Three Awards to Pass On

I feel so honored. I have received three awards this week that I would love to pass to some wonderful blogs.



To accept the "Happy 101 Award" I need to:
1. Acknowledge the person who gave it to me
2. List ten items that make me happy, and
3. Award it to ten other bloggers.

I would like to thank Jumpin Beans for this award.

My father in-law is still getting weaker and weaker. We went to see him yesterday. He wasn’t talking much, couldn’t sit up without help, and ate only small amounts of food. While we were there, I did see a whole lot of love. This award is supposed to be 10 things that make me happy. I hope you don’t mind that I am changing it to Ten Ways I Saw Love This Weekend.

Ten Ways I Saw Love This Weekend

1.My mother in-law helped feed the man she loves and did so with such respect.

2.The nurses that take care of him kissed his forhead when they came to rotate him in his bed.

3.My sister in-law Gina slept on an air mattress in his room so, my mother in-law could go home and get rest. Each of my sister in-laws has been doing this for a few months.

4.My sister in-laws and brother in-law along with my husband and have been rotating who will come into town to help their parents. (My sister in-law Marcia comes for two weeks at a time.)

5.A freezer filled with food each one has made so that my mother in-law won’t have to cook.

6.Text messages flying from one family member to another. It has helped us know how to pray and how he is doing.

7.My twenty three month old throwing his grandfather a kiss and telling him he loves him.

8.My sister in-laws singing and playing with JDaniel to help keep him entertained.

9.The stream of friends that came through to check on my father in-law.

10.My father in-law reaching out his hand for my mother in-law and her hearing her tell him he had quite a grip.

Here are the blogs I am passing this onto:

Living with Fairies

Lemon Drop Pie

Live and Love Out Loud

For Love or Funny

The Practical Mom Guide

Steph's Cafe

Confessions from a Working Mom

Izzie, Mac, and Me

Tickled Pink Twice

The Mama Zone



I received this award from the Sevin Family and Acting Balanced. They both have amazing blogs. Please check them out! Check out Jumpin Beans while you are at it.


Here are the rules to the award:

1.Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
2.Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
3.Link the nominees within your post.
4.Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5.Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

I am passing this award onto the following blogs:

See Great Things

Home Grown Families

Singing in the Rain

Mine are Spectacular

Good, True and Beautiful

Totally Tots

Buried with Children

Out Numbered 3-1

Mama to 3 Blessings

Mommy Guru

Guess Who Snuck a Chunk of Nana’s Cake

On Thursday I made a cake for my mother in-law. I left it on the counter to cool during nap time. When JDaniel woke up we came downstairs to play and get a snack. Well, the phone rang and I started talking to my friend Bridget about how we had each done at the Angel’s Attic Consignment sale. JDaniel decided to get himself snack since mommy had been side tracked. He pinched a chunk of the cake that was sitting on the counter. Then he brought it to me. At first I couldn’t figure out what he had in his hand. I thought it was a piece of bread that fallen on the floor during lunch. My housekeeping is lacking, but I don’t usually leave chunks of food on the floor. I looked at what he had in his hand again and asked him if it was cake. “Yes!” he said. After telling Bridget I need to go and why (Yes, I told her I was the mother on a cake sneaker.), I went to investigate and there was a toddler size chunk of the cake missing.

Thank goodness I can cover the area with frosting. He has never taken things off the counter before. That maybe because he was too short to reach the counter until now. I immediately placed on the toaster oven high out of reach.

Friday Fill-In #162

1.I know that it will get warm here soon.

2. Why does February seem like the longest month?

3. You can't help but you can pray.

4. Ice and snow are on their way; bring it on!

5. Where have you looked to find the silver lining?

6. Hope and warm weather will soon be available.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending time with my in-laws in Georgia, tomorrow my plans include trying to get JDaniel to take a nap in the portable crib at his grandparents and Sunday, I want to get ready for Valentine’s Week on my blog!

Please click here to participate in Friday Fill-In #162

Valentine's Day Alouette Cheese Giveaway (3 winners)

Alouette® Berries & Cream and Yogurt Parfait

Alouette Cheese can be used to make all kinds of wonderful things. I love the creamy texture that all their cheeses contain. Here is an opportunity to try some of their products for free. I was sent three sets of coupons for free Alouette and Chavrie products. What products are they for Alouette Crumble Cheese, Alouette All Natural Spreadable Cheese, Alouette Baby Brie Wedge, and Chavrie Goats Milk Cheese. Wouldn’t you love to serve up wonderful dishes for someone you love with Alouette.

Alouette® Baked Brie with Nuts

How do I win a coupon for free Alouette products?

-Tell me a recipe you would like to try. ( You can not choose one that is pictured above.)

For extra entries do any or all of the following leaving a separate comment for each entry.

* Tell me something about your favorite Alouette product. ( 1 entry)

* Share with me one of the ways Alouette suggests to Slow Down and Savor. (1 entry)

*Enter another giveaway I am hosting.(1 entry)

*Write about this giveaway with a link back to it on Facebook or another social network site. (1 entry)

*Follow my blog. Leave me a comment saying that you now follow or that you already do. (1 entry)

*Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post (1 entry)

* Twitter about this giveaway with a link back, you must also be following me on Twitter. Copy and paste: AlouetteCheeseGivaway@JDaniel4smom.(1 entry per day)

* Subscribe to my blog. Leave me a comment saying that you have subscribed or that you already do. (1 entry)

*Add me to your blogroll. Please leave a link to your site.(2 entries)

*Add my button to your blog. Please leave a link to your site.(2 entries)

That is 11 ways to win.

The winner will be chosen by using the random number generator at http://www.random.org/.


This prize is worth $23.

This giveaway begins February 5th and ends February 17th at 11:59 p.m.

$20 GC to Rocky Bird Seven Giveaway

The weather here is South Carolina has been frightfully cold lately. JDaniel has barely needed his winter coat and a hat all winter. Last weekend it got really cold and ice fell. He had a hat and coat zipped all the way to the top just to go to the store today. For many of you the winter has been frightful for months and you have had your little one bundled up for ages. Are you ready to put them in a new hat for the rest of the winter? Rocky Bird Seven makes the cutest hats for children and adults. There are also a variety of great stuffed toys. She has offered a $20 Gift Credit to her Etsy shop. Take a look I think you will love them too.

Would you love the Rocky Bird 7 Gift Credit?

-Tell what you would select from Rocky Bird 7. (1 entry)

For extra entries do any or all of the following leaving a separate comment for each entry.

* Tell me who would get the gift. (1 entry)

*Write about this giveaway with a link back to it on Facebook or another social network site. (1 entry)

*Enter another giveaway that I am hosting. (1 entry for each giveaway you enter)

*Follow my blog. Leave me a comment saying that you now follow or that you already do. (1 entry)

*Leave a comment on a blog entry that is not a giveaway. (1 entry)

*Twitter about this giveaway with a link back, you must also be following me on Twitter. Copy and paste: RockBird7Giveaway@JDaniel4smom.(1 entry per day)

*Subscribe to my blog. Leave me a comment saying that you have subscribed or that you already do. (1 entry)

*Favorite me in Technorati! (2 entries)

*Add me to your blogroll. Please leave a link to your site.(2 entries)

*Add my button to your blog. Please leave a link to your site.(2 entries)

*Buy anything from Rocky Bird 7 and come back and leave a comment saying you did. (10 entries)

That is 11 ways to win. The winner will be chosen by using the random number generator at http://www.random.org/. )

This giveaway begins February 5th and ends February 14th.

Making Hand Shadows- Links 4 Moms

Since it was Groundhog Day earlier in the week, I thought I would share websites that teach you how to make hand shadows this week. These sites each have very clear illustrations on how to make each shadow animal or object. Have fun!

Shadows with Hands

Ashley’s Shadows

Hand shadows

Me and My Shadow- We are Sick Together

JDaniel and I have both been sick since Friday. (My husband joined in the fun over the weekend.) We skipped the mom’s group at church on Tuesday and playgroup on Monday. I guess you could say we have had a lot of alone time. We do separate when he walks off to “read a book” because he is not interested in what I am doing. For past five days JDaniel has been my shadow.

What do you do with all that time?

*Read a Dr. Seuss anthology many times a day. (Along with countless other books.)

*Cleaned and did laundry together. (We cleaned towels, sheets, and clothes trying to get rid of the germs.)

*We have done crafts and colored.

*Building with train tracks and Megablocks has been popular.

*Getting ready for two consignment sales has been adventure, but we are ready.

*Playing with trucks and dancing to Ross King’s CD has filled a lot of time.

*Playing with cookie cutters has been fun.

*On Monday we did go to the grocery store to stock up on cough drops and a few other things.

*On Tuesday we did go the consigner’s open house at Angel’s Attic to shop. (Yes, we could have infected people. No, I wasn’t willing skip getting to shop before the general public gets in to sale today. We didn’t stay long. I was worried he would miss behave. He stuck close by with the promise of checking out the toy area after the clothes. It only cost me a $3 vacuum cleaner to keep him nearby.)

Groundhog Day Celebration Ideas

Here are some fun ways to celebrate Groundhog Day:

1.Sing a song about a groundhog:

Here's A Little Groundhog

sung to "I'm A Little Teapot"

I see a little groundhog, furry and brown,

He's popping up to look around.

If he sees his shadow, down he'll go.

Six more weeks of winter - oh, no!

See My Shadow
(to the tune of "Frere Jacques")

See my shadow,See my shadow,Move this way,Move this way,

Doing things that I do,Doing things that I do,Follow me,Follow me.

I'm a Little Groundhog
(to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little groundhog short and stout,

February second I will come out.

If I see my shadow they will shout,

"Six weeks more winter without doubt!"


2.Print out a groundhog bookmark.

3. Create a pop-up puppet of a groundhog. ( Today we went outside on the deck briefly between raindrops. Our groundhog did not see his shadow.)

Words That Rhyme With Orange- Review

Age Group This Book/Product is for: 2-12

Put out by: Ross King of Ross King Music
Price: $12.00
Buy Cd and listen to a sample
Purchase at itunes
Purchase at Amazon.com
My Review:
I was just over at The BlogFrog a couple of weeks ago asking for recommendations for children's music. Several CDs were mentioned to me by other BlogFroggers and I honestly haven’t checked them out. Why? I got a great new CD in the mail to review. It is called Words That Rhyme with Orange by Ross King. I have become a huge Ross King fan.

JDaniel and I have been dancing to it in the house and taking it with us in the car when we run errands. The CD contains are variety of styles of music. All of the songs are upbeat and contain wonderful lyrics. Okay, there is one song about nose picking that I tend to skip when I play the CD. The message of the song is Don’t Do It, but JDaniel already does it.

Here are a few I really love. The first song Happy to Be Me encourages children to be happy being themselves and they don’t have to be anyone but themselves. There is also a cool rap about juice boxes. A wonderful love song about how you are loved More than anything in the world even all the sand in the desert. Two others I really like are the Learning the Alphabet song (It has a great beat.) and The Sound of Whining. JDaniel has been whining more lately. When I sing this song along with the CD, I can sing to my son about not whining over and over again. There are two mellow sleepy time songs at the end of the CD that are good for winding down at the end of a day.

This would be great CD to add to any child’s music library. Be warned the songs will run through your head during the day and your feet will start tapping.
Note: Ross King Music is independent and “self-produced, which means this product in only available online and not in stores.

Disclaimer: This is a Mama Buzz Review and the product was provided by Ross King for review.


MamaBzz is hosting giveaway win a set of Ross Kings CD’s.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Today I will be posting several blog entries. One will be a repeat of the review I did for a Ross King cd that I posted last week. I got ahead of myself and posted it earlier than I was suppose to. There will also be a post of Groundhog Day activities.

Last night I posted a great giveaway for a $35 GC to India Blue. Please stop by and check it out.

$35 GC to India Blue for Jewelry Giveaway

Jewelry is a wonderful gift to get for Valentine’s Day from someone you love or maybe even from yourself. India Blue has a wonderful collection of jewelry that contains a variety of colors you associate with Valentine’s Day. I have a $35 gift credit to giveaway to someone who would love to select a special gift.

Let me have Heather of India Blue tell you a little about herself first.

-I also love to plan events/parties on the side.

-I craft with a lot of different mediums -- polymer clay, fabric, paper -- which I work into the decor to make each event unique and personalized.

-When I'm not crafting I love to be outside hiking, camping, skiing, boating (anything that lets me escape the world for a time and enjoy fresh air and beautiful scenery.)

Would you love the India Blue Gift Credit?

-Tell what you use your gift credit for. Click here to visit India Blue.(1 entry)

For extra entries do any or all of the following leaving a separate comment for each entry.

*Tell me who would get the gift. (1 entry)

*Follow India Blue on Facebook. (1 entry)

*Write about this giveaway with a link back to it on Facebook or another social network site. (1 entry)

*Enter another giveaway that I am hosting. (1 entry for each giveaway you enter)

*Follow my blog. Leave me a comment saying that you now follow or that you already do. (1 entry)

* Twitter about this giveaway with a link back, you must also be following me on Twitter. Copy and paste: mailto:IndiaBlue$35GC@JDaniel4smom.%20(1(1 entry per day)

* Subscribe to my blog. Leave me a comment saying that you have subscribed or that you already do. (1 entry)

*Favorite me in Technorati! (2 entries)

*Add me to your blogroll. Please leave a link to your site.(2 entries)

*Add my button to your blog. Please leave a link to your site.(2 entries)

*Buy anything from India Blue and come back and leave a comment saying you did. (10 entries)

That is 12 ways to win. The winner will be chosen by using the random number generator at http://www.random.org/. )

This giveaway begins February 1st and ends February 10th. It is open to U.S. residents only.

Heather at India Blue has made a wonderful offer to any of you that entered her giveaway and did not win. Through Mother's Day, May 9, anyone mentioning JDaniel4’s Mom in the "message to seller" section of their order will receive a 15% discount off their purchase. She is excited to be revealing a huge selection of really special and unique handcrafted sterling charms that she is sure you will love. The new designs will be posted by early next week.

Muffin Tin Monday- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

The Muffin Tin theme of the week is Dr. Seuss. JDaniel's tin had the following foods based on One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish:

• The number one cut into bread and one carrot
• A cheese shaped fish
• The number two cut into bread and two carrots
• Another cheese shaped fish
• Red fish food or bubbles (Also known as grapes)
• Blue ocean water (Also known as blueberry yogurt)
  
  

He hadn't had yogurt in awhile and was so excited about the fact "goyurt" was on the meu.