Chick-fil-A Tuesday

It's Tuesday, which means another fun evening at Chick-fil-A! In my house, Tuesdays aren't just Tuesdays, they are Chick-fil-A Tuesdays. Rylie and Bryce know that when we pick them up from school on Tuesdays we always go to Chick-fil-A and they are so excited to see us pull up at the end of the day.

We started going to Chick-fil-A on Tuesdays several months ago for Family Night. The kids ate free and they got to do crafts, which Rylie LOVED. There was a table set up in the back with someone from Spark! Family Enrichment Center who did different projects with the kids each week. It was usually Ms. Danica, who was so great with the kids, and who Rylie really liked. As soon as we walked in, Rylie would go right back to the craft table and get started on her project for the week.

Similasan Provides Natural Earache Relief #swimmersear

When my kids were babies, they had severe ear problems. They both ended up with tubes, and in fact, Bryce had to have his tubes inserted twice. Any time I would post something about their ear troubles, there was one product that was always recommended to me. That product was Ear Relief Drops by Similasan. My friends swore by these natural, homeopathic drops. Unfortunately, my kids were under two at the time we needed them, so I was not able to use them at that time.

Now that summer is here and Rylie and Bryce practically live in the pool, I still worry about their ears. In fact, I worry about all of our ears. I have had ear infections as an adult, and they HURT, so I hope that no one in the family ends up with Swimmer's Ear this summer. If we do, though, I will have Similasan Ear Relief on hand to help.

~*~Winners!!!~*~ Mott's Medleys, GUND Girls

Congratulations to last week's winners!

Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks



GUND Girls Doll

Relax In The Pool On A SwimWays Spring Float {Review & Giveaway}

This summer is just flying by! We have all been enjoying the pool, and I am amazed at how far my kids have come with the help of products from SwimWays. Rylie graduated to the next Swim Step last month and we received some new products for her to try out. I will be blogging about those new products and her awesome swimming skills soon, but today I want to tell you about some SwimWays products that adults can use too!

SwimWays is a leading manufacturer of high quality, durable, and comfortable pool floats and lounges for the entire family. While they have many different styles of floats available, SwimWays is best known for their Spring Float line. These floats feature a patented twist-and-fold storage system and a super-quick Jet Valve for easy inflation/deflation. These floats come in a variety of sizes and styles for everyone in the family, including the furry family members!

SwaddleDesigns Introduces SwaddleLite {Review & Giveaway}

If you are a parent, then you have most likely experienced the benefits of swaddling. Swaddling is important because it helps babies transition from womb to world, reduces incidence of SIDS, and helps babies sleep better and longer. I experienced the better and longer sleep benefit when my kids were swaddled - especially Bryce. I honestly wondered if he would ever be able to sleep without being swaddled!

Now that we are in the middle of summer and temperatures are high, many parents are looking for very lightweight cotton blankets. SwaddleDesigns recognized this need for soft, breathable fabric, and has introduced SwaddleLite - a set of 3 lightweight breathable openweave high quality cotton Marquisette Swaddling Blankets in a gift box. These gift sets contain colors for boys and girls, along with collections of neutral colors.

Hilton Garden Inn's "Life's Ultimate To-Do List" Contest

We all have our day to day to-do lists, but do you have an "Ultimate To-Do List"? Are there places you want to go or experiences you want to have during your life? According to a survey by Ketchum Global Research & Analytics, seven out of ten Americans have an ultimate to-do list filled with goals ranging from volunteer work to thrill-seeking adventures.

I don't have a very long list since I tend to do most things I want to, but there are a few trips I would love to take at some point in time. I would like to take my mom to Alaska (since she has talked about wanting to go there for a while now), I want to visit Australia, and I would love to go back to Costa Rica again. I'm not much of a daredevil now that I have kids, so skydiving and crazy activities like that definitely are not on my list.

Hilton Garden Inn wants to help consumers cross something off of their lists! Together with National Geographic Traveler, Hilton Garden Inn is hosting the second annual Life’s Ultimate To-Do List Contest which asks consumers to submit their ultimate to-do list item via their Facebook page for the chance to make their bucket list dreams a reality.

Weekend Win It - July 28-29 {Giveaway Linky}

Welcome to Weekend Win It! This giveaway linky is a great way to spread the word about your giveaways, or find some great ones to enter! And remember...you don't need to be a blogger to enter these giveaways!

Giveaway: CafePress Ends: 7/31 Prize: $50 CafePress Gift Certificate

Giveaway: See's Candies Ends: 8/1 Prize: $25 See's Candies Gift Certificate

Five Question Friday - July 27th

Wow! What a week! I am certainly glad it is coming to an end, that's for sure. The kids had a fun few days with my mom earlier in the week. They got to skip school and do fun things like go to Sea World. They are so lucky to have such an awesome grandma!

Work was crazy this week. Our budget for the next fiscal year was due on Tuesday, and I found out as I was leaving last Friday that all of our information had to be transferred to a new template. This template was an Excel spreadsheet with over 12,000 rows and like 70 columns. I worked all day on it Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (obviously we didn't get it in Tuesday), left at like 8PM on Monday and Wednesday, and I am now blind and suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. OK, well, I'm not really blind, but I think I might need a new prescription for my glasses.

I was looking forward to an easy day at work yesterday after all of that hell, and a birthday lunch with a good friend, but Rylie had different plans for me. As she was getting ready for school I noticed that she looked extremely pale, so I asked her if she was OK. She said that her belly hurt and within seconds, she was throwing up. (Luckily she was already in the bathroom!) This went on most of the morning, and just when I thought she was in the clear, it started back up again later in the evening. This is how my poor little girl spent most of her day...

Stock Up For School With BOG2 OshKosh B'gosh Tees {Giveaway}

Hey parents! Are you gearing up for back to school? It is that time of year when back to school sales are everywhere, and I definitely take advantage of them, even though my kids are in school year round right now. One of the best back to school deals I have seen so far is this great Buy 1 Get 2 Free sale on tees at OshKosh B'gosh!

Available online and in stores, OshKosh B'gosh is offering an assortment of buy 1, get 2 free tees from 7/19-8/1! These graphic tees are built for fun and play, which Rylie and Bryce definitely do a lot of at school. I love stocking up on great tees for them for school so they can be comfortable all day.

Join Trident Gum In Making Music History

Trident made history last month with the first of its "See What Unfolds Live" events this summer where approximately 3,000 lucky fans were treated to an evening of unexpected surprises thanks to world-renowned DJ Steve Aoki. Hosting an unforgettable performance that included an appearance by legendary pop superstars Duran Duran, the night's defining moment was a Steve Aoki produced and remixed performance of the band's classic hit, Hungry Like The Wolf, aptly named, "Hungry Like The Wolf: Steve Aoki vs. Duran Duran - The New York Werewolf Mix" that brought the house down.

Duran Duran was super popular when I was growing up and that video brings back a lot of fun memories! I have watched it several times now and that was definitely a great performance!

Wordless Wednesday: Rubberneckers

How do kids sleep like this???

Free Arcade Play At Fun Spot With Armband Purchase

It's HUGE! If you live in the Central Florida area and watch the local news channels, then you probably know what I am talking about. Chances are, you're already singing that catchy little jingle. Fun Spot days are here again...

If you are not from the Orlando area but are planning to visit soon, you have to check out Fun Spot! Fun Spot Attractions are some of the few true family parks that are locally owned and operated and privately held by one family. You will find go-karts, roller coasters, thrill rides and even several rides for the little ones. The lines aren't long, and best of all, you get free parking and free admission! You certainly won't find that at any of the big Orlando theme parks.

Right now you can print a coupon for 60-minutes in the Fun Spot arcade FREE with the purchase of an armband ($9.95 value). This coupon is good until 12/24/2012, so if you're in the Orlando area or are planning to visit, make sure you print yours today.

~*~Winners!!!~*~ Hot Wheels, JC Toys, Summer Infant

Congratulations to last week's winners!

Hot Wheels Double Dare Snare Track Set



JC Toys Baby Doll

My Cat Story: The Time I Took In A Stray

In the spirit of The Real Stories Project from Purina Cat Chow, I have another cat story for you today. After posting my cat story about Smokee, I thought I had finally posted about all of my pets here, but then I realized that I missed one. This is the story about the time I took in a stray and the few weeks we had with her...

It was a normal weekday for me. I got up and got ready for work and headed out to start another day. When I walked out the front door, there was this tiny, sickly looking little ball of fur looking up at me. I could see this cat's bones through her wet fur, and she looked pitiful. She looked up at me and let out the softest "meow", and I immediately bent down to pet her. She perked right up and welcomed my attention. Her purring let me know that.

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't just leave her outside. I knew she had been someone's pet because she was declawed. It was obvious that she was either lost or had been abandoned, but either way, she was starving and cold. I had to get to work, so I brought her inside and put her in our exercise room. I couldn't let her get near my other cat since she looked so sick, so I gave her a warm bed to lay in, some food and water, and a litter box and closed the door behind me.

Go Back To School With Hank Player {Review & Giveaway}

Is it really time to start gearing up to go back to school already? To me it seems as if summer just started, but everywhere I look, I see the words "back to school". From clothing to supplies, the back to school displays are up in stores everywhere.

My kids don't really go "back to school" since they go to school every day year round right now, but I always tend to buy them new clothes this time of year anyway. Rylie is starting VPK this year, so sure, I'll take any excuse to go shopping, and so will she.

Since my kids are at school for most of their waking hours during the week, I want them to be comfortable. They are usually t-shirts and shorts kind of kids and they tend to be pretty particular about what they wear, especially Rylie. She likes soft cotton material with no elastic or seams. The vintage tees from Hank Player are perfect for both Rylie and Bryce!

Family Fun At Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

So remember that time we headed over to Tampa/Clearwater to spend a fun weekend with friends at the Residence Inn Treasure Island? Well that was like a month ago, and I am just now getting around to posting about the rest of our awesome getaway.

Our first fun day was spent at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. I received media passes back in April and Brian and I went for our anniversary weekend, but we got rained out a couple hours after we were there. We decided then to purchase annual passes for the whole family since it is such a great theme park!

We met up early in the day with our good friends Tiffany and Sean, and their cute little girls Payten and Camryn. As we were walking through the park we saw that there was a show getting ready to start, so we made our way into the outdoor theater and found some seats. Rylie was so thrilled when she saw the Sesame Street characters walking down through the aisles and she had to give all of them hugs.

Weekend Win It - July 21-22 {Giveaway Linky}

Welcome to Weekend Win It! This giveaway linky is a great way to spread the word about your giveaways, or find some great ones to enter! And remember...you don't need to be a blogger to enter these giveaways!

Giveaway: Mott's Ends: 7/22 Prize: 6 Boxes of Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks (4 winners!)

Giveaway: GUND Ends: 7/23 Prize: GUND Girls Doll (winner's choice)

My Circle Of Creativity Available This Saturday At QVC

If you enter blog giveaways (like I do), then you are probably familiar with the My Friendship Bracelet Maker and the My Ribbon Barrette Maker from the Choose Friendship Company. I used to make friendship bracelets when I was younger, and every time I see these fun kits, I think back to all of the fun I had creating special bracelets for all of my friends.

The Choose Friendship Company has created another fun craft kit called My Circle of Creativity. This kit includes everything you need to create custom key chains, lanyards and friendship bracelets. With the built-in storage compartments to keep things organized, this is perfect for traveling and sleepovers!

Disney On Ice Presents Rockin' Ever After At Orlando's Amway Center {Giveaway}

It is that time of year again! Disney On Ice presents Rockin' Ever After at the Amway Center in Orlando, and tickets go on sale today!

Get ready to rock out with some of the most magical idols of all in a musical showcase that features the hottest tunes and talent from across the kingdom in Disney On Ice presents Rockin' Ever After! Jam to a Scottish jig as a group of royal contenders from the latest Disney•Pixar film, Brave, compete to win the heart of headstrong, sharp-shooting Merida, making her ice debut!

Wordless Wednesday: What Goes Up...

...must come down!

Are Your Kids Eating A Balanced Diet?

If you are a regular reader here, then you know I have had my fair share of struggles trying to get my kids to eat a balanced diet. Add in a tree nut allergy, and now lactose intolerance, to my kids' picky eating habits, and I definitely wonder if my kids are getting the nutrition they need.

I recently had the opportunity to write about this subject over at Jen and Barb, Mom Life. This is a great site about all things mom-related, and one that every mom should check out!

When I was tasked to answer the question "Are Your Kids Eating A Balanced Diet?", I was a little afraid of what my answer would be. I thought about just making my post a one word post with the word "No." and leave it at that, but as I started writing, I realized that we're not doing too bad.

Bring Your Pillow To Life With Cuddle Covers {Review & Giveaway}

Kids love stuffed animals! At least my kids do. Their beds are often filled with so many of their "friends" that I don't see how there is even room left for them!

I often find Rylie and Bryce off of their pillows and instead cuddled up with one of their large stuffed animals. I can't say that I blame them. After all, stuffed animals are so soft and plush that they make great pillows. Well now, thanks to Cuddle Covers, my kids can have the best of both worlds...a comfy pillow that is also a soft friend!

Cuddle Covers are ultra soft, hypo-allergenic, machine washable covers for regular pillows. These adorable covers bring pillows to life! With friendly animals like cats, dogs and even dinosaurs waiting for them, kids will want to go to bed and cuddle up with their soft friend.

~*~Winners!!!~*~ Magic Tap, Publix

Congratulations to last week's winners!

Magic Tap



$25 Publix Gift Card

My Cat Story: The One Who Made Me A Cat Person

When I was growing up, we had all kinds of pets. We had dogs, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, fish, hedgehogs and even a frog who ate mice. We didn't have cats, though. My dad didn't like them and I was actually afraid of them. If I went to a person's house who had a cat, I would ask them to keep the cat in another room. I was not a cat person.

When I was 19, I was staying with my aunt in Alabama while I worked full time at my Air National Guard unit. I was playing with my younger cousin outside one evening when we heard a noise. It was a meow, but really, it was a cry for help. We looked and looked and finally found the tiny gray kitten way up in a tree...much higher than we could reach.

My 11 year old cousin and I then set out on a rescue mission. It is all a little blurry, most likely because of my panic-state due to my fear of heights, but I remember there being a ladder, and my cousin basically on my shoulders while I was on the ladder. We were finally able to reach that scared kitty and brought her (and ourselves) back down to the ground.

Weekend Win It - July 14-15 {Giveaway Linky}

Welcome to Weekend Win It! This giveaway linky is a great way to spread the word about your giveaways, or find some great ones to enter! And remember...you don't need to be a blogger to enter these giveaways!

Giveaway: Hot Wheels Ends: 7/15 Prize: Double Dare Snare Track Set

Giveaway: JC Toys Ends: 7/17 Prize: Realistic Baby Doll (winners choice)

Say Aloha To Firehouse Subs Pork & Slaw {Review & Giveaway}

Aloha! That's Hawaiian for "Hello", just in case you didn't know. It is also a greeting you might hear at your local Firehouse Subs these days, since Firehouse is going Hawaiian with their new King's Hawaiian Pork & Slaw Sandwich. You may think you are in a tropical paradise when you sink your teeth into this delicious sandwich!

The King's Hawaiian Pork & Slaw includes hardwood pork smoked for 12 hours and Sargento pepper jack cheese, steamed to perfection, then topped with homemade tangy Hawaiian coleslaw piled high on a King's Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet sandwich bun. Yum!