Thursday, September 29, 2011

Disney's The Lion King - 3D

Today, SweeTart's preschool took a field trip because so many of the "siblings" of the preschoolers had the holiday off from school.  They invited us all to a local screening of Disney's The Lion King - in 3D.

This movie was originally released in 1994 and was critically acclaimed (way back) then. Many famous men and women lend their voices to the characters in this movie:  James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Whoopi Goldberg to name a few.  And the soundtrack for this movie?  Unbelievable!!!!  Elton John!!! DinoBoy slept with this soundtrack playing a continuous loop all night long for YEARS.   Even now when he hears the "Circle of Life," he says "isn't this from that CD?"

Child sized 3D glasses are what were handed to my by one of my wonderful daughters - and they worked!  The movie was phenomenal!  I cannot say enough good things about it.  We've owned the movie since ... 1995?  We upgraded from VHS to DVD when the older kidlets were younger.  The VHS tape got a little worn out but the DVD is still playing well.  I have to admit that I do have the new 3D version on order (it includes a digital copy that I can put on the iPad / iTouch, etc. for mobile viewing as well and will release on 10/4/11.)  It was hard not getting up and sing with Simba when he was belting out "I just can't wait to be King" but I did manage to keep it under control.

It was definitely worth seeing on the big screen.  A shout out to the wonderful ladies at A Child's Place for taking the time to set this trip up for us and inviting the entire extended families.  We had a great time and can't wait for our next field trip!


Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Changes are Coming!

In the process right now of changing the blog up a little bit - for the good!! Working with Wacky Jacqui's Designs to create a whole new look and feel for Family, Scrapbooks and Coffee! 

Monday, September 26, 2011

Book Review (and Giveaway): A Lancaster County Christmas (Suzanne Woods Fisher)

While most of us are just greeting autumn, I'm pleased to present my review of "A Lancaster County Christmas" by Suzanne Woods Fisher (currently available in hardcover, Kindle, Nook, and Sony Ebook editions.)

Again, Suzanne Woods Fisher sucks you into the life of an Amish family, in this instance, a family we have met before in The Choice, Mattie and Sol Riehl.   I loved returning to have a peek into the family they've become.  Therein, lies the heart of the story.  Their family.

Mattie and Sol had an unexpected visit from an "English" family on Christmas Eve in the middle of a terrible storm.  A series of events leaves a husband and wife seeking shelter from a vicious winter storm with the Riehls, through the Christmas holiday.  Both women, Mattie and Jamie, are hurting souls.  They women lean on and learn from one another during their forced cohabitation.  (Although, like most lessons, we don't realize they are lessons at first.)

In the end, we realize that everything happens for a reason.  Don't question or doubt, for He is always with us. A strong message and a wonderful story.  I loved each and every moment of this book! 

(and a recap of my last blog - there is still time to enter, but hurry today is the last day!!)


To celebrate the release of her first Christmas book, Suzanne Woods Fisher has teamed up with her publisher, Revell, to bring you the "Christmas in September" iPad Giveaway! The winner will be announced on 9/27 at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party! Details below. Tell your friends and join in the fun (9/7-9/27).

Oh and be sure to follow the blog tour here - many of the bloggers have copies of the book to giveaway! 



Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):

  • A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
  • $25 gift certificate to iTunes
  • A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas

To enter, click one of the icons below. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.

But, wait! There's more! The winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne's author page. During the party she'll be revealing something *BIG* - you won't want to miss it. She'll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! Hope to see you there.


Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

Note:  I received a complimentary copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review which I am pleased to present for you here.  Thank you for a wonderful opportunity.  

Saturday, September 17, 2011

It's Christmas in September!


To celebrate the release of her first Christmas book, Suzanne Woods Fisher has teamed up with her publisher, Revell, to bring you the "Christmas in September" iPad Giveaway! The winner will be announced on 9/27 at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party! Details below. Tell your friends and join in the fun (9/7-9/27).

Oh and be sure to follow the blog tour here - many of the bloggers have copies of the book to giveaway!  Since I am not scheduled for my stop on the blog tour until the 27th, I thought it would be fun to share this giveaway with you now so that you have plenty of opportunity to enter to win your very own iPad. 



Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):

  • A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
  • $25 gift certificate to iTunes
  • A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas

To enter, click one of the icons below. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.

But, wait! There's more! The winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne's author page. During the party she'll be revealing something *BIG* - you won't want to miss it. She'll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! Hope to see you there.


Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

Friday, September 16, 2011

When is it enough?

How much can one give before it is enough?  That is the question of the hour in my head.  How much can you put your neck on the line for someone else before it starts tripping you up?  How does helping someone out once (and for a stated amount of time) turn into an obligation and a responsibility? One that makes you feel guilty because at some point enough IS enough!?!  Can they not see that far in front of their nose that they are not the center of the world?  That they are owed NOTHING and that I need to give NOTHING?   I have my own situations that need to be handled, without the cry of unfairness, bitterness and pulling on the heartstrings.  If they'd have opened their eyes and paid attention to anyone but themselves in the past couple of years they'd have realized it.  They have relied on the support from over here for too long.  I am at the breaking point.

Have you seen my Zen?  I have found it misplaced in the past -- the past 2 weeks especially -- finding it is especially trying.  We're busy as can be as a family unit.  Baseball and gymnastics in the evening. Homework after school and in the evening.  Meals.  Private time (seriously?)   I've become an anxious worry wort.  I am struggling to find peace.  Zen.  Whatever you want to call it:  I need it.  Desperately.

While searching for it, I found this blog post from 2007 on the Daily Devotional Blog (which I hadn't seen before my search.)  I love it. I am not sure that I can wrap my head around the entire concept right now but I get it.  Kind of.  I need to get it. I need to be able to cast my fears/worries/anxieties on God because I am not strong enough to do this by myself, even with the strength of my family.  Recently, my hair began falling out again - terribly.  Which I think is a physical manifestation of the anxiety I'm carrying around.  Someone is telling me that I have got to slow down, lessen the load and breathe.

But I still need to know:  when is it okay to say enough?


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Scrap Getaway Weekend?

Are you totally behind in your scrapbooking because you have more kids activities and your a photo-holic like me?  If you're local (NJ/DE/PA/NY) or feel like coming to NJ for a crop at the beach in the winter, check out Scrappers Anonymous Getaway

A winter weekend at Flanders Hotel in Ocean City, NJ.  The weekend begins at noon on Friday til around 4 on Sunday in January filled with fun, scrapping, food (holy moly is there good food, and so much of it,) friends and fun.  Oh wait, I already said fun.  Pack up your current scrapbook project or pick a new project for the weekend.  Feel free to stay up late or sleep in as long as you want.   Scrap as little or as much as you want!  You can even shop while you're there!!  Vendors - scrapbook vendors and others are there - it is truly a great weekend. 

Feel free to ask me any questions or fill out the contact form on their website.  A fabulous group of ladies put this together each year, and each year it seems to get a little bigger and better than the year previous. 

I have to say that I am fond of staying in my pajamas for the entire weekend and drinking from a sippy cup instead of filling sippy cups and telling children to get out of their pajamas because we have so many places to go, people to see ... you get that, right?




That is the sneak peek of what I'll be working on.  Surprised?  I didn't think so! 

Monday, September 12, 2011

TracFone for your family and mine

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Again, I have to tell you, I am an iPhone kind of gal.  Hubs has his cell phone plan through the business so I just stuck with my own company, one that I have had forever and haven't really thought of giving up - until now. 

Have I told you that my 4th grader was stuck on the school bus for 1.5 hours coming home after the first day of school?  If I broke down and got her a phone, I wouldn't have been half as worried as I was.  With the low cost of the Tracfone plans, I think I would be able to get all three of us (2 kids and me) a phone for what I am paying now for my phone.  Maybe less. 

A few of the things that I worry about are contracts - and having to break them  if a newer, better plan comes along.  With Tracfone, I don't have to worry about that.  There are no contracts.  No credit checks.  No activation fees.  No cancellation fees.  Seems simple enough.   I can get a monthly plan or pay as I go with Tracfone cards that I can purchase at the store. 

And, not just junky phones either.  Tracfone offers phones from all of the "better" cell phone companies including LG, Samsung, Nokia and many others.  The phones aren't that expensive!  They begin at less than $10 and can include things like a QWERTY keyboard, web access, texting and app capabilities, phone/video capabilities and the list goes on and on.  Not a "cheap" featureless phone by any means.  So many features

Leaving the country anytime soon?  Have your kids call you from their Tracfone.  International calling to select countries is included in your minute allocation.  Seriously.  There is also an International Neighbors program where you can provide friends and family in Mexico and Canada with a local number in those countries to reach your Tracfone in the US.  (Good for our international workers!) 

To sum it up - I am thinking of switching.  Really.  With both kids asking for phones for Christmas, it just seems like the sensible thing to do.  We all know me.  Sensible.  Ok, maybe not but these people are:  Real TracFone customers

Visit Sponsor's Site

Hill's Healthy Mobility Challenge!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hills Pet Nutrition for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

You all know that I am a dog lover.  Owner of multiple dogs.  Always scanning Petfinder.com for another Boxer (or Great Dane) puppy.  The one thing that is holding me back?  Jack.  He's currently our oldest Boxer boy who is now 5.  He also has the knees of a veteran NFL player.  They're terrible.  Our alternative?  Surgery.  On both knees.  At the same time.  Who wants to do that?  It won't be a fun recovery process for any of us.  Crated for months.  Not just one or two but six to nine, maybe more.  Might as well call him a veal calf. 

Step into the picture:  Hills Healthy Mobility Challenge.  If you register, you not only get $30 in coupons right off the bat (just for registering!) ( Hill's Healthy Mobility Coupon ) you have the chance to win free pet food for a year.  (Thirty lucky winners!)   Simply register, feed your pup Hill's Healthy Mobility food for 30 days and then report back any progress you've seen!  It is that easy. 

There are three different types of Hill's Healthy Mobility food specialized just for your pet:  Original, Large Breed and Small Bites.  Use whatever fits your canine friend best.   Hill's Mobility food is full of great things such as:

  • High levels of omega-3 fatty acids for enhanced active mobility and improved joint flexibility in just 30 days
  • EPA, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for essential bone and joint cartilage support
  • High-quality lean proteins for lean muscle and ideal body weight
  • Clinically proven antioxidant blend for healthy immune function

Take the time today to visit  Hill's Pet Nutrition  and learn all about the various products they offer.  They even have a special place that will help you detect if your pup has mobility issues.  And the happy ending stories?  Fabulous.  I cannot wait to be one of them. 

If you have a few extra minutes and find yourself on Facebook, stop by Hill's Pet Nutrition on Facebook and give them a like.  I know I did.  It's the easiest place that I visit daily to find out what is new over at Hill's. 

I will be reporting back shortly on Jack's progress.  Hope you will let me know how you make out too! 

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PS - Jack is white, Guinness is brindle.  That's our SweeTart playing in the center!

Visit Sponsor's Site

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Outer Banks - What a Week!

Every year, we do an annual trek from New Jersey (where the beaches are beautiful but crowded beyond belief) to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Hatteras Island in particular.  This has been our summer vacation for the past 8 years.  Generally, we have gone with other families, sharing a large, beautiful beach house (they're called "cottages" but I don't know how - most are beautiful, three or four stories {some with elevators!} and certainly not what I would consider a cottage.)  This year, however, we were on our own ... but we made the best of it!


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A week before our scheduled departure of 7/9/11, we finally booked our cottage.  Not for lack of trying, though.  We had been giving offers of $1,500 for the week for homes that were priced way above that.  Once you add the hotel tax, the NC tax and whatever extras the realtors were throwing on, you were at 15%+ above your weekly rental anyhow.  I wanted to stay on a "budget" if you can call it that at all.  Most realtors didn't even bother calling the owners with our offers.  Outer Beaches Realty, however, was different.  Not only did they call the owner directly with our offer, they called me back immediately and accepted our credit card over the phone as payment before the owner could "change their mind."  We scored beautiful Pamlico Peace as our home for the week. 

Our 8 hour drive down was uneventful after a horrendous storm in NJ the previous evening.  We did hit residual rain while entering Hatteras Island but score again for Outer Beaches Realty ~ our home was ready when we presented ourselves at their offices at 1:30 p.m., far in advance of the 6:00 p.m. check in time.  When we got to the home, we couldn't believe our eyes.  We were right on the sound!  We knew we would be but had no idea how spectacular it really was.  The home was 3 stories:  a locked first story with storage only; the second floor had 3 bedrooms, a den, a laundry room, 2 full bathrooms and a hot tub on the deck; the third floor had a living area, dining room, powder room, kitchen and master bedroom with full bath - and a beautiful deck for viewing the sunsets each evening.  Wowza!

We enjoy going to Hatteras Island rather than other parts of the Outer Banks because it isn't yet too commercialized.  There are 7 villages on the entire island:  Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and, of course, Hatteras.  We stayed in Frisco where we enjoyed beach access by the Billy Mitchell airport (yes, if you fly propeller airplanes!), driving our 4x4 right onto the beach and setting up camp each day.  (Each day but Saturday and Thursday but who's counting?) Hatteras Island is home to one major supermarket chain, located in Avon but has a few other family owned supermarkets throughout the island.  There are two mini golf courses (on opposite ends of the island), the one in Frisco also has GoKarts.  We treated the family to golf but saved the GoKarts til next year when everyone will be tall enough to drive their own.  We found many ice cream shoppes!  Surf shops, trinket shops, bait shops ~ you name it, they're up and down the island.  Fast food?  Nope!  Locally owned restaurants (ok, one chain that I saw) are the norm, rather than the exception.  Barbeque but mostly seafood are the specialties that are most often boasted on the road front signs.

The days we didn't head to the beach for the day?   Saturday was our arrival day.  The kids played in the sound while we visited with Tim's brother and sister in law who were leaving for NJ the next day.  Thursday?  We had a late start after a storm blew through while we were sleeping.  It was a little to windy for the beach so we visited the Graveyard of the Atlantic museum which is so cool and we highly recommend it!  We also took the time to explore the drive on beach in Hatteras, just at the tip of the island.  Way cool.  Made us realize that we can stay in Hatteras and be able to drive on beaches in either Hatteras or Frisco, where ever we feel like being that day with no problems.

During our Thursday drive on the Hatteras beach, our son asked if we could take the ferry over to Ocracoke Island.  Much to our surprise, my husband said yes!  The kids were so excited.  The wait wasn't long (as long as it could have been - my brother in law waited hours the week before) and we were able to be quickly seated at the infamous Howard's Seafood Restaurant (the kids' favorite because their meals are served on frisbees.)  After lunch, a quick stop to Teach's Hole (a souvenir store focusing on mainly pirate type stuff) a drive by the lighthouse, we waited in line to get the ferry back to Hatteras Island.  In years past, we've gone to the 4x4 beach on Ocracoke for an afternoon, after lunch at Howard's.  This year, it was windy and we weren't prepared for it at all.  Ocracoke is an artsy type island with many marinas, restaurants and crafty stores.

We even had professional photographs taken, right at our house by Daniel Pullen.  We have used his services for the past few years and love his style and creativity with our family.  He even came out knowing that Tim and I had pink eye and looked terrible.  Said that he could "photoshop" that.  NICE!   

On Saturday, we woke up bright and early to begin our long drive home.  It was sad to leave such a fun vacation but nice knowing that we'll be back next year!  If you haven't been to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I highly recommend it! 

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I do have to say that we were more than lucky to have a wonderful vacation the 2nd week of July.  Unfortunately, Hurricane Irene two weeks ago slammed Hatteras Island and breached their main road, Route 12 in quite a few places.  The sea claimed more than one beautiful home and others have been comdemned.  Locals are banding together to help each other with clean up and basic necessities.  The kids have finally started back to school and they're going 6 days a week to make up for the lost time. The photos that I have seen via Outer Beaches Realty are amazing.  I also wanted to direct everyone to Help 4 Hatteras, a group that has been created to donate money to the places and people on Hatteras Island who need it most.  Please keep the people of Hatteras Island in your thoughts and prayers as they still struggle to get themselves, their businesses and their lives back to good. 

Friday, September 9, 2011

Recipe Exchange: Shrimp Monterey

I recently started a private group on Facebook called "recipe exchange".  It is simply that - we're exchanging recipes in hopes of expanding our menus and maybe making planning a little easier during the busy fall months ahead. 

Below, I'm sharing a recipe from my SIL Denise and have added it to my lame Recipe page.  I am hoping to get that updated more often. If you would like to participate in the exchange, please let me know and I'll add you into the group! 

Again, thanks D ~ I cannot wait to try this recipe out - it looks like it is going to rock!! 



Denise 10:55am Sep 6
Shrimp Monterey

2 cloves garlic minced

2 tbs butter
2 lbs (Med.) shrimp ( i like 3) uncooked, peeled
1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
2 tbs minced parsley

Saute garlic in butter for 1 min

Add shrimp cook 8 min or until pink
place in baking dish (keep warm)
Add wine or broth to skillet, bring to boil cook for 5 min until reduced.
Pour over shrimp, top with cheese Bake @ 350F for 10 min

I serve with rice and a side salad.