I love Fridays, and I love freebies. Put them together and you have the best of both -- Freebie Friday!
Thanks to Mom Advice for putting together the Freebie Friday list. http://momadvice.com/blog/2010/05/freebie-friday-may-28-2010 On Saturday, there is also a Build & Grow workshop at Lowe's this weekend to build a race car http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/Home.aspx and two free projects at Michael's - make an American Girl Craft™ Flower Card http://theknackkids.com/EventView/Code/ev0066.aspx or make a summer tote bag http://theknackkids.com/EventView/Code/ev0067.aspx . All for free! Call your local store to make sure they are participating.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Darth Mama’s New Addiction
I probably have enough addictions in my life – chocolate (any and all, please, right now, thank you), coffee, a new pile of books, costume jewelry, stickers, and those little teeny sample vials of perfume (I LOVE those!). Move over, chocolate/coffee/books/etc., because there’s a new game in town, and Darth Mama can’t stop playing.
So what is my new addiction? Blog contests. I can’t stop entering, can’t stop searching for them, can’t stop hoping hoping hoping that a special little WINNER email pops up in my inbox. Only problem is, by the time I receive a WINNER email, I’ve forgotten what contests I’ve entered!
But not this one. Not this time. This time, I really really really do want to win it, and not just for the joy of seeing the WINNER email. What is my heart’s desire at this moment? One Eskimo’s new cd (plus a cool t-shirt) ! http://oneeskimo.com . I adore their song “Kandi”, even though my 5 year old gives me the fish eye when I sing along, loudly and out of tune (is there any other way to sing in the car?), and even though my 2 year old sings it as “He coo u baby, baby, baby.” Please, please, please, goddess of luck on blog contests, have mercy on my little dark soul & let me win this one!
You, too, can enter (and I won’t hate you TOO much if you win instead of me). One of my favorite blogs is Heavenly Savings, and you can enter to win at heavenlysavings.blogspot.com/2010/05/one-eskimo-album-review-and-giveaway.html Another blog I really enjoy is Katie's Nesting Spot, and you can enter to win at http://katiesnestingspot.blogspot.com/2010/05/one-eskimo-cd-and-t-shirt-giveaway.html And last (but certainly not least), I love The B Keeps Us Honest, and you can enter to win at http://thebkeepsushonest.blogspot.com/2010/05/birthday-bash-one-eskimo-cd-review.html
Will you share with me if you win? I’ll be your best friend!
So what is my new addiction? Blog contests. I can’t stop entering, can’t stop searching for them, can’t stop hoping hoping hoping that a special little WINNER email pops up in my inbox. Only problem is, by the time I receive a WINNER email, I’ve forgotten what contests I’ve entered!
But not this one. Not this time. This time, I really really really do want to win it, and not just for the joy of seeing the WINNER email. What is my heart’s desire at this moment? One Eskimo’s new cd (plus a cool t-shirt) ! http://oneeskimo.com . I adore their song “Kandi”, even though my 5 year old gives me the fish eye when I sing along, loudly and out of tune (is there any other way to sing in the car?), and even though my 2 year old sings it as “He coo u baby, baby, baby.” Please, please, please, goddess of luck on blog contests, have mercy on my little dark soul & let me win this one!
You, too, can enter (and I won’t hate you TOO much if you win instead of me). One of my favorite blogs is Heavenly Savings, and you can enter to win at heavenlysavings.blogspot.com/2010/05/one-eskimo-album-review-and-giveaway.html Another blog I really enjoy is Katie's Nesting Spot, and you can enter to win at http://katiesnestingspot.blogspot.com/2010/05/one-eskimo-cd-and-t-shirt-giveaway.html And last (but certainly not least), I love The B Keeps Us Honest, and you can enter to win at http://thebkeepsushonest.blogspot.com/2010/05/birthday-bash-one-eskimo-cd-review.html
Will you share with me if you win? I’ll be your best friend!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
From IDEA to I DID IT
My daughter’s new favorite word is “idea.” Usually she shouts it at the top of her lungs when we’re riding in the car: “IDEA! IDEA! IDEA!”
I have no idea what she means by IDEA, but the possibilities are staggering. She usually shouts it with a big grin on her face, and often starts laughing in the middle of her “IDEA” explosion. My son says she’s thinking of ideas to get into things, which is probably not that far off the mark.
I love the idea of an IDEA seizing her so quickly and so suddenly that she just has to shout. The look of pure merriment on her face when an IDEA wave strikes is, in itself, inspiring, and makes me long for the time when the world was new (at least to me) and my synapses fired with excitement, instead of just the eternal questions of what should I make for dinner, and oh no, where did the dog do it this time? The electric flash of clarity, the sudden brilliance of a scheme, the wide open potentials – these are all reflected on her face at the IDEA moment. I admit, I’m jealous of that magic and wonder.
Last night she announced her new phrase, right after I discovered why she had been unusually quiet (and right before my cabinets and I thanked all sorts of deities and Proctor & Gamble for Mr. Clean Magic Eraser) – “I DID IT!” That, baby girl, sums up your next steps, and the steps for the rest of your life – taking an IDEA and turning it into an I DID IT. But please, not with magic marker all over my kitchen cabinets next time.
I have no idea what she means by IDEA, but the possibilities are staggering. She usually shouts it with a big grin on her face, and often starts laughing in the middle of her “IDEA” explosion. My son says she’s thinking of ideas to get into things, which is probably not that far off the mark.
I love the idea of an IDEA seizing her so quickly and so suddenly that she just has to shout. The look of pure merriment on her face when an IDEA wave strikes is, in itself, inspiring, and makes me long for the time when the world was new (at least to me) and my synapses fired with excitement, instead of just the eternal questions of what should I make for dinner, and oh no, where did the dog do it this time? The electric flash of clarity, the sudden brilliance of a scheme, the wide open potentials – these are all reflected on her face at the IDEA moment. I admit, I’m jealous of that magic and wonder.
Last night she announced her new phrase, right after I discovered why she had been unusually quiet (and right before my cabinets and I thanked all sorts of deities and Proctor & Gamble for Mr. Clean Magic Eraser) – “I DID IT!” That, baby girl, sums up your next steps, and the steps for the rest of your life – taking an IDEA and turning it into an I DID IT. But please, not with magic marker all over my kitchen cabinets next time.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Book Review and Giveaway: I Am Hutterite
I am Hutterite
By Mary-Ann Kirkby
Thomas Nelson publisher, 2010
ISBN 978 0 8499 4810 7
Ann-Marie Dornn had an idyllic childhood – treasured friends, a close family, strong community bonds, and adventures on the plains of Manitoba, in a Hutterite colony. Descended from Austrian immigrants, the Hutterite communities were based on sharing of goods and labor in common, a simple yet deep faith, and customs and fashions followed by sixteenth century Austrian peasants. However, personality conflicts, and squabbles over community management, among the adults in the community ripped it apart, and when Ann-Marie was ten, her family left the colony to forge their own way.
Ann-Marie’s adjustment to “English” life was difficult, to say the least. Shunned as strange outcasts by their schoolmates, each of the seven Dornn children suffered through a long adjustment period. Although the Dornn family returned often to the Hutterite community to visit family and friends, their daily life was marked by loneliness and poverty. Still, the family persevered, together, and slowly grew, to acceptance by others, to economic stability, and to embracing their own heritage.
Although this was a book that I would not have customarily chosen for leisure reading (I received a copy of this book to review from www.booksneeze.com), it was a fascinating glimpse into a new culture for me, and it was extremely well written.
Want to own my copy of I Am Hutterite? Enter by becoming a follower with Google Friend Connect, and leave a comment below. I’ll pick a winner at random on Friday, June 4.
A copy of I Am Hutterite was provided by www.booksneeze.com for this review, but no other compensation was received. The opinions expressed are solely my own (and if you don’t like them, comment below!
By Mary-Ann Kirkby
Thomas Nelson publisher, 2010
ISBN 978 0 8499 4810 7
Ann-Marie Dornn had an idyllic childhood – treasured friends, a close family, strong community bonds, and adventures on the plains of Manitoba, in a Hutterite colony. Descended from Austrian immigrants, the Hutterite communities were based on sharing of goods and labor in common, a simple yet deep faith, and customs and fashions followed by sixteenth century Austrian peasants. However, personality conflicts, and squabbles over community management, among the adults in the community ripped it apart, and when Ann-Marie was ten, her family left the colony to forge their own way.
Ann-Marie’s adjustment to “English” life was difficult, to say the least. Shunned as strange outcasts by their schoolmates, each of the seven Dornn children suffered through a long adjustment period. Although the Dornn family returned often to the Hutterite community to visit family and friends, their daily life was marked by loneliness and poverty. Still, the family persevered, together, and slowly grew, to acceptance by others, to economic stability, and to embracing their own heritage.
Although this was a book that I would not have customarily chosen for leisure reading (I received a copy of this book to review from www.booksneeze.com), it was a fascinating glimpse into a new culture for me, and it was extremely well written.
Want to own my copy of I Am Hutterite? Enter by becoming a follower with Google Friend Connect, and leave a comment below. I’ll pick a winner at random on Friday, June 4.
A copy of I Am Hutterite was provided by www.booksneeze.com for this review, but no other compensation was received. The opinions expressed are solely my own (and if you don’t like them, comment below!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Come to the Dark Side. We have cookies.
This weekend, I realized we are THAT family. You know the ones – tempting the neighborhood kids with their hot dogs and nutritionally useless popsicles, forever squirting innocent passersby with water guns and brandishing light sabers, and letting the baby wander off to the street. Yep, that’s us.
The realization started with a play date that fell flat, despite the best of intentions. My son invited his friend over for some play time after a rousing game of t-ball, in which the score was 834 to 973, but no one could remember which side scored what. My daughter was busy watering the lawn, the plants, the dog, herself, and everyone else who was unwise enough to come within range of a two year old with a hose. My son offered his friend a water gun to defend himself, but “we don’t play with guns” was the response. My son, being a kind host and worrying about his defenseless friend, immediately offered him the second best choice – a light saber. “I’m not allowed to play Star Wars” was his reply. “But it’s a foam one, it doesn’t hurt!” was how my son responded. But no good – the “no Star Wars” ban was firmly in effect. By this point, both boys were pretty soaked, and still had nothing to play. My son finally located the water valve and cut off his sister’s supply. So, she decided to go for a walk down the street, on her own, after she took off all her clothes except her red snow boots.
Luckily, our security system worked, and she did not make it out of the driveway. By “security system”, I mean our dog Tiger. Tiger is part Staffordshire terrier and displays his herding heritage by acting as nanny dog to our children. What happens with an unstoppable force (our daughter, determined to go run in the street) meets an immoveable object (Tiger, in full nanny mode)? Lots of doggie slurping, a shout of from my 2 year old of “Tee-gare! Gooddoggie!” and a happy toddler and a happy dog returning to the backyard.
By this time, all of the kids were getting pretty hungry, so I started running through the list of what they could have for lunch. My two voted enthusiastically for hot dogs, but all suggestions to our guest were vetoed. Our guest’s mom said no to hot dogs (nitrates); no to peanut butter and jelly (allergies); no to cheese pizza (fat and sodium); no to pasta (not whole wheat), and when in a moment of desperation I offered popsicles, his mom suddenly remembered an afternoon appointment, and they fled.
While my kids (who decided, after hearing the list of lunch items, that they wanted it ALL) were refueling, I realized how we looked to “outsiders”. Me, with my muddy jeans and who-knows-what from the morning on my shirt; my son, with his spiderman pj shirt under his t-ball shirt and his pants that evidenced his recent growth spurt (can 5 year old boys wear capris???); and my daughter, who had given up her naked moment and was now sporting an Elmo shirt, piles of mardi gras beads, sunglasses on upside down, flowered pants and two different dress-up shoes (one white, one purple). Oh, and Tiger, who desperately needed a bath, and who was helping himself to an unguarded hot dog.
Yes, we’re THAT family, but we do love to have a good time, and if you come over, we’ll show you how to make your own lightsaber with a pool noodle and some duct tape. So come on over to our Dark Side – we have cookies. And hot dogs, and Dora popsicles (with 25% of the daily requirement of vitamin C. I checked. I do have SOME standards).
The realization started with a play date that fell flat, despite the best of intentions. My son invited his friend over for some play time after a rousing game of t-ball, in which the score was 834 to 973, but no one could remember which side scored what. My daughter was busy watering the lawn, the plants, the dog, herself, and everyone else who was unwise enough to come within range of a two year old with a hose. My son offered his friend a water gun to defend himself, but “we don’t play with guns” was the response. My son, being a kind host and worrying about his defenseless friend, immediately offered him the second best choice – a light saber. “I’m not allowed to play Star Wars” was his reply. “But it’s a foam one, it doesn’t hurt!” was how my son responded. But no good – the “no Star Wars” ban was firmly in effect. By this point, both boys were pretty soaked, and still had nothing to play. My son finally located the water valve and cut off his sister’s supply. So, she decided to go for a walk down the street, on her own, after she took off all her clothes except her red snow boots.
Luckily, our security system worked, and she did not make it out of the driveway. By “security system”, I mean our dog Tiger. Tiger is part Staffordshire terrier and displays his herding heritage by acting as nanny dog to our children. What happens with an unstoppable force (our daughter, determined to go run in the street) meets an immoveable object (Tiger, in full nanny mode)? Lots of doggie slurping, a shout of from my 2 year old of “Tee-gare! Gooddoggie!” and a happy toddler and a happy dog returning to the backyard.
By this time, all of the kids were getting pretty hungry, so I started running through the list of what they could have for lunch. My two voted enthusiastically for hot dogs, but all suggestions to our guest were vetoed. Our guest’s mom said no to hot dogs (nitrates); no to peanut butter and jelly (allergies); no to cheese pizza (fat and sodium); no to pasta (not whole wheat), and when in a moment of desperation I offered popsicles, his mom suddenly remembered an afternoon appointment, and they fled.
While my kids (who decided, after hearing the list of lunch items, that they wanted it ALL) were refueling, I realized how we looked to “outsiders”. Me, with my muddy jeans and who-knows-what from the morning on my shirt; my son, with his spiderman pj shirt under his t-ball shirt and his pants that evidenced his recent growth spurt (can 5 year old boys wear capris???); and my daughter, who had given up her naked moment and was now sporting an Elmo shirt, piles of mardi gras beads, sunglasses on upside down, flowered pants and two different dress-up shoes (one white, one purple). Oh, and Tiger, who desperately needed a bath, and who was helping himself to an unguarded hot dog.
Yes, we’re THAT family, but we do love to have a good time, and if you come over, we’ll show you how to make your own lightsaber with a pool noodle and some duct tape. So come on over to our Dark Side – we have cookies. And hot dogs, and Dora popsicles (with 25% of the daily requirement of vitamin C. I checked. I do have SOME standards).
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