needless to say (after laundry and breakfast) when I finally remembered to turn it on, the baby was SCREAMING! Please, tell me I'm NOT the only one this has happened to! *sigh, sigh*

My sweet (6 weeks) baby Gracen

Oh no you didn't just ask that question!

I had a very interesting conversation with a friend this weekend regarding inappropriate questions during conversations and interactions with people.

She told me of the random and rude questions she's been receiving regarding some personal things in her life. I of course sat there with my mouth in the O position for most of the discussion. I had to chime in with the latest. My neighbor asked if I was going to have more kids. I told her after she has more kids to let me know.

I mean really------What made her think it was OK to ask me that?

Oh and my all time favorite, I was at a park playdate and one of the moms says, I was SURPRISED when I heard you were having a baby. I thought you were done.

My response was, how did you THINK anything about what I'm done about? When have you ever heard me talk about my personal business on that level like that?

My friend and I fell out laughing because she and I are cut from the same cloth. She said, I don't blame you. Nosy people annoy me! I can't stand when people ask a million questions. I have to tell them, "WHY YOU ALL UP IN MY GRILL?"

You have to be old school to know that phrase! LOL

She brought up this very interesting point. Which brings me to the following.....If you don't ask questions, how will you get to know anything about a person?

When getting to know someone,

What do you consider APPROPRIATE questions?

What do you consider INAPPROPRIATE questions?

Never can say goodbye

Re: The BET Awards Show last night.

What was your favorite part?
What was your LEAST favorite part?

Do you think the tribute to Michael Jackson was up to par? Do you think they should do a separate show to capture all of his memorable moments?

Friday, June 26, 2009

Flaky friends. How many of us have them?

What is going on with me lately??? I really want to hang out with my friends. When it comes to actually doing it, I flake out! That's part of the reason I never make solid plans. Oh well, the story of my life with a 4 year and 1 month old!

Flashback Fridays-DJ and the twins

DJ's buddies (Alex and Marissa) stopped by this weekend. 

They were in town visiting and it was so great to see them!

Look at them when they were babies! 

Tooo cute from back in the day!








Look at them now!!!!





Thursday, June 25, 2009

Playground Squabbles

My son (age 4) and I met a friend (age 6) and her mother at the indoor playground. The kids were playing up in the tall enclosed structure and all of a sudden we hear crying. 

Within a split second,  my son comes flying down the structure.  His friend comes down the other side, crying and holding her cheek.

We both immediately ask our kids, What Happened?  

My son:  I said excuse me and she wouldn't move.  So I stepped on her to get by.
His friend:  He stepped on my face.

Now what.................

Question:  How would you have handled the situation if you were in my shoes?
How would you have handled the situation if you were in the other mothers shoes?