Some Must Have Items and Savings

I ended up making two trips out because the first time I ran into a friend at the store and spent too long taking. Overall it was a good week. I got some things we were out of (like sandwich bags) and some fun things (games for the kids birthdays'). I shopped JC Penney and Target.

Total Spent: $125.65

Total Saved: $225.40 (64%)
Rewards Earned: $10.00

Refresh, Recharge & Rejuvenate with EdenFantasys - Adult

It's spring time and that means it's time to start with a new life. We've got baby chickens, spring cleaning, and much spending time in the sunshine going on at our house. For me there is nothing better then laying in the sun with a good book, even if I have to keep my sweatshirt on still to stay warm during April in Idaho.
To help me relax this year I placed a special order from EdenFantasys Bodycare Sale. They have everything I need, including body wash, lotion, lip balm, massage oil, and more, to help get my body and skin ready to enjoy the summer after a long winter of sitting around in the cold.
I love EdenFantasys because they have a great selection, awesome prices, and even better sales. It's always easy to find what I need and I can find lots of reviews on every product I look at so I can choose the item(s) that are best for me. It's a great place to shop and you won't be disappointed with any products you receive! Head on over and find some great products to help you enjoy refreshing, recharging, and rejuvenating your life this spring! Happy Shopping!

Hot Water and Cold Showers

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

I've told you all about the plumbing troubles we've had since E and I got married. It seems like every time we turn around something new is leaking, today it was the fridge because the kids turned the freezer off and it thawed, and I have to deal with it. One of the things we did when we moved into our new house that I am super thankful for was pay for a Water Heater Instillation.

Yes, it's starting to warm up (finally) but these past few weeks having hot water has been incredibly important for my well being. Thanks to spring, my allergies have been in full bloom and there is simply nothing like a hot shower or bath, with some essential oils included of course, to help me feel better and sleep well so I'm prepared to deal with my terrors the next day.

During the summer hot water isn't such a big deal, we did go a summer without a hot water heater at our old house and lived, but during the rest of the year I just love knowing that at the end of the day I can enjoy the soothing heat of warm water.

As a mom of diapered kids, I also like knowing that when we have a multitude of poopy underwear and throw up (it's been one of those weeks) that I can simply throw my kids in the tub and shower them off with warm water. So often this is much easier than a towel bath or even wipes and I having the shower option available is a great blessing.

Last week C got in trouble (the poopy underwear thing) and got in the shower. He wasn't listening and I gave him a blast of ice cold water. It was amazing at how quickly his attitude toward me changed. I think my son now appreciates hot water almost as much as I do. Such fun punishments, if only I had a camera ready so that you could all see what his face looked like. It was too cute and I can't believe I missed it!

A Visit to Salt Lake

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

We don't travel as a family very often but every once in a while we like to take a little vacation. Thankfully we live close enough to a few cities that make great travel destinations, like Salt Lake and Boise. The main reason I love these particular cities is that they feature family that I love to go visit. They also have great shopping, like Closet Salt Lake, that we just don't have in my little town.

Visiting family can be lots of fun, especially for the holidays. With it being Easter weekend we would normally spend the time with family but this year, for the first time, it's going to be just is. That means we will be having lots of fun at the Kerr house doing things like coloring and hunting Easter eggs, eating, and, my favorite, taking Sunday naps.

As we've been preparing for Easter the boys' therapist has been doing some Easter themed activities, like a small Easter hunt and coloring Easter bunny pictures. I was kinda surprised that my boys didn't know about the Easter bunny (you can say bad mommy now) but when I told them that he is friends with Santa they got really excited!

I just love Easter and I am really excited to share this weekend with my family. I probably won't be online much because I will be enjoying time with them but the other reason that I love Easter is because that means that my birthday is just around the corner. My birthday also happens to land on finals week and that means E is really close to having an actual day off every we and my family is back to having a regular paycheck. I really can't wait for April, it's going to be a great month. So many fun things happen and I have a few surprises for all of you too. You'll want to be sure that you stick around to see some projects that I've been working on that are almost ready to show everyone. It's going to be an awesome spring!

What I Love About Tutoring

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Many of you know that I recently graduated with a degree in math. This has led to some fun opportunities, like tutoring Valencia, that have led me to bring in a little extra money for my family. For the most part I love tutoring. It gives me a chance to do what I love on my own schedule. I love that I can worry about my family first and then fit my income opportunities in after I've taken care of them.

My favorite people to tutor are kids. I love seeing the look of understanding in their eyes and I love planing activities to make learning fun! There are so many things you can do with math that most people would never think of and it makes teaching great.

The only person I really don't like to tutor is E. Someone somewhere along the way has told him that he's not good at math and it doesn't matter what I do he can't get past that. It's super frustrating and I wish I could give a piece of my mind to the person who did so. Teachers who tell kids they aren't good at something really aren't doing them a favor. I hope if you ever hear a teacher telling a student they can't do something that you will give them a piece of your mind. People can learn to do anything (I like to say that you can always teach an old dog new tricks if you take the time) and telling them otherwise is one of the worst things you can do.

In this time of trial in the schools please take the time to thank the good teachers. You know who I'm talking about, the teachers that make you and your child want to succeed. And while you're at it, take the time to stand against the bad teachers and get them out of our system so that our kids can continue to learn about learning. If you teach a child to learn they have all the skills they need to get through life. That's what I love about tutoring. It's not about teaching kids a subject, it's about teaching kids to learn. All true success stories start with learning to learn!

Stinky Heads are Not for Me

Some of you may know that I come from a very big sports family. For me, the one who somehow missed
this gene, the big sports family translates into a very stinky family. Don't get me wrong, I love watching my siblings play (baseball is my favorite) but the ride home can get very stinky if you're not careful.

Thankfully my parents now have a new ani-stink tool at their house. This is a Stuffit Antimicrobial Drying Insert. It looks like a microwave heat pack but it's filled with cedar. I had my sister try it out in her softball helmet and she says it works great for keeping her hat, and her gloves that she stores in her hat, dry. The only thing she doesn't like is that "it smells like hamsters". I think that's a small price to pay for a helmet that is dry and fresh every time you need it!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Just Chillin

Sexy An I Know It with Juliet Dream's Designer Maternity Styles

As a mom of four generally the last thing I'm worried about is how I look. You've all seen my comfy look which is super easy to throw on as I'm running around trying to keep children out of their sister's bed and away from any food they may find in the trash can - more on D's latest adventures another day though. Today I'm here to show you my awesome sexy look! I was so happy when I got dressed this Sunday and came out looking like this after just twenty minutes. There is no way I could have done it without Juliet Dream's designer tie maternity shirt! 

I love this shirt because it really does go with anything! It fit great while I was pregnant so I wore it most of the winter and now I'm continuing to wear it to nurse in this spring. This is the outfit that I wore for St Patrick's day and I loved that I actually felt cute. The skirt and shirt were from my high school days (I actually wore them when I did my interview for Junior Miss) and I love how this awesome tie shirt hides my mommy rolls while still making me feel just as adorable as I did in high school.
This sensation is what will happen every time you put on something from Juliet Dream. They have an amazing line of maternity and women's clothing that is sure to make you feel sexy while still allowing you to accomplish all of your motherly tasks.

Love In The Balance by Regina Jennings + Kindle Fire Giveaway

Every young woman (at least that I know) dreams of life without cares. A life of ease with someone they love. That is exactly what Molly is dreaming of in Regina Jennings' Love in the Balance. Molly lives in Lockheart, Texas and is torn between two men, the choice of her heart, Bailey and the choice of her parents, Edward. Ultimately the decision she makes will not only change her life, but the lives of many of the people in her small town.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more of Regina's stories! Molly was a great character that I fell in love with and was more than happy to spend time with her on her adventures. I'm so glad she made the decision that she did, it was a wonderful surprise ending to the story!

Regina Jennings is celebrating the release of Love in the Balance with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party on 4/4!

One "lovely" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire 
• A copy of Regina's Sixty Acres and a Bride and Love in the Balance

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Love in the Balance" Author Chat Party on April 4th. Connect with Regina, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Love in the Balance and join Regina on the evening of April 4th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

Behind the Columns by Arlette Gaffrey

Last month I told you about one of my new favorite books, A World of His Own, by Arlette Gaffrey. Today I am excited to tell you about the second book in this series, Reader Views Literary Award Winner, Behind the Columns. The story of Creole life continues with Desiree, the new owner of Chene Vue. This young woman lives with her grandfather, a heavy drinker and gambler. When he dies suddenly Desiree learns that her beautiful plantation must be sold to pay his debts and she struggles to find a spot for her betrayed heart.
You'll find another great adventure in Behind The Columns ! I know I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters and the Creole life. It was a wonderful novel to keep me company this winter as I dreamed of warm sunshine during our snowy afternoons!

Party in the Bath

Brooklyn Love by Yael Levy

There is something fascinating about reading stories featuring cultures that are greatly different from my own. Although most of the books I read our novels, and thus bound to have inaccuracies, taking a step into another life, so different from my own, can be an amazing adventure and learning experience. This is exactly what I found in Brooklyn Love b Yael Levy.
This contemporary romance tells the story of three girls, Rachel, Hindy, and Leah, struggling to make the break from child to adult as Orthodox Jews living in Brooklyn. Although some of the customs seem to be a bit exaggerated the story line is intriguing and the characters are lovable. You'll certainly find yourself rooting for these diverse young women as they struggle to find the right man for their life.
If you're looking for an adventure this one is for you!

A Score Savings Week!

I had fun taking D & F shopping this week. We found some good buys (like a trash can that will fit under our counter) so I was happy.

Total spent: $82.01

Total Saved $180.27 (69%)

Swept Away by Mary Connealy + $250 Vacation Package Giveaway

Can I just say that Mary Connealy is an amazing author and I can't wait to read more of her works! Her novel, Swept Away, left me wanting more of this great writing. I love how she used enticing characters to create a story unlike any I had ever read. It was so nice to see a couple working together to help those around them and yet not loose any of the excitement of a true adventure. You'll just love Ruthy and Luke as they discover each other and their future. It's one great read you won't want to miss!

Mary Connealy is celebrating the release of Swept Away by giving away a $250 "Swept Away" Vacation Package and hosting a Facebook Author Chat Party! 

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A $250 Visa Cash Card (Get away for the weekend or use it to buy an eReader for a relaxing ‘Staycation’!)
• A copy of Swept Away (For you AND a friend!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Swept Away" Author Chat Party on March 28th. Connect with Mary, get a sneak peek of the next book in the series, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Swept Away and join Mary on the evening of the March 28th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. 

Learning From The Past - Living Over the Hills

This post is sponsored. All opinions are my own.

When we bought our home, almost two years ago, one thing I didn't realize is that we were moving into an area that is similar to a retirement community. Part of it is the age of the homes but we also have a set of condos and an assisted living center within a block of our home. In many ways it is hard to have a young family in this area because the individuals living in these areas, mostly older women, don't care to go out and make friends but the good news is that there are a few who do and that is awesome!

I have made a few friends in our neighborhood who are simply wonderful people. They always say hi when they see me and love to get to know the kids. I love talking to these ladies and learning from them. This summer I have plans with a few of them to work on things like my bread making skills and other fun things that they can teach me.

For those people who don't care to spend time associating with others it makes me sad. I know that life is much more fun to live with friends and I wish that they could all see the blessings of having friends around. I also see that some of them believe they have done everything so now they feel it's ok to sit and do nothing but this vision comes to me a little differently. When I look at this group of people I see a wealth of knowledge that I would love to learn from. They all have so many experiences, many of them similar to me, and it would be so interesting to me to sit and learn from them. You all know that I love to sew, cook, and craft and my guess is that many of these ladies also have great recipes and homemaking ideas that I would love to put to good use.

My thought to anyone reading this, visit the elderly near you, like at Siena Hills. Learn from them. If they will share their knowledge, take advantage of it. It can be an amazing experience and one that you will benefit from greatly!

Spring Cleaning - Time to Donate

Over the last week I have started spring cleaning at my house. There is still a lot to be done but things are looking up. I mostly focused on the kitchen this week. Because of my Pampered Chef business I've been getting lots of new kitchen tools to replace the old ones, most of which E brought with him when we got married. I love that I now have quality tools that work well but I also know that many of the old ones still have a lot of use left in them so I've started a donation pile in the garage.

Right now my donation pile is mostly pots, pans, and plastic containers but soon I will be adding other things we don't need including various toys, blankets, and other such items. I'm so excited to have a clean house where everything has it's own space and there is little to no clutter (we'll let E tell you about my clutter obsession one of these days). I also love cleaning because that means I can donate back to some of the great organizations that have helped us get started. There are wonderful organizations in our area that are wonderful help to young families and I love giving back! I know they will be super excited with I show up to donate my car full of items in a few weeks.

Hopefully next week I can finish up the upstairs and get everything ready there (must tackle my room which won't be easy with the kids' help) and then I will just have the basement left. Mostly the basement is just my sewing room/office, because we clean up the toy room and family room regularly, but I'm sure I will still find things that need to go to a new home. When it's all done I will make sure to get pictures because I am working on some great new organizing items (did I mention my kitchen looks fabulous) that I want to share with everyone! There is so much you can do even when you have very little and donating is a great way to start. Knowing you are helping someone out is a great feeling and I love teaching my kids that it's good to share with others. It's a great gift for the world!

This post is sponsored. All opinions are my own.

Cart Buster Savings is Back at Kroger Stores!

I finally got the chance to go back out shopping last night. I took D and F with me so it was an interesting trip but still fun. I love it when I can go to the store and find great savings on items my family needs. That's why today I will be taking a trip to Smiths to get some great deals during Kroger's cartbuster savings event (running through March 16^th at all Kroger Co. Family Stores).

They have lots of great deals going on including items like Bounty, Tide, Pampers, Gatorade, Charmin, Dawn, Pantene, Tropicana, and Tostitos. I am mostly excited because these are brands that we use and love which will make E even more thrilled at the savings!

Besides the great cart buster deals today, by visiting Kroger's website you can Select Your Deal. That's right, today only (March 15^th) when you visit the SelectYour Deal promotion page you will be served three random digital coupons for addition in store savings. These coupons are load-to-card coupons that will be added to your Kroger shopper card making them super easy to take with you on your shopping trip! Deals include great products including Crest, Tropicana, DiGiorno, Secret, and Pantene so don't miss out. Your pocketbook will thank you for shopping this great event!

Now I've got to get going. The kids are going with me so this shopping trip will be quite the adventure! Smiths is right across the street from my house so we're not going far but it will be fun and give us some good exercise. Hopefully the kids will take good naps when I get home so I can show you all the great deals I found. It's going to be awesome! Make sure you leave a comment with the savings you find so everyone can have a great shopping trip. I can't wait to see the savings!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Saturday Fun

HALO SwaddleChange - Preventing Poopy Fingers

Being a stay at home mom is great but there are certain times during the day that I wish I had an extra set of hands. You know, mealtimes, nap time, all those times when I need to be able to deal with multiple children at the same time (aka anytime I'm nursing the baby and the older kids need attention). Thanks to HALO one of those times, diaper changing time, is something I am better able to handle myself.
I am absolutely in love with HALO's new SwaddleChange. It has been super helpful for me with keeping little fingers out of dirty diapers while I'm changing and has saved me much time that would have otherwise been spent trying to clean little fingers before they wound up back in someone's mouth.

The SwaddleChange is easy to use. It's simply a Velcro type closure on a wrap that is attached to a changing pad cover. I love it for diaper changes! Not only does it help my little ones (and not so little ones) hold still but it also helped to keep baby F quiet during those first few months when unwrapping her could lead to chaos.
I've used it on all my diapered kids and it works well for all of them. F gets to use it the most, simply because she doesn't understand what no means, but I have also used it on B & C to help them better control their squirms. C got a whole bunch of use out of this swaddle last month after his horrible, and I mean hospital trip, diaper rash that we couldn't figure out how to cure (more on that another time)  because he had huge blisters and all he wanted to do was scratch. I don't know what I would have done without this tool because his brothers simply aren't strong enough to help me hold him when he's that mad.

I recommend this changing pad cover for any parent. It's a great set of extra hands to have around. The fabric also washes well, we've had ours in use almost four months and it's not stained at all, and still looks new. Trust me when I say this is an investment you'll appreciate! Thanks HALO for another great product to lend mom an extra hand!

Summer Projects with Yard Sign Compensation

If you've been around Kerrific very long you know that we bought a house almost two years ago. It's hard to believe it's been that long! Owning a home has been quite the adventure with out the maintenance and repairs. This year one of my goals is to get paint on the walls (since we still have just texture) and hide all the crayon marks and bug guts that are currently there.

The painting will probably take most of the summer to complete since there is quite a bit to do. After that hopefully I can finish getting the shelves into the closets, more on that another day, and everything organized. It's hard to believe that after two years I still have many of our things in boxes but I suppose that's just the way it goes when you move.

I've thought about seeing if I could hire some people to help me get these projects done and get a discount in exchange for putting up the companies yard signs in my front lawn. Since we live on one of the busiest streets in town that should be a good exchange don't you think? I know that politicians love to put their signs up on this street simply because of the traffic and I would assume that business feel the same way.

The likelihood of this happening is slim but it's a good thought. What will probably happen is that I will work my butt off to get my house painted this summer and have very little time for anything else. I suppose it will pay off though since they say, “if you want something done right you have to do it yourself”. At least I will know the job is done right.

It will also be good to teach my kids how to do some of the jobs. I don't know that they will be able to help with much painting but they will be able to help me move things around and get ready to paint and then help me put things away again when we're done. Such a blessing to be able to teach my kids and get work done at the same time. I love being a mom!

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Reaching My Weight Loss Goal for Fun Summer Skirts

Spring is here, kinda. We had snow again this morning but it's back to melting this afternoon. Idaho weather is wonderful like that. With spring comes Easter which means it's almost time to dig my clothes boxes out of the basement so I can switch over to my summer wardrobe (now that I am excited about). Goodbye turtlenecks and sweaters! Hello shorts, skirts, and swimsuits!

I'm super excited about this years change of seasons because I know I have a bunch of clothes down there that I have never worn. I got some great cheap skirts and capris on clearance last year. They are super cute and I can't wait to be able to wear them once I finish loosing some weight and it gets a bit warmer! Hopefully if I feel like I can look cute I can get up the courage to take the kids out more. They love to go to the library and the park but it's hard for me to want to go out when I feel like my clothes don't fit.

I've got just a few more weeks to reach my goal. I don't know that I'll quite make it but it should be close. I really want to be able to wear one of my new dresses for Easter that are a size smaller than what I am wearing now. I suppose that means I need to eat less cookies (says the girl with the package of Oreos sitting next to her) and get up and exercise. I know the warming weather will help me want to get out and exercise more but I am currently taking advantage of every chance I've got to get some outside time into my schedule.

However, I do have backup plans until it really warms up. I've got some yoga and dancing videos that I love to work with and most of the time the boys will do them with me. Some days I can even get E to spend some time working out with me, although those days get to be further between the closer that finals get. Hopefully next week will be another good one and I'll be even closer to reaching my weight loss goals and fitting into all my fun summer clothes!

This post was sponsored. All opinions are my own.

Exclusive Coupon Savings at Kroger Today Only

It's been a few weeks since I posted a coupon post. I haven't had the chance to go shopping much because of all the other crazy things that have been going on around the Kerr house. It takes a lot of work for me to find the deals that I do but we have found that it is well worth the time to help our budget in by working to use coupons and find great deals on all of our favorite items.

Because I haven't been shopping recently our stock piles are beginning to diminish. It's time to head back to the store to stock up on some of our most used items including Tide, Cascade, Gatorade and Tostitos. The good news is that thanks to Kroger's Cart Buster Savings Event now is a great time to stock up on everything I need.

Cart Buster Savings run March 3 – March 16 at all Kroger Co. Stores. You can see all the great items plus get some coupons to go with by visiting their Family site anytime during the event. You'll be amazed at what you can find at your local Kroger Co. stores. I know I can't wait to take my list of great deals to our local FredMeyer.

The big news is that TODAY ONLY you can select your deal! When you visit the Kroger site today you will be served three random digital coupons that are just for you. They will be delivered to your Kroger shopper card so they are ready to use when you visit the store. There are lots of exclusive coupons available so make sure you go see what you are served today. Deals may include Crest 3D, Tropicana, DiGiorno, Secret, Pantene and more. Head on over and check it out! I promise you won't want to miss this great event.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Finding the Best Mower for Your Yard

Spring is almost here, I hope, so it's time to start thinking about what I want to do with my yard this year. I've started with the flower beds since the snow is slowly melting. I'm excited for my tulips to start showing since that will mean that it's Birthday time at the Kerr house (a simple bonus to spring time around here). Next on my list is fixing the hen house for the new baby chicks we are getting. More on that soon but we do have some work to do before it will be ready for them to move in.

After that is taken care of hopefully the snow will be completely gone so I can start working on the lawn. There is a whole lot to do in that aspect. We've got to start with some dirt to fill in the holes. This will be followed by seed, water, and much TLC to get our yard into the condition we would like it to be in. Once this happens we will need a new lawn mower. E suggested that if our yard was a little bigger we would get the best zero turnmower we could find but since we are on a small city lot for now we'll settle with a used push mower which means that I will be getting some lawn mowing workouts this summer as part of my weight loss experience.

The good news is that once we have our yard my kids can quit terrorizing the house and we can go outside to play. This is a feature that I am super excited about. I love taking the kids outside and they love being outside. There is nothing more fun on a summer day than taking a book out to sit in our porch swing and watching the kids play on the grass. It's so fun to watch them run and jump and play. Between them my three lovable boys and our three crazy pooches we get quite the show. There's never a dull moment in the Kerr yard during the summer!

This post is sponsored. All opinions are my own.

Spring Fashionista 2013 Is Here with a Giveaway

It's time for another great giveaway event here at Kerrific. We are super excited to announce the beginning of Spring Fashionista 2013! It's going to be a week full of the best fashion giveaways of the season at some of the best blogs around!

The Spring Fashionista Giveaway Event is hosted by Still Blonde After All These Years and ModlyChic with K Squared Glamour as a co-host!

For every giveaway in the Spring Fashionista Event that you enter, you gain one entry toward the Spring Fashionista Events Main Event Prizes. These total $1200 and include:

White Gold and Citrene Stone Necklace from Emma Parker Diamonds

$100 Amazon Gift Card

$250 Gift Card from Midnight Velvet

and 

$250 in Shoes from Bobbi-Toad

Here at Kerrific we have an awesome prize package for mother and baby. It includes:

A Kaitlyn Dress from Everly Grey

A Beautiful Piece of Lingerie from You! Lingerie

and 

A 3 Month Gold Subscription and $30 Gift Card to FlipSize

To enter please use the form below.

Then don't forget to hop along and enter all the other great prizes.

Good Luck!

Entry-Form

Still Blonde after all these YEARS , Modly Chic, K Squared Glamour and Spring Fashionista Events Giveaway or the Spring Fashionista Events Giveaway are not responsible for sponsors/bloggers that do not fulfill their prizes or for any product failure or harm caused thereby.

Multitasking Mom

Shattered by Dani Pettrey and Nook HD Giveaway

Arrest, Murder, and Family, the three themes of Shattered, by Dani Pettrey. This is a daring mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. The story begins as Piper's brother returns to their small home town in Alaska just to be arrested for murder just after he arrives. It seems that everyone believes he is guilty except Piper, who is determined to prove that he is not guilty. As Piper and her friends start on their adventure to find the real murder and the reason behind the crime she finds danger, friendship, and even a little love along the way. It's an adventure you won't want to miss!

Dani Pettrey is celebrating the release of Shattered with a Nook HD giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party {3/14}. 

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Nook HD
• Submerged and Shattered by Dani Pettrey {Be caught up in this riveting series.}

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 13th. Winner will be announced at the "Shattered" Author Chat Party on 3/14. Connect with Dani for an evening of book chat, trivia, and a chance to win gift certificates, books, and other fun prizes!

So grab your copy of Shattered and join Dani on the evening of the March 14th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Tiny Love for Princesses

With our new tiny princess I have been having a great time finding fun pink thinks for her to wear and toys for her to play with. Baby F's current favorite toy is the Tiny Princess Gymini Bouncer by Tiny Love. This bouncer is amazing! I'll start by saying that the toys it came with are super fun. My big boys even have a great time pulling on the little bug and feeling it vibrate.
The bounce to this bouncer is a great amount. I love that the heavier Baby F gets the more the bouncer lays back so it keeps her from falling out as easily. She's also gotten pretty good at kicking and making the chair move. We hardly ever use the batteries to make the chair bounce which is great for me.

The best feature of this bouncer has got to me the adjustable activity arches. They seemed a bit odd to me at first because they were so different from what I had seen but now that I have used them I know how awesome they are. The way these arches are designed makes it extra easy to get your baby in and out of the bouncer. I don't ever bonk Baby F's head when I'm trying to put her down or pick her up like I do with her other seats. The arms are easy to move and the boys like that they can move them to give her kisses without hitting their own heads.
Another bonus I have found for these adjustable arches is to hold a blanket to take photos. I have been taking monthly photos of Baby F and most of them have been taken in this bouncer. It holds her in a great position for now and when I lay a blanket on the bouncer I can put the arches out and drape the blanket over them giving me enough of a backdrop to cover up whatever else might be laying around on my floor. It's awesome!
We just love all of our Tiny Love toys and I know you will love them too! Check out their awesome collections for the special little one in your life today.

NOTE: just a side note to let you know this bouncer also washes really well. F did some major exploding from her diaper yesterday and it all washed out wonderfully! (added 3/15/13)

Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate with iPad Mini Giveaway

Getting married is always an adventure. Diving in with your new partner can be trying for any new couple. Mallory, in Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate, gets these normal trials plus a toddler and an immediate move half way across the country when she marries the love of her life, Jack West. This move to Moses Lake, Texas brings out the adventurous side of Mallory but somehow she just can't shake the feeling that something is not right. As she searches for the answer Mallory has to decide how much she is willing to give up and what risks she is willing to take. 

I really loved this book and can't wait to read the others. Lisa did a wonderful job keeping things just exciting enough to keep me up all night reading. It was a wonderful blend of parenting, romance and mystery. It is a great read and one you won't want to miss!

Lisa Wingate is celebrating the release of Firefly Island with an iPad Mini giveaway and a fun Facebook Author Chat Party (March 19th).  

  One fortunate winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• The Moses Lake series (Firefly Island, Blue Moon Bay and Larkspur Cove)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 18th. Winner will be announced at the "Firefly Island Author Chat Party on March 19th. Connect with Lisa, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Firefly Island and join Lisa on the evening of the March 19th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

A Wonderful New Tie Just In Time for Easter

E's New Tie - Isn't He Handsome!

There is something about the men (and sometimes women) in my family and having a small obsession with ties. My brothers like to buy fifty pound bags of ties at thrift stores to increase their supply. My sister likes to use said ties to make skirts that turn out adorable. Even my brothers-in-law have multitudes of ties, so their wives tell me at least. Sometimes E feels a little left out because I don't buy him bags of ties. As far as I'm concerned there's just not enough room in the closet. Besides, when he wears ties I like him to have something nice. That's why I was really excited when we got this new silver tie to review from Bows 'N Ties. It is perfect for Easter and I'm so excited for him to wear it! I love Bows 'N Ties because they have classy ties for a price that won't break the bank. We have loved everything we have gotten and I have been very pleased with the high quality pieces. You should check them out for all their tie needs.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Perfect Mom Dress by Everly Grey

I have decided that first time moms miss out on a lot. I know that as a first time mom people gave me lots of advice on what I needed and even gifted me lots of items but about half of them I didn't end up using. With each child I have spoiled myself with a few new things and it seems that the more kids I have the more things I find that "I don't know how I lived without" because they work really well for me even though no one recommended them to me. 

This is exactly what happened with my new Kaitlyn Dress from Everly Grey. For a long time now I have been avoiding dresses because they seem to be either too short when I'm pregnant (really long legs + big belly doesn't work so well) or they are impossible to nurse in. I am so glad that I decided to try this dress though because it does not have either of these problems. I don't have a photo of me in it pregnant but it is a great length and, because it is designed as a wrap around dress, it is easy to resize as my body changes and simple to nurse in as I'm out and about.

I'm also going to note here that one problem I have had with maternity clothes in general is that they wear out quickly (someone seems to think they only need to last about six months) but that is not true of Everly Grey's items. They really are high quality and will last you for many years if cared for correctly.
You'll want to check out all the great styles at Everly Grey and make sure you stay tuned for a great giveaway coming your way from this awesome company during Spring Fashionista!

Pamper Yourself, It's Almost Spring!

There is nothing I love more than the weather finally warming up. I deal with the cold and snow and wind but I much prefer the warmth of summer. Sitting in the sun with a good book and watching the kids expel all their energy in the yard. The moment when I can finally tell them to take their craziness outside this spring will be wonderful!

Since I am dreaming about spring being just around the corner that means it's time to stock up on shaving supplies and body moisturizers. I have my favorites of course but this year I am trying some new lotions and I have already found a few new items that I can already tell are going to become new regulars.

Keeping my skin nice through the winters with the dry heat and during the summer with the sun and outdoor time can be quite the job but with high quality products, most of them found at EdenFantasys, my skin looks beautiful year round. I love EdenFantasys for the great prices, high quality products, free items with every order, and everyday free shipping. It keeps me feeling beautiful and my pocket book looking full too. You should check it out!

Spring Fashionista is Almost Here - Lookbook Preview!

The largest fashion event on the internet is almost here. Mark you calendars for March 7-13 to participate in this awesome event! 

Today I have a special preview of the prize packages included in this event. 

You can preview the packages and see all the paricipating blogs here:

Then enter the pre-giveaway using the form below. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Finding Plumbing Help in Your Vacation Home Location

As E and are are working to get finished with school we are trying to decide what we want to do when he graduates. I'd love to live somewhere warm but E will never move away from his mountains. I suppose that means that we are stuck but just maybe I can get a vacation home somewhere that it is warm (like Florida or Texas).

In the meantime I suppose I will need to keep living with the crazy weather in Idaho. It's been awful the last few weeks. The snow melts every morning and then it snows ever night and the poor kids' asthma is going crazy. I don't think I've seen this many noses run this much in a long time. My poor kids look like melting snowmen and frankly, I don't feel much better with my allergies.

Anyway, The good thing for me is that I know wherever I go I will have my family. I will be able to make friends and I will be at home wherever we live. I look forward to building my dream home but no matter where that is at or what it ends up looking like having my family by my side will make it mine and keep me happy. Being happy can turn any house into a home and as long as we continue to take care of each other home is where we will be.

It is also nice to know that wherever I go I will have people to help me take care of my house. There will always be a Roto-Rooter location nearby to help with plumbing. I will always have friends and family to ask about small home repairs. And hopefully my boys will continue to be helpful and learn to help me keep my house going (you should have seen them helping dad replace the dishwasher this week). I love that my kids enjoy learning and I hope that they continue to learn from their dad and our other local fix it men and women so they can care for their own houses someday.

This post was sponsored. All opinions are my own.