A Walk In My Shoes

It's that time again when things get "busy, busy, busy" (please say it like the magician from "Frosty the Snowman") and I begin to neglect my blog (begin?).
Because I am NOT above paying people to stick around despite my temporary absence, I have a gift...


Remember when there was a "family hour" on T.V.? 

You know, the safe time when kids could be in the room while the tube was on?
One didn't have to worry about language, inappropriate viewing or commercials of girls obscenely washing their hair.
Some of you may not remember good, clean shows. Sad. I do and I miss it.
I really miss how families used to be able to gather around on the weekend to watch a family show (without Dad holding the remote readied for a quick change when things get seedy).

This is why I was more than happy to review Walmart and P&G's new made-for-TV movie, "A Walk in My Shoes". They are heralding that, "family movie night is back". Hallelujah. It's about time.

I have a confession. Thanks to my ever-dependable military postal system, my viewing kit still hasn't arrived.  Chances are good that you will see it before I do, but I have seen trailers and I'm SO ready.



 Do yourself a favor, set your TIVO or whatever it is you're using for "family movie night" on December 3rd.
PLEASE show Hollyweird that we're ready for more entertainment geared for families. If you Tweet, FB or blog a tune-in message about this,
leave me a comment telling me how you spread the word and you will be entered to win this "A Walk in My Shoes" CD/DVD bundle for your very own!

oooooh, aaaaaaaah....

Winner will be announced on December 3rd.  THAT's a pretty nice gift for getting a few days reprieve from unnecessary eye strain, don't you think?

*~The Winner of the Giveaway is...~*

Me, because I love having a giveaway...

Especially when a store I'm enjoying so much like CSN Stores is providing the prize, and they'll be awarding that prize to:

Lisa Loo (who?)

Any (perfectly natural) resentment one might have for not having one's own name drawn

will quickly dissipate knowing that Lisa has just bought her very first home after living in a garage-turning-family home... for the last 15 (?) years. She's currently having a giveaway to help her re-name her blog since she will no longer be able to say: Is That a Garage Door on My Ceiling?.  So, pop on over and enter her contest (before Friday!) while you slap her a happy high-five.

I'm THRILLED for you Lisa, Congratulations!!!!  Thanks everyone for participating, we'll return to our regularly scheduled nothing-ness soon.

Rewards

Remember CSN Stores, that awesome place that I've mentioned that sells everything from wardrobes to kitchenware and everything in between? I'm sure I've also noted how easy the folks at CSN are to work with, but now you don't just have to take my word for it, you can find out for yourself.

Have a spin around one of their many online shopping areas in the U.K. (see below) or in the U.S. and tell me what you would love to have. Doing so will enter you into the generous giveaway CSN Stores are offering to my readers*.  


That simple.

No jumping through hoops, no standing on your head or waxing your arms in front of hundreds of people (Abe).  
Comment here on THIS post for one entry before 3 am Eastern Time, Wednesday, September 22, 2010.

My latest CSN Stores purchase: LeCreuset grill pan

http://www.csnstores.co.uk
http://www.allmodern.co.uk/
http://www.cookwarebycsn.co.uk/
http://www.furniturebycsn.co.uk/
http://www.lightingbycsn.co.uk/
http://www.tvstands.co.uk/



Good Luck!!!

*U.S. folks only are eligible at this time, but please make yourself heard if you're commenting from elsewhere and maybe there will be a future opportunity for you as well!

What Do Winners and Potato Chips Have in Common?

"No one can eat just one Lays potato chip..."
Remember that jingle?
I tried to prove it wrong every time. But they were right. Every time. Especially if there was French Onion dip anywhere in the vicinity.

And so it goes with my inability to stick with just one anything (husband excluded, Hi Honey!)...

I have a winner-- or three!

First of all, a very big congratulations goes to MOM24 for winning the Austen goodies!!! Yay 4everMom. That has me wondering, is she a mom 24 hours or is she a mom of 24 kids-- go by and find out.

I love Mom (she is a great family planner like I was-- she has them ranging from 25 to 7 years) and have intentions of meeting up with her someday when I am back on the same continent, so I should have been satisfied, right?

Nope. I like to have more than just one, so I had another kid draw for a second prize.

Who Hoot! Hey Lauren, from Sanity Sold Separately, come get your prize!
Oh, too far to swim? You would have to start at a beach? Fine, I'll mail it.
Lauren lives near beautiful beaches, go by and find out why she doesn't like to be on one.

*Lauren, Miss Ky was convinced she pulled out her brother's name, so don't make a big deal about winning around her please.

When decorating, scrap booking, family-making, odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye so I couldn't stop with just two winners.
Child three (the nearly 7 year-old) took time out from his Jillian Michael's 30-day Shred Workout to draw a name...
he breathlessly pulled out...

Tamie!
How excited am I to send a little something to the woman dotting the earth with beautiful baby boys! She's carrying number three now, so stop Peterson Party Page and congratulate her.

Winners, please email me with your snail mail addys...

Thank you all for playing. I really do enjoy doing these so much, I really should consider going commercial and letting advertisers support my habit...



not.

Drum Roll Please ...

...as I unveil my most recent portrait.

I have gained a few years (thought I was going to say "weight" didn't you!). I am also getting much grayer, but I think I take a lovely portrait, don't you?





Yes, Miss Ky and I had our first Mother/Daughter facials, and I thought it was important enough to share with the world.

This isn't just any facial, either--

It's MUDDY H2O Chocolate Blueberry mask!! I had to forewarn Miss Ky not to try to eat it, but with the honey mixed in, it sure smells good!

If you recall (or not) when I first told you about this mask I used a testimonial from another blogger (who has gone private so I can't link to her). She had said that in her marriage, where a blond goes to being a red-head and her husband didn't notice, she was sold when after a Muddy H2O mask, he stopped dead in his tracks and said, "Your skin looks terrific!"

Miss Ky and I washed our masks off and I finished making dinner. At the table the Hubby said, "Is that your skin? No makeup? It's glowing!" so does that mean... never mind, I'll take the compliment.

I'm sold on this product, people!!

When Heidi (of Gabriela and Heidi, founders of Muddy H2O) emailed me to say she was coming to London, I turned my schedule upside down to go meet her in person. We had a great time.
I've got pictures of us in front of the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, but if you think I'm posting them, you're crazy.
Heidi is pixie-sized and standing next to her in a photo was a really bad idea on my part.

Now, a whole day galavanting around London with great company (her husband is as charming as she is!) was enough for me, but she brought me MORE goodies from Muddy-- including Pit Powder and Pit Stop, which the Hubby and I both love. (Please... check it out)

So, it's your turn to have great things come your way.

Leave me a comment. I have a little Muddy H2O love I'm going to send a lucky person... and if that's not enough? I am including a British copy (movie cover) of New Moon to read while you're making your skin pretty, AND I'll include some Cadbury (only the British Cadbury) hot chocolate to drink while reading the book as you make your skin pretty.

You don't have much time-- sorry, some crazy person with great looking skin set the rules. You have until the next post (tomorrow) goes up.
Good luck!

495

Update on Number One Son: He sent me TWO very sincere text message "thank you"s and phoned me to make sure I got them. He's forgiven.

This is my 495th Blog post

For those of you die-hards that didn't erase me from your reader (thank you PM, I know you used to really dislike this reader-overload time of year), I am having a celebration/giveaway for my 500th post!!

Thursday, November 12th will be my 500th post.

The post of honour will contain fascinating information about MUD or BLOOD or BOTH
and I will be giving away a prize of MUDDY or BLOODy-related items.

I'm envisioning the stampede already.

Ok, seriously. You will be very pleased, not disgusted by my prize.

Hmmmm... still too cryptic? Are you kidding?

HINT: The key words have been mentioned several times throughout my previous 494 blog posts-- the most recent dirt (mud) being dished in September.

RULES: Folks that comment on the celebratory post (500th, Thursday the 12th, keep up with me, will you?) BEFORE the 501st post goes up (on Friday the 13th), will be entered to win.

BONUS: You clever bloggers that actually take the time to decipher my little riddle of "mud" and "blood" and comment on the post(s)most likely to be to what I am referring, will have double entries on (each) post that you leave a comment declaring you have found one of my favourite things. Those comments can begin now and must be completed before the 500th post (the celebratory one, remember? Thursday the 12th) is published.

It's getting complicated, I don't want to play....

Disclaimer:
Let's be realistic.

It is NaBloPoMo where blogtime is precious, so don't go reading EVERY single verbose post that mentions these either of these two words.

ONE comment for Blood and ONE for Mud will get you double entries on each one.

• ReCaP: Comment on Thursday, Nov. 12th.
  
• For bonus entries, comment now until the 12th on any post that may be referring to Bloody or Muddy things I love.
  

If you're still stumped,
call me.

ONE prize winner. I always lose my mind and want to send everyone something. That statement is for me, not anyone else.

What two cryptic words
would you use to describe
some of your favourite things?

Clock Is Ticking!

Time is running out.... (you know, for the giveaway)
I thought you might like a sneaky peek at the goodies box. (you know, for the winner of the giveaway).

You will notice it seems to have a Christmas theme. I can't help it, the UK doesn't really go batty over Halloween, so the Christmas stuff is out now.

If you win this goody box (win the giveaway, holy cow, keep up with me will you?) , you will find a BBC Christmas Dishes cookbook so that you can make your very own British Christmas meal, sweets and puddings.
But even better, if you don't feel like cooking your own Christmas pudding, I've included one in here for you. It's gluten free even.
That's not the only book in the box,
I'm also including a paper back Harry Potter.

"Big deal", you say? "I've read them all", you say?
Well look closer, Yank....How cool is that?

So maybe you don't celebrate Christmas... well you eat, don't you? Yeah, me too. And chocolate lovers rejoice, there is a whole new world of English chocolate waiting to melt on your tongue... I'm especially happy it's going to your house because any longer in mine would cause trouble.

That's it. That's the teaser to tell you to Thank! Thank! Thank! The ticker's ticking, time's running out! Ta Ta for now, time for T.

Remember, I'm no respecter of countries-- if you live in one, I will ship to it (that means you Singapore).