Mom Knows Everything

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This week's theme/prompt is -HEADS Proud



I am very proud of my daughter Aurora. A couple of months ago her teacher nominated her to be an Olympic torchbearer. She brought home a form that we had to fill out and she had to write a short essay about herself. About a couple of weeks later we heard back from the Olympic committee saying she was selected as a torchbearer. On last Wednesday she carried the Olympic flame in our town. It was a really exciting day where she met the Mayor and had lots of pictures taken of her. Strangers even came up to her and asked for a picture. Aurora we are very proud of you!

Here is a video my sister, Aurora...yes they have the same name, shot of it.

This isn't our Christmas tree, but I wish it was because it's gorgeous and huge. This is the Christmas tree outside of the museum. In order for you to see exactly how big it is I got my husband and son to stand in front of it while I took the picture. The lights on it are actually white, but they give of a pale yellow glow.

I recently got a copy of Squeeballs for the Wii and the DS to review and I have to tell you that not only do my kids love playing them, but so do me and my husband.

About the game -

Squeeballs are 12 toys that are manufactured on a secret island somewhere in the Pacific. Before they can be sold to children around the world, the Squeeballs must be fully put to the test...to the point of destruction! You can blow up, cook, slice, bat, bowl, shoot and bounce the Squeeballs. The game features a unique collection of 11 party games, each taking place in a different environment from lava-filled canyons, bowling alleys and kitchens to science labs and snow-capped mountains. As the game progresses and more challenges are met - each one more difficult than the last - the game showcases more than 150 unique challenges. The game is available for the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS/DS Lite/DSi, Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. The Wii version features 11 party games; other versions vary in content. "Squeeballs Party" is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) with the descriptors "Cartoon Violence" by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

Squeeballs Party Wii -
- 150+ Mini-Games
- 11 Main Game Challenges
- Games Include...
- Crazy Lanes Bowling Game
- Golf Game
-Paint By Squeeballs Game
- Cooking
- Shock
- Pumping
- Stampede
- Cannon
- Feeding Frenzy
- Squeeball Testing
- Uses Wii controller
- Single Player and Multi Player Options
- ESRB Rating 10+
- Price $29.99

Squeeballs Party DS -


- 70+ Mini Games
- 6 Main Game Challenges
- Games Include...
- Bowling
- Cooking
- Paint By Squeeballs
- Crazy Lanes
- Feeding Frenzy
- Uses DS Stylus
- Single Player and Multi Player Options
- ESRB Rating 10+
- Price $19.99



Review -
My family loved playing both versions, Wii and DS, of this game. The characters are cute and I mention to my husband that the characters would make a good cartoon that my son would like to watch. The games are fun. They start out very easy and get harder the further along you get in the game. The best thing I like about this game, other than it's so much fun, is that the games are not long. A lot of video games takes you forever to go through levels, but with this game and it's mini games you can play and have fun without worrying about whether or not you have time to beat a whole level or not. Squeeballs Party is definitely one game that my whole family enjoys playing.

You can find more information about Squeeballs at www.Squeeballs.com. They can be purchased at Performance Designed Products along with other various stores.


The products in this review were given to me free of charge for testing and review. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product.

Camera Critters is a weekend meme, about what else but critters, created my very own BBFF, Misty.

"What are you talking about, I wasn't on the couch! What do you mean you have photographic proof? That dog doesn't look anything like me! It's a setup man! It wasn't me! I'm innocent!"

I'm a little late posting my Camera Critters. My power has been out for the past eight hours, but it finally came back on. The worst thing about the power being out is that it meant I had to prime the water pump when it came back on. That meant climbing over everything in the storage room to get to it. It really needs to be moved because that wasn't very fun. At least having your own private well means I don't have to have one of those water softeners, but trying to get at the pump to prime it is a pain.

The gray foggy sky did not dampen our spirits when my daughter carried the Olympic flame on Wednesday.

The Green Bronze Mirror by Lynne Ellison is a book about a 15 year old girl who thanks to a magic mirror she finds on the beach gets transported back in time 2000 years ago to the Roman Empire. This book was first printed in 1966 and has recently been republished.

The Green Bronze Mirror is aimed toward young readers and since the main character is a 15 year old girl it is prefect for preteen and early teen girls. Not only is this an exciting book fulled with action, it also lets you know about some of the history of the Roman Empire. My daughter is actually studying ancient Rome in her history class right now and is really enjoying learning about it at school so when I gave her this book to read she was really excited about it. I read the book and really enjoyed it and it also reminded me of when I was younger reading. I think this is a great entertaining book.

You can purchase The Green Bronze Mirror online from Cnposner Books and Amazon.


The products in this review were given to me free of charge for testing and review. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product.

Today was one of the most exciting days ever! My daughter was an Olympic torchbearer! Here are just a few of the many, many, many photos I took.







This was definitely a day we are going to remember for the rest of our lives. Way to go Aurora, we are so proud of you!

I will not be posting my regular Wednesday post as today my daughter is going to be an Olympic torchbearer. Photos and hopefully a video will soon follow of it.

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This week's theme/prompt is - HEADS Soft


The first thing my son does when he wakes up in the morning is to make a little soft nest with the pillows and cushions on the couch to lay down on. He curls up and watches cartoons there while he waits for me to make his breakfast.

Our local grocery store was having it's Grand Re-Opening after renovations and I met this guy there. It's the Honey Nut's Cheerio's Bee.

I am an avid reader and I recently got the book Thirsty by Kristin Bair O'Keeffe to review.

About Thirsty:

It is 1883, and all of Klara Bozic’s girlish dreams have come crashing down as she arrives in Thirsty, a gritty steel town carved into the slopes above the Monongahela River just outside of Pittsburgh. She has made a heartbreaking discovery. Her new husband, Drago, is as abusive as the father she left behind in Croatia.

In Kristin Bair O’Keeffe’s debut novel, Klara’s life unfolds over forty years as she struggles to find her place in a new country where her survival depends on the friends who nurture her: gutsy, funny Katherine Zupanovic, who isn’t afraid of Drago’s fist; BenJo, the only black man in Thirsty to have his own shop; and strangely enough, Old Man Rupert, the town drunk.

Thirsty follows a chain of unlikely events that keep Klara’s spirit aloft: a flock of angelic butterflies descends on Thirsty; Klara gives birth to her first child in Old Man Rupert’s pumpkin patch; and BenJo gives her a talking bird. When Klara’s daughter marries a man even more brutal than Drago, Klara is forced to act. If she doesn’t finally break the cycle of violence in her family, her granddaughters will one day walk the same road, broken and bruised. As the threads that hold her family together fray and come undone, Klara must decide whether she has the courage to carve out a peaceful spot in the world for herself and her girls.

My review:

Thirsty is a great book that all women, not only mothers, should read. It takes you into the life of Klara and her struggle as an abusive wife. Not only do you feel for Klara, but also for her children. It also shows that how the friendship of others can help a person through the worst of times in their life and how that no matter what there is always an option, a way out, especially with the help of your friends. This book is about the struggle of violence against women and that is something we all should be made more aware of.

You can find out more about this book and the author at www.ThirstyTheNovel.com. You can purchase this book online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Swallow Press. You can also check out your local bookstore for it.


The products in this review were given to me free of charge for testing and review. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product.

Camera Critters is a weekend meme, about what else but critters, created my very own BBFF, Misty.


This is a picture of my daughters cat, Dedara. Guess where Dedara is sitting. She's under our Christmas tree and not only that she messed up the tree skirt I made. I had to crop the picture so you could see the expression on his face. It says, "I dare you to tell me to get out from under the tree. If you do I'm telling Santa you were naughty and not to get you those Michael Kors gloves you asked for."

To check out more participants of Looking At The Sky On Friday or to join in on the fun yourself click the badge above.


Getting up at 6 AM isn't the funnest thing in the world, but it does give me the opportunity to see beautiful skies like this one. It almost looks like it's on fire. Speaking of fire, I really need to light one under my butt and get ready to go. I have lots of stuff I need to do today. I have to get groceries, go Christmas shopping, register my car, and I have to order part number 4396710 for my fridge. Have a great day everyone!

I found this weeks thirty hints over at my friend Tammy's blog, Crazy Mom With 4 Boys.


Click the above links to read Tammy's post on how to make each one of them. Thanks for the great ideas Tammy!

I told you before that I have had such great success with SENSA that I was going to use it again. My goal is to lose 10 pounds in three months. I just finished my first month and I am happy to report that I have lost 4 pounds this past month! That makes my total weight loss while using SENSA the previous time and this time a grand total of 40 pounds.

I've had people ask me about how I've lost the weight and I tell them all about how wonderful and effective SENSA has been for me. With SENSA all you do is sprinkle it on your food, it is NOT a diet pill. The tastants make you feel fuller faster and therefore you simply do not eat as much. It's pretty simple and best of all it works. You can still eat the food your regularly eat. There are no restrictions like so many other diets.

SENSA is having a great special on right now. They are offering a 30 Day SENSA Trial Kit for free. SENSA has offered my readers a special bonus, if you click this link you will get 60 day supply instead and receive a $25 discount card to www.glow.com, an online makeup store that has an amazing selection of products. All you have to do is pay a shipping and handling fee of $4.95. You have 30 days to try the product free of charge. If you like it, then do nothing, and you will then be billed for 60 day supply. If you do not like it, they can return it within the trial period and not pay anything but shipping.

I will keep you updated on how I'm doing and if you would like to read how I did on the last time I was on SENSA click here.


The products in this review were given to me free of charge for testing and review. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product.

I really need to catch up on my work, but between kids and housework it seems like there is never enough time in the day. On top of it all do you realize there is only about 40 days left until Christmas. Where has the time gone? I still have so much to do, shopping, wrapping, and Christmas baking need to be started very soon. Today I have to clean, watch kids, take Aidan to preschool, renew my life insurance policy, and that's all this morning before lunch time. Anyone have a few spare hours they can lend me?

Every kids Christmas wish list is fulled with electronics. Kids want MP3 players, digital cameras, camcorders, and every other electronic devices you can name. When purchasing an electronic device for your child you should remember that it is for a child and purchase a child friendly one. Sakar is an electronic company that makes a wide range of electronic products for adults and they have a great selection of kid friendly products as well.

When buying your 8 year old a MP3 player she doesn't need an iPod. Firstly, it's way too expensive for an 8 year old and secondly, it's way too technical for them. Sakar makes a great kid friendly Hello Kitty Digital MP3 Player that is prefect for the little girl who has a MP3 player on her wish list.

Hello Kitty Digital MP3 Player

Includes
- 3 changeable face plates
- earphones
- Manual
- Music Express software
- USB cable
- 1 year warranty

Features
- Converts CD disks onto player
- 2GB storage (1800 songs or 96 hours of music)


Not only is this Hello Kitty Digital MP3 Player cute, it comes with everything you need except the AAA battery . It's very kid friendly and easy to use. I think any girl would love one of these.

For more information about Sakar and their line of products go to www.sakar.com.


The products in this review/giveaway were given to me free of charge for testing and review. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product.

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This week's theme/prompt is - TAILS - "Autumn Memory". Share a memory from any Autumn season.


Remember as a kid how much fun it was making a big pile of leaves and then jumping in it. Well my kids have improved on that idea...they decided to make a pile of leaves on the trampoline and jump....leaves went everywhere and the kids laughed so hard. It was definitely one of those things that you can't help but smiling at to see.

The day after Remembrance Day is the day we start decorating for Christmas. I know in the US most people usually wait until after Thanksgiving, but here in Canada we have Thanksgiving in October so as soon as Remembrance Day is over it's full swing into Christmas. Both of my children have small two feet tall Christmas trees. Each year we buy a new ornament for them to put on it. I got this one for my son the other day, a Wall-E ornament, to put on his tree. I don't have our big tree up yet, but within the next week or two it will be up.

Camera Critters is a weekend meme, about what else but critters, created my very own BBFF, Misty.

With Christmas quickly approaching I thought I would start doing some ways to save money during Christmas. One way in which I save money during the holiday season is by making my own wreaths. This is something my mother taught me to do when I was about 12 years old. We all know that going out and buying a fresh wreath can cost you around $15 or more. During Christmas I make quite a few wreaths for relatives and I also make some to put on my parents and grandparents headstones.

Making wreaths is really simple actually all you need to start with is a metal coat hanger and shape it into a circle. We all have lots of coat hangers at home.


Then you take some greening, cut it to size and wire it to the circle. Apply the greening in layers as you make you way along the wire circle. Getting the greening is simple, all you have to do is take a walk in the woods and pick the tips off of the trees. The wire can be bought at the dollar store.


When you're done filling in the wire all you have to do is trim the wreath to make it perfectly round and attach a bow. Bows and ribbons can also be bought at the dollar store.
It is a messy process that leaves a lot of fir needles on the floor, but once you get used to making wreaths it only takes about 30 minutes or so to make one. It costs me less then $2 to make a wreath as the wire only costs about $1 or $2 and it makes lots of wreaths and since I buy the ribbon at the dollar store it only costs $1. Making your own wreath for $2 is saving you a lot of money instead of buying a ready made fresh wreath.

Oh boy it's going to be one of those days! I woke up this morning and found out my son wet the bed, I then spilled my hot cup of coffee all over my self, and to top it off the part that took me forever to find to get my car fixed is not the right part. I really need my car fixed, but finding the part is harder then a disability appeal. If anyone has a rack and pinion for a 99 Taurus let me know because I need one right away!

Let us never forget the brave men and women who have served to keep us safe and free.

We are very big on reading at my house. All of us are avid readers. I encourage my children to read often and I read to my 4 year old all the time. Not only is reading a great form of entertainment, but it can also be a great way to learn while still having fun. This is the concept Miss Trimble's Tapdoor has.

Miss Trimble's Tapdoor is a series of books by former elementary school teacher, Lori Jordan-Rice. Her goal is to create a series of books that are not only entertaining, but also educational by helping kids learn basic US history.


Miss Trimble's Trapdoor is the first book in a series of books about Tyler Thompson. In book one we are introduced to Tyler Thompson. He hates school and he hates the fact that he doesn't know the answers to his teacher, Miss Trimble's questions. He does not have many friends and he sits at the back of the classroom trying to disappear. One day Tyler discovers something amazing while his nervous foot tapping unlocks a secret trapdoor beneath his desk. He soon discovers a dark and mysterious basement filled with old books guarded by a magical talking dog named Barnabas Bailey. With the help of the books and his guide, Barney, Tyler can travel to any time in the past to learn about history up close.





Miss Trimble's Trapdoor The Perseverance Of Christopher Columbus is the second book in the series. Using Miss Trimble's trapdoor Tyler continues his travels through time with his, Barney, the talking dog who guards the books in the basement. They witness Christopher Columbus as a boy, a young man, and finally they set sail aboard the Santa Maria with him. Tyler discovers that even a great explorer like Columbus can face setbacks before reaching his dreams. He learns he has to believe in himself. By believing in himself he can achieve his dream of playing on the school basketball team and his goal of delivering an oral report on Columbus in front of the whole class.



I totally agree with the author, Lori Jordan-Rice, these books are both entertaining and educational. They are aimed for children aged 6 - 12. You can find out more about these books by going to www.MissTrimblesTrapdoor.com. Kids can also write to the main characters, Tyler and Barney there. There are also helpful educational links, crosswords and word searches there. Links for purchase of these books from Amazon and Barnes & Noble are available on the website as well.

To win a copy of these two books simply...

• Leave a comment on this post.
  
• Twitter about this contest for an extra entry.
• Post about this contest for an extra entry.
• Subscribe to my feed for an extra entry.
• If you don't have a blog/website just leave your name and email address in the comment section.
• Contest open to Canada and US residents only.
• Contest closes midnight AST November 30th with the winner to be announced the following day.

*Be sure to let me know in the comment section if you Tweet, subscribe or post about this contest for the extra entries.


The products in this review/giveaway were given to me free of charge for testing and review. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product.

CONTEST NOW CLOSED

For the past week Lysol has ran my life. Seriously, I am the Lysol Queen! That's a pretty hard feat to accomplish around here because actually getting a hold of a can of Lysol is harder then getting a hold of a Tickle Me Elmo when they first came out. It's not that they don't sell Lysol where I live, it's just that there are so many cases of H1N1 and suspected cases of H1N1 where I live that Lysol has been sold out everywhere. I was lucky enough to get a can of it at the third store I tried. My kids are finally feeling better and the quarantine on my son is almost over. If it wasn't for Lysol and Tamiflu I don't think I could have made it through the last week.