What are your kids doing this summer?

As you know I am headed out of town next week with our daughter on a review trip and cannot wait to share all this stuff with you when I get back.  But other people are asking me well what about the boys.  Well the answer is simple , they are gone with their grandmother out of town right now to Niagara Falls, African Lion Safari and Marine Land all of which they were super excited to be doing.

Then of course I go next week and then later on this summer we will head about 2 hours from here to visit Mackinac City and Mackinac Island.  While on Mackinac Island I really want to take my kids to Fort Mackinac, it is a historic fort built back in the late 18th century and while it was not actually a part of the Civil War they do  great Civil War Battlefields re-enactments which I know the boys will be ecstatic to see.  I think that this will be very educational for my boys and I am all about them learning even during the summer months and yes even while we are on vacation I just tend to be sneakier this way.  When I was a kid I had the pleasure of going and viewing all this and now I get to bring my own kids and share it with them but more then that I will get to share it with you all.

So tell me what are your plans for the summer?  Will you take your kids some place historic?  Do you talk about the Civil War with your kids and are they interested in all the details you have to share?  Did you have family perhaps in one of the wars that the kids are able to proudly speak of?

Sesame Street – Save the Earth and Being Green reviews

Maddisyn is a major Sesame Street fan, she loves Elmo the most which of course most kids nowadays do.  When I was given the opportunity to work with and review Sesame Street DVDs with Maddisyn of course I said yes, and to be quite honest Holden likes to watch some tv now and then and these really caught his eye.  Now the big thing with both these DVDs is the theme in them, Love the Earth and Being Green.  Both are things I try very hard to instill in my children daily.  We recycle, we watch how much water and electricity we use.  My kids love to camp and our big thing when we take them we remind them (although now they say it before we do) when in nature we “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing behind but footprints”.

Love the Earth is the perfect example of this.  In this movie Elmo, Zoe and Baby Bear are in a national park looking for a special bird, the Blue-Feathered Swallowing Swallow so that they can earn their bird watching badges (that reminded Maddisyn of Chase and Blake earning their scouting badges).  Hunting for the swallow also gives them the opportunity to see the beautiful things nature has to offer and they learn about how they can help keep nature so beautiful by putting trash where it belongs, recycling, reusing things and saving water.  This movie was 45 minutes long and Maddisyn sat and watched the entire thing through with no problems at all.  I wanted to watch it with her but of course I have four kids and was insane to think that would happen haha.  I would have to say though that if this movie held the attention of my soon to be 3 year old and my 14 month old then I have to give it two thumbs way up!!!

Being Green is another great movie with of course you guess it ELMO!!!  Alongside Elmo is another favorite in our household Abby and she gets to go along on this great adventure with Elmo.  While playing hide and seek Elmo and Abby find a telethon, The Earthathon!, being held right on Sesame Street by host Mr. Earth.  Telly, Rosita, and Cookie Monster answer phone calls from children calling in with pledges to reduce, reuse, recycle, not financial donations, but promises to make the world a better place.  Maddisyns favorite part int his one was when Elmo was accidentally turned green by Abby when she tries to use her magic.  Another 2 thumbs up.

Sometimes as a parent no matter how hard we try instilling that message into our young children is hard but with the help of these DVD’s I think that Maddisyn is finally understanding it a little better and she is all about helping me rinse out our used cans and taking the cardboard to the recycling bins.

For these and other great movies and Sesame Street I highly recommend you check out the Sesame Street Store.

girltrunks Review

Ugh it is that time of year again swimsuit season, summer June, notice I crossed out summer here, yeah that is because here right now summer is the most inappropriate word, it has been FREEZING so far, but I know it is going to warm up and then I am going to whine because I am so hot, see how I am haha it drives Lee insane.  Anyways back to my reason for this post.  A while back I discovered a great company called girltrunks.  How awesome was this idea, as a mother I love to take my kids to the beach or the pool and be able to comfortably play with them.  By comfortably I mean my chest is not hanging out and I am not picking wedgies from a swimsuit that seems to want to ride up more then anything else.

We got one warm day this season so far and I took advantage of it and took the kids out to the beach to play, I grabbed my same old swimsuit out of the closet and then realized, hey wait I can finally wear my new Girl Trunks swimsuit, get my info for review and surely this will be better then the swimsuit.  Now I will be the first to admit I have never been able to get comfortable wearing shorts swimming, I freak out and just don’t like the feel or the weight so I was a bit apprehensive about the actual swimming part with them on but I knew that there was no way I was going to change with all the kids there it just was not a feasible thought so I made myself suck it up, put it on and out the door we went.

When we go to the beach we have a routine swim first, then eat, then swim more, then play in the sand while we dry off before the car ride home.  So we got there, I got everyone settled in, put up chairs, got out the coolers etc etc etc.  You moms all know what I am talking about with all the gear, toys and food.  Then it was time the kids wanted to go swimming which meant mommy was going to go swimming whether I liked it or not.  So I got in the water prepared for the panic to wash over me as soon as those shorts got wet, but you know what it never happened.  They were not bad at all, nothing like swimming in a normal pair of shorts that is for sure.  My kids asked when we were getting in the water if I was OK, I guess I was just that tense haha but once the shorts were wet, I realized I was being a freak over nothing and all was well in the world we were all able to relax, swim around, throw a ball and Frisbee and wrestle in the water, all without me once having to tug my bottoms down or being worried I was a bit too exposed when I was getting out of the water.  We were able to sit and eat and play in the sand and the shorts dried so quickly that I was able to wear them home in the car no problems and was very dry and comfortable the ride home nothing like wearing a cold sticky swimsuit.

girltrunks are available in two different lengths, one called meet me in the middle which are about mid-thigh length and the other is called Long on Short which is about knee length.  I got the Meet Me in the Middle Shorts.  I got mine a size bigger then I normally wear and found they are a bit too tight on me but that is ok because I am going on a sumo diet very soon so they will fit perfectly before I know it.  The shorts come in sizes 4-24 (finally something comfortable for us plus size gals) and cost $79.00.

girltrunks also carries tops in either Halter tops or Tank top styles and comes in two adorable patterns Dots or Black and White.  I chose the Dots Halter top because I liked the bright colors and did not want to look terrible which I know i would have in the latter since I tried on swimsuits like that at home here and looked just not right.  The top is very comfortable, covers me well and I do not worry about the “girls” making a surprise appearance which is my worst nightmare haha.  The tops too come in sizes 4-24 and cost $59.00.

I wanted to get pictures of me wearing the swimsuit before I put this post up but since the weather is being so darn uncooperative I had to use the pictures off the website, but not to worry the next warm day we get I will put it on and post pics just for you all to see I promise.

Weekly Linky 06/28-07/04

Please enter your giveaways in the following format to make it easier for people to read
BLOG NAME – SPONSOR/PRIZE (ENDING DATE)
Example : Jabbering Jessi – Strider Bike (01/24)

Parents Try To Sell Their Baby At Walmart

What are people in this world thinking nowadays.  Who tries to sell their child nevermind sell it from the local walmart.  I am sad for this child, six months old and the parents clearly do not care enough about her to deserve to keep and receive her love.  $25.00 was the price tag on the baby, that just makes me sick maybe because my children are my world and I cannot imagine not having them.  Child endangerment is what they were charged with, I think the baby should be taken away and the parents steralized.

Why were they selling the child for $25.00 you ask?  Well since they are thought to have been under the influence of Meth at the time CPS went to their home I am going to assume it was for a fix.  What is even worse is that the mother admits to breastfeeding while under the influence.  Please let this baby be alright, loved and raised right.

“Shrek-tacular Savings” Giveaway

General Mills is celebrating the May 21st release of Shrek Forever After, the final chapter of the Shrek films. Look for Shrek-tacular savings in the grocery store on your favorite General Mills brands like Go-GURT, Pillsbury, Fruit Roll-Ups, Bisquick, Green Giant and more. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for specially-marked packages of Big G cereals, in which you can find collectible water squirters and markers, which are shaped like your favorite Shrek characters.

To save even more green, visit www.everydaysaver.com/events/shrek to download coupons today. While you´re there you and your little prince or princess can get in the mood to see Shrek Forever After by taking a peek at the movie trailer.

We received a great prize pack from my blog spark that contained a “Shrek-tacular Savings” prize pack that includes a Shrek-tacular tote bag filled with participating products including Big G cereals, Fruit Roll-Ups Minis snacks and Betty Crocker Brownie Mix .

I took my kids to see the Shrek Forever after and they absolutely loved it, what a great movie.  But what they loved most out of this deal was the treats.  They are kids after all and they devoured those mini fruit rollups like nobodys business only sharing one with me because I claimed I needed to “taste” it for my review bahahaha.

~WIN IT~
This giveaway prize pack includes: A Shrek-tacular tote bag filled with participating products including Big G cereals, Fruit Roll-Ups Minis snacks and Betty Crocker Brownie Mix or Muffin Mix. The prize pack will also include a $10 Shrek-tacular Savings coupon book with fun Shrek trivia, a Shrek water squirter, a Shrek highlighter and a $25 gift card that you can use to purchase tickets to see the new Shrek Forever After film.

~TO ENTER~
Tell me who your favorite Shrek character is AND what is your favorite General Mills product.

~BONUS ENTRIES~
Please make sure to leave seperate entries for each thing, if it says you get 5 entries please leave 5 comments.

Invisalign Teen sweepstakes for Teen Choice Awards

Invisalign Teen recently launched a sweepstakes where the winner will receive a VIP trip for 4 to the Teen Choice Awards 2010.

The grand prize includes:
* Trip for 4 to attend Teen Choice 2010, including air, hotel, and transportation * 4 Post-Show VIP Party Tickets * 2 Flip Cameras

Runner up prizes include an iPad, laptop, surfboard, and iPods. Entry page: http://www.invisalign.com/teen

You can enter the sweepstakes until July 11th.

Losing my mind, tired of whiney people

I feel like I am losing my mind.  I am constantly exhausted, I have a super short fuse and everything around me annoys the crap out of me.  To top it all off Maddisyn is getting into the stage where she thinks screaming, throwing fits and telling me no is ok and I will do nothing to stop her.  Not to mention she is constantly putting her fingers in her mouth now which in my opinion is a disgusting habit that should be stopped at a young age.  Who wants their child to touch stuff and then put their fingers in their mouth all full of germs or even worse to put their fingers in their mouth get them all full of their own germs and sickness and then touch stuff that other people/children have to handle.  This is something that annoys me to no end, any advice on how to break her?  She just started this a couple of weeks ago and ugh it has to stop before I stop taking her to our local Parent and Family Literacy Center because I am so over the germs.

I am just so cranky lately I hate being around people because I am afraid I am going to say something really terrible but probably truthful that they need to hear.

The highlight of everything lately has been that Maddiysn started Gymnastics on Tuesday and she absolutely LOVED it and I cannot wait to bring her next Tuesday.  She may miss one class on the day we are due to drive home from Chicago depending on what time we get out of there and what time we make it home, that is if I don’t decide just to come home early, just playing the trip by ear at thsi point, will see how Maddy does, how much I miss Holden, Chase, Blake and Lee and of course how much Carley and her friend annoy me.

I am trying not to complain but I am just tired of everyone around me complaining about the stupid choices they made and how their husband/wife is stupid, they are so depressed they need medication but do nothing to change the conditions which make them that way, their kids are sick but again they do nothing to change/prevent it.  I really need this Chicago trip, I need to get away before I really lose my mind.

Thanks all for listening to my ranting and raving for the day, sometimes I just need a chance to get it out too.

GM Canada and Jabbering Jessi

I am very excited to tell you that I get the very high honor of reviewing the Chevy Equinox during my trip to Chicago and cannot wait to share with you all the details and my personal opinion of the car.  I am not sure which features it will come with but I cannot wait to spend some time discovering it.  I have heard that it is a very comfortable ride which would be great since we will be in the car for over 8 hours to drive there.

Little Tikes Spray and Rescue Winner

We have a winner of the Little Tikes Contest.  I have sent her an email, she has 24 hours to respond before I choose a new winner.

Next Page »