ss_blog_claim=3fdf3794f4237364a146a8dd94f88a5b Mission Mommy: December 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Our Family



I'm very thankful this year is coming to an end. I've had numerous health problems, my husband broke his foot and lost a toe, my grandmother broke her hip and passed away. It's been one thing after another.


I'm looking forward to a fresh new start this new year. I have several goals in mind, all of which will take time and patience. Some I have to do, others are iffy.


One, I want to work on my marriage. Me and my husband have had our ups and downs, but I still love him and want to work through them. I'm an extremely forgiving person, but one can only give so many chances. I think counseling for our family will do a world of difference.


I need to be healthy again. Losing 10-20 pounds isn't really an issue. Due to several birth control methods I used during the year, my hormones are out of whack. I'm on hormones now to try and fix it, and hopefully it will work out.


And, I'm also working on setting a better budget for our household. I need to be more on top of our spending, and save more than what we did in 2009. Hopefully we can get out of this rut in living paycheck to paycheck. Organization fits right in with this.I would use coupons if I could find them under all the other papers stacked on top of them. :) Being a family of five, there is just too much...too much of everything. It's hard to manage all we do, and I've let it slack this year. I go through all our items a few times a year and donate them to a local charity. I need to do it more often than I am.



I'm praying this coming year will be a good one. Anything has to better than this one! Happy New Year to you all!

READ MORE

Still No Funeral Date Set


{UPDATED}
We finally have the arrangements to where we can at least have her buried. The funeral will be this Friday at 1:00. They're holding my parent's check for 10 days. Hopefully, the insurance will be in to them by then. Thank you for your support!

We buried my grandfather and uncle years ago without any problems. The insurnace policies were taken care of and sent to the funeral home, and burial was in a timely manner. My grandmother cannot even be buried yet, and she passed on Saturday.

The funeral home will not bury her until they have money in their hands. She has 2 life insurance policies that are being processed. One will take up to a week, the other might be in by Friday. No one here has $6,000 to get it going.

This is so damn frustrating. What the hell are we to do? My grandmother is slowly rotting away, and they won't make arrangements with us. They know they are getting the policies, but won't do a thing until it's in their greedy hands.

My mom and aunt are stressing out. Who wouldn't? This is the craziest thing I've ever heard of. The funeral home has talked to both insurance companies and confirmed they are getting it to them asap.

Now we've got people flying in from Hawaii for a funeral tomorrow that isn't even happening. This is a crazy mess.

READ MORE

Remembering Granny 12/26/2009

My grandmother finally passed away over the holiday weekend. Since breaking her hip in October, she continued to spiral downward. She refused to eat, lost her ability to walk, and got down to 80 lbs. Her mind got so bad, she didn't know who we were most days.


We went to visit a few times before she passed. Saturday, her nurses couldn't get a blood pressure.  During our last visit, she pulls me down to her and say's "Hug me". I think she knew who I was then. It's a good memory to have.

granny This is my grandmother one month before she broke her hip. She looked pretty good for an 80 y/o. You would not believe how horrible she looked after losing 30 pounds.


My oldest, Caleb, took it very hard. He was only 2 when he lost his Grandpa, so he didn't really understand. He's doing okay right now with it though. DJ and Allie don't comprehend what's happening.


I'm taking a break and will be back next week. I've had recent health problems again, and made 2 trips to the ER last week as well. We're taking care of the funeral arrangements, and she will be buried Wednesday, Thursday at the latest.


My granny raised me while my parents worked. She watched Caleb when I was still in school. We were very close, and everyone says I'm a spitfire just like she was. I'm glad she is out of her misery. It's been terrible to watch her go down.




READ MORE

Monday Madness: Link Up Your Giveaways 12/28






Thanks for stopping by Mission Mommy to link up your giveaways! If you post a linky, please feel free to leave me a comment with your blog address and also when you post.






 
You can also list your giveaways at these blogs.

 
Monday
My Four Monkeys
Making Money Keeping Money
Gobs of Giveaways
Frugal Rhode Island Mama
MomDot
The Suburban Jungle
Real Simple Saving Methods
Mommygaga
The Healthy Moms


Tuesday
Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House
Thrifty & Chic Mom
Money Saving Mom
Mom Advice
Outnumbered 3 to 1
Live, Laugh, Love & Bloggings


Wednesday
I Could Use A Deal
More Than Cents
Therapeutic Reviews & Giveaways
Mommies with Cents
Nickels N Dimes

Wee Finds
Busy Mom
"Deal"ectible Mommies
Mom's Most Wanted
Smart Cents Mom
If Mama Ain't
J. Leigh Designz





Thursday
A Daily Dose of Toni
Go Graham Go
Jolly Mom
Elementary Spirits
Saving Cents with Sense
The Shopping Mama
Baby Loving Mama


Friday
Bargain Briana
Peanut Butter and Pickle Reviews
Catch the Drift
My Red Apron
Katydid and Kid
Itty Bitty Bookworm

Saturday
A Nut in a Nutshell
Homemaker Barbi
Contest Corner
Frugal Femina
Maven of Savin
Daily Essentials and Deals

Sunday
5 Minutes for Mom
Deal Seeking Mom
The Thrifty Mama
A Simple Kinda Life
A Blog of Goodies
3 Kids and Us
Misplaced City Girl

Ongoing List
Mom Fuse 

Mama's Money Savers
Mom Made That
Icefairy's Treasure Chest
Mother 2 Mother
CanContests.com 

READ MORE

Fruit Granola Crisp

A crisp tarty classic the whole family will love! This recipe was created for Target by the Four Seasons in NYC. It would make a great treat this week for the holidays.



Fruit Filling

• 1 (7 ounce bag) Market Pantry Frozen Mixed Summer Fruits
• 1 (3 ounce bag) Market Pantry Frozen Mangoes
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 6 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. corn starch
• 1 tsp. salt

Heat oven to 350˚F. Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Spoon mixture into 6 to 8 small ramekins, top with streusel topping (recipe below). Place ramekins on rimmed baking sheet and bake 30 minutes or until fruit is bubbly.


Streusel Topping
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup Market Pantry Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

Mix all ingredients together until crumbs form. Place fruit mixture in ramekins and top with streusel. Bake at 350˚F for 30 minutes or until fruits start bubbling.


Makes: 8 servings
Hands-on prep time: 15 minutes



READ MORE

Wordless Wednesday: Giving Santa a Visit

scan0001
The family went to see Santa yesterday. I wasn't planning on getting a picture taken, as you can see they are in their play clothes, but they persuaded me to anyway. I think they look fine. They had a great time. It's really Allie's first time knowing what Santa and Christmas is, and she wasn't scared to sit in his lap in the least bit!

READ MORE

Holiday Gift Guide- DVDS



Thomas, Barney, and Bob the Builder Gift Sets

Retail price: $19.98
Join in the holiday fun with your favorite pals- Barney, Thomas, and Bob. Each 3 pack gift set contains activities and sing-along fun for your little one.   

Barney Tee-Riffic Holiday Collection
Bundle up with your best friend Barney for this special collection of wintertime favorites! Take a musical journey to the North Pole with Barney, BJ™, and Baby Bop™ in "Night Before Christmas." Sing along to your favorite Barney tunes in the fun-filled game show, "Can You Sing That Song?" And join Barney, Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends and more for the magic of "Winter Wonderland" in this tee-riffic holiday gift set!


Bob the Builder: Building Crew Holiday Collection
Just in time for the holidays, discover why "the fun is in getting it done" in these action-packed, fun-filled adventures! Join Bob and the Can-Do Crew as they rescue their friend from a winter storm in "Bob's White Christmas." Then it's time to build a log cabin and smooth the ice rink for the Winter Games. Finally, come along as Bob and Scoop hunt for buried treasure -- and make some amazing discoveries -- in this one-of-a-kind collection that's the perfect holiday treat for Bob the Builder fans. 


Thomas & Friends: Sodor Friends Holiday Collection
There's fun around every turn in these joyful wintertime adventures! Catch the holiday spirit as Thomas & Friends prepare for the grand opening of the Toy Workshop. Laugh and play along as Percy tries to fool his friends into believing he's Jack Frost. And hold on tight for some of Thomas' most thrilling races and rescues in this heart-warming holiday collection. 





Frosty and Friends

Retail Price: $14.98
Bundle up with your favorite preschool pals in fun-filled wintertime tales with HIT Favorites: Frosty Friends flurrying onto DVD October 6, 2009 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Join Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Pingu™, Thomas & Friends™ and Kipper™ as they enjoy playful adventures in the snow. Learn the true meaning of Christmas with your best friend Barney, build a snowman with Bob, go sledding with Kipper, whistle down the tracks with Thomas and laugh along as Pingu plays hilarious tricks on his friends.



Kideo Dora, Diego and Me Personalized Video
Retail Price:$29.95
Make your child the star of their own cartoon with Dora and Diego. Kideo uses the latest technology to place your child in thier own cartoon!
Dora, Boots, and Diego need to run, jump, swing, and even fly to the rescue of Baby Jaguar. And there’s only one explorer who can help them – YOU! Dora’s cousin Diego is an excellent Animal Rescuer! But he’ll need help from Dora, Boots, his rainforest animal friends, and YOU to run, swing, jump, and zip to Baby Jaguar’s rescue! You’ll be right in the action as you become an explorer just like Dora and Diego, riding a zip line through the rainforest, water skiing up the river, and more! 



Spongebob Squarepants Season 6
My kids are HUGE Spongebob fans! So, naturally, the latest episodes compiled in the new Season 6 DVD 2 disk-set makes a natural stocking stuffer for any of them. 


The 2 disk set features 24 episodes as well as the Spongebob History song and 7 silly shorts. 


Spongebob Truth or Square is also in this set as well!









Gotta Catch Santa Claus
Retail Price: $9.99
Funky music, holiday magic and a supersonic sleigh are all wrapped up in this CGI–animated family adventure starring William Shatner as the voice of Santa! Trevor is a true believer in the holiday spirit, so his skeptical best friend, Veronica, challenges him to show the world actual proof that Santa is real. Trevor and his friends embark on the adventure of a lifetime to catch Santa in action and reveal the true magic of Christmas.

READ MORE

Beadiful Kids Boutique Jewelry {Giveaway}


Beadiful Kids Boutique, an Etsy shop run by military mom, Jackylann, specializes in beautiful, handmade jewelry for your little girl.

My daughter recently received this Snowman necklace, which she wore to the boys Christmas party. The beads are absolutely gorgeous, and has just the right amount of sparkle for a little princess.





Jackylann can create a necklace or bracelet for any occasion you desire. Look at the little LSU cheerleader necklace and tell me it is not absolutely adorable! You can create one for any team for your little cheerleader.

Bracelets and necklaces can be made for babies up to teens. Check back often as new items are added often. All Christmas items are on sale!











GIVEAWAY
Jackylann has offered me the chance to give away one item of winner's choice from her Etsy shop.


How to Enter:

Required Entry: Visit Beadiful Kids Boutique and pick the piece of jewelry you like most. Leave me a comment with your choice.

Extra Entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to this post.
2. Subscribe to Mission Mommy by Email/RSS
3. Follow me on twitter @bkkihega and tweet about this giveaway. (up to 2x daily)
4. Become a fan of Mission Mommy on Facebook and write about this giveaway.
5. Add the Mission Mommy button to your blogroll.
6. Vote for me at Giveaway 4 Mommy's Best Giveaway Blog Awards.(once daily)
7. Stumble this post.















This giveaway is open to all US residents and will end December 31. The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of this review/giveaway. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

READ MORE

Holiday Gift Guide- Children's Books


Invasion of the Bristlebots
Ages 8 and up
$19.95
Available at:  Klutz.com
#1 Award winner 2009 Toy of the Year Award, FamilyFun magazine Invasion of the Bristlebots comes with two mini-robots —basically motorized toothbrush heads. These guys zoom around like caffeinated cockroaches, spinning, skittering, and bouncing off walls. Resistance is futile. The book bristles with ideas for robot games and activities: race robots against each other, use the included punch-out walls to construct a bristlebot maze, stage a robot sumo-wrestling match. You can even customize your Bots with the provided wire legs, feelers, and beady eyes.





Paper Fashions Fancy
Ages 8 and up
$21.95

Available at: Klutz.com
Paper fashions get glam! In the Klutz paper fashions custom, young designers get to turn colorful paper, ribbons, beads, sequins, and jewels into glamorous fashions and accessories.








Tinycandy's Gift: Christmas Book and Read-Along CD
$14.95
Available at: SeeCreativeConcepts.com
This story tells how the Candy Cane came to be. Tinycandy is an elf growing up in the North Pole who always felt left out because he walks with a limp. With Christmas approaching, Tinycandy is desperate to find his special “gift” in order to contribute to Christmas in Santa’s workshop and become accepted by the other elves. Tinycandy soon discovers that his gift is making special candies shaped like hooks that make Christmas a little sweeter for everyone. Impressed by Tinycandy’s new talent, Santa christens the special treats “Candy Canes.”





 The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
 $18.99
 Available at: Scholastic.com
Drosselmeier arrives on Christmas Eve with goodies for his godchildren. Marie immediately is drawn to the beautiful nutcracker prince. Little do they know that their new toys will come alive! Marie is swept off her feet on an incredible journey with the Nutcracker in this astonishing classic story by E.T.A. Hoffman.



The Christmas Magic
$16.99
Available at: Scholastic.com
Far North, Santa and his reindeer are preparing for his famous night of giving. Knowing what each child wants, he gathers the toys and loads him in his newly polished sleigh and travels through the night delivering his magic to each and every one. From best-selling author Lauren Thomas, and Caldecott Honor Artist Jon J Muth.




YourPictureBook.com Personalized Children's Books
$34.95
Available at: YourPictureBoook.com
Your Picture Book gives you the opportunity to put your child into a book, literally. Each book features a picture of your child, half-body or full, and your child's name.

Books include: Moon Dirt Milkshake, Can Count, Noah's Ark, and also coloring books.

READ MORE

Monday Madness Link Up Your Giveaways







Thanks for stopping by Mission Mommy to link up your giveaways! If you post a linky, please feel free to leave me a comment with your blog address and also when you post. Happy Holidays!








::Link Up Here::

 
MONDAY
My Four Monkeys
Making Money Keeping Money
Gobs of Giveaways
Frugal Rhode Island Mama
MomDot
The Suburban Jungle
Real Simple Saving Methods
Mommygaga
The Healthy Moms


TUESDAY
Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House
Thrifty & Chic Mom
Money Saving Mom
Mom Advice
Outnumbered 3 to 1
Live, Laugh, Love & Bloggings

WEDNESDAY
I Could Use A Deal
More Than Cents
Therapeutic Reviews & Giveaways
Mommies with Cents
Nickels N Dimes

Wee Finds
Busy Mom
"Deal"ectible Mommies
Mom's Most Wanted
Smart Cents Mom
If Mama Ain't
J. Leigh Designz

THURSDAY
A Daily Dose of Toni
Go Graham Go
Jolly Mom
Elementary Spirits
Saving Cents with Sense
The Shopping Mama
Baby Loving Mama

FRIDAY
Bargain Briana
Peanut Butter and Pickle Reviews
Catch the Drift
My Red Apron
Katydid and Kid
Itty Bitty Bookworm

SATURDAY
A Nut in a Nutshell
Homemaker Barbi
Contest Corner
Frugal Femina
Maven of Savin
Daily Essentials and Deals

SUNDAY
5 Minutes for Mom
Deal Seeking Mom
The Thrifty Mama
A Simple Kinda Life
A Blog of Goodies
3 Kids and Us
Misplaced City Girl

ONGOING LIST
Mom Fuse
Mama's Money Savers
Mom Made That
Icefairy's Treasure Chest
Mother 2 Mother
CanContests.com 

READ MORE

Prayers for Jared


Today, my dad took the kids over to a family friend's house to catch up and Caleb play with his friend, Jared. After 2 hours, my kids come back home and my father sits down to talk to me about what happened and what's going on with the family.

At the end of the story, he tells me there's some bad news. Jared has been diagnosed with bone cancer. My heart just breaks. His older sister, his only sibling, is paralyzed, and now this. I think of my kids and what would happen if it were us.

I remember the good old days when the boys, who are a year apart, would ride four-wheelers and play in the swimming pool during the summer. I can't imagine what is going on in his parent's heads. He was diagnosed this month, and has since had surgery to remove a rib.

My uncle had bone cancer and suffered terribly for a year before he passed. I hope he doesn't suffer like my uncle did 10 years ago.

My dad said it made him want to cry when he heard the news. Naturally, any child with cancer is heart-wrenching, but it's different when it's so close to home.








  

Search Now to support Fund A Cancer Family Foundation - Mission Mommy. empowered by Freelanthropy.com.




Please support the Fund A Cancer Family fund at Freelanthropy.com. It's simple and free. Just search for something in the Yahoo search box, and money will be raised for every search you make. It's much like SwagBucks, just for a cause.

READ MORE

Holiday Gift Guide: Video Games

There will inevitably be some video games on your kids wish list this year. It's hard to choose just the right game for your kids, and sometimes what they want don't stand up to your approval. These games are perfect for both young and old, boy and girl.




Vsmile Motion
$39.99
Ages 3 to 7

This gaming system is perfect for little ones not quite capable of manipulating Wii games, which means Allie in our house. Have fun while learning math, reading, science, spelling and more with V.Smile Motion™ TV Learning System!

Littlest Pet Shop Friends
available for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS

Littlest Pet Shop brings the party to you with a new cast of quirky pets and their best friends. Play tons of new mini-games and explore new towns with your favorite pets. You can venture on quests, deliver invitations, serve up ice cream and then see your special pets come to life before your eyes!

My kids love this game. My son, Caleb,  won't admit it, but he can be caught dressing up the cute animals for Allie and playing the arcade. You can also find me and my husband playing as well! With the arcade play, you can play skeet ball, horseshoes, and other fun games that everyone can enjoy.






 Winter's Tail
available for Nintendo DS

Take an exciting journey on your Nintendo DS and learn about the real-life story of Winter, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin who overcame incredible odds. Including fun mini-games and a fully interactive storybook based on the Scholastic Book Winter's Tail, read by the authors Juliana, Isabella and Craig Hatkoff.



We have never played a game quite like this! It's a virtual, interactive story with games to complete to be able to unlock the new chapter. My oldest, Caleb, likes the feature in the game where he can make up his own story. Winter's Tail is a great story for your family to discuss animal abuse and how we can help the voiceless life.






Hasbro Family Game Night 2

available for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS

Join your host Mr. Potato Head as you play exciting new versions of the classic Hasbro games. Hasbro Family Game Night 2 features all-new family favorites such as Operation, Jenga, Bop-it, Connect 4x4 and Pictureka.





This game is a huge hit with my kids! They love board games, but I can't always sit down to play one with them. It's perfect to able to let the kids play the board games they love, without the pieces so Allie can't take them!, right in a video game. Up to 4 players can play, so it makes for great family night fun as well!






Nerf N-Strike 
available for Nintendo Wii

Every game comes with the Switch shot Nerf blaster, which shoots actual darts in real life that doubles as a Wii remote.





This game pack has got to be the perfect video game gift for boys this season! You can play with the gun just like any Nerf toy, but it is also the remote used in playing this action-packed game! Naturally, my boys cannot get enough of this game, and they can play with it anytime with actual Nerf darts. Awesome!

READ MORE

Holiday Gift Guide: Mom and Dad

Finding a great gift for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or Aunt Linda can be difficult. Many of these gifts can be a great fit for any adult relative you know, and many won't break the bank.


PG-360, 8-in-1 personal groomer
Great for use in between visits to the salon or barber, this cordless groomer makes it easy for guys to create and maintain their own stylish facial hair – from precision trimming and styling to close shaves. It features the world’s first neckliner (an exclusive detail) that easily maintains a straight, clean neckline. The 10 adjustable settings are great for clipping sideburns, necks and a variety of hair lengths, as well as five adjustable settings for all styles of facial hair – goatees, soul patches, light two-day stubble, moustaches or beards of any length. It also has an ear and nose hair trimmer for, um, that not-so-stylish hair. More versatile than Norelco, this rechargeable unit comes with self-sharpening, titanium-coated blades for sharp, precise cuts.
Cost: $19.99. The PG-360 is now available nationwide at Target and WalMart stores and online at www.remingtonproducts.com.



BHT-600, a body + back groomer
Remington’s new body and back groomer is great for getting rid of any unwanted hair on the chest, back, abs, groin and legs. Its convenient features include an extendable handle (an exclusive detail) for hard-to-reach areas and 360-degree attachments/bi-directional heads for added versatility. Retailing for $39.99, it’s a more affordable alternative than laser hair removal and can be used in or out of the shower.  This is a tool every guy will want to own to take control over that unwanted body hair.
The BHT-600 is available nationwide at Target and www.remingtonproducts.com.





Pivot & Flex Foil Shaver


For men looking for a convenient, close and even shave around every angle and curve of the face, Remington offers a new line of foil shavers featuring Pivot & Flex Technology. The three, independent flexing foils follow the contours of the face, for an exceptionally close, comfortable shave – even on the neck – in one-third the time. This product is a simple solution for those men with hectic schedules looking for a clean and easy look. Meant for a man on the go, the portable (corded and cordless) and rinseable design is minimalism at its finest – no shaving cream, water or after shave needed, making it great for travel.
With a durable, rugged design, this is more than the average electric shaver; Remington’s new foil shavers are the tools that every man will want and – even better – be able to afford. 
The Pivot & Flex foil shaver is available in three different models ranging from $34.99 to $54.99.  The F-4790 (MSRP: $44.99) is featured to the right and can be purchased at mass retailers nationwide and remingtonproducts.com.







FlameDisk
The FlameDisk is the perfect gift for dads who love to grill.We were both quite impressed in how simple it was to get the recyclable aluminum-cased disk to light. It stayed lit during the whole process, and cooled down almost immediately.
t's also great to have if your going to the park or lake for a picnic. It's light(about 1 lb.) and simple to store, unlike bulky charcoal. It's also a much more eco-friendly option compared to both lighter fluid as well as charcoal. Staying aflame for around 40 minutes, you can cook quite a feast with the FlameDisk.
The FlameDisk retails for $3.99, and you can find a retailer near you here.
The FlameDisk will fit any grill, and comes with a money back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied. For more information, visit FlameDisk.com.




 One Hope Wine Collection
During your holiday get-togethers, good food and good wine are often a gathering place for guests. When buying wine for your holiday party this year, I invite you to try the variety of wines One Hope Wine has to offer. When you purchase any of their wines, 50% of One Hope Wine's profits will go to charities for a variety of causes. Enjoy a great holiday feast while giving back to charity. Each variety donates to a specific cause.

You can purchase OneHope wines online individually or in a boxed gift set for $120.00 for 5. You can also join the Hope Wine Club. If you drink wine often, the wine club will offer the best savings.








Clarisonic Mia
Clarisonic offers a gentle, effective way to clean skin without harsh chemicals. It leaves your skin feeling clean and fresh. Some products I've tried like this are to hard on my skin and leave my face feeling raw and puffy. Clarisonic is quick and fast, just what a busy mom needs. And, it does the job!
 Clarisonic Limited Edition Plus is available at Clarisonic.com for $250.


Benefits:
  • 6X more makeup removal
  • Skin is soft and smooth
  • Cleanses so well that products absorb better
  • Gentle for use twice daily
  • Reduces oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes
  • Reduces the appearance of visible pores
  • Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles 


Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms Cookbook
Browsing through the book, you'll find a wide variety of meals, snacks, and desserts to satisfy any appetite. She's included everything you'll need to make a great homemade meal in a jiffy for any time-Appetizers,Breakfast and Brunch,Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Soups and Desserts.The key in Make Ahead Meals is making your dish in steps. Often you'll make the dish the day before, and come home and just stick it in the oven. Simple, right? Along with make-ahead meals, in her book, Jane also shares her favorite dessert, appetizer and side-dish recipes, as well as helpful tips, like, make-ahead tips for the holidays, freezing, must-have items for freezing, and many more useful cooking tips for making recipes ahead.

Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms was published August 29, 2009, by Outskirts Press and is available as an e-book from http://www.makeaheadmealsforbusymoms.com or as a $17.95 paperback from Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and at http://www.outskirtspress.commakeaheadmealsforbusymoms.com.



                                                                          Anti Monkey Butt Powder

Anti Monkey Butt Powder is specially formulated to absorb excess sweat and reduce frictional skin irritation. It is Ideal for butt busting activities such as truck driving, motorcycling, bicycling, horse back riding, and extreme sports. May also be applied inside footwear, under sports pads, and other areas prone to chafing. Indoors or outdoors, work or play, or on occasions when you sit on your butt all day, don’t let your buns get red, use Anti Monkey Butt Powder instead!
here's also one for the ladies available as well. You can purchase Anti-Monkey Butt online for $5.95 for one 6 oz. bottle for either men or women's booty powder.

You can also purchase Anti-Monkey Butt Powder at the following locations:


 Pearl Paradise Jewelry


PearlParadise.com is the world's largest online pearl company that offers high-quality genuine pearls at affordable rate for everyone. The pearls you will find are the same as the ones in your local jewelry store, but for half the price. These pearls will make the perfect present for your wife this Christmas, and won't break the bank. Get her what she WANTS!

Pearl Paradise offers a wide variety of jewelry from the Akoya pearls, which I chose, to the more exotic Tahitian and South Sea varieties. The company has worked hard to grow into the multi-million dollar online store it is today. It's reputation is recognized by the Better Business Bureau, so you have no worries in buying a fake. When you get your pearls, you'll also receive a certified appraisal to guarantee your purchase.

READ MORE

Holiday Gift Guide- Board Games


The New Jenga Max
2-6 players
ARV: $18.99
The new and updated Jenga game is nothing like the one we are used to playing! The challenge is to hook or hang the blocks onto each other without toppling the tower.
Includes 36 Jenga blocks, base, ring, insert and rules. Ring contains a magnet.near you.






Pictureka
2 or more players
  All kids love a game of hide-and-seek! In this game, it's a mad dash to find the objects first. Collect enough cards, and you win the game!


  Pictureka also has some new twists to the classic out this season- Pictureka Flipper and Pictureka Card Game, which would make for a great stocking stuffer.


  Picktureka Flipper is just like the original, except you have a cute little penguin spinning and flipping cards out.















SORRY! Spongebob Squarepants Edition
Age: 6 and up
Price: $19.99


SpongeBob SquarePants fans will love this game of sweet revenge. Draw cards to move pawns or steal them from opponents. A game of chasing and racing, the first player to make it from Start back home to Bikini Bottom wins!











Candyland Sweet Celebration Game
$19.99
Experience the adventure like never before in this three-dimensionsal Candy Land game. Control the length of your game, build and customize your path and discover new places and friends. King Kandy is hosting a grand celebration and everyone's invited to his castle. But first, you need to travel the rainbow path and collect a few treats to bring with you. Along the way, you'll encounter new friends like Captain Kidd Cone, and travel to new locations like Ice Cream Harbor. Watch out for that tricky Lord Licorice. He'll try to block your path. The first to reach the castle with all their treats wins!







OPERATION Spongebob Edition
Age: 6 and up
Price: $19.99


Calling all surgeons! SpongeBob SquarePants is trapped in Plankton’s lab and needs your help. Use a steady hand to remove the patient’s Barnacle Brain, Patty Pleasure Center and Clammy
Hands. If the buzzer sounds, SpongeBob SquarePants will be forced to reveal the secret Krabby Patty recipe!





Cirkis from Winning Moves
ARV:$25.95
Winning Moves provides a variety of games for all ages, that make you use your noggin. We recently spent one of our family game nights playing Cirkis. Cirkis requires you to complete circles and stars on the eye-catching game board to score, get free turns, and ultimately win.














Too Many Monkeys from Game Wright

  • Ages 6 and up
  • 2 to 6 players
  • Playing time: 15 minutes






Primo the Monkey was fast asleep until his friends swung by for a surprise pajama party! Help Primo chase away the primate pranksters by flipping and swapping cards in numerical order. Watch out for elephants and giraffes who want to crash in on the fun. And if you're lucky, draw a wild monkey card to clear out the room in one clean sweep! The first player to stop the monkey mayhem and get Primo back to bed wins.







100 Really Dumb Things
Retail Price: $14.99
In 100 Really Dumb Things™ YOU have to DO while PLAYING this game, players will do some ridiculous things while laughing uncontrollably at each other. Players might draw cards that tell them to salute the nearest wall, do the Chicken Dance around the room and meow like a cat while wearing a cat nose. Other cards set off chain reactions among players. Your actions might cause players to tap their heels together and say 'There's no place like home,' do a hula dance using a tambourine, pretend to jump rope or hiss like a snake. One dumb thing definitley leads to another in this zany game of craziness!

Available at PatchProducts.com.

READ MORE

Holiday Gift Guide- Boys


Uberstix Uberpult
Retail Price: $24.99
Kids can now build a functional catapult and learn the physics that make launching objects through the air possible. The catapult itself only requires 90 of the kit’s 181 pieces, leaving plenty of extra pieces to upgrade and explore new design options. As part of our Science Project Series™, this kit includes a Lab Sheet to test and record a series of suggested experiments.

Available at PatchProducts.com.





 
Nerf Pocket Vortex
 (Retail Price: $3.99)



These awesome footballs take your game to the next level with a special-designed tail to send the ball the ultimate distance. The mini version of the classic Vortex is perfect for a pickup game with friends, featuring the same three-fin tail and NFL styling as the NERF NFL Vortex Howler football. These will fit nicely in your child's stocking! (hint hint) :)








Nerf Mega Howler
  (Retail Price: $9.99)
Allowing for ultimate performance, a three-fin tail provides long distance aerodynamics and finger grips help you get a solid grasp on your game. As you watch your pass sail through the air, the cool whistling sound will let everyone know your team is on its way to a touchdown.










KNEX Building Kits

KNEX building kits can be great for any age. The multi-building sets are great for my boys, who are 5 and 7, to create vehicles. Allie adores her Elmo Ice Cream truck which are for preschoolers and toddlers.










PlayDoh Burger Builder Kit
$14.99
Cook up something extra special with this fun PLAY-DOH set and its tons of burger-building accessories! Mold pretend "burger patties", "onions", "lettuce", "pickles" and more, press out "fries" and then use your special TWIST-A-CHIP tool to crank out the coolest pretend potato chips you could possibly serve up! · Super-fun PLAY-DOH set lets kids press, mold, twist and "cook up" a "burger" and "chips" meal that looks almost good enough to "eat"!






Kaskey Kids Sports Action Figures
Kaskey Kids has sports figures in Hockey, Football, Baseball, and Soccer. I love the College Football set since we're big Longhorns fans in our house.
Each set includes:
Set includes: 26 2" players, 1 referee, 2 goalposts, 24"x 48" washable felt field, 10"x 6"x 5" stackable container with attached lid and handle.

READ MORE
 
Strosgirls Blog Designs