Embracing a Healthy Family

Lucky YOU - - - Three Tips to Create a Lucky Life All Year Round


I received this e-mail today and liked it so I wanted to share:
Lucky YOU - - - Three Tips to Create a Lucky Life All Year Round
Seed your day by getting lucky first thing in the morning!  Even if you’re traditionally not a morning person (wink) there are some things that anyone can do to start the day off from a place of anticipation, expectation, gratitude and joy.  The very first thing you see the very first time you open your eyes in the morning will influence and impact, not only that particular day but potentially your entire life.  If the first thing you spy as you open your eyes is a desk full or unfinished business or exercise equipment (a ‘no – no’ in the bedroom anyway!) with the dry cleaning hanging on it or an open bottle of Vick’s NyQuil from the cold you had a week ago, well, imagine how these images impact your experience.  On the other hand if you have a clean and clutter free sleeping space with a beautiful comforter keeping you cozy and warm and some images or artwork of beauty and possibly even some soft music playing in the background, well, then you might feel fully present as you express “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.”  Beginning your day in a state of present of gratitude also begins your day with grace.  And don’t forget that ages-old legend and lore says that if you get out of bed by climbing over the foot of it, you’ll have outstanding luck all the day long.www.facebook.com/EllenWhitehurst 
Now, speaking of expectation, recent scientific research done on the difference between lucky and unlucky people shows that lucky people’s expectations, their dreams, goals, hopes and ambitions often become a reality because of one fundamental difference in how lucky people think.  Simply put lucky people have positive expectations that then motivate them to take control of their lives.  They will actually attempt to achieve whatever they want from life no matter the likelihood of being successful.  This internal motivation prompts lucky people to persist even in the face of challenge, obstacle or adversity.  Lucky people define at least five goals for themselves on a regular basis by writing them down and looking at them often.  And, then, they take (at least!) one proactive step each day towards reaching those same goals.  They reach out or join in or even simply do a positive meditative visualization of what they will FEEL like when their goal is reached.  Lucky people expect success.  And, so, they often achieve it.
Invariably and, again, according to scientific studies, lucky people are found to follow their instincts, intuition and plain old gut hunches much, MUCH more than those who consider themselves to be unlucky.  The lucky bunch do different things in order to enhance their intuition and hone their instincts such as investing time and energy in some formal form of meditation or simply sitting quietly and clearing their mind and focusing on the first thoughts that come to that same place after asking an appropriate question.  Creating a sense of stillness in order to get in touch with intuitive inspiration is a hallmark of lucky people and can add immeasurably to a state of clarity and calm as well.  Go ahead, ask any harried mom how lucky they are when they can find a personal peace as well as some clarity and calm.  See?  Lucky.
These three tips are applicable to anyone at any time and in any place.  Exercised with regularity and belief they can help anyone to create a luckier life filled with health, happiness, love and prosperity.

Hello Kitty Party in the Works

I've been spending the last month or so planning the girls' Hello Kitty party.  I have three to plan for as each girl wants a Hello Kitty party even though one of those girls is a bit older than a kid.  I have the dresses compliments of Adorable Baby Clothing and they are just gorgeous.  They will also serve for Easter too because they are just too pretty to not see more often.



Some of you have seen my parties of the past and know that birthdays are very special to me.  The hard part about the first party is it's in the middle of a move.  The girls and I are going to be moving so I have to figure out how/where to have the party.  I decided to not let that stop me from at least preparing for it.  I have a variety of invitations that I have made so far but I am still playing and trying to figure out which I like best.




Once I finish deciding what the exact color themes will be, I'll move forward.  I will also make cake pops, cookies, Push-Up Pops and more.  I have activities ranging from making Hello Kitty sunglasses to Hello Kitty picture frames for the kids to make.

More to come!



Sign Ups for the April iPad2 & Cash Frenzy Giveaway 4/1 - 4/21 Now!


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The February frenzy iPad2 & Cash giveaway was such a success that we’re going to have another one in April!


Details:
  • Event Dates: April 1 – 21, 2012
  • Prize: iPad or $550 Cash (winner’s choice)
  • Signup Fee: $11 for Facebook & Twitter (+ $2 for each additional link)
  • $10 will go towards the prize and $1 admin fee will be used to cover advertising and the blogger referral prize
  • Isis of Bay Area Mommy will be randomly selecting blogs where follow tasks will be hosted (Great for pageviews!)
  • Giveaway will be open worldwide



To sign up:
  • Send your $11 (+$2/addl link) signup fee to alice@bayareamommy.com AS A GIFT or add $0.60 if sending as a service. Please write your blog’s name on the notes.
  • Fill out the signup form HERE and if you would, please say I sent you!  Thanks!

The Difference Quality Makes in Children's Clothing

If you are a regular to my blog, you know how much I adore the clothing at www.adorablebabyclothing.com.  I spent too many frustrated hours rummaging through rack after racking trying to find identical, good quality dresses to turn into heirlooms.  I always have to have the perfect dress and when I had to find sizes that were separated by four years, it became an endless chore that left me defeated.  


All that changed when I discovered Adorable Baby Clothing because not only do they have beautiful children's clothing but they are of such amazing quality that you have to see in person to truly appreciate it.  Their sizing details are just click, click and click (in my case three because I purchase for my two younger daughters and my grand baby).  The sizes generally range from infant to a tween/tween (size 12).


My girls want to have Hello Kitty parties this year and I given that I go the extra yard for birthdays, I wanted to go with a classic dress mostly because I didn't find anything Hello Kittyish that wow'd me.  I received the three dressed today and once again was amazed.  The funny thing about the dresses is they arrive flatted but they fluff out with ease and retain their beautiful shapes.  You may be hesitant to spend $40 or more dollars on a dress but I can vouch as a repeat customer that these dresses are well worth the cost.  They are not made poorly and to date, all the one's I have purchased were made in the US. They are layered which gives them their fullness that would also cost more if you tried to get this look with a single layer dressed.  


Here is a picture of the layers:






This particular dress is even more beautiful in person and the sash can be interchanged as well as the flower to go along with any theme.  The color of the dress taken in the pictures below are more true to the color of the dress than the pictures above.  At the end of the day, I learned early that I could purchase a dress at a lesser price and it would probably hold up for a bit but with all the dresses I have purchased over the years, they look just as good as they did when I first purchased them and some have survived a couple of moves.  In my opinion, they are well worth the cost and the owner provided exceptional customer service.



 

$100 Real Moms Real Deal Amazon GC Giveaway 3/27

 


Who wants to win a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card?  We have teamed up with realmomsrealdeals.com and a bunch of other great sites to bring you this $100 amazon gift card giveaway. 


If you haven't heard of realmomsrealdeals.com, here is an example of one deal which is great if you are a scrapbooker or other crafter:


 






Please note that this is not my giveaway and I'm only trying to help spread awareness.  Good luck to all!


It's easy to enter. 


Simply use our Rafflecopter to submit your entries. Good-Luck!
About Real Moms Real Deals: We are, 100% committed to bringing fantastic REAL deals, to REAL mom’s, like you! What does this mean, exactly? It means squeal-inducing savings, up to 90% off…nope, not a typo!…on products you actually use and love! We also proudly support hand crafted items right along with brand name items, so for those of you who have an affinity for beautiful craftsmanship that comes only from hand crafted items, we’ve got you covered! Not only are we super diverse in the brands we offer our deals on, we also have a wide range of products available to you! Everything from baby clothes to home décor (and more!). Come see what fun daily deals you can snag today!!!

Progresso® Souper You® Contest

Progresso® is happy to announce its top ten finalists (out of more than 10,500) in the Souper You® Contest! From now until March 25, you can visit www.SouperYou.com daily to cast your vote and help your favorite contestants win an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood this Spring.  That's a great number of contestants and it's great to see so many people committed to wanting to feel better and look better.

If you vote, you will also be entered for your chance to win one of three prize packs for a one-year supply of Progresso Soup and other goodies!   Remember that you get an entry for every vote (per day) you cast!



Here are the 2011 winners:


Even if you´re not a finalist, Progresso can help you to continue to stick to your weight management plan without sacrificing on variety or taste!  The best part of Progresso are the calories and with 40 delicious soups with 100 calories or less per serving, Progresso Soup has a variety of offerings that help you beat diet boredom and satisfy your taste cravings. Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, rice, meat and vegetables that suit your taste buds and make you feel good about including them in your meal choices.  I love them and have them stocked in my pantry for a quick lunch, dinner or snack.



Hurry and vote now!  You might just win and if not, you know you possibly helped someone else win!

Disclaimer:  The information about the Progresso Souper You® Contest or finalists and soup in general were provided to me by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.  I received no compensation.



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Decisions ... Decisions

I've been contemplating for some time giving up my blog.  I lost the wind in my sails to speak and am not sure if I'm just going through a temporary burned out period or if I'm ready to move forward on other projects.  I haven't been devoting the time to it as I should and I definitely have not been active in seeking out new giveaways.  I can honestly say that the best part of having a review and giveaway blog is sending the e-mails alerting someone they won.  What is particularly moving is the every now and then, genuine appreciative e-mail of gratitude you get in return.


A year or so ago, one such reader thanked me for winning and explained how timely the win was given their personal situation.  Her story moved me so much that I sent her a gift card to Walmart just because.  This is the one thing that makes it so rewarding in having a blog coupled with the wonderful folks I have met through my blogging experiences.

Join the Freschetta® Rally for Real Pizza

Freschetta



Rally for real pizza is on!  Who wants some boring, lack of taste pizza?  I don't!  I know my girls don't so we are taking our part in boycotting blah and will fight for Fresch® by joining the Rally for Real Pizza! Freschetta® is not just any frozen pizza but it's a delicious delightfully tasting cheesy pizza with a great choice of toppings and a wonderful crust.  They are made with top quality ingredients and deliver that yummy Fresch® flavor.

Feeding my children only the freshest ingredients is important to me.  I don't want it chalked full of preservatives or some pseudo type ingredient. I want the best and Freschetta® delivers what I want.  I just ate one this past weekend as a matter of fact!  I also want a pizza they will like without breaking the bank.  It's convenient and with all the choices available, I can please everyone in my family.

You can join the Freschetta® Rally for Real Pizza too!  It's easy and here is all you have to do:  LIKE Freschetta® on Facebook and add your photo to the Rally  Mosaic: www.facebook.com/freschettapizza 

Each week, Freschetta® will select 100 winners to receive FIVE Freschetta® pizzas!  On March 30th, they will also select 10 winners to receive Freschetta® Pizza for a year!



*Disclosure:  I occasionally receive compensation in the form of products for posts. However, the opinions I share are solely my own.

First Pics of Johnny Depp from Lone Ranger!



From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski comes Disney/Bruckheimer Films' THE LONE RANGER. Tonto (Johnny Depp), a spirit warrior on a personal quest, joins forces in a fight for justice with John Reid (Armie Hammer), a lawman who has become a masked avenger. 


That is one film I can't wait to see!

March Gift Card Gala 3/7 - 3/13

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Easter Photography Ideas



If you are planning on having Easter pictures taken this year and need some inspiration, we have some ideas for you.  Of course, it starts with picking the prettiest outfits and featured above are three beautiful fuchsia embroidered tulle dresses from Adorable Baby Clothing.  The sizes range from 6-12 months all the way to 12 in girls.  They are heirloom quality dresses that can be passed down to future generations given the quality.
For the shot above, I simply went to a local covered bridge and used my own yard for the actual Easter shots.  The covered bridge and creek made for a beautiful backdrop.  
Some other ideas include:
Flower Garden:  If you are in a warm climate, you might be able to take advantage of all the flowers blooming and the natural scenic beauty of a local park or garden.
Flower Petals or Fake Flowers:  I have used this before as a way to enhance the scenery fairly inexpensive by adding some pretty flower petals on the ground to add that hint of color.  You can purchase them at your local craft store along with fake flowers if you want to further enhance the background.
Landscaped Feature:  Even if you don't have a garden, there are other creative features such as  brick wall or a fence that can make a beautiful backdrop.  Whether you add some string lighting or greenery, it can prove to be a great background for some memorable pictures.

Easter Baskets, Eggs and Other Props:  Just adding some Easter baskets, colored eggs, stuffed animals can be a great way to enhance the photo but you don't want to add too many or make it look too fabricated.  A little goes a long way sometimes!
Hats, Gloves, and Dresses:  Remember those old time photographs of the little ones wearing hats and gloves?  They make delightful props even today!  Add some to change up your photos and you might be surprised at how much of a difference it will make in your picture.
Taking the picture perfect photograph doesn't really take a lot of expense but when you let your creativity in, the subject and the garment can make a photograph go from pretty to beautiful in just a few small steps.

The Barefoot Executive by Carrie Wilkerson Review




If you have ever wanted to branch out and be your own boss or already are and want some good sound advice and tips, you want to read Carrie Wilkerson's The Barefoot Executive.  You might have tried to wrap your arms around other self guide books on how to start a business or come up with a creative idea to start one but it was just too business-like and hard to understand.  Not this book!  With Carrie's practical experience not only from her own successful experiences but coupled with many others, she drives you down a path of self-enlightenment, knowledge and how to get there with easy to follow advice, tips and suggestions.


One particular part that I enjoyed the most were the inclusion of case studies from other small business owners that included their own struggles and steps to achieve their goals.  Hearing from a collection of others helps to reinforce the message that you can do this if this is what you want.  The book is broken into logical sequential steps starting with Myth Breakers, Big Mistakes, Methods, Models and Marketplace.  The exercises provided also are key to getting started and moving forward and are easy to follow.  It's really a great practical book told by someone who has been there and continues to find her way in the world of owning a business.


I've contemplated many times starting a business and didn't feel I had it in me but after reading Carrie's book, I know it's up to me do to it.  There is no magic formula or anything like that, rather as Carrie promotes, it's in you and it's up to you to get it.  I definitely recommend The Barefoot Executive.




*Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from Living Your Moment. All opinions are my own. 

Leap Into Spring LeapPad Giveaway 3/20






Organized by Karma Media, we've teamed up with an awesome group of bloggers to offer you one of the hottest children’s products on the market today... the Leap Frog Explorer Tablet!

Simply fill out the easy Rafflecopter form below.


This giveaway ends on March 20, 2012, at 11:59 pm EST. The prize giveaway is open to residents of the US only, age 18+. Worldwide winner would receive the cash equivalent. Once a winner is drawn via Rafflecoper, we will contact the winner through email. They will then have 48 hours to respond. If there is no response, we will draw a new winner. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Win $120 from ContestChest


Sharing this giveaway at ContestChest.com for $120 cash giveaway.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crayola Creativity Matters with Lisa Loeb and a Live Chat 3/7

Creativity matters. It´s a skill that all children can learn and when it´s practiced every day, kids become the critical thinkers, problem solvers, and leaders in the classroom, and they´re better prepared for professions of the 21st century. Crayola wants every child to be creatively alive, so they´re inviting parents "Inside the Crayon Box," for a special live chat with celebrities and trusted parenting experts that will inspire and spark ideas to expand your child´s creative thinking. If you find yourself looking for new ways to inspire your children to express their ideas and build their creativity, you´ll want to join us to learn and share!


The first "Inside the Crayon Box" live chat is Wednesday, March 7 at 9 p.m. EST. Join Crayola and musician, children´s author and mom, Lisa Loeb for a 45-minute live streaming video chat on the Crayola Facebook Page. Lisa, best-known for her number one hit "Stay (I Missed You)," will share as personal stories, practical advice and ways she brings a little creative play into every day for her daughter.  You can ask Lisa questions during the event, too! 


Interested in the topics to be covered during the chat? 
  • Why Does Creativity Matter? Creativity is not about who´s the best artists or becoming an architect. It´s a way of thinking that encourages kids´ original ideas and develops their confidence.
  • Growing Up Creative. Lisa will share stories about growing up in a home where creativity was encouraged.
  • Simple Tips. Easy Ideas. Like most moms, Lisa juggles a lot. She´ll share simple, easy ways she sparks her daughter´s creativity as part of their daily routine.
Check out the video on "Creativity Matters:"





If you can't make the Crayola "Inside the Crayon Box" event, check out the Crayola YouTube Channel where the session will be posted.  To learn more about the tools from Crayola that make it easy for parents to help children develop their creativity www.Crayola.com and like Crayola on Facebook!

Also, be sure to check out Lisa´s book Lisa Loeb´s Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs (Sterling Children´s Books, 2011) available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Sing, laugh, and play with pop Lisa in this fabulous collection of ten of the silliest songs ever. Fun activities, games, and recipes accompany whimsical songs. Take Lisa's Silly Sing-Along with you wherever you go and get the high-spirited good times started. Includes a 10-song CD recorded by Lisa! 

Find Crayola on: Facebook | Twitter



*Disclosure:  The information posted was provided by Crayola through MyBlogSpark.