More Giveaways

Shop Annie's is hosting a Piggie Paint giveaway. My girls love to paint their nails, and I've been itching to try out these truly non-toxic paints. Even so-called "kid's" polishes have that nasty odor that can't be good for anyone's lungs...Piggie Paint also offers unscented, nontoxic polish remover. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been bowled away by the scent of the trash even days after removing my polish.

I've recently discovered the joy of the straight-iron, and Jamie's Precious Peas is giving away your choice of hair dryer or straightener from T3. Also, an item of choice from No Mommy's Perfect. They offer an adorable line of mom and baby clothing. I would choose the tank with the logo: No Mommy's Perfect...Every Mommy's Priceless tank. Or Kidde Kapz to convert almost any bottle to a toddler cup. Finally, she's also giving awaya set of 10 Purse Hangers. I currently hang my purses on regular hangers, but these would work so much better. By the way, I just won a jewelry giveaway over at Jamie's Precious Peas last week. So a huge thank you! I can't wait to receive my prize.

Gone Curbin' and Other Events

The last few weeks have been really busy, thus the sparse blog posts. It started a few weeks ago with the MN Musky Expo. As I've mentioned before, my dad has started his own fishing lure company, which I help him manage. We ran a booth at our first expo two weekends ago, which entailed a LOT of prep work. Especially since the week of, we finally got fed up with our bank and switched over all our accounts. (There's a certain well-known bank which is now considered a curse word in my house!) Anyhow, after the prep work, I drove up with my dad to help him set up and man the booth, along with my uncle and a few shareholders. We didn't sell a whole lot, but we made lots of great contacts, and had a blast. I am not a fisherwoman, and about as far from "redneck" as you can get, so I was pleasantly surprised to find how much I enjoyed the atmosphere and people at the show. As soon as I can find my camera, I'll post pics of the event.

I've also been babysitting my friend's little boy Monday, Wednesday, Friday, which leaves little time for the computer on those days. But it's so fun to have an infant in the house again. My girls both adore him, and provide plenty of entertainment for this so-far only child.

Last weekend, I was virtually computer-free because of a nasty virus my laptop try picked up. Beware of a pop-up that looks like it's from Windows Security! My darling hubby spent hours first trying to fix the poor thing, then backing up all my files and programs so that he could wipe the computer and start over. I'm so thankful my husband is handy in so many different ways. He's pretty convenient to have around...

And finally, last night was the kick-off for my favorite hunting season, Curbing! For the past several years, my husband and I, the inlaws, and often our friends, head out in our trucks and vans and trailers to troll the streets during scheduled curb-side recycling in the more affluent neighorhoods of the Cities. Our first haul of the season was a doozy, including: a brand-new ergonomic desk chair, playset components (slide, swings, ladder, etc), covered sandbox, Little Tikes slide, Little Tikes standing kitchen playset, Polly Pocket set, dollhouse furniture, jogging stroller/bike trailer, 3 strollers, a shoe shelf, an antique quilt, several basketballs, Lego castle set, Hooked on Phonics kits, 5 bag chairs (including 3 Eddie Bauer w/footrests), Barbie car, Cabbage Patch doll, several wooden puzzles, and last but not least......


A (nearly working) MOTORCYCLE!!! Pretty much like this one...



So I'd like to know, what's the best thing you've picked up off the side of the road? Or am I the only one out there who gets a thrill out of this?

Just a Few Weekend Giveaways

Sandier Pastures is giving away an adorable vintage cut-out from 5 Gardenias. I spent some time browsing her etsy shop, and found several cute vintage items I'd love to have.

Visit Green Your Decor for a chance to win an amazing "green" prize pack, included the Bissel Little Green carpet cleaner.

Just in time for summer sand boxes, Funky Monkey is giving away a sand toy set from Green Toys.

WW: Do I Even Need a Caption?

Tip of the Day

Something semi-useful from me for a change...more coming tomorrow or Thursday on why I've been MIA...

When your hand soap starts running low, add some water, shake it up, and prolong the life. This works with shampoos, body washes, etc as well. It's amazing how much longer you can use a product when you add a little water to the bottom of the bottle!

Oliver's Labels: Coupon Code

I recently wrote a review for Oliver's Labels. I've been using their labels on everything from shoes and coats to sippies and stainless steel water bottles. I think I'm addicted and need to order more! Speaking of ordering more, they are now offering my readers a 10% discount...simply enter the code Oliversfriends upon checkout. Thanks, Oliver's Labels!!!!

A Friendly Reminder: Car Seat Safety

I'm a car seat safety freak, and with perfect road trip weather on it's way, I wanted to remind everyone of some key car seat safety points.

1. Of course, always always always use your car seat. Whether you're going down the street, across town, or 500 miles...Auto accidents are by far the leading cause of death for American children.

2. Keep your child rear facing as long as comfortable (within the weight limits of the seat). Rear facing is safest for a child of any age. Even adults would be safer rear facing, but it would be a little tough to drive that way.

3. Please, do not purchase your car seat at a garage sale or secondhand store. Minor accidents may not outwardly show, but they weaken the car seat, making it likely to fail in an accident. Not to mention pieces may be missing, it may be under recall, or could be expired. Car seats grow brittle with age, so make sure yours is less than 10 years old, preferrably under 5. Many seats now include an "expiration date".

4. Don't move your child out of her car seat or booster too soon. Children should be in a 5-point harness until they are 40 lbs, and in a booster until they are 4 feet 9 and 8 years old.

5. Keep the harness tight and straps un-twisted. You should barely be able to fit your fingers under the straps. Remember when you first brought your precious baby home from the hospital and were so careful to have the straps tight and perfect? Also, keep bulky clothing to a minimum, as in an accident, bulky clothing can compress and allow your child to slip through the straps.

6. Do not use any accessories that didn't come with the seat. This includes head rests, strap covers, and buntings or car seat "slipcovers". These items have not been crash-tested and may affect the car seat's function. The "slipcovers" are especially dangerous, as they don't allow the straps to fully tighten, causing children to slide out during a crash when the cover compresses and the straps become loose. (I'm not talking about the covers that go over the seat to keep baby warm, but the ones that fit under the straps, that the child sits on top of. I don't know if I'm explaining this very well..)

7. If you don't have a vehicle with LATCH, make sure the shoulder strap is always locked. If your vehicle's straps only lock in case of a sudden stop, use a locking clip. See your car seat manual for instructions.

8. Finally, make sure your car seat is installed tightly. There should be no more than an inch wiggle room on any side. When installing my children's seats, I kneel in the seat to compress them and allow for a tighter fit.

For more safety tips and how to avoid common mistakes, visit babycenter.com.