The Price of Freedom

In honor of Memorial Day, I wanted to share with you all a poem I wrote in 2004 shortly after my friend was killed in action in Iraq. I was best friends with his wife and I spent a lot of time with her and their children. I saw his daughter ask about her dad. She was only 3 and I knew his son would never have a memory of his dad because he was only 10 months old. I want to remind you all what Memorial Day is about.

The Price of Freedom

What is the price of a soldier’s blood
Their mangled bodies laying in mud
We speak of freedom but lives were lost
How many more lives will the so called freedom cost
The 15 minutes of fame
All that is left is just a name
On a plaque in some museum
What happens to the family left behind
The pain never lessens so they find
Children left without fathers
Never an explanation why
So many nightmares too much time to cry
Some so young no memories they ever had
So many unanswered questions Where is my dad?

Remember to thank a soldier and remember the fallen. Thank you to all the soldiers and my brother in law Mike. Rest in Peace Chris and all the other fallen soldiers. Thank you to those who gave their lives for our freedom.

I hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day Weekend. Please take a few moments to remember exactly what the price of freedom really is.

This poem was written directly about the experiences I went through and saw. I am not saying only men are soldiers.

Not all Wal-marts are created equal.

I am going to tell you all about a series of experiences that I endured with a Wal-mart store. This is something that I will remember for a very long time because it really made me irate. It all started when I lived next to a Wal-mart. I went to this Wal-mart frequently. At least three times a week. It was just through the gate of the gated apartment complex I lived in. It was a quick walk. So, it started out like any other day on a typical Wal-mart trip. I went around and picked out some stuff to purchase. I found some clothes for Noah. They were on clearance for $1 each. I picked out a bunch and got him some Gerber puffs and a couple other things and made my way to the check out.

I always make it a habit to watch the prices ring up. I noticed the clothes and the puffs were all ringing up wrong. I said something to the cashier who looked at me like I was a nutcase. She then made me walk back with her and show her the prices. No big deal right? Oh no. I know that Wal-mart has had a policy of if the item doesn’t ring up right you and it is under $3 then you get the item free or you get $3 off if it was more. All the items were under $3. They then told me they never heard of that. The CSM never heard of it, although, it was written on the little check stand in front of me. They made me feel like stupid and crazy. They made me cry. The store had many issues not to mention the cashier and CSM couldn’t figure out how to void a transaction. I think they were trying to make me concede and leave. They shortly removed all of those signs on the check stands. I have been a Wal-mart customer for a long time and was well aware.

Well I decided after I was in tears in the middle of Wal-mart I wanted to talk to the store manager. I had been treated like garbage and I wanted to make it clear that it was unacceptable. The store manager called me the next day and talked to me for forty five minutes. He told me that he wanted me to gather my complaints and come in to the store and have a meeting with him. I had made a list of many things, this was not the first or last time this happened within the scope of being a customer at this Wal-mart. I documented all the phone calls and everything. I wanted to feel that since they were getting my money they could have their employees treat me and all other customers with respect.

So, I spent time writing down my concerns because I thought that he really cared about my thoughts. It came to the day of our meeting, Noah had been not been feeling good. I took him out with me to Wal-mart because I didn’t want to miss my appointment and my mom was going to come get him. I get there nice and early and the service desk acts like I am on drugs and that they had no idea I was coming. I wait for a half an hour and this lady said Chris had an emergency and had to leave. OK fine. Most people have cell phones or a store full of employees that one could have picked up the phone and called and said something. I was so annoyed at the time. I tried to call him a few more times and each time he hung up on me. Remember this was Chris’s idea in the first place.

I called Wal-mart’s 1800 number. They told me they couldn’t do anything. They said that they would call the district manager. So, Duane, the district manager called me and talked to me for a while and then he said he wanted to meet with me when he was in the area. Duane also told me that he has worked for Wal-mart for a long time and the policy that I tried to have them honor was still their policy. Then the store manager called me and said that I wanted a meeting with him (Chris). That is what he said Duane said. I said it was Duane’s idea and he was like oh, it was Duane’s idea, with complete sarcasm in his voice. I called Duane and he said that he was going to have a talk with Chris because I was really upset. Duane said that he was going to call me to meet with me when he got back from his business trip and it has been two years and I never heard from him again.

Wal-mart’s customer service wouldn’t do anything. I repeatedly emailed them. I still have the emails. I guess they emailed me back saying give us more information and we will forward it to the right department. I even replied that the proper department will not do anything. They never replied. I told Duane that I wouldn’t hold my breath; he of course lied and promised he would contact me.

My favorite line in my email back to Wal-mart is I guess a mom’s voice gets buried under all of the bundles of cash that Wal-mart makes. In this case it is true.

Bridepower.com Wedding Dress Contest

As some of you may know my sister got married a few weeks ago. I went with her to her final fitting and there were tons of wedding dresses to try on. I wanted to try some on just for fun but I didn’t want to be fussed over. I did happen to look at some of the price tags and the wedding dresses were all really expensive. A wedding is one of the most exciting events in a person’s life, one that you want to be perfect. A lot of it centers around the perfect dress, some people spend months or years looking for that one dress that makes them feel like a princess. I know for some they can’t afford a dress at all. I think that every woman deserves a chance to have a beautiful wedding dress and Bridepower.com thinks so too. That is why they are giving brides to be a chance to win a beautiful designer wedding dress, veil and makeovers to a couple brides that have heartfelt stories of perseverance in the BridePower and VOWS GI Gown Giveaway.

It is easy to enter just share your story with Bride Power. Are you having a financial hardship? Did something happen that changed your plans that was out of your control? Maybe you or your fiancée have health or family issues? No hardship is too small. They would love to hear your story.

Please email Bride Power your story along with a picture. You may be selected to win a beautiful designer gown, veil and a make-over. You must be willing to travel and appear at the VOWS showroom in Watertown, Massachusetts sometime this May or June. You must also agree to be filmed for a reality TV show telling your story, choosing your dream wedding gown and receiving an amazing make-over!

Please email all submissions to leslie@bridepower.com no later than 6/1/10. You will be notified by 6/6/10 if you have been selected. Please include your contact information.

Good luck to those who enter! Let me know if you do and I will root for you! This is an amazing opportunity for those who are getting married! Please remember no hardship is too small, if you are interested at all please enter!

OnTray Review!

Ever since I can remember, I have enjoyed those free samples at the grocery store. The more samples the better. I have passed that on to Noah, and he almost always samples something at the store. Normally it is a free cookie from the bakery. I try not to give him the whole thing at once because knowing him he would gobble it right up. I also am trying to teach him to savor his food like I do. I think it is a lot more enjoyable when you take your time to eat. When I get him a cookie I try and break it in to pieces, but it is really hard to push a cart while holding a cookie and protecting it from the germs of the handle. So, when I had the opportunity to review an OnTray I was really excited because many times I have had trouble steering the cart when I am holding all kinds of snacks for Noah.



OnTray is a brilliant invention created by Laura Hamrick who is a mother of three, to make shopping easier when you are shopping with small children. It is a little covered tray that you can put snacks in or coupons in to keep your hands free while you are pushing the shopping cart. You could even fill it with snacks from home if you are not a big sample person like I am. I personally can’t stand when people open things in the store without paying for them first so, it is free samples or a snack from home for my family.

When I received the OnTray, I wanted to go to the store immediately, to try it out. It is such a practical item and definitely made our trip to the grocery store easier. Sometimes I prefill the OnTray, other times I bring it empty. It just depends where we are going. I am pretty familiar with what stores have the free cookies, crackers and other items to try. It is great for things like Cheerios and Goldfish. It works so much better than a plastic bag because Noah tends to spill the bag. Sometimes he isn’t paying attention or he has trouble reaching the bottom of the bag, he just turns it upside down. Then it is like we are Hansel and Gretel and we leave a trail of food behind us in the store or there is a bunch of Cheerios all over the floor in an aisle. I don’t like to make messes and getting smashed up cereal in my shoes is such a pain.

I really like that it costs only $7.00 which is such a bargain for such a lifesaver item. That way if you forget the OnTray on the cart it is easy to replace or have spares. They are also safe for the top rack of the dishwasher making clean up a snap. It is also BPA Free and made in the USA. You could even heat up some chicken nuggets in it in the microwave with the lid off and then take it and go. Some families are really busy and I have seen people bring in what I consider meals in to the grocery store because there is just not time otherwise. Thankfully my family is not that busy and I hope we never are.

For more information please check out the OnTray Website

The OnTray is available at Babies R us and other retailers.

Thank you to OnTray for sending me a complimentary OnTray for my family to try out.

The Bees and me!

I was on Facebook and I was reading a status update from my friend Brandy of Happily Blended about how she mowed through a swarm of bees and didn’t get stung, and it brought up a memory of mine from when I was in elementary school. I commented and said “That's good you just gave me an idea for a blog post lol”. She responded “Oh no! LOL funny how a short status update on FB can give us bloggers a story idea!” We both got a good laugh about it. I thought I would share two funny bee stories with you. I have quite a few funny bee stories. I must be as sweet as honey because they always bother me.

I was in elementary school, and it was recess. My friend and I decided we would be cool and tough and kill bees. I don’t know why we decided to do it. I was in 3rd or 4th grade. We decided we would step on them. We were trying to be cool, and show off I assume as it was a long time ago. Well we spent almost all of recess trying to kill bees. I wasn’t very successful, we would try and step on one and run away so we wouldn’t get stung. I finally killed one. Me being the brilliant 3rd or 4th grader I was, picked up the dead bee and put it in the palm of my hand to show my friends and the other kids in my grade. Then it happened, I realized I had been stung. I looked around for the bee so I could step on that one too and then I figured out, I stung myself with the dead bee. I had to go to the nurse’s office and it hurt so bad. In the defense of the bees, this first story was my fault. All the other times I was minding my own beeswax.

It was my birthday and I decided I wanted to go to an Amish Fair for my birthday with my friend. I was a weird child. I even took folk dancing as an extra activity in school. I was very interested in other cultures and you know how I like fairs. I also love cotton candy. I was standing there eating pink cotton candy and I was wearing a skirt and I ended up getting stung by a bee on my thigh. It hurt so bad.

After that bees and wasps visiting me on my birthday became a reoccurring thing. Maybe it was a curse for stomping on a bee in elementary school. I really don’t like bees especially after seeing My Girl. It was so sad and terrifying when the bees killed Thomas J. I will be sharing a couple more bee stories in an upcoming post.

Upcoming review from CSN Stores

I have a really cool review coming up from CSN Stores. They sell almost everything and I am really excited to share about all the wonderful things they sell and share my thoughts with you on what I am reviewing. What is it I am reviewing? Well that is a surprise. You will just have to wait and see, in the mean time check out these sectional sofas. We have a sectional couch in our house and it is the most comfortable couch. I love all the space it has. It is more fun when you have a big couch to stretch out on. It is easier to have space for when you have company too. I have been squished between two adults on a couch before and it makes me feel a little uncomfortable especially when it is someone I don’t know too well.

So, be on the lookout for my review from CSN Stores coming up soon.

I formula fed MY child, that doesn't make me a monster

First and foremost, I want to say that I have nothing against women who breastfeed their children. That is great if that was the choice you made for your family. The great part of being a mother is making choices for your children. I decided not to breastfeed my son, and that was my personal choice. I know there are a lot of women that feel strongly about breastfeeding and that is fine. What is not fine is how some advocates make women who formula feed out to be bad mothers or monsters.

This is the mentality I have seen over and over again in the blogging world and frankly, I am getting quite sick of it. I keep hearing that formula companies kill babies in foreign countries; babies that co-sleep and tragically pass away are only formula fed babies. Really? Let’s just not sit there and be like oh and by the way if you would have fed your child the “right” way you wouldn’t have had this tragedy happen. That is just heartless and cruel. I personally think co-sleeping is not for my family, I personally think that co-sleeping is dangerous no matter what your child drinks. I am not saying that people who chose to co-sleep are bad parents or monsters; it is just not for my family. How is it that some breastfeeding advocates can sit there and make outrageous claims and make other mothers feel like crap because they don’t share the same opinions as you? Since when did it become YOUR business how I fed MY child?

My son is three and a half and is perfectly healthy and he has only been sick a couple times since birth. He is smart and very talkative. Guess what he guzzled down his formula. I decided I didn’t want to breastfeed him which was my choice. Thankfully, I didn’t feel any pressure from the hospital I gave birth in to breastfeed. I had already been there for two weeks, they knew I would bite back. I had to wait a while before I got to hold Noah too because they took forever with my recovery and to bathe him. Oh, I had a C-Section, which means I had drugs. I didn’t have a choice with the way I gave birth, so he would have had to wait to be fed.

You are not a better mother than I am, because you breastfed. You don’t have the right to make me feel like I am a monster or I don’t care as much about my child. You chose your breast, I chose a bottle. I think what we should do is embrace each other as fellow mothers and not let it come between us. No one is right or wrong. The judgments need to stop. We are just doing what is best for our own families and children and that is all we can do.

Kid's Pajamas

Noah loves to wear pajamas. He must of gotten that trait from me. I am a pajama girl. Noah has tons of really cute jammies. I usually buy him Carter’s because I love the way they look and feel. I was a Carter’s kid too. I really like Carter’s but I don’t think that the pajamas for older kids last as long as baby jammies. Noah has many pajamas with holes in them. The footed ones are the worst. I don’t like when his little toes are sticking out. Some of his other pajamas have completely fallen apart with him inside them. It isn’t always the Carter’s ones. It makes no sense.

Yes he is bigger and more active than he was when he was an infant or only a year or so but it’s not like he is super active in them. It’s not like he plays football in them. OK maybe pretend football but not to the point where it is rough. I always try and get sizes that are roomy for him. He is known to put stuff in his “pockets” aka his jammies. He also has pajamas that he has that are his favorites. Right now it’s his brown space ship pajamas and his fire truck jammies
(the second generation).

I am not sure what the deal is. I wish they would last longer. He must have his momma’s luck when it comes to pajamas falling apart because you all know I have the same problem. I wish pajamas came with a warranty that they wouldn’t fall apart until your child grew out of them but I don’t think that would ever happen. It’s kind of frustrating. Kid’s pajamas are not cheap unless you get them on sale or a clearance. I feel like I am constantly buying him pajamas. I don’t really mind because I want him to be comfortable. They just need to last as long as it takes for him to go to another size. I am aware that kids can stay in a size for quite a while. It is not like it is happening right away. I guess some of the pajamas are like the velveteen rabbit and the ones that are the most worn out are the most loved; which is true in our case.

What kinds of pajamas do you put your children in? Do you think it happens to you too or do I manage to pick the defective ones in the store every time?

What is The 99?

What is The 99? It is a simulation of the bad choices that some teens make. It is a safe way to show them the consequences if they make the wrong choices in life. The number 99 is based on a statistic that 99 teenagers die each day from unnatural causes and bad choices such as drugs, fighting, suicide, domestic violence and car accidents. There are gruesome scenes of crack houses, where you find people overdosed and dead, car accidents where the teens are hanging out of the window bloody and mangled. It takes the haunted house to the next level. We all know there is no such a thing as Freddy Krueger or the wolfman, so when we go to those haunted houses they are just fun. The 99’s tent brings the haunted house to life, real life.

Sadly, most teens know someone who has overdosed or died from a car accident, they see their friends and themselves in the faces of the actors. This is a intense wakeup call for them. Normally, it just starts out with a little bit of drugs or drinking at a party, then it escalates where they are no longer in control and the drug or alcohol will take over. Those situations are very dangerous and they could lead to a whole host of problems and ultimately death. I urge you parents to take your teens or have them go with their friends and see The 99. What is the 99 travels all over the country. You can check on their website for when they might be in a town near you.

Firehouse Review and Giveaway--2 winners!

Noah is the typical little boy who loves fire trucks. I am not sure if it is the fact that they are bright red or the fact that they have flashing lights and make noise. Either way, Noah loves everything that has fire trucks or toys that look like fire trucks. So, when I had the opportunity to review a book about fire trucks, I was excited because I knew Noah would love it. I told him about it shortly after I knew it was on the way. He talked about the fire truck book all the time while we were waiting for it to be sent.

The book we received is called Firehouse. The book is written by Mark Teague who also wrote and illustrated Funny Farm, a 2009 Parents’ Choice Silver Award Picture Book; Daer Mrs. Larue, the 2002 Book Sense Illustrated Book of the Year; Detective Larue; Larue for Mayor; and Pigsty. He is also the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling How Do Dinosaurs series by Jane Yolen. Firehouse is the story is about Edward and his cousin Judy as they spend a hilarious day learning how to be firefighters. From a fire drill that leads to a slippery slide down a fire pole, to a hysterical battle with an out-of-control fire hose, Edward is in for an action-packed adventure. And when faced with a real emergency, can Edward save the day?



The day the book arrived Noah was so excited. We opened the package and he hovered over me while I got it out for him. He spent the rest of the day looking at the book over and over again. We went to the store and Firehouse went in the car with us. We went to visit my sister and Firehouse went on our trip to my sister’s with us. Noah would sit down and study each picture and tell me all about what he saw. He loves Firehouse! I think that the book is really cute and I love how it is written. It is fun and exciting. I am really big on reading to Noah and I love to tell him stories. It really helps to build a strong foundation in your child’s education. I am so glad to have Firehouse in little library of books in our home.

For more information please visit HERE.

Thank you to Scholastic for providing me with a complimentary copy of Firehouse for my family to review and providing the giveaway prizes.

I have a giveaway for you too!



Two (2) Winners will win:
Copy of FIREHOUSE!
Copy of FUNNY FARM
Copy of How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?

Mandatory entry: Please tell me your child’s favorite book.

You must do the mandatory entry for the bonus entries to count.

Bonus entries:

Subscribe to my blog via email. You must verify it.

Follow my blog

Tell me who you want to win these books for

Follow @sheilacakes7 on twitter and tweet this giveaway with a link to this post.
Remember you must be following me. This can be done once a day.

Add my button on your sidebar and tell me where I can find it.

Please remember to leave your email address in your comments or have it accessible on your blog.

This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only.
This giveaway will end on May 28, 2010 at 11:59 pm ET.

Tuesday Top Five: TV Shows

My friend Shasta of Faithfully Frugal and Free has created a meme called Tuesday Top 5. Today’s topic is Top 5 favorite TV Shows.
Mine are:
#5 Desperate Housewives
#4 Judge Judy
#3 The Secret Life of the American Teenager
#2 Law and Order SVU
#1 NCIS
Be sure to check out HERE for more Tuesday Top Five fun!

Bath and Bodyworks

I used to work at Bath and Bodyworks when I was younger. It was a fun job. I have always been a Bath and Bodyworks junkie as long as I can remember. I worked in a store that was upgrading to the new fancy store. I helped them move and set up the store. It was interesting. I met a lot of interesting people and surprisingly I didn’t get sick of the smell of the store. I had to be really perky. I am a friendly person, but I am also a tad bit shy. I don’t like being all in your face like you have to be with that job. Most of the people I worked with were really nice, I had fun joking around with the cute stock guys even. I learned something I wanted to share with you all. It’s not really a corporate secret but it is something that not everyone knows and I didn’t until I worked there.

Everything at Bath and Bodyworks has a 100% guarantee. How long does the guarantee last? For-ever( in my best Squints voice). Does it have to be new? Nope, if you decide you don’t like the scent anymore you can exchange it. You know your sense of smell changes, especially if you bought it when you were pregnant or if it reminds you of a horrible memory. Have no fear you can take it back no questions asked. I have actually put it to the test. There were things I had for years that just didn’t smell good to me anymore and I exchanged them. The receipt was somewhere buried under 50 feet of trash in a landfill, they gave me store credit, they didn’t give me the price I had paid for because some of it was discontinued packaging or scents.

Of course I am not telling you to clean out your drawer of Bath and Bodyworks products and exchange them, but I know we all have that one or two bottles of lotion or bodywash where we are now thinking what the heck that stinks. I am almost convinced that they pump scents in the air ducts so you are in a scent coma that forces you to buy more. That’s my story and I am sticking to it. We all know it is almost impossible for me to walk in there and not come out with something. It’s not that I am out, it is quite contrary. I have plenty. My two favorite scents are from the classics collection and I stock up on them after Christmas when they are super cheap.

My favorites are Pearberry and Country Apple. I also really like Juniper Breeze but I always go back to my old stand bys. I remember how upset I got when they retired Pearberry. I cried a lot. I eventually found it online again but I didn’t want to pay the shipping for it. The next thing I knew it was back in the stores for limited times. Usually at Christmas. So, I have quite a few Pearberry body washes, lotions and sprays. I wish they made it in the antibac soap again. All my sinks have Bath and Bodyworks soaps on them. I need a support group badly. I have gotten a little bit better just because I have so many, but I still get the urge from time to time. I only buy it when it is on sale and/or I have coupons. They always ask me for my email address for coupons and I always say, “You already have all my email addresses.” I went yesterday and bought some more soap!

Sprout For Parents!

I wanted to share with you guys an article I wrote for Sprout for Parents. Sprout For Parents is the parent’s website for PBS Sprout. It contains all kinds of really cool information and ideas from everything from parenting to recipes to craft ideas for adults. It is a great addition to Sprout Online. I really enjoy reading the articles and learning new things. It is something every parent should check out in my opinion. There are things there for parents of any age not just preschoolers.

I am incredibly honored to be a part of Sprout, as a member of The Band of Bloggers and now part of Sprout for Parents as an expert and contributor. My article is about scrapbooking, which is such a fun hobby of mine. I really enjoyed writing the article and I hope it helps people that want to learn more about scrapbooking.

So, go check out my article called Scrapbooking 101. and look around and make sure you bookmark it and come back often because they are always adding new content.

Coupon Confessions

You all know how much I love coupons right? I have a confession; I used to clip coupons that weren’t worth clipping. I was on a coupon train for a while and I would clip every single coupon even for things that I would think others might need. Some of them were for unique items, that only a select few would use. I would also get really excited about triple coupons and dollar doubles it was like my Christmas seriously. I would clip coupons for things I would never get unless it was free, then I would try and donate them if I could. For a while I had a huge collection of deodorants, ketchups BBQ sauce etc. Whatever I could get for free was like a gift to me. My cabinets and drawers became over run with free things I got from those sales. My mom and I used to joke about how many armpits we would need to use all the deodorant we had in our annex. You need to know when a coupon might not be worth clipping.

I try and use coupons whenever I shop if it is possible. I usually look for printables online if it is for a specific store. I also try and find coupon codes if I am shopping online. There are tons of printable coupons and coupon codes out there if you know where to look. I really like shopping at The Children’s Place for clothes for Noah and I am always looking for Children’s Place coupons. I like to get more bang for my buck. It is like a hunt for me. Do you like to shop with coupons? What are some deals that you have gotten that stick out in your memory?

Drawing with Noah

Noah loves to color and draw. We had been drawing in doodle on Yahoo Messenger. I decided to use paint today since he wanted to draw the night sky and I wasn’t going to sit there and color the whole box myself. So, I found some really cool features on paint. Noah told me what to draw and what to put where. He even helped by pushing the button several times. I really like how our picture turned out so I thought I would share it. I took screenshots of the ones we have drawn in the past and those will probably make appearances on my blog at a later date.
Here is Noah and Mommy’s interpretation of the night sky!

I Got Something to Say

The title of this post is a quote by the character Jerri Blank from Strangers With Candy. I feel like I should share with my readers some things. I wrote a post a while back called When Blogging Relationships Go Bad about my horrible experience with a company I worked with on my blog. You can read the post here if you are not familiar with what I am talking about. The long of the short of it is, I was working with a company that promised me a full sponsorship to BlogHer in exchange for advertising, posts and even a Twitter party that ended up being a nightmare. I turned and looked the other way while she bashed other bloggers and even a NASCAR star. I did think it was wrong but I didn’t stick up for my fellow bloggers. I feel bad because I should have been the voice for the masses;I thought that she was being mean and rude. I regret that.

After a while I tried to let it go and not let it bother me. I have received numerous requests and comments asking me to tell who it is. I have remained silent as a professional courtesy but in light of the increase of new bloggers, I have decided to break my vow of silence and share with you all so you don’t get taken as well. It was Bea’s Gift Baskets. There I said it. Like I said there are quite a few new bloggers out there and I want to warn them, I don’t want anyone to be treated like I was. It still hurts; even more so with everyone starting to talk about BlogHer and BlogHer related events like the parties. It also still hurts that I spent all that time working on the posts and twitter party that wasn’t review related. They got free advertising. I got nothing but disappointment. I am sure you are thinking well you got those gift baskets at least that is something right?

I went to the dollar store, it is kind of new and yes, it still had eau du Dollar store smell. I was browsing around by the food and I saw an item that was supposed to be “gourmet” in one of those gift baskets. I was like wow; those are the exact same chocolate covered pretzels that were in one of my gift baskets. I just thought well they could have sprung for the Flips if they wanted to be cheap. The Flips are like 3 dollars a bag versus the dollar store ones. It makes me wonder how many more dollar store items are in those overpriced gift baskets.

There is nothing wrong with the dollar store, I shop there. I love the dollar store, but if you are paying 90 dollars for something you should at least get 50 dollars worth of food, a 20 dollar basket then the company nets 20 bucks or something along those lines. Maybe 40 dollars worth of food but there shouldn’t be items that you can get at the dollar store. I just think that is unethical and deceitful. That of course is my opinion.

I just wanted to share this with my fellow bloggers and readers. Maybe even the weary traveler passing through my blog. I don’t want to see anyone taken by Bea’s Gift Baskets like I was. So, how can we prevent this from happening?

1. Make sure you get everything in writing. Granted I had everything in email and that would have been fine, but when you are dealing with something like this extra forms like contracts are a good way to go. I know she didn’t mention contracts once until after she pulled out and didn’t want to do what I consider the right thing.

2. Don’t turn the other way or put up with others that talk bad about other people. Chances are they are bad mouthing you to someone else. You should work with companies that conduct their selves in a professional manner.

3. If your gut tells you it is too good to be true, it just might be or if the person gives off a weird clingy vibe you should probably walk away. Always trust your gut and your heart.

4. If a person you are working with is lying to others, 99% of the time they are lying to you.

5. Talk to others about their experiences, I know that everyone can make up their own minds about things they want to do, but listen to what others have to say and keep it in mind for when you make your decision.

I hope you find these tips helpful and keep them in mind in the future. Thanks for reading!

Sheila's Beer Battered Onion Rings Recipe

I love onions; they are one of my favorite foods. So, naturally onion rings are on the top list of foods I really enjoy. Now onion rings can come in a couple different ways. There is breaded onion rings that have a thick coating where the onion always seems to fall out. I am not a huge fan of them honestly. I have to be in the mood for that kind, which isn’t often. Beer battered onion rings are the way to go for me. I love to make them at home. I actually bought a deep fryer just to make onion rings. It is the only thing I have ever made in my deep fryer. This is the recipe my mom used when I was younger. I have many memories of her making them and us eating them. I thought I would share with you guys the recipe. It is really easy but it is kind of time consuming but extremely worth it in my opinion.

Here is a list of what you will need:

Deep fryer

Can of shortening

Few big onions

12 ounce bottle of the beer of your choice, I buy whatever is on sale usually Coors Light

1 1/2 cups of flour

Salt

Step 1: in a large bowl combine beer and flour. Let it sit for 3 or 4 hours. Resist the urge to stir it after you have mixed it all together. The batter will turn frothy.

Step 2: Put your shortening in your deep fryer and let it heat to the proper temperature. Please consult your deep fryer manual.

Step 3: Cut onions in rings. I usually do thicker rings because when the onion cooks it gets thinner. Separate the rings.

Step 4: Coat rings in the beer batter thoroughly.

Step 5: carefully place the onions in the deep fryer. I usually use a fork. Watch out for splatter and steam.

Step 6: When the onion rings are starting to cook flip them over with a fork or tongs. I always wear an oven mitt to protect my hands. When they are golden brown they are done.

Step 7: Take out onion rings and place on a cookie sheet covered with newspaper and paper towel. Immediately salt both sides.

Repeat steps 4 through 7 until you have the desired amount of onion rings

You can reheat them in the oven for a few minutes at 350 degrees on a cookie sheet
with paper towel.

If you want to make more batter remember it is equal parts beer and flour.

Enjoy!

I hope you try out this onion ring recipe and let me know what you think.

Karma? Is that French?

Tonight while I was making dinner I was listening to The 700 Club and Pat Robertson was talking about Karma. I didn’t really hear everything he was saying because I was doing all kinds of things at the same time and I didn’t turn the TV up. I started thinking about karma. I personally don’t believe in karma as a Christian. I don’t believe that what I do now has anything to do with what I come back as because I don’t believe in reincarnation. People are always asking what you would want to be if you were reincarnated. Some people are like a tiger or a bear etc. Even if I had the possibility to be reincarnated I wouldn’t want to be. I would rather go to heaven than live on this earth all over again after I died. You could not pay me enough to give up my chance to go to Heaven someday when it is my time.

I am aware there is a difference between karma in a religious definition and what pop culture considers “karma”. I am not sure how old I was before I knew about “karma”. I can’t remember. I did know Karma was my local music store that always smelled like incense. In fact I have a Grateful Dead afghan that I had to have from there and it still smelled like incense for many years after I received it. People always say oh “karma” is going to get you or it’s “karma”. I don’t really believe in pop culture “karma” either. I think people believe in “karma” because it gives them some kind of comfort that the person is going to be punished for their wrong doings. It helps people cope and the person’s longing for everything to be made right and whole again. Things happen for a reason but I don’t see it as a way to seek revenge on someone.

I am a strong believer in the whole cliché saying “Everything happens for a reason” We might not know the reason, and we might never know, but there is an absolute reason for everything. I also believe that there are set consequences for choices we make. I don’t really believe it is the universe’s way to get back at someone. It just is what it is.

Have you seen my glasses?

Everyone in my family wears eyeglasses, it seems like. My mom wears glasses. My grandma always wore glasses too. She would always lose her glasses, but they were just reading glasses. Most of my family just needs reading glasses. They usually just buy the kind you get at the drug store. My mom has been known to wear dollar store glasses because my mom is the worst at losing her glasses or breaking them. She has an annex of glasses that she has bought as backups. Even though she buys like 5 pairs at a time within a couple months the glasses are broken or lost. I assume my son has something to do with that. He probably has a secret hiding place for all of the things that go missing in our house that he has picked up from other people’s houses. He has probably broken a couple pairs too. He likes to wear other people’s glasses.

My sister and I both wear prescription glasses. I am pretty sure we are both near sided. It wouldn’t surprise me if my sister wears glasses as a fashion statement. It just seems like something she would do. I have wore glasses since I was in the 5th grade. I remember when I got them. It started out so I could see the board. I hated wearing them. I would just try and squint to see, sit closer, and forget to bring them anything I could do. I didn’t want to be made fun of because of them. I can’t remember if I was or not. It didn’t take me long to lose those glasses. After that I didn’t really wear my new glasses.

Now I wear my glasses all the time because I want to be able to see. I have really pretty eyes and you can’t see them if I am squinting all the time. It is also really hard to watch TV or navigate my way through a store. I am so used to wearing my glasses I feel weird when I am not wearing them. I personally think I look better without my glasses but seeing is more important than what I look like. It’s funny how our opinions change when we get older. I have pretty good luck with my glasses. They have only been replaced 2 or 3 times in the last 10 years. I know I need to go and get eye exams every year I think it is. I don’t have vision insurance and I hate getting my eyes checked. I really can’t stand when they shoot the puff of air in your eye or trying on glasses. I am one of those no fuss no muss types of women. I usually grab something and try it on and if I like it I get it.

Remember my prescription eyeglasses, I lost in 5th grade? I found them like 10 years later. I lost them at my grandma’s house. Come to find out my grandma was wearing them all those years. It was weird to see them again after all that time. I am sure my grandma thought they were hers, I probably left them behind and since she wasn’t wearing her glasses she thought; oh these must be mine. I am not sure how she saw with them. I remember being little and trying on her glasses and not being able to see a thing. My glasses were not that strong because I can still see without them but, she wore reading glasses. I miss my grandma so much. I would gladly give her my glasses if I could just see her again. It is funny how something as simple as glasses could have such a great story to go along with them. Make sure you get your eyes checked. The world is a much more beautiful place when you can see properly.

Uno's Chicago Grill Limited Time Menu Review

As you all know, I love to eat. I also love going out to restaurants and trying new foods. Now, that I am a mom I go and pick up food more than I go out to eat. It is just easier with Noah. Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to try out the New limited time Jazzfest menu from Uno Chicago Grill.

I spent the week looking at the menu online and trying to figure out what I was going to get in anticipation of my meal. I had never been to the Uno I was going to and I was excited to go check it out. I brought my mom and Noah with me to eat. We arrived and the restaurant was really nice. The hosts were really friendly and they made sure Noah had crayons and a coloring sheet. The server was very prompt and made sure we had plenty of beverages. I also had the opportunity to meet the store manager he was really nice as well. He asked me about my blog and made sure everything was going well throughout the meal.



I ordered the Voodoo Bones with Bourbon BBQ Sauce Slow-roasted New Orleans seasoned ribs served with our sweet and smoky Maker's Mark bourbon BBQ sauce. Served with choice of two sides. I chose broccoli and fries as my sides. The ribs were delicious. They were spicy but not too much spice where it was overboard. The BBQ sauce was really flavorful. The ribs were really tender and easy to eat. They have a dry rub on them so you don’t have the need for a bunch of wet wipes or napkins. I enjoyed the broccoli and fries too. Well what I was able to eat. Noah kept stealing MY fries. I really enjoyed my meal. This is a must eat if you are a rib lover like I am.


My mom ordered the Ragin' Pasta. Chicken, shrimp and andouille sausage tossed with plum tomatoes, a zesty tomato sauce and fettuccine. It looked really colorful and even came with a breadstick. You get a lot of food when you order the Ragin’ Pasta. It seemed like it was an endless bowl because it kept going. My mom really enjoyed the Ragin’ Pasta. She kept talking about how delicious it was. She had her left overs for dinner.

Noah ordered cheese pizza and fries and apple juice off the kid’s menu. Noah also had his first real experience with drinking apple juice out of a glass with a straw and soda lid. He did really well. I was afraid that he was going to end up with apple juice all over his clothes but he didn’t spill a drop. He really liked the pizza and fries. He was really well behaved but we ended up taking the pizza home with us because he was too involved with eating his fries. Each time he ate a fry he would say mmm Yummy. He told me I couldn’t quote him on that but I am his mommy and I am the boss! We enjoyed the pizza at home for dinner and Noah kept asking for more pizza please.

We had a wonderful time at Uno's Chicago Grill. It was such a fun and delicious experience. We would love to be invited back. I hope you guys will check out the new Jazzfest menu that is available for a limited time.

For more information check out their website HERE
Not sure if there is an Uno Chicago Grill near you check out the restaurant locator

Thank you to Uno’s for inviting my family in to try out the special menu at no cost to us. These opinions are my own.

Bisquick Pancake Breakfast Review and LIVE Giveaway.

Nothing says breakfast like a hot stack of pancakes. Our favorite brand of pancake mix is Bisquick. That was the brand my mom used when I was growing up and the brand my grandma used, so naturally now as an adult I use Bisquick to make my son pancakes. We like them plain, but we have also have been known to throw in some chocolate chips or berries in the batter. Pancakes are little clouds of goodness. Noah loves all kinds of breakfast foods. He lovingly calls pancakes, cancakes.

Bisquick Pancake Nation is a national effort to inspire pancake lovers to unite through pancake breakfasts. Join the Bisquick Pancake Nation to find everything you need to know about planning and hosting a pancake breakfast fundraiser. From now through May 31st, you can apply for a $250.00 grant* for your qualified non-profit organization so that you can host your own pancake breakfast fundraiser in your local community.

When you visit the Bisquick Nation website you can find :

The Pancake Finder—locate a nearby pancake fundraiser

Pancake Mix—customize a future Bisquick Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser with some fun tips on what to serve with pancakes

Calculator—plan shopping for just the right amount of ingredients for expected guests

Placemats—download and print so guests can share trivia and play games while they eat

We really enjoyed our pancake breakfast and using our new cast iron griddle pan, Cast Iron skillets make me think of my grandma because she always cooked with one. It has now been passed on to my aunt Peggy. When we go and visit them in California my aunt Peggy will sometimes use her cast iron skillet along with her dishes and we will remember my grandma Rose. The great thing about cast iron is it lasts for forever.

We enjoyed the hot delicious pancakes too. Who doesn’t love pancakes? It is in my opinion the traditional American breakfast. They are so easy to make with Bisquick. Not sure when they are ready to be flipped? Just look for the bubbles and when they pop you are good to flip them. I really like the mixing bowl with the spout too. I am notorious for spilling things in the kitchen. Every time I am spooning something out I always get some on the counter. I didn’t with the mixing bowl.

For more information: Please visit HERE


I have a LIVE giveaway for you:

You will win:
A box of pancake mix
A mixing bowl with a spout
A spatula
A Cast Iron griddle skillet

You must do the mandatory entry, after that you can comment as much as you want.

Mandatory entry: Tell me a story about a time you ate pancakes
Be Sure you leave a way to contact you.

Comment number 204 will win
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

Since I am a member of MyBlogSpark I had the opportunity to share this with you. The product, prize pack, and giveaway have been provided by Bisquick through MyBlogSpark. These opinions are my own.

E! Investigates Bullying.

I love to watch E! Investigates. It is a great show where they feature everything from The Curse of the Lottery to Women Who Kill. I think that it is a very interesting show. Each show has a different subject and the show is an hour long and it is something I am always interested in. I actually will look online at my local cable company’s website to see when it is on. I have seen some of the same episodes more than once and I don’t mind watching them again. I am really interested in the ones about murder and mayhem. I wanted to share with you about the newest episode that will air on Wednesday April 21 at 10 pm ET/PT on E! It is about bullying.

Every day, thousands of kids across the country are afraid to go to school thanks to an epidemic of vicious behavior among American teenagers. It is estimated that 20% of children are victims of bullying. These attacks come in the form of physical and verbal abuse, as well as by newer methods of harassment using cell phones and the internet. Once thought to be just harmless teasing, the real-life effects of bullying can include prolonged depression and even suicide. Recently, according to police, a 15-year-old girl in Massachusetts hung herself after being taunted by a group of girls who posted mocking messages on their Facebook pages. This one-hour episode sheds light on several recent stories and the tragic effects that can result from this all-too-common behavior.

By all accounts, Dylan Theno was a happy, well-adjusted boy in a small Kansas community. But when he entered 7th grade, a few of Dylan’s fellow students began making fun of him. For years the cruel taunts and name-calling continued. The Thenos claim they spoke with school officials on numerous occasions to no avail and they ultimately had to make the tough decision to pull Dylan from the classroom. Also in this episode, E! Investigates interviews students, parents and faculty in Calabasas, CA, to learn what really happened when red-haired kids were suddenly singled out and attacked on the infamous “Kick A Ginger Day.” E! Investigates: Bullying explores theories of what may be causing the increasingly cruel nature of these attacks, explains how the advent of hand-held technology has given bullies powerful new weapons, and shows what schools are and aren’t doing to prevent bullying. Finally, warning signs are identified that parents should look for if they suspect their child has become a bullying victim.

I can’t wait to watch it. Bullying is a serious subject that many children have to deal with growing up. No child deserves to be a victim of bullying in person or on the computer. It is such a difficult thing to go through. Sadly sometimes bullying leads to suicide or murder depending on the severity of the case. I was watching another show on E! about the most horrific crimes committed by children and one of them has stuck out since I watched it. This girl named Shanda was being bullied by a few girls in school for some ridiculous reason and the bullies recruited a couple other high school kids to trick her in to going out with them to a concert to meet another “friend”. They ended up torturing her for hours and she ended up ultimately dying after being beaten over and over with a tire iron, being locked in the trunk for hours and the autopsy revealed that the cause of death was inhaling fumes as she was being burned alive. Other children could lash out and seek revenge on their bullies, and hurt many others in the process.

Bullying is not funny; it is not something that is just kids being kids. It is a crime in my opinion. As parents we need to all stand together and talk to our children and make sure we are aware with what is going on with our kids. We need to make sure our kids are not being bullied or bullying someone else. I hope you will all tune on Wednesday April 21, 2010 and watch E! Investigates Bullying at 10 pm ET/PT on E!

NOVICA Review

When I went to San Diego with my friend for a wedding, we went to the beach. At the beach there was a bar on the beach with some hammock chairs. We sat that for like an hour enjoying the warm weather and the scenery. I immediately fell in love with the hammock chair and from that point on I wanted one for my own. I didn’t really want to leave the hammock chair. I was on a hunt for one when I got back. Every hammock chair I saw was very expensive so I hadn’t got one. So, when I heard about NOVICA which is an online store in association with National Geographic I was intrigued. I also like to help support other countries by purchasing from their local artists; I know I have more than some of them. NOVICA sells all kinds of items from local artists in other countries. Everything is handcrafted. There are some really cool and beautiful items. They even have corporate gifts that would be great for any office to give out for a holiday gift or even as a thank you to a client.

I had the opportunity to try out something from NOVICA. It was really hard to choose. I must have spent an hour trying to figure out what I wanted the most. NOVICA has beautiful jewelry, paintings, apparel, home décor and so much more . There are so many things I would love to receive as gifts. Then there it was a hammock chair. The hammock chair is made in Mexico. I got really excited. I had found one after all this time. It reminded me of San Diego and the memories I had made there. I immediately pictured myself sitting in it in my backyard looking out at the pond enjoying the sounds of the ducks and the fountain. I imagined myself relaxing and just taking in my surroundings. I told Noah about the hammock chair and that we were going to get one. He thought it sounded really cool but he had no idea. I anxiously awaited the arrival of my hammock chair. The day it arrived I was amazed at how gorgeous it was. It is really well made. It was soft and really easy to hang.

When I sat in it for the first time, I was so relaxed. I could feel my stress melt away. It is crazy how just a little relaxing can make all the difference in the world. I have been sitting in it whenever the weather has permitted it. I see myself sitting in it in the summer and drinking a frozen drink. Noah enjoys sitting in it too. He thinks it is his own personal swing. I am always right next to him when he is in it in case he would fall out, but I don’t see that happening because the hammock chair is big and strong.

I hope when you are looking for a great gift you will check out NOVICA and help support local artists in other countries. For more information and to order this hammock chair and other items please visit HERE.

Thank you to NOVICA for sending me a hammock chair to try for my review.

Last Minute Tax Tips from Dunkin' Donuts

Dunkin’ Donuts Retail Coffee

Tax Day Survival Tips

With the tax-filing deadline approaching, don’t panic if you haven’t completed your return. Here are some Tax Day Survival tips to help you avoid stress and enjoy a “delicious” return.

1. Set aside some quality tax time. Brew a cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee at home, find the materials you need to prepare your taxes, and retire to a quiet spot to get started. You can complete your return manually on paper, with Free File, or commercial software. If you use a tax professional, make sure to gather all your materials before sitting down with him or her.


2. Consider an extension. If, for any reason, you can’t file your income tax return on time, simply request a filing extension by April 15th. This gives you six more months to complete your return and avoid late filing penalties. Use Form 4868, which you can get at IRS.gov. But you still must pay now what tax you’ll owe to avoid late payment penalties.

3. Check out new tax breaks for certain 2009 purchases. If you bought a home, you may qualify for a tax credit. If you bought a new car, you may be able to deduct the sales tax. Find details about these new breaks at IRS.gov.

4. File electronically. To get your tax refund as quickly as possible, file your income tax return electronically and request that the refund be deposited directly in your account. You can have the deposit split among two or three accounts, including bank accounts, IRAs, health savings accounts, Coverdell education savings accounts, and a TreasuryDirect® account for I bond purchases.

5. Adjust your tax withholding or estimated taxes. Is it bad to be owed a tax refund? It’s nice to have the extra cash now, but getting a refund means you’ve really made an interest-free loan to Uncle Sam. A better strategy is to adjust your tax withholding or estimated taxes for this year so you pay an amount that is closer to the amount of tax owed; this gives you the use of your own money throughout the year.

6. Contribute to your retirement fund. The tax year is over but it’s not too late to put money in a regular or Roth IRA for 2009. Assuming you’re eligible, a contribution to a traditional IRA made by April 15th is deductible on your 2009 return. If you opt for a Roth IRA contribution, you can’t deduct it but will build up tax-free income for retirement.

7. Reap eco-credits. If you added insulation, energy-efficient windows, or solar panels to your home, you not only reduced energy costs but also may now qualify for a tax credit. The credit limit for installing solar panels and other alternative energy additions is 30% of cost; for other improvements, there’s a $1,500 cap. The tax credit reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar.

8. The standard deduction isn’t standard anymore. If you don’t itemize, you may be able to bulk up your standard deduction by adding amounts for being a senior, paying property taxes on your home or sales tax on a car purchase, or for suffering a loss in a federal disaster. But you’ll have to complete a new form, Schedule L, to total up your standard deduction.

Barbara Weltman is an attorney, prolific author with such titles as J.K. Lasser’s Small Business Taxes, J.K. Lasser’s 1001 Deductions and Tax Breaks, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business, and trusted professional advocate for small businesses and entrepreneurs. She is also the publisher of Idea of the Day® and monthly e-newsletter Big Ideas for Small Business® at www.barbaraweltman.com and host of Build Your Business radio. Follow her on Twitter at BarbaraWeltman.

Sign up for a free sample of Dunkin' Donuts newest flavor Dunkin’ Turbo HERE
I just signed up for mine and I hope you will too!

Mushroomland Dolls Review

Fairytales come alive with Mushroomland Dolls. Mushroomland sells cute dolls and characters from the stories by Natasha Guruleva. Natasha writes and illustrates fairy-tales and fables where many characters are mushrooms. Together with their human friend, they explore different realms of nature – Flower Kingdom, Butterfly Empire, Underground Maze, Big Pond and so on. For the illustrations she uses photography placing the characters that she makes herself into the natural environment– in the forest, ponds and meadows of Long Island. The basic thread of her stories holds together beads-ideas about recognizing and appreciating life around us, life under our feet, treating everybody as equal and seeing ourselves as a part of the unity.

She also single-handedly created a feature film, based on her first story “Adventures of Little Herbert in Mushroom Land.” It’s made in an old-fashioned style of stop-frame animation. She built over 50 characters out of fabrics and wires and designed the sets in the woods (Forest Town, Mushroom House). She photographed every movement of those characters, then “photoshopped” each frame to get rid of supporting wires and make the mouths move. She also edited (digitally) the entire movie. Now it’s airing at the various local TV networks as a series of episodes, and the next animated adventure “On the Wings of Butterflies” is in a process of creation. She not only wanted to write the fairytales she wanted to bring them to life through her dolls. The dolls are unique. They are kind of like stuffed animals, I love that they are characters and go on adventures in the fairytales, now you can take those same characters on new adventures wherever you go.

I like the way mushrooms look and I used to collect mushroom items. So, when I had the opportunity to review a Mushroomland Doll I was really excited. We received the Russell character. I thought it was really cute. Russell is a fun and magical guy. The Mushroomland dolls are homemade and I think that gives them all extra character and no Mushroomland doll is exactly the same. You can tell that a lot of love went in them. The company is really nice as well. Natasha’s nephew decided that Noah would like a bigger one, so we received a larger size of the Russell doll. I thought it was really sweet and warmed my heart. Mushroomland dolls would have been great for my Grandma Diana, because she collected and made dolls. I thought when I opened the box that it looked like something she would make. So, Mushroomland Dolls are great for anyone not just children.

For more information please visit Mushroomland’s website HERE

Thank you to Mushroomland for sending me a Russell Doll to try out.

Let's talk about Sexual Harassment.

I want to talk to you about sexual harassment and how it not acceptable in any situation. It can happen to anyone anywhere. I thought I would share my story where I was sexually harassed by a car salesman. I was out with my old best friend one day like any other day, on this day we decided to go look at cars because she wanted to get a new one. I can’t remember the reason why now. We walked in to the local Acura car dealership and was greeted by a man named Bob. He was older and was in his late sixties. We found a car that she liked and we decided to take it out for a test drive. No big deal right? My old best friend ended up falling in love with the car and buying it.

Shortly after, I am talking a couple days after the phone calls started from Bob. The first call was about how she liked the car which we thought was normal. Then he would call everyday and he kept talking about taking us out to lunch. We didn’t think anything of it. We thought he was just trying to be nice after he obviously got a hefty commission from her new car. He would say things like I wanna take you girls out and show you a good time. We grew up in a very safe community together; the worst thing that had happened that we knew of was a triple murder when we were in sixth grade and at that time nothing like that had happened again. I guess we were naive and sheltered safe behind the city limits of where we grew up.

My old best friend decided she wanted to get a spoiler on her car. At the time she had started to develop really bad migraines. We went to the local Acura dealership again to get the spoiler put on and there was Bob. We tried to avoid him since he had been harassing us calling us on a frequent basis. I was living with her at the time so I knew when and how often he would call. The calls got weirder and weirder and it got to the point that the calls were sent to voicemail. I can still hear his creepy voice in my head almost 5 years later.

Well, he ended up being in the service area when we arrived. We were polite to him of course. He asked us how we were doing. I said I was fine or good or something along those lines. My old best friend mentioned her migraines to him because they were really bad. He responded by telling his about his problems with his male part in detail like we were his doctor or a good friend. It was and still is disturbing.

I really don’t want to know about some strangers penile problems. The other people that worked at Acura that overheard it didn’t say anything like that is inappropriate. Normal people don’t sit there and talk about their privates with a complete stranger or a customer. The calls continued until we got in to the car accident and the car was totaled. Every time I see the Acura dealership I think of Bob and get the chills. I wonder how many others are victims of Bob’s Sexual Harassment and obsessive phone calls.

Sexual harassment is not acceptable at all. You have the right to be out in public without someone making lewd comments or gestures at you. Some people think they have the right to say or do whatever they want without thinking about how it will affect others. Have you ever been a victim? We need to make a stand and use our voices and speak out against Sexual Harassment.

Skinny Cow Review

I love ice cream, but I don’t love all the fat it can have. If only there was great line of ice cream products that were good for you but didn’t taste like it. Luckily for me, there is. It is called Skinny Cow. Skinny Cow is delicious ice cream treats that are not only delicious but good for you too. All of the Skinny Cow products are between 100 to 150 calories which is significantly less than non Skinny Cow products. All of the Skinny Cow treats are trans fat free!

The Skinny Cow Website is full of fun ideas how to lose weight and live a Skinny lifestyle. I can’t forget to mention how cool Skinny is. Skinny is the mascot of Skinny Cow, she is a lipstick wearing fun and flirty cow who loves to wear green eye shadow and lose weight. I had the opportunity to try the Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches, Chocolate with Fudge Ice Cream Cones and the Chocolate Truffle bars.



The Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches were the best mint ice cream sandwiches I have ever had. I used to buy the store brand because I love mint and that was the only kind I could find before. They were good but they were full of fat and calories. I had to enjoy them in strict moderation. Skinny Cow Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches on the other hand are better. They are so full of mint flavor and the chocolate cookies are the perfect mixture of softness and chocolate. The chocolate cookies hold up well and don’t make a huge mess like some ice cream sandwiches can. They are only 140 calories too!



The Chocolate with Fudge Ice Cream cones were mostly eaten by my son Noah. You know how kids are with their cones. I managed to try a couple after he was in bed. I am not a huge cone person but these were good. Noah thought so too. I liked how they weren’t a huge mess when he was done. We spent our afternoons eating icy creamy ice cream as he would call it. He loves ice cream. Not that he understands calories or fat but I knew I was giving him something that was better for him than some of those other ice cream treats that are in shapes of cartoon characters that have way more than 100 calories like these do.



Last but not least the Chocolate Truffle Bars. These were so rich and creamy and tasted like I was eating a box of frozen truffles. I shared a couple with my mom who loves to eat truffles and chocolate and she loved them as well. They are such a classy ice cream treat. Move over Bon-Bons there is a new decadent ice cream treat in town. Chocolate Truffle Bars are only 100 calories too.

Noah and I enjoyed eating the ice cream treats we picked out at the store. They went fast. Noah’s favorite was the Chocolate with Fudge Ice Cream cones. I specifically picked those out for him because I thought he would enjoy them. I also liked them. My favorite if I had to pick one was the Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches. I have always enjoyed ice cream sandwiches for as long as I can remember and you all know I am a mint girl. Both of the other treats were a stiff competition though. They were all so creamy and if I hadn’t picked them out, I wouldn’t have any idea that they are actually good for you. Honestly some of those other healthy ice cream and ice cream treats are not very good. Skinny Cow was a hit in our house.

The people at Skinny Cow wanted me to share a photo with you all. This would be a great idea for an alternate dessert at a baby shower. It was created by someone at the Skinny Cow office and it looks so good. I love the colors and the presentation is just gorgeous. It would definitely impress the party guests and please the mother to be.




Look for Skinny Cow Products in your Grocery store freezer section. Check out the Flavor Finder to find products at stores near you HERE. You can also download a form to request other flavors from your store's manager.

For more information on Skinny Cow and to read some of Skinny’s humorous Skinnyisms and to send your friends Skinny Cards to help spread the love for Skinny Cow Please visit the Skinny Cow Website.

Thank you to Skinny Cow for providing me with some coupons to try out a few Skinny Cow Products for my review.

Carrabba's Italian Grill Passport Offer and Gift Card Giveaway!

I love Italian food. I wanted to share with you about a great deal you can get at Carrabba’s. It is their passport book. Carrabba’s Italian Grill is pleased to announce Viaggi del Gusto, a passport for Italian food lovers to experience the wide variety of cooking styles and tastes native to Italy! The Passport/Special Offer includes:
- Limoncello Bread Pudding and a quartino of wine hailing from Tuscany
- Bruschette or Calamari representing Sardinia
- 20% discount on carry-out (in case you want to enjoy Italy right at home!)

You can pick one up at your local Carrabba’s restaurant for free! There are limitations and the offer is good in some states. The passport is valid until April 15, 2010

To find the nearest Carrabba’s near you please check out the Restaurant locator.

You can also enter to win a trip to Italy HERE.

Also say tuned for my review of Carrabba’s coming soon.

Thank you to Carrabba’s for providing the gift card for the giveaway.

I have a giveaway for you.

I am giving away a $25 gift card to Carrabba’s to one lucky reader.

Mandatory Entry: Please tell me what you would like to try from the Carrabba’s menu by visiting the website HERE

You must do the mandatory entry for the bonus entries to count.

Bonus entries:

Subscribe to my blog via email you must verify the subscription

Follow my blog

Follow @Sheilacakes7 on twitter and tweet about this giveaway including the link. This can be done once a day.

Tell me about your favorite Italian food

Grab my button and put it on your sidebar and please include a link so I can find the button easily.

This giveaway is open to US Residents only
This giveaway will end on 11:59 pm on April 10, 2010

Check Out This Amazing Blogger and Friend

Everybody is always asking me and other bloggers who their blogging idol is or who they look up to the most? Normally I don’t like to single people out because feelings get hurt and egos get bruised. Most people say it is some really well known blogger but for me it is Mommy Niri. I had the pleasure of getting to know Niri from a PBS Sprout Band of Bloggers telephone conference. She is an amazing person and she is so intelligent. She has a really cool accent too. She was full of great ideas and I knew during that phone call that I wanted to get to know her. I immediately started following her on Twitter and I started tweeting back and forth with her. I really enjoy talking to her.



She is such a kind person. She is doing all these things to help others and she is such an inspiration to me. She is such a great blogger and an even better person. She is one of those bloggers that truly want to make a difference like I do. I hope I have the opportunity to meet her someday soon. I can’t say enough good things about Niri. She is the blogger I strive to be like; she has such a big heart like I do. I bet we could do a lot of good in this world together. Everyone should check out Mommy Niri’s blog because she is such an awesome blogger and friend.

John Deere Earth Mover Action DVD Review and Giveaway!!

Noah is really interested in construction vehicles. He loves to look at them and talk about them we are in the car or on a walk. He names them with their proper names each time he talks about them. When he builds something he doesn’t say I am building something, he says “I am doing construction.” He is fascinated with backhoes, bull dozers, steam rollers and cranes. I think cranes are his favorite. He likes to build cranes out of other toys and strings that he finds. So, when we had the opportunity to review John Deere Earth Mover Action DVD, I was really excited because I knew how much Noah would love it.

Not only are excavators, dozers, graders, etc. irresistible to kids, but grown-ups love to watch, too. So it is to this background that TM Books & Video releases the all-new John Deere Earth Mover Action rumbling onto DVD April 13, 2010. This 40-minute tribute to big-machines – excavators, front-end loaders, graders, scrapers, and backhoes, includes a fascinating look at John Deere’s newest – the fast, powerful, four-track 764 Dozer.

TM Books & Video’s crews scoured the country to find John Deere big machines working hard in interesting places – watch a grader plowing snow in the Rockies, excavators digging dirt and loading big articulated dump trucks, dozers climbing hills and pushing dirt, front-end loaders moving big rocks in a quarry – powerful, big-time earth-mover action that will thrill and delight young and old alike. Learn interesting facts about these mighty vehicles and play the “Let’s Pretend” game where young viewers imagine being the operator of an earth-moving machine. Stop-action segments feature die-cast toys and articulated super heroes mining candy at the Big Rock Candy Mountain Quarry. Sing-along to all-new toe tapping tunes by award-winning singer/songwriter James Coffey. Kids will learn, laugh, and want more.

When the DVD arrived we watched it immediately. Noah was so excited when it started. He sat on the couch and named everything in sight. He watched in anticipation to see what was coming up next. We really enjoyed watching John Deere Earth Mover Action and we have watched it many times already. It is a great go to DVD when there is nothing on TV or when there is a show on that I don’t really want Noah watching.

This DVD is perfect for your little boy. They recommend this DVD for ages 3 and up.
John Deere Earth Movers will be on DVD on April 13, 2010, for a suggested retail price of $14.95. To order, call toll free 1-800-892-2822 or visit TM Books and Video.

Thank you to TM Books and Video for sending us a review copy and providing the DVD for the giveaway.

One lucky winner will receive their very own copy of John Deere Earth Mover Action DVD.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what your child’s favorite construction or farm equipment is and who you want to give this DVD to.

You must do the mandatory entry for the extra entries to count.

Extra Entries:

Subscribe to my blog via email. You must verify your subscription

Follow my blog

Add my button to your side bar and include a link so I can find it easily.

Follow @sheilacakes7 and tweet about this giveaway including the link to this post. This can be done daily.

Please remember to include your email address in your comments or make it accessible on your blog.

This giveaway is open to US Residents Only.

This giveaway will end on April 17, 2010 at 11:59 pm ET.

A Trip to the Grocery Store

I went to the grocery store yesterday, while I was shopping besides buying 7 packages of Grape Boogie Wipes which I am sure got some weird looks, what can I say? I love them and they were on closeout and Grape is my favorite. As I was walking through the frozen foods section I saw some stuff on a display. I stopped and looked to see what it was. It was a candy bouquet. It contained 8 normal sized candy bars in a ceramic pot. Guess how much they wanted for it? $14.99 before tax, as I am adding things up in my head I am talking to my mom about how over priced it is. You can get candy bars on sale for 3 for 99 cents and a cheap planter for like 4 bucks or less if you know where to look. So, I told my mom that I am going to open a candy bouquet business and charge 5 times as much as it would cost to make. I am aware they are only charging twice as much as it is actually worth. I mean you could make one yourself.

All you need is some candy bars and some wooden sticks and a pot, maybe get some tissue paper. Most people have tissue paper in their homes left over from gifts or if you shop at Victoria’s Secret like I do you have it all over the place. Just tape the candy to the sticks and Voila. Some companies charge like 50 dollars for 10 dollars worth of treats. How are they successful? Probably because the customer just doesn’t have the time or the motivation to make one themselves. So, what are your thoughts on this? Should I start my own candy bouquet business? I am sure people would buy from me, just think of the pet rock and what a hit that was.

Paas Easter Egg Kits Review

One of my favorite Easter traditions is dyeing Easter Eggs. This is the first year we did it. I thought that Noah was too young before to really understand before this year. I wanted him to enjoy it as much as I do. There are a million different egg dyeing kits out there. There are so many different brands and kit features, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose the right kit for your family. I have the opportunity to tell you about three new egg dyeing kits from Paas.



The first kit I want to tell you about is the Coloring Creations. The kit comes with crayons and stickers that you can color. It reminded me of a coloring book that you can stick on your dyed eggs. It also comes with a coloring page with two eggs on it that your child can color. It is a great activity when you are waiting for the eggs to cool or dry after you dye them. Noah loves to color and he had a lot of fun coloring the stickers and the egg coloring page. It would be perfect for the little artist in your family.



The next kit I want to tell you about is the Neon. It is a 3 in 1 kit that helps you make some really hip and fun Easter eggs. It comes with the traditional crayon that you can use to write on the eggs before you dye them. It has been a while since I have dyed Easter Eggs so I had to be reminded that you write on them before you dye them. This kit also comes with some really cool stickers that are neon. Noah’s favorites were no doubt the car and the truck. Another cool item in the Neon kit is glitter glue. You can really add some bling to your eggs. The dye that comes with it is neon colors to give your Easter Eggs a whole new look!



The last kit I want to tell you about is the Mini Monsters. You can turn your Easter eggs in to monsters. I think this one was our favorite kit. Noah loves monsters and pretending he is a monster. It comes with monster eyes and mouths in all shapes and sizes. There are some angry monsters, happy monsters and silly monsters too. They also come with pipe cleaners too to make the tails. This is such a fun kit. The best part of the kit I am saving for last, it comes with two bags of monster HAIR! We loved the monster hair. We took it out of the bag and played with it a little bit. It is so cool. Most monsters are not bald and the people at Paas knew that so they added some.

When we started Noah was already excited because he had been looking at the boxes and wanted to open the boxes as soon as I received them. I wasn’t too sure how involved Noah would want to be in the process. I measured out the vinegar and he added all of the dye tablets to each of the bowls. He really enjoyed watching the colors appear in front of his eyes. He did most of the dyeing of the eggs. I showed him how to use the egg dipper to move the eggs around to help with the dye. He did a great job. He even put the eggs in the dye. We put down newspaper because I know just how messy things can get and there was barely any dye on the newspaper. Noah laughed and had so much fun and so did I.

We really enjoyed the three new Easter Egg Kits from Paas. I hope you check them out for your Easter Eggs this year and even next. I know we will be definitely look for them again next year. It was so much fun to share this experience with Noah.

To check out these kits and all the other wonderful Paas products please visit HERE

Thank you so much to Paas for providing us with a few boxes of Easter Egg Kits to try out.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Easter.

I Wish These Shows and Movies Were on DVD

There are quite a few great things that should be on DVD but aren’t. Most of them are from my childhood that I want my son to be able to watch and now that I don’t have a VCR after my DVR-VHS combo broke I am constantly looking for these shows and movies on DVD. Here is my list. Let me know if there is something you would like to see on DVD. Maybe someone will see my list and do something. A girl can dream can’t she? The list is no particular order.

1. Merry Mirthworm’s Christmas

2. The Torkelsons

3. Lamb chop’s Play Along

4. Zoobilee Zoo

5. Salute Your Shorts

6. Hey Dude

7. The Jetsons meet The Flintstones

8. Daffy Duck Fantastic Island

9. Hey Vern It’s Ernest

10. Today’s Special

11. Cold Case

12. Pinwheel

13. Seasons of Judge Judy

14. The Frog Prince – The Muppets version

15. As Told By Ginger

16. The Adventures of The Little Koala

17. You Can't Do That on Television

18. Ghostwriter (tv series)

19. Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

Please put all of these on DVD. I want to be able to share some of these with my son. Some of them are things I loved growing up and love today.

Ribbon is NOT Vacuum Friendly

I like to scrapbook and make cards, so naturally I own an insane amount of ribbon. I have ribbon in all colors, designs, and textures. I used to take part in online exchanges and crops and the host would send the winners prizes. It was fun. I haven’t scrapbooked in a coon’s age. Well, one of the prizes I received from an online crop was some sheer white ribbon, it was almost see-through. I sometimes do crafts in my room, even though I do have a scrapbook room.

I was cleaning one day and I was in the process of vacuuming, all the sudden my vacuum started smelling really bad and it stopped working. When I looked at what was caught in it, I saw that white sheer ribbon in the brushes. Ribbon is not vacuum friendly. It killed the vacuum cleaner, may it rest in peace. It also ruined my ribbon. I wish I would have seen it.

My other vacuum is junky too. It stinks when I use it. I had two Yankee Candle Macintosh Jar candles lit in my room and it smelled good until I vacuumed and oh man it stunk. Needless to say, I have bad luck with vacuums and there wasn’t a ribbon in sight. I really need to buy a new one, I have my eye on the Miele vacuum cleaner. I really hope my vacuum curse ends with this one.

How to Roast Garlic

I love Garlic. I have been proclaimed the Garlic Queen. We went to Garlic Fest in 2008, in Delray Beach. Noah is a graduate of Garlic University. He has a diploma and all. I love Garlic in every way shape and form. Noah loves garlic too. I definitely prefer fresh garlic and not the kind that comes in a jar. I love roasted garlic. I know some people like it on crackers; I prefer it on Cheddar Pringles. When you go to a restaurant you can pay like 5 or 6 dollars for a head of roasted garlic and some bread or crackers. It is really easy to make. I thought I would do a post on How to Roast Garlic.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Step 2: Cut the tops off the head of garlic making sure all of the cloves are exposed. You might have to do a little grooming for the ones that don’t get exposed during the initial cut.

Step 3: Get a piece of aluminum foil (big enough to wrap the head of garlic) and place the garlic on it. Drizzle the exposed cloves with Olive Oil and wrap tightly. I think the pull up and twist method works the best.

Step 4: place in a little pan or loaf pan incase of leakage and put in the oven for 45 minutes.

Step 5: Let cool a little and remove the cloves and enjoy.

Now for some hints:

Tight heads work the best.

Don’t break or remove the skin of the garlic before roasting.

To help the garlic cool faster unwrap the aluminum foil.

One head of Garlic can feed two people maybe more depending on how much you love garlic. I usually eat one by myself.

See how easy it is? Now you can have roasted garlic anytime you want.

Small Talk Six- Puppy Love Edition

Over at Momdot there is a weekly Meme called Small Talk Six
Today’s topic is “6 celebrities you had a crush on when you were a tween or teen.” You can answer this with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, 6 photos, 6 videos, etc . . .

1. Johnathan Taylor Thomas
2. Elijah Wood
3. Jared Leto
4. Mark-Paul Gosselaar
5. George Clooney
6. Leonardo DiCaprio

For more Small Talk Six please visit Momdot and check out the Mr. Linky HERE

It's Time for a Survey!

I would like to get to know you all better and provide you with some great content, product reviews and giveaways. In order to do so, I have a quick 10 question survey for you to take so I can better meet your needs. I also am very thankful for my readers and I would like to reward you for your time and for visiting my blog. If you fill out my survey I will give you your own code to be used for 7 free entries in whatever giveaway you want. They can be used separately or all together. Your code will be attached to your email address so it can be only used by you and all codes are unique. Thanks again for reading my blog.

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