New-Skin

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of New-Skin for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

Since being diagnosed as type 2 diabetic I have noticed that any little scrape or sore tends to scar as it heals. I have been trying everything I can to help makes the scarring fade but nothing seems to be working.

I just learned of a product that has been around for over 100 years, believe it or not, New-Skin® has a product called Scar Fade Gel. I am really excited to try it. 

We have use New-Skin's liquid bandage for years. It is perfect for paper cuts or other small cuts on your hands or fingers because you can apply liquid bandage and still wash your hands over and over...something that is hard to do with a regular adhesive bandage.

New-Skin products have you covered whether you're playing ball, hiking or enjoying an afternoon in the garden.

No other bandage beats New-Skin® for its ability to cover, protect and help prevent infection for everyday wounds. 

My nephews really enjoy skateboarding and they have no fear, so falling down and getting scrapes and cuts is pretty much inevitable. So both liquid bandage AND Scar Fade are a must!!

We love to hike and have found ourselves in poison ivy before we know it more than a few times. New-Skin has a Poison Ivy Treatment that I am going to get to add to our backpack so that we will be prepared for the next time we stumble into poison ivy again.

For a limited time, New-Skin® is holding a sweepstakes!

New-Skin sweepstakes

There are 3 amazing grand prizes to win – a skiing trip to Breckenridge, CO, a tour of the Botanical Gardens in Atlanta, GA or a hiking trip in Yellowstone National Park, MT!  

Also, although there will only be 3 Grand Prize winners there is good news for the first 500 entrants in the sweepstakes! They will receive a New-Skin™ waterproof container.

So hurry up and get in your entries.

All you need to do is complete the entry form on the New-Skin® Share the Outdoors sweepstakes link and have your friends and family visit your sweepstakes page to earn up to five votes per day – every vote increases your chances of winning the adventure of your choice!



Tell me...why you want to win the sweepstakes? How would you use the New-Skin products of you win?

OH and if you do enter, come and share the link to your sweepstakes page so we can all go click on it and increase your chances of winning!!

Big Daddy LOVES Zenni Optical

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

A Few words from Big Daddy...

 I have worn eyeglasses now for over 23 years.  I have had to buy new prescriptions every couple of years or so as my eyesight has grown worse over the years. 

This, as my fellow corrective lens wearers know, can be very expensive.  It was not uncommon to spend $400 on a new pair of glasses. 

Well, imagine my excitement when my beautiful wife told me about Zenni Optical a website to get stylish and cheap eyeglasses. 

It was a couple of years ago and I was complaining about my old glasses and along with it, the cost of replacing them. 

Mamarazzi had seen Zenni online and told me about them. 

I logged on to the website and browsed available frame styles.  I was impressed with the great selection of styles and materials available. 

Even more impressive was the price! 

I was able to select a stylish pair of glasses and have them shipped directly to my home for less than $40! 

http://www.zennioptical.com/?gender[]=743 

I didn’t save 10% off the cost of new glasses; I paid 10% what it would have cost me to buy through my local optometrist. 

No, they did not accept my insurance, but with prices like that, who needs it? 

AND...with the extra cash Mamarazzi and I had a nice weekend away. 

WINNING!!          

In today’s economy saving money is very important to me and my family.  To be able to save so much money on a necessity is an incredible blessing and I will not use any other supplier for new eyeglasses.

LG Doubleplay

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

So the other day J told me about this cool phone a friend of hers had, she wanted to show it to me and see if it was something I would consider buying for her. 

The phone is the LG DoublePlay™.  The LG Doubleplay is really a one of kind phone that features two customizable screens. 

The main screen is a 3.5 inch display on the front like most other smart phones.  The second screen is ¾ of an inch and is set in between a split QWERTY keyboard on the slide portion of the phone. 

The split keyboard makes for easier texting by bringing the keyboard halves closer to your thumbs. 

The cool thing about the dual screen is they are independent of each other.  That means that you can surf the internet on one and carry on a text conversation or update Facebook on the other, simultaneously! 

Genius!

The LG DoublePlay™ also has a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and HD video recorder.

 It has Cloud Text and Group Text that allow you the ability to send and receive texts from a PC or tablet or create group chats on the go. 

The LG Doubleplay comes loaded with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and allows access to thousands of apps via the Android Market. 

You can access and customize up to seven home screens and set up to nine touch screen shortcuts for instant access to your mot used apps.

The LG DoublePlay™ is exclusive to T-Mobile and actually is the ultimate in social networking and multi-tasking from your smartphone. 

Considering that personally I send upwards of 500 texts a month, check in several times daily with Facebook and follow up on blog posts and comments from my phone constantly, this would be a great tool to accomplish these tasks seamlessly and effortlessly. 

It would help to maintain constant contact with my Facebook and bloggy friends!

Now, ask yourselves...

How many texts are you sending every month? 

How often are you checking your social media site? 

How much easier would it be if you could do these tasks without having to close out one screen and open another to toggle between sites? 

If you are spending anytime at all on social media sites or texting, or checking email then you must go check out this phone.  Remember, it is only available from T-Mobile.

I encourage you to go check out this cool phone and please come back and leave me a comment about what you find!

PackIt Lunch Boxes, suhweeeet!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PackIt for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

It is time to say bye-bye to ice gel packs that only last for 2 hours. You know the ones I am talking about.

The ice packs that you put in your kid's lunch boxes and you are lucky if they actually make it back home, let alone keep the food you packed cool.

If you are frustrated with ice packs that do not keep your kid's lunches fresh then The PackIt is your icepack, and get this, it stays cold for up to 10 hours.

TEN HOURS!!

Conveniently sized at 8"x10"x5" (8"x5"x2" folded) the PackIt is easy to fit in your freezer or take on-the-go and fold up when you're done!

Eating out everyday gets expensive. And really, there are not very many healthy choices out there that are  quick and affordable. PackIt lunch boxes makes it easy to bring a satisfying, delicious lunch from home, while saving yourself hundreds of dollars every year.

And Why limit PackIt just for lunches. Use it for baby bottles, sports events, travel...really, anywhere you need to keep items cold.

Imagine, you can make that potato salad everyone loves and bring it to the picnic with no worries, the PackIt is going to keep it nice and cool.

It's non-toxic, sweat-proof and PVC and lead-free, so you don't have to worry.

AND This product was even seen on the Martha Stewart show...and you know Martha, she doesn't mess around!

I love the fact that it's a lunch bag/cooler that stays cold longer than almost any other lunch bag! This is important to me, since I send lunch with Big Daddy everyday and there are times, depending on where he is working, when he is not able to use any refrigeration to keep his meals cool. 

With PackIt I can put together his lunch and know that when he goes to eat his meal he can do it with peace of mind knowing the food is still good and safe to eat.

You really need to check out the PackIt website where for a limited time you can purchase a Packit and get one free for only $19.95. What a great deal!

So, what they would use a PackIt for and why do you think it might be better than any old lunch bag.

OH and did you know that PackIt was created by 2 single moms right in their own homes? That's pretty awesome if you ask me.

Check out this YouTube Video for more info...

My Happy List and The Plan

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First of all I want to thank everyone for the wonderful comments, emails and texts that have been coming my way.

The outpouring of love, kindness, concern and support has been truly overwhelming and I am so grateful for you.

I am so HAPPY that I have such amazing friends.

I received several offers to help with my link parties while I take a bit of a blog break to deal with some real life stuff that needs my attention.

Starting NEXT Tuesday Miss Angie @ My So-Called Chaos will be hosting My Happy List each Tuesday. The link will go live on her blog at 12am PST each week.

We Want to Know Q&A on Wednesdays will continue to be taken care of by my fabulous co hosts Queso and Crazymama. The link will go live on their blogs at 12am PST each week.

Friday Confessional will be hosted by Debra @ Housewife Eclectic and the link will go live on her blog every Friday at 12am PST as well.

I am not sure how long I will need. But I am HAPPY that the parties will continue without me.

I have been spending a lot of time in Hollister with my family, since Big Daddy has already transferred and stays with my folks during his work week. We are house hunting and soaking up as much family time as possible.

I am so HAPPY that we have been able to go to my nephew's basketball games, celebrate birthdays and just enjoy being closer to family.

This last weekend my nephew Zachary won an award for an essay he wrote about a role model in his life; my dad, his grandpa.



The essay was read at a special ceremony along with other essay entries and the audience voted on Hollister Role Model of the Year 2011 based on the essays entered.

My dad won...it was a beautiful essay.



Yep, I come from a seeeriously awesome family. I am HAPPY that my nieces and nephews also KNOW this and are grateful for the awesomeness that starts with the head of this family, my folks.

Speaking of awesome...we have also spent every weekend this month with Jordan and we have her for Thanksgiving too. She has initiated all of the time we have spent together and has expressed over and over how much she misses our family time...HAPPY!!!

So what is making YOU happy this week? grab a button add it to your happy list and link that post up below!!

Friday Confessional Blog Break

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I Confess...

I am in need of a bloggy break.

We have so much going on right now and the weeks are just going to get busier and busier.

So I am looking for people to host my link parties temporarily, while I spend some much needed time with my family.

Not sure how long I will be gone, but I know it will be for a while.

If you think you would like to be a temporary host please send me a note.

This is what I am looking for:

Someone who actively participates in one or more of the following link parties:

My Happy List, We Want to Know Q&A and Friday Confessionals

Must be able to have link list posted by 12am on the night of the link party.

Should be able to visit participants and comment on their posts.

Is familiar with Mister Linky and HTML code (enough to get by, it's simple stuff).

I Confess...

Walking away from my blog for a little while is going to be hard for me.

But there are some real life things happening that require my full attention.

All. Good. Things.

Autumn Swap...It's HERE!!!

Oh my goodness...my swap partner {leah} from The Boy's a Dog Too! sent me the most thoughtful and amazing package. She was sooo creative and added a little note AND a recipe to each gift. She says Autumn is a time of the year that she likes to gather the family and friends in the kitchen so she wanted to share some of her favorite recipes with me. I am such a lucky girlie!! LOOK...

1. YUMMY hot dark chocolate mix. Delicious!
2. Beautiful mug for my hot chocolate.
3. Pretty smelling candle, with a super cool wick.
4. A tee shirt and puffy pink vest for Coco, from Captain, her dog who does not approve of clothing but thought this would be OK for Coco.
5. 27 Dresses...total chick flick, perfect for a chilly Autumn day!
6. ADORABLE scarf, so cute!
7. The nicest wooden spoon EVER, seriously this is a great spoon!
8. Gorgeous apron, I cannot wait to use this!!
9. The cutest popcorn boxes for when the nephews are here!

She also sent some sweet note cards and lip gloss for J...so nice to include her!


{leah} had a little helper while putting my package together so I scored a couple of LEGOS too! So funny!!


Thank you for the FABULOUS Autumn package Leah, you are so thoughtful and creative and I love everything you sent!!

Want to see what everyone else sent? Click on the links that will be coming in over the next few days as packages arrive all over the USA!

We Want to Know Wednesday Q&A wk31

Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesdays Q&A!
Hosted by Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama<center><a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/OurDandelionWishes/WWTKbutton.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>
This week's questions come from the awesome Queso and she wants to know...

{1} Do you have any musical talents?
{2} What role, if any, does music play in your life?
{3} What is your all time favorite song?
{4} Do you sing in the shower?
{5} Has a song ever made you cry?

Here are my answers, I am looking forward to stopping by and reading and commenting on your blogs!!

{1} Do you have any musical talents?
I can sing. I grew up singing, was in a gazillion plays and musicals growing up and was pretty sure I would end up on Broadway someday. I was in a cover band called Zer0 The0ry for a short time, very short. I really love singing, it would be fun to be in a band or a choir group or something, but for now I will keep it in the car and shower.

{2} What role, if any, does music play in your life?
I grew up doing a lot of musical theater, singing in choirs and there was also a lot of singing in my family. My sister Amy and use to sit at the piano and sing all the time, for hours on end. Good times.

{3} What is your all time favorite song?
This is going to sound lame...but REO Speedwagon's "I can't fight this feeling" has special meaning to me. It's the song that made me realize that I was suppose to marry Big Daddy..."what started out as friendship has grown stronger" and all that junk. It makes my heart skip a beat every time I hear it since it REALLY did wake me up and realize he was the man for me, he had figured it out long before I did, I am slow like that.

{4} Do you sing in the shower?
Oh yes all the time, every song sounds better in the shower!

{5} Has a song ever made you cry?
I am sure it has happened, more than once probably. I remember crying at my wedding dancing to butterfly kisses with my daddy, then he kind of grumbled that the song was too long, moment over.

Let me know if you would like to be added to the weekly mailing list that goes out every Monday with the questions!! The linky goes live on all 3 co hosts blogs at 12am PST each Wednesday!

My Happy List

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THIS is what is making me HAPPY this week.


My Mima is BACK!! She will be living with my folks until the Spring and the whole family is thrilled!!

Especially Coco.

My Aunt Tami and Aunt Lisa (my mom's sisters) brought Mima from Idaho.

Apparently when we took Mima home in September she kept saying over and over how much she "misses that little dog" and "oh Coco misses me and I miss her".

I had to PROMISE to bring Coco to the airport, since really the only reason Mima agreed to get on a plane was to see Coco.

The have been sitting like this, loving on each other, for the last few days and it makes my heart HAPPY seeing their hearts so HAPPY!

So...what is on YOUR Happy List this week? I cannot wait to come around and bask in all of the HAPPY, so link it up!!

Friday Confessional

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I Confess...

I had so much fun putting together my Autumn Swap package for my partner {leah} @ The Dog's A Boy Too.

Here is a little sneak peek...it is getting shipped out TODAY!!



Take a good look {leah} cuz I crammed that flat rate shipping box, it will arrive in one piece but it will be crumpled.

I went shopping with my Aunt Debi and this is her first swap ever.

I Confess...

Shopping and advising a "swap newbie" made me realize how much fun everyone else who participates in my swaps has.

I can sometimes get so caught up in the hostessing part that I forget that EVERYONE is having fun gathering and wrapping.

I Confess...

I really kind of love being a swap hostess.

It's a lot of work, but knowing that friendships are forming and packages of goodness are being shipped all over the USA because I organized it, gives me a little thrill.

I Confess...

We had a little bit of a health scare this week, that just about put me over the edge.

My Aunt Debi lives with us and has some health problems so she is highly medicated.

We were at my folks and something happened with her meds and she mixed up or doubled or even tripled her regular dosage.

This caused her to do really bizarre things and fall down and hallucinate.

It was really scary for a little bit there, I am soooo glad we were at my folk's so that my dad (who is a retired firefighter/EMT) could get it all straightened out.

I Confess...

I really LOVE my Aunt Debi and I am soooo glad that she is OK.

I Confess...

After a only few days at home, I am heading back over the hill to Hollister tomorrow so I can be there with Big Daddy who is staying with my folk's on his work week.

I cannot wait until we are moved there permanently, I am already not loving going back and forth, I just really miss Big Daddy when he isn't home.

BUT I am counting our blessings, so I will try to be patient.


So what are you confessing this week? Grab a button, add it to your post, and link that post up!
I promise, confessing will make you feel better!

We Want to Know Wednesday Q&A wk30

Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesdays Q&A!
Hosted by Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama<center><a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/OurDandelionWishes/WWTKbutton.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>
This week's questions are coming to you from your's truly..Me, Mamarazzi...

{1} What is your "can't go without it" beauty product/cosmetic?
{2} Do you apply make-up before or after doing your hair?
{3} How would you describe your personal style?
{4} How long does it take you to get ready each day?
{5} What is your one pamper, just for you, beauty splurge?

Here are my answers...I will be by to visit your blogs today!


{1} What is your "can't go without it" beauty product/cosmetic?
Mascara...my face is not my face with out it.

{2} Do you apply make-up before or after doing your hair?
Before...I can hardly stand to look at myself while doing my hair unless I have my face on :)

{3} How would you describe your personal style?
Comfortable...in the Winter I am all about leggings, big sweaters/long tunics and boots. In the Summer I am short skirts, tee shirts and flip flops. I use to put a whole lot of effort into what I wore, but now I work from home and live in a town where most of the people look homeless or from the people of WalMart website so I feel pretty fancy most days.

{4} How long does it take you to get ready each day?
45 minutes from shower to out the door. I am FAST like that!!

{5} What is your one pamper, just for you, beauty splurge?
It's not a huge splurge but it is my new affordable FAVE is Satin Lips by Mary Kay. It is really and truly
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I know, it sounds silly, but it's little something I do just for me.


AND



Day Nine...

Today I am Thankful for my health. I am finally off of my meds for the shingles, a rash never appeared and I feel pretty good. It will take about a week for the medication to work it's way out of my system but the stuttering, ticking and falling was minimal. Everyone in Hollister seems to be sick right now with a cold. I am hoping that since I was on antibiotics that I didn't pick anything up. I also washed my hands incessantly. I cannot afford to get sick. So yes, today I am thankful for my good health.

All posts for We Want to Know should include:
1. The darling WWTK button
2. A link to your co hosts Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama
Links must lead to WWTK posts that contain the WWTK button. Posts should lead to Family Friendly blogs. Blogs containing explicit language and/or sexually explicit content should contain an "adult content warning", or risk being removed from the link list. Kthanks!

My Happy List and 30 Days of Thanks

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My brother Scott and his wife Kristie are expecting their first baby in May. I have known for a little while but was sworn to secrecy...but they just made it Facebook official so now I can tell everyone how HAPPY I am to have another niece or nephew!! Dude, this kid is sooo lucky I am their Auntie!




I just got home after 10 glorious days at my folk's house. I am always HAPPY being around my family. We celebrated all of the November Birthdays while I was there. My dad, and nephews Parker and Brock.




We also were HAPPY to be there for Brock's Baptism.




Love that kid, doesn't he look adorable in that suit!?!




Parker got a new bedroom set for his birthday and Big Daddy and I were HAPPY to be there to help him put it all together and arrange his room for him, since both of his parents were working late that night.




I am so HAPPY that my Mima is coming back to California for the Winter months. She is coming on the 13th and Coco is just beside herself with excitement. Mima and Coco are total BFF. My Aunt Tami, who my Mima is living with in Idaho, calls Coco the "wonder dog". I guess Mima speaks very highly of Coco...Hahaha.

So what is on YOUR Happy List this week? Grab a button, add it to your Happy List post and link that post up! Remember, every week that you link up you are entered in the monthly Happy List drawing for a fabulous prize!

AND...




Day Eight...

Today I am thankful for DVR. Mine is full, like super full...after 11 days gone, I knew it would be. My folk's do not watch the same kind of TV I do...so I am looking forward to catching up with my Housewives (Desperate, Real and Sister Wives) and my other trash TV. I need a little escape from reality, house hunting has been fun but exhausting. I am thankful for the upcoming move, but I am looking forward to a little couch surfing the next couple of days. Coco and I leave on Saturday to start the hunt all over again and to bask in the awesomeness of my family.

30 Days of Thanks...Day 7 Employment

Day Seven...

I am so thankful that Big Daddy has a job that provides very well for our family. I am thankful that it is a job with the state that has fantastic benefits and a really good retirement. I am super thankful that he got the transfer we have been praying for and we are that much closer to moving to Hollister, where we will be closer to family.

Big Daddy loved teaching at the academy, but he also loves being a Sergeant and having a working staff. Since he has worked in Salinas before, he is going back to a great group of people who I know will have his back 100%. His transfer happened FAST and he has been there for a week. Everyday he came home he has a new story of running into so and so. It is also the first time that most of them have seen him since losing 145lbs. Most of them hardly recognized him. Its been good strokes for his ego...hahaha...i mean really, who doesn't love hearing how good they look?!

I am thankful for my job too. I feel so blessed to be able to work from home. I love developing curriculum and writing for parenting websites. I love that I am actually putting my education to good use. I am thankful that I can make my own hours and work when I want to. I love that I can supplement our income and still be available to my family.

I am also thankful that my blog makes money for me too. It is great doing something that I love and would be doing anyway and get paid for it. Want to make money on your blog too? Click the little SocialSpark button on my sidebar and find out how.

Taking Back Monday Giveaway

Last Week's Winner HERE

To enter just go to the darling Etsy shop Bead On A Wire to take a look around and come back and tell me the items you fell in love with.

That is a MANDATORY entry

You can also earn 5 EXTRA entries for doing EACH of the following...

**PLEASE just leave ONE comment for EACH thing you do, I can do the math!**

FOLLOW on TWITTER (10 ENTRIES) one comment

Follow me on Twitter @HolleeAnnCFG

TWEET (5 ENTRIES) one comment
@HolleeAnnCFG Taking Back Monday, w/ weekly #Etsy #giveaways. Enter at Dandelion Wishes http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com

POST (5 ENTRIES) one comment
Post on your blog LiNKiNG back to Dandelion Wishes...send your readers here to check out the giveaway, come on...it's nice to share.

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status linking to Dandelion Wishes FAN page (you'll have to like me first :))

You can also DOUBLE your chances to win by commenting on our Facebook page.

Giveaway open to USA only.

Winner selected by random.org and will be announced on Monday November 14.

30 Days of Thanks...Day 6 Little Things

Day Six....

I am thankful for the little things...

Like cookies the size of my face!



And a deeeeelicious Tall, Dark and Handsome. Also known as a BIG diet Pepsi, from a fountain, over ice balls, in a cup, with a lid and a straw.

30 Days of Thanks...Day 5 Our Parents

Day Five...

I have been blessed with amazing parents who are fabulous grandparents to Jordan (and Coco). My childhood was pretty perfect. I believe this is because my parent's were fully committed to their children and parented with intention and love...I am so thankful that my mom was able to stay home with us and that my dad did shift work as a firefighter so that they could parent together. Speaking of my dad...today is his birthday! Happy Birthday Dad, we love you!!



I have also been blessed with fantastic in laws. I love these two. They welcomed me into their family and have loved me like I have always been a part of it. They make me laugh and time spent with them is always enjoyable!! My mother in law raised a great man, a man that I love and who is fully committed to his family. Big Daddy has been double blessed in his life first with his own incredible father and then with a second awesome dad in Jim after his dad passed away when Big Daddy was 19.


I am so thankful to have wonderful parents and in laws.