WW: Whodunit? - Oh well Army-style discipline

This one said it was that one and that one said it was this one and it wasn't me's (I read too much Dr. Seuss :) ) etc. So both will do the time.

For more Wordless Wednesdays check out 5 minutes for moms , Wordless Wednesday

Read More

My soul in knots.

My soul is in turmoil. I'm in a spiritual battle and it's a battle because I want to please my Lord, I want to be submerged into his word and have him direct my life, but I'm' selfish and I don't give all....
And I'm reaping the fruits of this with desperate little prayers strewn here and there and unconscious rehearsed thank you's to God for the glimpse of sunsets that saw me, because I was too busy to see it, but actually got a glimpse, or for the mere little thing of seeing my child's little hands as she washes up. Those adorable, tiny little hands that will do so much in her lifespan. They are prayers, but what about actually spending time alone really talking, thanking God.

I must be giving my all to God in everything, wherever I am. Yet I fail miserably because I'm selfish. I'm selfish with my time. There's always something better to do that needs to be done now. Yet I forget who gives me this precious time.

My soul, oh my soul cries out for His water, for peace, for growth, for life, to be refreshed like after the rain.
Emotionally I feel bereft. My marriage is on a knife blade and can fall either way. Trust was broken again and I feel to retreat to that place that protects me as I did my whole life growing up in those orphanages. Yet I am conflicted because now it's no longer just me. Not only have I promised myself not to retreat anymore and face things as they happen, but I have children to think about and a marriage that, with all my heart, I'd love to see flourish and grow, yet I am numb as to even want to put forth the effort to prune, water, feed this union right now. I am numb.
It would be so easy to focus on the children, but then it still wouldn't be a wise easy.

Maybe it is harder because I am not in control as much as I'd love to be in control. I know it is harder because I am selfish, but at what point is it self preservation instead of just mere selfishness?

...something's gotta give...


....I'll begin with praying....

Read More

Winners!

The winner of the Autograph set of Dr. Hippo Book Series is


Congratulations # 23 Donna

The Winner of the pair of eyeglasses from EyeBuyDirect up to $100 (excluding sunglasses and designer frames) is


Congratulations # 11 Vickieb

Please look for an email and send in your information.

Thanks everyone for entering and for the support. I do appreciate it.

Read More

Aloha Friday #Tres

Kailani says "In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response."

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link on Kailani's blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My question is:

Do you let your child go barefoot at the playground?

There is no way I'd let my child go barefoot at the playground. In our yard yes, but at the playground no.

Read More

WW: My little Helper

Sometimes she stands on her little chair and sometimes she likes the idea of tipping :) But either way, she loves to handle the utensils by unloading them from the dishwasher. Let's hope this willingness continues in teenage years ja? :)



For More Wordless Wednesday check out, 5 minutes for moms

Read More

This mother needs your help!

Please help my family kick cancers ass!

I don’t even know where to start this post…its going to be hard to write, as I am already choking back tears and haven’t finished the first sentence. I am taking some hours away from the hospital, to write this and to try to clear my head.

As many of you know my youngest son was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) 2 days ago, the day my world fell out from under me.

We took him to the Dr. the other day because he was bitten by either a spider or a tick. Shortly after we noticed the bites we saw he wasn’t feeling well, kind of lethargic, and not eating much, he also was limping in one leg. I assumed he was having a reaction from the bites.

Read Ezra Story.

Ezra has a blog, Called For Ezra
Please stop by and offer your support and donation.

Visit his mom's blog Manic Mother.

You will fall in love with Ezra and his family. Please offer your support.

Read More

I appreciate the love :)

Jayne from Can We Stop This? has given me an award and I feel all warm and fuzzy :)

Thank you Jayne. I do appreciate you.

Now I'll have to share my sharings. However I don't mind because I do love these blogs. If you can't play that's ok, just pass it on whenever.

Let's pass it along, here is how:

Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.

Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

My list is:

1. Bubba Bubbles
2. Katydid and Kid
3. Go Graham Go!
4. A Giveaway Addicted Mommy
5. Robynn's Ravings
6. Rylee For Life
7. One of the Jones!
8. Jolly Mom
9. The Jacobsen Family!
10. An Island Life
11. "Budgets are the New Black"
12. JAM's Own Reality
13. My Edition of Gab
14. Thoughts from the Mrs.
15. Barefoot Mommy

Read More

Aloha Friday #dos

Kailani says "In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response."
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link on Kailani's blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My question is:

What is your favorite vacation spot or somewhere you dream of going for the perfect vacation setting?

I think mine is Ireland. I think it's gorgeous there and I love the Irish accent and want to do the dances and try the food and visit the lush country sides etc and I've always wanted to go since I was a child and would read geographical information books. However I went to Hawaii and it was fabulous and I'm wondering what can top that...maybe having more money to enjoy more things? :) But I still would love to go to Ireland.

Read More

Eyebuydirect Review and Giveaway!

The Winner of the pair of eyeglasses from EyeBuyDirect up to $100 (excluding sunglasses and designer frames) is


Congratulations # 11 Vickieb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was invited to do a review and giveaway from EyeBuyDirect.com. I got so very excited about this because I really needed a pair of glasses and was putting off getting my eyes checked because of budget concerns.

There are so many choices of frames to choose from on Eyebuydirect and I think I found the perfect one! I've always wanted a rimless and you can just imagine my excitement when I found one that would support progressive and bifocal, the Rimless Eyeglasses - Hattie – Pink.

So I have my prescription and it turns out there is a little glitch. My prescription is off the charts! There customer service rep tells me they will try and see what can be done, so for now I don’t yet have a pair of glasses to review, but I’ll wait anxiously and do a review at a later date.

So can your papa or spouse or sibling use a new pair of glasses? EyeBuyDirect has a wide range of frames to choose from and it can also fit into your budget! Go check them out and treat a loved one to a pair of glasses in their favorite style for this Father’s Day!

EyeBuyDirect is named one of the Internet Retailer Hot 100 Websites of 2009! They provide prescription eye glasses starting as low as $7.95 and allows customers to try on their frames online before placing their order through their eye try system! Orders over $99 within the US gets free shipping ! Isn’t so cool!

About EyeBuyDirect Inc.
EyeBuyDirect Inc. is a global prescription lab and optical retailer specializing in the volume production of affordable prescription eyeglasses. As a manufacturer, supplier and retailer of optical supplies, EyeBuyDirect is not only involved in every step of the eye wear production and distribution process, but has also developed an efficient, streamline approach to the optics supply chain. With a global manufacturing program and three worldwide sites cooperating in unison to harness state-of-the-art technology, EyeBuyDirect is committed to producing innovative, high quality frames and lenses.

EyeBuyDirect regards quality, innovation, service excellence and unbeatable value as of utmost importance. As owner and operator of online retailer EyeBuyDirect.com, the company has quickly emerged as a formidable and dependable brand in consumer optics. Fully integrated prescription labs and offices in the United States and globally have enabled the sourcing of in-house opticians, technicians, and professionals from around the globe. A close-knit team is focused on delivering high value services to customers and business partners alike, as the company aspires to become the world’s leading global prescription lab and online retailer.

EyeBuyDirect.com
Launched in 2005 and emerging today as a major player in the global online retail sphere, EyeBuyDirect.com is a prescription eye wear website offering an extensive range of high quality, affordable frame and lens packages. The site offers its budget-conscious and style-savvy shoppers a fast, simple and efficient way to browse an extensive online catalogue, and enables them to purchase eye wear from the comfort of their own homes. Users have the added option of uploading their photo to ‘virtually’ try-on their desired eyeglasses, as well as receiving feedback and opinions from other users to help inform their decision – all contributing to a fun and interactive shopping experience.

About the Founder
Roy Hessel, founder and CEO of EyeBuyDirect Inc., is fervently committed to making prescription eye wear affordable to everyone. Mr. Hessel believes that sight should be a right, not a privilege, and therefore EyeBuyDirect aims to provide competitive prices in hope of reducing the disparity between those who own glasses and those who are not so fortunate. His management style places importance on superior product quality and customer satisfaction, in addition to continuous innovation in all facets of operation. Mr. Hessel is also the founder of the ‘Eye for an Eye’ charity.


You can watch a feature here on ABC about Eyebuydirect:


________________________________________________________________

Now for the giveaway!

One person will win a pair of eyeglasses from EyeBuyDirect up to $100 (excluding sunglasses and designer frames).

This giveaway is open to worldwide entries. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win.

Here’s how to enter:

To Enter, you must do both of the following:
1. Visit EyeBuyDirect and post your "Eye Try" photo with your favorite frame to the Wall of Frame .
This cool “Virtual Dressing” room feature is a great help to customers that want to try on something before they buy it, and the Wall-Of-Frame is where customers can share tips and comment on each others photos.
Come back and leave a comment with a link to your photo.

2. Leave a comment stating the name of the eyeglass frame you would choose if you won.

Extra Entries:

3. Take a look at the EyeBuyDirect Wall Of Fame. Choose a person’s photo and leave a comment. Then leave a comment here with the link to the photo on which you left your comment.

4) Subscribe to my blog (2 extra entries)

5) Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post AND to EyeBuyDirect.com. Then come back here and leave a separate comment with the link to your blog post. (5 extra entries)

6) Follow me on twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. ( You can do this once a day) - @calliesan Eyebuydirect Review and Giveaway! http://bit.ly/LarJz

8) Follow my blog

9) Add my button to your blog.

10) Enter my Dr. Hippo Book Series giveaway: ‘I entered your Dr. Hippo Book Series giveaway.”


Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on June 20th 2009 at 11:59pm CT A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog.

Read More

I Like Animals / Me gustan los animales DVD and t-shirts from Boca Beth Giveaway

________________________________________

Music Monday with Free Bilingual Song Download and Giveaway for Children from Boca Beth

Enjoy this FREE download of one of our biggest bilingual children’s hits titled I Know the Days of the Week / Yo sé los días de la semana

Simply click the title of the song above, and have fun introducing Spanish and English to the young children in your life!

Want to win the DVD that has the music video of this song (PLUS 7 other songs on it) PLUS two Boca Beth bilingual t-shirts?!?!? Head over to Boca Beth to enter.

Win the I Like Animals / Me gustan los animales DVD from Boca Beth PLUS one children’s and one adult Boca Beth t-shirt (the same shirts that were worn during the filming of some of the music videos!)

Contest ends Monday, June 15th at 5 pm EST. Winner chosen via random drawing.

Read More

Gotcha!

One morning she just showed up at my bedside, telling me she slept well. I was quite interested to find out how she got out of her crib. So after nap in the afternoon I heard her getting up and went in to see this :) I rushed daddy to come running with the camera.
So now I lowered the side of the crip so she can get out without injuring herself. I guess it's about time for her big girl bed ja :)



For More Wordless Wednesday check out, 5 minutes for moms

Read More

Aloha Friday #uno

Kailani says "In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response."

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link on Kailani's blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My question is:

What's the best thing that ever happened to you?

The best thing that ever happened to me was that I met my husband and got married and have my children and therefore my life became full and alive instead of monotonous and packed with echos of painful childhood memories that overshadowed future hope in anything or anyone. Today I feel like I mean something to someone and not just a shadow that isn't there. I must thank God for this journey.

Read More

Dr. Hippo Book Series Review and Giveaway

The winner of the Autograph set of Dr. Hippo Book Series is


Congratulations # 23 Donna
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first stories published by the Hippocratic Press are the five titles in the Dr. Hippo Series about common childhood illnesses: cold, fever, ear infections, sore throat, and vomiting and diarrhea. Each picture book includes a separate Parent Guide written in question/answer format. The Parent Guide answers common questions about children health issues and offers parents advice about how to comfort children at home and when to call the doctor.

I received these five books to share with my family and they are just wonderful. I love how Charlotte make the stories come alive and very appealing to children so they can understand what's going on with their bodies when they are sick and also give parents some control in knowing what to do and what's normal and what to expect. I'm so glad for these because I do panic a bit when my children get sick and I'm not sure if something worse is happening on the inside.

My kids want me to read all of them at one time in every setting! They can't get enough! I love these books and will buy some as gifts for my family with younger children.

Here's a bit about Charlotte the Author and her much needed books:

The Hippocratic Press was founded by Dr.Charlotte Cowan with the primary mission of publishing medical children's stories that entertain, educate and reassure both parent and child.

A board certified pediatrician, Dr. Cowan worked with parents and their children for many years before leaving her busy practice at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston. She knows childhood inside out, and she has taken care of children both when they have been sick and when they have been well—but stumbling over developmental issues.

I hope that The Little Elephant with the Big Earache helps to reassure children and their parents as it educates them about ways to take care of earaches at home and suggests when to call or see the doctor. The accompanying Parent Guide, Ear Infections Made Easy, should certainly answer any questions parents may have. The decision to use antibiotics depends on several factors and should be made after careful consideration by the pediatrician and parent.

Katie Caught a Cold is a story written to illustrate the excellent care of a child with a cold. Katie is kept comfortable by her mother who avoids over the counter cold and cough medicines. Dr. Hippo explains that antibiotics are unnecessary and makes sure to tell Katie's mother when/if she should worry about Katie's illness. The separate Parent Guide, Conquering the Common Cold, offers helpful tips for worried parents.

Peeper Has a Fever demonstrates an intelligent and thoughtful approach to caring for a child with a fever. In addition to the comforting story, the included Parent Guide, Figuring Out Your Child's Fever, offers clear suggestions about calling the doctor for advice when your child has a fever.

Sadie's Sore Throat tackles the problem of strep throat in children. It shows both parent and child not only how to take care of a child with a sore throat but also what to expect at the doctors office. The Parent Guide, Simplifying Sore Throats, explains the appropriate care of a child with a sore throat; in the case of strep, this includes a full course of antibiotics after a visit to the doctors office for a necessary laboratory test.

The Moose with Loose Poops is written with warmth and whimsy to help children feel better when they have to deal with vomiting and diarrhea (gastroenteritis). The included Parent Guide, Getting Through Gastroenteritis, explains what to expect during this illness, how to avoid dehydration—including tips for how much fluid to give a sick child—and when to call the doctor.

This collection of stories has been written to entertain, educate and comfort sick children—and their parents. I hope they both feel better soon!

___________________________________________________________

Giveaway:

Charlotte has offered to give an autographed set of the Dr. Hippo Series to one lucky reader.

How to enter:

Please remember to leave an email address where I can reach you if you don't have a blog with your email.

1. Visit Dr. Hippo's blog and leave a comment on any post, leave a link to the where you left the comment. (Mandatory entry)

Extra entries:

2. Follow/subscribe to my blog (2 extra entries)

3. Tweet giveaway - @calliesan Dr. Hippo Book Series Review and Giveaway http://bit.ly/2sQY5X

4. Blog about giveaway and leave a link (3 extra entries)

5. Follow/subscriber to Dr. Hippo's blog

6. Grab my button

Giveaway ends June 20th 11pm central. Winner will be announced here and via email.

Read More