My Thanksgiving Dinner 2011

                         
I just wanted to share a little about my Thanksgiving with you.Like always,I hosted dinner at my house.That means I make about 80% of the food,host all the visitors and get left with the cleanup after.Ok I will admit my sisters and mom offer to help,but that never seems to actually get finished before it gets late and everyone has to go home.This year I had both sisters and their families,my mom,grandmother and uncle as well as my family.The gathering lasted for hours like it usually does,and we all had a good time,even if it was a little crazy here with all those people.

                                          My 20 pound turkey            My nephew playing bunny boy

The preggo sister getting my niece ready to go home after a long day!

Valentines Day Blog Hop

I will be participating in another blog hop in a few months.The Valentines Day Blog Hop will take place between Feb. 1st and 14th. Each giveaway will be worth at least $25 and will be Valentine themed.There are almost 40 blogs participating already and sign ups just started.If you want to participate by hosting your own giveaway on your blog,head over and sign up like I did! I plan to hop around and enter the other great giveaways too.Are you as excited as I am?

I will be working on some great items to give away to my wonderful readers.See you there!!

One Stop Christmas Hop Giveaway-3 Winners Over $200 in Prizes

I am super excited to be part of the One Stop Christmas Hop.I love finding new blogs,entering giveaways and sharing the fun with my readers too.I will be participating a more of these great hops,so don't forget to come back often!

From now until 12:01am December 7th,you can visit all the blogs listed below to enter each of their fantastic giveaways.Each blog will be offering at least one item or package worth $25 or more,so this is a great place to snag some of those last minute gift items you need.Here at 2 Monsters and A Princess,you have a chance to win 3 great prize packs.





Follow the rules on the rafflecopter form,enter my giveaway and then jump to the next blog on the list.Have fun and good luck!















***I post about items I use,enjoy,like and love.All opinions on my blog are my own and may not be the same as anyone else..that's why they are mine.I receive sample items in order to write a fair and honest review.Giveaway items are provided by the sponsor/sponsors and they are responsible for shipping all prizes.***

ReUseIt Bags Offer Freedom and Style

I hate going to the grocery store.The entire process gives me a headache every time I have to do it.If it weren't for the fact that we would all starve to death without it,I would probably never go.My trip to the store goes something like this..

I check the ads for deals on things I will need anyway.I get to the store,shop for at least an hour and finally get in line.Here the fun begins.Do I want paper or plastic bags for my purchases.Paper would be better,except that every time I get them, they shove too much into at least one and it rips open in my car or somewhere between the store and home.This leaves me to carry those items into the house in my arms or make another trip inside to grab a bag for them.I get plastic,hating that so many will end up in the trash because I can only reuse so many plastic bags in my house.I get home with my 30 plastic bags of assorted household crap and start to carry them inside.Before I can even make it in the door,the handle to one of the bags rips and my items come tumbling down my steps and into my flowers.Nice.This happens every time!

I reviewed the Baggu Large Reusable Shopping Bag in the blue stripe pattern.The blue and tan striped design works well for anyone and it fits into a provided slim zippered storage pouch when not being used.

I can keep this in my purse and even toss in a few extra for big shopping trips without stuffing my purse or having to carry them in the front of my cart while shopping.I can even keep some in the little mesh pocket in my van for on the go needs for the whole family.

I will not hate going to the store as much now that I have a ReUseIt bag to take with me.My Baggu bag has worked much better for me than those little bags you can buy at the checkout of some stores.You know what I mean,the bulky canvas bag that never goes flat again after you have used it a few times.Yes they do hold a good bit of weight,and they do last for awhile,but if you get them dirty and have to wash them,they seem to start unraveling and falling apart.With the Baggu bag,I can simply wipe it off and am good to go.The 100% rip stop nylon bag holds up to 25 pounds and the size is great.I can fit a ton of items into one of these bags and make my day a lot less stressful.

There are a variety of  styles,sizes and colors to choose from on the site,so finding one to fit your needs should be a snap.My son has decided to take mine so he can use it to carry his books at school.They aren't allowed to carry closed book bags inside the school so this is great for him.It would also make an excellent beach or pool bag,or even a nice overnight bag  for the kids.I am willing to bet there are more uses for these than I can even think of,but I am impressed with just the ones I mentioned.

With the Holidays rapidly approaching,these would make a great gift for the college student on the go or the "green" person on your shopping list.

*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.

**All opinions on my blog are my own and may not be the same as anyone else..that's why they are mine.I receive sample items in order to write a fair and honest review.No other compensation was received.

Qwik Shower Big Wet Wipes

With the Holidays now fully upon us,everyone I know is rushing around trying to do all the things still on their lists.I had my family here for Thanksgiving Saturday and we had a house full of chaos for sure.With 15 people at any given time and 6 kids running around everywhere,it was crazy!

Something that came in handy with all those kids were the samples of  Qwik Shower Big Wet Wipes I had received for review.The 10x12 inch wipes were perfect for cleaning up the little ones after all the pie,cranberry sauce and cookies they ate.I don't have a baby anymore,so I don't have baby wipes on hand for emergency cleanup like I used to.I grabbed the Qwik Shower samples and gave them a try.Each Big Wet Wipe is sealed in it's own packet for less mess,easy access and a fresh wipe.(I hate when my wipes get dried out after sitting in my purse or car for awhile.)

These would be great for dorm rooms,gym or diaper bags,lunchboxes and more for fast,convenient,on the go cleaning needs.Toss a few in a care package for your away from home teen or in your travel bag or suitcase to avoid messy vacation disasters.There are so many uses for these.I am thinking of tucking a few into a diaper cake for my sister and maybe even in the kids stockings for them to toss in their backpacks and sports bags.

You can try a sample from the store for only $1 or stock up and get 100 single wrapped wipes for only $49!

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.

 ***.All opinions on my blog are my own and may not be the same as anyone else..that's why they are mine.I receive sample items in order to write a fair and honest review.***

GO BLUE-Michigan Defeats The Ohio State Buckeyes!

I know you saw it,or at least heard about it right? Well if you live in Michigan or Ohio,I know that you know what I am talking about.I can still hear the fight song playing in victory when the mighty Michigan Wolverines played one hell of a game to defeat The Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday.I am a hard core Michigan fan,something that gets me lots of comments living 30 minutes from Ohio State. (I was even born minutes from the field) To all you Buckeye fans out there,it was a good game,but the best team won and your coach didn't help matters at all.

                                                                      GO BLUE!

Gourmet Gift Baskets for the Holidays

Are you looking for a gift for that hard to buy person? Maybe it's the office gift exchange or the family member who has everything.You can find some great gift ideas at Gourmet Gift Baskets.

There is a little something for everyone available in these fabulous gift baskets.With many styles and items to choose from,surely you can find what you are looking for at a price that won't break the bank.One of my personal favorites are the Holiday Sweets and Treats Snowflake Tin which comes with Mint Chip
Maltballs,seasoned pretzels,chocolate chip cookies and much more.Another family favorite in our home is the Deluxe Christmas Chocolates basket which includes chocolate cherries,coconut almond patties,trufflz and almond pecandy crunch to name a few.Of course if you are like my husband,you would choose the Around the World Beer Bucket with 12 different beers from different places and comes complete with snacks too.

No matter who you are buying for,this is a great place to look.With baskets featuring wine,baked goods,candy,fruit and more,this is a one stop shop for the adults,groups or "picky" people on your list.

* I was not compensated for this post.I will earn extra entries into another giveaway for sharing this with you.All opinions are my own.

Skin-Peel Review Coming Soon

We all need a little help in staying young and healthy looking.Thanks to Skin-Peel.com I will be receiving a great new item to help me in my battle.I selected the Fushion Peel  because it is a new product that sounds perfect for me.Stay tuned for my upcoming review!

* I will be receiving a product or products to review as a member of She Blogs.No other compensation was received.

What are you having for Thanksgiving?

This year,as always,I am making Thanksgiving dinner at my house.This was not supposed to be the plan but I got roped into it yet again.Not that I don't enjoy having everyone get together,but I hate being the one left with all the mess to clean every time.Ugh..anyway my current menu is-

Turkey with Stuffing
Brown Sugar Ham
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Mixed veggies in cheese sauce
Pumpkin Pie,
Chocolate Pudding Pie
Oreo Cream Pie
Cranberry Sauce
Cheeseball and Crackers

My guests are bringing Pecan Pie,Chocolate Roll,Cheesecake Bites,Banana Cream Pie and Green Bean Casserole..this is the menu so far..any ideas for some other side dish type items that aren't sweet?

Holiday Gift Idea for Adults-Vibrating Pleasure Briefs

It's that time of year again.Time to trim the tree and wrap the gifts and wait for the smiles.Are you still looking for a gift for someone in your life,or maybe need a suggestion for what someone could get you? I received a new present to try from my wonderful friends at Good Vibes.

The Remote Vibrating Pleasure Panty Brief is a gift that keeps on giving.These black lace briefs have a hidden pocket sewn into the lining to hold the specially designed bullet vibe in just the right spot for maximum pleasure.These briefs offer so many way to have fun.Of course you can wear them for that special someone,which is sure to please the eye all by itself,but when you add in the vibrating effect,the options for fun increase drastically.

This is so fun to play with.Hand your partner the remote when they walk in the door and see where it goes.If you are a little more daring,add a little spice to a romantic dinner by letting your partner have the remote and play with the 10 different functions while you try to remain composed.The possibilities are endless.These are available in a thong version too if that suits you better.

Great gift idea for the husband and boyfriends-team these with some Devour Me Lickable Body Oil and put this under the tree for that special lady.This way you both get a gift (or two if you're lucky) and you can use it again and again.They even tie on the sides,so you don't have to worry about a perfect it with the adjustable satin ribbons.

Of course there are many more options for under the tree.Grab one of their Gift Sets and see where the night goes.They have a huge variety of items to choose from with discreet,fast shipping and great customer service.Perfect for any romantic occasion or a just because gift,check them out this holiday season.

* I received this item free as a Good Vibes Affiliate for review.No other form of compensation was received and all opinions are mine from my experiences.

Double Digits Does Double Wonders

This post is intended for adults only.If this is not you,or you do not care to hear about sex,click away now!

I received a new toy a few weeks ago and I wanted to share it with you.The Double Digits Silicone Double Dildo is the newest addition to my marital aides family.In my opinion you can never have too many accessories for the bedroom.Not only does it add a little spice,but it keeps things new and interesting too.I believe a satisfied partner is a committed partner and what better way to keep them happy at home then to change it up every now and then.

This unique shaped toy is designed to resemble 2 fingers and curved for perfect g-spot stimulation.Not too big but not small either this provides a nice fit for just about anyone.There are multiple ways you can use this toy to make it work for everyone.Of course,like any dildo,it can it be provide great self satisfaction,but that is just the beginning of its uses.The three speed bullet vibe can also be used for partner play.Use it with a harness for double satisfaction or let your partner in on the fun while they use it to drive you wild.You can even use it in the shower and cleanup with no worries,because this silicone,phthalate free sex toy is fully waterproof and super easy to clean too! Oh and did I mention it is part of the Good Vibes Ecorotic line of green sex toys.

Good Vibes has a ton of other items to suit your needs.From the great selection of body and massage products to their full line of Sexy Gifts and Games,you can find the perfect item to make your night a happy one.

* I received the mentioned product as an affiliate for Good Vibes.No other forms of compensation were received and the opinions are my own from my experiences.

My Caring Cross

I will be the first to tell you,I am not big on religion.You will not find me preaching to anyone,nor will you see me in church on Sunday.That said,I am not against religion,I just have issues with organizing a bunch of people to do something you can do alone or with family or friends.I believe you can show your faith and dedication without giving money to the church or being expected to conform to the standards of its members.

When I saw the opportunity to review My Caring Cross.I hesitated a moment before applying.I try to be open to all new items and give everything a fair chance on my blog,so I went for it anyway.

When my cross arrived it was nicely packaged in a velveteen drawstring bag.This is a nice touch to help keep it clean and easy to find in your purse,car,suitcase or wherever you decide to keep it.This was much larger than I had expected being a hand crafted cross,the olive wood has a nice smell to it and the color is nice too.I noticed it has a smooth feel,a good thing when dealing with wood items.Here is the description from the company-

"Caring Crosses are individually carved from a single unique piece of beautifully grained olive wood pruned from the olive trees around Bethlehem the birthplace of Jesus. Christians have been carving crosses like this for hundreds of years, originally for pilgrims and more recently tourists visiting the Holy Land. Each craftsman receives a fair price to support their family and Christian community. The Caring Cross is designed to fit comfortably into the palm of your hand as an aid to prayer or meditation. Ideal as your spiritual companion for easing children's fears, comforting worries and stresses of adults and focusing the prayer of the sick and elderly."


Because these crosses are hand carved,purchasing them helps the creator earn money to support their family.These can be a great comfort gift,a nice remembrance piece or just a reminder of what is important in their life.There are many uses for these original pieces.They even offer a wedding version complete with cream bag and personalized card. 


YOU CAN WIN ONE IN THE HOLIDAY BLOG HOP STARTING AT MIDNIGHT!! ENTER MY GIVEAWAY AND HOP AROUND TO ENTER THE REST TOO!!

**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.All opinions are my own and may be different then someone else.

Sending Smiles with Cheerios Cheer Plus Giveaway

These days,I think everyone knows someone serving in the military.I think everyone has to respect the job they do even if you wish there wasn't a need for it.I think many times we don't remember that while our troops are off putting their lives on the line,their families are at home doing what they have to do,every day,wearing a brave face over their worried hearts.Cheerios and the USO have come up with a cute and easy way for us to honor them.

Through the end of November,the specially marked boxes of Cheerios will feature a cheer postcard on the front.Simply cute out the postcard,write a message of thanks on the back,add a stamp and mail the pre-addressed postcard to the USO,who will deliver them to military families all over the country.Every time you do this simple act,Cheerios will donate $1 to the USO for programs that support military families.We all know how little they get paid to do the job they do,so what a great way this is for us all to give back! We are mailing ours and I hope you do too!

Thanks to Cheerios and My Blog Spark,I was sent a prize pack to help them spread the word.I received the box of Cheerios with postcard,Cheerios bowl and spoon and cereal dispenser shown above.This was a treat for the whole family.The kids love Cheerios and enjoyed sending the postcard.I love the dispenser which makes school mornings a little less hectic.I twist it 3 times which gives the perfect amount for morning time here.My husband claimed the bowl and spoon the minute I opened it.It is a nice, heavy,I think ceramic bowl which was nice.I hate those flimsy plastic bowls.My husband used it for cereal and chili and loves it.

One of you will receive the same products I did thanks to the great sponsors!

Mandatory Entry-
Leave a comment telling me who in your family will write on the postcard if you win

Extra Entries-
Like Cheerios on Facebook-1 entry
Follow me on GFC-1 entry
Subscribe to this blog via email or reader-1 entry
Vote for me on Picket Fence Blogs (button in sidebar)-1 entry
Tell me about someone you know serving in the military.This just needs to be a comment saying who it is or what they do-1 entry

Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on December 3rd.Please leave email so I have a way to contact the winner.Each entry needs to be a new comment.

* I received the prize pack,giveaway items and information as a member of My Blog Spark.No other compensation was received.All opinions are my own and may be different from those of anyone else.

Kroger Gives Back To You Plus $25 GC Giveaway!

Did you know through November 26th,if you purchase any 4 General Mills participating items Kroger will give you free milk.You can stock up on milk and save up to $3 (limit of 2) or take $3 off your shopping order at participating locations.This is really a great deal for for everyone I know.I can't think of anyone who can say they don't use at least one General Mills product or another,and we all use milk anyway,right? No matter how you look at it,you can't lose.

One of our favorite General Mills products are the Pillsbury Ready to Bake Cookies.I love to keep these on hand for "emergency" snacking,a quick after school treat or casual party food.I am in love with the Big Deluxe Peanut Butter Cup.They are soooo good with chocolate milk.The kids prefer the Chocolate Chip and White Chunk Macadamia Nut.Of course,you can select other items like Cheerios,Nature Valley and Fiber One if you prefer,as long as you have 4,you can save!


Kroger wants to help one of my readers save even more with a $25 Kroger Gift Card good at any of the Kroger Co.Family of Stores!









*This promotion varies in different locations,so please check your local store for complete details.

** The Kroger gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by Kroger and General Mills through MyBlogSpark." The opinions are my own.

Coke Fights for the Polar Bears with New White Cans

Coke is turning their well known red cans white this holiday season.They are teaming up with the World Wildlife fund as part of an effort to save the Arctic home of the polar bears.

YOU CAN HELP TOO...

Texting the product code from inside participating packages will donate $1 and Coke will match it! You can also make an individual donation at Arctic Home.You can also read interesting facts and learn more about polar bears and their lives while you are there.


*The information was provided by Coco Cola Live Positively.No form of compensation was received for this post..I am simply spreading the word.

Trying to Master Heelys Before it Snows

My youngest son,Aiden,has been asking for Heelys for quite awhile now.I was a little hesitant about getting him some because he doesn't have the best balance in the world.Of course,when I was offered a pair to review,I instantly thought of him.I let Aiden pick which pair he liked best and he selected these awesome black and white Heelys.We went with the new HX2 style because they are for younger kids and beginners.We figured once he got the hang of them,we could remove the front wheel and he could use them like the original version.I love that you can take the wheels all the way out using the provided tool and wear these like shoes.This is perfect for a skating trip,they can wear the shoes to the location,snap in the wheels to use them and snap them back out again in seconds.Aiden didn't have any trouble with the wheels and was able to put them in right the first try.

Aidens first experiment with these went a little crazy.I was helping him learn to balance on them when our neighbor stopped me to talk for a second.Aiden decided to try and take off on his own and ended up on his rear with scraped elbows and a sore bottom.I would suggest using knee and elbow pads and a helmet if using these outside, for the first time,or if you have a clumsy kid like I do.He is getting better at it but he hasn't mastered it enough to get a video like I wanted to do.He is able to use them on our wood and laminate flooring but not so well outdoors yet.My step children both have a pair and they can zoom around on them like they are floating on air.I am always cringing when they use them but so far we haven't had any other accidents.

This is a great item to add to your Holiday shopping list this year.What a nice surprise under the tree! Heelys 2011 Fall/Winter collection has many new styles to choose from,plus the exclusive Nano footboard. This first ever, inline footboard provides a stable setting for your front foot,while allowing your other foot to  help you speed up,make turns and perform tricks.

                                                              Black Friday Special!! 
Between Nov.25th and 28th, you can buy any pair of Heelys and get the second pair for only $25 or buy a Nano and get a pair of shoes for $25..plus FREE ground shipping on all orders!!


* I received a pair of Heelys as a member of Business to Blogger for review purposes.No other form of compensation was received and the opinions are my own.

Party Beans Personalized Party Favors

I love to make things that are unique and fun.Sometimes this little added touch can make all the difference in the world. With the Holidays fast approaching,now is the perfect time to start on those stocking stuffers the children love to get.In our house,we do the stockings first, and then the presents so I try to include a few little trinkets,games,toys and such along with their candy.This has always made them excited to see what they have in their stockings as much as what they have under the tree.

 

Thanks to Party Beans,I was able to create these cute little tins for them this year.Using the design tool,I selected the background I wanted,added my customized text,selected my candy option and was good to go.I love the variety of designs you can create for these,although I do wish there were more themes available.There are many sizes and styles for your containers too.I did the 0.5 oz. small snip-snap tin for the holiday and baby ones and the 1 oz. premium tin for the anniversary one.

I chose to do these with the Jelly Belly 20 flavor mix.You can do all the flavors like I did or select 1 or 2 favorite flavors you like best for these.You can have them filled with mints or use M&Ms as well,with all 6 colors or 1 or 2 favorite colors.This is perfect for a themed favor..red and green for Christmas,orange and brown for Halloween etc.

Creating these is a snap,it takes less than 5 minutes to design a tin from start to finish.I was amazed at how fast they arrived. I honestly figured being customized that it would take a week or so for them to be mailed,but they shipped the next day and I had them in hand in just a few days! That is super fast for a personalized gift and makes it easy for last minute ordering.Prices start as low as 1.99 ( I got all mine with shipping for under $25) with no minimum order and they are KOSHER certified too!!

If you are looking for personalized gifts and party favors,I highly recommend checking out the variety offered.These would make perfect ,teachers gifts,shower favors and treats for weddings,birthdays and more! You can have names,dates or other personalized messages added to create just the right look for you.

* 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.

Shutterfly Family Photo Days

It's that time of year again,time to start making lists,buying gifts and preparing for the Holidays.One of the big stressors during this time is getting pictures taken.We all know how hard it can be to get the perfect family photo,and there always seems to be something in the way.It can be a disaster trying to get everyone together and looking their best to achieve the exact look you want for your Christmas Cards.

Shutterfly has come up with a way to make this a little easier for us all.Throughout November,Shutterfly is hosting Family Photo Days. This creative website offers ideas,support and more to help you accomplish the impossible and get that perfect picture you have always wanted.There are videos to help you decide on location,posing and even creating your Holiday Cards as well as tips and tricks to achieve just the right look for your family.

The site doesn't stop at ideas for your photos either, there is also a section for finding a photographer,and a fabulous section on finding others who are doing the same thing as you.There is a locator to help you find local Family Photo Days groups so you can join in and be part of the fun.Simply type in your zip code and they do the rest.I found mommy groups,play date groups and even single parent groups using the locator.This is a great way to find others to discuss your thoughts and ideas with and who knows,you may even walk away with some new friends as well.

I have a few tips of my own for a great family photo..

1.Don't try to be something you are not...
If your family is more comfortable in jeans and sweatshirts,incorporate that into your photo instead of trying to cram everyone in ties and dresses and end up with an uncomfortable looking bunch.

2.Be creative with your background...
Have a favorite sports team,vacation site or party theme? Try finding a background to match or creating your own that reflects who you are instead of using the typical fireplace scene or Santa hats theme you normally use.

3.Plan your photos at a time that works for everyone...
Scheduling your photo shoot at a time when the baby takes their nap or the kids just come home from school is most likely not a good idea.Try to make it during a time when everyone has had a chance to unwind from their day,or early enough that you won't end up with cranky kids or haggard looking parents in your photos.

Don't forget to enter the Holiday Photo Contest when you visit the site.There are 5 categories where 5 different winners will receive a years worth of cards.Plus you get 5 free cards just for entering!

I will receive a code for 50 great cards from Shutterfly for helping them spread the word about this great site.No other forms of compensation were received.The honest opinions are my own and not influenced by, or required for, receiving products.

Esigns Vinyl Banners for the Perfect Look

I made the neatest thing for my daughter the other day.The Princess loves to have personalized items in her room.She has vinyl decals on her headboard and door with princess stuff all over.Now,thanks to Esigns,I was able to make her a beautiful vinyl banner to add to her decor.The banner is 3'x6' and has a rainbow,castle,flowers and more with the words-Princess Reagan Rules Here in a star-studded purple font.

I really loved making this banner for her.There were so many options to creating your one of a kind banner at Esigns. You have the choice of uploading your own personal artwork to use in your design,but I decided to use their design software instead.First I selected a background,which was the rainbow and clouds.There are different categories to choose from like Holidays,Baby and Kids,Nature and many more.Next I selected the clip art that I wanted to use.I uploaded a princess castle and then selected a tree,some flowers and a pretty winged horse from the provided clip art section.I was able to place them where I wanted and change the size,color and rotation for the perfect layout.I added my text,which I personalized and I was done.The whole process took me about 30 minutes and that was because I had such  a hard time deciding what kind of banner I wanted to make.I chose to do this to match Reagan's room,but you can do a ton of different banners like Birthday Banners,Garage or Yard Sale Banners,Window Banners and more.

I was so excited for this to arrive and when it did,I was thrilled with the results.The banner looked much better than the proof pictured above and the colors were amazing.I wasn't sure if it was going to be as bright and pretty as it looked when I designed it,but it actually came out looking much better!

The printing was perfect,no smudges or blurry edges like you sometimes get in printed items,and the font looked exactly as it did in the design template.Another thing I loved was the quality of the vinyl.This banner was made of a nice thick vinyl which will hold up well over time.I can easily see this still hanging in her room years from now looking as beautiful as it did the day it arrived.Speaking of hanging,the banner even has grommets to make perfect hanging a snap.

Right now you can enter to win free signs for a year thanks to Esigns.Simply share your Esigns experience on your blog,through video,photos etc and enter your information here for your chance to win!

The next time you need a banner for that special event or occasion,or just something fun like I did,visit Esigns for the perfect custom design!!

 *I was given the mentioned product to assist in my review.NO other form of compensation was received.The honest opinions are my own and not influenced by, or required for, receiving products.

My Blog Needs Assistance

My blog needs a little help.I am fine with the layout,posting and pages,but I have no idea how to do some things.I am looking for someone to do a little designing for me.I am pretty sure I can put it on my blog once finished,but as to the actual creating..I need help.I need a header and new matching button.I typically do not pay for these type of things,but I am willing to discuss that or I am willing to put a button,banner etc. on my blog home page for payment.If you have a different idea or are interested in working with me on this,please send me an email,twitter or facebook message and I will get back to you. I am looking for a theme that matches my blog name..so a picture of 2 different looking monsters and a princess of some sort,with the blog name included in there somewhere..just in case you want to know.Thanks!

Our Halloween Experience

 Well Halloween is officially over.The kids had a blast as always trick or treating.We live in an area where there are quite a few older people and they really get into handing out candy.

My daughter,the Princess,loves to be center stage and she really enjoys all the attention she gets from all her neighborhood "Grandmas".

As you can see Monster G was Jason Voorhees,Monster A was an ARF Trooper and The Princess was a good witch.They ended up with 3 big bowls of candy that will probably still be here at Christmas and had a great time.

I have started taking down my decorations and putting it all away until next year.I really hate to do that but I guess that's how it goes.I could leave the bats and zombies,vampires and ghosts out all year long,but my husband would probably go mad if I did.I do have a few items that stay out all the time like my glittery,spooky tree candle holder..

I love this thing.I have no idea where my mom got it,but I think it's perfect for me.I love that it is metal so it will last forever and came complete with an orange tealight that matched the face.I don't burn the candle in this one though,it is just out to be seen.

I just received this new favorite item thanks to a giveaway win at Sweeps4Bloggers.If you haven't visited the site,I recommend it for giveaway lovers.There are always tons of open giveaways going on.This amazing little Bottle Boy from Mistress Rae's Decadent Designs is so awesome I just can't stand it.I love the skull in his hands and the gorgeous detail in his face.

I can't forget my lovelies,the mini Living Dead Dolls.I have had these for about 10 years and never get tired of seeing them.

How was your Halloween? Did your kids get a load of candy too? I hope you all had as much fun as we did!

We Are Zombies

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I made these with an app on my phone.Just wanted to share our Zombified selves with you.

                                                                          AIDEN

                                                              PRINCESS REAGAN

                                                                          GAGE

                                                                Aren't I Beautiful!!

Xia Xia Pets Crawl Into Action

Have your kids discovered Xia Xia Pets yet? My daughter is freaking out over these cute little crabs and accessories.We were given the opportunity to host a Xia Xia party thanks to Mom Select and these were a huge hit with all the kids. I had expected the boys to reject them right away as girls toys,but was pleasantly surprised when they asked for one to keep for themselves.                         .

We were sent a variety of crabs and shells to share,so each person could have a crab and extra shell to keep.They each come with 2 cute little friends inside that you can collect and trade to your hearts content.The crabs come in blue,pink,purple and orange and are a blast for the little ones to play with.The shells are really easy to interchange as well,they simple snap on and off,so the kids can trade or switch shells as often as they like.Some of the shells are decorated and some are glittery and they come in a variety of colors.

To play with these all you have to do is touch the claw to set the crabs in motion.If you hold it or a few seconds it will make the motion last longer too.I  noticed if the crabs are walking and bump into something,it will just help them keep going and will not hurt them at all.There are several play sets you can buy to make the collection complete like the Rio de Trio set shown below.We were sent 2 other sets as well,but we shared them with party guests.Of course now I will be buying new ones for my daughter for Christmas since these are top on her list.These sets are really easy to assemble with interlocking pieces and I expect we will be seeing lots more from them in the future.

*I was given the mentioned products as a member of  Mom Select to assist in my review.The honest opinions are my own and not influenced by,or required for, receiving products.

Halloween Hex Bugs

I had never even heard of Hex Bugs until about 2 years ago,but now we have tons of them in our home.My kids just love these things.The boys love to race them and try to make them do tricks,follow courses and whatever else they can come up with,while my daughter just likes chasing them around.Go figure,it's the only time that prissy girl even gets close to any kind of bugs.

This year,thanks to Mom Select, we were given a chance to try the new HexBug Nano Elevation 3D Glow-in-the-Dark Habitat Set,the glow in the dark Halloween Hex Bug Nanos and more.My boys were  excited to try the glowing track and constellation themed bugs as well as the super cool coffin-dwelling Halloween Hex Bugs.

The glowing Hex Bug Nano is available in a variety of colors and comes in  individual tubes just like the original.The Halloween Hex Bug is my all time favorite though.These black bugs come with a removable,glowing skeleton piece and come complete in orange and black coffins.The lids to these pop off and you can even keep them to store your creepy,skeleton bug in for later.These were a big hit at our house and my 2 sons friends all wanted bunches of them to keep too! We were sent extra bugs to share,so we did get to hand these out at our party.I was surprised that even the little girls were excited to get in on this one.In the end each child received a Halloween Coffin Bug to take home and use to scare mom,dad or someone else with.

The track in the new sets is very neat too.This version is black instead of grey and has a glowing strip down the center of each piece.I tried to get a video of the bugs racing on it,but for some reason I couldn't pick up the glow without flash.Since using flash kind of defeated the whole glow in the dark thing,I can't show you how neat they are to use in the dark,but trust me it is crazy trying to keep track of your bug with a bunch of them running around in the pitch black.

 The kids had a blast building and re-building different racks.The used their old sets combined with the new ones and made a variety of play areas for their bugs.These were really a big hit with all the kids and I expect some of the kids to ask for them for Christmas.I know my boys have already asked for more and were really excited to see the larva bugs.We were only sent a few of these,so we used them for game prizes.They were a little dissapointed that they didn't get to keep them,but were sure to add them to their Holiday wish lists.

 All in all the kids were thrilled with their newest additions and the guests who had never seen them or didn't have any were really happy to get some to take home.I have already had a couple of calls and questions about where to get them and how many varieties there are,so I know a few neighborhood children who will be opening these on Christmas morning.I see a trading party coming up next so they can switch around until everyone has the exact colors or styles they want.

*A special thanks to Mom Select who provided all the items mentioned for our party.No other forms of compensation were received and all opinions are my own.