Nielson Home Scan Panel

Do you want to have YOUR OPINIONS heard?
If the answer is Yes, then I have the perfect place for you. 

It's called the  Nielson Home Scan Consumer Panel.   You can earn valuable points, which are redeemable for electronics, household items, jewelry, toy, gift cards, and more.

And they are taking applications for their current panel.

One of the relatively new things with this panel is that you no longer need to have a landline.  For a very long time, you could only participate in the panel if you had a landline (you know those hardwired phones we all have/had in our house).  Now that is not required.  I've been doing this for a while now and I have to say I am having so much fun scanning everything I buy to effect what is offered in my area or from my favorite companies.

Join Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel and you too can have YOUR voice heard.

We have a WINNER of Baby It's COLD Outside!

Yes indeed we have a winner.  I just love to be the "bearer" of glad tidings.

I think we had a pretty good turn out for this giveaway ...... even with or maybe because of, the mystery items that are to be in the box.

The Winner of the 

2.5lbs of Starbucks Hot Cocoa and Mystery Items in the 

Baby its cold outside giveaway is .......

#459 Mary Baker

Congratulations Mary.

I sent off an email to Mary last night and have already heard from Mary, so I will be sending off her box of "goodies" later this afternoon.  I hope that she will enjoy all the mystery items as much as the Hot Cocoa!

But before I packed up all her winnings, I took a picture so that I can share with everyone what Mary won.

In case you can't see everything in the picture, In addition to the huge canister of Hot Cocoa from Starbucks, we have mini-marshmallows, mini candy canes to use as stirrers (and to add a peppermint flavor), some flavorings (almond, coconut, raspberry and orange) to give some extra variety to all that cocoa and some cinnamon sticks.  We have 2 mugs with cute snowmen on them and a mini wire whisk to help mix everything up.  And in case you have too much cocoa, we also included 3 boxes of holiday teas.  Oh and a 2 year (yes 2) calendar to keep appointments and birthdays and such together in one place.

Shoooooeww  This box is HEAVY!
I just got back from the post office ... this box is almost 9 pounds!

I had fun with this one ......... now I have to think of another something to do for a giveaway.  I wonder what I can do - any suggestions?  What would YOU like to see coming in YOUR mailbox as the next winner?

BRRRRR its cold

Oh Yeah .......... 

BABY ITS COLD OUTSIDE!

American Family $50,000 Sweepstakes

$50,000.  

What could you do with $50,000? 

I bet you wouldn't have to think too long about what wonderful things you could do with $50,000. I know that I wouldn't have too much trouble coming up with things to do with that much money!

I still have one child in college - so I'm sure you know what would happen with that money.

But then I have another one that wants to buy a house ....... and thinks that the "bank of mom" would be able to help out if he needs it. And of course he is right, I would help out IF I could.

I also know that I just HAD to enter this Sweepstakes. I just HAD to give it a shot and try, because you know what they say .... You CAN'T win it, IF you're NOT IN IT.

Ok so that was kind of corny and way too commercial (but then again the Lottery Commission probably loved it), but you get the idea.

SOOOOO WHAT are you waiting for?
Get clicking on the button and enter! Who knows - YOU could be the Winner of $50,000 from American Family

New Years 2011

Do you have any plans for this New Year's Eve?

Do you have any "traditions" that revolve around New Year's?

For the last oh 15 years or so our "tradition" has revolved around my daughter and the TV production of the Ball dropping. Jenn and I will watch the hoopla on the TV (neither one of us wants to venture into the city and mega crowds)

When Jenn was little we would do the same thing BUT I always had to promise I would wake her up before midnight so she could watch the ball drop.  Now sometimes she has to do that for me !! Nope I'm not getting old .... not me.

Even if one of us is out for the evening - we always send a text wishing the other Happy New Year.

So what are your plans?  Any parties?  Or Get-together's planned?  There still is time to get one together - it doesn't need to be anything elaborate.   You could have everyone "dress up" or just be casual and relaxed and comfortable.

Dinner, snacks, drinks, friends, great conversation, maybe some drinks or champagne  ...... and the TV set to watch the festivities at Time Square. 

Instant PARTY.  See I told you it could be so easy. 
So THAT is what I am expecting to do this New Year's Eve.  What about you?

Merry Christmas

IF A FAT GUY GRABS YOU  

AND PUTS YOU IN A BAG,

DON'T WORRY, 

I TOLD SANTA

I WANTED  

A GOOD FRIEND  

FOR CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS
and
HAPPY NEW YEAR

Santa Tracker 2011

It's that time again - whether you have kids at home or not - to follow the travels of Jolly Saint Nick.

Santa Tracker

Merry Christmas 2011

The day is almost here.  

All your gifts have been wrapped.  

Your plans have been made.  

Very soon the kids will be waking 

before the sun 

to see what 

Santa has left under the tree. 

I have but one gift for you this year.  

Please accept as it comes from my heart.

Merry Christmas to all

and to all a good night.

My very special Christmas Card

Happy Birthday Dan

I'm having a lot of trouble here today.
It's good trouble but trouble all the same.

You see 26 years ago (holy Moses HOW did you get to be so old?) my son was born, at 7:17 PM to be exact..

Even though we have been through a lot in your 26 years, 

from kindergarten to grade school to middle school. .  

And the fire department and rescue squad and extrication teams and such .......  

along with high school and college.  

Then the fire academy.  

My gosh you have been so busy.  

We have been proud of you each step of the way, as you found your "niche" and grew into the wonderful young man you have become today.

Happy Birthday Son.  

You are the best Christmas present 

Dad and I every received under our tree.

O Christmas Tree

I really love decorating our Christmas Tree, except for the time it takes to do it.  Don't get me wrong, I love how it looks but our Christmas tree is sort of a walk down memory lane.

Every tree should have a Marshmallow Man right??

Ours does.







So as we decorated our tree we went down memory lane and remembered things like the year Jenn graduated from kindergarten - they did a short play on Winnie the Pooh.  Jenn was Winnie, so




  

Or when Dan graduated middle school with honors









Or the year he graduated from High School


















And then there was the year Jenn caught the bouquet at my sister's wedding

















Or when she went cross-country to go to the Marine Corp Ball with her "bestest" friend, and then boyfriend, and then "bestest" friend again (affectionately called Son2 - Hi AJ)

Oh and look what else we find on the tree for "guess who"

Or the year I was the soccer coach for Dan's Soccer team and was assisting with Jenn's (yes I was a glutton for punishment)















And there was our 25th Wedding Anniversary

And of course we ALWAYS have some reindeer who stop by to watch over our tree

Yes walking down memory lane is always fun this time of year.

So many memories are held on our tree.  Some are the same for both our kids, like first Christmas and graduations to sports they excelled in.  But it also shows the things that make them so different. 

We even have an ornament or two for our not so little fur baby! 

Yes, walks down memory lane, no matter how long it takes, is a wonderful thing to do this time of year!

What about your tree?  Do you have special ornaments on your tree?

Happy Hanukkah

To all my friends and readers who are Jewish, 
              I want to wish you a very 
                    Happy Hanukkah

Tis the Season Blog Hop

Come join in on the fun at Blogaholic's Tis the Season Blog Hop .........

Dear Santa

Dear Santa:

I don't want much for Christmas, I just want the person reading this to be happy and healthy.

Friends & Family are the fruit cake of life - 

some nutty, 

some soaked in alcohol, 

some sweet 

but mix them together and they're still my friends & family.








I know that everyone has been rushing and rushing trying to make everything perfect.  But I have just one Christmas wish for you.  

I hope you all have 

a wonderful, 

healthy, 

happy and 

Merry Christmas. 

Don't miss out on my "Baby its Cold Outside" giveaway - the box is "filling up" so make sure you get your chance to win ... what all starts out with Starbucks Hot Cocoa and goes from there.

I believe

I had to "borrow" this one from a Facebook Friend Echoes of Love.

I really do love this one --         

                                 

no matter who or what you believe in, 

this one picks up so many things that, 

I believe, are right up near the top 

of what is also worth believing in.

So does this one rank right up there near the top for you?

Diamond Candles

Have you seen these candles in action?   I haven't seen them "up close and personal" YET.   I just ordered a few to "try out" at DiamondCandles.com.

If you haven't already seen them, they are Soy Candles that have a "surprise inside" - sort of like those Cracker Jacks Boxes.   Do you remember asking for those as a kid? Well now you can ask for Diamond Candles just like you did with those Cracker Jacks Boxes as a kid.

They have been super popular.   A few years ago, everyone gave those lottery scratch off tickets (or the pick a number ones) with the hope of giving someone a really big pay day.   Now you can give these candles with the hope of giving an expensive ring along with a really awesome candle.
As their website says, "we have real rings worth $10, $100, $1,000, or $5,000 in every single earth friendly, all natural soy candle that we make."

Christmas Sample Pack

Now who wouldn't want to hear that their gift was even bigger than they originally thought?   Could you just imagine giving, or receiving a candle that holds a $5,000 ring inside?   Can you just hear the squeals of delight?  They have some really interesting candle scents that you can use separately or combine to make some personal fragrances.   How about Cinnamon Roll and White Chocolate?  Or Vanilla Cream and Gingerbread Latte?  I can't wait for mine to arrive.

And I love the story behind Diamond Candles that all began because David wanted to be creative when he gave Brenda an Engagement Ring.  Don't you just love "creative" people?

As I said, they are super popular right now - they even sold out for a bit. But one of the great things is if something you want is "out of stock" you can request they advise you when it is back in stock. They will send you an email when it is available again. That's what I did and as soon as I got my email, I jumped on over to their site and placed my order.

They have Sample Packs as well as Individual Candles.  And some great sounding scents that fit all occasions and seasons.  They will eventually be coming to a shop near you, but until then, you can order your candle at DiamondCandles.com

I'd love to be able to say I'm holding a giveaway for these right now ... but I am sorry to say I can't right now.  BUT you never know when or if they could end up on these pages.  Stay tuned, just in case.

Did I say, I can't wait to see and smell these very interesting candles?



I'm trying out WordPress so if by chance you've seen this on WordPress here, its ok - it's me too.  I'm just playing right now to see how I like it and if I am going to make the "leap" from blogspot to wordpress.  If you've already made the change - any suggestions?  Any things I should be looking out for?

Recipe Inspirations by McCormick Giveaway Winner

We have a WINNER!!

I just love being the bearing of GOOD news.  Don't you?

The winner of the McCormick Recipe Inspirations Spice Cards is .............

#139 Kim Henrichs

I have sent an email to Kim to congratulate her and request her snail mail address. 

She has 48 hours to respond (Monday at midnight).

About Shopped out and Tired and No not done

Have you finished your Holiday Shopping?

I still have things to get but this pretty well says it all for me ....

Every year I think I'm going to be done by Thanksgiving and every year we roll into the middle of December and I'm still looking for things, waiting for things, hoping things arrive, or still debating what to get. It really is maddening. Some days I just feel like this by the time I get to sit down and have something to eat.

Happy Birthday Sis!

WOW yet another year has gone by. 

I can't believe that my baby sister is another year older. 

Hmmmm how old are you now?

Oh wait I know ....... 

12 years younger than me.

Shhhhewwww you're gettin' old!!

Happy Birthday 

to my Tigger Lovin' Sis!

Hope there are 

lots of these 

coming your way

zuuzs Holiday Gala Giveaway - Last Day

 zuuzs.com has been running a Holiday Gala Giveaway to help get us in the Holiday Spirit and of course to give us a little more to spend.  Did you enter?  Today is the LAST day. 

If you haven't entered already - you have already missed 14 great prizes, but today is the "biggest and bestest" of them all.  Lets get you registered so that you won't miss out on this one.  I can't believe today is the last day of  this wonderful and diverse giveaway - HOW did that happen?

Hopefully you know that  zuuzs  is THE place where Friends Meet, Shop and Earn right?  

You should check it out - some seriously great cash back deals can be found here   

AND a Holiday Giveaway too!

Today's prize, like all the others before it, will be, selected by a random drawing of all entrants.

Today is 

Day

which means it is the $200 Kindle Fire

Oh I so want this one for my daughter!!!

Drawing Date	Prize	Value
December 1st	Amazon Gift Card	$25
December 2nd	Target Gift Card	$25
December 3rd	Best Buy Gift Card	$25
December 4th	Kohl's Gift Card	$25
December 5th	Gap Gift Card	$25
December 6th	Macy's Gift Card	$25
December 7th	Wal-Mart Gift Card	$25
December 8th	Amazon Gift Card	$50
December 9th	Best Buy Gift Card	$50
December 10th	Target Gift Card	$50
December 11th	Wal-Mart Gift Card	$50
December 12th	iPod Shuffle	$50
December 13th	Garmin Nuvi GPS	$100
December 14th	Canon PowerShot Elph Camera	$150
December 15th	Kindle Fire	$200

Wouldn't this help you out this holiday season?  I know it would help me.
And once you join, you will see that they have some serious good cash back deals available while you shop.

The steps to enter are really easy:

1. register as a member of zuuzs (1 entry)
2. Link your profile to your Facebook® account. (1 entry)
3. Invite a friend or friends to become a member (1 entry for each friend that registers)

Unfortunately this is only open to US readers

but hopefully they will have Canadian retailers very soon.

See I told you - very easy to join in on the giveaway, and just as easy to shop.  And then you can watch those cash back deals roll on in.  So if you didn't win any of the 15 wonderful prizes in this giveaway, you can at least get some serious cash back when you buy through zuuzs.  I know I am in and will be shopping through zuuzs because they have some great partners, like  Chef's catalog

Don't forget to enter my McCormick Recipe Inspiration Spice Cards and my Baby It's Cold Outside (Starbucks Hot Cocoa and more) too - super easy too.

Thanks to  Stacie from Simply Stacie for the heads up on this and so many other great things around the net.

iTunes Card - Reader Appreciation Giveaway WINNER

My Reader Appreciation Giveaway winner has been selected. 
I made it before the end of the 48 hours!! 
But you expected me to do that right??  I know I expected it of myself.

The Winner is .....  

#477 Jen!

I have sent an email to Jen at the email address provided to congratulate her and request her "snail mail" info so I can get her things to her. 

Please remember you have 48 hours (so until Friday (12/16) at midnight) to get me the info so I can pop it in the mail Saturday morning.

Stay tuned for more posts and giveaways. 

Have you entered my current giveaways already??  Check the box (top right) for links to my current giveaways to enter those as well.

What I've Learned

Once again I've stolen this one from one of my cousins. Hmmm I wonder if I can continue to just say I've "borrowed" them? I mean I don't want to be known as the family thief.

So what do you think? I'm a a good "borrower"?

Life Interrupted - Dec 14

Good morning all.

I have to select the winner of the Reader Appreciation - iTunes Card today, and I will get an email out to the winner ASAP.  I would have done it yesterday (as is my norm) but I was in a tax seminar ALL DAY (after only getting about 3 hours sleep the night before) ........ and to be honest was so tired and brain muddled by the time I got home I didn't get to even open the rafflecopter to see how many entries there were.

While I am checking out the process, I have a couple of places I wanted to share with you

If you haven't already checked out AllFreeHolidayCrafts on Facebook - you really should.  They have some great ideas to keep things "real" but still fun.  I've been getting their free newsletter 101 Days of Holidays and I have to say I'm loving all the ideas!  Sorry I should have been sharing this with you when I first started in the Fall.  ok I'll hang my head in shame. 

They have other "allfree" places to go too for fabulous (and easy) things that you can make for Christmas at AllFreeChristmasCrafts , and AllFreeSewing or AllFreeCrochet.  Yes you should check these out too.

Another place I find some awesome ideas for my menu planning (ok rarely do I plan - its what looks good and what do I have the stuff for) is All Free Copycat Recipes.  I find recipes for restaurant items as well as "store bought" things like crescent rolls (that's today's featured recipe).

Ok I need to get things going here - I need to run into the office this morning and then I will be back to select my winner and send out the email and then announce it here.  ..... Stay tuned - I promise it will be no later than mid afternoon (here on the East Coast) and then I have to decorate my tree ........ Christmas will be here before I know it!

zuuzs Holiday Gala Giveaway - Day 14

zuuzs.com is running a Holiday Gala Giveaway to help get us in the Holiday Spirit and of course to give us a little more to spend.

If you haven't entered already - you have already missed 13 great prizes.  Make sure you are registered so that you won't miss out on these remaining prizes.  I can't believe we are already in the last days of this giveaway - HOW did that happen?  It means that Christmas will be here before we know it!

Hopefully you know that  zuuzs  is THE place where Friends Meet, Shop and Earn right?  

You should check it out - some seriously great cash back deals can be found here   

AND a Holiday Giveaway too!

Look at the prizes that just keep getting better each day.

There will be Fifteen (15) Prizes, selected by a random drawing of all entrants.

Today is 

Day

which is a $150Canon PowerShot Elph Camera

oh look mom no more missed memories!!

Drawing Date	Prize	Value
December 1st	Amazon Gift Card	$25
December 2nd	Target Gift Card	$25
December 3rd	Best Buy Gift Card	$25
December 4th	Kohl's Gift Card	$25
December 5th	Gap Gift Card	$25
December 6th	Macy's Gift Card	$25
December 7th	Wal-Mart Gift Card	$25
December 8th	Amazon Gift Card	$50
December 9th	Best Buy Gift Card	$50
December 10th	Target Gift Card	$50
December 11th	Wal-Mart Gift Card	$50
December 12th	iPod Shuffle	$50
December 13th	Garmin Nuvi GPS	$100
December 14th	Canon PowerShot Elph Camera	$150
December 15th	Kindle Fire	$200

Wouldn't this help you out this holiday season?  I know it would help me.
And once you join, you will see that they have some serious good cash back deals available while you shop.

The steps to enter are really easy:

1. register as a member of zuuzs (1 entry)
2. Link your profile to your Facebook® account. (1 entry)
3. Invite a friend or friends to become a member (1 entry for each friend that registers)

Unfortunately this is only open to US readers

but hopefully they will have Canadian retailers very soon.

See I told you - very easy to join in on the giveaway, and just as easy to shop.  And then you can watch those cash back deals roll on in.  Great places to shop are included at zuuzs.com don't miss out on any more cash back deals - get registered ASAP AND get entered into the giveaway

Don't forget to enter my  McCormick Recipe Inspiration Spice Cards too - super easy too.

I am thanking  Stacie from Simply Stacie for the heads up on this great giveaway and site and for all the other great things she shares with us.

Kitty wanna play?

Wanna play a game?

zuuzs Holiday Gala Giveaway - Day 13

zuuzs.com is running a Holiday Gala Giveaway to help get us in the Holiday Spirit and of course to give us a little more to spend.

If you haven't entered already - you have already missed 12 great prizes.  Make sure you are registered so that you won't miss out on any more.  I can't believe we are already half way through this giveaway - HOW did that happen?  It means that Christmas will be here before we know it!

Hopefully you know that  zuuzs  is THE place where Friends Meet, Shop and Earn right?  

You should check it out - some seriously great cash back deals can be found here   

AND a Holiday Giveaway too!

Look at the prizes that just keep getting better each day.

There will be Fifteen (15) Prizes, selected by a random drawing of all entrants.

Today is 

Day

which is a $100 Garmin Nuvi GPS

oh look mom no more getting lost !!

Drawing Date	Prize	Value
December 1st	Amazon Gift Card	$25
December 2nd	Target Gift Card	$25
December 3rd	Best Buy Gift Card	$25
December 4th	Kohl's Gift Card	$25
December 5th	Gap Gift Card	$25
December 6th	Macy's Gift Card	$25
December 7th	Wal-Mart Gift Card	$25
December 8th	Amazon Gift Card	$50
December 9th	Best Buy Gift Card	$50
December 10th	Target Gift Card	$50
December 11th	Wal-Mart Gift Card	$50
December 12th	iPod Shuffle	$50
December 13th	Garmin Nuvi GPS	$100
December 14th	Canon PowerShot Elph Camera	$150
December 15th	Kindle Fire	$200

Wouldn't this help you out this holiday season?  I know it would help me.
And once you join, you will see that they have some serious good cash back deals available while you shop.

The steps to enter are really easy:

1. register as a member of zuuzs (1 entry)
2. Link your profile to your Facebook® account. (1 entry)
3. Invite a friend or friends to become a member (1 entry for each friend that registers)

Unfortunately this is only open to US readers

but hopefully they will have Canadian retailers very soon.

See I told you - very easy to join in on the giveaway, and just as easy to shop.  And then you can watch those cash back deals roll on in.  I had a Chef's catalog that I received recently where I found some things I was interested in (dog-earred the pages) and now I'm going to be looking at how much cash back I can get through zuuzs.

Don't forget to enter my  McCormick Recipe Inspiration Spice Cards too - super easy too.

I am thanking  Stacie from Simply Stacie for the heads up on this great giveaway and site and for all the other great things she shares with us.

Bedrooms / Beds of the "future"?

So tell me what do you think of these beds/bedrooms? 

What do you think your kids would say if they had THESE for their very own??
What would you think?


How about a little "nest" for that warm fuzzy comfy feel each time you lay down?

I'm not sure I could actually "sleep" in this room - but then again it might be pretty cool to be living "under the sea"

Deck the Halls

I absolutely LOVED this video!  

It is a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays with a little "fun".  

Check it out.

Deck the Halls

So what did you think?  Where they not really good?

Baby its COLD Outside Giveaway

I don't know about where you live but it is really getting cold here.

I'm not good with cold.  Maybe as a kid I was, 'cause I loved  sledding down the street (yes street - I'm a Philly kid), ice skating, making snow angels .... even with my kids I loved to be outside in the snow.  But not anymore.

Snow is a four letter word.  :)  I know I know.  Kids still love the "white stuff".  They still love to play in it, watch it fall begging to go outside.  But for me its much nicer to have a fire in the fireplace (or wood stove in my case) with a mug of hot cocoa when that stuff is out there.  How about you?

To celebrate (yes I used that word) the season I have picked up a huge canister of Starbucks Hot Cocoa for one of my readers so they can have some "warm moments" in the new year.  Since I have some time before this giveaway ends - I will continue to put things into the box to make this giveaway even bigger.  But those things will continue to be a surprise until it is won!

I know its nice to know exactly what you are going to win, so here is the part you will know up front  .... but sometimes surprises make life interesting.  Trust me they will be nice surprises - I promise.

We will be using Rafflecopter.com again for this giveaway AND its the new version!  I'm really excited about this.  I love new stuff - don't you?