Princess Reagan Style on A Budget

I haven't done one of these in awhile,until Reagan mentioned it the other day.I decided to change it up and show you not only her outfit choices,but the cost of them and how blogging and entering giveaways helps me let her dress however she wants.Here is a look of her newest outfit creations.

Reagan on the left is wearing her Hannah Montana skirt on sale at Walmart I believe for $5

Pink hooded top with rhinestone accents (you can't see them in the pic) from Kmart $8.99

Striped tights I got at Walmart for her costume and she loves wearing them 3.98

Outfit total-$17.97

 Candyland dress is actually a costume dress but she decided to be a witch this year and added this to her wardrobe instead.I let her wear what she wants as long as it is isn't skimpy or over/under dressed.

Costume was a review product thanks to Costume Supercenter, so it cost me nothing but the time I put into my review and post.
The tights are actually the two pattern type,you can't see because she is a little short for them but the top half has a striped pattern and the bottom is polka dot.I don't remember where she got these but I think they were around $8.
The shoes were bought from Walmart for $9.98
                                                              Outfit total with shoes-$17.98 and a review

The  top was a giveaway win from Illeanas Boutique that she personalized herself-free.
The jeans you cannot really see but they are these cute Rainbow Glitter Jeans from Lord and Taylor.

Retail price was $40,I paid $11.99 on sale.

The Penelope Mack Flocked Satin Coat and Hat is from Lord and Taylor as well.This was normally $74.00 but was on sale for $22.19! Plus,I won a gift card in a blog giveaway and used it on these and some other items so I didn't pay anything out of pocket for them!!

Outfit total-$34.18 including the coat and hat!
Out of pocket-$0

These are some of the examples I use when people ask me why I spend so much time on my computer.Have you found any great deals or won something wonderful lately?

My New Nephew

I just wanted to introduce you all to my new nephew Robert.He was born Thursday afternoon and came Friday at around 7 where his aunt Manda was waiting to snatch him up.

He weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces,but you wouldn't tell by looking at him.I got to hold him and love him and even change his dirty diaper..haha.That's alright though,I don't mind.He is so quiet and makes this little soft crying sound.I could have stayed there all day but I had to come home and take care of my own little heathens.I can't wait to bring him here to visit me for a couple of days..I'm so excited! He is my second nephew and I couldn't love him more.

Natural House Cleaning Products Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

If you haven't read my review of these products yet,you should.That said,I am now able to give one of my wonderful readers their very own chance to try these fabulous items.One of you will win a 30 day supply of all 3 cleaners.

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***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 and they are responsible for shipping all prizes.***

Check out this Instant Win Game I'm participating in...

Check out this Instant Win Game I'm participating in...

***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 and they are responsible for shipping all prizes.***

I am so happy it is all over..no more drama!

I love my family and enjoy getting together with everyone for the holidays.That said,I am so glad it is all over.It never fails,when you get that many people in a confined space for a long period,someone is going to annoy someone else.The younger bunch in my family always seem seem as if they need a drink while the older ones all sit and chat about them.It is all out of love I am sure,but the generation gap is so big between us.The piercings and tattoos always draw comments from at least one person during the day and someone is sure to have an issue with how much cleavage  is showing or who did what at the family dinner.Don't get me wrong,we have a good time,but someone always seems to leave with hurt feelings or a bitter attitude toward the day.

Going to my husbands family is just as bad.They are different in their ways then I am,so it always seems to be something.They cook "country" style,which is usually too salty or just not my thing,so I am always left hungry after a meal.My husband is a twin and it is usually us,his twin brother and his family,their parents and occasionally a few aunts and uncles in the mix.My husbands mother is one of those people who have to have a word in everything.You can be talking about your own children and she thinks she needs to get in her two cents.This irritates the hell out of my sister in law and,because she isn't our mother,we both have issues handling with her.Our husbands,on the other hand,just deal with it because "that is how she has always been".This is always causing conflict in one of our houses when she decided to speak her opinion.We speak back and then she runs to our husbands to complain or try her point with them,You cannot tell this woman no.She will do what she has her mind set on ,even if it is a waster of her time or money.Aside from that,she isn't too bad and i have been trying to go to these things with him instead of staying home like I have the last 2 years.

I am just glad it is all over.I have no more plans and am going to enjoy myself and my family while I have the chance this week.Happy Holidays!

Santa Came to Our House Last Night

I finally got the children to bed about midnight last night...after hours of waiting for the time to come because they were driving me crazy.They were so excited to wake up and open presents that they didn't even want to go to sleep.We finally set out cookies and soft mints for Santa,along with notes from the children and off to bed they went.My oldest son wouldn't go to sleep and kept creeping out of bed to "go to the bathroom" or "get a drink".Finally around 3am the house was quiet and I had time to take a nice,long,hot bath with my new Body Shop Cranberry Bubble Bath.So nice..

I crawled in bed a little after 5 and slept until I was roused from dreamland at a little after 9..ugh.I knew I had to get up though,since we told them they could open their presents when they were all awake.They saw the missing cookies and letters and the new presents under the tree and got a little excited,but when they turned around and saw the picture of Santa standing by our tree and reaching into his bag for gifts..they didn't know what to say.My boys claimed not to believe in Santa last night but after seeing that today,they aren't sure what to think anymore.

How was your Christmas morning? Do your kids still believe in Santa?

Merry Christmas !!

I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you. I hope you all enjoy our holiday as much as I did!!

Chestal Review and Giveaway 1/10

Even though it is the start of a new year,we are still due for some cold weather before it's all over.In my house the kids are usually pretty healthy until that back and forth weather where it is freezing one day and sunny and warm the next.That seems to be the time the sniffles,coughs and runny noses start around here.I don't like to rush into giving my kids medications,but when they can't sleep from coughing,then it is time to do something.

This time when my kids began to cough and cough in the middle of the night,I gave them a dose of the new homeopathic medicine I was sent to review.Childrens Chestal is recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 12,so all three of my kids were able to take this.I really liked being able to give them the same medicine at the same time instead of keeping track of different ones for different ages.The honey flavor was different from the usual fruit varieties and I didn't hear any complaints about it from the goof troop.I was surprised to see that within an hour of taking this all three were sleeping soundly with no coughing to be heard.Normally when they take cough medicines the coughing lessens but is still there.

You can check out Boirons Cold and Flu Tracker to see the risk level in your region so you will know what kind of germs are headed your way.You can buy Chestal at Walgreens,CVS,Whole Foods and some local health food stores.

One of my readers will win the same full sized bottle of natural Childrens Chestal to try for themselves.Evter on the Rafflecopter form below.Good luck!


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***I post about items I use,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 and they are responsible for shipping all prizes.***

I Caught Santa Review and Quick 5 Winner Giveaway

Christmas is just a week away.I have mostly finished wrapping gifts,my plans are made,visits scheduled and I have a little bit of time to relax.Well,as far as Christmas is concerned anyway.This year I marked some of the kids gifts from Santa,like I always do.My boys laugh at me because they haven't believed in Santa in ages,but I still try and convince them he is real for my daughter.Being 5,Reagan still believes a little,but not as much as she used to.I want her to hold on to that little girl fantasy just a while longer,so I was thrilled when I received the chance to make her believe with I Caught Santa.

With the fast,easy to use process,you can create something a child will treasure forever.Simply select the photo you want to use,add your character and print or share..that's it! You now have a photo of Santa putting presents under your tree or any of the other 20 poses available.With such a variety of options,it should be easy for anyone to find a pose that fits with their room,making it look as if Santa was really right there! This is perfect for Christmas morning to leave beside the empty cookie plate and milk cup,or to arrive in the mail a few days after Christmas with a note from Santa.

Of course,if you are looking for a different occasion you can try the Easter bunny,Tooth fairy or Cupid options as well.This is so much fun for the little ones or the young at heart.5 of my wonderful readers will get to try this themselves with their own code thanks to I Caught Santa!!

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You can see some of their customer photos for examples or ideas on how to use this product.

***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.
Giveaway items are provided by the sponsor and they are responsible for shipping all prizes.***

Natural House Presents Flushy,Sinky and Trashy

If you are like me,you are always on the lookout for great deals and items that help make your life easier,With the house,kids,work,school and whatever else is going on,there is never enough time in the day to do everything that needs done.Thankfully,I was sent some wonderful items from Natural House  to help me regain control of my home.The natural household cleaning products are not only easy to use,but they are eco-friendly too.Containing non-toxic pro biotic cleaning agents,these Natural House cleaners are strong enough for commercial use,yet gentle enough to use in your home for even the dirtiest messes.

The first product I tried was the Flushy.One thing I noticed right away was the lack of chemical smell.I hate trying to clean something and trying to hold my breath while I use it for fear of inhaling toxic chemicals or odors.I did notice some sort of smell while using this toilet cleaner,not really a bad smell, but a change in the air.I had candles burning and was able to smell this over them,but they weren't in the same room as me either.The packet began to dissolve and right away you could hear a slight fizzing sound.The cleaner spread over the bowl and after letting it set for a few minutes I was able to grab the brush and clean it up in seconds with no hard scrubbing involved.This was a nice change and made cleaning my toilet a snap.I let my sister use one and she wasn't as impressed.She said it did help,and she was glad to avoid the chemicals,but she had to scrub a little.I am not sure if this has to do with the water treatment at her home or not.

I used the Sinky in my kitchen first.I always have issues with the kids putting bowls with cereal in them or some other nonsense in the sink and it is constantly draining slow.I tossed in a packet of the cleaner,followed the simple directions and within minutes seconds the foaming action began.I let it do it's thing for about as long as it took to take out the trash and grab the mail.When I returned,I ran more hot water in the sink to rinse and my drain was clear with  no backup at all! I admit I was surprised by this.The Sinky dissolved the gunk with ease.

Trashy was the last item I tried.I wasn't sure if this one was gong to do any good. Honestly,trash cans are gross and no matter what you use,cleaning them is no fun.I was determined to give it a fair shot,though,so I sprayed some into my kitchen container and waited for it to work as instructed.This was great for me.Not only did I not have to scrub my can,but the probiotics keep working until the next weekly treatment,so  each time,I will have even less mess to deal with.

If you are looking for natural cleaning products at an affordable price,I suggest trying these for your household needs.You can purchase the Natural House products directly from the site or on Amazon.

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.

And the Christmas cards begin

I received my first card of the ear Saturday.It was from my wonderful cousin Sara and her husband.I am always happy to get new cards as Christmas draws near and can't wait to see who's arrives next!

This is my card.Isn't it different.I like the straw ribbon around it for added style (although I realized after I typed that line,I cute most of the ribbon off in the photo) It is supposed to be down the left side and ties in the center.Now I need to get mine in the mail!

My Christmas Tree

Well I told you all about my issues getting my tree standing this year,so you might as well see the mostly finished product.I still need to find matching candy canes,and I am looking for a different tree topper,but this will have to do for now.

This was my year to design the tree.My husband is a fan of using all the different  bulbs,lights and other decorations we have when it is his turn.On my years,I have the matching tree design.This year I used the white of the tree combined with red,green and gold.I grabbed some beautiful gold ribbon with holly at Walmart for $5.I added the red,green and gold solid colored bulbs and a few assorted random bulbs to match.My sons made a couple of them,some are characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown,and of course the ones I made.

My Tree Troubles

I don't know if I mentioned before,but we took the Christmas decorations out of our shed to put them up last week.We always start with getting the tree up and then decide on lights and decorations for the house.We got out our tree,went through the whole process of bending the branches and getting it to look right and put it in the stand.I noticed that it seemed a little unstable,but figured it was just that we had a live tree last year and it had been awhile since I saw this one.My husband and I started to put the lights on it and it began to lean..and lean..we tried to fix the screws in the stand (it is one of those metal ones) but that didn't help.The stand we had for the live tree was way too big for the base of the artificial tree,so that wouldn't work either.Finally after getting annoyed and taking a break,my wonderful husband says,"Let's just get a new tree for this year."

I hadn't planned to get another tree right now because we are in the middle of remodeling and were planning to grab a bigger one that would fit after we finished with the living room.Then, he tells me Walmart has a white tree with colored lights on sale for $40.I love white trees.Needless to say,within minutes he was on his way to grab one.

Of course,this was for me,so it couldn't be that easy.My husband arrives at Walmart to find they have none of the white trees with colored lights,only the white tree with white lights.Thinking that I wanted colored,he tries to text and call me,which I missed due to chasing after the children for one thing or another.He finally gives up trying to reach me and buys it anyway.As luck would have it,I call him as he is headed home to tell him I wanted colored in response to his text,but instead of taking him up on the offer to go back,I told him to just bring it home.

It was very simple to assemble and within minutes it was standing and had my glittery red tree skirt under it.I decide to finish it later,that was enough for my nerves in one day.It is not as big as I would have gotten,but it is only for this year.Next year my husband will no doubt find something else he wants (Ok that really means me but I have to blame him for something right?)

The Post Office Solicits Gifts for Postal Carriers

I received the craziest thing in my mail Saturday.I was flipping through my normal stack of junk,bills,review items,giveaway wins and the other random stuff I get in the mail when I came upon this.I folded over the part that lists the address for their privacy.

I had to go back and read it again to make sure I had read that right.This was a note from the post office,stuck in my mail,with my mail carriers address attached asking me to send them something at Christmas...really? I mean,don't get me wrong,I appreciate getting my mail as much as the next person,especially since I started blogging and entering giveaways,but to be asked to "send a token of my appreciation" and given their address right in my mailbox..that's a little too much of you ask me.What happened to the days of giving gifts because you wanted to instead of because the office,school,church,group or something else is doing so? Not everyone can afford to give to everyone they know for the holidays.

What do you think? Is it just me? Did you get a similar note in your mail this week?

Betty Crocker Red Hot Holiday Trends

Looking for some fun and interesting recipes to make this holiday season.Well look no more.Betty Crocker
is trying to make your life easier with the Betty 10 Red Hot Holiday Trends.

	Trend: Double Desserts Taking two desserts and mixing and mashing them together is one of our favorite trends. Things like pie shakes, cookie stuffed cookies, and pie-filled cupcakes deliver a whole new kind of delicious. It’s a 1+1=3 kind of thing. Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cookies Pie, meet cookie. Cookie, say hello to pie. When two all-time favorites come together, you get Pumpkin Pie Cookies, the star at your next holiday cookie exchange.
	Trend: Boozy Baking From booze cakes to cocktail pies, bakers everywhere are bringing the bar into the kitchen. A titch of tequila or a skosh of scotch whiskey adds a serious shot of fun and flavor for the over 21 crowd. We’re loving these boozy baked goods! Recipe: Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes Taste for yourself what the buzz is all about! A bit of bourbon, a hit of coffee liqueur and some vanilla vodka-spiked frosting make these sophisticated chocolate cupcakes the ultimate “holiday helpers.”
	Trend: Color. Flavor. Fun. Traditional baked goods are being transformed with bright colors and playful flavors. With a little creativity and imagination, no one can resist this happy, fun food! Recipe: Cake Batter Cookie Stackers Take sugar cookies to a whole new level of delicious! Kids and adults will love these cake batter flavored cookies with colorful frosting, and lots of sprinkles! Stack ‘em up and watch ‘em go.
	Trend: From Cave to Kitchen Forget the man cave. Today guys are in the kitchen making (or at least appreciating) really good food. Big food. Really good, big food that’s stacked and stuffed with the flavors they can’t resist. Recipe:Mantastic Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich Here’s a new take on chicken ‘n’ waffles - made better with beer, bacon, and bourbon. It’s the ultimate manly man meal.
	Trend: Skinny Cocktails Here’s the skinny! Drinking high-calorie cocktails is so last year. The modern mixologist is shaking things up with light & flavorful cocktails. Recipe: Skinny Clementine Martini Add some clever sparkle to your next party. Enjoy these natural, light martinis made with fresh juice, high-quality liquor, and a splash of club soda. Lower calorie cocktails never tasted, or looked, so sweet. Cheers!
	Trend: Better Than Bought From canning to candy making, there’s a renewed interest in handcrafted foods. This season, homemade food gifts are just the right thing to show your care and creativity. Recipe: Cajeta Caramel Fudge Create the perfect combination of flavor and crunch with this homemade candy. Rich chocolate fudge layered with cajeta caramel, cashews and a sprinkle of sea salt—a recipe to impress.
	Trend: Veggie Love Once just tolerated, vegetables are now celebrated. Omnivores and herbivores alike have discovered that veggies offer variety and great taste, and are feeling the love. Recipe: Sweet Potato Hummus Hummus with fresh sweet potato packs even more plant power. Add a delicious blend of smoked paprika, coriander, and cumin to make this flavorful dip.
	Trend: Shareworthy & Allergen-Friendly Allergen-friendly foods may be free from things like nuts, dairy and eggs, but shouldn’t be free from flavor. Thankfully, we’re seeing new foods and recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone – whether you’re allergy-sensitive or not. Recipe: Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread Gather everyone around the table to enjoy this moist and delicious pumpkin bread. Made with no nuts, no dairy, no eggs, and no gluten - no kidding!
	Trend: D-I-Y for D-O-G Man’s best friend deserves man’s best effort. That’s why making your own dog food is one of the latest canine crazes! This year, homemade dog treats are at the top of fido’s list. Recipe: Dog Bark This treat will make your dog sit up and beg for more. Make the bark by melting carob chips and peanut butter then top with your dog’s favorite ingredients – bacon and cheese. Bow WOW!
	Trend: Food Craft The kitchen is the new craft room. With food as their medium, clever cooks are making amazing edible food crafts that are as good to look at as they are to eat. Recipe:Chocolate Coal Lumps Naughty or nice, everyone will love these easy cho-coal-late treats. Cocoa Puffs® cereal dipped in melted chocolate and marshmallows create these tasty stocking stuffers.

* I was provided with this information from Betty Crocker as a member of My Blog Spark.No compensation was received,I just wanted to share the fun with you.

Christmas Gift Ideas-Make Your Own Chocolate Kit Plus Giveaway

I love finding fun things to do with the kids.This is so much more simple in the summer when they have the park,pool,bounce house and the fun of outside to occupy their time.In the winter,when it is cold and dreary,nobody really wants to be out in all that,so we look for things to do indoors instead.

I have tried to come up with my own crafts and activities,but because I am not that creative on my own,I prefer finding fun things from unique places for them to do.One of our recent attempts was making chocolate with the Glee Gum Make Your Own Chocolate Kit.

Included in this package was everything you need to make 8 ounces of dark chocolate.There was organic cocoa butter,cocoa powder,confectioners sugar,starter crystals,temperature indicator,paper candy liners,instructions and the story of chocolate pamphlet that tells how chocolate originated.

The kids enjoyed trying the cocoa beans.The taste was very strong but expected for what it was.I think they liked being able to taste it right out of the shell.My daughter didn't care for it but the others said it wasn't too bad.We made the candy as directed and then on the bottom of some of them I added crushed chocolate wafer cookies and crushed Oreos for a little variety.

The process was very simple and the instructions outlined exactly what to do.I didn't get a chance to take pictures of the process as I did it because the chocolate starts to harden and I wanted to get it in the candy cups in time.I wish I would have had a pan for these so they would have turned out round like intended but the kids didn't care what they looked like.,They had a blast getting to make and eat their own chocolate candy.

These all natural,educational and eco-friendly kits are available in Make Your Own Gummies,Chocolate and Chewing Gum kits.We tried the Make Your Own Gummies Kit last year.It was more fun to do than the chocolate one,probably because you had to pour the melted gummy mix into molds,but not as tasty for me because I like chocolate.
You can search here to find a store near you or order online for fast and easy access to these great kits.Plus one of my readers will win their own kit.You can choose the chocolate like mine or one of the other 2 available kits.

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***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 and they are responsible for shipping all prizes.***

3 Cheers for Centsable Momma

I just wanted to take a moment to thank Corrie from Centsable Momma.I had won a giveaway prize from her and there were some issues with receiving it.I won't go into details because the situation was handled quickly,but I did want to let you all know how great this fabulous blogger was at doing everything she could to see that I received the promised prize.

As a blogger myself,I know how frustrating it can be if a winner doesn't get their prize.I had this happen to me once on this blog and I felt so bad that I couldn't fix the issue for the winner.I am pretty sure it cost me a reader  because I have not seen the person leave comments or enter giveaways since.We all know bloggers are not responsible for making sure your prize arrives,but it is always nice to see one go above and beyond to help you.

THANKS AGAIN CORRIE!!!

My Oral B and Crest Mommy Party Experience

As parents,we all make certain choices that work best for us.My sisters are always calling or texting me to ask what I did about this or how I taught the kids to do that,because mine are older.When I was given the opportunity to hold an Oral B House Party,I knew this would be another one of those areas where they wanted my opinion.Getting your children to brush their teeth can be such a headache.My kids never want to brush,but they want to play in the water and spread toothpaste from floor to ceiling.One of their biggest complaints is that brushing is boring or the toothpaste "tastes gross".

I have always tried to keep it interesting with bright colors,fun characters and flavor variety to make my day a little less chaotic.When I received my box from Oral B and Crest as a member of Mommy Parties,                      I was surprised by how many fun items they sent.We received the Cars II DVD,microwave popcorn and movie theater boxes,gift bags for their party favors,tooth brushes,toothpaste,mouth rinse,flossers,gummy vitamins and more.

I was able to make cute little take home bags for each of the guests.We had a wide variety of ages present,so some of the bags had Disney princess and Cars toothbrushes and flossers,while others had Oral B Pro Health.Guests received coupons to save on some of the party items,a sample pack of gummy vitamins,a toothbrush,toothpaste and flossers to take home with them.The Pro Health For me paste is great for kids 2 and older so I don't have to have different tubes pf paste for different kids.That has helped cut down on some of the mess in the kids bathroom.

The kids loved seeing what they had received and because I had marked their names on the bags,the process was smooth and stress free.The little kids loved the characters on their items,which is a super way to keep them interested in brushing.The older kids like the bright colors of their new Pro health For Me brushes.The only complaint I heard was the lack of style for the tween girls.I love the flossers the most of anything in the box.I have always hated the rolls of dental floss that get pulled out,wrapped around something or are impossible to tear.Needless to say,flossing was something that I didn't push as much because it was such a hassle.Now with the Crest Pro Health Floss Picks and Oral B Stages Flossers,this is no longer an issue.The kids can grab a single-use flosser,clean their teeth and drop it in the garbage,no fuss..no muss!

The kids were excited to watch the movie and eat from their fun popcorn boxes so we settled down to start the show.I enjoyed viewing the movie with them,even if they did talk a bit too much for me.I didn't really think I cared for the first one,but after seeing Cars II,I am a bigger fan than I originally thought.

You can find Oral B on twitter or facebook to find out more,see specials offers and follow the fun every day.Crest is also on twitter and facebook so be sure to follow to find out about the next fun thing going on there.

***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.I was provided with a variety of items to share with party guests and try myself.No other form of compensation was received.***