Win a Betty Crocker Cookie Gift Set

I was fortunate enough to host a Betty Crocker Cookie Mix House Party. Not only did the guests get to sample yummy cookies, but they also received the above shwag from me their hostess, and Betty Crocker. Even though all of my internet friends could not share in the party directly - I wanted to be able to share a bit of the yummy fun, so, I am giving away one of these party bags to one lucky internet friend!

The Package includes:

3 cookie trays

a Betty Crocker mixing spoon

Christmas cookies magazine from Better Homes and Garden

A recipe booklet with coupons from Betty Crocker

and

Your choice of Betty Crocker cookie mix

To enter:

1. Mandatory Entry - Visit the Betty Crocker website and leave a comment below telling me what your favorite Better Crocker product is.

For Additional Entries:

2. Visit my Kids In the Kitchen Gather articles posted here and leave a comment.

Homemade microwave popcorn
S'mores Pudding
Yummy apple shakeups
Mummy Hotdogs
Mini apple pies

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

3. Tweet this contest and leave me a comment below.

Winner will be drawn December 15th!

Teresa W. is the winner!

Stride rite Cyber Monday Celebration

Stride rite is celebrating Cyber Monday, this Monday the 30th,by holding a Fan Celebration Day on www.facebook.com/striderite. The day will be full of fun and prizes! Stride Rite Facebook fans are invited to log on Monday, November 30thfrom 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST for hourly giveaways with amazing prizes including gift cards and gift bags from Stride Rite Children's Group brands including: Saucony Kids, Sperry Top-Sider Kids, and more. There will also be a fan-only coupon for Cyber Monday shopping onhttp://www.striderite.com/ and a mystery prize valued at over $600 that fans can enter to win throughout the day!

To kick off the festivities, Global Influence is hosting a Twitter Pre-Party Sunday, November 29th from 9 to 10 p.m. EST. There will be seven Stride Rite gift card winners and participants will be among the first to learn about the Fan Celebration Day on Facebook. To learn more and RSVP, please visit :http://tinyurl.com/yfjucsj

My football boys

My boys are loving their football season despite the fact that they've only won 1 game! Here are my football boys.

Luke wants to join in, and Tyler really has a game face!

Back To School Party and Prizes!!!!

24/7 MOMS is ready to kick off a New School year with a 2 hour virtual Back To School party and they are giving away over $3000.00 worth of fabulous stuff!

When: Tuesday August 11, 2009 Time: 7:00pm PST / 10:00pm EST
Location: www.247moms.com

Driving!!!

Our oldest boy, Parker is 16 years old, and officially behind the wheel. Scary to say the least! It is difficult knowing that your kids are growing up, and even worse when you know you are trusting them behind the wheel of a dangerous machine. One thing I have found to help us make it though this process is the free book written by MetLife® Auto & Home and reviewed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) which outlines routine driving skills into lessons parents can teach their teen.

You can get your own copy here.

Yobaby Review and Coupons

My kiddos love to eat yougurt, and one of their favorite brands was yobaby from Stonyfield farms. Yobaby uses all natural, organic ingredients in all of their recipes, so you know that you are giving your little one something that is not only yummy, but good for them too!

There are several flavors available including: apple, blueberry, vanilla, and banana.

You can find coupons for Yobaby here.

Posh Tots Coupons

Save $100 on any purchase of $750 or more at Posh Tots. Use coupon code CJ750 during checkout to get $100 off $750 or more at PoshTots

How to Change a Frog Into a Prince

As a mom to 6 boys, I absolutely LOVE this poem! It captures the role of raising a boy so well:

How to Change a Frog Into a Prince
by Anna Denise

Start with the underwear. Sit him down.

Hopping on one leg may stir unpleasant memories.

If he gets his tights on, even backwards, praise him.

Fingers, formerly webbed, struggle over buttons.

Arms and legs, lengthened out of proportion, wait,as you do, for the rest of him to catch up.

This body, so recently reformed, reclaimed,still carries the marks of its time as a frog.

Be gentle. Avoid the words awkward and gawky.

Do not use tadpole as a term of endearment.

His body, like his clothing, may seem one size too big.Relax.

There's time enough for crowns. He'll grow into it.

Sunday Stealing: The "Get to Know Your Friends" Meme

Sunday Stealing: The "Get to Know Your Friends" Meme

1. What is your occupation right now? Substitue teacher and a city councilman

2. What color are your socks right now? white

3. What are you listening to right now? my hubby is watching ESPN in the background

4. Last person you spoke to on the phone. my husband

5. How old are you today? 33

6. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? gymnastics

7. What is your favorite drink? Diet Coke

8. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes

9. Favorite food? pizza

10. What is the last movie you watched? He's Just Not That Into You (hilarious!)

11. Favorite day of the year? Christmas

12. How do you vent anger? yell

13. What was your favorite toy as a child? a Cabbage Patch Kid

14. Living arrangements? With hubby and 6 boys (also my mother lives with us)

15. What was the last thing that you cried about? can't remember - probably during a movie - I am one of those people that cries during Hallmark commercials

16. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Carisa since 3rd grade

17. What did you do last night? went to the movies

18. What are you most afraid of? fire

19. In how many areas of your country have you lived? 4

20. What is your favorite flower? orchids

Anonymous Donors Help With Woman's Heating Bills

Thanks to the generosity of strangers, 72-year old, Mary Burris was able to pay her $500 electric bill. The woman's home doesn't have central heat and she was using her stove to generate heat. Her electricity was on the verge of being shut off on Wednesday because of a $500 past due bill.

Burris' story was shown on a local news station and two viewers decided to step in and help. Two individuals agreed to pay Burris' bill.

Neighbors also stepped in and purchased Burris four space heaters and covered the home's 20 windows with plastic to keep the cold air out.

Burris said she's grateful for the strangers' kind gesture and said her future looks brighter.
Have you ever helped someone in need of assistance?

New Year's Resolution to Get Better With Finances

Like may people, I am using the new year as a great time to re-look at our finances. Here are a couple of things that I have decided to focus on so that we will have a bigger saving account by the end of the year:

1. Establish an emergency savings account that is equal to 3 months of our monthly expenses. We need to have savings to cover ourselves when all of those "little" emergencies that come up. I don't sub in the summer and my hubby's hours always get cut, so we end up in a bind each year. In order to do this, we will set aside a consistent amount each paycheck.

2. Clean-up our debt. We are lucky enough not to have too much in credit card debt - we have under $3,000, but we have a lot of medical bills that we need to take care of. All US residents have the right to a free credit report each year, so I will be ordering one for my husband and I today from this free annual credit report site. Because you are allowed one report per bureau each year, some experts advise staggering requests (ie. requesting one from TransUnion this month, one from Equifax in May, and one from TRW in September. This will allow you to order three credit reports per year, and provide you a way to monitor your credit throughout the year. We will set aside an amount to pay towards debt reduction each month - as we pay off a debt, that amount will be added to the debt reduction amount as well. If we are able to build up our 3 month reserve, that amount will also go towards debt reduction.

Do you have any New Year's Resolutions regarding your fnances?