The Very Best of Neil Diamond...SO GOOD, SO GOOD, SO GOOD

How many of you have been at a wedding and heard the first few notes of "Sweet Caroline" and instantly perked up, knowing what was coming next?  I remember that one song being played at my friend Jamie's wedding, a few years ago.  I can't tell you a single other song that was sung, but I know THAT one was.

Or maybe you are flipping channels and you accidentally land on the "soft rock" station and hear the smooth voice of Neil singing "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" and instead of continuing your channel searching, you stop and listen, loving every second of it?
I remember my mom and dad attending a Neil Diamond concert when I was young, maybe five.  We lived in Utah.  I thought that was by far the coolest thing they could have done.

I still think concerts are the coolest thing to do, lol...and wish Neil Diamond was coming closer to Omaha (or Louisiana so my parents could go again!)

Neil Diamond was in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...anybody get to see him?  We did!  It's funny how some singers stay classic and loved pretty much forever, and ND is one of those voices.  He's had 16 top ten albums and 37 top ten singles...not too shabby.  He was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame this year!

Neil will release his new c.d. "The Very Best of Neil Diamond" on December 6th...and it really is his best hits!  Considering he's been singing and writing songs since the 1960's, he's really achieved a great track record.  (get it, "track" record.. ;) )

Check out this playlist:

1. Forever In Blue Jeans

2. Beautiful Noise

3. Love On The Rocks

4. Cherry, Cherry

5. I Am…I Said

6. Sweet Caroline

7. Cracklin’ Rosie

8. Play Me

9. I’m A Believer

10. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon

11. Holly Holy

12. Solitary Man

13. Song Sung Blue

14. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers

15. Hello Again

16. Red, Red Wine

17. If You Know What I Mean

18. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show

19. Pretty Amazing Grace

20. Kentucky Woman

21. Shilo

22. America

23. Hell Yeah

Not a song on there that I don't love!  I am so excited to get a copy of my very own, thanks to Sony Music.

You can win a copy, too!

All you have to do is leave a comment with your very favorite Neil Diamond song.

Extra entries: 

1. Visit his website and tell me the closest concert coming your way.
2. Leave a comment telling me of a memory you have involving Neil Diamond.  You know you have one!
3. Follow @neildiamond on twitter
4. Follow me on facebook.  Leave a comment telling me you are there from this giveaway.

Contest runs through December 9th.  Winner will be notified via email and has 72 hours to claim the prize before we draw a second name.  Winner to be chosen via random.org

The title on this picture just made me giggle :)

I was not paid to write this review.  These are my own thoughts and feelings and I am so happy to get to share them with you!

Cricut Cake Class & how YOU can EASILY win a $25 gift card to Target! (even if you never decorate a cake in your life)

So, some of you may have heard of the Cricut Cake machine. Or you might be using your Cricut Expressions to cut gum paste for cake decorating.
Or, maybe you got crafty and are using your Silhouette or Gazelle to do the same thing!
Well, if that is you, have I got a class for you! Linda McClure is teaching some amazing Cricut Cake classes on her techniques. It's very hands on, and explained in away that even novice's can handle. At the end of Linda's class you will have learned many skills to use to decorate beautiful cakes.
There is also an intense two day class for those wanting even more...this class is one not to be missed for those serious about their machine and cakes!Linda provides everything you need, computers, machines, gum paste, even a fabulous instruction manual with the two day class. Contact creativedesignsclass@deseretdesigns.com to sign up today.
***********************************************************************

Help me spread the word about these fab classes and you could win a $25 gift card to Target.

The website is creativedesignsclasses.com and we want YOU to post this site everywhere, including the keywords: Cricut Cake Class ! (Both the keywords AND link must be posted)

Post on a blog (hey, even copy and paste what I just wrote!) about it, include the link on twitter (make sure to @jessremington so I know you did it), facebook, myspace, any forum you belong to, etc. All you have to do is a leave a comment here (include your name/email if you don't have an account) including a link to the post/mention and you are entered!

Tweet about it up to 5 times a day (at least one hour between tweets please!), post on any facebook page (even the Cricut Cakes fan page if you want!) up to 4 times a day, and blog about it as often as you desire, even if it is a link at the end of a post about something totally different. Just make sure to leave a comment including a link to your post to be entered to win!

Sample Tweet:

Go to creativedesignsclasses.com to see a schedule of cricut cake classes! @jessremington #cricut #cricutcake

You don't have to even have the desire to decorate a cake and you don't even have to know what a Cricut is. Just post a link to creativedesignsclasses.com and you are set!

Thanks...contest ends May 15, the day of her first two day class!

Eleven Shoes...Review AND Giveaway, ends March 31

Updated: Please do not do your tweets less then 20 minutes apart. I love that you are so excited to tweet about the contest, but 4 times in a row doesn't help spread the love quite so much as spreading the timing out. Thanks!

CLOSED! Marie won!




Spring has sprung and as we sit and wait for a semi-warm day to allow us to shed our jackets and catch a few rays, we search.

We mothers search for the *perfect* dress or outfit for Easter, the *cutest* basket for the eggs, and of course, the *exact* sandals or dress shoes to complete the outfit.
One site I have found that offers exactly the shoes I am wanting is Eleven. This fall I wanted some brown shoes for Brennan that were dressy enough for church but casual enough to go with jeans and a nice shirt.
Found them at Eleven!

Eleven is a sister company of See Kai Run and offers the perfect shoe for every occasion. They are a family run company and are excited for their great new line.
Shoes are whole sizes 9-3 with flexible, high proportion rubber soles. They have cushioned insoles and easy on/off velcro closures (something that I adore since Brennan STILL has not learned to tie his shoes!).
They are made with all leather uppers (ever seen a pink cow? J/k) and durable soles. I can attest to this because Brennan has worn his at least once or twice a week since November and they STILL look good!
You can even spray them with a water repellent for extra protection...They do not recommend machine washing, which makes sense.


This spring, I was asked to review a pair from their new spring line. Knowing how much I loved the shoes I had bought Brennan this fall, and knowing I wanted to get Jackson a pair of brown leather sandals, I jumped at the chance! They had exactly the shoes I wanted, too!

Now, it's still a wee bit too cold for Jackson to wear sandals and NOT have me arrest for child endangerment, so for now they are sitting in his closet, waiting for that first warm day to come. However, after seeing how well Brennan's shoes have stood the test of time, and how soft they feel, I have a feeling these shoes will be on Jackson's feet way more then they are off.

Do you want to see for yourself how great Eleven shoes are?
Enter to win a pair here! All you need to do is visit Eleven's site and tell me what pair of shoes you'd pick if you were to win! (Open to US and Canada only, shoes are children's sizes 9-3) MUST be done before any extra entries are valid.

Extra Entries (leave a comment for each):

• Follow my blog (google friend on the left...I can't wait to get over the 200 mark...help a blogger sister out!)
  
• Grab my button (leave URL where to find it)
• Follow my blog on FB (see upper left sidebar)
  
• Follow me on twitter (jessremington)
• Tweet about giveaway (can be done up to four times a day, make sure to include a link to giveaway AND @jessremington in it AND leave a comment here.)
• Share what outfit you are searching for the perfect pair of shoes for (or that you did in the past search for)
• Blog about this giveaway (one or two lines, leave a link to post)
• Join Eleven's mailing list (Scout's honor you did it!)
• Suggest a store that you'd like to see carry Eleven (Don't be lame and say WalMart or Target, either...list a real boutique or shop in your area! Also, suggest it both on the website AND in my comments section)
• Order something from my etsy shop. Totally not related to shoes, but hey, it's my blog. For each item ordered, receive 50 extra entries. I really do need to list the rest of the fabrics I have out...just ask and see what I can create for your little dude.

So, good luck! These shoes are so cute that even if you don't win, you should totally go and buy a pair! Or, buy a pair now, win a pair later...if you buy a pair of Eleven shoes between now and March 31, leave a comment for an extra 50 entries!


The views expressed in this post were MINE. I was NOT paid for this post but I did get a great pair of sandals for Jackson once Jack Frost takes a hike. Thanks Eleven!!!

National Cold and Flu Tracker AND a Triaminic Giveaway (48 hrs to enter!)

Has the cold and flu cycle hit your house yet? It has come through mine two time already! There is a great website, full of tips and tools, to help you make good decisions about your child's health and give advice, too!
A Triaminic symptom selector to figure out which medicine would be right for your little one BEFORE you get to the drug store and the five thousand choices out there is on the site and I think it will be my favorite feature. I usually get overwhelmed then overly worried at all the choices out there.

More info about the site:

"Triaminic® has developed two online tools (see below) to help you and your family this cold and flu season.

1) The Sick Day Guidelines, created in partnership with the National Association of School Nurses – Parents know when their kids aren’t feeling 100%. These Guidelines are aimed at helping parents decide when to keep them at home or send them off to school.

2) National Cold & Flu Tracker – This resource provides a weekly data feed of cold & flu symptom trends by region, based on data from SDI Fan® (a source used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Being aware of the activity in your area (or an area that you are traveling) can help you prepare for when cold and flu symptoms appear. For example, Greensboro, Lexington, Knoxville, and Albany have the highest incidence of illness this week."

Go check out the site to print off a coupon to save $1.50 on Triaminic products!

NOW...for the giveaway. This is going to fast, just like cold and flu strikes fast!

The prize pack for the Give-away includes 4 boxes of Triamic Thin Strips, with 14 strips in each package...THREE WINNERS SELECTED!

Entries:

MANDATORY: Go to Triaminic.com site and find out the flu and cold incidence in your area by using "The Tracker"...post results here.

Bonus Entries:

• follow my blog
  
• grab my button
• tweet AND follow me on twitter (jessremington...make sure you @jessremington your tweets about the contest!)
• share an experience of using Triaminic that helped your little one
• share a tip for helping little ones (and big ones, too!) feel better fast when they get a cold or the flu

Winners to be selected using random.org Friday morning so don't delay!!!!

Yo-Baby 3-n-1 Meals, giveaway ends Jan. 12

Ethan is a "healthy" eater...he hasn't met too many foods he doesn't like.
I was asked to review the new Yo-baby 3-N-1 meals from Stonyfield Farm. It was at first hard to find the product in the grocery stores, but since getting the coupons, I've finally started seeing them more often.
What the 3-n-1 yogurt is is a protein-packed yogurt cup, with fruit AND vegetables in one puree! It is all natural and organic, too!
There are three flavors (we tried one of each): Pear & Green Bean, Peach & Squash, and Apple & Sweet Potato. When I went to feed the first one (Pear & Green Bean) to Ethan, Bart started squawking about how I should not feed my son anything I would not eat myself. So, I tentatively took a taste...and was pleasantly surprised. I do not love yogurt (though the boys do) but the flavor was a bit sweet, smooth, and creamy.
Since using the coupons provided for three free cups, I have purchased them two more times. I love that it has fruit and veggies in it...let's just say that veggies don't get their fair share of attention at my house...unless you count corn and peas.

Want to try it for yourself? Enter here to win a Yo baby prize pack...including:
1 Yobaby travel bowl with lid
1 Yobaby organic cotton bib
1 Eric Carle growth chart
3 free Yobaby Meals coupons
I just know your baby or toddler is going to love it...leave a comment here telling me one thing you do to try and enrich your little one's diet. Easy peasy entry, right?

Extra entries:
And of course, leave a separate comment for each...all are worth one entry unless otherwise stated...

• Follow my blog (left sidebar)
• BUY any Stonyfield product and leave a comment here...be honest people!
  
• Grab my button and post it on your blog...leave a link to your site
• Follow me on twitter and tweet about the contest (including me in the tweet) JESSREMINGTON...can be done twice daily (leave comment every time you do)
  
• Follow me on FB (left sidebar...not a super happenin' place to be, but hey, it's there!)

Must be in the U.S....contest ends Jan. 12.

Start To Finish Cake Decorating DVD GIVEAWAY! ENDS Jan. 12

Have you ever tried to decorate a birthday cake for your little one, having great intentions, and wound up at some crummy grocery store with mere seconds to spare, shopping the "bakery" for something, anything, that will work instead?

Well, I have got THE GIVEAWAY for you.
My mom is Linda McClure, and she is a cake decorator. She's created a fantastic way to decorate cakes using a Cricut or any paper cutting system, and she's also marketing a "Start to Finish" DVD, outlining EVERYTHING you need to know to bake the PERFECT cake. Seriously folks. No previous talent or experience is needed. My cakes looked awful before my mom started teaching me, and every single thing she's taught me (plus more I don't even know) is found on this DVD.

She also includes recipe cards for her great cakes. My mom's recipes are simple and some of the BEST I've ever tasted. It's almost worth buying it just for the recipe cards for cake and frosting.

Retails: $34.95 + $3 shipping...think of how much money you've wasted on crappy cakes that taste like cardboard and shortening. For less then $40, you can learn secrets to a great cake, wowing family and friends when they see a cute cake that also tastes great.
Want one for free? Enter my giveaway. There are tons of ways to win...but only one winner.

Mandatory Entry: Visit either of my mom's sites(Deseret Designs and Creative Cakes) and tell me something about a cake you loved, or something about my mom or her DVD's.

BONUS ENTRIES:

And of course, leave a separate comment for each...all are worth one entry unless otherwise stated...

• Follow my blog (left sidebar)
• Grab my button and post it on your blog...leave a link to your site
• Follow me on twitter and tweet about the contest (including me in the tweet) JESSREMINGTON...can be done twice daily (leave comment every time you do)
  
• Follow me on FB (left sidebar...not a super happenin' place to be, but hey, it's there!)
• Buy any of my mother's other DVD's...leave a comment that you did that and I will verify with my parents...at which time you will receive 500 entries per DVD purchased.
• Post a link sharing a "cake wreck" or masterpiece picture that you've made all by yourself.
• Blog about this giveaway (leave a link in the first comment you leave, worth 10 entries) with a link to both this giveaway and my mom's website ( www.creativedesignscakes.com )
  
• Tell me your favorite flavor of cake or tell about your worst cake decorating experience, even if it was not you who made the cake.

This is really and truly the DVD for anyone wanting to try to make the dream cake for their little one all on their own! Contest runs through Jan. 12.

Little Dude Duds...ANOTHER giveaway! Snowman and Reindeer Iron On, CLOSED

Congrats #21, Nicole, for winning.
And thanks Kimberly, who bought 2 and got two free!


"Christmas bells are ringing, hear what they say to you,
BUY LITTLE DUDE DUDS!
ON e.e.e.e.e.tsy...ON e.e.e.e.e.e.e.tsy..."

(not mocking the original song, it just always gets stuck in my head at Christmas time.)

Giveaway: ONE iron on kit to create a snowman AND ONE iron on kit to create your own reindeer. No, these are NOT listed in my esty shop, just something I am doing on my own. ENDS DEC. 5 and will be mailed by Dec. 8.

Entries:

1. Go to Little Dude Duds (MY etsy shop) and see if there is something you like. Leave that in the comment form. If you don't love something (there isn't a ton), tell me one thing I could make/add for BOYS or if you were to order a shirt, what you would want for the color combo/print. MUST be completed first or I'll delete all your entries :)

EXTRA's:

• Blog about this giveaway, including a picture of either iron on. Leave a link in the comments forum.

• Follow me on twitter (jessremington)...tweet however many times a day you want, leaving a comment here every time so I will have those entries saved for you...make sure to @jessremington it so I get a copy. endless entries
  
• Become a Facebook fan (click on the button on the top left)...TWO entries...you got it, leave TWO comments.
  
• Follow MY blog...(button on the left)...leave a comment...or TWO! Up to TWO entries just for following my blog.
• Post about this giveaway on Facebook...no, I probably won't become your FB friend, so we will go on you being honest on this entry. I save FB for FIRL only, even though I do love you all!
• Buy something from Little Dude Duds...get 150 (no lie!) EXTRA entries. I am trying to get a little bit of extra $ for the holidays and would love to accomplish that and share some cute shirts, banners, birthday hats with you at the same time! Order more then one product, get 150 entries PER ORDER!
  
• Order your own snowman or reindeer iron on kit from me. Super easy to finish and simply adorable. I will mail your kit within 24 hours, so you will get it pretty fast. $5 for the kit plus $1.50 for shipping...email me if you want boy or girl (for snowman) and I will post the options for hat colors later (they are soooooo cute...Jackson LOVES his snowman.) theremingtons (at) cox (dot) net. 200 EXTRA entries...cause I can and I have got it all figured out. This will be paid for via paypal.

SO, what are you waiting for? I hear the Christmas bells, and they are all saying "BUY SOMETHING FROM LITTLE DUDE DUDS!" :)

Appliqued Tee Shirt Winner!

In lieu of random.org, I used Bart.com (AKA, my DH) and had him yell out a number...he picked #59 for the winner of the appliqued tee shirt...Sarah!

He picked the # 59 because the Patriots scored 59 points today...in the snow!

Congratulations Sarah, you have 48 hours to contact me or else Bart gets to pick another random number.

And guess what! I've opened an etsy shop for those holiday tees! It'll be for BOYS ONLY during the rest of the year but it'll also be full of holiday applique tees. So head on over to Little Dude Duds (Bart came up with the name, too) and see if you see a fabric you like...I've got about five or ten more Christmas prints to list and I am still searching for the perfect "winter" print, too. Be on the lookout for another giveaway from my shop once I have it all set up and full of stock...right now it only has a few items but I already got my first order...a Mickey Mouse birthday banner to be sent to the Netherlands! Cool, right? Thanks Megan for celebrating my "big sale" with me.

Temple Touch Thermometers (Giveaway ends Oct. 4th)

It's two in the morning.

You were snoozing peacefully when...

"Mom, I don't feel good!" is heard from the other room.

Oh, dear...what could it be?

You go to check and your little one is burning up...he's too upset to be held down and poked under the arm with a thermometer. He's too young to put in his mouth.

What to do?

Well, Mom Select let me review a Temple Touch thermometer and let me tell you...when you are in this situation, you wipe it out, turn it on, wait for the two beeps, then gently place it on your little ones temple to see what the news is. It takes less then 20 seconds total...so much better then the way I did it...with the under the arm pin-down for about a minute or so.

I wish we'd had one last year when Jackson had pneumonia (pictured above). We had to watch him like a hawk and take his temperature often. One of these would have made night time checks so much easier.

Bart loves it and is using it tons to take our temperatures...because we all know if we have even a slight fever it means we have the swine flu and will die within the hour. (love you honey)

So...I love mine so much, it makes me want to reverse time so I could use it on all three of my kids as babies, not just Ethan...really it's not just for babies, though...we all tested it out.

Want to win one? You know you do, esp. with cold, flu, and pig season coming up so soon. (If you want to skip the ropes and get right to owning one, just go to Walmart...it's right under ten dollars!)

All you have to do is.

NOTHING.

Well, leave me a comment. It can say anything (nice that is)

Why nothing, you might ask? Because having a sick kid involves too much already and this thermometer is designed to make your life easier.

Want extra entries? I'll give you a ton of options: (As always, leave a separate comment for each item)

-follow my blog
-grab my button
-blog about this giveaway and link back
-follow me on twitter (jessremington)
-tweet about this giveaway (can be daily)
-become a facebook fan of my blog...not sure what that means yet, but hey, you will be ready when i do...just click on the button on the left.
-tell me the worst experience you've had with a sick little one.
-share a tip on how to give a sick little one their medicine.
-give me your opinion of the swine flu...is it worth all the fuss?
-share tips on how you keep yourself and your little ones healthy in the winter
-answer this question: Are you getting the flu shot? What about your kids? What about the swine flu shot? AND WHY?
-for three extra entries (and yes, leave three comments, saying, "See Above" or something) go check out Temple Touch's website and tell me something you learned from it...this can be done every day b/c you learn something knew every day.

Everything that could be done more then once (like the tweeting, sick one experiences, advice on med., tips on staying healthy) can be! So, if you are so wanting this thermometer (no, you can't have MINE, you get your own!) then you can just enter every day to your hearts content.

Now...I hope you all stay healthy and don't ever need to use this.

Posh Papoose Giveaway, ends Sept. 24

l

The Posh Papoose, makers of stylish slings and accessories, is giving away one $25 gift certificate to their online store.

***This contest originally began at the end of July but due to vacations of me and PP, it is reposted for now...Just b/c summer is ending doesn't mean you don't need a sun hat OR stylish baby sling OR blanket, bag, string backpack or onesie or layered long sleeve teeshirt...Posh Papoose has got a lot to offer!***

They let me have one to test out at the beach this summer and all three boys (my two and Jack-Jack) LOVED it...they had to take turns wearing it even. A few people even approached us and asked where we'd gotten such a terrific sun hat. :)

The Posh Papoose handcrafts teeshirts, sun hats, and baby slings (remember how I went on and on about their fabulous sling? SOOOOO glad I got one! I use it at least once or twice a week, esp. while grocery shopping.)

I really liked the reversible sun hat because it has a band of elastic in the back that helped it stay in place, even when the wind was blowing. It also comes in a wide variety of designs and there are sizes for babies on up (even grownups!).

Seeing as I have three children, I've been "testing" out sun hats for years. This one, in my opinion, is the best sun hat because of its really wide brim and the elastic band. I thought that the wide brim did a great job of keeping the sun out of my baby's eyes. The elastic band makes it easy to stay on without needed a strap under the chin, something I liked.

You can win a $25 gift certificate to be used at the Posh Papoose. You just need to check out their site and leave a comment telling me your favorite item (whatever the name is under it..."that cute sun hat" does not count :).

Extra entries: (separate comment for each)

*Follow my blog
*Grab my button
*Follow Posh Papoose on Facebook's Fan Page (This gets you TWO entries, not just one! As soon as I can figure out why FB is not letting me log on, I will check this out)
*If you pinky promise you will do it, share the site "The Posh Papoose" with your favorite local children's boutique to help spread the word! Leave a comment telling us when you did it, along with what store it is.
*Order something from Posh Papoose and leave a comment telling me what it is.
*Blog about this giveaway (and leave a comment linking it here)
*Follow Posh Papoose on Twitter (#poshpapoose)
*Follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/jessremington)
*Tweet about this contest...it could say something like: RT @jessremington Posh Papoose giveaway #poshpapoose http://bit.ly/RfVwY
**Feel free to tweet to me every day if you want...just leave a comment every day to let me know you did it. I've got too much going on to keep notes.**

Keep reading my blog because one day this week I might throw some random way to enter out there and you don't want to miss extra entries!!!

Contest Ends Sept. 24! Entries from the first time this was posted (mine and PP's vacations interrupted that) still count!

Adventures in Cloth Diapering, part 4...wet bag review/giveaway

So, I've mentioned the poopy diaper that was kind of gross but not too bad yet.
What do you do with a diaper once it is dirty? You are supposed to wash the cloth diapers separate from your other laundry, so you can't just throw it in the laundry basket.
You don't want it just hanging out in the baby's room (I tried...it starts to reek.)
So, what to do?
You get a wet bag and toss the dirty diaper in, where it can live until it is time to wash all those cloth beauties.
weeonesbyjajoc let me review one of her medium wet bags. She's got an etsy shop full of cloth diapers, liners, nursing pads, diaper covers, etc, etc. She is a mom's best friend.
I reviewed a medium one and she gave me a small purple one to give away (more on tha tin a minute)

Bart is the one who got to open the wet bag package...I like to open the packages, because it is like Christmas, but alas, I was in Louisiana and not able to. He tells me, "It's some sort of purple bag thingie." I told him to bring it to LA with him so we could use it on our trip. He told me I had brought enough bags but after some convincing about how we could throw our swim suits in it, he threw it in his suitcase.
We went to Florida as soon as Bart got to LA. While there, Brennan got sick with what the pharmacist at WalGreen's called "Travelers Diarhea" Without going into details (b/c the name says enough), he created some dirty undies before we decided to just get the poor boy a pack of pull ups until he felt better. What to do with the dirty undies?
When on vacation you can't just throw them away...you will run out unless you packed way too many (which for once, i did not). So...I pulled out the wet bag and threw them in, zipped it up and put it away. Once we returned to my sister's house, I just threw the bag, unzipped, into the washer and gave them a hot wash. They were good to go and I didn't have to tear open a stinky grocery sack, spend a lot of money on new undies, or embarrass Brennan even more.

Now that we are back home, I have used it for my cloth diapers and it has worked great. I fit about six in and when it is full, I just shake the bag into the wash and they all come out. No touching of dirty diapers required.

So, I have a small wet bag waiting for one lucky reader to win.
To enter you MUST go to weeonesbyjajoc and tell me one item you'd like to order/try. She's even got training pants for potty training!

Extra entries:

Follow my blog.
Grab my butt-on.
Tell me one thing you could do with a wet bag other then put a diaper in it.


Contest ends August 24th...

My babies have Fuzzibunz, Giveaway ends July 21st

Cloth diapering.

Sounds a bit scary, old school, and stinky, right?

WRONG!

Kim at FuzziBunz sent me two cloth diapers to review...one medium and one large.
When the diapers came and I opened the package, Bart said, "Those don't look like any cloth diapers I've ever seen before!" (I wrote it down b/c it was so funny)

Folks, cloth diapers are NOT the prefolds that require pins that hurt you and the baby and need covers. NOPE! They have come a LONG way from the days of white, rectangle, leaky cloths. You'll see...

These diapers fit a wide range of kids, come in a variety of colors (because I am learning CDing is all about the variety of cute on the booties), and are so easy to get a great fit...Four snaps total and you're done. Even wiggly Ethan was easy to diaper in one.

Ethan and Jackson (who is potty trained but refuses to wake up at night so he sleeps in a diaper) have been sleeping in their new diapers and I have had no leaks! This is great because Ethan leaks through a lot of different brands of disposable diapers. Jackson loves how soft the diaper is. (The inside is lined in fleece)

I love the pocket system...just slide the stuffing in after you wash and they are ready for the next stinky change. I also like that they come in both the "one size" for those "average" babies and then the sized ones as well. I have BIG babies, so having a choice is great for me and my chubby cheeks babies.

Fuzzibunz is going one lucky reader a 3 pack of diapers! I am SOOOOO jealous. Really, the diaper bug has bit and now I want all things cloth diaper related. :)


To enter (and this must be done before the gazillion "extra" entries count) simply go to Fuzzibunz and pick your favorite color and tell me what size you'd want. Mine is yellow, but that is just the LSU in me coming out. I love Ethan's orange diaper, too...I mean, so cute. Leave a comment (be sure to include email address if it is not listed your profile) and cross your fingers that you are the WINNER on July 21st (why so far from today? Cause I will be in FL until then!).

Extra Entries: (one comment per entry, cause if you leave one comment with it all, guess what...it counts as one entry.)

*Follow my blog
*Grab my button and put it on your fabulous blog
*sign up for the Fuzzibunz newsletter and leave me a comment (be honest! the bloggy demi-gods are watching, along with Percy Jackson and his dad)
*Blog about this giveaway and link to it in the comments so I can check it out.
*Tweet about the contest and let me know...I do not do twitter, but I know you CD addicts do, so just let me know you did it.
*Find out if there is a store in your area that sells them and tell me which one it is (if there are none, tell me which online store you'd use to order)
*Give me one good reason from Fuzzibunz website to use their diaper as opposed to any other cloth diaper out there.
*Give me one reason why you DO cloth diaper or why you would want to TRY to cloth diaper.
*Go watch Fuzzibunz short video (be honest!) and tell me what it is about.

That's a LOT of ways to win...have fun if you are new to cloth diapering, like me, and are just discovering it all. If you're an old pro at cloth diapering and just addicted to winning more (not that I have any friends with that problem ;) then you know the drill and have probably written a novel on cloth diapering to me in the comment section.

Thanks for entering and for finding out more about Fuzzibunz...watch out...if you haven't caught the cloth diapering bug...by the time I am done with you (or my friend Megan) you just might.

The Best Places to List Giveaways

Here is a list of giveaway sites where you can list yours for free. As you find more, please leave a comment so I can keep this updated. Unless otherwise stated, the site has a Mr. Linky. I personally like Mr. Linky the best because once you enter your contest information at one site, you can just click submit at the other sites because it pulls the same info up.

• Reviews and Giveaways (updated monthly)
  
• Gobs of Giveaways (updated Monday morning)
  
• Prize-a-tron requires you to email the info
  
• A Blog of Goodies
• The Suburban Jungle (Updated Mondays, click the "Link and Win" Page)
  
• Mission Mommy (updated Mondays)
  
• Miss Thrifty (updated on Wednesday)
  
• Thrifty Jinxy has Mr. Linky but you have to search through other posts to find it.
• The Giveaway scroll down to "Click here for even more giveaways"
• Two of a Kind (updated Tuesdays)
  
• Tip Junkie Click on "Giveaways" button, must be ending within 7 days, must be at least $25 value, must create an account
  
• Sweetie Sweeps click on "Blog Giveaways" and fill out the form or email the information
• Blog Giveaways email your information and it will be added in a day or two
• Making Money, Keeping Money
• Mom Giveaways fill out the form
• Prizey become a member
• Blog Contest Station email info
  
• Big List of Giveaways you must register for an account, but it is very fast and easy
• Blog Giveaway Buzz email the information
• Contests 4 Mamas email info
• SAHM Reviews and Helping Mommy's Win have a list of giveaway sites, like this one
• Mom Giveaways has a really long list just like this one of places for giveaways

I am sure there are even MORE sites, but I think between me and the sites at the bottom of the list, we might just have it covered...but if you know of more, please leave a comment so I can update the list.

Custom Smocked Dress Giveaway (size 6-12 months) CLOSED

The top of the dress...white with lavender smocking and seed pearls.

CLOSED: Stacy WON!

My sister, Jeni, has two adorable daughters and has recently begun smocking. She does a lovely job and is making custom designed bishop dresses (which are great because they have a deep hem and can be worn for more then one year). She is selling them for $50, including shipping, which is a steal considering their prices in boutiques and considering the fact that you can possibly wear them for two years. My friend Burgundy's daughters wore their bishop style dresses for two Christmases.
As a way to get her business out there, she is doing a giveaway on my blog! She is giving away one 6-12 month white dress smocked with lavender thread and having seed pearl accents. It is in the process of getting made, and when it is done, I will post a picture. Until then, you can simply leave a comment here saying what your favorite outfit for a kid to wear is, what your favorite blogs to read are (as if I don't have enough already!) or tell me about your day. Don't just put "Pick me" or "I hope I win" because I will delete the post...let's make my life interesting, okay?
Extra entries if you follow my blog (button on bottom left) or follow me on twitter (JessieLeigh1979). (Don't forget to post a separate comment for each thing you do...these only count one time, too, not once per day!). For 100 extra entries, order a dress from Jeni!
You may enter the contest once a day (better start thinking of some great things to tell me!) until the end of the contest, March 28. The winner must contact me by April 1st or you lose and someone else wins. The dress will be mailed out as soon as you contact me so you will have it for Easter. Even if you don't have a little girl it will fit, you might have a friend having a baby and this would make an EXCELLENT shower gift.
To contact Jeni about ordering a dress, simply email me (r-family at hotmail dot com) and I will forward the info on to her so she can get in touch with you.
Good luck!

Cupcake Topper Giveaway

My friend, Lexi, ordered a banner from Whimzy Creations and blogged about it. I instantly fell in love with the Happy Birthday banner and wanted to order one for myself. I haven't yet (still need a color scheme/theme first!), but I did contact Whimzy Creations and ask if she'd like to do a giveaway so I could share her cute designs with my readers.

So...without further ado...I present...MY NEXT GIVEAWAY!

This giveaway is for one set of 12 cupcake toppers (you pick the coloring and the number or initial) All you have to do is go to Whimzy Creations and leave a comment here telling me your favorite banner of hers, or what banner you would custom order from her.

Bonus Entries:
For ONE bonus entry: Become a Follower and/or follow me on Twitter (leave a separate comment for each thing you do, up to two entries) or blog about it (make sure to include link back)
For TEN bonus entries, buy something from her shop (or custom order something!) before the end of the giveaway and send her a message saying you heard about her from this giveaway! Spend $30 or more at her shop and earn TWENTY FIVE bonus entries!

Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you, no blog necessary to win, winner has 48 hours after winner announced to contact me or new winner picked.

Contest ends Feb. 24th at midnight.

Valentine's Week, Day Two: Gratituesday and a GIVE-AWAY! (closed)

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

I followed some links and wound up here, so I decided to do a Gratituesday post as well.

I love that Jackson gives the best hugs in the world...and I esp. love when he chases you around screaming, "HUG! HUG! HUG!" like a monster.

I love Brennan's ability to learn new things. Whether he's reading a new book and sounding out words or trying to figure out a new fun thing to do with snow, he is never discouraged from his task.

I love when Ethan laughs and smiles as I change his diaper. It's like he's saying, "Thanks Mommy, for making me dry and clean."

I love Bart's sense of humor...it might be a tiny bit annoying at times (shower incident of 2000), but he never fails to make me laugh.

I am grateful for my family and the wonderful things they add to my life each and every day.

I also LOVE Bart's Aunt Sue's homemade SOY CANDLES. PawPaw Noah Pierre Falgout made candles in his later years and Aunt Sue has continued the tradition. Here is some information about her to-die-for candles. (I was seriously depressed the last time mine ran out)

Chandelles de Madame Soy Candles have many benefits:

Eco-friendly candles from an American grown, renewable product – soybeans
A natural, non-petroleum alternative to paraffin based waxes
Lead free, carbon neutral & clean burning (virtually soot free)

Soy candles burn much longer than paraffin candles, leaving no residual toxins or waste

So, for one lucky reader, you will get to choose between Black Canyon and Cucumber Melon scents. To be honest, I can't choose which one smells best. Right now I'm burning "Jamaican Me Crazy" and my house smells just Beachy. You have no idea how happy I was when I got this package in the mail.

To win? All you have to do is tell me one thing you are grateful for and why. You can enter once a day. Follow me and leave a separate comment for one additional entry (only one, not one every day for following, got it?). Earn one more entry by following me on Twitter (JessieLeigh1979) or blogging about it. And yep, if you don't leave a separate comment telling me each thing you have done, you just don't get those extra entries.
Contest ends 2/14, VALENTINE'S DAY!

Make sure there is some way to contact you b/c winner has 48 hours to respond to my email and pick the scent.

Oh, and if you don't win this time, stay tuned for a few weeks...I'll be giving the other candle away then.

Becky Sharp Designs GIVEAWAY

CLOSED: Erika: Winner!

I am very excited to announce my first ever BLOG GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

Becky Sharp Designs
is giving away one heart pendant and chain, perfect for
Valentine's Day (it's closer than you think.)

I know you are thinking to yourself, "Didn't I just eat the last of the Christmas candy and put up the last of the festive decorations from the holidays???"
YEP! And now it is time to give yourself a little something to make YOU happy. After all, you deserve it.
Becky creates handmade unique stained glass and fused glass jewelry. She has a wide variety of colors and styles to choose from, too. Go on, take a look! I bet you won't be disappointed.
Now, to what you are really interested in: HOW TO ENTER!

1. Post a comment leaving your email address and what your favorite piece of jewelry is from BSD site. (Hint...also email this favorite to your husband, boyfriend, mother, sister, whoever will buy this item for you) This will give you one entry.
2. For an extra entry...go to "Faithful Friends Who Must Really Love Me (and my addiction to writing about myself) " on the left sidebar and become a follower of the blog. This will give you one extra entry. HOWEVER, because I am lazy, if you are already a follower or just now getting into the story, make sure to leave a comment here (separate from your first comment) stating that you are a follower...otherwise you won't get that second entry.
3. For another entry (we're up to three chances right now), blog about the giveaway on your site and then...you guessed it, leave another comment to let me know to go check out your blog.
4. For even MORE ENTRIES!!!! BUY something from Becky's site. That will earn you TWO EXTRA entries. This is the one time you don't have to leave a comment...I will just know you did this and add it into the pot.
How will she know that you bought something because you heard about her site from my giveaway, you might ask...Well, enter the code BlogGive09 at checkout for 25% off the entire order, including shipping. This coupon can only be used once and expires on Feb. 2, 2009.

So, all in all, you could earn 5 chances to win. Not too shabby. I wish I could enter. I wore the necklace I ordered from her for my b.day to church today and LOVED it. I just know you will love her stuff, too. I am thinking of getting something for my son's teachers for teacher's appreciation day from her, too.

So, I hope now you are as excited about the giveaway as me and that you are just jumping up and down shouting, "I WANT IT!" The giveaway ends February 1st at midnight. I will contact the winner via email on Feb. 2nd and the winner will have 48 hours to reply to me and get me your mailing address...if you don't respond b/c you fell under a rock and didn't check your email for two days, well then, the prize goes to #2 on the list of contestants via random.org.