Sorry I havn’t gotten the rest of the Birthday Giveaways up yet! I have been so busy over the weekend with school, piano lessons, running the girls around to all their activities, my birthday and then having to get caught up with the minutes for our PTA. Yes, I am part of the school’s PTA this year and have a HUGE responsibility!

Reflections Program!

Not to mention getting ready to leave for NYC in the morning!

oh and did I mention Hubby lost his job…. so now he thinks he needs to spend his days teaching me to cook… *eye roll*

anyways, I jsut wanted to say I am here and will be back with fabulous giveaways and posts on Friday!

I am in love with the Hotel SAX! I got into Chicago around 8:30PM, and after getting a cab to the hotel I settled into my room. ahhh I opened the door to music playing with a full bar and snack bar. STOCKED!

anyways, I am looking forward to tomorrow! I’ll be home on Friday.

Halloween is coming upon us and I am sure the kids are all asking or more like telling you what they want to be for Halloween right? I know Samantha told me she wants to be Hannah Montana.  But then later switched and wanted to be a “Nice” witch.

As a parent finding the right store or website that offers Kids Costumes can be a hassle. I love being able to find reviews and see costumes in person. So I can see them, feel then and know if they will work right for us.

Thanks to the internet there are more options now than ever to compare before you buy.  And the selection can be overwhelming.  Even if you prefer to buy locally, my advice is to spend a little bit of time shopping online first to see what’s available and at what price.

My girls love to bake, and when I see them working together on something it makes me feel good.

BTW- The brownies they made were very tasty

Back in July I attended BlogHer in Chicago and had an absolute blast! At the Expo floor many of the companies that were there had bows or baskets where you could enter to win some of their awesome products.

I won two of them!

The Johnson & Johnson Gift Basket and the Degree Bag! I am in love with both of them!

Thank you to Johnson & Johnson and Degree.

During the month of October Hatley will be donating 20% of it’s online sales from the Pink Bear Collection in the month of October to Breast Cancer Research.

On October 8th 2009 Jumpstart will be kicking off their 4th annual Read for the Record event. Join Jumpstart as we read Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Pledge to read today to help  set a world record. Together, we’ll celebrate the joy of reading all over the globe!

This is a national event where they are hoping to break the Guinness World Record!

Pledge to read today with Jumpstart’s Read for the Record and help us to make sure that the fourth annual Campaign on October 8, 2009 reaches more children than ever before!

Today at 8:46 AM our Elementary School stopped and everyone bowed their heads in remembrance of those who lost their life on September 11th, 2001. I choked back tears as the sweet kindergartners asked why were standing up and when they asked why the planes hit the buildings. I also had to choke them back when one of the sweet little girls asked if the people went to heaven.

8:46 a.m. – American Flight 11 from Boston crashes into the North
Tower at the World Trade Center.
9:03 a.m. – United Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the South
Tower at the World Trade Center.
9:45 a.m. – American Flight 77 crashes into The Pentagon.
10:10 a.m. – United Flight 93 crashes in a wooded area in
Pennsylvania, after passengers confront hijackers.

I was reading what my sister wrote about where she was and how she reacted to the news.  It made me think of where I was. I was a Senior in high school and walked into second period where my History teacher had the TV on and everyone was sitting watching the news.

I will never forget that day, not the brave men and women who lost their lives. I am proud to be an American and support the men and women who fight for our Freedom.

Growing up I loved to bake. My aunt would let me bake with her all the time and I always enjoyed it. I married a Chef so cooking and baking is a big part of our life. When Hubby is home we spend a ton of time together in the kitchen. He loves t teach me easy and healthy meals to make at home, and I of course want to learn!

We also get our kids into the kitchen whenever we can! Who knows maybe one day we will have another little chef in the family.

If were not in the kitchen cooking were watching The Food Network Channel. We love watching Iron Chef and of course Good Eats! Who doesn’t love those shows? Robin Miller from the Food Network will be in NYC for a wonderful blogger event later this month and I am so excited to be apart of the event. Robin will showcase her tastiest recipes with some of the newest tools any cooking enthusiast would love to have. She will also be demonstrating the Ninja.

Euro-Pro, manufacturer of innovative home appliances that make daily life easier, is introducing the Ninja Master Prep, a powerful kitchen helper that will enable anyone to rule the kitchen. The Ninja Mater Prep transforms everyday ingredients into delectable drinks, snacks and meals with Ninja technology that turns chunks of ice into snow instantaneously and evenly chops an onion in seconds. Offering the speed and accuracy of professional grade products, the Master Prep can chop, blend, mince, dice or puree with refinement allowing for hassle-free entertaining or quick and delicious snacks.

The Master Prep’s Ninja Technology sets a new precedent in the kitchen appliance market by chopping food or blending drinks with a uniform consistency and without turning food into mush. With both a 48 oz. pitcher and 2-cup bowl that feature splash guards and slip resistant bottoms, this all-in-one versatile appliance takes the place of bulky food processors and blenders that are difficult to store and clean. Custom-fit storage lids and dishwasher-safe parts let the home cook move seamlessly from food prep to cleanup.

“Most blenders are unable to provide creamy, restaurant style frozen drinks,” says Mark Rosenzweig, CEO of Euro-Pro. “The Ninja Master Prep is one simple-to-use product that has a revolutionary ice crushing capability that allows you to do things that other appliances simply can’t match. It outperforms any other blender, mixer or combination appliance in the industry and best of all it is at an affordable price.”

The Ninja Technology has unique processing power for consistent cutting and ice-crushing action. Whether making fresh salsa, bread crumbs or frozen drinks, the quick-cutting blades and powerful interchangeable motor head allow for excellent results. Allowing users to quickly switch between the food processor bowl and blender pitcher, the ergonomic design with one touch pulsing creates an easy-to-use product.

The Ninja Master Prep has a retail price of $49.99 and will be available in select stores beginning in mid-September.

Follow our journey to NYC on Twitter. #NinjaLaunchNYC

I am so anxious for Tim McGraw’s newest CD Southern Voice to come to CD on October 20th. I am hoping I can get my hands on a copy when it comes out.

Anyone who knows me knows that Tim McGraw is my all time favorite singer EVER! I became a fan of his in the summer of 1995. My Dad would always play Tim McGraw, and the song that I’d make him play over and over is Everywhere.  This is my ultimate favorite song with Live Like You Were Dying in a close second.

My Dad died on October 2nd 2005, so the song Everywhere holds special meaning to me. and Tim McGraw is the most amazing artist EVER!

Tim McGraw’s first studio album in two and a half years. Southern Voice pushes the bounds of his artistry with characteristic honesty, grit and soul – qualities that have, throughout history, exemplified the Southern voice

Track List:

1. Still
2. Ghost Town Train
3. Good Girls
4. I Didn’t Know It At The Time
5. It’s A Business Doing Pleasure With You
6. If I Died Today
7. Mr. Whoever You Are
8. Southern Voice
9. You Had To Be There
10. I’m Only Jesus
11. Forever Seventeen
12. Love You Goodbye

Well today I went and picked up both girls glasses. Samantha (and Sarah) looks absolutely adorable in them! Samantha picked some super cute pink framed ones and she loved wearing them around today.

Samantha has glasses and they are for reading, ans basically at school. She doesn’t have to wear them all the time just for reading and anything that is for “close up”. Sarah’s glasses are for the same thing.

My concern is I am prying that no one in her class makes fun or her or asks her about them. Three of her closest friends have glasses and Sam is very excited about them.  I told her that they are all apart of the “Glasses Club” now.

Any advice on how to help her and that she will wear them at school and not take them off?