Making the Holidays Stress Free

This time of year is absolutely ridiculous for most of us. For me there is baking, candy making, shopping, caroling, parties to host and parties to attend, pictures to take, cards to send, children's events, gift wrapping, decorating, sight seeing and that's just the tip of it. That doesn't even touch on the snow shoveling, ice melting, floor mopping and other household chores that just accompany life. With only one of me I have to find little ways to fit it all in without becoming a stressed out bundle of raw nerves. SO, here is how I cope.

First, I pace myself. Before Thanksgiving's leftover turkey has been eaten it's tempting to drag out all the decorations and kick off the festivities full swing...don't...just...don't. Pick one day to do the outside stuff, another day to do the tree and another day to decorate the house. Take little bites of it and you won't feel pressured or overwhelmed. I remember Mom baking hundreds of cookies on the same day we put up the tree. That's ridiculous! I make no less than 10 various cookies & candies for our family and neighbors each year.. I don't try to do it all on one day. I space it out over 2-3 days. I've done it all in one day before...I started around 10am and didn't finish until 3am. NO thank you. Besides, when you pace yourself you actually get to ENJOY it. Don't let something fun become a hassle.

This is less than 1/4 of what we made last year.

Second, don't worry about what your friends are buying their kids. Don't over-spend just because someone else is. The truth is, your kid will remember the things you did with them (decorating, baking/candy making, caroling, etc) much more than they will remember the gifts they received. When we ask my son what he looks forward to the most, the gifts are usually the last item on the list. (If mentioned at all)

Little man helping decorate the Gingerbread Men!

Third, REST. (See #1) Don't wear yourself down. Don't be afraid to take naps. Curl up with the family and watch a Christmas special. You'll be happier and less likely to get sick.

Sadie is very diligent about getting plenty of rest.

Fourth, try to keep the house clean and decluttered. It's easy to let it go, and that only makes us more stressed when we don't have a decent work space or when we walk into a room full of clutter. So, while the cookies are in the oven run the vacuum, wash a few dishes or do a quick pick-up. Taking small bites at the household chores will keep the clutter at bay.

Finally, take help where you can get it. Pass off some of your chores or errands to other family members. Cash in free babysitting opportunities. Focus on easy meals: Crockpot dinners, casseroles or Kroger Skillet Meals. As a member of BzzAgent I received an entire meal FREE from Kroger and I was floored at how easy and tasty it was. We enjoyed a delicious Tuscan Penne Pasta, garden salad and garlic bread. BOOM dinner was ready in under 15 minutes and I was back to wrapping presents.

Do you want to become a BzzAgent and try free products? Sign up at www.BzzAgent.com

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Staying Healthy and Beautiful With Support From Old Navy

Staying fit is a big part of my life. NOW that being said, I'm not a Training Nazi, I'm not out to prove anything. I just want to be healthy. I want to live to be a wrinkled old woman surrounded by grandkids. The time I have now is better spent playing with my kid than building muscles that are bigger than yours! My weekends are spent playing tag and building models...not traveling to competitions. But I digress, being fit is a big part of my life! (Back to that whole being healthy thing.)

I stay fit by:

• Eating healthy. (but absolutely no strict fad diets) Just eat real food, if I want a piece of cake, I will eat a piece of cake...the trick is not eating the entire cake! (moderation folks!)
• Drinking a lot of water. Soda is OK sometimes, but it wrecks the enamel on your teeth, tears up your stomach lining and fills you up with empty calories. Even if you opt for diet, you're still loading yourself up on weird chemicals.
• Avoid chemicals. We all know smoking & drinking are bad for you...so don't do it! As an ex-smoker I know how hard it is to quit, but it can be done. The benefits are totally worth it.
• Exercising. Yes, it's inevitable...to have a healthy heart you must not only keep it clean, you must make it work! I jog & work out, changing up my routine every few weeks to keep my muscles confused. Am I a body builder? Nope. Am I a competition-worthy race opponent? Absolutely not. Am I healthy? Yep!

Thanks to Old Navy and Crowdtap I feel like I am supported in my quest for health. For the 3rd time in a row I was chosen for a really cool opportunity. They offered me a complete outfit for FREE from their Activewear collection. Not only that, but I get to choose a friend as well! NO ONE loves to workout. Bottom line, it sucks. However, when I have cute gear to wear while working out, it feels less painful and I'm more motivated!

So, I met my little sister at our local Old Navy to cash in our coupons.

 

Flip Flops anyone??

Our Terre Haute, IN store was in the process of putting a lot of Summer stuff out, so we were momentarily distracted...especially by the big wall of flip flops! As we were checking out the flip flops near the Activewear section, a store employee noticed my "Style Council" paper and asked what our freebie was today. We told her it was Activewear & she told us to have fun shopping & if we needed anything to let her know.

Which color makes my muscles look more fierce?!?

Once we finally made it into the Activewear section, we both found what we were looking for. She was wanting compression capri's and I was looking for an athletic short. My biggest issue was deciding between black or pink! I went with pink because well...I'm just a pink kind of girl!










We spent way too much time & money in the store, but we had a blast. Along with our free outfits, we also stocked up on sports bras. (And that charcoal colored top wound up going home with me as well!) I also wound up buying another swim suit (Seriously cute collection this year!) and a handful of other Summer items. But, thanks to $5 off using my Snap Appy app on my phone, it wasn't too bad! We had a blast in the store, joking around with the fun employees, flexing for anyone & everyone who walked by and just enjoying ourselves. I'm sure all of my Instagram Followers were happy when I finally quit posting from the store! ;)

Thanks again Old Navy and Crowdtap for another epic shopping trip! But more importantly, thanks for the encouragement and motivation to stay healthy by keeping my Activewear collection fresh & upbeat!

Summer Upgrade Thanks to Old Navy and Crowdtap

It's finally starting to feel like summer, and what better way to kick off summer than with new gear?!! As a member of the Old Navy Style Council, I receive a lot of opportunities for new gear. Usually there are two coupons: 1 for me and 1 for a friend. (Which is SUPER awesome!) The only thing better than shopping for free clothes, is shopping for free clothes with a friend! So, you can only imagine my excitement when I received the "Old Navy Upgrade" hosted party through Crowdtap. (That's right, NOT a "sample share" but a "hosted party"!)

Check it out...I'm going shopping with THREE friends!!

Not only did I get to go shopping with ONE friend, I was able to invite THREE!! But, it doesn't stop there! Old Navy usually gives a coupon for one outfit. This time it was for a full outfit plus accessories: Swim Suit, Flip Flops, Beach Bag and Beach Towel. We are talking, total beach upgrade for Summer 2013!!

I cannot thank Old Navy and Crowdtap enough for this awesome day. I was joined by my little sister (as always!), my "old friend" Jodie and my "new friend" Billie. The 4 of us had a great time goofing off all over the store. Of course, we did a LOT more shopping than just our free items! We all found suits that we loved and more importantly, that fit our unique sizes and shapes. I can't wait to wear my new, cute little blue striped bikini on our family vacation in a few weeks!

Of course, there was some good-natured drama over the flip flops and who was getting what. For some reason, no one wanted to have the same thing as everyone else. lol I put my foot down (no pun intended) and opted for the pink/purple hombre flip flops because the colors were too cute to pass up! Old Navy's "basic flip flop" has really come a long way! There are so many fun color combinations available...literally something for everyone!

Yea...check out those purple/pink hombre flip flops...too cute not to own!

I'm still amazed and in shock by how much free swag we all received from the Old Navy Style Council. Here is a copy of my receipt for my free items only. Multiply this times 4 and that's $265.52 worth of stuff for my friends and I in one shopping trip. Again, thank you Old Navy. This was an awesome treat to kick off the summer! We were all so excited, we were Tweeting & posting to Instagram while taking silly pics & having fun. It was definitely a shopping trip I won't soon forget!

Good Food, Good Friends and......DOTS....

I get together with a few of my closest friends once a month. We all work together raising money for charity (Relay For Life) and these "get-togethers" are basically our monthly committee meetings. So, when I was sent an epic box full of loot from Crowdtap and Marc Jacobs DOT perfume, I knew exactly which ladies I would need to share it with! 

For starters, the DOT party kit wasn't the typical "Here's a sample, pass it out" kind of party. Not only did they provide samples of the DOT perfume, but the kit also included 1 full size bottle of perfume, a mini-sized bottle, nail shields, a DOT headband, DOT scarf and party supplies such as a table-cloth, dotted balloons, and other dotted decorations! From a local party store I bought dotted cups, gift bags, and straws and put everything together. As this was a "cocktail" party, but our meetings are held in a public (non-alcoholic) restaurant, I bought Budweiser Strawberry Margaritas and put them in the gift bags as well!

Contents of my gift-bags!

I did have one special friend who isn't local, so I mailed her a box of goodies. She sent me photos of her enjoying the party goods!

Carol's "Goody" table!

 

Miss Carol enjoying the DOT party from a remote location!!

As for the rest of us, we met at a local restaurant, Palucci's Pizza Express. I made a plate of "Lady Bug" cookies, gathered up my party supplies and went to our committee meeting. I was pleasantly surprised by all the polka dots in the restaurant! My friends were as polka dotted as they could possible be! Even our two mini-members wore dotted dresses & had dotted toe nails just for the occassion. FYI, they received DOT goody bags too, but instead of alcohol they received Hershey Bars, Ring Pops and Skittles!

Two of our Mini-Members

Awesome Pedi by Desi!

Lovely Miss Brandi, stunning as always!

My mini-helpers getting ready for the party!

Mama Dot & Baby Dot

All of that beautiful hair in a cute dotted headband!

Lady Bug Cookies: Oreo Fudge Cookies with piped red icing.

On a serious note: After enjoying our DOT themed party/meeting, we did get a lot accomplished and we have several fundraising activities in the works for the next couple of months. What we do is raise money year-round for Relay For Life. RFL donations stay local to help local cancer patients. This money does so much and I know so many people who have been helped by these funds.

Relay For Life Donations:

• Transport local cancer patients to and from treatments.
• Help cover costs for in-home care.
• Pay for lodging so sick children can have their parents close by.
• Pay for gas.
• Classes to help patients undergoing treatment, to look and feel better about themselves.
• Counseling services for both patients and caregivers. This disease affects everyone mentally as well as physically.

So, if you're interested in helping a good charity that helps local people click here. Even a small donation can make a huge impact. My seven year old son has personally raised over $180, for our team! All of his donations were from friends & family giving him a few dollars here and there...so little bits do add up to large quantities! If you want to make a tax-deductible donation to the American Cancer Society (RFL) click this link! It's quick and easy and you'll be making a huge impact on someones life. DONATE HERE!!

A wardrobe refresh, thanks to Old Navy and Crowdtap!

It's that time of year again...laundering and storing the sweaters, cords, hoodies and other winter apparel. I absolutely adore the feeling of dragging out "The Tote" (you know, that one designated plastic box that holds ALL off-season stuff as well as the possibility of a new wardrobe twice a year?!?) Unfortunately, my clothes never look quite as nice when I drag them out as I remember them looking when I put them away. As it turns out, last summer's tees and tanks are faded, stretched and have simply out-lived their general usefulness. HOWEVER, this Spring Old Navy and Crowdtap gave me the opportunity to help refresh my wardrobe with two new tees. AND I got to choose one lucky friend to share the experience!

As always when these epic opportunities pop up, I took my little sister. (It's the only way I can get a free breakfast out of her!) I picked her up & we went to IHOP, there's nothing quite like filling up on sweet, starchy food just before trying on new clothes! ;) Then, we bounced over to Old Navy and started shopping. We each had a coupon for TWO tee-shirts. However, due to someone's obsession, we wound up spending a great deal of time in the flip-flop section. She only walked away with 3 pair, I was very proud! THEN we started checking out their tees.

The Vintage collection at Old Navy is particularly awesome this spring. With an array of vibrant colors and fun, quirky graphics, these ultra-soft tees are a must-have for this Spring. Worn alone or layered with a simple "Best Tee", they were by far my favorite style. So much so, that I wound up with two tees from the "Vintage" collection, the mint-green "Free Spirit" shirt and the tangerine and fuchsia "Live, Laugh, Learn, Love". 

As you can see, my dress addiction kicked in and I did have to try on the sweet poplin dress!

 

The "Best Tee" collection was also a good way to go. There was a variety of styles to choose from. There were both solid & striped henley's as well as solid & striped basic tees. (Both in V-neck & regular) The color selection in the "Best Tee" category was a little more diverse. They still carried the really fun, vibrant colors but they also had a few earth-tone options for the less-bold as well.This cute & comfy V-Neck in lime was my particular favorite. (I know the coupon was only good for TWO tees, but there's no rule against buying extra!)

Notice there are now two of those poplin dresses on the hanger...the first one didn't fit. : ) 

By the end of the trip, neither of us walked away with "just two tees". The color, fit & styles were too fun not to indulge. The styles were (as always) right on-trend, however the prices were (as always) very affordable. This is the majority of what we went home with, however a few extra items were picked up on the way out of the store. (dang those cute ballet flats!!)

If you want to check out all the fun and adorable styles Old Navy is sporting this Spring, check out the store or visit them online here: Old Navy Tees!

Fight Cancer With New Clothes!!

Recently I was invited by Crowdtap and Woolite to participate in a "Clothing Swap". This is where you & your friends gather up a few gently used items, meet up at someone's house & trade clothes. It all seems very simple, but I've never been very simple... SO with the help of a few awesome friends we're kicking this idea into high-gear. Rather than just swap out some clothes with each other we're doing a major over-haul of our closets to raise money for our Relay For Life team, "The Swatters".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My fellow Swatters and  I...we even have a Mini-Swatter!

We are gathering up our gently used clothing & accessories and hosting a "Sale"...Think "Consignment Shop" but in my garage! ;) Every last penny will be donated to Relay For Life. We will also have a donation jar set up. So, when we donate to RFL, WHERE does that money actually go? You may be surprised to hear that it doesn't just fund some lab where cancer research is being conducted. It helps real people in OUR community!

Relay For Life Donations:

• Transport local cancer patients to and from treatments.
• Help cover costs for in-home care.
• Pay for lodging so sick children can have their parents close by.
• Pay for gas.
• Classes to help patients undergoing treatment, to look and feel better about themselves.
• Counseling services for both patients and caregivers. This disease affects everyone mentally as well as physically.
• Check out this link for more info: Where Our Funds Go!

 With the party pack, Woolite not only sent samples of detergent, but they also sent a $10 gift card to help cover party costs. I used the $10 to donate to my RFL team in honor of Crowdtap & Woolite. If you want to donate and help us in our fight for the patients battling cancer, you can follow this link: RFL Donations. If you want to update your wardrobe...stay tuned and once we get all the clothes, shoes & accessories sorted we'll post the date that our "Shop" will be open!! HINT: We're leaning towards mid-May!!

The Laundry Can Wait...

Yesterday was a late-Winter Indiana day that felt more like early Spring. Even though bits of snow still dotted the landscape, the sun was brightly shining in the blue sky and the temperature was very mild.

After I picked up my 7 year old son from school, I still had a lot of things on my "to-do list". I had last minute things to tie up for an evening meeting, cookies to bake, supper to be prepared, two more loads of laundry, etc. SO, when my little boy asked me to take him to the park for a bike ride my first impulse was to say, "Not tonight, but maybe we'll go tomorrow." But before the sentence could leave my mouth, I realized this was a perfect opportunity to shut down, get some much-needed fresh air & focus on him. SO, responsibilities laid aside, we hopped on our dusty bicycles and went for a ride!

A simple bike ride taught me a few things about myself and my little one. For example, our park is beautiful and while I wanted to leisurely ride through it and enjoy the scenery, he was pedaling madly as though he was in the last 10 yards of an Olympic event! (THE ENTIRE RIDE) The melting snow has left a lot of slush and mud. As I was carefully avoiding anything that appeared even remotely wet, he was nailing every mud puddle as if they were worth bonus points! But most of all, his clear and sweet laughter was filling my ears. His sweet giggling as he raced against imaginary monsters was a happy reminder that the laundry can wait, but he will not.

Today is a typical late-Winter Indiana day. It's bitter cold, windy and the rain is pouring down. The sun is completely hidden and it's a perfect day for doing laundry.

Curing Mama's Winter Blues!

Last weekend we threw a little party for the kiddos to give them a chance to cut loose. This weekend it was Mama's turn! Once again, I received an epic party pack from Crowdtap. This particular pack was sponsored by Durex! Typically when I think of Durex I just think of condoms, but believe me when I say they are about so much more! There were a TON of condoms, "Love Box" protective condom carriers, lubricants, naughty dice, sex coupons, dirty games, a LOT of devices (most of my guests received a new device!) and several other fun items! Crowdtap even provided gift bags for all of our amazing goodies! This is what my trashcan looked like after putting together the gift bags. How hilarious would it be if one of the neighborhood dogs tore open my garbage bag this week!

THIS is the sign of  a good party!

People are always asking how I get all this awesome stuff, so I went ahead and printed out a link to join Crowdtap and taped it to the outside of each bag.

My friends and I have somewhat regular "girls nights" where we sit around, eat, have a few drinks and play games. This month, my friend Missy was hosting girls night and once she realized what I had in my Crowdtap/Durex package we knew we had to incorporate it into girls night. To make sure that even our most conservative friends showed up, we didn't tell anyone. We didn't even hint around about the games we would be playing or the prizes that would be won.

So, we had a few naughty games planned. Two of which I borrowed from my friend, Laura, who also hosted a Durex Party from Crowdtap. She created a "Condom Trivia" that she let me use. Our top contestant was able to answer 6 out of 10 questions! We also borrowed her idea of seeing just how big we could blow up a condom. (Ours reached 4', although Laura said hers went up to 7')

This is how Missy & I blow up a condom!

As for the prizes, well Crowdtap and Durex were kind enough to provide those! One of the things included in my package were drink coasters that had a trivia question on them. The question was, "What percentage of adults have "done the deed" in an adventurous location?" The answer was 75%. THAT was our first question to get the party started! My friend Beth had the closest answer. Now, Beth's husband has been out of state for work and she is hands-down the most conservative person I know. Therefore, we found it very important to rig the prize distribution to make sure she received the "best prize". THIS was Beth's priceless reaction.

 From the young newlywed girls, to the seasoned grandmothers EVERYONE left with a prize bag! There were even a few bags left over which we sent home with the newlyweds! The best quote of the night was the grandmother on oxygen who received a small device and loudly proclaimed, "I know what I'm doing tonight!" I thought her great niece (one of the newlyweds) was going to die right there on the spot! It was an awesome and hilarious evening thanks to Crowdtap and Durex. :)

If you want to check out Crowdtap for yourself, you can sign up with this link: JOIN CROWDTAP

Cutting Loose With the Kids at Hotel Transylvania

We all get a case of the Winter Blues at one point or another, so why should our kids be any different? Think of these little balls of energy being cooped up in a house all winter long! The lack of interaction from friends alone, is enough to drive a little one (or his Mother) crazy!!

I received an opportunity from Crowdtap & Hotel Transylvania that I couldn't refuse...a chance to host a Hotel Transylvania Monster Bowl Party for the kids! They sent me a digital kit full of fantastic printables, decoration and meal ideas. So, we invited several friends over and planned a day to just cut loose and have fun! Due to the weather, 4 of his friends were unable to make it, but several friends did show. Crowdtap provided us with a digital copy of Hotel Transylvania, but the quality wasn't great and it would have to be viewed on the computer. SO, before party day, I picked up a just-released copy of "Hotel Transylvania". My little man had been having a rough week, so I surprised him with it as well as a bag of his favorite candy and a card...never underestimate the power your words can have over your children.

Gearing up for party, day we busted out the Halloween decorations and had a blast transforming our family room and dining room into a creepy setting! We strung skull lights across the dining room entry way, set the table in red and black, had creepy candles, a hanging ghoul, ghost garland and filled black plastic cauldrons with snacks and treats!

Our party was set for noon, so I made a ghoulishly- fun lunch for the kids! We had pizza, chips, Werewolf Cupcakes, "Scream Cheese" cheese ball and "Shrunken Head Punch"! The kids LOVED the Scream Cheese and the floating "Shrunken Heads" in the punch! The punch was a great alternative. I had soda at the house, and it was never touched. The kids only wanted the punch, which I made with 100% Juice, Sierra Mist and carved apples.

Chocolate Werewolf Cupcakes

Scream Cheese!!

"Shrunken Head Punch" - Carved Apples, Raspberry Juicy Juice and Sierra Mist

After our little ghouls finished lunch, I took each child's photo and then had everyone sit down at the coffee table and decorate foam picture frames. While they watched the movie, I "Monsterized" their photos using the "Hotel Transylvania Monsterize Me" app, printed and framed their photos as a souvenir.

 

While our little ghouls watched Hotel Transylvania, I gave them each a "Swag Bag" of hauntingly good treats and a witch's cauldron of popcorn! We used the Hotel Transylvania Valentines Cards provided in the Crowdtap Digital Kit to personalize the outside of our Swag Bags!

 It was crazy during the movie, they were all sprawled out across my living room, but would jump up and start singing and dancing during the musical parts. They were laughing so hard, I'm sure the neighbors could hear us! I think the best compliment of all though, was when my son said, "I can't believe a party with girls could be THIS much fun!!" After the party there was a bit of Nerf sword fighting and random running through the house. I threw most of the house rules out the window for this special day, because even the little ones need to cut loose from the stress of school & being cooped up from a long, cold & rainy winter.

Do you want to join me on Crowdtap for your own chances at hosting parties & earning cool swag? Here's a link!

Join Crowdtap!

Crowdtap says...Tap That! (with Durex!)

Crowdtap is always sending me fun, new products to try out and share with my friends. Usually these are things like Old Navy clothing, shoes from Finish Line, products from AT&T or Verizon, spices from McCormicks, etc, etc, etc. THIS particular sample share was fun, but QUITE different!

Crowdtap teamed up with Durex and sent me a box of "goodies". This went beyond a few condom samples. This was a box full of enough "surprises" for 10 couples. So, as I sat there looking at the contents and giggling I wasn't sure who or even how I would give these away. I had myself convinced not to blog about it, but then I realized how funny this whole scenario is and if I'm really lucky my Mom will read this post and at a minimum it will make her uncomfortable. (At this point she's probably googling "Durex"!!)

Goodie Bag Contents

My first priority was deciding WHO would get the samples. I had already decided that one sample would be for me and another for my best friend. For the other 8, I relied on Facebook. My post read:

"SO! To my friends who are local... I received a very awesome box of products from Crowdtap to distribute as a "sample share". I have enough to share with 8 more people, and just so you know, these goodies are of an "intimate" nature lol. IF you are in a relationship and would like to spice up an evening with your partner let me know and I'll hook you up. :) Feel free to send me a private message if you want a goodie bag! The first 8 to msg me will discreetly receive the bags....and NO for the love of grace, I will NOT be wanting ANYONE to report back on the details of this sample share!!! lol




Within about 10 minutes I had about 30 responses, that's right THIRTY. I never knew how kinky all my friends were! So, I gave them to the first 8 to respond! My next priority was packaging. I wanted this to be epic and make people blush. So, I found clear pink bags that looked like big condoms, placed foam "conversation heart" stickers on the outside of the bags and put the contents inside and tied them up with a lace ribbon. I even made name tags with the "Tap That" Crowdtap logo! One lucky recipient even received a bottle of wine, so aptly named "Menage a Trois"! It was her birthday and she likes Moscato, so I didn't mind kicking it up a notch!








Handing out the samples was another story. Typically I host a party and distribute samples. However, with everyone's busy schedules and the nature of the sample, we weren't able to make this happen. So, I met up with all of my friends to deliver their samples. Some friends stopped by here, others I delivered to them. Like my good friend who is a waitress, you bet I showed up at her place of work during lunch hour! It was too funny, and she was amazingly discreet.

 

Unfortunately, some of my friends were compelled to give me feedback on their product samples. I will spare you the details, but rest assured it seems like everyone thoroughly enjoyed this sample share and had a very good time!