Kidtoons–Free Ticket to Thomas Blue Mountain Mystery

This August, KidToons is presenting a new Thomas the Train movie…

Blue Mountain Mystery

When trouble strikes at the Blue Mountain Quarry, Thomas is sent to help his Narrow Gauge engine friends. While shunting and hauling, he discovers a little green engine hiding in the tunnels. Thomas is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery but discovering the truth is harder than he imagined! Will Thomas be able to help his new friend? Or will the little engine be sent away from Sodor forever? Find out in Thomas’ most mysterious adventure yet, a movie the whole family will love!

 If you have a train enthusiast in your house, then you are in for a treat because one family member can watch this movie for FREE! Click on this link to print a free ticket to watch Blue Mountain Mystery. (Please note that the ticket is only valid on weekends and is limited to one free ticket per family.)

Check to see if there is a KidToons location near you http://www.kidtoonfilms.com/theatrelocations2.html 

KidToons is also hosting a Blue Mountain Mystery Coloring Contest so be sure to stop by their website to download the coloring pages and enter your child.

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Giveaway - Hand Stamped Jewelry | Photography and Down Syndrome

I am suuuper excited to share today’s post from my photography blog….

For a while now, I have had the idea to create hand stamped jewelry revolving around two things that this blog represent – photography and Down Syndrome awareness and advocacy.

With great pleasure (and a fat ol’ smile) I introduce to you

Designs by MRS

5% of all purchases will be put aside to donate to a Down Syndrome organization.  Each quarter, an organization focused on Down Syndrome advocacy will be selected to receive the donation. If you have an organization you would like to suggest, please feel free to message me.

There are currently only three items in the store at the moment, but soon I hope to have more items available.

Here are the three creations so far…

I am excited to share this new endeavor and would like to offer one of the above products to one lucky reader!

Complete the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win. Entries must be received by August 4, 2012. The winner will be announced on August 5th.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Five Question Friday

1. What is the funniest thing you saw on Facebook/twitter this week?
I have a friend that posts e-cards almost daily and this one I loved the most this week.

Another friend shared this yesterday

2. What is your favorite Olympic event?

It is definitely a tie between figure skating and gymnastics. Can’t get enough of either of those!

3. Do your kids to chores around the house? If so, what are they and how old are the children? Do they get paid for them?

My 9 year old is in charge of feeding the dog, picking up dog poop, and taking the trash out to the curb on trash day.

The 6 year old is in charge of cleaning up his toys. That chore alone can take all day. ;)

4. If you get bad service/food do you complain or keep quiet?

I used to not say anything, but as of a few months ago when I began to get tired of horrible service, I started speaking with managers or calling toll free numbers. I do, however, wait until after the meal to ensure that my meal wasn’t somehow wiped on someone’s butt cheek while in the kitchen…ya, I watch Dateline! :)

5. If you could pick ONE frivolous item for your home, what would it be? (massive room sized closet? swimming pool? greenhouse? etc...)

Does a new home count as ONE frivolous item because if it does, I’ll take that.

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Back to School

Yesterday marked the end of summer vacation. After 7 weeks of summer vacation, my boys walked into their school as a 1st grader and 4th grader. Sigh.

The night before, everything was prepared.

Lunchboxes…

New backpacks…

New Shoes…

These boys woke up early (I’m talking 6:30 early!) almost every day of summer. The first day of school, though, and they slept in! I woke Cody up at 8 and he refused to get out of bed. He kept telling me “sleeping is fun!”.

Once they were wide awake and dressed, they began to get excited for school!

When we went school shopping, Cody picked out an item all on his own.

The hat has been a daily accessory so he, of course, wanted to wear it to school. Doesn’t he look awesome!

They both had a great 1st day.

We walked into DJ’s class just a little late and when he walked in, the class yelled out his name. It was a bit heart warming considering we were only here for the last 3 months of school. It is wonderful to know we have found a school where everyone knows each other and the kids are all so friendly.

Cody walked into class and acted like he owned the place. Sportin’ his hat, he made his rounds to say hello to old friends and familiar teachers. He also made sure to say “see my hat”. :)

The first day of school is always such a mixed emotion for me. As much as I love their company, I begin to miss a little of “mommy” time. Then when they go back to school, the empty house makes me miss them. A lot.

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Summer Splashin’

It is the last week of summer vacation and the hottest week so far this summer. By hot, I mean 85. :)

My boys’ new pool came in last week so they have been out there every day cooling down.

Cody is infamous for his splash attacks on his swimming big brother.

This is his version of over the water swimming while standing and mimicking big brother.

How are you enjoying your kids’ summer vacation?

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July Birchbox–My Favorite Box Yet!

My Birchbox came in yesterday and it was like my birthday all over again! Nothing like extending your birthday another week, right? Especially when you turn 21….again.

This month’s box was in collaboration with Glamour. I love the colors they used!

Don’t they pack it up so pretty???? I love getting these boxes every month!

Birchbox has their own exclusive earbuds and they were included in this month’s box! My iPod is charging up right now so I can test these babies out today! :)

The Tea Forte minteas had me intrigued. The flavor is Ginger Pear. I love pear, but the ginger part I wasn’t so thrilled about. As I sit here tasting one, it actually is not bad at all. The ginger flavor is pretty light. Considering the flavor combo, I had not expected a nice cool, refreshing feeling. I like it!

I am a fan of Stila and already love their lip glaze so I was thrilled when I saw this in the box!

I loved the packaging of this perfume, Juliette Has a Gun, but the scent is a bit strong for me. I prefer light, barely-there scents and as soon as I opened the sample tube, the scent permeated the room. Definitely too strong for my taste.

Oily T-Zone be gone!!! These Green Tea Blotting Linens from Boscia do the job and help rid those nasty oily-spots. I like that the packet allows for easy dispensing (kind of like post-its ).

I am looking forward to trying this Gloss Moderne High Gloss Masque today. My hair can definitely use some deep conditioning right now. ;)

If you are interested in learning more about Birchbox, stop by their website! For only $10/month (that includes shipping!) you get a box full of sample (and not so sample) size goodies. I like that I can try out the products and if I like them I can purchase the full size and if I don’t like them, then I haven’t wasted money on a full size version!

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New Etsy Store–Just Sew Cool

While on vacation in Northern California, my sister-in-law and I hit the Antique Junction Mall in Cordelia. In the how-many years that I lived up there, I had never visited this mall. I’m bummed that I never did! There was a HUGE assortment of items from my childhood…which leads me to a question – when the heck did my childhood become antique?????

I was on a mission to find an old rotary phone, vintage patterns and old cameras.

I found an old rotary phone, but did not find vintage patterns that I liked or old cameras that were old enough for my liking (really, a polaroid from the 80s isn’t quite old enough for my collection just yet. ;)).

So I decided to turn to Craigslist in the slim chance that I could find vintage patterns.

It turns out that I found the most excellent find on Craigslist – a HUGE assortment of vintage sewing patterns.

The patterns are primarily from the 1970s and 1980s.

As I was going through the patterns, I loved seeing how many of them are back in style. Tunics, slouch tops, ruffle top dresses – they are all making a comeback!

I kept quite a few of them for myself and my sister-in-law and am currently working on this pattern. Can’t wait to share the finished project with you. I just started it today and am anxious to finish it.

Majority of the patterns are sizes 14-18, but based on the measurements, they are smaller than today’s sizes.

With the ample amount of vintage patterns, I have opened up an Etsy Store titled

 Just Sew Cool

There are currently only 3 patterns listed, but I hope to get the rest of them posted soon! If there is something specific you may be looking for, let me know and I will happy to see if I have it available and can list a custom listing for you.

Happy sewing!!!

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Back from Vacation!

My boys and I had a restful vacation visiting with my family last week. We celebrated my beautiful niece’s first birthday and my knee got the much-needed rest it deserved.

We are now back from the heat and enjoying the 70+ degree San Diego weather while Fairfield is being taunted with close to 100 degree temps. Sorry, Northern California family. I wish I could share our cooler weather with you.

There are 2 weeks left until my boys go back to school. It is always so bittersweet for me. I am ready for them to go back to school, but at the same time I end up missing them when the house is eerily quiet during the day.

What have you been up to this summer?

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