Getting all my Ducks in a Row: 2010-05-30

Monday, June 7, 2010

Happy Birthday Avery!!

Today my second son turned 8 - we took him to the big city yesterday...went to The Cheesecake Factory and everyone got to choose their own cheesecake - it was a lot of fun because we let them order it before their meal...I was really surprised as was the waiter that not only did they eat it - but their meals too. Guess that's what I get for feeding them right!! :)

Show Me Your #giveaway #contest

Thanks for entering your giveaway's!

I am working on teeny tiny blog goals each week - this week's goal:
100 link ups...last week it was 74 (random I know) - the week before that 50...I feel it this week - gonna make my goal. :)

Please include your Blog, Prize and End Date.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

It Pays to Follow Blogs!!

I am participating in MailBox Monday @ A Frugal Friend. If you would like to join...click on the image below...and make sure to visit the other blogs and see what they got too!!

If you are nosy like me -- then you will probably enjoy this!!

Sorry for the grainy picture - Miss Maddy really wanted to be in the picture and now matter how many times I took it - she was moving - this was the best of the bunch.

It was a pretty good week for me...I did have one funny moment that I thought some of you might be able to relate too - I have been waiting for 2 things to come in the mail for a while...the tadpole habitat and some new toys that I will be reviewing - and have been watching the driveway pretty hopefully -- Fed Ex made an appearance last week (after not seeing them for a whole week) - and I was so excited! I mean like my little heart was pounding - to see what he would bring -

And it was something for HUBBY!

What a let down! LOL!

Reading Material
Not One Single Magazine...crazy right! :)

Freebies, Free Samples & Coupons

Old Spice Odor Blocker body wash
Home Made Simple Coupon Booklet
Ten Minutes from Home - from Read it Forward
Dr. Scholl's for her sample and $2.00 coupon
J.C. Penny $10 off $10 or more - Woot! Can we say free clothes?
Juno Baby DVD

2 precious hair bows - freebies for being the 200th customer of http://www.etsy.com/shop/Bowinhairos!! And check it out - she now has a clip listed inspired by Miss Maddy's love of Kitties!! :)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/47985747/mr-whiskers-hair-clip-or-headband

Giveaway Wins

Funky Monkey Snacks t-shirt and 3 bags of snacks - I am not sure why I received this - I think I might have won Trivia Tuesday...but never got a tweet about it.

Last year I won a Barbie Instant Win Game - and Look at Miss Maddy's new purse!! It also came with a bracelet and mirror. :)

Promotional Items for My Blog's

Bzz Kit for Got 2 B - smooth operator - 3 samples with $1.00 off coupons, Free product coupon for me, and lots of $2.50 off coupons to pass out!

The Plan A woman in a Plan B World - for review

If you would like to have a mailbox so full that it feels like Christmas every day...I suggest that you follow

It's Hip to Save

and

Free Sample Freak

For more Mailbox Monday and a ton of great giveaway's and freebies check out the fabulous host

I am a Mother to 4, Wife to Hubby and blogger at Getting all my Ducks in a Row.

Contact Me

Getting all my Ducks in a Row Chasing Butterflies Etsy Giveaway

--- @ WiseStamp Signature. Get it now

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Six Word Saturday - I Love That They Love Strawberries

If you would like to JOIN IN -- Click on the image above and link up your post with 6 words describing your life!!

My Six Words:

I love that they love strawberries!

I can't begin to tell you how proud it makes me that my kids love to eat things that are so incredibly healthy for them...now don't get me wrong - they are just as excited about a Happy Meal.

When the kids came home from VBS (vacation bible school) they were really hungry - so I offered up strawberries...you would have thought that I was giving them candy. They were dancing around - shouting Yahh! We Love Strawberries.

I need to look into finding a farm where you can pick your own...at breakfast one morning this week - my middle son said he didn't even know that you could grow strawberries. My kids need some education about the fine art of farming.

What good for you snack do your kids get excited about?

I am a Mother to 4, Wife to Hubby and blogger at Getting all my Ducks in a Row.

Contact Me

--- @ WiseStamp Signature. Get it now

Friday, June 4, 2010

Aloha Friday # 33

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link Here.

My Question:

What are the three makeup items you just can't live without? Do you have a particular favorite brand? (this question was first asked at Drugstore Divas - Thanks for allowing me to ask my readers too!)

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Thursday Morning Free Writing - I was seduced into thinking...

There are so many things that can influence
the way that we see (or choose to see) the world.

Here are just a few of the influences
that I have witnessed
and what I think of them.

I was seduced by country music songs into this romantic over the top view of marriage - only to find out that it's only as good as you try to make it. I had always imagined that just loving someone was enough - but you need more - you need to invest time and energy into loving that person and you have to be able to put up with them...that's the real secret to marriage.

I was seduced by long standing blog's into thinking that anyone could blog and be good at it - only to find out that it takes a lot of work. Blogging takes a lot more work and dedication that I at first thought. You have to have a good posts, good blog etiquette, time to read other blogs and a thick enough skin that when someone un follows you - you can shake it off enough to get back to your next post. There is also the constant need to steer people into your direction via facebook, twitter and linkys.

I was seduced by weight loss commercials into thinking that if I took this pill or used this piece of equipment that I would lose all the weight that I wanted to only to find out that only exercise and watching what you eat will do that.

I was seduced by diaper commercials and every cute baby I saw into thinking that having a baby is all cute and cuddly (which it sometimes is - only there is also a lot of puke, poop and whining involved.

I was seduced by 24 hour news channels into thinking that there wasn't any good left in the world and while I shudder to think what being made aware of a constant crisis/horror story/death is doing the American psyche - I know that there are still people with good left in their hearts. They are in every corner of the world - only hardly anyone ever mentions them.

I was seduced by credit card companies into thinking that I could have anything that they would allow me to buy - when I really need to think about whether I want/need/or can afford the things I buy.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Start Off With 50 SwagBucks!!

Summer of Swag!

There are the two BIG things going on this coming week:

1. Monday SwagBucks will be having a Swag Code Extravaganza - they'll be releasing at least 5 Swag Codes throughout the day - this would be a great way for any newcomers to start out with a bang!

2. Each day next week they'll be highlighting a different high value Swag Buck bill, starting on Monday with the 25.

Every 7th searching win on SwagBucks will be awarded that big bill, meaning that more people will have big wins next week!

Don't know what SwagBucks is?

I have used SwagBucks to earn almost $200.00 in Amazon Gift Cards so far! All through searches that I was already doing every day!

I am saving them up for Christmas this year! :)

SwagBucks is a great site that allows you to randomly win swagbucks for searching through their search engines (which are powered by Google- I have found that I never have to go to another search engine - they always have what I am looking for.)

Basically you sign up (I recommend downloading the toolbar and making swagbucks.com you home page) then just do your regular searches in a swagbucks search bar. I usually win 2 or 3 times a day.

But there are lots of different ways to get extra swagbucks -- through codes, hunts, just for having your toolbar and even for skipping through the special offers that are available every day!

Now want to hear the best Part?

Not only can you get 30 swag bucks just for signing up...

I HAVE A CODE THAT YOU CAN USE TO GET AN EXTRA

20 swag bucks!!

Just enter

SUMMEROFSWAG

when you sign up for an extra 20 Swag Bucks to pad your account.

The code is good until the midnight on Friday, June 11th.

Please use one of the links in this post to sign up as the first 1000 that you earn through searching - I would too!

I was given this information to post thanks to swagbucks.com. I was not compensated in anyway and all opinion expressed is mine and mine alone. :)

For More Info or to hear it from the Swag Guy himself check out this post from the swag bucks blog!

Wordless and Wordful Wednesday - A Look Back at the Week.

Wordful and Wordless Wednesday is a great time to glance back through the photo's that you have taken that week and celebrate them!

I almost didn't want to post this picture...the older that I get - the more I notice the lines in my face...I know this is a part of growing older...I know that it happens to everyone...and I know that there are things that I could do to fix them...but the more I think about it...it reminds me of a song...I will spare you my karaoke version - but know that I am singing along in my head.

This one's for the girls
Martina McBride

This one's for all you girls about thirteen
High school can be so rough, can be so mean
Hold onto, on to your innocence
Stand your ground when everyone's giving in

This one's for the girls

This is for all you girls about twenty-five
In a little apartment, just trying to get by
Living on, on dreams and spaghetti-o's
Wondering where you life is gonna go

This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls

This is for all you girls about forty-two
Tossing pennies into the Fountain of Youth
Every laugh, laugh line on your face
Made you who you are today

This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls

Yeah, we're all the same inside (same inside)
From 1 to 99

This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls
Yeah, this one's for the girls

5 Minutes for Mom ~ Go Graham Go! ~ Jolly Mom ~ Look What Mom Found… ~ Mom of 3 Girls ~ Frosted Fingers
~ Momspective ~ Momma Findings ~ Run DMT ~ A Daily Dose of Toni ~
Keeper of the Cheerios ~

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

WAT-AAH Boy Says Show Me Wat You Got!

CLICK HERE!

The site features the WAT-AAH! Boy bragging about his own skills and challenging kids to send a video to prove he can be outdone.

He wants kids between 5-17 years of age to join and show off their talents... ANY TALENT!... and have the chance to win CASH REWARDS and some amazing, once in a life time opportunities:

The kid with the most amazing SOCCER skills can win a trip for 2 to Milan to watch Inter Milan, the 2010 European Champions, and meet the players!
The kid(s) with the most amazing MUSICAL performance can have the chance to record their song, and present to Al Branch, the chief talent scout from Def Jam Records and manager of well-known artists like Kanye West and Drake!

True to his mission the WAT-AAH! Boy wants kids to stay active, be motivated and be healthy this summer and join his challenge.

It starts today and ends September 30, 2010.

I was sent this info from WAT-AHH. I didn't receive any compensation. All Opinion expressed is mine and mine alone. :)

Gorton's Vintage T-Shirt Giveaway!

Gorton's Seafood Old School Vintage Tee Facebook Giveaway

Every day in June (June 1 - June 30, 2010),
beginning TODAY, Gorton's is giving away
Vintage T-shirts to 3 lucky Gorton's Seafood
Facebook fans!

Just click the button above to head over and enter!

You can go back and enter each day for another chance to win!

I was provided with this info thanks to Gorton's and while not compensated for this post - I am being entered to win one of the vintage t's thanks to this post. All opinion expressed is mine and mine alone! :)

Tasting it Tuesday

I have been posting a recipe a week at:

A food blog featuring a different blogger each day. We want to break out of the staple of stale suppers by trying out a new recipe each week.

I am going to be posting my recipe here from now on too...

Free Bacon/Beans/Cornbread

I recently got a chance to try out Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon free thanks to being a member of Kraft First Taste - anyone can sign up and every so often there will be a new offer to sign up for...it's a great way to try out Kraft products for free.

While shopping for rice this week - My youngest son wanted to know what beans were...he thought that they only came in a can...so I made it my mission to show him how to make them...only I didn't know either. Gasp.

So I read the package directions - developed my plan of action - and then called my Mom to ask her what she thought...and then proceeded to ignore her. :)

Since I didn't give it enough fore thought to soak my beans over night...I picked through them, put them in a pot of water that I brought to a quick boil and let them sit there for an hour...then rinsed and drained them. (this was against my Mother's wishes) she said that the skins of the beans would come off - she was right - but only a few did.

While the beans were draining...I cut up the entire package of turkey bacon into small pieces and fried it in a little bit of canola oil.

If you have never tried turkey bacon - I would really recommend it! It doesn't taste anything like pork bacon...so you can't really use it to replace bacon - but it does have a good flavor and makes a really mean Turkey BLT.

I reserved most of it for topping beans and Jiffy Muffins.

Then I put the beans back into the bacon grease and left over bacon, added a full box of chicken stock and a little bit of water.

Cook for about an hour and a half at medium heat with the lid slightly offset.

Prepare Jiffy Muffins according to package directions...I just threw in some of the turkey bacon.

To serve...top bowl of beans with a little bit of cheese and crispy turkey bacon.

While this may not seem so TA-DAA - it was a welcome change. It was a recipe that I have never tried...and we loved it.

This is definitely a 5 spooner with everyone at my house - Even Hubby who turned his nose up when he figured out what I was making. In fact - he went back for seconds.