Juliann's 8th Grade Graduation

Juliann graduated from 8th grade last week, with her father and I in attendance.  She graduated from Blessed Sacrament, a private Catholic school.

Being of a blended family with six kids, things are a little more complex. One of those complexities involves schooling and church. My two oldest step-daughters are cradle Catholics while the rest of us are of a different Christian faith. I don't knock it; it's just different.

Juliann's graduating class was rather small, with only 26 students.  It was held at the church with a full Mass beforehand. and a small reception afterwards.  

Juliann has worked hard in her school studies and I know she'll do quite well in her high school years.

The Verona Trilogy: The Bronze and the Brimstone - Book Review

I received book for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Book Synopsis:

Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln, three teens from the 24th-century, are trapped in 14th-century Verona, Italy. They’ve survived many deadly experiences by keeping their wits about them and by introducing futuristic technology into the past. Principal among these inventions is the telescope, which brought them to the attention of the rich and powerful.

But standing out can get you into unexpected – situations. The nobles of Verona now believe Hansum is a savant, a genius inventor, especially after he brings them plans for advanced cannons and black powder. Being the center of attention is great, but the potential for trouble is now exponentially greater because people are watching Hansum’s every move.

Meanwhile, artistic genius Shamira has fallen for a Florentine artist with bloody and disastrous consequences. Lincoln, considered an incompetent back home in the 24th-century, has blossomed – at least until he’s shot in the head with an arrow. And Hansum, after secretly marrying his new master’s beautiful daughter, Guilietta, is offered the hand in marriage of lady Beatrice, daughter of the ruler of Verona. To refuse could mean calamity for all the teens.

Amazingly, none of this is their biggest challenge. Because a rash illness is spreading across Verona – and it is threatening to consume everyone.

My Review:

As part of The Verona Trilogy, The Bronze and the Brimstone, is the second book in the three-part series.  Although it isn't necessary to read the first book, The Lens and the Looker, it is helpful to so you can capture some of the background with the teens and the trials they endured beforehand.

Still stuck in 14th Century Verona, Italy, Shamira, Hansum, and Lincoln are faced with more turmoil and adventures.  They further complicate things when they introduce technology and inventions that are not of that time.  Most fascinating about The Bronze and the Brimstone is the secret marriage between Hansum and Guilietta and how he handles being offered another lady in marriage.  This book is written with a lot of imagination and detail.  Sometimes the detail is overwhelming and unnecessary, but the plot is interesting.

I'll be reviewing the third book from The Verona Trilogy in June and posting about it on my blog. It follows the three tens through another exciting adventure.

Celebrate “RoboCop Day” with Detroit’s Finest and Major League Baseball on June 3

I received no product or compensation for this post. This post is in partnership with PR firm. Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services. Your opinions and results may differ.

Celebrate “RoboCop Day” with Detroit’s Finest and Major League Baseball As ROBOCOP Arrives on Blu-ray & DVD

WHAT: To commemorate the Blu-ray and DVD release of ROBOCOP on June 3, Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment invite the city of Detroit to honor the iconic crime fighter that helped save the city with “RoboCop Day.” In conjunction with Imagination Station and the Detroit Police Department, “RoboCop Day” will kick off with a dedication of the new monument honoring the legendary hero that will soon have a home in the city. Fans can also participate in a meet-and-greet with RoboCop, get an exclusive look at the motorcycles and props from the movie, see a mock of the statue, and get free cupcakes courtesy of Just Baked.

RoboCop will then hit the streets on the way to Comerica Park to throw out the first pitch before the Detroit Tigers take on the Toronto Blue Jays.

WHEN:

Tuesday, June 3, 2014
11:45 a.m. - Press Check-in
12:00 p.m. - ROBOCOP and Detroit Police Department arrivals
12:10 p.m. - ROBOCOP presentation and statue announcement
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Fan photo opportunities with ROBOCOP
1:00 p.m. - ROBOCOP and Detroit Police Department departure to protect the City of Detroit
7:00 p.m. - ROBOCOP throws out the first pitch at Comerica Park

WHERE:

Detroit Police Department and Public Safety Headquarters - 1301 Third Street, Detroit, MI 48226 Comerica Park - 2100 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

WHY: Detroit’s police officers have one of the toughest jobs in the U.S., and Fox wants a fun and interactive way to honor them in the heart of the city they protect each day. “RoboCop Day’” aims to celebrate and give people a chance to meet the day-to-day heroes of Detroit and its iconic superhero, RoboCop.

Directed by José Padilha, ROBOCOP stars Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley and Samuel L. Jackson. In ROBOCOP, the year is 2028 and OmniCorp – the world’s leader in robot technology – sees a golden opportunity to reap billions for their company. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) – a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit – is critically injured, OmniCorp grabs their chance to build a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and will stop at nothing – no matter the cost to Alex – to make sure the program succeeds. But OmniCorp never counted on one thing: there is still a man fighting inside the machine. The film is written by Joshua Zetumer and Edward Neumeier & Michael Miner, and produced by Marc Abraham and Eric Newman. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Columbia Pictures’ released ROBOCOP theatrically on February 12, 2014.

The American Bible Challenge - #BibleChallenge Giveaway

This post is sponsored by Game Show Network & The American Bible Challenge. Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services. Your opinions and results may differ. This post contains embedded widgets.



The American Bible Challenge is back for a 3rd season that started Thursday May 22nd at 8pm/7C on Game Show Network!

5 Things you didn’t know about The American Bible Challenge:

1. All the money won in every single episode is donated to charities
2. All of the questions come from the old and new testament
3. Your bible knowledge will be tested in physical challenges as well
4. The American Bible Challenge is the highest rated TV program in Game Show Network history
5. It is nominated for two daytime emmy awards: Outstanding Game Show, and Outstanding Game Show Host Jeff Foxworthy



THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE is a spirited game show that celebrates the Bible and its place in American culture. Bible enthusiasts from all across the country compete in a variety of challenges that put their knowledge of the Good Book to the test. The show’s prizing further reflects the celebration of faith, as teams earn money for the charity of their choice.

The American Bible Challenge returned for a two hour block May 22nd at 8/7c on Game Show Network. Don’t for get to tune in June 5th for the first episode of It Takes a Church premiering right after The American Bible Challenge.



Win It!

One person will win an official “The American Bible Challenge” Tee-shirt and an 11x17 official Season 3 poster.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.  Each household is only eligible to win one The American Bible Challenge Prize Pack via blog reviews and giveaways.  Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.*

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NatureSmart Vitamin Gummies - Review and Giveaway

I received products for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

My entire family takes vitamins. We try to maintain a healthy diet but, in all reality, I know we don't get all the essential vitamins and nutriets. I've both purchased and reviewed several brands and kinds of vitamins in the past. Some have passed my test for taste, benefits, texture, and nutritional value. Others haven't.
Recently, I was able to review Vitamin Gummies from NatureSmart, the brand behind a number of popular Disney and Marvel-licensed vitamin gummies for children.

Off the bat, let it be on record that I know that just because a vitamin has cute character shapes doesn't necessarily make it a "good" vitamin. With that said, I've found that my entire family benefits from NatureSmart Vitamin Gummies and they are beneficial to us.

Disney•Pixar Finding Nemo Omega-3 Gummies and the Mickey Mouse Fiber Gummies can be consumed by people ages 2 and older. That involves my entire household and we've all been getting our daily intake of supplements with NatureSmart Vitamin Gummies.

The Mickey Mouse Fiber Gummies are red in color, have a strawberry taste and have a Mickey Mouse silhouette shape. The gummies contain three grams of fiber per serving to help supplent fiber intake. The Disney•Pixar Finding Nemo Omega-3 Gummies have darling Finding Nemo shapes and the key ingredient for those is Omega-3, which provides over 140mg of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. The bottle has mixed flavors of vitamins - orange, raspberry, and strawberry.

Children two years and older, along with adults, can take two daily. They taste good, with a soft gummy consistency. The side of the each bottle has a level indicator of when it's full, half full, and nearly empty. Although Jason and I are adults (or so they say) we take the Vitamin Gummies right along with our kiddos.

Win It!

One person will win a bottle of NatureSmart Disney•Pixar Finding Nemo Omega-3 Gummies and a bottle of Mickey Mouse Fiber Gummies.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

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Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus - #wonderbottle Review

I received products for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

If there was a Clothesaholic Anonymous group, I'd be president. As my closet shows, I like clothes. The picture only shows the right side of my closet. The left is just as full. (We'll discuss the psych issues associated with that in a different post, on a different day. Don't judge!) Having so many shirts, blouses, and dresses all crammed together is a wrinkle disaster waiting to happen.

Rather than iron or try some trickery, I've recently been using new Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus. Available in three sizes, the "WonderBottle" (as it is known in its new campaign) has over 101 uses for the home, family, and traveler, in addition to its ability to reduce wrinkles in clothes.

With a quick spritz and some tugging and smoothing, I'm able to release wrinkles from my tops and shirts. For a very short time, after spraying on Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus, my clothes are mildly wet. Because of that, I usually spritz the "WonderBottle" on a few minutes before getting dressed, so the clothes can dry and be worn. I can gladly say my clothes aren't wrinkled anymore. And they smell quite good too.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus works to eliminate wrinkles by coating fabric fibers with silicone that allows them to relax and slide apart instead of being frozen in a crease.

In addition to releasing wrinkles from my clothes, I've used Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus on my curtains to smooth out the rumples. Because I like the smell of Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus so well and because it has so many uses, I also take advantage of the "WonderBottle" by spritzing it on my roller derby gear after use to bring on the freshness. I haven't come up with 101 uses on my own for Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus, but I've come up with several and it's worked for each one.

Wordful Wednesday - Memorial Day Saturday

After five years of camping on weekends at Whispering Oaks, we sold our camper about a month ago. It was time to move on, and we're busy with other responsibilities on weekends. However, my sister graciously offered us up one of her campsites (she has two) to stay on Saturday.

Going back after some time off I thought I'd be all nostalgic and miss camping there. That wasn't the case.

Although I don't see a problem with going once in a while, I don't miss the place as much as I thought I would. Had a good time while I stayed on Saturday, so can't complain there.

We started out with a carry-in dinner with enough food to stuff my face and regret it afterwards.

Laura, me, my sister, and Kim. No surprise, my hubs photobombed the pic.

It was good to see friends and family, hang with them and catch up.

Later in the evening a local band, Raised on Radio, rocked it out with live music. The food was good, the music was great, and the debauchery was fun.

Did you go camping or attend any events for Memorial Day weekend?

Random Tuesday Thoughts - Graduations and Missed Directions

Welcome to another week of Random Tuesday Thoughts, hosted by Stacy Uncorked. If you'd like to play along, you can go to her site and link up. It's a whole bunch of randomness, yo!

If you need to know how to get from Virginia IL to Virginia IL, I'm your gal. First stop and ask teens pushing a stroller for directions. Then take cemetery road to Children of the Corn, take a left at bum F Egypt, then straight on Backwoods Boulevard. Exactly 1 hour and 20 minutes later you'll arrive at your final destination, back in Virginia!

Yeah, that totally happened to me Friday night when I was leaving Virginia from a graduation. In my defense, it had been 14 years since I'd last been there. What should have been an hour and forty-five minute drive home took double that.

Speaking of graduations, that was my third one this year. I'm supposed to attend another one this Friday, but no promises. I think I've had my fill.

Shelby, my oldest daughter, got her first career position. She's been working part-time jobs since the age of 16 so she's no stranger to employment. But she was offered the position of Psych Tech for the local hospital and starts later this week. It's more career-related and relative to what she majored in during college.

Shelby had to get blood drawn Friday for her new job. They get all up in your business and test you for everything. During the process, she passed out. Wish I could've seen that. Ya know, to make sure everything was all right...and to capture that Kodak moment!

Jason and I made an impromptu trip to Wal-Mart Saturday afternoon to grab a few things before heading up to camp. We pull into the parking lot only to see a woman in her 30s running (if that's what you call it) away from two security guards. Every once in a while, she'd look back over her shoulder and yell "You're scaring me! You're scaring me!"

Darn right woman, she shoulda been scared. She tried to talk out with a cart full of electronics. There was no shame in her game. She didn't even try to cover up the goods. That cart was filled to the brim with TVs, stereo speakers, and other electronics.

Bad news, she got away. Good news, the cart didn't make it past the door. Her plan got botched. Hope she's got a Plan B cause Plan A sure didn't work out too well for her.

Logan's been doing fairly well with Track & Field this year. Next is Cross Country. I love taking pictures of him running or doing hurdles, if only for the fact his movements are so exaggerated. Cracks me up.

What randomness do you have to divulge?

More May Winners

A few of my giveaways have ended and the winners have been randomly drawn via Random.org. The winners have 48 hrs. to respond to email notification or new winner(s) will be drawn.

The winner of the Mio Get Waisted giveaway is #21, heymissvirginia.

The winner of the $25 Visa Gift Card giveaway is #28, Pink and Green Mom.

The winner of the iPhone 5s giveaway is #70, kbauer74.

Congrats to the winners and thanks to all who entered. Be sure to check out and enter my current active giveaways, all listed at the top left hand side of my blog. There's no limit to how many you can enter or how many you can win.

Happy Memorial Day

Although Memorial Day is widely known for time off from work, camping, and picnics let us not forget the real reason - to recognize the men and women who died while fighting to protect our country. Have fun, be safe, and keep our service men and women in your thoughts and prayers.

Softsoap Décor Collection - Review and Giveaway

I received products for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Softsoap, known for their liquid hand soap and body wash, has launched a premium liquid hand soap line, the Décor Collection. The line is available in three scents - Peony & Plum, Orchid Petals & Mint Water, and Wild Basil & Lime. At just $2.49 a bottle, they're affordable and allow you to take in the scents of spring while expressing your own personal style at home.

I've always been a fan of Softsoap and purchase their liquid hand soap often. It's a brand I know to work away dirt, leave hands smelling clean, and be cost efficient. Softsoap's Décor Collection is a good fit for the brand.

Although I have nothing against classic Softsoap packaging, I'm more apt to purchase the Décor Collection because they have a fancier look. The inside of each clear bottle has a floral background. Soap is dispensed through a pump and it leaves a nice, subtle scent on the hands. I like all three scents of the Softsoap Décor Collection but if I had to choose a favorite it would be Orchid Metals & Mint Water because the scent combination is unconventional, in a good way. The blue packaging also best matches my bathroom decor. I'm loving the fabulous designs of Softsoap Décor Collection, along with the inviting scents and ability to clean hands well.

Win It!

One person will win all three scents of Softsoap Décor Collection.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

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Wordful Wednesday - Thirty-One Party

Saturday afternoon I attended a Thirty-One party hosted at the campground by my sister. For those not in the know, Thirty-One Gifts is a consultant based business that sells purses, bags, and totes. This wasn't my first rodeo at a Thirty-One party. I've been to a few others and have been talked into hosting a couple of my own from time to time.

My sister offered a spread of bologna salad, chicken and cream cheese dip, and crab dip. That was enough to get me to come!

The consultant had us play a game where we had to blindly draw pictures based on what she told us. I'm not creative to begin with, and it only goes downhill from there when I have to draw with my eyes closed. On the plus side, I was able to draw breasts close to the correct regions. Still didn't get points for that though. Whatevs!

I'm not gonna air my sister's business, but she fared pretty well with total orders. It's good to be a hostess when people got your back.

Because it was a low-key, outdoor affair there were several little ones running around. I always enjoy seeing my nieces and nephews.

I ended up purchasing a large tote to carry my derby gear. My husband said the luggage bag I currently use could carry a body, so I downsized.

Have you ever attended or been the hostess for a consultant based business?

Spring into Summer: New from AVON‏ - #AvonMakeup Giveaway

I received no product or compensation for this post. This post is in partnership with PR firm. Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services. Your opinions and results may differ.

As the winter months are far behind us, it’s time to enjoy Spring and get ready for Summer. Avon’s NEW color products will help you to achieve the Spring and Summer looks you’ve been waiting to try!

AeroVolume Mascara:

AeroVolume Mascara’s formula uses aerospace inspired technology. The new lightweight formula contains pillow complex of hollow fibers to add volume without the weight. The unique star-shaped wire brush creates vertical lift and even formula deposit. Keeps lashes lifted and voluminous all day with 200% more volume. The plush, weightless formula banishes midday droop with plumped-up volume. Smudge-proof, waterproof and clump-resistant.

Shades: Blackest Black, Black, Brown Black
Price: $8

All-In-One Makeup Palette:

A beautiful color palette perfect to take on-the-go! The palette includes 15 spring shades for eyes, lips and cheeks including 5 eye shadows, 5 lip glosses, 3 blushes, 2 bronzers and 6 applicators. Also includes 2 mirrored panels.

Price: $15

Eye Dimensions Eyeshadow:

Luminous, pure-color shadows layer and blend to sculpt eyes. Vibrant, silky formula wears for hours without creasing.

Shades: Bronze Star, Natural Haze, Diamante Purple, Khaki Chic, Sultry Smoke, Sweetheart Plum

Price: $9

Ideal Flawless CC Cream:

CC Color Corrector Cream begins to fade the appearance of dark spots in just 2 weeks. Instantly evens tone and improves skin over time. Buildable light-to-medium coverage with powerful sun protection with Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB and SPF 50+.

Shades: Light, Light Medium, Medium, Medium Deep and Deep

Price: $11

AVAILABILITY: Available now at Avon.com or through your local Avon representative

Win It!

One person will win the new makeup collection from AVON that includes the Ideal Flawless CC Cream, Eye Dimensions Eyehadow, All-In-One Makeup Palette, and AeroVolume Mascara.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

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BaBylissPRO MiraCurl - Professional Curl Machine Review

I received product for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

I have thick hair with a little bit of wave. When I have extra time on my hands, I like to curl my hair all around. I've recently been using the BaBylissPRO MiraCurl Professional Curl Machine when I want bold, even curls that don't require a lot off effort.

BaBylissPRO MiraCurl is unlike any hair tool I've ever used. It’s a revolutionary way to create curls – a tool that automatically forms one curl after another. Inside this machine is the MaxLife™ PRO brushless motor, which provides precision control for all curl types. The nano titanium curl chamber – into which hair is gently pulled, heated and held – imparts silky shine to finished curls. The MiraCurl lets you control temperature, time and curl direction, providing the flexibility to form loose waves, soft swirls, defined curls, and more. It even signals when it’s time to release the curl. It heats quickly, up to 450°F, to produce curl after curl.

After using the BaBylissPRO MiraCurl several times now, I think it's an inventive curling tool that's easy to use and provides nice curls. I do think, however, it could use some tweaks to make it better and more user-friendly.

I have thick, coarse hair and I've had to play around with the BaBylissPRO MiraCurl a lot to get desired results. It's easy to use but I think my hair may not be a real good match for it. On the other hand, my oldest daughter has soft, straight, manageable hair and is able to get beautiful curls out of the BaBylissPRO MiraCurl.

There are detailed instructions on how to use the BaBylissPRO MiraCurl and I recommend that you read them before use. I like the setting controls on the side of the BaBylissPRO MiraCurl where I can control which way I want the curls to fall and temperature settings. It would be more convenient if the setting controls had indicators to show directions and temperatures so I didn't have to memorize them or always refer to the instruction book.

Once plugged in, the BaBylissPRO MiraCurl heats up quickly. The curls are created when you place a section of hair in the BaBylissPRO MiraCurl chamber, and a motor will spin to turn the hair into curls of desired direction. It beeps when each section of hair is ready to be released. That helps prevent overheating of the hair.

Like I said before, I think the BaBylissPRO MiraCurl could use some improvements for better user experience but I also think it's a productive curling device once you get the hang of it.

PEEPS® MINIS™ - Review

I received products for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

It may be the small things that excite me, but I'm giddy to learn that I no longer have to wait until the next big holiday season to purchase and eat PEEPS®. Easter is over and sadly that used to mean I'd have to wait until Halloween until I could even think about getting my hands on the marshmallow goodness of PEEPS.

PEEPS Lovers Rejoice! Now you can get your hands on the snackable marshmallow chicks year round, thanks to the launch of PEEPS® MINIS™. The mini marshmallow chicks are about forty percent the size of the traditional chicks and each are 14 calories. They are also fat-free and gluten-free.

PEEPS® MINIS™ are available in three flavors - Strawberry Crème, Chocolate Crème and Sour Watermelon. Each flavor comes in a 24-count resealable standup bag. Although yellow PEEPS have always been my fave, I've tried all three flavors of PEEPS MINIS and they are sugary, fluffy goodness. They're so small and so cute you just want to gobble them right up.
Because anything made with marshmallows can quickly become stale if left in the air, I appreciate that PEEPS® MINIS™ come in a resealable bag. I like all three flavors, but my favorite is Strawberry Creme. So far I've only eaten PEEPS® MINIS™ straight out of the bag but I think they're the perfect size to add as toppers to cupcakes and other confections.

The introduction of PEEPS® MINIS™ is the biggest launch in the brand’s 61 year history, and I'm satisfied with the ability to consume PEEPS any time of the year. They can be found nationwide and year round in the candy aisle in retail stores or online at www.peepsandcompany.com.

Life is Unpredictable. Get Ready - #InsureU Giveaway

I received products in exchange for this post. The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

After a winter like this, most of us are ready for a change. Spring is a time for renewal and planning — for some wedding bells will soon ring, while buyers and sellers are anxious to get into a new home. Tax refunds may even spark the desire to buy a new car. Spring can be exciting, but major life events have insurance implications. And all too often, people wait for something bad to happen before they worry about whether or not they have the right amount of coverage. The best time to get educated about insurance is when you’re in the process of making a major life decision, like buying a new car — before a related crisis, such as a car accident.

Get Ready
Insurance needs vary greatly by person, but there are some common life situations during which it’s especially important to ask the tough questions, including:
· Buying a New Car: Beyond the sale price, what other costs should I keep in mind?
· Getting Married: How might our individual credit and legal histories impact our combined financial future?

· Buying a New Home: How would I handle the financial burden of an unexpected disaster affecting my home?

If you’re in the midst of a major life event, new Get Ready resources from Insure U can help you get smart about insurance now, before a crisis, and avoid hasty, uninformed and costly decisions later. For the life situations mentioned above, Insure U offers 5 Tough Questions to ask yourself and Take Action Now checklists to help you get ready. Additional kits will be published this summer. For more tough questions to consider, plus supporting infographics, videos, apps and games, visit www.insureuonline.org.

Win It!

One person will win a “Life Kit”, similar to the one shown above, filled with several “surprise” items to help you get ready to navigate through life ($50 value).

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

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Shelby: A Shining Graduate

Shelby in dress she wore under the gown

I'm just putting this out there, graduations are lame. There, I said it. Before you hand out the proverbial spankings, let me clarify.

I've been to my fair share of graduations and still have a few to attend this year. I have no problem attending and celebrating the graduate's accomplishments. I don't even have a problem with the obligatory speeches and handouts of thanks. But, for the love of all things good, make it short and to the point. If a student or attendee doesn't understand the importance of success or how they're starting a new chapter of their life in ten minutes or less, then chances are they're not gonna get it.

Shelby with "little" brother, Adam

And maybe this is just me, but if you're going to induct a new president or important staff member, make it a separate ceremony. They deserve to be recognized, but not for 45 minutes in front of a crowd that is there for their student. Bleachers hurt people's backs. Add that with an hour of talk before the actual ceremony begins, and people start to not feel so celebatory.

End of rant...

me and Shelby

On a lighter note, I'd like to give a big shout out to all of this year's graduates. It's quite an accomplishment and definitely something to be proud of. (See how short and sweet that was!)

Shelby and Jason

Shelby graduated from JWCC (a community college) Friday night after a two year study. She received an Associates in Psychology and an Associates in Sociology. Her plans are to find a career related to her field. She had an interview Thursday for a Psych Tech position. Fingers crossed she gets it. Regardless, I know she'll shine and make out all right in this big ole' world.

Are you attending any graduations this year?

Magic For These May Winners

A few of my giveaways have ended and the winners have been randomly drawn via random.org. The winners have 48 hours to respond to email notification or new winner(s) will be drawn.

The winner of the Stokke MyCarrier Cool giveaway is #70, Lynda Del Castillo.

The winner of the MamaLOVE giveaway is #24, Fae.

The winner of the SeaBuck Wonders giveaway is #24, Melissa Storms.

The winner of the Chuggington DVD giveaway is #1, Colleen M.

The winner of the Dragons: Defenders of Berk DVD giveaway is #16, Joseph W.

Congrats to the winners and thanks to all who entered. As a reminder, please include your email address in your blog comment. Be sure to check out my current giveaways, all listed at the top left hand side of my blog. There's no limit to how many you can enter or how many you can win.

Lands' End & Glamour's Ultimate Swimsuit Experience

I received no product or compensation for this post. This post is in partnership with PR firm. Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services. Your opinions and results may differ.

Swimsuit season is right around the corner! While finding the most flattering and perfect fitting swimsuit should be effortless, most women find this challenge to be nearly impossible. That’s why Lands’ End and Glamour have paired up to offer the ultimate swimsuit experience through a series of events taking place throughout the US and in Canada.

From May 17 to June 7, the Lands’ End Getaway Tour will make stops in Atlanta, New York, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, and Madison, WI. The tour will offer one-on-one professional swimsuit fittings with a Lands’ End Swim Fit Expert and expert advice from Glamour Glambassador Kendall Farr, a fashion stylist and top-selling author!

For those unable to attend the event, Lands’ End has created on online destination at www.landsend.com/getawaytour. The site brings the event experience to life through videos on how to create a professional swimsuit fit experience and swim style tips from Glamour.

There is also an opportunity to enter the Lands’ End Getaway Tour Sweepstakes which provides one winner with one-week trip for four to a luxurious Wyndham Vacation Retails beach house! To enter, simply apply at: http://www.landsend.com/getawaytour/. For more chances to win great prizes, share a photo of your favorite Lands’ End swim styles on Instagram or Twitter and use hashtag, #GetawayTour for your chance to win a $100 Lands’ End gift card, a summer reading library from Random House, and other great prizes.

Purex Crystals Dryer Sheets - Review and Giveaway

I received product for review from Purex. The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services. Your opinions and results may differ.

Purex Crystals Dryer Sheets don't just reduce static cling and leave your family's laundry soft and smelling fresh, they can also keep your whole house smelling fresh. Available in two scents, Fresh Spring Water and Lavender Blossom, there are 120 dryer sheets per box.

Personally, I like my clothes to have an evident fragrance after I've washed and dried them. I received a box of Purex Crystals Dryer Sheets in Lavender Blossom fragrance and the scent is definitely noticeable. The lavender smell is pleasant and long-lasting. The scent is strong, which I like, but it may be overpowering to those sensitive to powerful smells. I've even placed a couple of the dryer sheets under the seats of my vehicle and they act as a pleasant freshener. I don't have to smell trash, body odor, or fast food in my vehicle and can instead get a whiff of sweet lavender. It is recommended that the dryer sheets be used only once. Rather than immediately throw them away after use in the dryer, I take the used ones and wipe up the dog hair off my kitchen floor. They're also great for wiping down my vaccuum filter and ridding it of dirt. The Purex Crystals Dryer Sheets have me convinced on their ability to reduce static cling and provide a likable, long-lasting scent.

Win It!

One person will win two free product coupons for Purex Crystals Dryer Sheets.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

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