30 DAYS OF INTIMACY: THE CHALLENGE

I'm joining Pamela at Road to Joy and Nan at LBDDiaries and some other fellow bloggers in a 30 day Intimacy Challenge.  I accepted the challenge and then my oldest rugrat got very sick, then I hit the road to tour colleges, visit Mickey Mouse and return to an empty home because Hunk had left to go hunting in Idaho.  That worked out well for me. HA HA

On a serious note I actually have been paying more attention to our phone conversations.  I have been being sure to let him know I miss him and I am thinking about him.  Funny thing is I say I've been thinking about you and he's like "OH YA",  (you know the tone, the I'm getting lucky tone) why do they always go there? Even when they are hundreds of miles away..LOL......  Normally I would have said "uh.....ya right." and laughed but instead I went with it......I said "Yep dreaming about you hunny".....  He said "Were you sleeping?"  I said "Nope..... I was day dreaming".....So then when I was talking him the next day he said he can't get that song "I been daydreaming about night things, in the middle of the afternoon" out of his mind........then he said "so I've been thinking about you allot"..... 

I'm trying to keep up on the challenge the best I can, until he comes home.  I'm also going to put this neat writing on the wall that I found at Michaels craft store....(as soon as I decide which one to get)....  They were neat sayings for the bedroom wall and they look like they are hand painted once up on the wall.

Any romantic or fun lovin' intimacy ideas???  Send them my way......

Want to join the challenge, leave a comment letting us know you are joining in and if you have a blog leave your link.

OH BY THE WAY...... CSN HAS CONTACTED ME TO DO ANOTHER GIVEAWAY SO I WILL HAVE THAT UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS!

Don't forget to kiss your sweethearts goodnight and tell them how much you love them!

Ciao Bellas~
~Momma~

WINNER(S) OF THE "FIREPROOF YOUR MARRIAGE" GIVEAWAY

Sorry it took me longer to get this posted.  Hunk's grandfather passed away and we have been a bit out of sorts here.

I know I was supposed to give away one movie and one book but I just felt like I should change that to TWO movie's and TWO books. 

The winning comments are below:

Congratulations:

midRae said...
And I think I just started following you on facebook. Let's hope I got that one right. :)?
September 3, 2010 2:17 PM
 
And
 
Kimberly said...
I took over bedtime routine duties the last few nights with kiddo so that my dh could get a little more sleep than usual. (That is usually their time together because he's gone during the day.) He works so stinking hard so that I can stay at home and homeschool our beautiful little girl.

September 4, 2010 9:33 AM

 

Please send me an email with your mailing address and I will get them shipped out to you!

 

Hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday.

 

((((Love and Hugs))))

 
Ciao Bellas~
~Momma~

FREE CSN GIVEAWAY WINNER

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!  I just love doing these giveaways!

Thanks so much to everyone for entering to win and for visiting me here on my Soapbox!

I used Random.org to generate the winner. 

drum roll..........




Random Integer Generator



Here is your random number:
                          2

Timestamp: 2010-08-25 23:07:53 UTC

#2 is:  ERIN said...




August 17, 2010 4:34 AM

Congratulations Erin.  Please email me and I'll send your certificate over to you!

Have a great night.  We are off to back to school night with the Rugrats!

Ciao Bellas

Momma~

CSN FREE GIVEAWAY

It's time for another FREE CSN Giveaway!!  It's a $40 gift certificate.  It will be emailed to the winner and you can use it at Le Crueset or just go to www.csnstores.com and you can view over 200 different websites you can choose from!  Some of these are www.allmodern.com, http://www.cookware.com/, www.luxebycsn.com and many more!  Many items have free shipping. 

AND......It's easy peasy lemon squeezy to enter. 

You get one entry if:

You leave a comment telling me what your favorite part of this summer was.

Two  more if you put a post on your blog linking back to this giveaway.

One more if you become or are a follower of my blog.

The contest ends on Tuesday, August 24th at midnight Pacific Standard time and the winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Wednesday, August 25th.


GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Ciao Bellas~

Momma

A special thanks to CSN Stores for donating this giveaway for my wonderful readers!

THE WINNER IS..........

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! The winner of the $40 CSN gift certificate has been picked!

I'm soooooooo excited! Besides reading all of your comments, which make me smile so big and sometimes bust out laughing.....and then my family wonders what I am doing....this is one of my favorite parts!

I used a Random Number Generator........and drum roll.....

RESULTS:


True Random Number Generator
Min:1 Max: 64

Result: 45

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

The winner is:

Mami2jcn said...
Our summer plans are to hang by the pool a lot and celebrate my daughter's birthday.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
May 23, 2010 5:13 PM

Congrats Mami2jcn! Please let me know what you decide to purchase!

I will be contacting CSN with your email address and they will send the $40.00 e-certificate over to you.

Thanks to everyone for entering.....Good Luck on the next one!

Ciao Bellas~

CSN STORES FREE GIVEAWAY!!!!

Momma is stepping up on her Soapbox. Setting up her speakers and speaker stands and turning on her mic. Tap, Tap, Tap....is this thing on????

Why? All because CSN Stores has been kind enough to sponsor a giveaway for you!

Woop! Woop!

They said I have been selected as a "CSN Preferred Blogger" so they are now my new BFF. Yep, all it takes is a compliment.........well, that and offering me some free items to share with you!

Ok, so here is the dealio.....They have 200+ stores online and you get to go choose something from ANY OF THE STORES....The winner will receive a gift certificate (via email) for $40 to go towards (or completely pay for) any item you choose. Keep a watch out because I've noticed that many of the items on their sites have FREE SHIPPING.... Which I love!

Here are a few of their sites I've looked at and liked:

Toys and Games online

CSN Baby

Cookware

OKAY.......so here is all you have to do to enter......

EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY........

Post a comment telling me what your plans are for the summer.

Told you it was easy!

But if you want to.............

You can get EXTRA ENTRIES in the following ways:

1 extra entry If you follow my blog saying "I follow your blog"

1 extra entry If you follow me on twitter saying "I follow you on twitter"

2 extra entries If you post a link on twitter telling others about my giveaway.

2 extra entries if you post about my giveaway on your blog and leave me the link.

I will close out the giveaway on Wednesday May 26th at midnight Pacific Standard Time. And I will announce the winner on Thursday May 27th!......

This is so much fun! I can't wait to see who wins and what you choose!

Have fun!!!

Ciao Bellas~

UPDATE AND GIVEAWAY!!!

Hey there!! I am pulling my head out of my computer......well, actually I guess I haven't pulled my head out of the computer since I'm typing this on my computer......BUT I've pulled my head out of my work program on my computer long enough to type this!

I've been missing my blogging!

So much has been going on. We are still waiting to hear back on the home our son put the offer in on and they have 3 days to get into contract so we shall see what happens on that one.... (fingers crossed)

Work has been crazy busy to which I am so grateful for the work but it's not giving me much time to daydream about our trip to Maui..... The weeks are flying past though.

I have not being doing so well on my diet this week....... I've not done awful and I keep dusting myself off and jumping back on that train but this isn't my shining week so far. I did earn the title of "The biggest loser" again last Friday and I am excited about that! BUT not so sure I will claim it again this week.

I refuse to get too down on myself though, I've been doing great. I feel so much better and I will not let a few poop a loop days make me throw it all away. This is something I would have done in the past....... I will NOT do that this time...... will NOT......will NOT......will Not....

Say it with me now "WILL NOT DO IT THIS TIME"...... We will reach our goal and we are going to be doing the skinny dance together.

I also wanted to let you know that I WILL BE HAVING A GIVEAWAY SOON..... I was contacted by a company who has offered for me to do a review or giveaway one of their products. I say GIVEAWAY...... so fun to see who wins and give something to all you faithful readers!

I'll keep you posted as soon as I have more information on that, but spread the word and keep an eye out!

Well, the time has come that I get off my duff and drag it to the kitchen and make something for my family for dinner...... I don't think they will go for the microwave popcorn that I feel like making......OK, so I don't even feel like making that......I'm poooooooooooped tonight... But I took out hangaburger (hamburger for all of you who don't remember how 4 year olds say it) meat, so I need to make a plan here...

I know, if I had been as organized as I'm supposed to be I would already know exactly what I'm doing with that meat........in fact I would have already had it in a crockpot and I'd be telling you all that I'm off to set the table for the dinner I so thoughtfully put in the crockpot this morning.

But.......I didn't.........so I'm not..........so....

Microwave popcorn anyone?

KIDDING....

Maybe...

Maybe not.....

Probably though......

Ok, enough of my goo goo mush brain talk for tonight...

I really must go make dinner now (the visual is my head down, dragging my feet and sniffing all the way to the kitchen).......

HAMBURGERS.........yep, that is what is for dinner...... Hunk can BBQ..... I'll go ahead and break out the mayo and mustard....... I'm a helper like that.

Love and miss you all!

Don't forget to check back for the giveaway!!!

((((((HUGS)))))

Ciao Bellas~

A GIVEAWAY AND AN ANSWER TO A QUESTION PIONEER PROMPTED IN MY MIND...

Pioneer Woman has a Giveaway today and I want to thank her so much for her question she would like answered to enter her giveaway. It made me stop and think about my life. I am already feeling great about my day today but this made it even more clear to me WHY I am feeling this way today.

Her question was:

“How different is your life now than how you’d always pictured it?”

Are you exactly where you always thought you’d be?

Are you mildly where you thought you’d be?

Or are you nowhere near where you thought you’d be?

Seems like a simple question but kind of deep at the same time.

I gave the short version of my answer on my entry but my post will have the long version. The version that is now floating around in my head ever since reading the question.

How did I always picture my life?

From as far back as I can remember I always new I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to get married and I wanted to have children and I wanted to be the best mom possible. I also always said that I was going to adopt. My words "There are so many children in this world that need mom's and dad's I'm not going to have my own (biological) children, I'm going to adopt." The rest of my picture was basically......"and they lived happily ever after."

My reality?

I married my high school boyfriend. We were together off and on throughout high school. He was two years ahead of my in high school and shortly after "I" graduated we got married. We bought our first home and it was finished being built a few weeks before we were married. (There is a story there for another post).

Within a couple of years I was pregnant and had a miscarriage. The Dr. said I needed to wait 3 months and then try again. To be honest I wasn't trying the 1st time but found myself very sad that I had miscarried. Three months later almost to the day I found out I was pregnant again. I had a pretty rough pregnancy and spent a few months on bed rest and ended up with a C-section delivery. And then there were 3.

Hunk and I had a pretty rocky beginning. We argued a lot and weren't in a very happy place. I ended up going to work for the State (Cal Trans) until I got pregnant with our 2nd son (that was a SHOCKER) again, wasn't trying and I was on the pill. But after the shock wore off I was very excited. I again had a tough pregnancy. This one worse than the first. I was in and out of the hospital, on bed rest and then had to be induced in the end. My doctor said I shouldn't have any more children. He didn't feel it was safe for me. So I had a tubal ligation.

Hunk and I then sold our first home and bought the home he grew up in, in the country, from his parents. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went in to that home. This ended up pulling us closer together. Hunk was happier being back in the country and out of the city and we started getting closer and closer.

A couple years later we started our own business and our oldest started kindergarten and I got the itch. I wanted another baby. I really wanted a daughter badly. I was out numbered there in that house! Too much testosterone going on. I needed reinforcements.

I started visiting new doctors and seeing about having my tubal ligation reversed. There were mixed reviews on this but I had a friend who knew someone who had this done successfully. My new OBGYN said that if I was on bed rest and listened to him, he thought he could get me through a pregnancy successfully. Hunk wasn't so sure.

I set an appointment with a Dr. in Southern California to see about the reversal. The date they had available was February 12th. It was a ways away and it was also the day one of my best friends from high school was killed by a drunk driver. This made me uneasy.

I also couldn't get out of my head what I had always said growing up. So we started checking into adoption, but leaving the reversal on the table as an option. Soon after we were talked to by a friend who had done foster care and she told me of two little one year old twin girls and their 4 year old sister. Part of me wanted this so badly and part of me thought the other part of me was CRAZY. Plus they were not able to be adopted as of yet. We checked in with an adoption consultant.

Hunk had now decided whether we did adopt or not he did not want me to get the reversal. He felt it was too big of a risk on my health.

Short version (sort of) of a very long story, we ended up getting placed with a birth mother and she was pregnant with a girl (or so the ultra sound said.......by the way our 2nd sons ultra sound said girl too, until the month prior to his delivery) so we were excited about that but both knew it could very well be a boy and we were 100% on board either way. We just wanted another child at this point (but of course, hoped for a girl). The baby's due date? March 21st.

Remember my friend in high school who was killed by the drunk driver? The one who passed away on the same date as my tubal reversal was scheduled? Well her BIRTHDAY was March 21st. I felt this was a flashing neon sign telling me this was the right thing to do! I also felt that God was trying to "remind" me of what I had always said I was going to do.

And we did. And she is the most precious thing we could have hoped for.

Skip a bunch of drama things that happened and about a year and a half later we were contacted about our daughters younger sister who was now in foster care. They had been told we had "the sister" so we were given the option to foster adopt (another looooooooooonnngg story here). End result? We did. And our family is now complete.

A few years later we bought property in another neighboring town and built a home. Life couldn't seem to get any better. Then I was diagnosed with Cancer. It was a devastating time for me and for my family. In one moment I felt that all that I had been blessed with was being taken away. It was one of the most difficult times of my life. However, would end up that it was not "the most" difficult. (years later we almost lost our son to a ruptured appendix, THIS was the most difficult time of my life)

A couple years passed and I kept having "clear scan" results...... (pass over a few more things, or this post will take 3 hours to read) and we bought property on a private lake up the hill further and built a home (well a barn home, main home to come).

And we live happily ever after........

Is this how I had pictured my life would be? Some parts yes and some parts no. But when you look at the whole picture.

Aside from the concern of my Cancer returning.......It's better than I could have ever possibly imagined it to be. I have four beautiful children (to which I HONESTLY forget two came to us via adoption. There is NO difference AT ALL in our love for them, than the love we have for our biological children) and a husband who loves me very much. I am blessed financially, spiritually and with many great TRUE friends.

Could life be any better? Possibly.........but I don't know if I could stand myself if it was.

Thanks for the question this morning Ree. You let me travel through time in my mind and reminded me just how much I have to be thankful for.

How about you? Did your life turn out how you imagined it would be?

Momma out.

Ciao Bellas~

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

I received an email today that blew me away. Made my heart swell up and smile.

As you know Cottage Girl won the Free Gift Card Giveaway that I held. When she contacted me via email about the gift card she let me know that she would be giving it to the American Red Cross for Haiti.

Now you can see why my heart swelled up and smiled. She gave up a shopping trip for those in need.

When you sit and watch the news (at least in my neck of the woods) the majority of what they report is all the bad things that go on. All the horrible awful things that happen in this country, in other countries and in our hometown. There are so many big hearted people who do so many nice things in this world.....Why can't we report more about them?

I believe if they reported more about the good things happening then more good things would happen....That's why I'm telling you about Cottage Girl's generosity.

It's contagious...and it makes you feel good.

So Cottage Girl donated $50 to American Red Cross for Haiti and I donated an additional $50 to them as well.

I did it because when I read her email telling me that is where she wanted her money to go it made me want to join in her generosity.

It was contagious and it made me feel good.....

The same thing is true with kind words and smiles. You never know how you can effect someones life. Smiling at a stranger or giving them a compliment. We don't know what has happened in their day or week, maybe the smile we give them will change the entire feel of their day.

Lets spread the love and make this world a better place. I have met so many kind big hearted people while blogging. One gesture at a time we can make a difference.

Start close to home:

Make dinner or dessert for a friend or neighbor for no reason.

Call your local school and/or church and see if there are any children in need of jackets or clothing and clean out your overflowing children's closets.

Next time you are at a drive through pay for the order of the person behind you.

Help an elderly couple with yard work or just drop by to visit.




I know times are tough for many. Giving comes in so many shapes and sizes. It doesn't have to be financial.

Smiles are free and yet they are priceless at the same time.

I promise you one thing. One thing that I know for sure.

As happy as you make someone feel with your generosity and kind gestures it will not even come close to comparing to how it will make YOU feel.

The best gift you can RECEIVE is the feeling you get from GIVING.

And what an amazing example it sets for your Rugrats. (that's an added bonus)

Ciao Bellas~

AND THE WINNER IS...........DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

I put every one's name/comment in a hat (actually a bowl....but hat sounds better) one time for each entry you qualified for and pulled out......

THE WINNER OF THE GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY!!!

CottageGirl said...
Follow your blog!
January 25, 2010 1:50 PM

Congratulations Cottage Girl!

Please email me at Mommassoapbox@aol.com and let me know which egift card you choose and and what email address you would like me to send it to!

Thank you EVERYONE for participating!!

Sending e-love to you all!

HAPPY MONDAY!!!

Ciao Bellas!

IT'S FRIDAY ......DON'T FORGET!!

It's FRIDAY!!! TGIF BABY!!



Wooo Hooooo...........



I'll have a new post up shortly.



I've been working on some exciting things to come on Mommas Soapbox. There is still LOTS to do to get it where I want it, so don't expect anything TOO SOON.....but I'm working on some improvements.



I wasn't going to say anything until it was all done, but you know me......can't help but keep spillin' the beans on myself!



It's how I roll....well, it's more of a waddle if I'm being completely honest..



Hunk is used to it by now.....at least he pretends to be..... he loves me....I love him.....



CRAP now The Barney song, "I love you, you love me, we're a happy Family" is running through my head.......make it stop!



In the mean time I wanted to remind you.........



Don't forget to leave a comment HERE for my FREE GIFT CARD OF YOUR CHOICE GIVEAWAY!!



Make it a super duper Friday.



How 15 year oldish did that sound?



I must have gotten lost in my Throwback Thursday.....I'm climbing out....it's kind of scary there.....pimples and pms.....

Now it's wrinkles and hot flashes....



Ciao Bellas~



Momma OUT.... (sounded better when Ryan Seacrest said it)



Whatever.....

FREE GIFT CARD-OF YOUR CHOICE-GIVEAWAY!!

I can hardly contain my excitement since receiving my clear scan results!!

To celebrate my scans and the fact the I have the best readers there are in the ENTIRE BLOGOSPHERE I wanted to do a gift card giveaway.

It will be a $50 "eCERTIFICATE" (So I'll email the winner the gift certificate directly).

You choose where you want to shop!

Will it be Williams-Sonoma?

OR

Maybe your more of a West Elm kinda shopper?

OR.......

Is it Pottery Barn that tickles your fancy?


All you have to do to enter is tell me what you enjoy most about my blog and why.

You can enter:
1. Once because you came to my blog and answered my question.

2. One more time if you follow me on twitter. (just type twitter in comment section)

3. One more time if you follow me on facebook. (just type facebook in comment section)

4. One more time if you follow my blog. (just type blog in comment section)

5. Two more times if you have a link to my blog on your blog. (just put LINKED TO MOMMA and a link to your blog in comment sections)

Contest ends on this Sunday, January 31st at midnight. The winner will be announced on Monday morning, February 1st.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:
Thanks for celebrating my scan results with me!! Thanks for being the best readers any blogger could ever hope and dream to have!!

I can't wait to see who is going shopping!

Ciao Bellas~

JINGLE JINGLE......THE WINNER IS........

AND THE WINNER IS.............

Result: 5
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

And # 5 is:

The Busy Blaine's said...
Love it!! My mornings consist of getting kiddo #2 off to school and then logging on to sheck on facebook and the blogs I follow. It has become my morning read instead of a newspaper.
December 2, 2009 5:48 AM

Congratulations!

Please contact me at Mommassoapbox@aol.com and provide your mailing address and I'll get your cup sent out to ya!

Jingle Jingle.......

Ciao Bellas~

MOST OF MY MORNINGS~AND A GIVEAWAY!!!!

This is my new coffee cup. I think the saying on it is perfect!!

It's been such a crazy busy week that I've had a hard time keeping up. I've also had plenty of occasion to jingle that little bell on my coffee cup. I have tried to keep it to a minimum, I don't want to get carpal tunnel from shaking it so hard and so often... Can that happen? Hmmmmm

So my morning starts out with heading straight to this beauty and pushing that little button TWICE........ push it once and you come back to NO coffee..... I am not saying I have or haven't done that, I'm just sayin'....... TWICE......

My new creamer of choice. HO! HO! HO! Peppermint Mocha..... I know it's bad for me, I know it's awful for me, I know I shouldn't have it......but.......sighhhhhhhhh...... I NEED IT.....

And in the winter this is where I sit in the morning to drink my coffee..... only with the flash on it looks bright, it's actually not......the rugrats are still sleeping and I'm sitting in the dark by the glow of the fire planning my attack on the day ahead of me....

This is no flash..... this is dark......this is relaxing......this is ahhhhhhhhhhhhh......

But this morning I also see this......... What is it? This is the glow of my Hunks "Christmas Story Leg Lamp". Christmas decoration yes? Will Hunk leave it up at the bar year round? Most likely.....

Has he rubbed on the leg and then acted shocked that anyone saw him? YES. He is a dorko like that........that's why we are meant to be..... wink.....

Anyone who knows Hunk knows he is a HUGE "Christmas Story" Movie fan. When it is on 24 hours straight, he does his best to lay on the sofa and sleep and wake up and watch, and sleep and wake up and watch and sleep...... It's HIS TIME..... He LOVES it...... He is known for it.

He has a Christmas Story stocking, we OF COURSE have the movie, the rugrats want to buy him the board game.......So the LEG...... That was a gift from me for our Anniversary........

Now every morning I have the glow of "The Leg".......

But this! This cup...... This is MY leg......I can shake it if I get irritated with someone on the phone and they wont even know what the noise means.....

But because I love it so much I want one of you to have one too! I want to know that someone else, someone I care about, someone who would enjoy it as much as me....... is out there ringing their bell. I say we call each other up and ring the bells together......

Ring it in the drop off line at school, ring it at the mother of a child who behaves like SHE is the child, ring it at your electric bill...........but MOSTLY, ring it for a smile and a laugh....

So to enter just leave me a comment on this post and tell me what you like to do in the morning.....

Contest ends on Saturday at 12pm pacific standard time.

Good luck!!!

Jingle......Jingle.......... Jingle........ SMILE....I would never jingle my bell at you!

Ciao Bellas~

WINNER OF THE RACHAEL RAY COOKWARE GIVEAWAY CONTEST~

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! I just LOVE doing giveaways! I wish everyone could win!!

I used the site Random.org to choose the winner of this giveaway and here are the results......

True Random Number Generator Min:1 Max: 38

Result: 34 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

****************************************************************************

The winner is:

Comment #34

Connie said...
Hi again:I put you on my Blog roll and on my blog entry for today. THANK YOU
November 9, 2009 8:45 AM

****************************************************************************

Connie,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!Please email me at Mommassoapbox@aol.com and let me know your mailing information along with the Rachael Ray cookware item you have chosen!!

Ciao Bellas~

RACHAEL RAY BAKEWARE GIVEAWAY CONTEST!!

You all know I have my addictions. And if you know that, then you must know that my motto is "It's all about the food." If you have heard me say it once you've heard me say it 1,000 times.

Well, today it's all about what you cook the food in AND it's all about you!

I believe everything happens for a reason and there is a reason that everything happens.

This had me thinking....... I know dangerous, stand back my head could blow... BUT I AM thinking....

I'm thinkin' because I love you and because I love Rachael Ray, and because I love food that what needs to happen is that I need to give away Rachael Ray Cookware!

There were way too many cool things to choose from. I narrowed it down to three items, I think you can handle it from here.

The winner will choose one of the following items:

Rachael Ray's - “Bubble & Brown” 4.25-Qt. Stoneware Oval Casserole in Blue (also comes in Orange, Green or Yellow)

Rachael Ray's - “Bubble & Brown” 9" x 13" Stoneware Lasagna Lover in Orange (also comes in blue, green or yellow)

Rachael Ray's Yum-O! Bakeware 4 Piece Cake Pan Bakeware Set

Did I mention I'm hungry now? sighhhhhhhhh......

All you have to do to enter is answer the below question in the comments section of this post.

"What is your favorite meal?"

Mine is Rib-eye steak, potatoe, grilled vegi, bread w/butter, crab, lobster, shrimp cocktail,.......oh wait, I was supposed to say one favorite meal..... not sure if I can narrow that down......hmmmm....you try..

RULES:

One entry per person please

UNLESS: (There is ALWAYS an exception to every rule!)

• You post this on your blog (1 extra entry)

OR

• You list (or have listed) my blog on your favorite sites/blog roll on your blog (1 extra entry)

Just be sure to leave additional comments with links to your blog letting me know you did this!

No entries after 11:00pm Pacific Time Tuesday.

Winner will be randomly selected and announced on Wednesday morning.

If you win.......It could be a Christmas gift to a loved one or for yourself, you decide!

GOOD LUCK!!

Ciao Bellas~

***************************************************************************

A special thanks to Cookware.com, a part of CSN Stores.com for providing the prize for this contest. They have some great deals going on right now.... I think this "Momma" needs to do a little shopping of her own! I know you are all in shock right now.....ME, SHOP? Imagine it...now pick yourself up off of the floor, dust yourself off and enter for a chance to win!

THE WINNER OF THE $25 GIFT CARD IS..............

And the winner of the $25 gift card giveaway is............

Chosen via: Random Number Generator

Generate random integers between and Open Sequence Closed Sequence Unique Values 1-21

12
Random numbers generated Oct 31 2009 at 23:51:7 by www.psychicscience.org
***************************************************************************
And......drum roll..........

Comment #12 belongs to:

Deanna - The Unnatural Mother said...
I had "WEIGH" too much fun on Sunday...winery, pumpkin picking... good for both adults and children... YEAH!!!! and posting it on my bloggity blog too!!!
October 27, 2009 1:19 PM


Congratulations Deanna!!!

Please email me at Mommassoapbox@aol.com and give me your mailing address and your gift card of choice!

*****Remember it's YOUR CHOICE OF A $25 gift card to either GAP, OLD NAVY, BARNES AND NOBLES, KOHL'S or HOME DEPOT. *****

Thank you sooooooooooo much everyone for entering and for visiting my blog! You guys ROCK!

I'm so pooped from this weekend, when I typed you ROCK my mind instantly went to...... I want to rocky MYSELF to sleep......

Rock-a-bye-baby in the tree top, when the wind blows the cradle will rock, when the zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......snort......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......snore.....zzzzz...

Yawn........Oh sorry, Did I mention the huge Halloween party I threw last night? yawn.....stretch.......yawn..... It kicked my booty!!!

It is midnight now........NOPE, take it back, FALL BACK......it's 11:00pm again........ I just earned a second change and going to bed before midnight~

WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!

She shoots, she scores!

Good night friends!

Keep those pretty eyes peeled for my next giveaway contest. It is coming soon!

Ciao Bellas~

FREE GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY~ IT'S WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!

rulingcatsanddogs.com/.../page-3/large-files/

I had "WEIGH TOO MUCH FUN" baking with my Rugrats this weekend.... I wont admit to just how much

Now I want you to have" WAY TOO MUCH FUN."

Often when I have way too much fun, it involves shopping...ie: spending money.......

I want YOU to have "WAY TOO MUCH FUN" spending MY money!

Now that is fun! I want it to be somewhere you enjoy...... so you choose!

YOUR CHOICE OF A $25 gift card to either GAP, OLD NAVY, BARNES AND NOBLES, KOHL'S or HOME DEPOT.

All you have to do is....

Leave me a comment telling me the last time.....You had "weigh too much fun"....

Rules:

1 entry per person

(BUT....If you write a post about my giveaway on your blog you can enter twice!)

Contest ends on HALLOWEEN, Saturday October 31st at 11pm.

I will announce the winner on Sunday!!

Have fun and good luck!!

Ciao Bellas~

POMEGRANATE JELLY PICKING TIME~ CHILD LABOR

I'm ready to make Pomegranate Jelly! We took one of my Rugrats to dance and then my other two Rugrats and myself went over to a friends house for Pomegranate picking!

My friend saves her pomegranates for me each year in trade for a couple jars of jelly! I think I make out on that deal!


"Right here" points my youngest Rugrat to her brother......

Stretch...and she got one! Good girl! Such good helpers...

"Let me grab the branch for you brother"..... says mini Rugrat...

Not sure of the child labor laws but these two were such HUGE help picking! I love it when they step up to the plate and help.... I'm sure it has a bit to do with their love of the jelly...

You work you eat people.......lets not forget it...... no free rides on this ranch....

I tried to keep my whip out of the picture...... I only used it when absolutely necessary.... like when they needed to move the umbrella back over my chaise lounge chair when my shade was leaving me, or refill my ice tea so I could watch them work in complete comfort.... only for times like those........

Baskets almost full.......

Did I mention they ate a few seeds out of almost each one they picked??....... slowed us down a bit but made it worth while for the Rugrats....

I also took them to breakfast at the little cafe as bribery before we went to pick.... nothin' says "help your momma" like french toast, bacon and eggs....

OKAY, I was hungry too....... I think you are probably realizing it by now..the pattern.....when I say it's ALWAYS ALL ABOUT THE FOOD... It's not a joke people...... them there are true to the core words...

In fact one day my oldest Rugrat said "When our family goes on vacation, it's not about what we are going to do it's about where we are going to eat."

I'm not sayin' I'm proud of this little well known fact...... I'm just sayin'.....yeppers... I'm just sayin'....

OMGosh.....where is his head?.......Rugrat are you okay?!? Was your head eaten by a huge pomegranate?..... HELP!......HELP!

Ya right! I know he is acting like he is picking but I'm on to him..... I know he's got that sassy 16 year old mouth of his locked around a pomegranate sucking all the juice out..

My burgundy grocery gettin', garden/plant hauling, Rugrat Taxi......Suburban is gettin' full....

We had to put two more baskets in the middle section.... We did NOT want them to spill and stain my OH SO CLEAN otherwise, vehicle...

Be quiet those who have seen my car first hand.... let me pretend it's clean...

Let me pretend my Rugrats remove all items and trash each and every time.....and they do this without being asked......they do this because I am a momma who means what I say and I follow thru to make sure it is done each and every time.....

I do not pull up to the house and holler' out "Get all you crap outta the car, and I mean it" and then head inside.... this would be irresponsible of me......I make sure they do what they are asked or there are severe consequences......And there never are consequences because they do what they are asked and they do the FIRST time ......

They are perfect little angels......well.... a girl can dream....Can't she???.......

In my next life I will raise perfect little robots...I mean children...... sighhhhhhhh

I'll keep you posted on the pomegranates process..... now I need to seed them all and then juice them........

I soon will by typing to you with red pomegranate stained hands....and hopefully freshly filled nails.... I have to wait to have my nails done because of all the cuts on my hands from picking yesterday... yes, I do know what gloves are and how to use them... I just didn't need then.... I can be......well.....dumb.... like that sometimes.....

Maybe I'll do a give away of some of my yummy jelly!

Have a great Hump Day!!... Wait....that doesn't sound so good....well....never mind....

Have a great Wednesday friends!

Ciao Bellas~

FREE FALL GIVEAWAY!!! Pumpkin bowls with lids!

I'm so excited........and I just can't hide it...... I'm about to lose control and I think I like it.....Ohhh ya!!! ......sorry if that hurt your ears..

Welcome to my very first (but far from my last) giveaway contest!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these pumpkins! You can fill them up with soup, stew or you can use them to bake and serve your favorite dessert! The lids keep the contents warm!!

They are a Princess House product (though they are sold out right now....sorry)...

Princess House is another one of my addictions...... I'm starting to realize I seem to have a lot of them...... what's a girl to do...

If ya win you will get: Two Pumpkins. 18oz each. 5 1/8" high with lid

***They are microwave and oven safe up to 400 degrees.

You ask:

"When you are done using them can you chuck them in the ol' dish washer???"


I answer:

"YOU BETCHA." ..my favorite part of course....

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This is now closed. I'll announce the winner tomorrow!! Thank you ALL for your Holiday Traditions I've really enjoyed reading each and every one of them!!

*The winner will be randomly selected and announced on Sunday!!

....

*****Most importantly have fun sharing your traditions and GOOD LUCK!!*****

I'm so excited.....and I just can't........ OKAY.......sorry....... I'll stop.... for now...

Ciao Bellas~