tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32541621680731161462024-02-06T18:38:19.396-08:00Relishing the DirtDigging for the products, the tips, the "how-to's" and other advice to make the life of a Mom - and life in general - just a little bit easierSusan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-3174220668823388342012-05-15T20:59:00.001-07:002012-05-15T21:05:10.233-07:00Pure Matters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKduUMkWRQxdB3fBD0fdHHSIZwkOVDSKm0pqXow1m4dI4W8FheWRA_I_O0n75JGNPkYekarW4VFI4hw5ccmu144IDcjiv_bIJn4G2KWkSotTX2NHRsH19cZT7cAvl_n81n3AwIL7cEhY/s1600/vitamins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKduUMkWRQxdB3fBD0fdHHSIZwkOVDSKm0pqXow1m4dI4W8FheWRA_I_O0n75JGNPkYekarW4VFI4hw5ccmu144IDcjiv_bIJn4G2KWkSotTX2NHRsH19cZT7cAvl_n81n3AwIL7cEhY/s200/vitamins.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Mamasource by Mamapedia recently gave me the opportunity to review some products from <strong><a href="http://www.purematters.com/" target="_blank">Pure Matters</a></strong>. First up was the <strong><em>Kids Sugar-Free Multi-vitamin Gummies</em></strong>. Sugar free, gluten free and vegetarian these little nuggets come in six fruity flavors including strawberry, lemon, orange, grape, cherry and grapefruit. They're a bit sticky - I occasionally have to knock the jar around a bit to shake some loose. But they have been a big hit with my first grader. I like the no added sugar, and it's an extra step I can take to ensure that my (ahem) picky eater is getting key vitamins he needs for healthy growth and development.<br />
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I also received the <strong><em>Complete Biotic</em></strong>. I was intrigued by this, as ever since my first pregnancy (and even after my subsequent gallbladder operation), I have struggled with digestive issues. Not only is the <strong><a href="http://www.purematters.com/" target="_blank">Pure Matters</a></strong> product shelf stable, it combines both Pre and Probiotics. The difference is subtle so far, but I do believe I feel less bloated... And a happy tummy can certainly affect your outlook on your day!<br />
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If you're looking for health and wellness products full of quality ingredients, I'd give <a href="http://www.purematters.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Pure Matters</strong></a> a try.<br />
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<em>Disclosure: I was sent products free of charge for review. All opinions about said products are my own.</em>Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-31626084608703414912011-11-20T18:42:00.001-08:002011-11-20T19:14:30.091-08:00Don't you love getting real mail?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/product/28115/christmas_cards_be_merry.html#color/01/pid/28115" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4fbLtyk0PQG-BkfR9UG8L2hWxxWZf5OVYGv0eERD0GjZQIKhA9lgFiPwKT7Op6rev0zYpXwOvmFrHLggdgsU1EOsFoUW1gaiC6Ph7-V1VNfQLvWGlDgqHbCw3TRLmHAjbhtsUx6rkmc/s200/holiday+card.jpg" width="200" />Tiny Prints</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's that time of year - </span><a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/picture-christmas-cards.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christmas Card</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Season. I love opening up the mailbox and actually getting mail that doesn't consist of bills, circulars, or other random items that are just "business." Maybe it's a side effect of having moved around a bit, but my heart just feels open wide to hear from friends in far away places. I'm especially tickled to get photos of families - another opportunity to see how everyone has grown.<br /><br />Crafting our own card can start pretty early. As two of the most-photographed kids around, Daniel and Ethan are in stacks of pictures that I need to wade through. Luckily we have companies like <a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/" target="_blank">Tiny Prints</a> that can make the design phase easy. I prefer bold colors... and I can never seem to pick just one photo.<br /><br />Has anyone come up with ingenious ways to display the cards you receive for the holiday season? Living in a condo, our space is at a premium. Last year I resorted to attaching them to the spare door in our living room that we never use. We enjoyed the expanding display so much that we left it up well into the New Year. I may do the same this year as long as I can keep everything high enough to keep toddler paws in check.<br /><br />I'm off to shuffle through our reams of kid photos. If you too are on the lookout for a creative company to help you make your holiday cards this year, I recommend checking out <a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/" target="_blank">Tiny Prints</a>.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_1_132184219980498" style="font-size: 10pt;">Tiny Prints provides simple, modern, and unique stationery from <a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/picture-christmas-cards.htm" id="yui_3_2_0_1_132184219980497" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Christmas cards</a>, <a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/happy_new_year_cards.htm" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">New Years cards</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/party-invitations-best-sellers.htm" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1321842215_0">party invitations,</span></a> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">and </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/personalized-address-labels.htm" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1321842215_1">address labels</span></a> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">to <a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/personalized-stationery.htm" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1321842215_2">thank you cards</span></a>. Once the holidays have come and gone, Tiny Prints will still be there to fill your stationary needs</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">with their exclusive designs</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> from the nation’s top designers. All year round, you’ll find <a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/businesscards.htm" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">business cards</a>, <a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/baby-photo-birth-announcements.htm" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">birth announcements</a> and even <a href="http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/unique-wedding-invitations-stationery.htm" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1321842215_3">custom wedding invitations</span></a>. Come try the easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality for yourself. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch!</span>Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-10485419930043205642011-10-23T20:15:00.000-07:002011-10-23T20:50:47.749-07:00Pizza Anyone?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3u-QDy9dFCKGOWywBmhPXF5jT6ytIhjBPwGB1CyU5IuyKG-Xz4VaX92x65PCjSfvWQa5-Phw8G8_3_UY6JWBhG6ByUMXpT4lBlbsRwDqKSu6bPOqJBEetXGeKrFb_wYMet3R1oG7BEA/s1600/freschetta_pizza.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666892543287063314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3u-QDy9dFCKGOWywBmhPXF5jT6ytIhjBPwGB1CyU5IuyKG-Xz4VaX92x65PCjSfvWQa5-Phw8G8_3_UY6JWBhG6ByUMXpT4lBlbsRwDqKSu6bPOqJBEetXGeKrFb_wYMet3R1oG7BEA/s200/freschetta_pizza.jpg" /></a>Hey Y'all! So I was at a playgroup the other day and a Mom commented on how I must be loving having Daniel in full-day school/first grade. The idea, I suppose, being that I would have all this time. Huh. Truth is that stuff just expands to fill that available time. There's Cub Scouts and karate, church, and all the homework. Who would have thought that Fall could get this busy? Meals can get to be a scramble too, and one of the standbys that I can always count on my kids being willing to eat is pizza.<br /><br />I was recently contacted by Freschetta, and as a part of the Fresh Connection Community they offered me a coupon to try their pizza. Crispy crust, yummy cheese... It was quite tasty! Even my picky eater proclaimed it good!<br /><br />Through the end of this month Freschetta is presenting their <strong><em>Proud to Support Pink Program</em></strong>. When you purchase specially marked packages of Freschetta pizzas and Artisan Pizza Crusts you will be helping them reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Each package is printed with a code that you can enter at <a href="http://www.proudtosupportpink.com/">http://www.proudtosupportpink.com/</a>. Each entry represents a $1 donation to this center to support breast cancer research (up to $50,000). There are places on the site to share your stories and provide (and find!) inspiration as well.<br /><br /><strong>Win It!</strong><br />Win a kit containing a coupon for a Freschetta pizza, and two pairs of Freschetta <strong><em>Proud to Support Pink</em></strong> earphones - one to keep, and one to give away.<br /><br />Entry to this contest is fast and easy. Simply comment on this post. <em>Deadline is Sunday, October 30th.<br /><br />Good Luck!</em><br /><em>*****************</em><br /><em>Freschetta pizza contacted me and provided products for me to review. My (and my family's) love of pizza is strictly my/our own.</em>Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-1281374004527688662011-09-06T17:05:00.000-07:002011-09-06T19:20:54.404-07:00Pretty and a Giveaway<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-MQsGLtU5_HxgrcIcgdyMJHlO4nH0UYnQf99Ft0yKYjKnwW_8Jzxl9hEgIXrwzCL_BhAFDTmnbjRVb5xueTVjQse_WTjUPSMF72mceLhtqmJHqlkBuEglhb4l_VeKhbD1M4RVTsfiFQ/s1600/Pretty.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649403495294105234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-MQsGLtU5_HxgrcIcgdyMJHlO4nH0UYnQf99Ft0yKYjKnwW_8Jzxl9hEgIXrwzCL_BhAFDTmnbjRVb5xueTVjQse_WTjUPSMF72mceLhtqmJHqlkBuEglhb4l_VeKhbD1M4RVTsfiFQ/s200/Pretty.jpg" /></a>I love to read and I've finally reached a point where I can carve out tiny niches of time to actually do so again! When the folks at Global Influence asked if I'd like to read and review <a href="http://bit.ly/jillianlauren">Jillian Lauren's</a> debut novel titled <a href="http://amzn.to/prettybook"><em>Pretty</em></a>, I jumped at the chance.<br /><br />I'm not sure that <em>Pretty</em> is a title I would consider for a book that is anything but... It's the saga of Bebe Baker, a former stripper, former drug addict, former many things. A car accident has killed her boyfriend, leaving her scarred and adrift. We meet her while she is serving time in a halfway house and ticking down the hours to finish cosmetology school. I usually need a hook of some kind to get me interested in a book - compelling characters, compelling storytelling. The favorite books that stay with me have a character or characters that I can identify with, empathize with, feel for... and I found myself struggling to find that link with Bebe. She's lived and is living a hard and harsh existence. If she were a friend I'd want to shake her for some of the choices she's made!<br /><br />And yet... her plain-spoken, in your face story began to draw me in. Bebe is surrounded by some fascinating characters. I wanted to see where their story would lead. This is a book that I might not have picked up on my own, but I am glad that I got a chance to read.<br /><br /><strong>Win a copy!<br /></strong>I have the chance to give away a copy to one lucky reader. <strong><em>To enter:</em></strong> Tweet or Facebook post about this giveaway, including a link to the book <em><a href="http://amzn.to/prettybook">Pretty</a></em>. Example: <em>Check out @jillylauren's new book, Pretty - </em><a href="http://amzn.to/prettybook"><em>http://amzn.to/prettybook</em></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">All entries should include the hashtag #PRETTYBOOK. Please leave a comment on this post with a link to your tweet or FB post. You may enter daily. <strong>Giveaway closes on 9/15/11.<br /><br /></strong>Can't wait to read the book? The first 250 people to order <a href="http://amzn.to/prettybook">Pretty</a> on 9/7 from Amazon who email the receipt to <a href="mailto:pretty.the.book@gmail.com">pretty.the.book@gmail.com</a> will receive a Limited Edition run of the "Pretty" necklace made by <a href="http://www.fairytalejewels.com/">FairyTale Jewels.com</a>.<br /><br />******************************<br />I received a copy of this book for the purposes of reviewing and hosting a giveaway. All opinions are my own.</div>Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-24836648346939188962011-05-23T10:32:00.000-07:002011-05-23T11:05:00.531-07:00Join the Little Miracle Mission<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzimVoflwsK_82HhtRnPUxQGWob5j3fJomod9cus8y55ZS8qOt3mZyKasFhcMJ_mUi0NNFzKvI9yiX30lZun6a3AOMOHpMLU91_UWl-ogUIy7_q5-RJeDG31O1mi8Bj9u4wVLMjFjyavI/s1600/Pampers+-+50+gift+card+AMEX.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 153px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609966780773551410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzimVoflwsK_82HhtRnPUxQGWob5j3fJomod9cus8y55ZS8qOt3mZyKasFhcMJ_mUi0NNFzKvI9yiX30lZun6a3AOMOHpMLU91_UWl-ogUIy7_q5-RJeDG31O1mi8Bj9u4wVLMjFjyavI/s200/Pampers+-+50+gift+card+AMEX.jpg" /></a>Have you seen the commercials? The Pampers <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxbRdxbBROI">"Every Little Miracle"</a> commercial never fails to bring tears to my eyes.<br /><br />In 2005 I was a busy executive secretary. A Type-A personality and planner to the max, my hard work and attention to detail helped multiple division presidents of a b2b publishing company get the job done. And in the summer of 2005 all my research and ability to plan and be in control went out the window with the birth of my first son. While I loved (and love!) him dearly my world went upside down in an instant in ways none of the books could have prepared me for. I left the job that had consumed my time for 9.5 years of my life, and so very many of the day to day relationships that I had had went with it. Sleepless nights, feedings, teething... anyone who is a parent is familiar with what my routine became. And despite my beautiful baby boy and loving family I was feeling lost. And I struggled. I was so very lucky that someone pointed me in the direction of the local family network. There I found playgroups and activities that forced my tired self out of the house. And I found advice, a shoulder to lean on and friends that are still around to this day.<br /><br />Why do I digress with my little story? Pampers has generously provided me with a $50 gift card as part of their <strong><em>Little Miracle Mission</em></strong>. It's a chance to pay it forward, and I have chosen to donate it to my area family network that provided me with so much support during my early days of motherhood. They have changed much in the last 5 - 6 years, in part due to the budget struggles that so many of these organizations have faced. (And I've changed myself, adding another son to my growing family!)<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Join the Mission!<br /></span></strong>I have been offered a gift card for one of my lucky readers to give away as well. Simply reply to this post and let me know how you would pay it forward, should you win the $50 gift card.<br /><br /><strong><em>This is going to be a fast one, as the deadline is set for Noon EST on Wednesday, May 25th. Reply ASAP.<br /></em></strong><br />Everyone can easily participate in a small way by "liking" Pampers Facebook page (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pampers">facebook.com/pampers</a>) and then going to the <em>Miracle Missions</em> tab and committing to <strong>Mission 1</strong> by clicking "I want to pledge". You are automatically entered to win a years supply of diapers and wipes, which could help you or someone you know in a big way.<br /><br />Hope to hear from you all soon!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-79141149432141533672011-03-17T05:25:00.000-07:002011-03-17T05:32:50.273-07:00Spring?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazxrZQj4xO8BIT-kdmo92Uvwf9sfh6xJK-On0KpkTq71a2DwwoInPTt8KSi0qkVRhE9-j94pzhmqW9Q1DcnrxfW8HJP0gc6cDVdRRX-kdi2j_zFvKX-kiqoeqwm_DfCa3AwU2n0SYQaQ/s1600/daffodils.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585024609485671554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazxrZQj4xO8BIT-kdmo92Uvwf9sfh6xJK-On0KpkTq71a2DwwoInPTt8KSi0qkVRhE9-j94pzhmqW9Q1DcnrxfW8HJP0gc6cDVdRRX-kdi2j_zFvKX-kiqoeqwm_DfCa3AwU2n0SYQaQ/s200/daffodils.jpg" /></a>Hey Everyone! <a href="http://susansamom.blogspot.com/2011/03/unhibernation.html">Been away from this blogging thing for too long.</a> Spring seems to finally be here, and I'm taking a deep, refreshing breath.<br /><br />We held our last giveaway, and I notified the winner. And it occurs to me that I needed to announce it here, and never did. Apologies and much-belated congratulations to Shelley!<br /><br />Wising you all a fun, sun-filled day!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-34461291795146020142011-01-27T06:54:00.000-08:002011-01-31T11:48:57.164-08:00A Cook I Am Not, But...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3vFQYHDSC5OwF-YFe52b9JXeiaUmdLS1Fol__1PR2-Eht2UE90igUsj_CmP00sUask46Do6s5EAHVXEb1iJ3CsYHAfGf-JZZLEij88DXCFBmaJR136XDCRIiD3acOOxiGS5mOmCZv3c/s1600/oep+taco+night_final.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566879683971491986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3vFQYHDSC5OwF-YFe52b9JXeiaUmdLS1Fol__1PR2-Eht2UE90igUsj_CmP00sUask46Do6s5EAHVXEb1iJ3CsYHAfGf-JZZLEij88DXCFBmaJR136XDCRIiD3acOOxiGS5mOmCZv3c/s200/oep+taco+night_final.jpg" /></a>I think it was my brother who (half) jokingly asked if H knew what he was getting into when he proposed. I love good food, and I love to eat. I even skim the cooking shows and recipes and cookbooks from time to time. My patience for the whole process of meal preparation, though, is not very great.<br /><br />Not long ago <em>MyBlogSpark</em> and <em>Old El Paso</em> reintroduced me to an old and easy favorite of mine. <strong>taco night</strong>! I remember loving the "taco bar" in college. We love tacos, and I plan to get Mexican fare back into my rotation of easy-peasy menu items. The <em>Old El Paso</em> lineup of products includes chiles, dinner kits, dips and sides, enchilada sauce, refried beans, seasoning mixes, shells, taco sauce and salsa. There are endless recipe variations you can play with, like <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/easy-fish-tacos/e4512894-81bb-4e42-8eec-55c69d56bf68">easy fish tacos</a>. Everyone can decorate their meal with fixin's to their liking.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Win a Prize Pack like mine!</span></em></strong> <em>Old El Paso</em> and <em>MyBlogSpark</em> were gracious enough to send me a prize package that includes a packet of <em>Old El Paso</em> taco seasoning, a Cactus Chip & Dip serving dish, a set of three Fiesta Chili Pepper serving dishes and a $10 gift card to purchase your taco fixings.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">To enter:</span></em></strong> Leave a comment and tell me about your favorite Mexican fare. Or how you plan to make taco night special. Which night of the week will it be?<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Bonus entry:</span></em></strong> Follow this blog, and leave a comment telling me that you do, or have done so.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Deadline:</span></em></strong> This will be a quick one. Winner to be picked on Monday, January 31st at Noon EST.Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-59340464880957466552010-07-21T07:33:00.000-07:002010-07-21T07:38:44.868-07:00A Winner, and oh those best laid plans...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_-zPYqNQATryITQCZUNqHybJelBLdVLOZGy6tvbWQ88cR8QY4S936sBfixyoXF9zQnm4YsiW-azEFI07jwanswd-cR7mo5tTQk777aU1cZZ25CBvCM005RsC0q1HS4DEHxrM6gySyjw/s1600/winner.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496368001366640898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_-zPYqNQATryITQCZUNqHybJelBLdVLOZGy6tvbWQ88cR8QY4S936sBfixyoXF9zQnm4YsiW-azEFI07jwanswd-cR7mo5tTQk777aU1cZZ25CBvCM005RsC0q1HS4DEHxrM6gySyjw/s200/winner.bmp" /></a>Somehow I knew that as soon as I started up the reviews and giveaways portion of my blogging again, that would be my baby's cue to make his arrival a little bit early.<br /><br />Congratulations to Hannah C, who won the copy of Heroes for My Son.<br /><br />We are home from the hospital, and adjusting to our new family life as a foursome. More fun stuff to come, as baby Ethan's schedule permits!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-84505418371802042022010-07-04T04:11:00.000-07:002010-07-05T05:59:50.447-07:00heroes for my son - a book giveaway<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6V__oUsaI6bMKQ6_wc8CzlNOEBQAhh2hDFeB3YjQY9xduWEudFIMmpoIw2hS6A1_0nXCSjDpzBFkZwrlOlWb0fks3fmSDvZ71zoHfYW9oAQ4xMdZ416bQnA5qVxCKxE8N6U8iZaJ1KA/s1600/heroes.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 196px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490397330293978738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6V__oUsaI6bMKQ6_wc8CzlNOEBQAhh2hDFeB3YjQY9xduWEudFIMmpoIw2hS6A1_0nXCSjDpzBFkZwrlOlWb0fks3fmSDvZ71zoHfYW9oAQ4xMdZ416bQnA5qVxCKxE8N6U8iZaJ1KA/s200/heroes.bmp" /></a>Who are your heroes? Who do Americans consider to be their real heroes? Author Brad Meltzer began pondering this question with the birth of his first son, and the telling of these stories has resulted in his first nonfiction book.<br /><br />Fifty-two men and women, both familiar and unknown, are illustrated through black and white pictures and a page of narrative distilling their heroic story. From politicians to performers, activists to athletes to ordinary citizens - these are inspiring snippits. Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson are side by side with Jonas Salk and Jim Henson. Personal heroes such as Teri Meltzer (Brad's Mom) join Clara Hale, Anne Sullivan and Harper Lee. The list goes on...<br /><br />As a Mom to one active little boy, and with another on the way any time now, I found much to think about in this little book. And it is certainly appropriate for girls as well as boys!<br /><br /><strong>Win It!<br /></strong>I have an additional hardcover copy of this book for one lucky winner. To enter:<br /><br /><strong><em>Main entry</em></strong> - Mention in the comments section why you would like to win a copy of this book. I'd be interested in hearing about one of your heroes too...<br /><br /><strong><em>Extra entries</em></strong> - each of these counts as an extra entry, but you must leave a comment for each one.<br /><br />- Subscribe to <a href="http://www.relishingthedirt.blogspot.com/">Relishing the Dirt</a>.<br /><br />- Follow us on Twitter under <a href="http://twitter.com/Smittens05">@Smittens05</a>.<br /><br />- Tweet about this giveaway.<br /><br />- Grab our <a href="http://www.relishingthedirt.blogspot.com/">button</a> for your sidebar.<br /><br />- Mention this giveaway on your blog, with a link back <a href="http://www.relishingthedirt.blogspot.com/">here</a> and to <a href="http://heroesformyson.com/">Heroes for My Son</a>.<br /><br /><strong><em>Deadline is Midnight EST on July 12th. Winner will be chosen by random.org, and will be contacted via email. Contest is open to US residents.</em></strong><br /><br /><em>This post was written for Harper Books, who provided the item for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.</em>Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-13889204786756587382010-07-01T07:33:00.000-07:002010-07-01T07:42:31.665-07:00Where in the world have I been?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaQKb9wizEDikTICEDd9EdqraZbfGuw8Qup-IEMWDTDdBQwqr3AZsh5AHbNQ7UgN2gOYG7LynT4kHsaOQbs3djgMSRATry4g0byoVhKG5p0Jil1QkUvB53hvrANFXNyHKwb5cnZtMsoA/s1600/whereintheworld.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488946264224922018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaQKb9wizEDikTICEDd9EdqraZbfGuw8Qup-IEMWDTDdBQwqr3AZsh5AHbNQ7UgN2gOYG7LynT4kHsaOQbs3djgMSRATry4g0byoVhKG5p0Jil1QkUvB53hvrANFXNyHKwb5cnZtMsoA/s200/whereintheworld.bmp" /></a>It was so not my intention to have this part of my blogging life be on such a hiatus. But then, well... there was <a href="http://susansamom.blogspot.com/2010/02/and-then-there-were-four.html">this</a>. And <a href="http://susansamom.blogspot.com/2010/02/next-stop-baby-zone.html">this</a>. And on to <a href="http://susansamom.blogspot.com/2010/06/ready-or-not.html">this</a>. And finally we're in the home stretch of this whole pregnancy thing, but <a href="http://susansamom.blogspot.com/2010/07/ugh.html">ugh</a>.<br /><br />And even though I feel kinda horrible, there are actually a few giveaways lining up in the near future. I will be certainly following the rules that I set down in each of the giveaway posts. But at this point I reserve the right to have some minor delays in getting prizes out to the winners... My due date may be July 24th, but as with most kids who knows how this will all play out? Stay tuned!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-39902946090176537872009-12-17T04:19:00.000-08:002009-12-17T04:49:58.431-08:00Secret Santa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcOxpyzadPQkHT-RcaV_AMwJVEbMxUzjTrF_A5TiHxP-rlyN5zhVQONY7EqCxF-rmgmJKEaf7V80CA-HVnE9wJczxHdOzTwyO56Y5GHB64szO_j79hvvlcMFiLthAS-7JUMIQjxAGInw/s1600-h/1800flowerssecretsanta.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416179715293388418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcOxpyzadPQkHT-RcaV_AMwJVEbMxUzjTrF_A5TiHxP-rlyN5zhVQONY7EqCxF-rmgmJKEaf7V80CA-HVnE9wJczxHdOzTwyO56Y5GHB64szO_j79hvvlcMFiLthAS-7JUMIQjxAGInw/s200/1800flowerssecretsanta.jpg" /></a>It's no secret that people are feeling the pinch of the economy this season. One organization has dedicated itself to providing toys for children at Christmas since 1947 - the <a href="http://www.toysfortots.org/"><strong>U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation</strong></a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://ww11.1800flowers.com/">1-800 Flowers.com</a> is supporting this worthy cause by donating 10% of the net proceeds from product orders from its Toys for Tots Holiday Collection to the foundation. In addition, they have developed a Secret Santa free application accessible on their <a href="http://bit.ly/warmfuzzy"><strong>Facebook page</strong></a>. Send a warm fuzzy gift to a friend (they find out who it came from on Reveal Day, December 21st). You and the recipient will receive a 15% off discount code for sending or opening your gifts as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://ww11.1800flowers.com/">1-800 Flowers.com</a> will donate $5,000 to Toys for Tots if the warm fuzzy Secret Santa gift is sent 10,000 times.<br /><br />Lets get the word out, send some warm fuzzies and help this very worthy cause!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-81507580006870545212009-12-05T05:18:00.000-08:002009-12-05T06:07:08.294-08:00Out and About - with Kids<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2JFNTqQI-7TzArOZwpE_dABiqdZDS77f1KJhgBDUZ_LmrHeqzK_0FAJBltNgphFeWL4KIyYXWZ3O2rS3niKdi2aI4g9zmPKJN34PIyhSwvGK-pJ3exWCsfYVHUhxV3n-Dh5inB8PsHQ/s1600-h/imageforblogtour.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 58px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411752002627676946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2JFNTqQI-7TzArOZwpE_dABiqdZDS77f1KJhgBDUZ_LmrHeqzK_0FAJBltNgphFeWL4KIyYXWZ3O2rS3niKdi2aI4g9zmPKJN34PIyhSwvGK-pJ3exWCsfYVHUhxV3n-Dh5inB8PsHQ/s200/imageforblogtour.jpg" /></a>Getting where you need to go with your kids can have all kinds of challenges - even just the car seat itself! We let the installation of our car seat go a little too long, and my hubby was faced with getting it properly in the car himself after Daniel was born. With half our extended family some 1,200 miles away we have busied ourselves with long car trips, as well as getting around town to our busy preschooler's many activities.<br /><br />With the holiday season moving into full swing, families across the country are in the car and on the go. Whether you're driving across the country to visit family or across town to holiday shop, it is important that your child passengers are riding safely and that child safety seats are used correctly.<br /><br />AAA estimates that <a href="http://media.aaachicago.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=143">30 million people travelled this Thanksgiving holiday alone</a>, and for many this is just the beginning of the holiday hustle and bustle. Now is the time to utilize the <a href="http://childcarsafety.adcouncil.org/"><strong>Child Car Safety tools</strong></a> provided by the US Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (<strong>NHTSA</strong>) and the <strong>Ad Council</strong> to learn more about proper car seat use and installation. You will find informative resources that include instructional videos.<br /><br />Have child passenger safety questions that you need answered before you travel over the river and through the woods to Grandma's? <strong>NHTSA</strong> is always available to answer your questions online through <a href="http://www.facebook.com/childpassengersafety">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/childseatsafety">Twitter</a>. I wish I had found these resources years ago!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-18717291255446414132009-11-23T05:59:00.000-08:002009-11-23T06:07:02.613-08:00Ack! Where did my weekend go?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfroAmSZBqZzsXFNbToUJI1URnuh6b6-OgxrEGvWkJYGydTouPueB3h1iJXzteL6Nywxu6gsoigz_tO1uPYGTEccR7aTcQjP26dCikXFCvxw8l4IhFrc8fqMAtQfKMp_8GKrbr9Di4t2g/s1600/turkey+cupcakes.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407299231768598418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfroAmSZBqZzsXFNbToUJI1URnuh6b6-OgxrEGvWkJYGydTouPueB3h1iJXzteL6Nywxu6gsoigz_tO1uPYGTEccR7aTcQjP26dCikXFCvxw8l4IhFrc8fqMAtQfKMp_8GKrbr9Di4t2g/s200/turkey+cupcakes.jpg" /></a>I try not to make it so, but the close of the year has seemed to turn into a triathlon of sorts: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. It has seemed especially pronounced this year when the Christmas stuff started appearing in stores nearly as soon as the <em>Halloween </em>stuff went on discount...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.random.org/">Random.org</a> proclaimed <strong>haydensmommy05</strong> the winner of our Nature Valley Granola Prize Pack. Congratulations!<br /><br />In the meantime, I'm slowing down and giving thanks. Wishing you all many turkey cupcakes!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-86384635387317067372009-11-06T08:21:00.000-08:002009-11-06T09:44:27.506-08:00Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters - Win a Prize Pack!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVbqSRh0X4-zUpVGvYZcnr88q3b0RqqxT9vlFF_OsNHMWm480WatVDksoy_p2wkANs2LZmrkUkoESfk0HmGSLCozVLIXWewv-f9xSGzrsXCbuNU73qELQF5W0Hh9knMyouH9oqBvEdAw/s1600-h/NVGNC+Prize+Pack.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 126px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401040350501852002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVbqSRh0X4-zUpVGvYZcnr88q3b0RqqxT9vlFF_OsNHMWm480WatVDksoy_p2wkANs2LZmrkUkoESfk0HmGSLCozVLIXWewv-f9xSGzrsXCbuNU73qELQF5W0Hh9knMyouH9oqBvEdAw/s200/NVGNC+Prize+Pack.JPG" /></a>Hoo Boy! So first there was the email hacking, then various family illnesses including my (hacking) cough that tends to keep me up nights and rob me of sleep. We're finally straightening up some (thank you Daylight Savings, I did not need the help losing sleep courtesy of the preschooler's wonky schedule...). Onward!<br /><br />The folks at <strong>MyBlogSpark</strong> and <strong>Nature Valley</strong> recently sent me a prize pack with a cool backpack, flashlight, binoculars and water bottle. This also included an assortment of the new <strong>Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters</strong> to sample. Yummy! My family can be real grazers when it comes to finding something to eat. H works long hours, and Daniel is an active and picky preschooler. Me, I expend tons of energy just to keep up with him! I quickly went through the Roasted Almond flavor (my particular favorite), and the rest of the family helped me polish off the others. Sweet/salty and crunchy, these granola bites come in a resealable pouch and make a delicious snack! <strong>MyBlogSpark</strong> has graciously offered one prize pack for a lucky <strong><em>Relishing the Dirt</em></strong> reader!<br /><br /><strong>To Win:<br /></strong>1. Reply to this post and share some of your favorite elements of nature. I'm especially looking for this myself as the seasons change, and I'm trying very hard not to hibernate!<br /><br /><strong>Extra Entries:<br /></strong>2. Follow this blog and post a reply letting me know that you have done so.<br /><br />3. Follow me on Twitter at @Smittens05 and let me know that you are a follower. Extra entries for a tweet, but please let me know that you have done this as well by posting a link.<br /><br /><strong><em>Contest ends Friday, November 20th - winner to be announced November 21st.</em></strong>Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-38355400853556960752009-10-10T17:33:00.000-07:002009-10-10T17:45:18.037-07:00Trio - We have a winner!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aP83jOW_Gjz5BpMniRZPqb5rUM49sNn8fHgTObqMZtHOb7lLtINawixnBXu4tsd0zHFbBbpUrKhNktmIUZdDy8J9Y9f5h25GsOIqFfJPAropX8senHf_oFz7SrucQXYCpI8k7-6vZlU/s1600-h/Bobby+Gorgeous.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391134567713056642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aP83jOW_Gjz5BpMniRZPqb5rUM49sNn8fHgTObqMZtHOb7lLtINawixnBXu4tsd0zHFbBbpUrKhNktmIUZdDy8J9Y9f5h25GsOIqFfJPAropX8senHf_oFz7SrucQXYCpI8k7-6vZlU/s200/Bobby+Gorgeous.jpg" /></a>Congratulations to Amanda, winner of the Trio building set giveaway. She enjoys legos around her house - I'm sure Trio will be a nice addition!<br /><br />My apologies if things around here are a bit wonky or slow. I've been hacked. Not the website, thank goodness but the usual email address I use for everything sent out a random email to my entire address book awhile ago - one which most decidedly was not from me! It's quite aggravating, and embarrassing and Yahoo is being decidedly unhelpful at resolving anything. I am in the process of moving all my communications to a different email address but it is time consuming. Urgh! Something I certainly did not need to have on my to-do list.<br /><br />Stay tuned for another give-away coming up soon!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-29466367280822472662009-09-24T20:41:00.000-07:002009-09-24T22:28:08.528-07:00Try a Trio<a href="http://www.fisher-price.com/"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385271847001588546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZu9k0hd8gJ0zFJBdFbOGaOCUYbEqby8oNKB2l4q1d8enFGgmsKbhXnlNlaVFLi_maBumuZQV0PtwLP60oijLhaOwG_TSXiUHrXTdLjpkCQhjtQ_LjzMBNJzgi-IVn7II2OwfBMjsC5I/s200/Trio.jpg" />Fisher Price</a> has come out with a new building set called <strong>Trio</strong>. We got a chance recently to test drive a "starter set." Comprised of clickable bricks, sticks and panels the starter set also comes with a car, a little person, a tree shape, some triangle roof shapes and so on. Quite handy is the storage bin with a lid that can double as a building base. I'll be honest - any Mom's feet would be grateful to not be tripping over the bits of a building set. Yay storage bin!<br /><br />I love toys that encourage creating and imagining and Daniel has returned to the <strong>Trio</strong> set countless times. I can see a whole "city" he built on the lid sitting over in the corner as I type this. The starter set is listed as being for 3-5 year olds. One thing I would encourage is strategically planning your <strong>Trio</strong> playtime. The click action building does take some getting used to and I encourage Daniel to play with the <strong>Trio</strong> set when he is fresh. Once he starts getting tired, his frustration level can build.<br /><div></div><br /><div>The folks at Fisher Price and MomSelect have graciously agreed to offer a <strong>Trio Starter Set</strong> to one lucky <strong><em>Relishing the Dirt</em></strong> reader.<br /><br /><strong>To Enter:</strong> <em>Comment on this post and tell me your favorite "creative plaything" that you do with your kids.<br /></em><br /><strong>Extra Entries:</strong> <em>Follow or subscribe to this blog and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so. Follow me on Twitter at @Smittens05 and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so. Additional credit for tweeting about this giveaway (please comment with a link).<br /></em><br /><strong>Deadline:</strong> <em>October 9th at Midnight EST.</em></div><br /><div>*******************************************</div><br /><div><em>Note: We received this product free of charge as part of participating in the MomSelect review program.</em></div>Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-26181543209407256992009-09-24T20:35:00.000-07:002009-09-24T20:39:53.990-07:00Zhu Zhu Zhoom!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rtMqIOtdYCzNrunipJ70tYQqwA-QPL8B6KWqfoLXD88c6X_Eoe4y1xJdH1a6VvjHAwy8lR32DO7siWj8ZO4udnVZs62heb5BDRIu9wktfH559Eo3Se9D0Q3avhpQrj8CV7Ke-LWr6UA/s1600-h/congrats-fireworks.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385244622700642978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rtMqIOtdYCzNrunipJ70tYQqwA-QPL8B6KWqfoLXD88c6X_Eoe4y1xJdH1a6VvjHAwy8lR32DO7siWj8ZO4udnVZs62heb5BDRIu9wktfH559Eo3Se9D0Q3avhpQrj8CV7Ke-LWr6UA/s200/congrats-fireworks.gif" /></a>Congrats to Natalie A. who won the Zhu Zhu pet giveaway here on Relishing the Dirt. A new furry friend is headed her way. And a new giveaway is coming up, straightaway!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-64734861155206222952009-09-14T21:26:00.000-07:002009-09-14T22:44:26.787-07:00Zhu Zhu Pets - Parties, A Review, A Giveaway<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipno6vM0ZsT4ALIo-6YPXlTB3khF2-6Y8vu3B51qAULzldND6zMrYzFCYMOz4heAgRc3ten9gZqSxxNH9Nx_TNr6g9NhJg11Ub3bItfq26w3Xf0ZKnXmM3ZPmbSn0oZz4otAJlG7izCnI/s1600-h/hamHoriz.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 89px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381552941348837858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipno6vM0ZsT4ALIo-6YPXlTB3khF2-6Y8vu3B51qAULzldND6zMrYzFCYMOz4heAgRc3ten9gZqSxxNH9Nx_TNr6g9NhJg11Ub3bItfq26w3Xf0ZKnXmM3ZPmbSn0oZz4otAJlG7izCnI/s200/hamHoriz.gif" /></a>As a family who lives in a condo, we're entirely cramped for space when it comes to having a pet. No dogs are allowed, and some days even a cat would feel like one live beast too many around here! When the good folks at <a href="http://www.momselect.com/">MomSelect</a> offered us a chance to explore and play with some <a href="http://www.zhuzhupets.com/">Zhu Zhu Pets</a> (and share with some friends) I said yes, please!<br /><br />Our planned "hamster party" turned into hamster playdates again, due to lack of space issues. I couldn't see stuffing a slew of 4-year-olds into our house all at once - and each of them chasing their new furry friend. Each of the kids at our first playdate seemed quite entertained by the little critters. Daniel's buddy Murphy immediately put his down to watch it scamper off in the other direction. This is the best kind of pet (especially for us Moms) - one that doesn't make a mess, and no worries about feeding it! During one of my last phone calls with Marisa's Mom I had gotten the report that she was still playing with her Zhu Zhu pet quite often. And Murphy's Mom laughed that she had left the house with the Zhu Zhu pet chattering away in her purse.<br /><br />There are assorted playsets like a hamster wheel and tunnel, a funhouse, an adventure ball and more. Build and rearrange these pieces and the Zhu Zhus have their own habitat to explore.<br /><br />I would have liked to see some of the habitat pieces built a little more securely. The lid and doors to the hamstermobile and garage come off fairly easily, for example, which can lead to some kid frustration. The hamsters themselves don't really have an "off" switch - they do go into a "sleep" mode after a bit, but this can be a bit of a battery drain.<br /><br />All in all the kids seem tickled with their new pets. We're planning a few more hamster playdates, and we'd like to have a virtual playdate with you!<br /><br /><strong>The Giveaway:</strong> One hamster, and one habitat piece.<br /><br /><strong>To enter:</strong> Stop by <a href="http://www.zhuzhupets.com/">Zhu Zhu Pets</a> online and tell me your favorite - your favorite hamster, habitrail piece, activity or game from the site - you get to pick.<br /><br /><strong>Extra entries:</strong> Subscribe or follow this blog, and leave a comment telling me you have done so. Follow me on Twitter and again, leave a comment that you have done so.<br /><br /><strong>Deadline:</strong> Contest closes Tuesday, September 22nd at midnight EST. Winner to be announced September 23rd.Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-83492275278635330872009-09-08T09:28:00.000-07:002009-09-08T09:43:34.270-07:00And the Winner is...<a href="http://www.thegoldguys.blogspot.com/"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379134794932927378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMcOucJbgQV0O7n8WYK_Ej_hgHWctznEguKRHKErrhz7H1CFdgJkKWyTLCyDkcyrW21SDX8Y8rpGXiEr46DOGXRnpq8mBfBE42QlZZ7FnRFFw4cVOboS82KYND1TNYuaE0NiLMGx4gQ4/s200/winner.jpg" /></a>Congrats to debbielynne, the winner of the $10 Stop & Shop gift certificate! She says she aims to save 50% when she shops.<br /><br />Stay tuned for more fun reviews and a giveaway or two!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-10620526631830253742009-09-04T06:20:00.000-07:002009-09-04T07:05:23.601-07:00Save at Stop & Shop - Quick Giveaway!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwTHVpwyXvxqB8bumxGQWTgYRklDsHG7Wr6f4Z-MgT3jexXUiMZYB0LFcFCJh6G6wY3ZLsHSbml4m52LIiSTZnib26yibYPfo-7UXXeKxRls1FcinVsdJ1ktzp4febKKeX3_yzeY0hdI/s1600-h/bag.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377611729296699442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwTHVpwyXvxqB8bumxGQWTgYRklDsHG7Wr6f4Z-MgT3jexXUiMZYB0LFcFCJh6G6wY3ZLsHSbml4m52LIiSTZnib26yibYPfo-7UXXeKxRls1FcinVsdJ1ktzp4febKKeX3_yzeY0hdI/s200/bag.jpg" /></a>For the first time I am preparing to send my kid to school! Eek! <strong><a href="http://www.generalmills.com/">General Mills</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.stopandshop.com/">Stop & Shop</a></strong> are teaming up this week to give families a great way to stock up and save, as they gear up for back to school. You should be shopping at <strong>Stop & Shop</strong> this week because:<br /><br /><strong>There are some great sale prices on the participating General Mills brands:</strong> Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Reeses Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cookie Crisp Sprinkles, Cookie Crisp, Fruit Snacks, Old El Paso Dinner Kits, Pillsbury Strudel, Pillsbury Scrambles, Green Giant Boxed Vegetables, Yoplait Yo-plus Multi-pack, Fiber One Yogurt Multi-pack, Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookies, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Pillsbury Sweet Rolls and Yoplait Delights.<br /><br /><strong>Additional savings for your or your school, depending on which Stop & Shop location you shop.<br /></strong><br /><strong>If your Stop & Shop store sells gas:</strong> Buy four (4) participating General Mills items and you'll automatically earn 100 points on your Stop & Shop card. For every 100 points earned you'll save 10 cents per gallon of gas. (Please note total discount cannot exceed price per gallon.) Just swipe your Stop & Shop card at the pump to redeem your gas rewards.<br /><br /><strong>If your Stop & Shop doesn't sell gas</strong> - Don't worry! You're not left out of the savings. If you buy five (5) participating General Mills products you will receive 20 Bonus Box Tops for your school.<br /><br />The wonderful people at <a href="http://www.generalmills.com/">General Mills</a> and <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/">My Blog Spark</a> sent me a $10 Stop & Shop gift card so that I can jump into some of these back to school savings. <strong><em>They also want to give one lucky Relishing the Dirt reader a $10 Stop & Shop gift card too!<br /></em></strong><br /><strong>To Enter:</strong> <em>Leave a comment telling me how much you think you can save on your next shopping trip.<br /></em><br /><strong>Deadline:</strong> <em>Monday, September 7th at Midnight.</em> This giveaway will only last a few days so that hopefully you will receive your gift card in time to use at the sale.Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-51753985526172593872009-09-02T22:07:00.000-07:002009-09-04T11:36:42.893-07:00Culture Club<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sFC_GhjTD_Z-UPW-CzfnU5BgZzmhqfO6mAShhXHECzM7XT5aD2gYW3iFCf8odp68C_Q5tA0jdcZQ6gbiEmsorvuT_N1j1YmwvNssFEaty8Fk1vDba4wPpfO_TDUG1QSYz2jqAPgsbDs/s1600-h/invite.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377104164648509058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sFC_GhjTD_Z-UPW-CzfnU5BgZzmhqfO6mAShhXHECzM7XT5aD2gYW3iFCf8odp68C_Q5tA0jdcZQ6gbiEmsorvuT_N1j1YmwvNssFEaty8Fk1vDba4wPpfO_TDUG1QSYz2jqAPgsbDs/s200/invite.jpg" /></a>I miss getting mail, don't you? I mean I love coasting the ins-and-outs of the Internet and discovering all the tools available to keep in touch. But there is something about <strong><em>Real Mail</em></strong>, not bills or junk mail or catalogues, but a lovely card / note from someone who is thinking about me.<br /><br />Thanks to the folks at <a href="http://www.momfluence.com/">Momfluence</a>, <a href="http://www.paperculture.com/"><strong>Paper Culture</strong></a> kindly sent me a sample of their work. Their eco-friendly stationery is created using paper that is: FSC certified as 100% post consumer recycled paper, Green-e and/or Green Seal certified, generated by wind power and elemental chlorine free. All envelopes and packaging are also made from recycled paper.<br /><br />And you know what? The designs are awesome! This would have been a perfect invitation to the Pirate Party that Daniel is attending next week. There are many wonderful choices for Birthday Party invitations, Baby Announcement and Shower invites, and life events like Moving Announcements, Baptism invitations and more. Give them a look before your next occasion!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-45901708358691408322009-08-23T04:34:00.000-07:002009-08-23T07:57:41.755-07:00A Voice Across the Miles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3MWJTE6lqy10FAXKw7YV42XqUoneOn5dQZlceEaIsbQQqeaJxczNL7UWQDG4Uyc5fqJJYzmBW_Pv9NB2__gtkzM9L4_HA295KtjZW7mjMVlGBt1BPwYReFlAHM2WGZ_5T0jDO_C27kk/s1600-h/balloons.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373134051979222194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3MWJTE6lqy10FAXKw7YV42XqUoneOn5dQZlceEaIsbQQqeaJxczNL7UWQDG4Uyc5fqJJYzmBW_Pv9NB2__gtkzM9L4_HA295KtjZW7mjMVlGBt1BPwYReFlAHM2WGZ_5T0jDO_C27kk/s200/balloons.jpg" /></a>I love where I live in New England - gorgeous small towns, rich in history. Since having Daniel I feel the miles between the East Coast and my parents in Wisconsin even more keenly, however. We work hard to stay in touch - weekly phone calls (OK, sometimes more!), and we invested in a webcam a year or so ago. We visit there, and they visit here as often as we can but 1,200 miles is no short hop for any of us.<br /><br />In honor of <strong>Grandparents Day</strong> - September 13th will be the holiday's 30th anniversary - I'm showcasing the website <a href="http://www.grandparents.com/"><strong><em>Grandparents.com</em></strong></a>. While the wording across the site "speaks" to Grandparents, I think there are lots of helpful tidbits about families and keeping connected across the generations.<br /><br />Daniel and I tested out a feature called <strong><a href="http://www.grandparents.com/gp/yourvoice/getstarted1/index.html?navbar=menu-home">YourVoice</a></strong>. Easy as anything you can dial the <strong><a href="http://www.grandparents.com/gp/yourvoice/getstarted1/index.html?navbar=menu-home">YourVoice</a></strong> phone number, record a message, and have it sent to the Grandparents (or, of course, Grandma and Grandpa back to the grandkids) over the computer where it can be played at any time. The steps were very easy - I think my main problem was Daniel is not a "phone talker kinda kid" at present.<br /><br /><strong>Grandparents Day</strong> is coming up soon - whether you have a long distance to cover (one of Daniel's best buddies has a Grandma in Colombia), or your family is right next door - I highly recommend checking out this site. Everyone loves a special message just for them!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-44680059873692274252009-08-17T10:52:00.000-07:002009-08-17T19:13:52.218-07:00Hello Summer!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92iSHeXP1M4TprJR98Fk3zTjsVXQ_R0rZ41WvTanaLxOpMtXjC6qi2PMr1_JQAYx463hlI3NAqWw_e0YCH9DZ3V0hE1A7RC3CBkAP01V2gE87maJUDcKKYbqElC3YuLiB6-ACx1Z7pFk/s1600-h/Sun.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370992496497474098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92iSHeXP1M4TprJR98Fk3zTjsVXQ_R0rZ41WvTanaLxOpMtXjC6qi2PMr1_JQAYx463hlI3NAqWw_e0YCH9DZ3V0hE1A7RC3CBkAP01V2gE87maJUDcKKYbqElC3YuLiB6-ACx1Z7pFk/s200/Sun.jpg" /></a>Summer has landed here in New England. There was a haze to the air as I drove to the local farm stand to grab some sweet corn today. Online weather spots were making dire predictions about the heat index... it's mid-August, and I know it's supposed to be hot. We've just had a hugely mild (and overly rainy) Summer thus far. Wonder if we will have a warmer Fall to balance things out?<br /><br />It was a magical birthday weekend, with a Princess party to attend on Saturday and Daniel's very own Knight party on Sunday. We are now getting back into the (hot, sticky) swing of things this week.<br /><br />Congrats to <strong>Andrea</strong>, the winner of <strong><em>The Good Home Cookbook</em> giveaway</strong>. I'm thinking we should all head over to her house for some homemade Pad Thai and pesto and cheese cannelloni!Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-14687612855886294062009-08-01T18:45:00.000-07:002009-08-01T19:31:40.047-07:00The Good Home Cookbook - Giveaway!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPo9vOebbays5bGfC8NYR3rJTweB5PBAWcViGukp-7-mskNZuhBmWRW-_PlESWOesJ8kn0LZizpBqfPCz4iCPyK7GDEJH8J-j0oSz9j3k4C056rcd74bKe55m95IjB7UqtIfxq8TqBng/s1600-h/Good+Home+Cookbook.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 126px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365177119336071378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPo9vOebbays5bGfC8NYR3rJTweB5PBAWcViGukp-7-mskNZuhBmWRW-_PlESWOesJ8kn0LZizpBqfPCz4iCPyK7GDEJH8J-j0oSz9j3k4C056rcd74bKe55m95IjB7UqtIfxq8TqBng/s200/Good+Home+Cookbook.jpg" /></a>I think I've confessed this before, but I'll say it again: I'm a wannabe foodie. Love to eat and try new things. Some of my favorite blogs have a food component like <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/">Bakerella</a> and <a href="http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/">The Pioneer Woman</a>. I think I even indulged in a subscription to <em>Cooking Light</em> once upon a time. My actual skills in the kitchen - meh, not so much. I'm pretty sure I was engaged a very short time before someone started asking if H knew what he was in for when it came to my cooking.<br /><br />Thank goodness for cookbooks. Follow a recipe, I can do. <strong><em>The Good Home Cookbook</em></strong> contains more than 1,000 classic American recipes and bills itself as the only cookbook entirely tested in home kitchens across America. This piqued my interest a bit, as Richard J. Perry states in his introduction: "<em>What is a classic American recipe? ...a recipe that has been handed down from generation to generation in various forms, from cookbooks to menus - recipes that have withstood the test of time."</em> Home cooking can mean so many things to so many people. Whether it's Grandma's pasta, or Dad's burgers on the grill.<br /><br />I like the organization of this book. Chapters group the recipes by Breakfast, Lunch, Salads, Meat, Soups, Vegetables, Pies Cakes and Cookies, and more. I'm usually trying to wrap my brain around a particular meal, so I think this would be helpful. There are various appendices that get into more technical stuff such as canning and pickling, freezing and thawing and so forth.<br /><br />Just a quick flip into the book has my taste buds dancing over a yummy-sounding breakfast frittata, which even has suggested variations of broccoli, spinach and herb, and goat cheese. Many recipes begin with a tiny paragraph (or less) describing the dish and sometimes it's origin, which tickles the storyteller in me as well.<br /><br /><strong>I have one copy of The Good Home Cookbook to give away to a lucky reader!</strong><br /><br /><strong>1.</strong> Hot weather and a picky preschooler both challenge me in the kitchen these days. To enter, leave a comment and tell me your family's favorite home cooked dish.<br /><strong>2.</strong> For an additional entry, subscribe to this blog via email or reader and leave a comment telling me that you have done so.<br /><strong>3.</strong> For an additional entry, follow me on Twitter at @Smittens05.<br /><strong>4.</strong> Tweet about this contest for an additional entry. Be sure to include @Smittens05 so that I can see your tweet!<br /><br /><strong>Contest ends on August 15th. Winner to be announced on Monday, August 17th.</strong>Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254162168073116146.post-71659344546128781702009-07-28T06:03:00.000-07:002009-07-28T07:05:42.820-07:00From the Bookshelf...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNZt5jFl_BNUWr0QOdKbGYmAUfAj0Ny16w5dDHHscTHMb-eJDmyvikM_gV-3Ht-47MOlEiAbdNtTYEYC426mie10opd5PdOnARfgbztOhfyO1Q5ah0tDKgXBTkl3yKLgS4yZ70JOmmsU/s1600-h/Triumphant+Child.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363506041681265458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNZt5jFl_BNUWr0QOdKbGYmAUfAj0Ny16w5dDHHscTHMb-eJDmyvikM_gV-3Ht-47MOlEiAbdNtTYEYC426mie10opd5PdOnARfgbztOhfyO1Q5ah0tDKgXBTkl3yKLgS4yZ70JOmmsU/s200/Triumphant+Child.jpg" /></a>I've been in <em>Mommy Survival Mode</em> this week while H has been out of town.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTsNm8FVsI1pq7d_IyZ8uXFhPpQBHr5VFxY-ewY3W63zmWAAzblwFtkUQU5FOD0XV9D8CK2fyBOs9UtTVvKaCx1dwcp63xigNtYsg6csIo9CBZVmY_Mqh02h5I9bgY-jKRZ5LJ2NdmN8/s1600-h/Triumphant+Child.jpg"></a> The <em>please eat something besides string cheese and crackers</em> struggles have been put aside for the challenge of just keeping up a familiar routine in the absence of Daddy. (Twenty four hours to go!) Thank goodness for playdates.<br /><br />As Mom to a soon-to-be four year old, I can't help but wish that the book <a href="http://thetriumphantchild.com/">The Triumphant Child</a> - a practical guide to raising two, three and four year olds had arrived just a bit sooner!<br /><br /><strong>Chapter One - About Your Child</strong> breaks down information by year, outlining physical - gross and fine motor development, language speech and cognitive development, social and emotional development, practical tips and suggested books for each age. This chapter finishes with a list of recommended toys, and tips about toy safety. All valuable information, and a spot to scout for new ideas.<br /><br />Further chapters are broken out by topics such as routines (morning, bedtime, mealtime), challenges (aggressive behavior, bath time battles, defiance, dressing challenges and more), and changes (moving, preparing for a new baby, starting school...). The book can be read straight through, or bit by bit as you find the most relevant topics for you and your child. Parent stories are sprinkled throughout for some nice illustrations about how some families cope with their challenges.<br /><br />I hardly have time for a parenting book these days. Give me a practical book that can quickly impart information and it gets a special place on my nightstand.Susan S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13652825503815118552noreply@blogger.com0