10 Things You're Looking Forward to in 2010

1. Watching my kids grow up more!
2. Exercising, yes I said the "e" word.
3. Mexico with my cousin in June for her Senior trip!
4. Working on the house
5. Getting our house organized
6. Summer! I LOVE the hot weather!
7. Spending time with my family.
8. Spending time with my friends.
9. Looking forward to another year!
10. Looking forward to the growth of 24/7 MOMS! Go Trisha!

10 Way to Get Fit after the Holidays

I am participating in a TwitterMoms contest to enter to win a EA SPORTS Active Personal Trainer from Wii!
Here are my 10 tips to get fit after the holidays!
1. Eat LESS - Americans have the BIGGEST portions in the world!
2. Get out and EXERCISE!
3. Join a gym! I did!
4. Use your Wii Fit! Yes I LOVE my Wii Fit!
5. Cut the coffee! Cutting those morning runs to Starbucks all together would be best but if you just can't go without, cut DOWN!
6. Eat healthier! Snack on veggies instead of chips!
7. Chase your kids. Having 2 small ones I love chasing them around the burning calories!
8. Walk you dog. Or borrow the neighbors.
9. Take advantage of On Demand, they have TONS of free workouts you can do from home.
10. Just have fun! Getting fit should be a fun lifestyle change!

Ahh Kids At Christmas

So all night on Friday and all day on Saturday Little Man kept asking me if he had to wear the earrings his friend "Turtle" bought him. Hmm I wondered, I know he chose Little Man's gift himself but his mom would not have let him buy him earrings would she?

Saturday night we had our friends over for dinner as we do every year. We exchanged gifts and no earrings. I was not sure what he was talking about.

Then I heard the story of the year from Turtle's mom!

Little Man was over at their house and there was a jewelry box on her table. He was asked not to touch it. He said "It's my Christmas present isn't it?"

He was told in fact it was not. But he kept insisting it was.

Son finally Turtle's mom said, "Yes it is your present we bought you earrings from the jewelry store."

To his disappointment Little Man said "But I can't wear earrings I have no holes."

My friend simply explained we will just add holes to his ears then for him to wear them.

LOL so after all that "sneaking" he did not get earrings for Christmas. But he was sure worried for the week that he was getting earrings and that we would give him holes to wear them in!

GREAT gift for the little girl on your list!

I first saw FashionPlaytes.com on the 24/7 MOMS site (who is giving away a $25 gift certificate). I can't wait to design one of these! Or if you have an older girl they can design their OWN clothing. SO super cool!

You can enter to win a $15 gift certificate from Twittermoms.com and FashionPlaytes.com by going to http://www.fashionplaytes.com/tw/twittermom.html

You can also get $15 off any purchase of $25 or more using code TwitterMom15. Order today!

#FashionPlaytes

5 Days of Cookies - Saint Nick Cereal Cookies

From Betty Crocker

Makes 16 cookies

1 bag (10.5 oz) miniature marshmallows

1/4 cup margarine

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 cup vanilla baking chips

7 cups Cheerios

1 container (1 lb) white frosting

3 teaspoons red decorating sugar

2 small red gumdrops, cut crosswise into 4 rounds, then cut in half (for mouths)

32 blue miniature M&M's

16 red miniature M&M's

1. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, letting foil hang over 2 opposite sides of pan; spray bottom and sides of foil with cooking spray. Reserve 16 marshmallows. In 2 1/2-quart nonstick saucepan, heat remaining marshmallows, the butter, peanut butter, and baking chips over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until butter and marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth.

2. Places cereal in large bowl; pour marshmallow mixture over cereal. Spray wooden spoon or rubber spatula with cooking spray; use to stir marshmallow mixture into cereal. Spread and pat cereal mixture in pan using sprayed utensil. (just like making Rice Crispy Treats!)

3. Remove cereal mixture from pan by lifting with foil; peel back foil. Using large knife, cut mixture in half lengthwise into 2 rectangles. To mark 1 rectangle for cutting, place toothpick at each end of one long side; add 3 toothpicks to same side, about every 3 inches, dividing into fourths. In other long side, place toothpick 1 1/2 inches from each end; add 3 toothpicks to same side, about every 3 inches, diving into thirds. Cut diagonally across rectangle from toothpick to toothpick, forming triangles. Press together 2 end pieces to form eight triangle. Repeat with remaining rectangle.

4. For each cookie, spread frosting from top point to cover top 1/3 of triangle. Place 1 marshmallow at point. Sprinkle red sugar over frosting for hat. Spread frosting over lower 1/3 of cookie for beard; add gumdrop piece at top center of beard for mouth. Add 3 dots if icing to face are for attaching blue M&M's for eyes and red M&S for nose. Let stand until frosting is set.

5 Days of Cookies - Chocolate-Raspberry Triangles

Makes 48 bars
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 packages (10 ounces) frozen raspberries in syrup, thawed and undrained
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoon cornstarch
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In small bowl, mix flour, sugar and butter until crumbly. Press into the bottom of ungreased 13-by-9-inch pan. Bake 15 minutes.
2. Remove from oven and set aside. Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, mix raspberries, orange juice and cornstarch. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Cool 10 minutes.
3. Sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Carefully spread raspberry mixture over chocolate chips. 4. Bake about 20 minutes or until raspberry mixture is set. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chocolate is firm. For triangles, cut into 4 rows by 3 rows, then cut each square into 4 triangles. Store in refrigerator.

Lakewood officer pens Christmas story

This was in the News Tribune today. Let's take a moment to remember what Christmas really is.

A little boy and his toy dinosaur who came by the Lakewood Office Department station last Sunday to honor the four slain police officers touched an officer enough that the officer wanted to share the story in a Christmas letter to friends.
One of the friends who received the letter, Tukwila police officer Mike Murphy, said he and his fellow officers were so touched by the story that they thought it should be shared with the community.
Murphy said the officer who wrote it agreed but wanted to remain anonymous.
"It is just a story of one child reaching out and helping heal the pain we have all suffered," Murphy said in his e-mail. "Our only goal in sending it is to reach out to our community and thank them for this and all the other love and support they have sent us through this very difficult time."
The Christmas story is reprinted below:
December 13, 2009
I’m not much for writing Christmas letters, and in fact this year, I didn’t even feel like making the effort of buying and addressing Christmas cards at all. I’m sure you all have heard of the terrible tragedy that occurred here in Lakewood two weeks ago today – four of our officers, four people that have become my friends over the past 5 years as we all worked here together, were gunned down as they sat in a coffee shop. Three fathers and a mother – all of whom were dedicated to their jobs and their families – now dead. The grief at our station and in our community has been overwhelming and we have all now just barely begun to process what this means for our department and for police departments all across our state and nation. Several times since this event happened, police agencies have responded to reports of individuals across King and Pierce Counties causing commotions and claiming to be planning to kill more officers. We do our best to maintain our composure and continue to do our jobs the best that we can.
It is hard not to remain bleak and jaded with these events so fresh in our minds. But something happened today, just 20 minutes ago, which made me want to send out a Christmas letter. I’m here at work and was just out in our secure parking lot helping another officer load collection bins into his car to take to a local Lakewood Police Independent Guild fundraiser event. I heard a woman, standing with a boy who couldn’t have been more than 3 or 4 years old, calling, “Excuse me….” through our locked gate. She had apparently been trying to get to our front counter but found no one there, it being Sunday, and had just happened to see us in the parking lot. I walked over to her and saw that the little boy was holding a plastic baggy containing a dollar and some change, and was clutching a well-worn stuffed dinosaur.
The woman told me that her son, AJ, had seen the stories on tv about our 4 slain officers. She said that they had driven to our station all the way from Kingston because her son was so intent on helping the children of these officers. I opened the gate and the boy handed me the plastic baggy containing all the money from his piggybank and a note on which he had written “AJ….From me to Pleec. I Love You.” And then, with tears in his eyes, he handed me his stuffed dinosaur. AJ’s mom explained that he wanted to give the children of the slain officers the most precious thing that he owned, and that was his dinosaur, Bruno.
I told AJ that I would take the money that he wanted to donate, but that I thought the best thing he could do for the children of our 4 officers was to keep Bruno safe with him but to keep those kids in his heart when he hugged his dinosaur. He agreed and gratefully took Bruno back from me and held him tightly as if he never wanted to let him go again.
We have seen many, many acts of generosity and kindness over the past 2 weeks. We have hugged more friends and strangers than we could have ever imagined and have mended broken ties with people we haven’t talked to for years. Yet nothing has touched me deeper, or given me more hope for the future, than AJ and his stuffed dinosaur. I gave AJ one of our department challenge coins, explaining to him that we only gave them out to the bravest and most deserving people we came across. I hope he will realize someday how much more than a dollar and some change he gave to me and to the Lakewood Police Department today.
So anyway, none of that is about Christmas, but it is about hope and love and I thought it was appropriate to share this holiday season.
I hope this letter finds all of you well and eager to spend the holidays with those you love. Squeeze everyone a little tighter and hug them a little longer today because life really is precious. Merry Christmas!

5 Days of Cookies - Chocolate Cherry Pinwheels

Makes about 4 1/2 dozen cookies

3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1/4 cup maraschino cherries, finely chopped and drained on paper towels
3 drops red food color
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1. In large bowl, beat butter, sugar and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in flour, baking powder and salt until well blended. Place half of dough in another medium bowl.
2. Beat almond extract, cherries and food color into half of dough. Divide cherry dough in half. Wrap each half of cherry dough in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until firm.
3. Beat vanilla, milk and cocoa into remaining plain dough. Divide chocolate dough in half. Wrap each half of chocolate dough in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until firm.
4. Place one part of chocolate dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper; roll into 10x7-inch rectangle. Repeat with one part of cherry dough. Refrigerate both about 30 minutes or until firm. Peel top sheets of waxed paper from both doughs. Turn cherry dough upside down onto chocolate dough; roll up doughs together, starting at long side, into a log. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate 2 hours. Repeat with remaining parts of dough.
5. Heat oven to 350°F. Cut rolls of dough into 1/4-inch slices with sharp knife. On ungreased cookie sheet, place slices 1 inch apart.

6. Bake 8 to 11 minutes or surface appears dull. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

5 days of Cookies - The Ultimate Spritz

Makes: 6 dozen cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/4 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla
Food color, if desired

1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, salt, egg, almond extract and a few drops of food color.
2. Place dough in cookie press. Form desired shapes on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. To decorate cookies after baking, use a drop of corn syrup to attach decorations to cookies.

5 days of Cookies - Butter Sugar Cookies

These are SO good you dont NEED to frost them even! But of course frosting makes them EXTRA YUMMY!

1 C. Butter (I’ve used margarine and it works great either way)
1-1/2 C. powdered sugar
1 egg
1 Tsp. vanilla
3 C. flour
1 Tsp. baking soda
1 Tsp. cream of tartar
½ Tsp. salt

Cream butter. Add powdered sugar and mix. Add egg and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients (I almost NEVER sift). Gradually add to mixture and combine into a ball. Roll out on a floured board or pasty cloth to 1/8 inch thickness.
Cut into desired shapes. Bake 9 – 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

*You can roll this cookie dough out many times and it always comes out flaky. Yummy!

Pssst I have a secret! And it is HEALTHY!

General Mills announced this week a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to children under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

The maker of Big G cereals reminds you that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters. Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.Other cereal benefits:
Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.
Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.
More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.

$1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals

Disclaimer: The coupons, information, and online coupon link have all been provided by General Mills and MyBlogSpark.

Giving Back This Holiday Season

I have found a wonderful site to give back this Season. http://www.wishuponahero.com/ is there people can go to post wishes. This year we have fulfilled several wishes. We have gone through toys and clothing we have at home and sent them out to those in need. I would have loved to purchase new things for these people in need but cannot afford to! Some are as simple as a couple dollars in a card or clothing for kids. We have mailed DVD’s, toys, clothing and more!

This year Robeez will donate a pair of soft sole shoes to K.I.D.S. with every soft sole purchased through December 23rd and link to: http://www.robeez.com/EN-US/seasonofgiving.htm (My favirote style is Robeez Soft Soles Chickadee - lavender but they have SO mayn to choose from, great for my ALMOST walker!)
For your chance to win Robeez Soft Soles, a $50 stride rite gift card, or even better yet the entire Robeez Soft Sole spring collection, go to http://www.twittermoms.com/forum/topics/tell-us-how-you-plan-to-give

Annual Holiday Safety Reminder!

It is of course the holiday season. Having formerly worked for the Pierce County Fire Prevention Bureau I want to give everyone some holiday safety tips. According to the USFA over 40 people die every year from holiday related fires. More than 1,650 are injured and over $990 million in damages occur.

1. First off WATER YOUR TREE! This video as been circulating for years but is well worth a watch:

2. Keep and eye on your open flames or candles!

3. Use indoor lights INDOORS and outdoors lights OUTDOORS. Use indoor extension cords INDOORS and outdoor extension cords OUTDOORS.

4. Do not overload electrical outlets.

My Entry For the Kia Sorento Ultimate Road Trip Sweepstakes

If you could take your family on a road trip anywhere, where would you go and why?
I would go to Disneyland. Why? Because I love it! It is a fun, great, family place. I would take the LONG route though and go through Colorado and Idaho to visit my husband's family. Yes I know it is way out of the way of California. But that is the way we would go! I would love to pick them all up too and take them with us!

Enter to win a $1,000 Ultimate Road Trip Prize Pack

BUTTER SUGAR COOKIES

These are the BEST cookies I have ever had. From my friend April!
1 C. Butter (I’ve used margarine and it works great either way)
1-1/2 C. powdered sugar
1 egg
1 Tsp. vanilla
3 C. flour
1 Tsp. baking soda
1 Tsp. cream of tartar
½ Tsp. salt

Cream butter. Add powdered sugar and mix. Add egg and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients (I almost NEVER sift). Gradually add to mixture and combine into a ball. Roll out on a floured board or pasty cloth to 1/8 inch thickness.
Cut into desired shapes. Bake 9 – 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

*You can roll this cookie dough out many times and it always comes out flaky. Yummy!

Simplify the Holidays Part 2 on 24/7 MOMS

24/7 MOMS Live webcast continues to Simplify your Holidays with

Make Ahead Christmas Brunch Ideas

Frugal Hostess Gifts

Clutter Free Gift Ideas For kids

Plus amazing giveaways all this week on the 24/7 MOMS Live webcast

The #1 MOM webcast Tuesday night 2 times 7pm PST/ 10pm EST OR 9pm PST/ 12am EST at http://www.247moms.com/

Put your kids to bed - Grab a hot cup of your favorite beverage - Put on your P.J.'s - Surf over to http://www.247moms.com/ and join us.

This weeks MOM Fun includes:

- Simple cooking demonstrations

- MOM Tip Talk- Giveaways

- 24 minutes AFTER the show chat-tin it up with us LIVE.

Tweet, TXT, Facebook , invite all of your MOM friends to this weeks 24/7 MOMS Live webcast. (MOM TV Show on your computer).

Christmas Shoes

My favorite Christmas song is Christmas Shoes.
I have never been in this situation before as the little boy or the lady in line. But hope that in either instance I would do the right thing or that someone would help me.
Yes it is a sad song but it is a great song that teaches us it is not about getting for the holiday season but about giving!

What was the most surprising gift you've ever received?

My husband arranged to have a friend come over and take a picture of him and my son holding a sing that said "We Love you" for my birthday. It was SO sweet and unexpected!
enter to win a Target gift card by sharing "What was the most surprising gift you've ever received?" visit TwitterMoms to enter. #TargetGiftGiving

Christmas Brunch Casserole

YUM! We make this every year. Can be made year round too! SUPER easy!

from http://www.allrecipes.com/

Ingredients
1 pound bacon
1 tablespoon butter
2 onions, chopped
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
4 cups frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 pinch dried parsley
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain and set aside. In a separate skillet, melt the butter and fry onions and mushrooms until tender.
Place potatoes in bottom of prepared dish. Sprinkle with salt, garlic salt, and pepper. Top with bacon, then onions and mushrooms.
In a large bowl, beat eggs with milk and parsley. Pour over casserole. Top with grated cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until set. If preparing and baking the same day, cook for 45 minutes.

What are your five tips & tricks for getting your kids to bed on time and getting them to stay in bed?

1.Start early! Start the bedtime routine at least 30 minutes prior to actual bedtime.
2. Get a routine! Ours is:
Get jammies on.
Go to the bathroom.
Brush teeth.
Get in bed!
3. If they get out of bed in the middle of the night take them back to their room assure them they are safe and leave a light on if necessary.
4. No liquids 30 minutes prior to bedtime. This ensures a dry sleep!
5. Don't sleep with them or stay with them until they fall asleep. Teach your children to go to sleep on their own. Trust me it is worth it later on!

My Family’s Holiday Values

Well values… my son has not come to expect TONS of gifts which is great because we don’t want him to think this is the meaning of Christmas. Christmas for me is family time. All year round is really family time but we do a lot of things together as a family during the Christmas season which I love. I wish it was Christmas all year round most of the time! Many years I feel Christmas is over commercialized and there truly in too much to fit into just one month.

10 Great Things About the Holidays

#1 FAMILY

That is all I have

What is your Black Friday plan of attack this year?

We ALWAYS start at Joann fabrics, in line at 4am. They don't open until 6am. One person gets a cart and the number in the cutting line. The other person fills their arms with as much flannel as they can carry.

It is AMAZING what women will do for $.99/yard flannel!

After that we hit the stores with the sales ending the earliest. Then we head out to the SuperMall in Auburn and enjoy more outlet shopping and lunch at Johnny Rockets!

Why do I tell you my secret? Check out this contest from Twittermoms for a chance to win a $75 Target gift card, we can all use a little extra Christmas money!

What are Your 5 Favorite Holiday Activities to do with Your Kids?

1. Cutting down the Christmas Tree
2. Going on the Santa Train at Pt. Defiance Park.
3. Zoolights
4. Making Gingerbreadhouses
5. Christmas Eve services

This is part of Twittersmoms Dora's Christmas Carol Contest

Home entertaining for the Holidays

Let's face it; gifts for home entertaining are great for the holidays. They can be put to immediate use, and everyone loves digging into the goodies. Hickory Farms' gifts, a holiday tradition for nearly 60 years, provide a wide selection of the famous sausages and cheeses in environmentally friendly boxes.

Mom Central and Hickory Farms sent my family one of the delicious gift boxes to try out. We have sent them in the past but never received them. We see their kiosk in the mall at the holiday times.

This gift box was SO yummy! I love the Sweet Mustard spread! And of course all the Sausage and cheeses as well! I think I ate half of a block of cheese and sausage the day it it arrived!

I am really glad we have chosen to ship these to family in the past and in the future since I know know how yummy they really are!

For a limited time this holiday season, for each Party Planner Gift Box sold, Hickory Farms will donate $5 to Share Our Strength, a leading national non-profit organization working to end childhood hunger in America. Additionally, for 40 of these gift items, Hickory Farms provides free military shipping, allowing our troops across the globe to share in holiday traditions (YEAH for Hickory Farms to support our troops!). Visit hickoryfarms.com to learn more about these two opportunities as well as the variety of gift boxes available!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a Hickory Farms gift basket to facilitate my review.

Macaroni & Cheese Grandmas Stuffing Recipe

Two 6 oz. bags Mrs. Cubbison's stuffing

1 cup (2 sticks) melted butter or margarine1

1/2 cups chopped celery

1 cup chopped onion

1 1/2 cups broth

1 pound Regular Jimmy Dean sausage

Brown sausage in small pan. Use dripping from sausage, onions and celery over medium cook until onions are translucent. Combine dressing with butter or margarine, sausage, and vegetables. Stir liquid in gradually. Spoon into 2 1/2 or 3-quart greased casserole dish. Bake covered 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Remove cover and bake 5 to 10 minutes longer for a crisper top. Makes 12 (1/2 cup) servings.

My baby is no longer a baby

Yes you still are a baby. But each day your little fingers get a little bigger, and your hair grow a little longer.

You are growing up so quickly. I love it and hate it. I can't wait to watch you grow and teach you new things. But I also want you to stay a baby forever despite the sleepless nights.

At night when I am feeding you I love to smell you and feel your soft baby skin. I love to look at your little wrinkles for knuckles.

I don't want to miss anything but feel like I miss everything.

One day you will understand when you are a mommy.

Since you are growing so quickly I want more, now. But know now it not the right time. But I would give you all the brothers and sisters I could if I could afford to bring you all up as you deserve.

I want to bottle up your baby smell and keep your little feet and fingers. I will miss you being a baby but can't wait for you to grow up. I just imagine what you will look like and sound like.

I love you.

Help Other This Holiday Season

Every year my mom (who work at a church) gives her volunteers gifts for the holidays at their annual Volunteer Appreciation Tea. Several years back she found a great company that helps improve the lives of people around the world.

Saving lives.

Helping people overcome poverty.

Fighting for social justice.

Oxfam America.

We are an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. We are part of Oxfam International, a confederation of 13 Oxfams working in more than 100 countries. Together with individuals and local groups in these countries, we save lives, help people overcome poverty, and fight for social justice.
What sets Oxfam apart?

We create partnerships. Rather than provide short-term aid, we work with local communities to create lasting solutions to poverty by helping people address the root causes themselves. We rely on the knowledge and insight of those affected.

We’re independent. Among leading humanitarian organizations, we stand alone in our refusal of US government funds. We accept no money from sources that could compromise our ability to make decisions independently or to speak freely about injustice.

We work locally and globally. Oxfam is deeply committed to our community-based work, but we also recognize that there are larger barriers that can keep people in poverty. To tackle these obstacles, we do national and international policy and advocacy work.

We believe that human rights are fundamental and nonnegotiable. Oxfam adheres to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which entitles all people to safety, a voice in the decisions that affect them, equality, basic social services, and a secure means of earning a living.
Oxfam’s reach

We’re on the ground around the world. Our regional offices are staffed by experienced people who often come from the regions in which we work and who know the local realities.

We work as part of a confederation. As part of Oxfam International, we’re able to campaign globally, uniting around some of the world’s biggest problems to achieve far-reaching solutions.

We’re there when an emergency strikes. Since Oxam is already working in communities around the world, when disaster strikes, we can be first responders—channeling funds, aid workers, and relief supplies to where they are needed in a matter of hours.

With the holidays right around the corner, thoughts inevitably turn toward the challenging task of buying gifts for friends, family, and colleagues. With an ever-growing list of people to buy for, each year I find myself searching for unique, meaningful gifts that fit my budget.

This year, Oxfam America Unwrapped introduces gifts that help those who need it most. From $20 for a pair of school uniforms donated to a poor community to a $50 goat sent to a struggling farmer to help provide fertilizer and food for his family, Oxfam America Unwrapped offers a convenient, easy way to find something for every one on your list while helping those less fortunate and avoiding the excess of the holiday season. When you buy a gift from OxfamGifts.com, your recipient gets a card with the image of your specific gift and the money goes toward providing lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice in over 100 countries.
To see how your donation affects the lives of people around the world, log on to the Oxfam America Unwrapped website and click on the "How your donation helps" section. Visitors can learn about Oxfam America's amazing work on projects such as restoring Mangrove trees to Vietnam's coastline and the creation of savings and loan programs in Mali, Senegal, and Cambodia.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Oxfam America Unwrapped and received a credit for a gift on the Oxfam site.

Thanksgiving Menu at the Peila's!

This year Thanksgiving is at our house. I can't WAIT! I love family time!
Here is this year's menu with links to the recipes!
Turducken - No I have never had it but my husband wants it SO bad. It is a boneless chicken stuffed in a boneless duck, stuffed in a boneless turkey. This will be interesting! Picking it up the 21st from Stewart's Meats in Yelm.
Bread Machine Rolls
Turkey Gravy
Dream Pie
Green Bean Casserole
Corn
Macaroni & Cheese Grandma's Stuffing (recipe to come this week)
Pumpkin Turtle Cheesecake
Meatballs
Deviled Eggs
Veggie Tray
Grandma's Potato Salad (recipe to come this week)

This delicious menu combined with 15 family members will be a holiday to remember!

My Holiday Goals

This year my holiday goals are to spend more time with my family. I always feel so rushed during the holidays of things we MUST do. Then it just flies by! I just want to take this year and savor my husband, kids, family and friends. I want to create lasting memories for years to come.

I want to cut some traditions, the Santa Train, Zoolights, Holiday Food & Gift Show, the list of events is endless. I want a COUPLE simple holiday traditions, one being cutting down our Christmas tree at Mitchells Christmas Tree Farm in Gig Harbor. It is a great start to the season!

I would like to focus more of the meaning of Christmas and less on gifts. I want my kids to know the true meaning of Christmas and be joyful about it. And not worried about what they will have under the tree!

I want to attend church on Christmas Eve. Seems like with all the hustle and bustle we never make it to Christmas Eve services. This year we are going.

Family Update Time!

We have all been SICK! Can't wait for us all to get well at the same time! I feel it coming soon! We have been sick consecutively for the past 6 weeks. NOT fun! Little Man missed his first 3 days of school and got behind in reading!
Little Princess sounds horrible but if feeling better every day. She is now able to sit herself up from the laying position and still crawling backwards and occasionally forwards. But she is already pulling herself up to her knees and sometimes standing position so I think walking will be sooner than her brother was!
Little Man loves school but seems to have trouble understanding the concept of "personal space". I am constantly getting calls from school that he cannot keeps his hands to himself. So we ordered a book and found some games online to help him out with that. Who knew teaching a child could be SO hard!
He is loving to learn to read. He sounds out all kinds of words and even wrote his letter to Santa a couple of weeks ago. It is SO cute. His teacher told me to let him write phonetically in the beginning so Santa is "santu" and good is "god". This is one to keep for the scrapbook.
Speaking of scrapbooking, I need to get started on that again! Little Man is 5 and I only have made it through his first year! And have not even started on Little Princesses!
Little Man also found a love of board games! He cannot get enough of them.
Well off to clean house I go!

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

This is a great blog post from my friend Dave Curry, Tacoma Rescue Mission.

When most people think of homelessness, young children and teenagers are not the first image that pops into their brain. Instead, they think of a grizzled older gentlemen sleeping in Pioneer Square or in the doorway of a local business.

Yet, the reality is that we have more homeless children and youth at the Tacoma Rescue Mission than we do men in our Shelter. Amazing, but true. There are anywhere from 80-90 kids on any given night that are taking refuge at the Mission.

Our most pressing goal is to make sure that “No Child has to sleep on the streets of Pierce County”. This goal is attainable, but first we people have to know that the problem exists.

Unfortunately, most don’t know that homeless children and youth is a problem so nothing gets done. The question is, what can you do?

Here are just a couple of suggestions:

1. Support agencies, churches and policy makers who understand the problem and are working to find solutions to homelessness. There are people out trying to solve the problem but they are often a voice in the wilderness. By supporting them you are helping to build critical mass toward ending youth homelessness

2. Make this your CAUSE. Let people know through blogging, twitter, facebook, and through personal conversation that you are really concerned about child and youth homelessness and are making a difference.

3. Volunteer to serve. The programs that are solving this problem need tutors, mentors and folks to help do crafts and activities. You can use your gifts to make a big difference in the life of a homeless youth.

Let’s all work together to raise awareness of this growing challenge. We can make a difference and make sure that NO Child has to be homeless in Pierce County.

http://www.rescuetacoma.com/

Hannah's Socks Holiday Sock Drive

Sometimes a charity comes along that started with a truly inspirational story, such as Hannah's Socks. During Thanksgiving 2004, four-year-old Hannah Turner in Toledo, Ohio helped her mother Doris serve food at a local homeless shelter. While there, she saw a man with holes in his shoes and no socks. Hannah asked her mom if she could offer the man her own socks. The next day, Hannah's mom took her to purchase and distribute socks to local shelters. They collected and donated over 100 pairs of socks around Toledo. Over the next two years, with the help of her Mom, family, and friends, Hannah distributed nearly 10,000 pairs of socks to shelters. Since then, Hannah's Socks has collected over 100,000 pairs of socks for homeless and domestic violence shelters. Today, the organization kicks off the Hannah's Socks Holiday Sock Drive, to collect socks and funds for this year's upcoming winter and holiday season. Inspired by Hannah's story, The Clorox Company became a sponsor of Hannah's Socks this season as Hannah's Socks strives to gather and donate 10,000 pairs of new socks to underprivileged children's programs as well as homeless and domestic violence shelters. Not only do I love the heart-warming message of this story, but also I find it provides a great way to teach our kids about simple, yet profound, ways to give back to those in need around us.

Families can also donate funds and find out more about Hannah's Socks and the Holiday Sock Drive at www.hannahssocks.org. Follow the charity on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hannahssocks and Twitter at www.twitter.com/hannahssocks

She's At It Again!

My friend Trisha once again has found a SUPER deal for everyone! Check out her Deal of The Day Free Sunmaid Recipe Book!

Wordless Wednesday

Such a simple life children live!

It’s my Birthday, I’ll Cry if I want to!

Well not really. I don’t want to cry. I just want to take this day and thank God for all he has provided for me. A WONDERFUL family and friends who are irreplaceable.

It’s Monday!!!

Do you feel tired? I do! Trying to tell a 5-year old and an 8-month old that the time has changed is impossible! I have to say other than the holidays, fall is my least favorite time of the year. It is cold and rainy and I come home in the dark. UGH!! How depressing!

However just this last weekend I started looking forward to spring and summer even more when I found a layout of our new yard and all the YUMMY and BEAUTIFUL plants that the previous homeowner left for us. Kiwis, grapes, rhubarb, blueberries, potatoes, green peppers, tomatoes, apples, plums, cherries, and the list goes on and on! Now I‘m just hoping they are easy to care for since my thumb is not that green!

Little Man is looking forward to Spring to so he can play and eat in the yard. It is really funny he just goes and has a snack when he needs one!

This weekend was fun family time with no stress!

Halloween was cold but not rainy as usual in the Puget Sound. We did a little trick or treating and then the kids went to Aunties house while Milkman and I went off to an adult only party for a couple hours!

Looking forward to celebrating my birthday this coming weekend with my friends and family.

Have a great week readers!

Just in time for Halloween!

In Washington Halloween is always rainy and COLD!!!
Once again my friend Trisha over at 24/7 MOMS has found a GREAT recipe from Sue Fox to warm us up for Halloween!
Caramel Apple Spiced Cider in Slow Cooker
2 qts. Apple Cider
1 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. pure vanilla
1 orange sliced
Combine all ingredients in crock pot and simmer on low until hot.
Top with caramel ice cream sauce and whipped cream to your heart’s content!

Winner of Fisher Price Trio is...

Michele P. said...
email subscriber here :)
Please email me your shipping address by November 5th.
peila (at)harbornet(dot)com

Wordless Wednesday

What do you get when you ask a 13-year old to put a baby in PJ's?

A restless baby (with and air conditioned diaper) and a frustrated 13-year old!

I’m having a Sentsy ONLINE party

You don’t have to come to my house you can order from your home!
What is Scentsy you ask? Scentsy began in 2003 with the powerfully simple idea of aromatic candles – decorative warmers with wax melted by the heat of a light bulb instead of a traditional wick and flame.I don't like the fire hazard and burn hazard of regular candles with small kids. These are WONDERFUL. The wax is so low temp even when completely melted will not burn you even if you submerge your hand in it!They have over 80 scents. I have them to smell if you want to check them out!I am helping a friend start her business and SMELLING good on the way!

Check it out online or ask me for a catalog and sample scents. I am trying to turn all orders in my November 1st.

https://skellybean.scentsy.us/Buy?partyId=1456767
Hurry and order now using the link above. I’m trying to close by the 1st.

10 Fads You Just Don't Get

1. Hoop earrings.
2. Tight jeans.
3. Bellbottoms
4. Pretty much EVERYTHING in Vogue!
5. Sandles on men.
6. Socks with sandles?

Friday FUN!

So Halloween is quickly approaching! Are you dressing up? Are your kids? Well I am not dressing up but my kids are! Little Princess is going to be Tinkerbell and Little Man is going to be a Pirate. My great friend Trisha gave me the wonderful inexpensive way to make Little Man's costume. Check it out!
MOM Tip - With a sword carrying pirate in my home I have had to create a few quick Pirate costumes over the years.
Here is my SUPER SIMPLE Pirate costume Tip for you.
Materials Needed:
1 Red or White t-shirt
1 pair black sweat pants
1 strip of black or stripped fabric
Instructions:Top - Frey the bottom of the t-shirt making jagged cuts. (upside down triangles).
Pants - Cut the pants so they are mid calf length, then frey the bottom of each leg making jagged cuts (upside down triangles).
Belt - Cut a long strip of fabric to tie around your child's waist as their pirate belt. An old belt of yours or your husband will work as well.
Option- you can also use a smaller strip of fabric to tie around their head or use a scarf.
See more of Trisha's mom tips and sign up for her newsletter at www.247moms.com
I will post my pics after Halloween!

Thursday THRIFTY find!

Wordless Wednesday

When we were young, and skinny!

#1 MOM Show!

#1 MOM show happens tonight on your computer 24/7 MOMS LIVE 2 shows 2 times 7pm PST/ 10pm EST AND 9pm PST / 12am EST. http://www.247moms.com/

10 Things That Make You Feel Old

1. My cousin is graduating this year. This is a good thing, but I remember when she was born. I don't want her to grow up!
2. My son started Kindergarten.
3. No one seems to age around me since I turned 21. Kind of cool for me.
4. I can't seem to keep going and going and going, end up sick in bed!
5. I can't stay up late and get up early anymore, I miss my sleep!
6. Not being able to sit on the floor or sleep on the floor. OUCH!
7. All the kids I knew as babies are not babies anymore!

I really don't "feel" old I just know I am aging as the world around me changes. I still enjoy getting older though!

We are in

Well we are officially in our new home. Not unpacked yet but in. Not getting anything done really since I have been sick ALL week! No fun! Practically in bed since Thursday. Feeling better every day but still not quite where I feel I should be by now on antibiotics!
Little Man is LOVING school. They started reading groups last week and he just loves it. He is sounding out words daily and writing more and more. I need to get him a journal to write in. He had a playground accident a couple weeks ago and it made one of his front baby teeth turn brown. YUCK! Went to the dentist and he said as long as it does not hurt him we will leave it until it falls out.
Little Princess grows more and more everyday. This weekend she started pulling her self up to her knees in her crib and in a laundry basket we were playing in. With only two teeth she is chewing on everything trying to get more and wanting to eat everything we eat!
Mom and dad are hanging in there trying to get things as organized as possible and not trip over everything in the process!

WIN - Fisher Price TRIO

Fisher Price has come out with a great alternative to Legos! We find Legos to be #1 SMALL! And #2 difficult for little hands to put together!
Easy building for 3 - 5 years
Is your child showing interest in building structures with blocks? TRIO™ Basic Building System sets are a great way to develop this interest as children refine their eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills. These sets also help kids move beyond imitating what others do during imaginary play, and progress to the stage where they use their imaginations to translate familiar places and activities into enriched, creative play. Step-by-step instructions guide them on ways to build and rebuild these sets.
TRIO has three "grow with me" building levels for ages 3-9.
Tanya Peila and Fisher Price are giving away one TRIO Basic Building System. To enter:
1. Subscribe to my blog. And then leave a comment that you subscribed. (over to the right)
2. If you are already a subscriber just leave a comment to that effect. Winner will be chosen on oct 26, 2009

We finally did it!

We finally made the move! It was a long process, packing for weeks with kids. Something I don't recommend!
I am exhausted and sick on top of it. But we are moved in not unpacked but at least 50% done and movable!
So we will take it one day at a time and one box at a time.
Sorry if we kind of fell off the face of the earth the last 4 weeks. Hopefully life will be getting back to normal REAL soon!
And for those of you who follow me on Facebook, yes I finally got a shower (with soap)!

Guilt free snack

Are you looking for a guilt-free snack that will help satisfy that afternoon sweet tooth? Want to enjoy in a delicious treat with only 100 calories? Then we have the perfect Spark for you - an opportunity to try the new Yoplait® Delights, a rich and creamy layered yogurt parfait with just 100 calories!

Did you know?
Nearly nine out of 10 women experience a mid-day craving and have the urge to snack
Eighty-three percent of women admit they sometimes feel guilty when cravings take over and they reach for sweetsWith Yoplait Delights you can enjoy a delicious sweet treat and feel good about your choice. Available in four tempting flavor combinations Chocolate Raspberry, Triple Berry Creme, Lemon Torte and Creme Caramel - creamy Yoplait Delight is the perfect everyday treat. Right now you can also download a $1.25 off coupon for Yoplait Delights Parfait at: http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=58135&ci=1&c=GM&p=V6gHk2E5

My friends at My Blog Spark sent me a Delight Your Day gift pack with this new yummy treat. Let me say, it lasted exactly 1-hour, yes ONE HOUR in my house. My husband and son ate them ALL up.

The only down fall i found was the packaging was not all that great. The container fell out of the cardboard in my shopping cart. But HEY did not effect the taste!

Back to School Food

So being the mom of a Kindergartner school lunches are a new things for us. Smuckers makes those "oops I forgot to pack you lunch" mornings SUPER easy and now even healthier!

In an effort to give Moms an "after school snack break," The J.M. Smucker Company will give away 80,000 Smucker's Uncrustables sandwiches, a wholesome after-school snack that provides the protein our kids need and the great homemade peanut butter and jelly taste they love. These thaw-and-serve sandwiches make for easy on-the-go snacks for an active family like mine. And now that Uncrustables are made with whole wheat bread, Moms can feel great about serving them. Starting September 28, parents can register for a free 4-pack box by logging on to www.uncrustables.com and sharing a helpful time-saving after-school organizational tip.
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Smucker’s Uncrustables and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Make Time for CHANGE

Starting today, for everyone who goes to Frigidaire.com and raises their hand with a pledge to make time for a child, Frigidaire will donate $1 to support the CHANGE program and Save the Children's work to help children in need in the U.S. And in addition to that fuzzy feeling you get from doing something good, everyone who pledges their time will be entered for a chance to win a new Frigidaire Professional double wall oven! Those in the market for top-notch new appliances should also know that, for every new Frigidaire Professional double wall oven sold, Frigidaire will donate $100 to Save the Children's U.S Programs as part of their $250,000 commitment to this worthy cause.

10 Things You Need to Plan For

1. Moving
2. 24/7 MOMS
3. College for Kids
4. Retirement
5. Christmas!
6. Organizing
7. Kids Birthdays, yes I plan this far in advance!
8. The future

Wordless Wednesday

How to transport a pool table.

10 Things You Think are Cool

1. Shopping Online
2. Having children
3. www.donttelldebbie.com (SO funny!)
4. Being left-handed
5. my friends
6. LOL, ME!
I think I will leave it at that...ME!

Big Clip - Box Top for Education

There are two days left for back to school savings!
Now until September 4, you can get more Box Tops coupons on your favorite back-to-school brands at Sam's Club and maximize you earnings for your school. As a double benefit, your savings on these favorites brands will pay for you membership. At Sam's club you can save over $40 on these brands compared to grocery store prices!
Participating brands include: Cheerios, Ziploc containers, Ziploc sandwich bags, Honey Nut Cheerios, Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookies, Fiber one Oats and Chocolate Bars, Nature Valley Bars, Scott Paper Towels, Huggies Baby Wipes, and Kleenex Facial Tissues.
Sam's Club and Box Tops for Education provided me with a one-year membership at Sam's Club to start my back to school savings!
Sam's Club, Box Tops for Education and My Blog Spark are also giving away (5) one day passes and one $25 Sam's Club card for my readers!
To enter to win, leave a comment below.
To get extra entries, Tweet this contest, Facebook this contest, subscribe to my blog. Leave a comment for EACH extra entry please.
Contect ends September 7th, 2009.

Our family update!

So quick update! Yesterday Little Princess got her first tooth!!! And last Friday, Little Man lost his SECOND tooth. I guess they are trying to keep up with each other!
Little Man is excited only two more days until Kindergarten!

I don't co-sleep

We don't co-sleep in our house. But I would if I could!

They do grow up so quickly. I want to hold them and cuddle them forever. Yes I am having a bit of "working mom guilt" and having my "baby" start Kindergarten next week does not help.

So far I have missed it all with Little Princess, the first laugh, rolling from back to tummy and vice versa. The only part I did not miss which made the guilt even more was "ma ma ma ma". Yes I know it was unintentional and she did not know she was making my heart melt, but I witnessed it first hand with daddy and brother at my side.

A good friend of mine lost her son at 23 weeks gestation. Since then I don't want to leave my kids. I've missed it all and don't want them to grow up without experiencing it all first hand with them. In an instant for whatever reason they could be gone.

Little Man is starting Kindergarten next week. I missed the first steps, his first word, his first crawl, and I don't want to miss it all for #2. I am lucky to be able to take some time off to spend with Little Princess and Little Man before his first big day at school. He is so excited to spend time with mommy.

If we could afford it I would have 5, yes I would love to have MORE children. We could probably make ends meet except medical insurance, the never ending set back.

I encourage all of you, to hug your children every day, and even though sometimes/often they can be a handful (yes I know they can, many times several times a day), tell them you love them and that you would never change anything about them. I have never thought of myself to want to be a stay at home mom. With Little Princess I feel more prepared and ready to take on that roll, but financially this is not possible.

Cherish every moment, for they vanish in an instant and only happen once. Love your children, husband or wife and family for they will always be there for you.

I am taking some great advice from simplemom.net Starting this weke I am starting a two week meal rotation.

Monday: Mexican

Tuesday: Crockpot

Wednesday: Pasta

Thursday: Asian

Friday: Pizza and salad

Saturday: Anything goes, try out a new recipe

Sunday: Simple and quick

Zhu Zhu Pets!

I have cleaned a hamster cage, and lost several hamsters in my house as a child, some never to be found!

Hamsters are one of those animals every child wants at some point. This is why I am excited that Mom Select chose me to review the new Zhu Zhu Pets.

GoGo Pets are fun, interactive hamsters that talk, move and even navigate their way around their own habitat. There are dozens of add-on sets so your child can create a custom world for their new friend. We're sure you'll be as amazed as we were at the sheer cuteness of GoGo Pets! Watch this adorable video to see for yourself.

Each Zhu Zhu Pets™ Hamster has its own unique personality and whimsical sounds!
Loving Mode:
Pet them, love them, hear them squeak and chatter
Explore Mode:
Let them scoot, scamper, bump & boogie across the floor or through their Hamster Habitat

No more stinky cages or lost hamsters in our house!

Wordless Wednesday

I love my brother!

10 Favorite Places to Eat

1. Sakura's - Tacoma
2. Emerald Queen Casino - Tacoma
3. Anthony's Home Port
4. The Ram
5. Outback
6. The Melting Pot
7. Indochine

I did not drop off the face of the earth

But I did go in a Hot Air Balloon ride! Sorry readers I have been SO busy! My readership has dropped, as I foresaw. But I am still here and hopefully ready to rock again! So let's catch up.

Little Princess is 5 1/2 months old now. She is rolling over and has started veggies. She has had peas, avacados, and sweet potatoes. So far so good! She is teething now and very cranky at times. That paired with a nice cold is making her miserable and not a whole lot of sleep at night either!

Little Man just lost his first tooth! And he is so super excited to start school. He is having a tough times not telling us "no" and "I don't want to" but we are working on it.

And like I sid we did go on a hot air balloon ride for our 10th anniversary. It was fun. VERY loud and actually very warm.

Other than that life if as crazy as ever! Hope to hear from you all soon.

Milestones!

This past week we have been full of milestones!
First Little Man has not only one but TWO loose teeth! Both of this front two bottom teeth are loose and the adult teeth are already growing in behind them. We keep telling him to play with them so they will fall out soon!
Little Princess had a very exciting weekend! First off, solid foods! We started this weekend with avocados! YUM! She was not so sure about the texture but did not seem to mind the taste.
Next, rolling over! She rolled over for daddy last weekend but only him and brother saw it. But this weekend she was all over the place. Friday night she had problems going to bed because she was fighting sleep and kept rolling herself over and getting even more mad because she was stuck on her stomach! So much to my surprise when she woke up Monday at 3:30 am to eat she was fully asleep on her stomach! (Yes I went in to check on her). And again in the morning was asleep on her stomach as well. And yes she is only getting up ONCE a night now. Anywhere from 1am-5am. Then will sleep until 8am or 9am if you let her!
My favorite milestone so far, "ma ma ma ma."!!!!! And then I hear "She said 'brother' did you hear her?" coming from Little Man!
Cherish every moment, because they grow so quickly and in an instant it can all be over.
Other than that life is as crazy as ever! Don't forget to check out www.247moms.com on Tuesdays at 7PM PST for ALL moms!
I will try to post pictures soon.
Fllow me on Twitter (tanyapeila), FriendFeed (tanyapeila), and Flickr (carson2005) to see them sooner!

iPods on fire?

http://www.kirotv.com/money/20089894/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2657947924813&tml=sea_9am&tmi=sea_9am_1_11000107212009&ts=H

I own an iPod and often let my son listen to it and read cooks on it. This will make me think twice. Very unusual for Apply too!

Fruit 2 Day

I was sent a sample of Fruit 2 Day to try out.

Fruit 2 Day is a new way to eat fruit. No doubt about it, fruit does wonders fr your health. But it is tough enough to get your fill with an on-the-go mommy lifestyle. Now there's a new way to eat fruit. Each Fruit 2 Day contains 2 servings of fruit!

Here is my take. It tastes GREAT! Just like fresh fruit. There are real fruit bits in the drink which I personally do not care for, and also would not recommend for toddlers. It is a bit unexpected if you don't know it has fruit bits in it.

Other than that, it is a yummy drink and super easy way to get 2 servings of fruit! Again not big on the fruit bit pieces, if they ever remake it I would suggest omitting the fruit bits!

Share the MOMtourage and Win

You tell us you LOVE our weekly live show; love the ideas, tips, and live chatting. Some have even said, "It's better then any show on TV." But, are you telling your mom friends about us? We want your WOMM ( word of mom mouth ) help to make 24/7 MOMS live the #1 watched MOM web cast.

Tell your MOM friends about the 24/7 MOMS weekly live web cast and you will be entered for a chance to WIN this weeks MOMtourage giveaway during the 24/7 MOMS LIVE web cast.

You can earn up to 4 entries each week by doing any of the below options, just be sure to come back and fill out the form after each entry!

- Post about 24/7 MOMS Live web cast on your Facebook, with a link to www.247moms.com
- Tweet about the weekly 24/7 MOMS Live web cast . www.twitter.com
Sample tweet - Join me for 24/7 MOMS Live web cast, chatting up Birthdays, giveaways, Tips and more this week 7pm PST/ 10pm EST www.247moms.com @247MOMS

- Add the 24/7 MOMS Live web cast button to your blog . Copy and paste link below.
<a href="http://www.247moms.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252/tpeila/liveshowbutton1-5-2.jpg" />

- Blog about the weekly 24/7 MOMS Live web cast with a link back to www.247moms.com

Once you have completed an entry method, fill out the form below! Be sure you fill out a form for each entry you do.

This weeks MOMtourage contest ends July 14th 7pm PST/10pm EST

44th Pillsbury Bake-Off - Giveaway

The contest's entry period ended in mid-April 2009, but now we invite you to help with the judging. For the first time in the contest's 60-year history, you and your readers can help determine 10 recipes among the final 100 that will compete for the $1 million grand prize! How does the You Be the Judge! voting work? Judges will select 20 recipes to be placed online at http://www.bakeoff.com/ in pairs for a period of two weeks for each pair. Consumers can vote for their favorite recipe in each pair. The recipe from each pair that wins the most votes will earn a spot in the final competition, April 11-13, 2010, in Orlando, Florida. Voting is limited to one vote per person per each pair of recipes. Voters must be registered members of http://www.pillsbury.com/ and 18 years of age or older as of May 1, 2009, to participate. The first pair of recipes was posted on May 14, 2009 and a new pair of recipes will be posted every two weeks (namely, May 28, June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23, August 6, August 20, September 3 and September 17, 2009). The voting period for the tenth and final pair of recipes will close at 11:59AM CDT on October 1, 2009. Visit http://www.bakeoff.com/ for the official rules.

MyBlogSpark and Tanya Peila are giving away TWO past Bake-Off magazine and a Pillsbury Doughboy giggle doll.

To enter subscribe to my blog over the the right! Entries will be accepted through July 17, 2009 and I will pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are only eligible. Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! I will also list the winner on PRIZEYwinners so if you are a subscriber to PRIZEYwinners you do not need to leave your e-mail address. If you do not send me your mailing address within one week of notice of winning I will give your prize to someone else.To get extra credit

Bloggers - Blog about this contest and link back to me and leave me the link in your comment.
Non Bloggers (or bloggers) - Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/tanyapeila
Please post your extra credit in a separate post.

Wordless Wednesday

10 Guilty Pleasures on TV

Well it is not guilty but I LOVE to watch the Disney Channel!

Week 18

WOW! This is going SO fast! Before I know it she will be starting Kindergarten like her big brother! Who also informed me last week he has his first loose tooth too! Children grow so quick and can often times be very unnerving, but they are worth every minute of it!

Guitar Hero Little Man APPROVED

My 5-year old has taken a great liking to Nintendo DS and it keeps him occupied in the car. So, this past week when he was given the opportunity by MOM Central to out the new the Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits game for his Nintendo DS there was not a chance he was going to say "NO" to this one. He was asked to test out both Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits game and the Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades game so that he could test out the additional features for multi players. Not only did he get his friends to play with him he even recruited his uncle to test out the multi player mode using both games as they competed against one another and shared songs between the two games- I guess you could call it Nintendo DS Battle of the bands.

The Handheld guitar players can now choose how they raise-up their band from the underground music scene to worldwide rock stardom in Guitar Hero® On Tour: Modern Hits. Featuring a set list comprised of 28 master tracks from influential artists including Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, Tenacious D, The Strokes and Weezer, Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits expands on the innovative Guitar Hero® gameplay on the Nintendo DS by introducing an all-new Fan Request system that challenges players to jam like never before. Fret board fanatics can once again unleash their inner rock stars anytime, anywhere as they hone their shredding skills and jam to face-melting modern rock tracks from the last five years in Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits.

TOP FEATURES:

Rock out to today’s hottest tracks – Shred along to 28 master tracks, all modern rock hits from some of the hottest bands including Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, Tenacious D, Weezer, The Strokes and more. Players will tour through five all-new venues that are as extreme as the tunes played in them.

Choose your path to stardom – For the first time ever, players can choose how they take their band from the underground music scene to worldwide rock stardom with the exciting non-linear gameplay progression in Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits.

Do it for the fans – Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits delivers an all-new gameplay experience with Fan Requests. By completing Fan Requests players build their fan base and open up new challenges to rock-out like never before including jamming to an entire song in Hyperspeed, battling it out in a Guitar Duel with active Bomb Notes or whammying every single hold note in a song.

Rock out anytime, anywhere – Fans can take the Guitar Hero experience wherever they go with Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits. The Guitar Hero™ Guitar Grip™ mimics a guitar fret board and fits seamlessly in people’s hands to deliver the same core game play that defines Guitar Hero. We did have some problems with the Guitar Grips coming out of the game during play. This was kind of frustrating becasue you have to turn the DS off and restart. Also just a side note if your child has a Nerf cover on their DS you will have to remove it to play these games. They should make some sort of extention for the grip so you don't have to continually take the Nurf cover on and off.

The party never stops – Song streaming features allow players of Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits and its predecessors, Guitar Hero: On Tour and Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades, to share songs via local wireless connectivity. Players can rock out together in multiplayer modes, jamming to tracks from all three versions of the game.

10 Things You'd Bring on a Deserted Island

10 Things You'd Bring on a Deserted Island
1. My husband (yeah I do like him SOME times!)
2. My son
3. My daugther
4. Firewood (to make fire)
5. Lighter (to make fire)
6. seeds to plant veggies (to make food)
7. boy cow (to make food)
8. girl cow (to make food)
9. chicken (to make food)
10. Bible (to get me through it all!)

Winners of Don't Bite Me Patches

Darci Park
Kelly Hayes
Michele Pineda
Tina Reynolds

You have one week to contact me or I will redraw!

Yes I am a SLACKER! Week 16

Well really I am just busy, imagine that!

So Little Princess is 14 pounds! And is now 4 months old. So for those of you who have not met her, what's the deal?

This past weekend she finally moved into her crib. I miss her sleeping in the same room as me! But I love to have my husband back in my bed as well. And we finally got her to laugh out loud.

Little Man just finished his first season of t-ball. He hits REALLY good. Throwing is good too, catching he still has some work though!

Here is a picture of the two that we gave to daddy for Father's Day!

Get in Shape With Fit Deck!

So I am slowly trying to get into shape! I found a great, fun way to get into shape, FitDeck! So it is like a card game which is what makes it fun! There are 8 decks of exercise playing cards, and 16 booster decks. The FitDecks require no equipment and the Boosters require some. For instance, there is the Stroller FitDeck, all you need is your stroller! I tested the Junior and Postnatal FitDecks and they rock! The Junior deck is SO great because having an active little one if what I want. So Little Man loves playing cards and now I can get him to exercise while doing it!

FitDeck Philosophy

FitDeck makes exercise more simple, convenient and fun.

Simple: FitDeck cards demonstrate hundreds of exercises, stretches, and movements in a user-friendly format. Clear illustrations and easy instructions eliminate non-essential information.

Convenient: Choose a FitDeck that suits you specific needs, fitness level, and lifestyle - no equipment, with equipment or a combination.

Fun: Shuffle cards to create thousands of routines with unexpected combinations, sequences, and intensity levels.

FitDeck and TanyaPeila.com have teamed up to give a way one prenatal FitDeck, one playground booster deck, and one baby stroller booster set to one lucky winner! To enter for your chance to win, enter your name and email address in the box below and you will be signed up for today's giveaway as well as be added to my subscription list (if you are not already a subscriber). Winner will be chosen on June 28th, 2009. I will pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are only eligible. I will also list the winner on PRIZEYwinners so if you are a subscriber to PRIZEYwinners you do not need to leave your e-mail address. If you do not send me your mailing address within one week of notice of winning I will give your prize to someone else.