75 Days of Motivation Day 11

Never let success get to your head, and never let failure get to your heart.



Wishing you a great day today!

Another Winner

Last night the Hallmark Back to School Confidence Care Pack giveaway ended and we have a winner!

#199, Ronalee Duncan

Congrats! Be sure to check the giveaway tab above! There are lots of great prizes up for grabs!



Wordless Wednesday



2 New DVD's from Organa Kids Giveaway Ends 9/11

Available 8/30/11

From Organa Kids

Recommended for children ages 2-5

$14.95 Each

Description:

 Children’s animated stories are brought to life in the launch of two new, delightful animated DVDs series – Castle Farm and Happy Valley, which reach out to preschool children to engage their imaginations, amuse and entertain and at the same time teach lessons to last a lifetime by relating to them on their own level. The first volumes of each title settle onto DVD August 30, 2011 from Organa Kids, a company dedicated to bringing the very best in children’s animation and television from around the world to U.S. audiences on DVD and digital download.

Like a child’s drawing brought to life, Castle Farm is a gentle series from England full of color and colorful characters. Join Farm Girl, Piggy, Leonard, Farmer and all the barnyard animals as they solve mysteries, fix things, get chores done, play games and learn lessons about friendship, responsibility and having fun. Each vignette is filled with its own tiny adventure that will engage youngsters again and again.

Castle Farm Volume 1 includes the episodes “Snails,” “The Carrot Thief,” “Ball Games,” “A Windy Day,” “Amber,” “The Prickly Flower,” “Bubbles,” “Trophy” and “Waiting for Winnie.” Volume 2 includes “Muddy Farm,” “Little Bo Lost,” “Stinging Nettles,” “The Twirly Spinner,” “Talking Trouble,” “Woodlice,” “Pumpkin on the Loose,” “Blackberries” and “Eight Legs.”

Happy Valley, a charming series also from England, is set in a beautiful countryside by the sea. Using traditional and contemporary nursery rhymes and songs, each episode tells a story about the children who live in the valley as they learn about the world around them. Whether taking a school trip, visiting grandparents, or a simple walk in nature, the tales are endearing and captivating and appeal to even the youngest of viewers.

Happy Valley Volume 1 contains the episodes “Rain is Tumbling,” “There You Are, Blackbird,” “Tree on the Hill,” “Where Are You Hiding?,” “Autumn Leaves,” Gee Up Little Horsie,” Wakey, Wakey!,” “Far, Far Away” and Little Donkey.” Volume 2 contains the episodes “Cosy Little House,” “Have You Ever Been Sailing?,” “Robin Redbreast,” “Going to See the Doctor,” “Scarecrow,” “Cars,” “Shopping,” “Valley Farm” and “Sun Cream.”

About Organa Kids:

Organa Kids was established in 1995 with the mission of introducing American families to stories, characters and cultures from around the world through multicultural stories with universal themes. Inspiring kids to have an awareness of the world as a whole (while being delightfully entertained), Organa Kids is creating products that balance technology and real-world experiences. The company most recently released “Scavenger Traveler” app for the iPhone whereby kids of any age can explore their environment traveling or on vacation. Other DVD releases include “Stories From East of the Moon,” based on witty stories by Monty Python's Terry Jones; “Move With Me” series of Yoga DVDs for kids; and “The Adventures of Mouse & Mole.” On CD-ROM is the fascinating “Croatian Tales” based upon the book “Croatian Tales of Long Ago” animated by an international team of animators, illustrators, musicians, programmers, and actors.

And what do we Think?

We love these 2 DVD's!!  I think it's awesome when there are movies/shows created to teach our children about other cultures and these definitely hit the nail on the head!  My kids love learning about life in other countries and they have watched these 2 DVD's several times now.  They run for about an hour each so they are great to take for longer rides in the car too!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader is going to win a copy of both DVD's  from Organa Kids!!

Please note, if you have won these specific titles on another blog, another winner will be chosen.  Thanks in advance for your honesty!

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment here with your name and email address!

Extra Entries:

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

Subscribe to email updates from us (1 entry)

Thanks for entering and GOOD LUCK!
Giveaway will end on 9/11 at 12:00 a.m.
Winner will be chosen at random via random.org

*This is not a paid post. All opinions are my own. Review and Giveaway copies were provided by the company and/or representing PR firm*

A Little Help From My Friends?

We aren't from Cincinnati but my in-law's are so we go there frequently to visit! I found a photography site on Facebook that is going to give away a free photo session to the person who refers the most fans from now until they hit 250.......and they are just over 20 away!  If you get a free second, if you would Like the Page Here and tell them Sarah Lewis sent you, I would be forever grateful! We are long overdue for some family pics and this would be a great opportunity to get some new pics of the kiddos done!

You all rock!



Still Sick.....Ugh

I am still feeling pretty rotten today so I haven't really done much. I have spent most of the past few days just relaxing and taking it easy, trying to get better. It's been awhile since I have had something this nasty. My throat is just absolutely killing me and nothing seems to be making it any better. But I have been on the antibiotic now for a few days so I am praying tomorrow is a better day!!!

You know, it's funny. I was thinking about it last night as I was taking my kids to soccer.......being a Mom is rough. When we get sick, the world doesn't stop turning. Nothing changes. Everything stays the same. The kids still need fed. The house still needs cleaned. Kids still have soccer games. Baby still needs changed and fed and played with.  The laundry keeps piling up. And we never get to stop!  This is my husband's long week at work so I have very little help from him.  I still have to get up at 6 a.m. all week to make sure he gets off to work with everything he needs and I still have to get the kids ready for school, make sure they have their homework done and everything in their backpacks. Make sure they get a good breakfast and make it on the bus when it comes at 7:30 a.m. Then I spend the rest of the day taking care of the house, the laundry and the baby. Then the kids get off the bus and I have to make sure they get fed and all 3 of them get to their soccer practices/games 3 days/week.  After that, hubby gets home and needs fed and the kids usually want to have a snack before we start showers and our bedtime routine. 

It's no wonder Mom's take so long to get better!!!  When my husband or my kids get sick. I take care of them! But when I get sick, nobody takes care of me. *lol* I am on my own to keep things together, regardless of how bad I feel. It would be great to just climb into the bed and stay there for an entire day having someone wait on me hand and foot!!! 

Is it like that at your house too?

Angelina Ballerina The Shining Star Trophy Movie!! Giveaway Ends 9/11

Angelina Ballerina: The Shining Star Trophy

Available August 30th, 2011

From Lionsgate and Hit Entertainment

Description:

See who wins the Shining Star Trophy when Angelina Ballerina™ and her friends perform in the big talent show in the all-new Angelina Ballerina: The Shining Star Trophy – The Movie, dancing onto DVD, Digital Download and On Demand August 30, 2011. The curtain rises on Angelina’s first-ever full length movie featuring stunning CG animation and a tale sure to delight little ballerinas everywhere! Ms. Mimi announces that there’s going to be a big talent show at Camembert Academy – and the winner will walk away with the Shining Star Trophy. With celebrity guest judge Perry Parmesan deciding the winner, every minute of practice counts. But when Angelina goes out of her way to help her friends find their special talents, she has little time to work on her own routine. Who will take center stage and win the Shining Star Trophy? Watch as Angelina follows her heart to become a true shining star!

What we Think:

I am sooo excited that HIT and Lionsgate finally decided to make a movie for Angelina Ballerina! We have received great movies recently from our other favorite stars like Bob the Builder and Thomas the Train and we could not be more thrilled that they have finally made a REAL movie featuring Angelina. My daughter has always been a fan of Angelina Ballerina and still enjoys watching the shows now even as she is getting a little older. This one runs for 55 minutes so even the youngest Angelina fans can sit and enjoy the movie!  This movie has a great story line with practical life lessons to be learned and that is why I love this movie the most!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader will win their own copy of Angelina Ballerina: The Shining Star Trophy!

Weekly Winners

I meant to get this out yesterday but I am still sick so things are taking me a little longer to get done. But here is the latest group of winners! Be sure to keep up with the 2011 Giveaway Tab above so you can make sure you haven't missed any of the giveaways!

Totino's Prize Pack, #65, KatKlaw77

31 By Misty, #50, Shelly Peterson

Lunchboxes.com #20, Alissa

Zutano, #76, Chelsei Ryan

Jigsort #74, MFrame

Beso #19, Shelly Peterson

Tiny Soles #95, Brittany

Nomad #133, K Black

FiberOne 80 #3, Lisa

Thank you all for entering and congrats!  I will be sending you emails sometime today if you haven't received one yet!



Boon Animal Bag Giveaway Ends 9/11

I am a HUGE fan of companies who offer innovative and fun products for modern families and Boon is a company who continues raising the bar!!  I cannot tell you enough good things about the products from Boon and I can honestly say, I have NEVER been left disappointed! 

Do you have a problem with stuffed animals in your home? Our kids love stuffed animals but I am constantly finding them all over the house and it drives me crazy! We tried one of those nets that hang but the animals kept falling out and our little guy didn't like it that he couldn't get to them. Hello Boon Animal Bag, where have you been all of my life?

The Animal Bag from Boon is an AWESOME way to keep your kiddos furry friends organized and even cooler than that, the animal bag doubles as a seat!  I just can't get enough of this idea!  I love bean bag chairs but it seems like they always get a hole and then I have a mess but the Boon Animal Bag gives you the best of both worlds!!  Now my kids have a place to keep their stuffed animals and a cute place to sit and chill out while they read, play or watch tv! Genius! They come in 4 cute colors too so you can choose your child's favorite!  I have found that the Animal Bag works great for blankets too! Our baby has a ton of small blankets laying around the house and we just stuff those inside with the animals too!

Boon also has the Otto Animal Bag and the Trio Animal Bag for even more storage!

I think these animal bags from Boon just rock!  I wish they had been around with my other kids were younger because these would have definitely been "Must Haves!!!"

Visit the Boon Website today to enter for a chance to win $1,000 in products from Boon and Umi Shoes!!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader is going to win their own Animal Bag from Boon!

75 Days of Motivation. Day 10

Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.

Have a Happy Tuesday!



Straight Talk

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

With the rising cost of everything these days, we know a lot of people who are dropping their cell phone plans and looking for more cost-effective alternatives.  So many programs are making it possible for you to receive great cell phone service with all of the options of a contract at half the price.  One of those is Straight Talk. It provides everything you need without signing any contracts! Best of all, you get no surprises, no contracts and you don't have to get a credit check!   Plus they offer awesome reception and phones from only top, trusted manufacturers.

I hate being locked into our cell phone plan. We just locked in for another 2 years and I so wish we hadn't because we could be saving money if we opted for an option like this instead.  It's great knowing you can call a friend whenever you want and it's not costing an arm and a leg.

 

More Perks with Smart Talk's Plans:

*No Extra Charges for 411 Calls

*All You Need plan meets the needs of heavy cell phone users

*Unlimited Service for $45 includes Calling, texting and even the web....an entire year for $499!!!

*No early termination fees

*Smart Phones are Available

*Reconditioned phones available for $10....perfect for young users

*Flexible

*International calling

We have been seriously considering Smart Talk for our children. Right now we are doing "pay as we go" but we have to pay for all of the extras and this would be a great alternative to look into. I think it sounds very tempting! After all, mom knows best, right?! It would be nice to get everything you need without having to sign any more contracts!!

Worth checking out anyway!

Under the Weather

I am always bragging about how I never get sick but unfortunately, I am under the weather. It started with a sore throat on Thursday morning and quickly got worse. I ended up at Urgent Care last night with an excruciating sore throat and after some quick tests, Strep Throat was the verdict. Lucky me. Saturday night was the first night that hubby and I have been without ANY kids sinced Aiden was born 18 months ago and we spent the night at home watching a movie and then I went to bed! *lol*

I haven't slept much at all in the past couple nights because the pain in my throat is so bad and Hubby had to go back to work today so I am on my own with the little man. I will try and keep up with the giveaways and other posts and I have a big list of winners to post sometime today too. In the meantime, what is your best remedy for a sore throat?! I feel like I'm dying!



Arm and Hammer Plus OxiClean Power Gel Laundry Detergent Review

I have shared many times how much laundry we produce in any given week so laundry detergent is very important to me. We were recently sent the Arm and Hammer Plus Oxiclean Power Gel Laundry Dergent to try out and I was pleasantly surprised by the results!

With 3 children in sports and a toddler whose main objective is to see how messy he can get in one day, it’s important for me to have a laundry soap that does its job! I need something that is powerful that can take care of everything from food to grass stains. My husband also has a “dirty job” on some days and it’s important for me to be able to get his clothes clean as he is expected to come to work in fresh, clean attire. This isn’t always possible and I have struggled with laundry detergents that claim to work on tough stains only to find the stains still exist even after several washes. So we put the Arm & Hammer laundry detergent to the test!!!

The Claim:

This new laundry detergent comes in a unique gel form, providing more cleaning power in every drop to deliver exceptional performance. The thick gel formula doesn’t run away from even the toughest stains. It grabs them, then rinses away completely leaving behind clean and bright laundry. The formula helps to eliminate a variety of stains, including grass, blood, soil, clay, grease, oil and food

The Truth:

I cannot believe how well this laundry soap works!!! Right after we received it my son had a baseball tournament in which I thought he permanently ruined his baseball pants. They were covered in mud, tar and grass stains and I was ready to just throw them away. After just ONE wash with this laundry soap, the stains were gone!! I cannot ever remember a laundry soap working this well on such tough stains. I have used this laundry soap several times now and I have seen it power out everything from spaghetti to grease and I could not be happier!!! And not only does it work great, but it smells awesome too! I love that “fresh from the dryer” scent when I put on clean clothes and that is something I can definitely say the Arm & Hammer laundry soap gives you! You can see by the pictures below how well the laundry detergent worked to power out the grass stains from our sons baseball pants!!

Before:

After:

I would definitely buy the Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent again!! It passed this Mama’s test with flying colors!!!!

This is a sponsored post for Church & Dwight Co, Inc., the maker of ARM & HAMMER branded products, who is compensating me to try different products. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine. Save $1.00 on any 2 ARM & HAMMER Laundry Detergents. Then head over to The Switch & Save Challenge for the change to win $25,000.

75 Days of Motivation. Day 9.

Making one person smile can change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.

Have a great week!



Silly ME! Giveaways Ending TONIGHT!

I posted a list of 9 giveaways that I stated were going to end last night but SILLY ME! I forget that Rafflecopter ends giveaways at MIDNIGHT and I generally end giveways at 11:59 p.m. so 6 of the giveaways actually end TONIGHT at 11:59 p.m. and only 3 ended last night at midnight. Sooooooo, you still have time to enter 6 of them if you haven't yet. Sorry for the confusion. Took me a minute to catch it but it was already too late.

$50 Gift Card to a place of your Choice Ends 8/28

$30 to Tiny Soles Ends 8/28

Nomad Footwear Ends 8/28

Totinos Prize Pack Ends 8/28

Fiber One 80 Prize Pack Ends 8/28

Thirty One by Misty Ends 8/28

Thanks for your support!



Kick off the School Year with All New Scrabble Games Giveaway ends 9/7

School is back in session in many cities around America and the third annual National Family Game Night is right around the corner and Habro is celebrating with 2 awesome new Scrabble games!!  Our family LOVES playing games and Scrabble is at the top of our list so I was super excited to find out about these 2 new games!!  We received the new Scrabble Turbo Slam to review and we couldn't have been more excited!!

About Scrabble Turbo Slam

 Whether you’re big fans of the card game, or haven’t had the chance to check it out yet, you can get in on all the word-building fun with Hasbro’s all-new SCRABBLE TURBO SLAM. In this game, players ages 8 and up start with a four-letter word, such as “G-A-M-E” and race to get rid of their cards by putting down one at a time to build a new word. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins. But that’s not all! In Scrabble Turbo Slam, players must listen throughout the game for the Turbo Slam buzzer and be the first to slap the Turbo Slam button to collect a game-changing “Slam” card. Will the action on the card help you get rid of your cards faster, or hurt you by slamming you with more? It’s luck of the draw in this frantic spelling race!

We already love Scrabble Slam so this game was just over the top for us! Our kids even take Scrabble Slam with us on long car rides and we have played it so much that our cards are wearing out!  I love traditional Scrabble but if I don't have time for a long game, this is a great alternative!!

About Scrabble Alphabet Soup

SCRABBLE ALPHABET SCOOP is the first word game for players as young as five-years-old. Family members of all ages can grab their spoon, roll up their sleeves and dive into the frenzied spelling action in a race to scoop up a three, four or five-letter word. Each player gets a card and selects which word they are aiming to spell. On the count of three, everyone digs in to scoop out the letters needed to spell their word. But watch out for flies in your soup! If you scoop up a fly, you must return all your letter tiles to the bowl and start over again. The first player to spell the word on their card and shout “Yummy!” as they put the lid on the bowl wins!

 can't wait to pick this game up for my 6 year old for Christmas this year!!  He loves Scrabble too but he is younger so we can't always include him and this looks like an awesome alternative!  We always give our kids a few new games for the holidays and this one is definitely perfect for him!!!

Hasbro’s upcoming third annual National Family Game Night is on Wednesday, September 28th. Once again, families around the country are encouraged to turn off TVs, cell phones and other distractions, and gather together to celebrate a night of togetherness and family fun around games. Be sure to check out the Family Game Night Facebook page during the month of September for National Family Game Night tips, game recommendations, special offers and more!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader is going to win their own Scrabble Turbo Slam!!

End of Summer.......Boo!

I still can't believe it's the end of summer. We have had such an awesome summer with our friends and family and it makes me sad to see it come to an end. This month, all of our posts for the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program were surrounded around easy to make recipes for potlucks and barbecues and I hope you all enjoyed them and were able to try out at least a few of them!!!  We still have one big barbecue coming up for Labor Day and sadly, that will probably be our last big one for the year besides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals that we will share with our families. I wanted to share one last recipe with you for August and I thought the Colorful Stuffed Peppers recipe was perfect!

Colorful Stuffed Peppers:

Ingredients:

 

4 bell peppers, preferably mixture of yellow, green and red

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 package Jennie-O Turkey Store® Lean Ground Turkey

2 teaspoons dried basil leaves

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes or seasoned diced tomatoes, drained

1 1/2 cups cooked white or brown rice

6 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, finely diced

3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs, preferably whole wheat or rye

1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted

Paprika, if desired

Directions

1.Heat oven to 375ºF.

2.Cut bell peppers lengthwise through stems, keeping stem halves intact to hold stuffing. Discard seeds and veins. In large pot of boiling water, cook bell peppers 5 to 6 minutes or until crisply-tender; drain well. Place cut-side-up in 13x9-inch baking dish.

3.In large deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Crumble turkey into skillet; add basil, salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes longer. Add tomatoes and rice; cook 5 minutes more or until heated thoroughly. Remove from heat; stir in cheese.

4.Mound turkey mixture into bell pepper halves. In small bowl, stir together breadcrumbs and butter; sprinkle evenly over filled bell peppers. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake 30 minutes or until breadcrumbs are golden brown, filling is hot and bell peppers are tender.

Enjoy!

Stay tuned for more awesome content on behalf of Hormel Foods! In September we will be focusing on cooking with kids and I am going to try to include some awesome recipes that you can use for those hectic mornings when the kiddos are getting ready for school and those crazy evenings when you are trying to get kids from one activity to another while still trying to prepare supper!!!

This is not a paid post. All opinions are my own. This post was written for our participation in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program*

75 Days of Motivation. Day 8.

Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness.  Let it go.

Easier said than done, right?! :-)

9 Giveaways Ending Tonight!

Be sure you have entered these AWESOME giveaways that are ending tonight!!!

$50 Gift Card to a place of your Choice Ends 8/28

$30 to Tiny Soles Ends 8/28

$75 to Zutano Ends 8/28

Nomad Footwear Ends 8/28

Totinos Prize Pack Ends 8/28

Jigsort 500 Ends 8/28

Fiber One 80 Prize Pack Ends 8/28

Thirty One by Misty Ends 8/28

 

Lunchboxes.com $20 Gift Certificate Ends 8/28

Have a great weekend!

75 Days of Motivation. Day 7

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.

Hope your week rocked!



Designerliners Stylish Colorful Decorative Biodegradable Trash Bags Review and Giveaway Ends 9/7

I am always on the lookout for products that help liven up my home and I never imagined I could do that through the use of trashbags!  I mean, let's face it......trash just isn't pretty. But instead of having an unsightly trash can sitting out for the whole world to see, check out DesignerLiners!!! 

A Little More About DesignerLiners:

*Liners allow you to "Dress the Mess" in your home or office

*Biodegradable

*Several varieties to choose from

*12-pack sells around $9.95 or less because discounts are always available

*Purchase on the Website, Ebay, Amazon or Alice.com

We received our own pack of DesignerLiners in the Leopard print which I have to say.......this is PERFECT for Fall! I love the pretty design and colors and it definitely makes my trash line less of an eyesore!

 I definitely love the concept of DesignerLiners!!!  These would be perfect for parties or just to make the home or office look a little less messy. I can't wait to check out some of the other prints that are available from DesignerLiners!!!

Giveaway

One lucky reader will win their own pack of DesignerLiners!

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment here with your name and email address!

Extra Entries:

"Like" DesignerLiners on Facebook (1 entry)

Subscribe to email updates from us (1 entry)

Thanks for entering and GOOD LUCK!

Giveaway will end on 9/7 at 11:59 p.m.

Winner will be chosen at random via random.org

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Cinderella Story: Once upon a Song DVD Release

This is one of my daughter and I's favorite movies of the year and we are so excited that it is coming out SOON!  This is on my daughter's Christmas list this year and I cannot wait to snag it up for her!!



7 Steps to a Happy Marriage by Jenna McCarthy

On October 4th, 2011 the much anticipated book, If it Was Easy They'd Call the Whole Damn Thing a Honeymoon: Living with and Loving the TV-Addicted, Sex-Obsessed, Not-So-Handy Man You Married, will be released!  We were lucky enough to get a guest post from author Jenna McCarthy and I have to say......she definitely makes me laugh! So read on and be sure to check out the book in October!!

7 Steps to a Happy Marriage

by Jenna McCarthy

I have a remarkably happy marriage, and people ask me all the time how I got so lucky. (Not as often as they ask me about autism, vaccines and Jim Carrey, so let’s get something straight before we go any further: Not. Her.) I used to wonder if it had something to do with pheromones or having relatively low expectations, but after eleven years of wedded bliss I am pretty sure the key is some combination of kindness, respect and my ability to read a road map upside down divided by my husband’s skill at tuning out my nagging.

Okay, fine. We got lucky.

Busloads of studies have attempted to figure out why roughly every other marriage fails miserably. Turns out, the success stories share a few similarities beyond the obvious stuff like “they don’t have sex with other people”. Here, then, are seven scientifically proven* steps to marital ecstasy.

Be thinner and better looking than your husband. I have no idea why this works to create nuptial delight but I’m guessing it’s because if you’re fat and ugly you probably never want to have sex, which makes him grumpy and mean because sex was the one and only reason he got married in the first place. (Well, that and pie. Think about it: Most guys will never bake a pie in their lifetimes and from what I’ve seen, they really like pie.) Of course, I don’t know many women who are dying to have sex with fat, ugly men, so this one remains a bit of a mystery.

Make sure he does more chores than you do (well, duh) and try to talk less than he does. I have to admit, if you asked my husband the top three things I could do to make him happier, “shut the hell up for five lousy minutes” would probably be on the list. (But not at the tippy-top. Ahem.)

Don’t watch a lot of chick flicks. Seems that after sitting through Gnomio and Juliet (or any other rom-com) relationship dissatisfaction tends to skyrocket. Apparently this is because maybe it could happen to you but you realize that it hasn’t and it probably won’t and that fat bastard never sprinkled rose petals on your bed, dammit. At least you’re thinner and better looking than he is.

Don’t win a best-actress Oscar. I included this one because unlike getting hotter or having your jaw wired shut, it’s actually pretty painless and doable. Personally, I am going to make this a priority in my marriage.

Limit your booze consumption (both of you). No comment.

Become or urge your partner to become a farmer, nuclear engineer or optometrist. Evidently every career choice has its own unique divorce-risk profile, with these three being on the lowest end. Dancers and choreographers are pretty much screwed. You can’t make this stuff up.

Prefer having the car windows down. I haven’t technically seen a study on this, but do you not fight about this every single time you ride in a vehicle together? And doesn’t he get all pissed when you want them up and accuse you of being more concerned about your hair than his precious need for non-recirculated air? If anyone bothered to study this, I’m confident the results would back me up.

So there you have it. I do not suggest trying to master all seven steps at once. For instance, if you stop doing housework altogether (to try to tilt his portion of the ratio toward more), you’ll have a lot of extra time on your hands which you may want to spend drinking alcohol. Remember, there’s no rush here. Till death do us part is a really long time**.

*I may have bastardized the language a bit in some cases but the facts are mostly accurate.

*I stole that line from If It Was Easy They’d Call the Whole Damn Thing a Honeymoon: Living with and Loving the TV-Addicted, Sex-Obsessed, Not-So-Handy Man You Married, which I wrote (and please note that it says the blah-blah-blah man you married, not the one I married. My husband likes it when I point that out). You can find out more about me, my books and how I survived tanorexia on my website.

Back to School with DK Publishing's Eyewitness Series Giveaway ends 9/7

I love books and I have to brag a little....I am super impressed with my kids library.  I have always tried really hard to buy them high quality books that they will want to read again and again and I absolutely LOVE the Eyewitness Series from DK Publishing!!!

With over 120 titles focusing on fascinating topics just right for kids ages 8-12 -- including space exploration, inventions, vikings, weather and the American Revolution (just to name a few!), DK Publishing's legendary Eyewitness Series has grown to become the most trusted nonfiction series written for kids. The Eyewitness Series has sold over 20 million copies and has been a staple on library, classroom and home bookshelves for over 30 years. This summer DK is unveiling its newest generation of titles that boost the fun factor and enhance the learning experience for even for the most reluctant of readers. In keeping with focusing on subjects that complement student’s interests and their areas of study, Eyewitness’ newest generation of enhanced titles features new multi-media components like clip art CD's, an interactive Eyewitness website and full-color wall charts.

We received two of the latest and most popular titles: Eyewitness: Flight, a spectacular and informative guide to the fascinating world of aircraft and Eyewitness: Predator, a vivid introduction to the world of lions, tigers, wolves, eagles, sharks and other animals with teeth galore.  These are both awesome additions to our library and our boys have loved reading them and looking through the awesome pictures!!  If you don't have any of the Eyewitness Series books yet in your library, you should definitely check them out!!  These are not just educational but they are super fun and they are a great way to get your kids to learn without them even knowing it! 

GIVEAWAY

2 Lucky Winners are going to receive either the Flight or Predator book from DK Publishing!

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment here with your name and email address!

Extra Entries:

Leave a comment and tell me which of the 2 books you would most love to have!

Thanks for entering and GOOD LUCK!
Giveaway will end on 9/7 at 11:59 p.m.

Winner will be chosen at random via random.org

*This is not a paid post. All opinions here are my own. Review and Giveaway products were provided by the company and/or representing PR firm*