#FossilStyle for the Holidays...and Beyond! Deja's new Fossil watch for her 12th Birthday!

Disclaimer: I was recently invited to participate in a #FossilStyle campaign as a #FossilPartner. I was provided with, free of charge, a Fossil watch-however, all opinions on this post are mine alone, based on the product received. Thank you Fossil for providing me with the opportunity to share my experience with all of my readers!

My almost 12 year old daughter has been asking for a watch, since the one she previously had broke earlier this year. Let me tell you, once you are in Junior High, it's important to keep track of the time (according to her) because you only have so much time to get from point A to point B and without a watch you could be late. And then, if you are late, everyone notices you. For a 6th grader in her first year of Junior High, I guess that is a little too embarrassing-so the request for a new watch was an important one.

According to my daughter, the budding Fashionista that she is, proper accessories are also important. Something that is classic, goes with everything, and has just the right bit of bling to it is a must in my daughter's eyes. Considering that Saturday is her 12th birthday, I knew I needed to come up with something special. Awhile back, I'd been offered the opportunity to participate in a campaign for the Fossil brand, which as we all know has lots of amazing items that would make anyone happy during the holidays. (or during any time of the year to be honest!) When she saw the selections of watches I could choose from, her eyes lit up immediately. She pointed to the Fossil ES3379 Decker Chronograph Stainless steel watch and said THAT was the one. Little did she know that she'd be the recipient of this good looking watch! ;)

So I waited, and waited. I have to admit, I was getting a little nervous. But today, it came. Hubby and I had to sneak a peek... before she got home from school. When my husband saw the Fossil name on the sides of the gift tin it comes with, he started to get excited. "Geez, this feels heavy-could it be something for me?" were the first words out of his mouth. I told him not to get his hopes up, Santa hadn't come yet as far as HE was concerned.

When he handed the tin to me, I was even a little surprised. It WAS heavy. Which meant that it would be durable and last a long time, with proper care. My daughter's last watch cost half of what this one cost, I will admit, but lasted less than a year. To me, that is simply not a good investment. When hubby and I opened it up, we were both really surprised. You know how sometimes something will look really good online and then when you get it, you are like, "Uh, is this the same thing I saw?" Well in this case, it was even better! This looks just as nice online as it does in person-I am in love with the durable stainless steel band and the watch face being a different color-it really makes the crystal dial and crystals on the face stand out. Also, it could be worn with silver or gold jewelry and go very well with either. Keep in mind that this is a large watch, similar to what my husband wears in size, however it has a feminine twist, with the crystals providing just the right amount of bling. I can see this watch lasting for many years with the proper care, and it's a perfect choice for school, the office, or even an evening out.

When my daughter came home from school she settled in on the sofa and her Dad & I couldn't contain our excitement. Dad handed her the watch in the tin and said it was an early birthday gift. As you can see by the photos below she was very surprised and happy! The colors look great on her and she said it was awesome and she loved it. The only thing is the band is a little big for her wrist, so I may have to take it to the local jeweler to get some links removed so it will fit her right now. Other than that, I don't think it will be any problem fitting an adult wrist since it fits mine just fine. What would you like from Fossil.com for your holiday wish list? Right now I am loving their Fossil Polka Dot mini tablet easel for my new tablet!

I've had better days... and my husband is to blame. Not that I blame him completely, since he was a victim as well. A victim of what, you ask? A virus. You know the kind of virus I am talking about. The nasty, coughing, filled up with mucus I feel-like-I-just-got-run-over-by-a-truck virus you get maybe once or twice a year if you are NOT so lucky. I blame his boss. And I hope he is reading this. I mean, seriously, what responsible adult will cough and hack up a lung all over your co-worker and their lunch and not cover their mouth? Did he feel the need to share the love? Maybe he will feel the need to dig into his pocket to cover the week of work hubby missed without pay? Not like that is going to happen...lol... So after a week of feeling like crap, missing Thanksgiving dinner at a friend's house, trying not to infect my coworkers or clients I ended up at the Dr. office today where I asked for and received (after some convincing) cough medicine with codeine. You know, like back in the day-the kind that was easy enough to get with a quick prescription or to sign for at the pharmacy counter. I miss those days. Nowadays you have to show a drivers license, and sign some paperwork, and are limited on how much you can get. God forbid I need a refill. As the week comes to an end... hoping you all have a great upcoming weekend (not too many days left before Christmas-yikes!) Mine will be busy at my daughter's birthday party on Saturday at the local bowling alley. (both my children are December babies so I have it super busy during the holidays) Hopefully will have some pics up of the party this weekend soon!

I've Got Writer's Cramp

Sigh... Yes I know, I haven't been around in awhile. It's not that I didn't want to stop writing, but it's just that while I have tons to say I wonder if people will understand me. No, I don't write in a foreign language (well, not on THIS blog anyways, but I can write in Spanish for those wondering) and I don't write gibberish. It is just that it is hard for me to write things that are "easy".

Case in point: Where I work I often have to write letters to clients. My co-workers write them letters that are direct and to the point. Me? I like to write a detailed letter that can often take up two pages. (heck, at least with my letter, they know what they have to provide, even though it can be as confusing as Hell to read in the beginning). I admit, I'm just anal like that. And sometimes I get calls from the clients who ask me to explain to them what I meant. See, not everyone I deal with is a college professor and people have different ways of processing things. I get frustrated a bit, because everyone should know what they need. I mean, I explained it point blank, in a typed letter step by step. But if everyone followed directions in the first place, the world would be a much happier place. Or would it?

So... I started wondering about my blog. I've seen lots of blogs out there, from the very good to the very bad. I began to realize everyone has their unique own style of writing, and they attract different readers for different reasons. I began wondering what focus my blog should take. Should it continue with the family life posts, opinions and even some reviews on some products that I have won in various blog giveaways or purchased on my own that I thought my readers should know about...? I mean, I do love entering blog giveaways, and have found so many neat products through them (even ones I have not won) that I've made my own little wish list and try to get a couple of them every now and then if I have some extra money to spare. Lol...it's not an every day event, but in case I hit the lottery I know where my wish list is ;)

I am going to try to set a goal for myself. To write in the blog at least once a week. And see where it goes from there. Maybe I will even write about a few local businesses here as well. I do love writing, unfortunately my hands and arms can only do so much-all of that of course got worse when I was diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome this summer due to some trauma I had suffered on my right arm, shoulder and side this past March. I have good days, and bad days. We all know how that is.

So there, you have it. My lofty goal to write in this blog at least once a week. I've got tons of posts I started but never finished, so some of it will be easy at first. But I feel it's best for me to continue to write in this blog, it's a stress reliever and great to know people are actually reading stuff you write. For now, it's off to a day at the office-it's a cold day here in Maine, and our office provides a great service to those in need. (fuel assistance/LIHEAP) Enjoy your day folks :)

I Had A Dream...

No, I am NOT going to be talking about THAT speech. What I AM going to tell you is about the dream I had last night. See, first let me explain that I am a zombie fanatic. As in, if it has starred the Living Dead in any way, shape, or form, I have probably seen it. I've even asked my family to cremate me...puhleez! So I won't come back hoping to take a bite out of some fresh brains should a meteor fall from the sky or someone open up Pandora's Box of nasty chemicals that cause acid rain to fall from the sky.

This dream, I have to admit was bizarre. A total cross between something gone horribly wrong with The Walking Dead and Miley Cyrus, huge stuffed animals, a foam finger, and of course, twerking. I'm a child of the 80's folks-so it was a little nutty, kind of like Michael Jackson's Thriller video. Only these zombies twerked. And when they did, limbs fell off. It was kind of funny, in a horrific way. Miley of course was in the dream too, getting too darn close to the Living Dead for her own good... sticking her tongue out at them didn't make matters any better. And Miley, never, ever point a foam finger at one of the Living Dead, it's just plain disrespectful. Plus they think it's food.

At any minute I was half expecting Sheriff Rick Grimes to come to her rescue, as she darted in and out of rows of huge overstuffed animals, keeping the zombies at bay. Poor Miley, she's definitely a goner if she keeps this up, I thought to myself. But she continued on, smiling, grinding and twerking while trying to outrun those zombies. A light bulb soon went off in my head uh, dream. This would make a great video game... I thought to myself as I watched Miley get too darn close to a zombie in a black and white striped suit.

Then, the alarm woke me up. Ah, the power of social media. I remembered vaguely the fact that I'd been awake until well after 2 am and had been reading about my favorite TV show, The Living Dead, and had been seeing the performance fiasco AKA Miley at the VMA Awards right before I went to sleep for the night. These two things I'd seen right before going to bed influenced my dream. Interesting. As I get ready to go to bed again tonight, once again I am reveling in the power of social media and the influence it has over me. Only this time, the subjects of interest have changed a little bit. I've been staring intently at the Mega Millions and Powerball websites for the last half hour. Let's see what tonight's dream will bring. But rest assured, if a bunch of numbers randomly pop into my head saying "Play Me for the next drawing!" I won't be sharing that info ;) lol.

New Shoes And A Visit to Great Grandmas...

Oh my... they are growing up WAY too fast! My grandson Bentley (the little blonde dude with the spiky hair-just like his Dad's mind you...) is now 3 and his older brother Demetrio (aka Junior) is now 4! I can't believe I have been a grandmother for that long, let alone a grandmother at all-I mean my son hasn't turned 21. Yep, do the math folks, he was 15 and she was 13. Kids themselves. While they have had their ups and downs, and separations for a short time, I gotta give them credit in the fact that they raised 2 cute little boys.

At first, I was shocked to learn I was going to be a grandmother. I mean, my kid was a freshman in high school. He should be enjoying school dances, sports, and all of the fun that goes along with that. Instead, they were in an alternative program for teen parents and learning how to feed and care for an infant in addition to their regular studies. Not something I had envisioned for myself back when I was their age. But, things happen. Life happens. I always say stuff happens for a reason, even though we may not yet know WHAT exactly that reason is. Before ya'll judge me and say I was too permissive-and let 2 kids of that age sleep together, I must say that I had no idea. I mean, my son's first girlfriend was another girl in our neighborhood who was best friends with the mother of my grandkids. My son could not stand her at the time, so I never even thought they'd be an item-much less have children together. And when the kids came to my house, it was supervised, in the living room watching TV. But alas, other parents are more permissive apparently and allowed things to happen that I would not have allowed in my home. But that is the past, moving on, it is now the future.

I took these photos a couple of weeks ago, when they stopped by my mother's house so I could give them their new shoes for school. They were all too happy to pose for photos and even with their dirty little faces and clothing (they'd been outside playing before the photos were taken and were heading home to take a bath once they'd gotten their shoes) they are still cute little guys. Bentley looks like a blonde, blue eyed version of my son, while Demetrio looks like his mom more. Demetrio is outgoing and friendly, Bentley, reserved and shy.

Both love preschool, and are doing great. They keep their parents busy, I can say that for sure! They love playing with cars, out in the dirt, making a mess, and of course eating is a fave thing for them to do as well. It's been a blast watching them grow up these past 3 and 4 years, with their own personalities, quirks, and attitudes... and there are SOME attitudes! Wow!

So here are the two little boys in my life, that are growing up way too quickly for words! Enjoy the week everyone...

It's been awhile...

I've been super busy here cleaning house and trying to get organized. Now for those that have an immaculate house, you certainly have my respects. I have a serious case of jealousy when I see blogs photos or magazine photo shoots and the interiors are clean, perfect, and look great. My house on the other hand, looks like 20 kids live in it and has a bit of hoarders on the side. Seriously. No matter how hard I try to catch up, something else always comes along and takes over. I will be the first to admit I like to hang on to things... but sometimes, you just have to let that stuff go. I mean, maybe one day I will fit into those pants I wore when I was 20. But I highly doubt it. Plus, if I did-I would probably celebrate by going out and getting new clothing. Age appropriate clothing, not clothing I wore as a 20 year old. Between the trash and the Goodwill Store donations of good, used items I am making pretty good progress. I did manage to get a few plastic tubs as well, to put those items I am undecided about in. It will get them out of the way, and I can work on that stuff when I have more time. My 11 year old is happily finding out lots about me, through photos, clothing I wore in the 80's, old school yearbooks and even notes we passed back in class (yes! I saved a few of them lol) when I was her age, talking about our latest crushes. We are having a blast laughing at Mom's middle school and high school days and I've been telling her stories of what life was back then. Things were so different back then-and I know I am not alone when I say I wish we could go back to those times when everything seemed so carefree and we didn't have to worry much about anything. (But I bet my own Mom who graduated in 1961 probably felt the same way when she had me too!) In the evenings, I try to relax-work is starting up next month and I can't wait to get back. It's been a rough Spring and Summer, I've had some arm and shoulder pain and am working on doing exercises at home to feel better-with no insurance for therapy I need, I have to do things on my own unfortunately. I'd take a photo of my cleaning progress, but in the craziness I can't find the camera! Really. So... back to getting some organizing done in a little while. Hoping you all have a great weekend!

Middle Aged Men and Little Red Sports Cars

I honestly don't have to write too much about this one... I think the photo says it all! Lol...

Do I see a middle aged crisis coming on? Maybe... (and no, it's not pick on hubby day) His birthday is coming up July 4th and I think he is feeling his age, but even though I looked in the mirror and cried when 30 years came along, and then cried again when I hit 40, I realize there is no fountain of youth that will magically bring me to a nice age (as in 21 and thin and youthful again) so I just live life for each day and appreciate the wisdom I have gathered over the years. ;) But-if anyone of you finds that Fountain of Youth, be sure to let me know so I can be one of the first in line! Happy Sunday everyone, enjoy the upcoming week!

McDonald's Egg White Delight McMuffin Review

I will be honest. I don't like eating healthy or low calorie food. To me, it just doesn't taste good. However, when I noticed even fast food restaurants such as McDonald's (where I love to eat!) are also coming out with healthier options... well, let's just say I decided it was time to take the taste test and find out for myself if I'd be sacrificing taste by eating a healthier option on the menu. Breakfast is one of my favorite meals at McDonald's-especially when I am working (which is about 9 months out of the year). My co-workers know that I usually arrive at work McDonald's breakfast in hand so the first thing I wanted to try was their new Egg White Delight that I'd seen advertised while going through the drive-thru earlier in the week.

I am going to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the taste-it was not at all like I was expecting. It tasted great, AND was only 250 calories! It is definitely something that I would order again and again-for the great taste AND the lower calorie count. My husband even tried one (I didn't tell him anything about it until he had already eaten it.) and before he was done, he asked me what kind of sandwich this was since he'd never had it before and it was pretty good. I also liked the fact that this sandwich didn't have any trans fats. One thing I didn't know was that the egg whites are grilled right in the restaurant, and that other egg and cheese sandwiches can also be made with egg whites and white cheddar, saving 50 calories per sandwich or even your Breakfast platter can be customized adding the egg whites instead of scrambled eggs, saving you 100 calories. Since I order those items often, I think I am going to customize my sandwiches and platters to include the egg whites since they tasted so good.

Hey, if you live in Maine leave me a comment below with your email... I was lucky enough to get a few coupons via the Maine McDonald's PR team to share with you all. (one free Egg White Delight McMuffin with ANY purchase!) I also received FREE coupons for myself so that we could try the product as well and give our opinion on it. Even though I received free coupons, the opinion given above is mine based on my own experience with the McDonald's Egg White Delight McMuffin. (and believe me, I probably would have tried it even without the coupons!) Thanks to the Maine McDonald's PR team for giving me the opportunity to review this and offer my opinion-head on over to McDonald's and get one yourself, I'd be interested in knowing what YOU think about it!

Lisa's End of the World Party

Earlier this year, a co-worker of mine who is really into freebies (as in she goes home on break to look for freebies and coupons etc...) entered a sweepstakes on a Pepsi site as a whim, never thinking she'd win anything. She forgot about the sweepstakes and got the freebie associated with Pepsi and just went on with life until she happened to get an email. Now as you all know with emails, we've all got some rich relative or unknown person willing to send us money for free or we've won the Nigerian lottery even though we never really entered it. The email said something about Pepsi End of the World and we all wondered what it could be. She called the toll free number associated with the email after we'd googled it to find out if it was legit or not and they told her pending confirmation she was a grand prize winner and would receive paperwork in a few days. She was shocked I think and forgot to ask what the prize was... it drove us all nuts until she got the paperwork via Fedex a few days later. She had won some cash (always helpful since layoff was coming) and an End of the World Party hosted by Pepsi for her and 10 people. We were all happy for her and anxious to hear about the party-we kept in touch after layoff and with a week to go till the party someone had decided they did not want to go and she called me to ask if I wanted to go in their place. Wow! She didn't have to ask me twice. Apparently she was going to be picked up at her home, taken to a local bowling center for some bowling, fun and games, and then we'd head back to town for an awesome dinner. I got to her house shortly before the bus came, and once everyone got on board off we went to have some fun. While I would have liked to bowl, my shoulder problem wouldn't let me do so-and rather than attempt anything like that I sat back, chatted, and watched everyone else. The Pepsi rep was fantastic and let us order whatever we wanted for refreshments ;) and he also ordered some pizza. Everyone took off, either bowling, playing arcade games or playing pool. We stayed there for a few hours and then it was time to head back to town for dinner. Since the place we'd be going to dinner was a public establishment, hubby decided to meet me there. We were pleasantly surprised when the Pepsi rep also ordered him a meal as well. The table was LOADED with food, there were so many appetizers going around and everyone was enjoying each other's company. When the food came out, I couldn't believe it... I'd asked for chicken and steak tips and it was two whole meals (one of which I took home for the next day) hubby had lobsters which he had to eat there, and steak tips to take home. Lisa had boxes and boxes of appetizers left over as well... and the Pepsi rep gave us each a Pepsi insulated cup (which I love!) and a Pepsi End of the World t-shirt (which hubby loves and everyone wants!) I can tell you if it was truly the End of the World, we were going in style courtesy of Pepsi. Tons of food, great company, and lots of fun too. Finally, it was the end of the night and the bus brought everyone home (except for hubby and I since he met me up there we drove home in our own car). The world may not have ended, but I don't think we would have cared very much if it did, we were so stuffed and happy after a great day altogether. Big thanks to my co-worker Lisa for inviting me, and to Pepsi for sponsoring such a fun event!

Review-Out of the Box Sampler

I love sample boxes-I don't know what it is about them... I just find it super fun to open up a box filled with surprises and maybe even find a new vendor or two that I really love. I love buying handmade items and discovering new vendors as well. A couple of years ago I ordered a couple of the Out of the Box Sampler boxes for myself and my daughter as a treat. I immediately fell in love with all the awesome products I found in my boxes, but it had been awhile since I last ordered and was thrilled when I was lucky enough to win a blog giveaway featuring their May box! One thing I love about this box is that there is a sheet enclosed that has the vendors that are in the boxes (mine was the regular box, which had some samples from some vendors, but not ALL vendors-rest assured, they DO have a few of those super big boxes too that have something from every vendor but they go quick!) I was able to compare the vendors I had in the boxes along with the sheet enclosed and see if the vendor was offering any specials on the products. Often times along with the sample you also get a business card stating who the vendor is, and they might even have other offers or coupon codes for future purchases there too. As you can see, the box comes loaded with samples and goodies-lots of surprises for everyone. From full sized votive candles to earrings, magnets, bottle cap necklaces, generous sample sized portions of soap, cards, and other fun items (candy and lollipops too!) there is something in the box to make everyone happy. I was glad to see that although I hadn't ordered myself in a while the quality of the boxes was the same as I knew from before, and although there are always a few samples you may not like or enjoy, someone else may so you can always give them to someone who may enjoy them. The good thing is that you can review the items you received in your box and get in the running for a contest to win a free box the next month. Sometimes even the vendors graciously donate additional items as part of their blog giveaways too. You can actually find their website here which will give you more information about their boxes. You should be aware that the boxes usually come out around the first week of the month and go quickly, so if you sign up for their emails (which I already receive) you get a heads up about when they are up for sale and also any contests they may have going on. Disclosure: I received a free May 2013 Out of the Box Sampler as a blog giveaway prize. In the past, I have also ordered from them personally and enjoyed my experience/products received.

It's time for Maine Seafood! Local Business Post-Belanger's Drive-In

Maine and fresh seafood go together. I mean, who doesn't know about Maine lobster, right? (tidbit about me... I am from Maine and have never eaten a lobster! Yikes!) Earlier this week I finally got a chance to go to Belanger's Drive In, which is a local family owned business that usually closes up in the Winter months and opens up right around Memorial Day. In addition to selling seafood baskets, they also sell chicken baskets, burgers, fries, hot dogs and ice cream-so something for the whole family. (you can find them on facebook here) While I love to eat there, I had to hurry home for an appointment-so brought my whole fried clam basket back with me and took a photo for you all :) This clam basket usually goes for around $11 or so... with fries and a dinner roll, it is the perfect size and although that might seem pricey for a basket, it really isn't-if you go to those fancy restaurants on the coast you will easily pay double. (tourist fees I call them!) Did you know Maine also has native shrimp? Usually when you buy a shrimp basket at a seafood place here in Maine you will get the Native shrimp, not the other types of shrimp the big chains use. Native shrimp are smaller and have a sweeter flavor. My two favorite things at Belanger's are the Native shrimp basket and the Fried Clams (whole bellies) or fried clam strips baskets. Pair it with one of their delicious milk shakes and you are good to go! So folks, if you are ever in Maine and want to head inland a bit, you might just find a few local gems waiting for you to try out.

Ah, the joys of parakeets!

Sorry for not having written in awhile, I figured with my layoff in March I'd be filling this blog with tons of thoughts but that is just not the case. Unfortunately, life got in the way and I had an accident that put me out of commission at the beginning of March. I did do a few blog posts after the fact, the good thing being that with blogger I can write a few words, rest, ice, repeat lol. Work starts up again in a few months, and lots of typing and writing are involved so I am trying desperately to build up my stamina so that I can work the full 8 hours with no pain. All I can say is... soft tissue injuries suck. That being said, let me introduce you to the newest members of the family. Previously I had 4 cats, 2 lived outside and in the basement and 2 indoors. On my birthday in January I had to put down one of my cats because she was sick (even though she stayed in the yard the other outdoor cat wandered and he definitely got into something, he was sick about a week, and smelled dead and looked horrible-as soon as she started to exhibit signs of what he had, off she went to the vet to be put away humanely. Unfortunately as sick as the other one was, he took off as we were rounding up Cat #1 and we never found him so I assume he went off to die someplace before I could get him to the vet.) I think we figured out what happened-there was a squirrel that was half eaten in my basement-said zombie squirrel did not look too healthy himself and while it was not rabies we think it got into some D-Con and my hunter cat brought home his kill to share with the one who stayed close to home. I already have 2 cats indoors so my daughter decided she wanted birds this time around. My co-worker Deb was sweet enough to give me a cage that she had from when she had birds herself, and my other co-worker Sarah (the resident bird expert lol) told me all I needed to know and provided me with a couple of books for my daughter to read. On Feb. 1st Kiko (the blue parakeet) arrived. We had gone to Petco to choose one and my daughter said he seemed calm and was staring at her intently so she chose him. (we are still not sure of its sex, but think he is a HE) He came home and was quiet and withdrawn. He seemed to perk up only when we listened to Spanish Cumbia music and would chirp excitedly. I'd put other budgie sounds on my computer from Youtube and he was quite talkative to my computer too, but he seemed lonely... A month later, hubby and I are getting bird food again at Petco when he decides it is time for Kiko to have a girlfriend. He looks at one mostly white with blue parakeet squawking up a storm and kissing another one and decides he wanted that one. This bird is smaller than Kiko and I am concerned they will fight, but amazingly they got along just fine. Deja seemed to think it was a girl bird and named her Keera. Now the two of them don't shut up. When I want to watch TV, they are squawking away-when I shush them they just make angry budgie noises at me and keep on going. My cats want to eat them...literally. For awhile my cat Stubby would gaze intently at them through the living room door window and lick his chops. Lately my cat has been coming in the living room when we are in here and gazing intently up at them. They of course sense danger and move away quickly, taunting him as he tries to get a closer look. He of course knows that they are off limits but doesn't mind watching them-and he seemed almost bored at times with them which is a good thing. But I still won't let them out of the cage when he is in the room ;) So here they are.... the latest additions to the household...meet Kiko and Keera!

Bentley Loves His New Shoes!

My almost 3 year old grandson Bentley needed some new shoes, and I was SO fortunate to win a pair of See Kai Run shoes in a blog giveaway a little while ago. Now, being a Grandma, I like to get the shoes a little big so they can grow into them-which is what I did in this case. He is wearing a 9, but the 9.5 gives him plenty of room to grow into. When I happened to stop by, he had just come in from outside and was eating his Spaghetti-O's, hence the tomato stained smile :) These shoes are really well made, and very cute! Blue is one of his favorite colors (as you can see from his clothing) so of course I had to get him blue shoes! Bentley is usually pretty camera shy, but when he saw those new shoes his face just lit up and he was super excited to have his photo taken with them. They have so many cute styles at See Kai Run! I know you will be able to find something for your little one. Make sure you check their sale page as well, since they have lots of cute shoes for both boys and girls at great sale prices too. Big thanks to See Kai Run for sponsoring the giveaway, my grandson really loves his new shoes!

Maine McDonald's Twitter Contest!

Do you love McDonalds? Do you live in Maine? After posting about my love for the new Premium McWrap which is available at McDonalds, I was contacted by the local Maine McDonald's twitter team asking me to help promote an awesome contest they have going on right now on Twitter! In addition to receiving an Archcard from McDonalds so we can try more of the Premium McWraps (we still have to try the sweet chili version and the crispy chicken version on a couple too-hubby loves the grilled chicken, but I prefer crispy!)I've been asked to tell you all about the Twitter contest currently going on! The contest goes on until May 1st and 10 random winners will win a coupon for a McWrap value meal! So, if you haven't tried it now you could tweet @McD_Maine and tell them where YOU would enjoy your Premium McWrap! Be sure to use the hashtag #UnwrapWhatsFresh in your tweet too! Now, just WHERE have we enjoyed our Premium McWraps? Well, the first time it was in the McDonald's parking lot-hubby was super hungry and couldn't wait to dig in! The next time? Why right here at home on the sofa! (see photos below from my review) And this last time (shhh.... don't tell, but we ate them 3x in one week!) it was such a gorgeous day that we headed up to Colby College and ate by Johnson Pond...very relaxing and a great way to enjoy the nice weather outside which I must say has taken a LONG time to get here! I've also been provided 10 coupons for Buy one Get one Free... which I would love to share with you all. So, if you are in Maine and would love for me to send you a coupon to use, please leave me your email below (you can leave it in format such as yourid at msn dot com or something like that to keep the spambots at bay!) and I will send you an email asking you for your address so I can mail you the coupon! Don't forget to get onto Twitter and start tweeting! @McD_Maine wants to know where YOU will enjoy those Premium McWraps! Disclosure: I received a McDonald's gift card/free product and coupons in exchange for promoting the Twitter contest. Good Luck!

Knot Genie Review

My 11 year old wanted to have long hair... unfortunately, with longer hair comes more care- I agreed to let her grow her hair out now that she was getting older, but ever since she was little she's had hair that would tangle up seemingly overnight. The next morning, the tears and fighting began as I would try my hardest to get those knots out. As a Mom, it hurt me as much as it hurt her trying to get those knots out and seeing those big tears. Even at 11, she runs from me if I come close with a hairbrush. Considering her hair is super straight and smooth, I wanted it to look that way in the back as well as the front. In the past few months, she'd managed to get her hair knotted up-whether it be from sleeping, not brushing too good, or as her Aunt Ana would say when she was younger- "Los Duendes" (also known as little mischief making fairies) would play with her hair and knot it up overnight. She managed to get most of it smooth on top but underneath it was a mess. Every day she would go to school with the top layer fine, and underneath it looked like a rat's nest. I finally told her that she could NOT go to school looking like that any longer, and that we had to deal with it. Hesitantly she brought me the brush, and even though I brushed as gently as I could, it was knotted so bad that I knew that there was no getting around a haircut. While she watched TV nightly I tried to get the hair free, but it just didn't work with the brushes I tried. My mom used to wear her hair teased many years ago, and I can remember her knotting up her hair with a big rat-tail comb. Maybe then, the messy look was in-but now, it definitely is NOT. Even my 'Big' hair of the 80's didn't have the knots that Deja had. Deja's hair looked teased underneath and it was a mess. One night, as I brushed, I kept a secret from her. What she didn't know was that I had a pair of scissors on hand to cut the worst area out if need be. I figured it was underneath the smooth layer so no one would notice anyways. As she concentrated on the TV show in front of her, I quickly grabbed the area in question and snipped it off. I wasn't quick enough... if you thought that the tears from the knots were bad, this was even worse! Yes, the worst area in question was gone. And no, no one could see any bald spots. But SHE knew it was there. And she was pissed. And lemme tell you, an 11 year old tween being pissed is not a good thing. I felt terribly guilty for what I had done, but it was either that or a more radical haircut. But there HAD to be a better way. After looking around the Internet, I discovered the solution to my problems. Her hair of course still knotted up, even after my cutting out the worst area-and I was getting desperate. I'd seen the Knot Genie (http://www.knotgenie.com/) online and on a few blogs I visit as well in the past year and it definitely got me curious. I had a small credit on my Amazon.com account and decided I would order one to see if it really worked. I didn't say anything to my daughter until it arrived. I called her over to the computer and asked her to watch the video they have online and asked her if she wanted to try it out. She said she would, but didn't realize that I had one already. Her eyes lit up as I pulled her hot pink Knot Genie out of the box and gave it to her. I will say that usually the Knot Genie is probably used by Moms who comb their daughter's hair, hence the unique design. At 11, she did NOT want me to brush her hair. That being said, she did complain a little bit when she tried to brush her hair herself due to the awkwardness of holding it and brushing. After some experimenting, she holds it in her hand and flips her head/hair downward,and brushes the underside first-it seems to work best for her that way and it works very well. I am enjoying having the Knot Genie since it means no more fights with my daughter over getting her to brush her hair. One thing I noticed is that with regular brushes she would often break her hair and or the bristles of the brush fighting to get the knots out. With the Knot Genie all those bristles are still intact and there are no clumps of hair or broken hair in the brush at all. It has worked well the last 2-3 months that we have been using it and while she still gets knots in her hair, they come out easily and without tears using the Knot Genie. Thanks Knot Genie for helping my daughter make brushing her hair a pleasant, not painful-task! Disclaimer: I purchased this product on my own, as a frustrated Mom and consumer who wanted to see if this would help my daughter out. I did not receive any monies or product from the company. This opinion is my own, your opinion may vary.

Review-McDonald's Premium McWrap

A nice, sunny day in Maine calls for no cooking... I'd gone to physical therapy earlier this morning and was sore from working out a bit and hubby had been working on his car outside for a good part of the afternoon when he came inside a little while ago to announce he was hungry. We had to go out to run an errand so I suggested we head up to our local McDonald's and get one of their new Premium McWraps. I really didn't have to tell him twice-he got into the car and impatiently awaited me. After a quick stop, we headed to McDonald's. This past Monday, he had tried the chicken bacon McWrap, and he was eager to try the chicken ranch one this time. Our local Maine McDonald's restaurants were having an awesome promotion which ended this past Monday where you got a free medium fries and medium soft drink if you purchased a McWrap, which was actually a great incentive to have us get out and try it initially. This time around, I purchased the Value Meal for him. Hubby prefers the grilled chicken, so that is what he went with. As you can see by the photos, the McWraps are good sized! I had him put his on a standard sized paper plate to show you how big it is. Also, he opened it up to show you what it looks like on the inside. There was no scrimping on the chicken, with nice big sized chunks of premium chicken and yummy veggies in it. It is filling, and according to him-it was delicious. (I was craving a Big Mac, so didn't get one this time around!) I am pleased that fast food restaurants are getting more creative with their menu offerings, and publishing calorie counts and other information regarding their food items on their website and in restaurants. Granted, I know when I go out to eat, irregardless of where-I am not going to be watching calories and other stuff. But knowing this firsthand, especially if dieting or on some sort of dietary restriction is helpful with those planning their meal choices accordingly. I myself have tried the McWrap earlier this week and was very impressed with it... the one we have NOT yet tried is the Sweet Chili Chicken flavor. While that is on my to-do next list, hubby says he will pass. He does not like anything sweet (sweet BBQ sauce, sweet n sour sauce, etc...) so I can't get him to try it. However, he said that he is thinking about asking McDonald's for a chicken/ranch McWrap and telling them to add bacon to see how that tastes. Providing you can add bacon to it and make it a grilled chicken, bacon, ranch flavor I think he will be happy, and personally I think that would be a great combination as well. If you like wraps, give the new McDonald's McWrap a try. I'd be anxious to know what you think about it! Disclaimer: I purchased this item as a consumer, and did not receive any compensation or free product for my opinion on the McWrap. Please note that this opinion is mine (and my husbands!) and your own opinion may differ from mine.

Busy...

Wow... I have been busy... Seriously. Since a little before the holidays, our office has been super crazy, mad busy. I am surrounded by files-but while I am enjoying the challenge, so to speak, of getting caught up-wanted to let you all know I hope you had a great New Year! Unfortunately, I've been stressed. And stressed means eating WAY more than I should. My pants feel tighter and I feel lousy. Nothing like being fat and perimenopausal, right? So there went my Resolution to try to eat healthier. I have a feeling the nurse who checks us out at work every few months will scold me when she sees me. (hey, I have to step on the scale, much to my annoyance!) I still plan on keeping my Resolution, albeit I may start it a bit late. With cold weather, comfort foods are...comforting. So the New Year is off to a so-so start for me, but it will get better. In the meantime, hope you all enjoy the upcoming weekend. I hope to get some much needed R & R!