A Giveaway Especially From Me

I'm not sure if I mentioned it before but one of my favorite pastimes (when I have time to pass) is jewelry making. A couple of years ago I said up an Etsy shop called Beaded Bling. I've recently relisted some jewelry pieces and am about to add a bunch more. Did you happen to notice my mini shop in my sidebar? In the spirit of Christmas giving I've decided to give one lucky reader a $25.00 gift certificate to Beaded Bling.

Here is how you can enter into my drawing. Just check out Beaded Bling then come back here and tell me which piece is your favorite.

Remember to leave me a way to get in touch with you in case you win.

This giveaway ends next Wednesday, December 17th.

Get a second entry by blogging about this giveaway, with a link back to my post and a comment letting me know you blogged about it.

Good luck to everyone!

Sooooooooo Embarassing But What The Heck

Okay so let me start by saying if you are at all easily embarrassed, super conservative or under 18 please do not read this post. There is no explicit content in this post but it does discuss some adult topics.
On the other hand if you are easy going, don't shy away easily or need a really good laugh by all means read on!
A couple of weeks ago while out with some friends we got involved in a very adult conversation. During this conversation the couple that we were with Highly recommended a certain toy that they use in the bedroom. My hubby thought he would surprise me with this toy as an early Christmas present. He didn't however present it to me in person when we were alone. He sent it to the house via UPS. Assuming that it was a product for a giveaway or review on my blog I opened the box in front of my mother. Luckily I read the packing slip before unwrapping the white plastic bag around it (something I never d0). I quickly explained that it was a Christmas present for Madison from family in Colorado and I would show it to her later. As far as I know she bought my little white lie. I was seriously seconds away from being more mortified than any other embarrassing moment in my life. If my mom had seen it I'm sure she would have laughed and rolled her eyes but still some things are better kept unknown. All I can say is thank goodness it is almost Christmas and if my hubby thinks there will be any playtime tonight he has got another thing coming!

More Kiddy Tunes

We recently received another new cd for the kiddos and love it! Baby Loves Salsa produced by Aaron "Luis" Levinson and "features some of the biggest and brightest stars in contemporary salsa music including band leader and singer Jose Conde. It is the story of a group of kittens and puppies (gattitos y perritos) from the streets of new york city who go on to become the best salsa band in the land." Madison took instantly to this cd and "Bailar Rapido" has quickly become her new favorite song. I love that she has begun to sing along in Spanish even though her Spanish vocabulary is limited at this point. I am sure this is a sign of bigger and better things to come. We also love to read the board book that came with the cd. It is about a gato(cat) named Otis who lives in Nueva York (new York). He makes a special salsa for his birthday in Central Park which turns out to be a salsa band. Not only is the story entertaining and educational its illustrations are also brightly colored which even gets Stella's attention. This cd and board book set has been a hit all around! Make sure to check out Baby Loves Salsa's website where you can sample some of the songs from the cd.

25 Christmas Things About Me

Ok I stole borrowed this from Lori at Teacher Turned Mommy Not As Easy As It Sounds.Please excuse any typos 'cause I'm holding an overtired, cranky, squirmy baby as I do it!





Welcome to the Holiday edition of 25 Things About Me.


Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire post and paste into a new post. Then change all the answers so that they apply to you.





1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? gift wrap. Ours must always be different from Santa's
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. I grew up with artificials but Justin insists on a real one every year. Pretty but VERY
3. When do you put up the tree? The week after Christmas
4. When do you take the tree down? New Year's Day but last year it came down December 19th before we went to Colorado. Very depressing taking down a tree before Christmas!
5. Do you like eggnog? Yum! But never drink it 'cause I think it is about the most fattening thing in the world
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch Kid. I waited a whole year for it. My parents couldn't find one the first Christmas so my Mom made me a fake one. My mom is seriously awesome
7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad and my father in law
8. Easiest person to buy for? Kids. I love buying them toys and clothes
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, Willow Tree. My parents buy me a new piece to the scene every year.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail. I love getting Christmas Cards to open!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A fish pillow wrapped in a super market type wrapping to look like a real fish. Just 'cause my hubby likes to fish doesn't mean that is the decor in our house!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's A Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? If I see something interesting throughout the year I'll pick it up but usually in October and I'm done by Black Friday so I can enjoy the holidays without the stress of shopping. Didn't work this year.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas cookies
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, colored this year. we're crazy like that
17. Favorite Christmas Song? Santa baby
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Grandparent in laws on Christmas Eve and my parents Christmas Day. Last year was Colorado
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dancer, Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid Donder and Blitzen... oh yeah and Rudolph I just copied Lori's
l20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Grandparent in laws Christmas Eve, ours and parents' Christmas morning and in laws a few days later.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? trying to do more than any one person can
23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? My Swarovski collection that was started when I first dated Justin but the tree fell over last year and broke most of them. This is the only time I have cried over a possession
24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? Prime Rib
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Not exchanging gifts this year 'cause we are saving for Disney but I would love a DSLR or a Wii

Sleep, Sleep, Why won't you sleep? and my giveaway winner!

It is official Madison has her first major stomach virus! She is nearly 4 years old and has a few rounds of diarrea but this is the first one paired up with major vomitting. I know nice mom for sharing that with your kid! She already seems to be doing better this morning and through the whole thing keeps insisting she wants to eat in between barf trips to the bathroom. It also hasn't stopped your amped up, count down to Christmas, warp speed, bounce off the walls attitude that has appeared since Thanksgiving.

In the meantime Stella has decided that there is something she definately doesn't like and that is SLEEP! The child simply won't do it. We lay her in her crib and she screams until she throws up and starts choking, we hold her until she falls asleep and the second we lay her anywhere including the swing her eyes pop open. She then stares at us with a look that screams "You didn't seriously think this would work?". She has also stopped sleeping through the night. Up until this whole sleep boycot thing started 4 days ago she would go sown around 9:00 and sleep through until 6/7 am. Not anymore! Now it takes until about 11 to get her down, she is up by 2 for several hours and than it is anything goes from there!

I've been blaming her teeth because she is sooooooooo close to cutting the first two. I really thought they would have been there for Thanksgiving. The only thing that makes me question this beleif is that she is rarely fussy! When she wakes up she just smiles and coos and wants to play. It is me that seems to be throwing the temper tantrums and having meltdowns. Like everything else I know we will get through this lack of sleep thing. Madison did it too. I think it was around the time she was teething but I can't really remember. In the meantime I'm just slightly cranky and would love any tips that anyone can think up for us to try. I'm positive that if I let her snuggle into our bed she would have no problems but I've got to tell you that is not an option! We just got our bed back from Madison and I'm not about to give it up again. Besides I don't feel comfortable with someone so tiny sleeping in our bed yet. There is also a really good chance Madison will find her way into our bed in the middle of the night and not knowing Stella is there hurt her.

Anyway now onto more important news. No I didn't forget about my Keurig Platinum Brewer giveaway. I was just a little overwhelmed yesterday. Congratulations to Jim! He was randomly selected (name out of hat) to win this awesome prize! I know you'll love it and it may even become your favorite kitchen appliance like mine has recently become to me!

Wordless Wednesday

There is only how many shopping days left?

Yes, I am Still Here

Nope I didn't hang up my blogging towel and head off to some tropical, Carribean Island. I was lucky enough to have my sweet students share a very nasty stomach bug with me just in time to end my Thanksgiving break! Luckily I didn't get sick until the weekend was almost over so I still got to enjoy all of the fun plans we had!

Thanksgiving was great. This was our fifth year having my family and in-laws to our house. We had a nice time and dinner was delicious (if I do say so myself) but we are thinking of changing up the plans next year. Possibly volunteering at a soup kitchen that our favorite restaurant runs or going to the city to see the parade. We'll see what happens.



Yes, I was one of those crazy ladies who got up at 3:30 and waited online at Toys 'R Us for an hour on black Friday. I was in and out within 15 minutes and had everything on my list. Then I went on to Target where I was also in and out in 15 minutes. Then I made the mistake of going to Wally World. I don;t know why I did it. This store seriously aggravates me on a regular day so why in the world would I decide to go there on black Friday? After finding the 2 gifts that I wanted to pick up I got on one of about 25 crazy check out lines that wrapped throughout the store. I kept watching the clock and making deals with myself like if I don't make it to a clothes rack 15 feet ahead of me in the next 5 minutes I'll leave. Well I never left and after an hour on line I did check out with both gifts in hand. Hard part is over right? Wrong!!! It took another 45 minutes just to get out of the parking lot! What the heck was I thinking? No toys are that important.



Next year I'll definatly hit up a few stores first thing again because there are really great bargains to be had. I think the key to not turning into a stressed out crazy woman is to know what you are going in for, get in and get out. Most importantly don't make any extra stops!



Justin and I also went to this awesome little restaurant that my brother and future sister-in-law have been raving about. Their recommendations really did no justice to this restaurant. if you live near NJ or are visiting you need to check out Bistro Ole in Asbury. It is a Spanish/Latin Infusion restaurant where one dish is more amazing than the next. I had their signature Sea Bass dish and it was AMAZING! It is a BYOB which we are all about these days 'cause I would much rather spend a little more on great food than have half our bill go towards whatever we drink. The cool thing about this restaurant is that if you bring your own wine they will make sangria for you. Let's just say that it was my first drink in a long time and I did not stop at one, two or three glasses! Saturday was painful to say the least.

That was pretty much our holiday weekend. Too bad it ended with me being sick. If you haven't done so yet don't forget to enter my giveaway for a Keurig Platinum Brewer. Today is the last day to enter! Good luck to everyone!