Banquet Wants to say "Thanks a Million"

There are many times where making meals needs to be easy and most often fast. That's where Banquet helps out around our house. We get the meals and heat them up in the oven . So easy. Escpecially when this momma doesn't want to spend time cooking in the dark. Yeah we don't have lights in our kitchen. LOL. So easy is usually better. 

I love my slowcooker and Banquet has some great crockpot meals that are so good. My kids eat them up ! I think our favorites are the Homestyle Bakes. They are so yummy. Of course a family of five I sometimes have to use two boxes just to satisfy all theses bellies and the ones that come over to play. 

Banquet has been feeding families for years and now they want to give back to their loyal fans. Now  they are giving away more than 16,000 cash prizes totaling $1 million! Look for specially marked Banquet single-serve dinner meals in your grocer's freezer during the months of February, March, and April to see if you are a winner!

Check out their website for recipes,  games, and nutrition information. I think tonight is a good night for a Banquet Crock Pot meal . Nice on a rainy day!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Banquet and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

SmartKnitKids Giveaway

I have two boys with Sensory Integration Disorder. Loud noises bother one and not the other. One likes to jump, ram, crash into things, the other doesn't like the feel of certain foods in his mouth. But one thing they both have in common is the socks. They bug the snot out of both of them. I don't think I have been able to keep socks on those two since they were babies. It's winter now and very cold here in NC. I want them to be warm and prevent illness. But what can I do short of duct taping there socks to their feet?

I found the answer when SmartKnitKids contacted me. I told my boys about these special socks before the mail came. So they knew they were coming. Advanced warning always helps my boys deal with the unknown. The day came when the socks arrived and both boys ripped open the packages just to "check them out".

There are no seams in these socks to bug them. Nor are there heels so there's no right or wrong way to put them on. They put these socks on "just for a minute" (they made sure that I knew they would appease me for a second or two). But lo and behold 5 hours later they still had the socks on. My youngest  they were his favorite socks and my oldest commented "I can't slip and slide in them mom, these are safe socks". 

So now I just need fill up their sock drawers with these and I'll be one happy mommy! These socks are affordable and come in several colors and they also come in a big kid size that fits even adults! I think I might get me some too!

How would you  like to try these out for yourselves? Want to win three pairs of SmartKnitKids Socks? All you have to do is leave a comment. Want an even greater chance of winning? Become a fan of SmartKnitKids on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Tell me that you did in a separate comment. The winner will be chosen using the random generator on February 26th! This giveaway is open to all.

Good Luck!

Help me Organize my Craft Room!!!

For a a few months my husband and I have talked about moving the playroom upstairs and moving his office into the playroom. This would give me a sewing/craft room, and a rather large one at that. This came to fruition this past weekend.

My boys moved in together and we bought them bunkbeds. Which they are very proud of. The playroom is now upstairs and my husband has his nice office  off the living room. I have this HUGE room all to myself. And I'm loving it. But I'm not quite sure how to set it up. I'm on a very limited budget but It to be a creative and fun space for me to work.

So readers, I need you to help me out here. Take a look at my pictures and give me some ideas on how to decorate and organize this space.

                                         This is looking to the right of the door. At the moment I have all my fabric, thread, ribbons and buttons stored here. My furry assistant sleeps here as well.I'm not sure what to do here. There is a whole in the floor where our internet goes into the basement and there is one outlet over here.

 

Ok So I'm not the most organized person on the planet. This is my desk where I post on my blog, cut with my cricut, sew, and cut fabric. Not the prettiest desk in the world. I would like to have something smaller. I like my table I use for cutting but I don't have to use it for that. 

It was made by my hubby's grandfather.  

Yes I know the door needs a few more coates of paint. I'll get around to it eventually. If you can't read the words on the picture. That other door leads to our bedroom. It will be taken out and replaced with drywall so there will be more wall space some time soon.  The floors are 100 yrs old  and the polyurethane comes off when you roll the chairs on the floor so I need a rug.  The other door across the hall. . . is the bathroom. Nice and convenient. LOL

This is taken from the door to the hallway. There are 9' ceilings and a door to the outside (there is one more door on this side of the fireplace. Four doors in all). The fireplace doesn't work. It's coal burning but I still like it. The lighting in here is awful. It's not bright enough for me except on sunny days. So I need some good lighting but I can't put pot lights up. There is no subfloor upstairs and we wouldn't want nails or screws sticking out in the floor up their. OUCH!

All that crap is going on craigslist so it should be gone by spring.  . . maybe.   Oh and I hate that chair. It's too high and it doesn't fit under the desk or the table. 

So here's what I do in this room, I sew, make handmade cards and sell what I make on Etsy. I have two sewing machines, a Cricut Expressions, a Serger and a ton of papers, stamps, notions, etc. So what do you think? Got any ideas? I will post your ideas on friday with a link to your own site. Got pictures of your craft room? Or one that you would like to have? Post them and sign Mr. Linky. I need all the help I can get!!!!

Craft Project Thursday

Plant One on Me

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Total Time Needed:

1 Hour

Here's a two-in-one card that promises budding friendship now and blooming flowers later. Inspired by a botanical valentine made by 6-year-old Sophia Nicholson of York, Pennsylvania, this greeting comes complete with a packet of seeds and is one any recipient would dig.

Materials

• Packet of seeds
• Double-sided tape

• Card stock
• Markers

 

Instructions

1. Cut a pot shape from folded terra-cotta-colored card stock.
   
2. Add a flowery message to a packet of seeds and transplant it with double-sided tape to the card-stock pot.
   
3. Add a message to the inside, and you've got the perfect way to tell that special someone he's really grown on you. 
   
   
   This project is brought to you by the Family Fun site. 

Pens, Pencils, Markers

Autism touched our lives when Little Monkey was 18 months old. I noticed that he wouldn't look anyone in the eyes, would spin objects while humming, would only eat foods that had a bread around it, and freaked when his hands were wet, sticky or dirty.

At that time he wasn't even uttering a word. Words didn't come to him until the age of three and now there's no stopping him. He loves to ask the same question over and over and over. Even if you have already answered him. In fact, the other day I asked him to stop asking questions so I could explain something to him and he said "I'm not asking questions, I'm talking"

When there are too many people around him and the voices are loud he tends to get irritated rather quickly and starts to hum and will leave the room and shut the door to get away. He doesn't hug he leans in so you can hug him. And If toys are not played with the way they were intended he gets very upset.

He will be 5 in two days and we are having some issues that are and will effect him in school. He will not draw, paint, or color. When we force the issue he only gets angry. It's the same way at school. The teachers try to get him to do something but just won't and he takes his hand back quickly when made to touch a pen, pencil, paint brush, crayon or marker.

He will be in Kindergarten Readiness next year but even with all the help he will recieve I think he's going to have trouble with writing. I have tried incorporating the Glow Station by Crayola because he likes lights. It worked for a while and now he cringes when I turn it on.

I'd like you guys to share some ideas on how to get him to pick up a writing aperatus without cringing or getting angry. Next week I will post your ideas  on my blog. I'm sure a lot of other parents are dealing with the same thing and need all the advice they can get.

With Autism, you have trial and error to get your child to feel comfortable achieving a goal. It's a lot different than a typical child and we as parents of these special needs kids learn to think outside the box. These ideas and outside the box thinking can also help a typical child too. So keep those ideas coming!

When do we find time for "US"?

Whether you are a working mom or not our lives are hectic to say the least. We get up an ungodly hours of the day to make sure our kids actually have clothes on and eat something other than oreo cookies for breakfast.  Some of us don't get a reprieve since we still have little ones at home that want to eat the toilet paper, wash the windows with the toilet brush, and play let's hide mommy's debit card. Not only do we manage to curtail these hazards we also clean, pay the bills, do laundry, cook, shop for food, decide what is for dinner, play tag outside in the cold with the little ones, make lunches and then maybe at naptime we might get to take some time for ourselves.

What's that ? Is that the phone rining? I didn't hear anything.  . You know your not going to get your much need breatk when you hear on the other line "I need a HUGE favor". Yep it's babysitting time! By the time the love of your life is home you are too tired to even muster a inquisitive conversation about how his day was. 

And lets not forget your other half. He probably didn't sleep well since one or all of your kids decided that it's much more fun to sleep in bed with mom and dad.  The minute he gets to work (which is ten minutes late because of an accident on the highway)he is bombarded with stupid questions that he knows they all know the answer to. He puts out fires, talks on the phone to clients till he's ready to throw the phone out the window. He doesn't even get a lunch since everyone else is gone for theirs and by the time they get back it's time for that important meeting that he has to try and stay awake for.  Your brave knight weathers the sea of vehicles, rude drivers, and bad weather only to come home to your precious children vying for his attention . 

You both help with homework, play legos, princess and read stories.  Finally, it's bed time  . . . but you two are two tired to do anything. You both are exhausted  and fall into bed and then it starts all over again.

When do you find time for the two of you to spend quality time together? Do you go out on dates? Your relationship with your spouse is important. We often forget that we need to spend some time alone together . You don't have to spend money to do this. Have a picnic on the living room floor after the kids have gone to bed. Play a board game just the two of you, Take a walk together in the park or your neighborhood, These are just a few ideas. 

KY Brand is helping couples find that special time we all need. Ky Brand has a facebook page called Couples Place where you can get advice, tips and ideas , recipes for that special meal, and more information on how their product works.  Couples Place is holding a contest called "America's Top Couple". Just tell them why your relationship is so special. Prizes Include:

• Romantic trip to New York City
• Professional photo shoot
• Feature in a national magazine
• $1000 in spending money

Make time with your other half and strengthen your relationship. It takes work with both of your busy schedules but it's worth it!

“I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of K-Y Brand and received samples of the Yours + Mine and Intense products. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Craft Project Thursday

Valentines Day is coming fast. And there are many many valentine craft project out there in the blogosphere. And I wanted to share with you a few of my favorites.

Valentine Shaped Lai's
Valentine Card Holder for Kids
Valentine Booklet
Felt Heart Garland
Valentine Felt Bracelets

There you have it !!! These are my favorites that I have found so far. Do you have a valentine project posted? Link up here!

Wordless Wednesday

Brothers

Crafty Candy

Dawn at All Pink Girl is having a giveaway. And girls it's fabulous!!! That is if you are into crafting!
Is that not awesome??? A full set of Inkadinks! WOW! Head on over to All Pink Girl to Enter!

"I Don't Want to Miss . . . " Contest

Preventing illness has become a huge part of our daily lives. But with kids, it goes in one ear and out the other. The Clorox Company is dedicated to helping people reduce the risk of illness. The products are awesome and we adults use them and have learned to take action when it comes to illness preventions. But the kids , well sometimes they need a little help for it to sink in. So, Clorox has come up with a way to help the younger crowd. Making it cool to be a pro-active germ fighter.

In its second year, the I Don't Want to Miss... contest is accepting entries from late January to early March. The Clorox Company is calling on school musical groups nationwide to develop a video performance of a song written by Berklee College of Music student Will Wells on what teens would not want to miss out on if they were home sick and why prevention is important. School groups are encouraged to be creative and put their own spin on the song. Download song/lyrics under "Important Links."

Visit The Clorox Company page to learn more about germ prevention.

What can your school win???

For each entry submitted, The Clorox Company will donate $100 (up to $10,000) to the Sophia's Heart Foundation, a charity founded by Danny Gokey in honor of his late wife, Sophia and dedicated to helping children achieve academic success via musical training, and restoring musical dreams in children.

Prizes:

- Grand Prize: Former American Idol finalist, Danny Gokey, will lead a music class at the winner's school

- First-Fourth Place Prizes: Framed, autographed photo of Danny Gokey

- For the first 100 groups to submit, the teacher will receive a care package from The Clorox Company.

So get those music classes involved and get these kids excited about music and keeping themselves healthy!

My kids wrote a list of the things they would miss out on if they were home sick with the flu. Here is there theory on the subject.

• Jumping on the Trampoline (this is very important)
• Not getting to go to Carowinds to sing
• Riding my bike in the neighborhood
• Not getting to go to story time at the library
• No visiting Papa and Anya at the Farm
• No friends over
• Getting to eat with everyone at the dinner table. Eating alone in your room is lonely
• Shopping with mom at the craft store
  

They thought this through and had a huge list but these are the most important ones they picked out for me to list here. My kids still have a lot to learn about protection themselves from illness. I still have to fight with them to cover their mouths and wash their hands. But the more I remind them the more it will sink in.

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Clorox and received $20 thank-you gift certificate."