Saturday, June 30, 2012

Dear Apple...



Dear Apple,

Screw you and your crazy addictive iPhone. I almost lost Siri today for good. I would have had to wait two months for your geniuses to fix her internal's. But alas... The Apple God's smiled on me. It was like lightning struck and I squealed in delight, yelling "It's ALIVE!". 

This definitely is on the top of my most terrifying moments in life. Sounds pathetic right? But really, what would I do without my dozens of apps?! I need the one that keeps track of EVERYTHING for me. I would die without the ones that entertain the kids while I am shopping or sitting in the urgent care waiting room. What would I do in the middle of the night, while I am suffering from a mild case of insomnia without Angry Birds?


One more thing, when are you going to come out with a male counter part for Siri? She tend's to be a little bitchy when I ask for things she can not find. She refuses to marry me claiming that "My End User Licensing Agreement does not cover marriage. My apologies." But really, I know she is just annoyed with my incessant quest for directions and tedious questions. So please, Apple. I am begging you. Come out with a "Tom" or "Joe". Make him nice. Maybe handsome too?

Truly Yours,
iPhone Addict

P.S. Any clues about the iPhone 5 yet?

Blogger Pre Sign-Up - Terrible Two's Event






I am currently working on a prize package currently at $575 ARV and looking for bloggers who are interested in helping me host, or want to take part!

Email me for more information coming soon Jessica.A.Stutz@gmail.com

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Sunburns and Misery Go Hand in Hand



Yesterday's picture of a sunburn I got two and a half weeks ago.

You see that? Yeah... That's most likely more than you want to see... My books, my blanket, my husband nasty wound on the top of his nasty foot, my dresser.... Oh! And my back. 

This particular photo is a reminder to all you fair skinned red heads like me, to wear sunblock. A lot of it actually. And do not try to use your friends SPF 2 dry tanning oil. Or you will have to do several embarrassing things like go to your six year olds pediatric appointment wearing a tub top and no bra because the feeling of any type of fabric on your back literally makes you want to hold up a pharmacy for any and all pain killers. 

That was no fun.

So rewind two and half weeks ago, and it was garage sale day. Fun in the sun with the family. The day went pretty good. Until I got home and realized that from mid back up, I could not move. I could not even cough without crying. I went through more than 16oz of aloe, was drinking a gallon of water a day and was trying every trick I could find online. I even went out and bought black tea and soaked in a cold bath of it. 

Ridiculous. I can not tell you the amount of pain I was in. 

My husband says that in certain spots it looks like someone to a lighter to my back and there is literally scabbing, bleeding and blistering still. I don't think you can see much of it in the picture. But again, if you are fair skinned or have red hair ( because this apparently means that you are a natural born enemy of the sun and if you come in direct contact with it, you will surely be punished. ) for the love of god go buy some SPF 75 and lather it all over yourself. I know I am going to be bumming around town this summer so coated I will look like I am a ghost. 

Enter To Win A Canon 5D Mark lll



Camera's make me drool, big time! Better camera means better pictures of the kids. My life long dream is to become a wandering photographer. Trips to enchanted forests and war zones. Having kid's squashed that. But a girl can dream right?
Head over HERE to Borrow Lenses Facebook Page for your chance to win a Cannon 5D Mark III OR a Nikon D800!

Crossing my fingers for the Canon :-)

Free Beach Towel And Bag!





Head Over here to snag your free beach towel and bag by liking Florida Fence On Facebook

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

5 Hour Energy Sample






Do you ever have that 2:30 feeling?  5-hour Energy FIXES TIRED FAST.  It is for anyone who works hard day or night.  Buy it at everyday low prices Online and receive Free Shipping on every order!  We are the only place on the web where you can try the nations #1 Energy Shot for Free.  Order your free sample today!!

This post is sponsored by U.S Family Guide

LoveSac CitySac Package Event - Free Blogger Sign Up










The LoveSac CitySac Package Giveaway Event hosted by Mom Powered Media: Iowa-Mom, Powered by Mom and Real Mom Reviews is now open to bloggers!

Prize: Cow Phur CitySac Package (retail value $900)

Open to: US only

The event dates: July 3 – July 24

 Head on over to Iowa-Mom to sign up!

187 Days Of Healthy - Day 1 Step 1




It has hit me like a truck for of bricks how unhealthy my family has become. It is too easy to throw a hot pocket in the microwave for breakfast and the kids shriek in terror at the sight of whole grain bread. My husband likes his red bull and preservatives, I like my candy bars and chips for a midnight snack. Not only is this a horrible way to treat our bodies, but it is an even worse way to raise our children.

If I know this is a disgusting thing to do to my body, why would I subject the kids to it? It's simple really... My Mom is not going to want to hear this, but it is how I was raised. "Sugar" cereal for breakfast, macaroni and hotdogs for lunch and pizza for dinner. Easy meals now, bad for your body later.

Now, I have searched and searched the web for "healthy meals on a budget" and can find nothing that fits in to the mold of my family. We can not cut out meat, fruit juice will NOT be a substitute for real sugar ( really people?! The one thing I do right by my kids is STAY AWAY FROM FRUIT JUICE! ) and we are sticking to a strict menu plan and shopping list.

First step? Ridding my cupboards, freezer and fridge of all things "yuck".

Wish My Luck :-)


Free Tully's K-Cup Sample Pack








You all know I love my coffee, but the one thing I love more?! FREE Coffee! Head over to Tully's Facebook Page give them a quick "Like" and you will be sent a free sample pack of K-Cups!

P.S. Keep me updated! These go super quick!

Free Petti Romper From Mommy's Little Sunshine







Very cool freebie for you guys today from Mommy's Little Sunshine... A FREE Petti Romper! Head over here and snag one with the code SUMMER12. Come back and let me know if you snagged one!

**Update** These are on back order, but they still have plenty left for FREE! 

Friday, June 22, 2012

Biggest Loser Resort Discount! 50% Off!!!









Are you overweight? Frustrated by an endless diet cycle? Ready to take control of your health? Just like contestants on NBC’s The Biggest Loser, you CAN have a life changing experience-- at The Biggest Loser Resorts.

The Biggest Loser Resorts cater to REAL people seeking REAL weight loss results. A team of certified trainers, nutritionists, life coaches, and world-class chefs have one goal, to help you lose weight. Are you ready to experience a week of great fitness, delicious spa cuisine, enlightening education and wonderful camaraderie? Bring a friend to any of the three Biggest Loser Resorts (Malibu, Utah or Niagara) for a week between July 29th and September 16th and your friend comes at 50% off the standard weekly rate (or combine it and you both come at 25% off!).

Reservations must be made by July 31, 2012. (There's limited availability, so be sure to book quickly.) Additional terms and conditions apply, so contact their customer service representatives at this special number to 877-423-2760 learn more. Or visit 
http://www.usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?bid=10701&dealid=904

Visit Our Website For More Information: http://www.biggestloserresort.com/?NCK=8774232760

Terms and conditions: Available for double occupancy only in Utah and Niagara. Single or Double Occupancy in Malibu. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers. If booking multiple weeks, this offer applies only to the first week. Transportation, taxes, spa treatments, private training, and amenities not included. Scheduling is subject to availability. Reservations must be made by July 31, 2012, and stays must occur in the timeframe referenced above. The Biggest Loser Resort reserves the right to end this offer any time.

Win A Kitchen Aid Mixer!!



Head Over Here for a great giveaway featuring a KitchenAid Mixer! 

FREE Schick Hydro Sample! Hurry!





AWESOME FREEBIE EVERYONE! Head over here and fill out a quick form to get your FREE Schick Hydro Razor!

I Knew It Was Going To Happen... Blog Dare 2012




I POPPED my sons arm out of the socket. It's his favorite story to tell and I am 89% sure he will hold it against me for the rest of his life.

He was two, and like all two year olds ( At least the ones I know? ) he loved to be swung around and tossed. We had this game we would play, I would grab him by the feet and swing him back and forth upside down the *gently* toss him on the couch. He LOVED it. We would do this repetitively for,
what seemed like hours, him giggling so hard, insisting I do it again.

One day, after a while he wanted me to grab an arm and a leg. As soon as I did, I knew it was going to happen. But it was too late. I heard the distinct pop. His eyes got really big and he SCREAMED. Not because it hurt, but because I was freaking out. I ran around like a chicken, getting him dressed as gently as I could, calling my mom and my husband, wondering if I should just have my mom pop it back in or take him to the emergency room.

At the emergency room, I was given the young mom treatment and was told it was nothing but a sprain even after I insisted that it is out of the socket. Four x-rays later and an a**-hole of a doctor, I was sent home. My mom and I went back a few hours later and insisted someone else take a look at it. The doctor told us that is out of the question to drag someone else down in the middle of the night. So we went home again and at this point 8 hours after it happened it could do more harm than good to have my mom pop it back in.

The next morning I went in a third time, as my son could still NOT USE HIS ARM. The doctor was wonderful and within seconds his arm was back in the socket. Poor baby had to wear a t splint for two weeks to keep it in place because it was out for so long. That was the last time I have ever swung a kid by their arm.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

In High School, I... Blog Dare 2012





In High School, I was sitting on the bleachers between the love of my life's legs. Eyes shut, letting the sun warm my skin. Feeling comfortable, secure and in love. I was surrounded by the people, who understood me, who loved me and I loved them. We thought we had been placed in to the wrong families. We where meant to be sisters. We had our lives built around this moment of perfection.

I can't explain in words the happiness I felt in exactly that moment, but I swear that if I close my eyes for just a second, I am there. In his arms, giggling with my girlfriends with the sun warming me to the core.

Although the words for feelings are not there, I can explain the importance of this memory. Until recently, it was the last time I had felt truly secure in life, love and in myself. Shortly after this memory life changed a lot for my family and I. We left the comfort of our small college town for bigger and better adventures. I went from going to a high school with 711 students to one with over 1500. My world came crashing down. The boy I was madly in love with, fell in love with someone else after I left. My girlfriends and I slowly drifted apart and I was stuck 800 miles away. Alone. Then, I did a lot of things in High School. I skipped class, I failed and I got pregnant. I was the poster child for the MTV series Teen Mom. 

Although I am now in a wonderful spot in my life, sometimes I still need to close my eyes and breath for a second. I take myself back to that moment of sheer perfection.


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Back 2 School Bash Event & Blogger Sign Up!





rainbow_of_crayons2_001



Trista from Andersons Angels, Jess from MomVantage & Shannon from Mommy of One and Counting are excited to have teamed up to host a FUN blog hop called Back 2 School Bash! It will run from 12:01am EST Saturday August 4, 2012 through 11:59pm EST Friday August 10, 2012. It's super easy to join in on the fun of getting our kiddos ready to go head back to school!





Rules to Participate:
  • You must get at least a $25 prize/package together to be given away during the event. It can be anything school related. (Ideas: snacks, lunch box, backpack, labels, school supllies, etc.)
  • You must display the event button in your sidebar from now until the event ends
  • Participation is completely FREE! All you have to do is make sure the button is on your blog side bar, and write a post encouraging other bloggers to join in the fun! Put the link to the blog post in the form.
  • If you would like to participate in a GRAND PRIZE CASH GIVEAWAYyou can send $5(giftto tristaeanderson05@gmail.com via PayPal. This will get you TWO social media entry options! (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Email, GFC, Pinterest, Klout, etc.) The GRAND PRIZE CASH value will be determined when we know how many people are going to participate in that part of the giveaway. The GRAND PRIZE CASH GIVEAWAY will be hosted on Anderson's Angels and ?. We ask that you refer your readers to either of those two sites to enter the CASH GIVEAWAY!
If you have any questions feel free to email Trista at andersonsangels2010@gmail.com, Jess atjessie@momvantage.net or Shannon at summers1405@yahoo.com.


You will definitely want to join us in this FUN Event! But you've got to HURRY! Sign-ups will end as soon as there are 50 blogs participating OR by July  21, 2012! Your spot on the Linky will be determined by how soon you fill out the form. Don't forget, once you have your blog post up, fill out THIS FORM and put the link to your post in that form.

Thanks Trista! I am looking forward to the event! 

Monday, June 11, 2012

Hurry! FREE 3 Year Subscription to Seventeen Magazine!






FREE 3 year subscription to Seventeen Magazine courtesy of Rewards Gold. Hurry! These go quick! 


Sunday, June 10, 2012

Words My Children Say Incorrectly... Blog Dare 2012



While the twins are starting to talk, guessing their words can be... Hard. I am so proud of them though, so many new words come pouring out of their mouths daily. This morning during our FaceTime with Nana, Auntie Katie got on the phone and suddenly K spouts off with "Kayki". It was too cute. Of course, Auntie Chelsea was pretty offended by this.

The hard part of this, is that we try to speak to them using "grown-up" words. No baby talk or babble.

Some of the words they have started to say, have snuck there way in to our vocabulary...

Cheecho - Cheerio's

Tippy - Sippy Cup

Mote - Remote *We still say Gamote, from when my oldest was starting to talk*

Ya Ya - This is K's way of referring to D, our oldest.

NumNuz - This is the funniest to me, because it sounds like an insult. What A is trying to say is num-       nums for snack. K can say it perfectly so we just stick to saying num-nums and he will get it eventually.

We encourage them to use their words, clap and sing hooray when they have a new one but some of them just stump me. Like "guck". It seems to be the twins go to word. It can mean stuck or I want that maybe it just means I am bored and need to say something.

They will get it eventually, and it they don't... Well we will have to create a new language just for them.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Dad Says... Waking up with the kids



My wife, likes to wake me up. Here I am laying in bed when I hear her say "Let's go give Daddy kisses". Oh crap, here we go again.

The twins run giggling in to the room clambering on to the bed. I can't throw the pillow over my head fast enough. A has his finger in my nose proclaiming "Nose! Nose!" K grabbed the remote and is hitting me on the shoulder "DatDat! Aik UP!" My wife get's them off of me, but as soon as I roll over I get a heel form A in the chin and K is now poking me in the ear "Eeww" he says.

I get the picture as she sits their laughing. She wants me out of bed. "We need milk" she says. I knew there was a reason for this crude awakening. Grumbling in my head I kiss them on the forehead as I make my way off the bed and get ready for my day.

What kind of monsters am I living with!?

Friday, June 8, 2012

Blog Dare 2012 - It almost ruined my...




So, you may not know that this man that I have been calling my husband for a few years now, just became my husband.

We decided to *literally, we had a knot tying ceremony* tie the knot.

But... We had two weeks to plan. My mom was leaving the country, the place we wanted was magically open the weekend before she left, so it was CRUNCH time.

Dress - Not a problem, first one I tried on, I fell in love with.

Catering - No problem, simple cocktail wedding with a champaign toast.

Decorations - We did not use them.

Cupcakes - HUGE PROBLEM!

We did not have a super tight budget, but still did not want to spend too much. I spent a week specifically calling all the bakeries I could to figure out flavors, sizes and decorations. I finally decided on a really popular bakery downtown. When I spoke with the cake decorator I told her my colors, cream and gold. I told her I wanted simple flowers, chocolate and vanilla with butter cream frosting.

When our conversation was over, I took a huge sigh of relief. The one thing other than my dress, that I was nervous about; was taken care of.

Fast forward to my wedding day. I woke up on the right side of the bed, got the kids fancied up, left for hair and make-up and hunkered down at my mom's house waiting for time to tick. When my bonus-dad showed up from picking the cupcakes I heart broke. He carried in a a box that was about three feet by four feet. I thought this was odd because we only ordered 38 cupcakes. I carefully opened the box to peak in.

They where ugly.

They were ruined.

The bridezilla that I had not let out was starting to kick down the door. I took a deep breath and walked away.

I told my mom, who was fuming, that it is not that big of a deal. They are just going to get eaten anyways. I told my sisters that I was furious, but it's okay, today is not about cupcakes.

Bridezilla was starting to take a screw driver to the hinges, that b**** was almost out.

It almost ruined my wedding day.

These are the wedding day saving, amazing cupcakes!
Miraculously enough, my mom had ordered cupcakes earlier that week as well. She was told that the bakers are pot heads and she should cancel her order. She forgot to. They gave her a call a couple hours before my wedding letting her know they are ready. They were beautiful, absolutely delicious and I will continue to be a repeat customer.


Thursday, June 7, 2012

Introducing - My Hubby!



So... I am letting my husband take a little control here. He wants to get in to the blogging and product reviews, so I am going to let him take a stab at it.

Be Nice :-)

Look for some good "man" reviews & giveaways soon.

Do you have any good idea's for the name of his section? Hubby Says? Daddy Says? I don't know... What do you think is catchy?

FREE Diaper Bundle!





Get them before they are gone! Jessica Alba's new company - The Honest Company - is offering a FREE Diaper Bundle! < Check out the skull prints! Too Cute! > They are also offering a Family Essentials set that includes lotion, shampoo, rash balm and laundry soap. Free! Let me know which pattern you snagged!

Thanks Klippin Krazy for the heads up!

P.S. Looking at the prices, I may sign up for this for the twins monthly. 79.99 a month gets you plenty of diapers and wipes. Enough for both babies.


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

New International Delight™ Iced Coffee





Hello, my name is Jessica and I am a caffeine addict.

There. Happy hubby?! I admit it. I LOVE coffee. Love it. Almost any size shape or form, I will take it.

Of course...

Double 12oz Caramel Latte - Tepid of course, is my ultimate pleasure.

Though, when the temperature starts to heat up, the warm coffee, although still tasty, gets a little too hot.  I am incredibly thankful that my good friends over at Vocal Point let me in on a Try and Tell for International Delight Iced Coffee. 

Can you say Yum!? So, yes I am a little biased due to the addiction but, come on.

First of all, it is creamy and smooth. You don't get that awful bitter "fake coffee" after taste. Second, it goes in your fridge, no prep necessary. I shake a little, but nothing else. Shake and pour. Even though I have an amazing Kuerig machine that is magic, it still take a few seconds loner than the addict in me wants in the afternoon.

Conveimant

Yummy

And best of all - inexpensive.

Come on, drink it. It will be like little fireworks of enthusiasm in your brain.

So... Maybe I drank a little too much today? My fingers are going a mile a minute and my brain is on overdrive. But the stuff is so good!


This is a sponsored post. The product(s) received where in exchange for an honest review of product. Opinions expressed are my own.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

The Ultimate Family Room




Oh. My. Goodness! After six years of parenting, I finally get to put together a family room. You see... It really is a long story, but we are moving to my Mommies *almost* vacant house. In the very back of the house, there is a giant room that she calls the studio. We are going to section it off, use the smaller portion for the twins room, the bigger for the family room. I want to create the ultimate toddler/man/mom cave. This may be harder than I thought, but with a little help from our sponsors, followers and as always a few giveaways, we will achieve!

Step 1  - Build a baby-proof wall. I have built one before, with some help. It was not all that hard. A 4x4 frame with a particle board cover. Finding the right height may be a problem. It needs to be short enough for my to see over, but tall enough for the twins to NOT climb over. Also, I have chalkboard paint that I may use for the wall. It will be great for pre-school activities and fun for the twins and D.

I am too excited to have this space for our kids. They are going to LOVE it!