Halloween At EdenFantasys

Please note that while the following post doesn't contain anything controversial - well, I hope not, anyways - the site the post links to may be considered risque to some, and is not intended for those under the age of 18.

Pssst - we're just thirty days away from Halloween! 30! Do you have your costume yet? If you're learning towards something on the sexy side, EdenFantasys has you covered! They even carry plus sized costumes, which can be super hard to find sometimes. (It beats me why, when the average size is a 14 or 36C?)

A few tips to find the right costume:

One: be sure to check all your measurements before ordering. With Halloween just weeks away, you don't want to have to return a costume because it's the wrong size, and end up worrying if the replacement will arrive on time!

Two: Don't choose a costume you don't feel comfortable wearing, especially if you are planning on wearing it out in public! If you are self conscious about your hips, choose a costume that covers them flattering. Likewise when it comes to your chest: if you're uncomfortable showing cleavage, and your bust side is on the range of the higher end of the size, it might be worth choosing a bigger size just to get a little more coverage. If you're on the lower side, consider using a set of pasties just in case your shirt dips too much at the wrong time.

Three: Accessories, accessories, accessories! The right pair of knee high socks or costume tights can make all the difference - as can fun jewelry. If you're going as a French Maid, for instance, don't forget the duster! ;)

Four: Make it fun - shop with your spouse or significant other! Sites like EdenFantasys make it super easy to pick out a costume together at home, and build up serious anticipation for when the costume will be worn!

Storm's pick? Check out the Pirate Wench! It comes with the hat, and sword, so all you need is some tights and boots! (Plus, you can easily re-use the hat and sword to attend any pirate festival, and the dress too if you don't mind the length.)


Not your thing? They have lots of other sexy costumes to choose from!



Right now, if you like EdenFantasys over on Facebook, you can 25% on certain costumes! Plus, there is always free shipping on orders over $59, and a free gift with any order.

This is a sponsored post - I received a gift card in exchange for this post.

Wake Up and Get Schooled!

Is your pre-teen or teen struggling to get up for school in the mornings, just having no motivation to get going and get ready for school?


Well, here could be a TINY bit of motivation, although I suppose to newness might wear off after awhile. The Get Schooled Foundation has launched the Wake Up and Get Schooled campaign aimed at encouraging more students to get to school every day. A diverse group of celebrity entertainers and athletes are donating their time and talent to offer these youth a wake-up call.

The phone call is free - all you have to do is enter a landline or mobile number to be called, along with a date of birth, and the time you'd like to have the phone made on the Trouble Waking Up? page. Of course it's just a recording, but if it helps motivate kids to get their rear end in gear and catch the bus, I'm all for it! You can have the phone calls made daily through June 2012.

There's all sorts of information on the website, from ways to get your school involved, to some frightening statistics. (Students with more than 20 absences per year have less than a one in five chance of graduating. Yikes! Well, I guess I was one of those 1 in 5's myself - I made it AND did college too!)

Some Days I Wonder...

just about stupid things. Like....

...who's idea was it for spammers to have a random word processor for those subject lines? I mean chaste it buddha try bushy, and function of its’ are just two I received in the last few minutes. Really? You can't come up with something better? *shakes her head*

...why do I get so many offers for car insurance in the mail when I've never been a registered driver? *looks around*

...what is the purpose of some people? Do you ever stand there looking at someone going what on earth are they thinking? You know the kind of people I am talking about...

... why do my fortune cookies always come true? I don't eat the silly things. I need to stop opening them.

...why is it every time you are avoiding someone, they appear? Get lost already!

.... who deemed that Friday was the best day of the weekend? Why can't we go party on Tuesday and then have Wednesday off instead? lol ;)

.... why do people think everything you do has to be healthy and good for you? You are going to die anyways, who cares if it's from smoking or getting hit by a bus. You're dead either or, might as well enjoy it before you are six feet under or collecting dust on some relative's mantel.

... for that matter, why do most people freak out at the mention of the word death and change the subject? Why not pick out your coffin the same way you pick our your car? *confused*

What do you wonder about?

Printable Food Saver Rolls Coupon

Oooh, this is a good one for those of you who also do food storage or purchase in bulk - it's rare to find printable coupons for the Food Saver Rolls! This one will save you $2.00 off your next purchase of any Food Saver Heat-Seal Bags or Rolls. (Heads up, it's a Smart Source coupon, so be sure to have your printer ready to go!)


While you are here, don't forget to check out my other printable coupons to see if there are other coupons available to help you save on your grocery bill!

Please note: I take the time out of my busy schedule to share coupons that have landed in my email, I am not affiliated with the companies. Some coupons may be only available for a limited amount of time or for a limited amount of prints. If you come across a coupon that is now dead, please let me know, either by leaving a comment or sending me an email so I can fix the post. Thanks!

DVD Review: Nickelodeon Favorites: Merry Christmas!

My family and I recently received a copy of the latest DVD release from Nickelodeon Favorites, Merry Christmas!, to review.


Oh boy, Christmas this early? What happened to waiting until after Halloween to roll out the Christmas? lol Merry Christmas! contains six holiday themed episodes from the most popular Nick Jr Shows: from Dora The Explorer we get "A Present For Santa", where Dora and Boots go all the way to the North Pole to bring Santa a present. From Go, Diego, Go!, the episode "Diego Saves Christmas" share with us that Santa's sleigh is stuck atop a snowy mountain, and Diego, with some help from Linda the Llama, must climb the mountain to save Christmas. Wonder Pets! brings us "Save The Reindeer", where the Wonder Pets gang must rescue Santa's lost baby Reindeer. Blue's Clues drops in with the story of "Blue's First Holiday", where Blue played her first game of Blue's Clues with Little Steve and Baby Joe. Team Umizoomi checks in with "Santa's Little Fixers", where the Umi Alarm has been triggered by non other than Santa! Can they help fix a broken toy machine before it's too late? And finally, Ni Hao, Kai-lan finishes up with "The Snowiest Ride", where Kai-lan and Tolee go sledding. This one's not really holiday related, but it's still invokes the holidays with all that snow!

There is one special feature included on this disc: a music video from the Fresh Beat Band called "Snow Day".

...I'm starting to worry that we're going to get walloped with snow early this year now. LOL No, thank you! We no likey snow! I love this compilation DVDs from Nickelodeon because it gives us a variety of shows on one disc - it's almost like having cable, except without the lousy commercials! ;)

Nickelodeon Favorites: Merry Christmas! will be released on DVD this coming Tuesday, October 4th, 2011. Full screen format, it is not rated - although geared for the preschool 2-5 crowd, and has a total running time of 148 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $14.99, but Amazon has it available for $13.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this title is not currently listed on the Netflix, but check back if you're interested)

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

DVD Review: AAAHH!!! Real Monsters: Season One

My family and I recently received the latest animated DVD release from the Nickelodeon vault AAAHH!!! Real Monsters: Season One to review.


Aaahh!!! Real Monsters aired back in the mid to late 90's, and followed three adolescent monsters - Ickis, Oblina and Krumm - who attend an underground school for monsters located in the city dump. The three of them have a lot to learn, as throughout the series you'll see them trying to scare humans to no avail. lol The headmaster, known as The Gromble, assigns scare tactics as homework, and they are based on each monster's natural talent. Throughout the episodes, they frequently run into Simon the Monster Hunter, a human who is bound and determined to prove that monsters really do exist. It's another one of those quirky shows with a cult following - it's a silly show with sort of disgusting monsters with bad habits. I'd peg this one as best for the 8-10 crowd and up - use your judgement on what you deem appropriate for your family to watch.

AAAHH!!! Real Monsters: Season One contains all thirteen mostly double story episodes from season one: "The Switching Hour", "Monsters, Get Real"/"Snorched If You Do, Snorched If You Don't", "Curse of the Krumm"/"Krumm Goes Hollywood", "Monster Make-Over"/"Airplane, a Wing and a Scare", "Krumm's Pimple"/"Monster Hunter", "Monsters Don't Dance"/"Gone Shopping", "Old Monster"/"Mother May I?", "Don't Just Do It"/"Joined at the Hip", "Smile and Say Oblina"/"The Great Wave", "Cold Hard Toenails"/"Attack of the Blobs", "Chip Off the Old Beast"/"The War's Over", "Where Have All the Monsters Gone?", and "Simon Strikes Back"/"The Ickis Box".

Once again, there are no special features included. Sniff, sniff - methinks they are missing out on some great opportunities to make the big fans happy, but I guess we can keep our fingers that when the classic Nickelodeon shows are finally released on Blu-Ray, that the red carpet will be rolled out with some great extra content. (I know, we can only dream...)

AAAHH!!! Real Monsters: Season One will be released on DVD as a two disc set this coming Tuesday, October 4th, 2011. Not rated (see above), it's fullscreen format with a total running time of about 5 hours. The suggested retail price is $19.93, but Amazon has it available on pre-order for $16.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this actual title is not currently available, but you can add it to your DVD or instant streaming queue to be notified when it is, however you can currently stream the first three seasons instantly, so you can basically view it anyways.)

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: It's So Easy... And Other Lies By Duff McKagan

I recently received a copy of the new book It's So Easy... And Other Lies by Duff McKagan to review.


Duff used to be the bassist for Guns 'N Roses (back when they were cool lol), and then formed Velvet Revolver with Slash, also from Guns 'N Roses, for those unfamiliar with him. These days, Duff's mostly known for a new band: Loaded. He lives in the Seattle area again (he's originally from here), and we're always hearing on the radio about something Duff is doing locally - whether it's a charity event, or a concert with Loaded, he quickly became one of Seattle's darlings.

I actually didn't know that Duff was only living in Los Angeles for a few weeks - out of his car - when he answered a want ad for band that needed a bassist. Meeting Slash that way started his journey to becoming a major rock star. It wasn't without a lot of bumps and bruises along the way - serious drug and alcohol problems, two failed marriages, Guns 'N Roses basically falling apart. After a bout with pancreatitis, though, Duff hit the ground running - he developed an interest in reading all the books he could get his hands on, especially books about the civil war. And most importantly, he ended up becoming a financial rock star on top of a rock and roll star - the guy is an investing machine, having even bought Google stock in the early years.

The book includes some personal photos of Duff with his family, as well as on stage throughout the years. Reading It's So Easy, you remember that rock stars are human too - Duff has suffered from panic attacks most of his life - and rockstars do have brains even though they party hard and it looks like they don't have a care in the world! The guy says it like it is, it happened this way, and whatever - it's over and done with. I really enjoyed reading this one - it had plenty of interesting "gossip" and tidbits. (Did you know that Duff was one of the last people to see Kurt Cobain alive?) If you're a fan of 80's bands, or just love rock music in general, add It's So Easy to your to-read list - I think you'll enjoy it - and no, you don't have to be a GNR fan to enjoy it.

...now I totally need to pay attention to when Duff's going to be around town signing stuff so I can have him sign this book!

It's So Easy... And Other Lies by Duff McKagan is a hardcover autobiography book published by Touchstone, and will be available this Tuesday, October 4th, 2011. It is 367 pages long. The suggested cover price is $26.00, but Amazon has it available on pre-order for $16.12 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Thrifty Thursday - Cash Out Time!

This week for my Thrifty Thursday post, I've got a reminder for you. The holidays are less than three months away! If you are planning to use rewards points to pick up gift cards for purchasing gifts - or to use as a gift - remember that many can take as along as 10 to 12 weeks to arrive after you request it. Others, such as SwagBucks, will arrive in under two weeks.

Don't forget, if it's been awhile since you've cashed out, to take a peek at your account. Some survey companies, such as Tuluna, say your accumulated points will expire after one year. You don't want to loose things you've worked hard to get!

I just cashed out for a $66 check from Viewpoint Forum myself, as well as a $5 gift card from Swagbucks, and a $25 Walmart gift card from my credit card. (We'll use that one for gas on the way to ZomBCon!) I haven't been able to put the time into surveys like I used to, but every little bit is fun to get! :)

Review: OXY Clinical

As I am getting older, my skin is changing, and I can't exactly say it's for the better! I think I am paying for having relatively zit free teenage years - they are coming to get me NOW! I keep looking in the mirror going wait a second, I'M TOO OLD FOR THIS! LOL!

So I recently had the chance to take part in the OXY Skin Care Challenge, and I took them up on it. For two weeks, I tried out the OXY Clinical Acne Solutions pack, which contains the Clearing Treatment, Advanced Face Wash, and Hydrating Therapy 3 in 1 Formula.


According to the OXY website, the OXY Clinical Clearing Treatment is proven to eliminate 99% of acne bacteria in just 8 hours. The Clinical Advanced Face Wash means 25 times more medication remains on the skin to fight acne longer, and the Clinical Hydrating Therapy is a 3-in-1 formula that hydrates, exfoliates and controls oil.

I started my morning routine using the Advanced Face Wash. It has a flip top lid, and the product is easy to get out of it. It's super easy to apply, too Now you're supposed to use these products twice times a day, but I used the Advanced Face Wash both in the morning and evening, and then used the Hydrating Therapy in the evenings, and the Clearing Treatment in the morning. Both the Hydrating Therapy and the Clearing Treatment come in little tubes that are also easy to get the product out of. (There's nothing more that I hate than arguing with a container early in the morning!)

One of the things I was worried about is that my skin would end up dried out and worse off than when I began the OXY Skin Care Challenge - the Hydrating Therapy 3 in 1 Formula must be the magic part of the trio, because my skin was just fine! I felt like I woke up to less blemishes, too, by the end of the two weeks. Now granted, I'm not a teen with a serious constant breakout, just someone who has them popping up here and there. If you'd like to take (or your teen would!) the OXY Skin Care Challenge, you can purchase the OXY Clinical Acne Solutions Pack for $14.99 at your favorite drug or mass market store. It comes with all three products - and the great part is that the bottles are small enough that they can easily fit into backpacks or purses, so you can use them even on the go. They are inconspicuous enough that teens (and us adults!) don't have to be embarrassed that they are using a product meant for acne, too.

I received the OXY Clinical Acne Solutions Pack in order to try it out and share my results with it. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Sunrise Of Avalon By Anna Elliot

I recently received a copy of the new Sunrise of Avalon: A Novel of Trystan & Isolde by Anna Elliott to review.


Sunrise of Avalon is book three, and the final story, of the Twilight of Avalon series. It concludes the story of former High Queen Isode and the mercenary Trystan, who had already endured a trouble filled journey to keep their enemy, Lord Marche, from the throne of Britain. Now a new traitor lurks amongst the kings on Britain's High Council - and a new danger calls Trystan from Isolde's side. It couldn't come at a worst time - Isolde is carrying their child, and no one but Trystan knows. Once again, Trystan and Isolde must protect Britain's throne - but will their secret marriage vow survive the turmoil?

I love books written within a medieval or renaissance setting (well, of course!), so I was excited to get my hands on this book after reading the description. After about the first ten pages or so, I felt the need to pick up the first two books in this series (Twilight Of Avalon and Dark Moon of Avalon), after feeling a little lost. You probably could read Sunrise of Avalon as a stand alone book if you want, but be warned, you might have that feeling where you were missing out on backstory, too.

After I got caught up on this version of Isolde and Trystan's world, book three flew right by. I really enjoyed Sunrise of Avalon, and the author's words flow so much it's almost like you are looking in on everything as it's happening. If you're not into fantasy fiction, and most importantly - medieval worlds, this one may not be for you, but if you're like me, and your ears perk up at the words "Arthurian Tales" - you need to pick up the Twilight of Avalon series! (Insert Jedi mindtrick: You must reeeaaddd this series! lol)

Sunrise of Avalon also has a reading groupe guide at the end of the novel, with discussion topics, as well as an interview with the author. You can visit the author's website here.

Sunrise of Avalon: A Novel of Trystan & Isolde by Anna Elliott is a paperback fantasy fiction book published by Touchstone and available at your favorite bookstore. It is 448 pages long. The suggested cover price is $16.00, but Amazon has it available for $11.68 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

DVD Review: VeggieTales: Bob Lends A Helping Hand

My family and I recently received a copy of the new animated DVD VeggieTales: Bob Lends A Helping Hand to review.


When Little Joe's mom breaks her big left toe, Bob the Tomato decides to help. Larry and Joe decide to help too - "superhero" help, but it's not exactly what Bob had in mind. (Can you blame him? lol) Larry and Joe end up learning that you don't need to be a superhero to help others - helping others is what makes YOU a superhero! (Larry looks strange with the hands in the show, doesn't he? lol)

As usual, each Veggie Tales episode revolves around an important lesson to learn - and in this one, kids learn the right ways to help others, and how great it feels when you help. This another really important lesson for kids to learn! (and some adults, too.) I love VeggieTales as a parent because kids don't really realize at first that they are learning important values - they are too busy giggling at all the silly antics these characters do! (How can one not laugh at Larry? lol)

The DVD also contains two classic VeggieTales shows: "Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue" which is a funny little play on the Mark Twain stories of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, and "Lyle the Kindly Viking, which stars Junior the Asparagus as a Viking who makes a stand against other plundering, greedy Vikings.

There are also some bonus features included: a Singalong to "Bob Lends A Helping Hand", the "Bob Lends A Helping Hand" interactive book, "How to Draw Tom and Huck", and a little "Boiling River Family Activity".

VeggieTales: Bob Lends A Helping Hand is available now on DVD at your favorite Christian retailer and Big Idea. It won't be available at big box style stores and online at stores like Amazon until October 18th, 2011. The total running time is 70 minutes long. It's not rated, but geared towards the preschool and young school age set. The suggested retail price is $12.99.

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

DVD Review: VeggieTales: Larry Learns to Listen

My family and I recently received a copy of the new animated DVD VeggieTales: Larry Learns To Listen to review.


Larry the Cucumber's brand new game has just arrived - Space Squadron! He's so excited to start playing it, that he doesn't even read the directions. (Sounds like my DH, LOL!) Larry keeps trying to play, tuning out his friends while they try to help him. Parents, you can probably guess what happens next - Larry's game goes KAPOW! Yup, Larry should have listened. Now he's learning the hard way.

Each Veggie Tales episode revolves around an important lesson to learn - and in this one, kids are learning about how important it is to listen to what others have to say, so they don't miss out on important messages. They also learn to read the directions first, something I think we are all guilty of not doing sometimes! ;) Here is the trailer:



Direct Link for the feedreaders

The DVD also contains two classic VeggieTales shows: "Pistachio: The Little Boy Who Woodn't", which is a play on the Pinocchio story and "Josh And The Big Wall", which is a retelling of the Bible story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho.

There are also some bonus features included: "Listen" Singalong Song, the Larry Learns to Listen interactive book, "Song of the Cebu" Singalong Song, and a visit to a Marionette Theater. VeggieTales always the BEST singalongs that stay in your head for days, don't they?

VeggieTales: Larry Learns To Listen is available now on DVD at your favorite Christian retailer, big box style stores, and of course, online at Big Idea and other stores like Amazon. The total running time is 70 minutes long. It's not rated, but geared towards the preschool and young school age set. The suggested retail price is $12.99.

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Free Footloose Screening In Seattle!

I know not all of my readers are located here in the Seattle area, but for those of you that are, I have a fun freebie for you! This coming Friday night (9/30), you can see the new Footloose movie for FREE at the Regal Meridian over on 1500 7th Ave in downtown Seattle! All you have to do is print the following ticket (click the picture to get it big enough to read, lol), and show up for the show at 6PM! Just remember that it is first come, first served - so be a little early to get in!


No matter where you live, if you get a chance to see Footloose this weekend, let me know what you think of it! Did you prefer the original 80's version?

Dole: Preserving Paradise Contest Alert!

For the second year in a row, Dole is participating in the wonderful Rose Parade! This year's theme is "Preserving Paradise" - check out the concept art for their float:


Just imagine all those beautiful flowers! Most of us will get to see the float on our TVs or computers, but one lucky Dole fan will get to see it in person - up close and personal! One winning Dole Facebook fan will take in the parade from the best seat in the house — a spot on the Dole Rose Parade float! Making the experience all the more magical, three guests of the grand prize winner will be given seats in the grandstands on Colorado Boulevard as VIP guests of Dole!

It's easy to enter, but you have to be on Facebook. Simply like Dole's page on Facebook, enter your email address and fill out the sweepstakes entry form at www.Facebook.com/DOLE. Anyone over the age of 18 and a legal US resident may enter to win! The sweepstakes runs from October 3, 2011 to December 2, 2011.

Plus, Dole will award 100 randomly selected weekly prize winners a 2012 DOLE Rose Parade Limited Edition Commemorative Pin for each week for eight weeks. A total of 800 lucky Dole Facebook fans will take home a prize! For more information, and to read the rules, be sure to check out the link above.

CD Review: Lady Antebellum - Own The Night

I recently received a copy of the new CD from Lady Antebellum, Own The Night, to review.


(Isn't Hillary's dress on the CD cover just gorgeous? Swoon!) Own The Night is the third album release from the Grammy award winning country music trio Lady Antebellum that formed back in 2006. Both of their previous releases have been hits and gone platinum, so it's a pretty good guess that this one will too. "Just A Kiss" is the first song to be released off the album, and it's definitely one of those songs that is appealing to anyone who likes Top 40 music - it's hard to classify this one as "just" country music, because it just has that crossover vibe. It's one of my favorites off the album.

Here's the track listing from the album:

1. "We Owned The Night"
2. "Just A Kiss"
3. "Dancin' Away With My Heart"
4. "Friday Night"
5. "When You Were Mine"
6. "Cold As Stone"
7. "Singing Me Home"
8. "Wanted You More"
9. "As You Turn Away"
10. "Love I've Found In You"
11. "Somewhere Love Remains"
12. "Heart Of The World"

"Cold As Stone" is another one that I really enjoyed. The next single release is "We Owned The Night". A lot of the songs have a slower pace to them too, so it's a nice CD to relax to with your significant other during a night in. ;) By the way, if you'd like to listen to the album before purchasing it, you can head on over to Lady Antebellum's website and click on media - you can listen to the songs on there. While you're on their website, be sure to check out the contest to become Lady A's Biggest Fan!

Lady Antebellum Own The Night is available now at your favorite place to buy CDs, or via download on sites such as iTunes and Amazon, where the CD is just $9.99 as of this posting.

I received a copy of this CD in order to listen to it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Giveaway: Eggland's Best Part of Being the Best is Doing Good

We're almost October (gulp!), and as you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Eggland’s Best (EB) will be supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. From September 15th to November 15th, Eggland’s Best will be turning their distinctive red “EB” stamp into a pink “EB” alongside a Susan G. Komen for the Cure running ribbon logo. Eggland’s Best will also be pledging $50,000 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which will help expand the foundation’s mission to discover and deliver the cure for breast cancer across the globe.


Did you know that in the past year, with the help of companies including Eggland’s Best, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been able to invest an additional $75 million in research, as well as provide more than 600,000 women with free screenings and over 100,000 with treatment assistance?

What scares me though, is how many of us have had our lives touched by this disease. :( Eggland's Best sent on over some information I'd like to share with you:

Exercise may help reduce breast cancer risk. Research suggests four or more hours of exercise weekly may help reduce the risk of certain cancers, such as breast cancer – that’s just 35 minutes a day

When trimming calories, it’s important to make sure you don’t skimp on good nutrition. For only 70 calories, Eggland's Best eggs supply a perfect portion of complete protein, while providing two times more Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as 10 times more Vitamin E compared to ordinary eggs.

Preliminary evidence suggests that, as part of a healthy diet, vitamin D and choline can help to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Eggland’s Best eggs are an excellent source of these nutrients, containing double the vitamin D of ordinary eggs in addition to 25% of the daily requirement of choline.

We eat eggs on a fairly regular basis here -sometimes as part of breakfast (I make a mean taco omelet!), and often as part of my baked goods. One of our current favorite recipes, Homemade Pepperoni Bread, uses two eggs. I really do try to make sure we are eating properly in our family.

Win it! Thanks to Eggland's Best, one lucky reader will win a giveaway prize pack from Eggland's Best that includes an eco bag, plush egg, spatula and an EB coupon. To enter, I'd like to know what you think of companies like Eggland's Best partnering up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Does it make you switch brands? Buy more from that brand? Or change your opinion of a brand? And will you be on the hunt for these special eggs with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure running ribbon logo on them? I'll be checking at Fred Meyer this weekend to see if they have them in stock!

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR following my blog
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
Win an Eggland's Best prize pack! http://bit.ly/n6ffTn ends 10/8 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends October 8th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received VIP free product coupons in exchange for sharing my thoughts. One winner will received the prize package mentioned above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Spreading Smucker’s Traditions Recipe and Essay Contest

Do you have a special recipe that has been handed down through your family? Both of our family's have recipes that have been handed down - my mother is known for her cooking and she makes them often at home! I don't normally make them myself, simply because my DH always complains that they don't taste the same as my mom's! (I can't compete! lol) If you have a treasured recipe you'd be willing to share with the world, you might want to enter it in fourth annual Spreading Smucker’s Traditions Recipe and Essay Contest.


From September 14 to November 16, 2011, Smucker’s invites consumers to visit www.smuckers.com or www.smuckersenespanol.com and share their original recipes made with at least 1/4 cup Smucker’s jams, jellies, preserves, or fruit butters, plus an original essay of 200 words or less in English or Spanish about how the recipe is part of family traditions and how it makes family celebrations special. The contest takes place during Hispanic Heritage Month, a time when Latinos across the country celebrate their history and culture. In March 2012, five contest finalists will be selected and flown to New York City for a live recipe demonstration and judging, where one will win $20,000 towards a dream family reunion.

Last year's winner was a dish called savory “Slow Cooker Marmalade Pork Tenderloin” from Tamie J. of Prosper, Texas. It's sounds SOOOO yummy, and y'all know how much I adore my slow cooker! I'll take any excuse to try out a new dish in it! ;)

...I also have the worst craving for empanadas right now thanks to this contest. I can't wait until my mommy visits again! lol And if you are looking for a new recipe to try out, check out the Safety Wings With Touchdown Dip - they look soooo good too! I'm going to have to make those for DH! They have a ton of great recipes lurking on their site!

For Official Contest Rules visit www.smuckers.com or www.smuckersenespanol.com. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years and older. Void where prohibited.

I received a Smucker's gift basket in exchange for sharing this information with y'all.

CD Review: Paul McCartney: Ocean's Kingdom

I recently received a copy of Paul McCartney's new CD Ocean's Kingdom to review.


In all the years Paul McCartney has been in the music business, Ocean's Kingdom is the first time he has written an original orchestral score or any kind of music for ballet, period. It's hard to believe, isn't it? Ocean's Kingdom is the result of a collaboration between Paul and New York City Ballet’s Master in Chief Peter Martins. Together they have worked for the world premiere of a new ballet for the company’s 2011/2012 season this September.

The music itself is an hour long tale that tells a love story within the story of an underwater world whose people are threatened by the humans of Earth. There are four movements: “Ocean’s Kingdom,” “Hall of Dance,” “Imprisonment” and “Moonrise”. The premiere of the ballet Ocean’s Kingdom already took place last week at NYCB’s Fall Gala, and you can view the trailer for the CD here:


Direct Link for the feedreaders

See the CD cover up above too? It almost looks like a city underwater, right? It's actually a digital readout of the notes from the ballet score! Isn't that neat?

I know a lot of you aren't into classical music and such, but the music for Ocean's Kingdom is very beautiful, and if you enjoy heading to the Opera and Ballet, you'll probably want to see this performed live as much as I do!

Paul McCartney's new CD Ocean's Kingdom will be available this coming Tuesday, October 4th, 2011. It is available for pre-order, and you can purchase online via sites like iTunes or via Amazon.

I received a copy of this CD in order to listen to it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Review & Giveaway: Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Flour

I love to bake my own breads and baked goods - I know what's in them, and I know my family is eating healthier. I've been branching out and trying different kinds of flours, so I was excited to try out Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Flour.



Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Flour is gluten free, so those with gluten allergies can use it! It also has not been treated with sulfites. You can use it in standard recipes by substituting 10-30% of the grain-based flour with the Coconut Flour, or you can create muffins and quick breads using just the Coconut Flour.

Let me warn you, until you're used to using the Coconut Flour, don't go trying to create your own recipe. I found out the hard way myself when my first batch of muffins came out completely inedible! (Seriously, it was the first time I've ever seen my DH take one bite and refuse to finish eating something. LOL) After that, I stuck to trying out some of the great recipes that Tropical Traditions has on their website. I tried the Gluten Free Banana-Blackberry Muffins since we had fresh blackberries from our yard.


This one came out MUCH better - just be warned they aren't very sweet like some muffins are. Oh, I added more blackberries than the recipe calls for, because I couldn't help myself. lol I also used the Coconut Flour to dust my chicken in my Orange Chicken and rice dish I make. (Simply toss the chicken in the coconut flour, and then "fry" it in a tablespoon of coconut oil, or canola oil) It was perfect like this!

A 2.2 pound bag of Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Flour retails for $15.00 - although it's on sale at the moment for $11.99! I've been so used to purchasing in bulk, that the 2.2 pound bag seemed small when I first glanced at it - but unless you are baking day after day using it, it does last longer than you'd think! One warning for those watching calories: it does have about 4x the calories of regular white flour, so be sure to adjust what you are eating accordingly.

All in all, I was happy with the Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Flour, and I'll definitely continue to keep it in my pantry!

Win it! Thanks to Tropical Traditions, one lucky reader will win a 2.2 pound bag of Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Flour! To enter, head on over to Tropical Traditions, and tell us which recipe you'd make first with the Coconut Flour.

You can also receive an entry for following Tropical Traditions on Twitter (@troptraditions), and/or “Liking” Tropical Traditions on Facebook.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR following my blog
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
Win TT's Coconut Flour! http://bit.ly/nyBMro ends 10/8 @psychotichouse

That's six (6) possible entries! Giveaway ends October 8th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Book Review: Entenmann's Big Book of Baking

I recently received an e-book copy of Entenmann's Big Book of Baking to review.


Entenmann's Big Book of Baking contains 140 recipes. The recipes Focus on fresh ingredients and simple preparation, so even those not handy with the baking skills can wrangle up something lovely for dessert any night. Most of the recipes use easy to find ingredients when the fresh fruits are in season.

The "Almost Homemade" section is full of recipes submitted by folks like you and me: Entenmann's held a contest on their Facebook page, and these recipes were the winners! All of these recipes use an Entenmann's product. The rest of the book is from scratch recipes that are easy to make. From Chocolate Cake Donuts to Banana Crunch Cake, to Cream Cheese Swirl Coffee Cake, there's plenty of baked goods worthy of serving for dessert, or as a tea time snack.

When I purchase cookbooks - especially baking cookbooks - one of the things I want to see are clear, color photographs of the finished dish. Entenmann's Big Book of Baking delivers with plenty of pictures so I can be sure I'm in the neighborhood with what I've made, instead of guessing. ;) The directions are also easy to follow, another important feature I look for myself.

If you like semi-homemade baking, you'll probably love Entenmann's Big Book of Baking. If you're more of a from scratch kind of baker, it might not be up your alley with the "Almost Homemade" section being about 25-30% of the book. It struck me as almost the perfect bake sale cookbook - you can't go wrong with taking the baked goods featured in this one to a bake sale.

I'll admit even I was drooling over all the crumb cakes thanks to the photos! (Oh, the Chocolate and Orange Loaf Cake! That one deserves to be baked on a regular basis!)

Entenmann's Big Book of Baking is a hardcover cookbook published by Parragon Books and available today, September 27th, 2011. It is 320 pages long. The suggested cover price is $14.99, but Amazon has it available for $11.68 as of this posting. It will be available as an e-book for everyone soon!

I received a copy of this book in order to share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

DVD Review: Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo, Ho, Matey's Awry!

My family and I recently received a copy of Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo, Ho, Matey's Awry! two disc combo set to review.


Jake and the Never Land Pirates is an animated preschool show from Disney Junior. It follows three kids - Jake, Izzy, and Cubby - who are "pirates" Never Land. Yes, it's Disney, so it's that Never land. Captain Hook, Smee, and of course, Tick Tock the crocodile, all make regular appearances on this show, as they are the main "enemy" of Jake and his gang. There is lots of music on this show, and at the end of the episodes, there is a little live action song done by a band called the Never Land Pirate Band. I think Disney was trying to gear it more towards boys, but it's a fun show for girls too!

Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo, Ho, Matey's Awry! is a two disc release - the DVD also comes packaged with a bonus 7-track CD sampler and a fun little pirate eye patch. The DVD itself features seven episodes of two stories each: "Hats Off To Hook!"and "Escape From Belch Mountain", "Hide The Hideout" and "The Old Shell Game", "Izzy's Pirate Puzzle" and "The Never Land Games", "Off The Hook!" and "Never Say Never!", "Cubby's Sunken Treasure" and "Cubby's Goldfish", "Happy Hook Day!" and "No Returns", and finally, "The Sky's The Limit!" and "Bucky Makes A Splash!"

The DVD also comes with some bonus features: "Pirate Party" music videos, "Pirate-oke Sing Along" with the The Never Land Pirate Band, and "Yo Ho, You Ready To Be A Never Land Pirate", where Jake teaches viewers how to talk like a pirate.

The bonus music CD contains seven songs: "Hot Lava", "Aw, Coconuts", "Tick Tock Croc", "Never Land Pirate Band", "Pirate Password", "Talk Like A Pirate", and "Bucky's Shanty".

All in all, it's a really fun show that my family enjoyed! There is a little parrot included named Skully that was my daughter's favorite. (Now she wants a parrot, lol)

Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo, Ho, Matey's Awry! qualifies as part of the Disney Movie Rewards program, so be sure to enter the code inside the box to get your reward points. The DVD also uses Disney's Fast Play, which is a navigation utility that automatically starts the disc as soon as it's put in the player and pretty much remembers your viewing preferences.

Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo, Ho, Matey's Awry! is being released today, September 27th, 2011. It is rated TV-Y, and is safe for all ages. The total running time is 138 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $19.99, but Amazon has it available for $14.99 as of this posting.

I received a copy of this set in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Random Thoughts Tuesday - I'm Cranky!

I'd like to start off by admitting all I want to do is scream into my pillow today. lol Anyone else feel like that? Geez... it's not even one of those days... or weeks... or months... it's more like lifetimes around here.

Anyways, someone gave us another deep freezer - it's actually bigger than the one we already had, but older - so it had been sitting out on the porch for a week while I tried to get DH to help me figure out where on earth to put it. (Since we had been talking about getting half a side of beef, I wasn't about to turn down a free freezer!) We've been spending the last two days trying to figure out the puzzle known as my house.

I have come to a conclusion after living in this stupid house: you know the so called earth friendly houses you see the press talking about all the time? They are totally lying. See all those windows in them? Yes, you save on lighting - but trust me, I don't care how good all those windows are sealed, you still end up with either the heat pouring in when it's hot, or the cold coming in on the summer. Even with the window coverings, it's still a constant battle. The only way I can see the window thing working is if you build into the ground with an earth berm home.

Add in the fact that all your neighbors can see everything going on in your house - unless your neighbors are a mile away - and oh, yeah, our big problem - there's no wall space for you to put things against! We can't even hang the silly TV on the wall, because there isn't a patch of wall space big enough! lol

So right now, I have no kitchen counter because we have stuff piled up there so the living room can sort of go on as normal. I am counting the hours until DH is home today so we can try to finish it up. Sigh! I want to bake - I'm starving for fresh bread!

Hmmm... Zombie Game 'Dead Island' Will Be Made a Movie I ended up being so-so on the game - it was good, but they could have done better. The scenario could make for an awesome movie though, so let's hope Lionsgate puts some effort into it and cast it properly. Oh, and do the makeup properly, because I swear that's my second biggest gripe about zombie movies.

The Group is Divided in Epic New Trailer for 'The Walking Dead' Season 2 You know, tossing aside TV shows, I can imagine that ANYONE in that situation would be freaked out. Of course there's going to be fighting amongst survivors, especially when most of them are complete strangers beforehand. Anyways, here's a link to the five minute trailer: 5 Minute Walking Dead Season 2 Sneak peak Video

Free Gooseberry Patch Downloads!

I love the cookbooks from Gooseberry Patch, so I was happy to see that they have two new e-books available for download for a limited time for free! You can get:


Pumpkin, part of the Gooseberry Patch Classics series. Get a taste of Gooseberry Patch in this collection of over 20 favorite pumpkin recipes! Pumpkins are as versatile in the kitchen as they are in your home…start the morning with Pumpkin Coffee Cake, amaze the kids with The Great Pumpkin Stew, and invite friends over on a chilly October evening for some warm Pumpkin Cobbler.

To download on the Kindle, click here
To download for the Nook, click here
And to download for Apple iPad/etc, click here

You can also pick up Gooseberry Patch 25 Burger Recipes for free too!

To download on the Kindle, click here
To download for the Nook, click here
And to download for Apple iPad/etc, click here

Remember, if you don't have a Kindle, you can still download the software to your computer, and snag e-books for free! I don't care to read regular books on my laptop, but it is nice to be able to still get the cookbooks. You can never have too many new recipes to check out! :)

Menu Planning Monday - Comfort Food Time

With this raining, cooler weather, it definitely feels like comfort food to me!


Monday: Southwestern Chicken tortillas

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Kickin' Chili

Wednesday: Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs, roasted sweet potato fries

Thursday: recipe of the week

Friday: Mexican bake

Saturday: Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Stew

Sunday: slow cooker lemon pepper chicken

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

Review & Giveaway: scünci design weaver kit

If you have little girls with long hair - or even if you do, like me - you might be looking for something different to do to your hair. scünci recently introduced their new scünci Design Weaver.


The scünci design weaver kit consists of four lightweight, colored scarves designed to be woven through the hair. You just simply start your hairstyle - something like braids, a twist, or a bun. Then you'll thread some of the tulle style fabric through the blunt plastic needle. Next, use the needle to pull the fabric through your hairstyle, and tuck any edges under your hair.


It's easy to do, but you'll need a mirror pointed at the back of your head for certain styles, or have someone else do the weaving for you. I found it easiest to do on braids because I could see without multiple mirrors. It's perfect in braids - especially for Medieval and Renaissance faires! The set I received came with brighter jewel toned fabric - purple, aqua, hot pink, and black - but it's also available in other colors. The scünci design weaver kit is not for everyone - a lot of people have shorter hair, and it would work best on those with shoulder length or longer hair. But if you have longer hair, it's a fun, new look.

The scünci design weaver is available for around $4.99 per kit at drug and mass retailers nationwide including CVS, Walgreen’s, Target and Kmart.

Win it! Would you like to win the scünci design weaver kit? You would? Yippee! To enter, just head over to the The scünci website, and tell us another product you'd like to try.

As always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR following my blog
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
Win scünci design weaver kit http://bit.ly/odwSZ3 ends 10/1 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends October 1st at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received the product mentioned above in order to try it out and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: My Teenage Werewolf By Lauren Kessler

I recently received a copy of the new book My Teenage Werewolf: A Mother, A Daughter, A Journey Through The Thicket of Adolescence by Lauren Kessler to review.


My Teenage Werewolf is Ms. Kessler's reflections on trying to be the right Mom and understand what her daughter Lizzie is thinking and going through during the teenager years. The author begins the book ordering piles and piles of books trying to find one that will help her translate her daughter. One minute her daughter is sweet and understanding - the next, she's a stomping and screaming terror. Finally, the author decides to take on a mission: for 18 months, she becomes her 12 year old daughter. She goes to school, summer camp, to the mall - observing and even sometimes participating - in the teenage life. My Teenage Werewolf chronicles that journey.

I have a confessions to make: I was a hellion as a teenager. Well, maybe not quite a hellion, but I was more than a handful. (Sorry, Mom and Dad) To be fair: I was blamed for everything that went wrong even when I had nothing to do with it at school - if I was going to get blamed for it, I might as well do it, right? Sigh! I was bored, stuck in a small town where I was the outsider. I was stifled, I hated it - I hated everything. I'm...

...totally flipping terrified of when my daughter becomes a teenager. Seriously, if she's even half of me - much less three times as bad as me (you know, the old saying) - I AM IN SO MUCH TROUBLE! If I was this bad as a teen - and that was before webcams, the Internet, and texting - oh my word.

So for that reason, I was totally fixated on reading My Teenage Werewolf. I stayed up well past my usual time because I had to finish the book NOW. And as I read it, I silently apologized to my parents over and over again in my head. I recommend to anyone with kids - even if they are nowhere near teens, or even long since grown and out of the house - to pick up My Teenage Werewolf and add it your reading list. It's a funny read - and maybe it will hit close to home for many.

You can visit the book's website here.

My Teenage Werewolf: A Mother, A Daughter, A Journey Through The Thicket of Adolescence by Lauren Kessler is a parenting paperback book published by Penguin. It is 246 pages long. The suggested cover price is $15.00, but Amazon has it available for $11.02 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

End Of September Random Info

Here we go again - my inbox is yet again full of great stuff, and rather than have 5 million new posts for y'all today, here's a bit of contests, coupons, charity news, and fun stuff for you all in one nifty post. You know the drill, right? ;) Have fun entering, save a little money, or support a needful charity - the choice is yours.

On Thursday, September 29th, 2011, 7-Eleven will celebrate their caffeinated version of National Coffee Day, CofFREE Day, by offering everyone in the United States and Canada a FREE medium-size cup of hot coffee (or cappuccino…or latte) from 7AM to 11AM. Be sure to call ahead to check if your local 7-Eleven is participating, especially if you are going out of your way to pick up a cup! (Did you know 7-Eleven was the first retailer to offer fresh-brewed coffee in to-go cups, introducing it in their Northeast stores in 1964? I had no clue! There's your trivia for the day! lol)

ecofreek.com is a search new engine that searches the web for free and 'for swap/trade' items people no longer need from over 45+ major sources, including sites like Craigslist. You can narrow it down to a city, or broaden it through a state or even a country - it works worldwide! This is pretty neat to me, because you don't have to click through multiple sites to find what you are looking for. Try it out and tell me what you think!

Caillou's World is a new app that is recommended for ages 2-5. Kids can explore Caillou's World while practicing the basics of phonics and spelling. The app is available on iPhone, iPad and Android, and Android tablets for $2.99 - it's not free, but it sounds like a fun one to keep the kids entertained, especially if they are big fans of the Caillou show.

Onmaway is another new app available for the iPhone. Before you dismiss this one, it seems pretty useful for parents. Instead of paying a monthly charge to your cell phone service provider, for a one time charge of $1.99, you can track where your child is via the phone. The app allows you to send a link to friends and family via text, email, and social media that lets them view your location on any web browser. This is great for anyone going cross country on a trip - no more stopping to answer the phone and tell family where you are. It also seems great to me in an emergency - if that signal is still working, family on the other side of the country can see where you are when you are evacuating for a hurricane, etc. Here's a link to check it out at the iTunes store.

If you haven't already, you can still print a coupon to save $1.00 off your purchase of Hershey's milk chocolate bars! Even if you have, head on over and check out that page - they have just started a contest where you can enter to win an Ultimate Tailgating SUV. (Click the bottom right Learn More box where it asks if you want to be redirected) It looks like there are lots of other prizes, so it might be worth entering!

AceShowBiz has a contest running where you can win a $150 Visa Cash Card from ABC's Charlie's Angels! The contest runs through October 2nd, 2011, and it's a one time only entry. Don't forget to read the rules! Good luck!

Book Review: Dear Bully

I recently received a copy of the new book, Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones, to review.


Dear Bully is collection of seventy different letters and reflections by authors about their experiences with bullies when they were younger, from being on the receiving end of the torment, to watching others being tormented, to even being the tormentor themselves. Several mention that it has shaped who they have become today. Many young adult authors such as R.L. Stine to Lauren Kate to Heather Brewer have contributed to this collection.

From an adult perspective, the book is a fast read, albeit a snoozefest more than once. I get bullying - trust me, I do. It was super difficult for me growing up in what was the foreign version of The Addams Family, where we were the outsiders in the rural community where we lived. I even had problems with my teachers, some of which I have commented about before on this blog. Maybe as a teen, I would have appreciated it more, but I doubt it. At any rate, it is wonderful to hear that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Stomp Out Bullying.

Note that there is strong language by many of the authors in this book, so it's not appropriate for those in the under 13 crowd.

Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones is paperback young adult book published by HarperTeen. It is 384 pages long. The suggested cover price of the book is $9.99, and Amazon has it available for $9.99 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Book Review & Tour: A Heart Revealed By Julie Lessman

I recently received a copy of the new book A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman to review.


A Heart Revealed is an inspirational historical romance and book number two in the Winds of Change series. If you'd like to read my review on book one, called A Hope Undaunted, click here. A Heart Revealed continues the story of the O'Connors, following Sean O'Connor. Ten long years ago, Emma Malloy fled her home of Dublin, Ireland, coming to America. She settles in Boston, trying to forget her past, where she was married to an abusive man. Set back in the 1930's (just after Katie, from the first book, is married), she finds herself falling for Sean O'Connor, the self proclaimed lifelong bachelor. Her big problem is that she ran away from her husband - no divorce - so she struggles with that. The guilt is strong, even if she was horribly abused - the awful man even burned her face! Sean too, has his struggles - will this romance ever take off, and will they find happiness together?

I really enjoyed this book! Julie Lessman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I'm impatiently waiting now for book 3! (grumble, grumble - is it next September yet?) The book keeps you constantly wanting to turn the page, because there is always something going on - either with Emma, or with other members of the extended O'Connor family. Most books in a series, you don't really need to have read the previous books to understand what is going on - and while this one is one of them, I recommend borrowing or buying A Hope Undaunted first before reading this one, simply because it helps you understand background characters a little more. (The author's other series, Daughters of Boston, also follows many of the same characters, and you can read that series to start off if you really want the full history! lol)

You can visit the author's website here.

A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman is a paperback historical fiction book published by Revell. It is 503 pages long. The suggested cover price is $14.99, but Amazon has it available for $10.19 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.


Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Oooh, Dreamweaver...

Every Saturday morning, I'd get up early and carefully get dressed. I had special clothes for going roller skating. Brightly colored and pastel leotards, tights, and twirly skirts. I was seven and I was stylin' HOT! lol

Hey - it WAS the 80's. Quit laughing.

It was a 20 minute drive to the nearest roller rink, so I'd sit in the back of the car and pump myself up. We'd get there, and my daddy would pay for me to skate. No ugly skate rentals for me, oh no. I would grab one of my most prized possessions.

They were white roller skates, with purple laces, and pink pompoms. Like this, only bigger pompoms.


I told ya I was stylin'! ;) On would go the skates and I'd start talking to all my friends, handing out the beauty queen wave. We'd chatter about school, pick on some of the weirdos, one of us would get a drink and we'd share the sugary soda.

And then.... THE SONG would come on.


Yes, that would be Eddie Murphy. We'd trip over each other practically trying to make it out there and start skating around, doing our "routines", jammin' to the music. Oh, it was fancy when you were seven if you could skate backwards.

And when the limbo music started, we lined up. I was one of the few girls who could do the splits so I was usually in the last 2 or 3.


One or twice throughout the morning/early afternoon, they would play a slow song. You were lucky if you got to hold hands and slow skate with a boy to "Dreamweaver"....

Simply because there girls way outnumbered the boys. (See my now DH, hiding in the corner playing the only arcade game the rink had. LOL Skating + my DH = dangerous. LOL)

Most of us were in the 7 to 12 range, but there were always a few older folks around keeping an eye on us, and then one or two that now that I think about it... what on earth were they doing there on a Saturday morning skating with us kids?! Those guys always thought they were the coolest, and they always won the speed skating competitions...

Well, of course they did. They were bigger than us, with longer strides. LOL Cheaters!

Anyways, DH showed me this video of comedian Bret Ernst last night talking about roller skating, and I just had to share it with you - if you haven't seen it before, and your weekends back then were like mine above, you'll die laughing. ;)


Direct Link for the feedreaders
(Note there is some bad language - be careful with the kids!)

So, my fellow children of the 70's and 80's - who else was out there every Saturday morning? :)

Insert Frustrated Whine

And yes, I'd like some cheese with my whine. ;) I'm just tired - of just about everything. Tired of DH's job taking it's toll on us, tired of unexpected expenses popping up faster than I can rob Peter to pay Paul, and most importantly - tired of all the cranky people when we go out.

I try so hard to be nice - or at least polite - to others when we go shopping. I always say please or thank you, tell the checkout clerk to have a nice a day, have some small talk. I worked retail, I know how tedious it can be to stand there for hours.

We always hold the door open for anyone close to us. I did it three times the other day - not one person said thank you. Hello, manners anyone?

If we go shopping, folks either hog the entire aisle - and ignore me when I say excuse me - or shove their carts so fast past you they end up grazing you. And an "oops, I'm sorry"? Totally not in their vocabulary.


And do not get me started in on the kids. Holy smokes, if my daughter behaved like some of these kids we've seen lately, I'd never let her leave the house! The kids were so bad in Goodwill the other day, I just sat down the one item I had found and we left. I couldn't shop, I couldn't even THINK they were screaming and yelling that loud! Newsflash: You might think your kid is cute, but that doesn't mean the rest of the world does! I'm telling you, if I didn't already have a kid, that would have been permanent birth control right there. Even my daughter's worst tangents were nowhere near those kids! (I think we ran out in fear it would be contagious, OHMYGOSH, I can't even imagine listening to that on a regular basis! I think I'd stab my eardrums just to get rid of the noise!)

Are you noticing more rude people when you go out, or are they just attracted to me like a fly to honey?

Thrifty Thursday - Screen Cleaning

This week for my Thrifty Thursday post, I'm sharing a quick tip. If you use dryer sheets for fighting static on your clothes, don't throw them away when you are done! They are actually perfect for cleaning your TV, phone, and computer screens! Simply spray a thin mist of water onto them, and carefully wipe down your screens. The same static fighting ingredients for your clothes will make the cloths safe to use on your screens. Plus, you'll save a bit of cash, and re-use something that's going to end up in the landfill anyways!

Blu-Ray Review: The Tempest

I recently received a copy of the new Blu-Ray release of The Tempest to review.


Based on William Shakespeare's novel, The Tempest has a modern day twist. When Prospera, a Duchess/sorceress, is exiled to a magical island thanks to her power hungry brother, she conjures up a storm to shipwreck her enemies. Not merely satisfied with this, she unleashes her full powers to exact sweet revenge by manipulating with illusions.

Ah, I do so love Shakespeare, so I was excited to learn The Tempest would be released, especially since I do think that Helen Mirren is a wonderful actress. To be honest, I cringed a little at hearing Russell Brand was in the movie, although after seeing him in Arthur, my opinion of him did rise a bit. The Tempest may be Shakespeare's final writing, but it most definitely is one of his best masterpieces. While reading the book before watching the movie is most definitely recommended, don't feel that you have to already know The Tempest. The story itself is based on the writing by Shakespeare, but it is not word-for-word. Yes, you may feel like you are in English Lit class watching it. ;) By the way, for those unfamiliar with the original play/novel by Shakespeare, The Tempest - as in this movie - actually features Prospera as a woman, instead of as man (Prospero) in the original work.

And Russell Brand's acting wasn't all that bad, either. It took me a few minutes to drown out the association of his voice and realize hey, he really was perfect for his role. lol I enjoyed the movie, but if you are not into historical movies or Shakespeare, you might get bored very quickly. I was actually surprised DH lasted the entire movie with me, and said he enjoyed it, because that's not usually his cup of tea.

Note that that this movie is rated PG-13 with some minor nudity (the spirit is shirtless), suggestive content, and somewhat scary imagery for children. Use your best judgement before allowing children under to view this movie - I recommend at least the age of 10-12.

The Tempest does have several special features. Included is a clip from the Los Angeles rehearsal for the movie, with Russell Brand, Alfred Molina, Julie Taymor, and Dijmon Hounsou. It also includes a documentary about the making of the movie called "Raising The Tempest. You'll hear some audio commentary from director/writer Julie Taymor, "Russell Brand Rehearsal Riff", and annotated Shakespeare, where you can hear some more audio commentary, this time by Shakespeare experts Virginia Vaughn and Jonathon Bate. Last, but not least, is the "O Mistress Mine" music video.

The Tempest was released last Tuesday, and is available on Blu-Ray and DVD at your favorite store. Widescreen format, it is rated PG-13, and has a total running time of 110 minutes long (not including special features). The suggested retail price for the single disc Blu-Ray edition is $39.99, but Amazon has it available as of this posting for $25.99.

I received a copy of this DVD in order to share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Review: Fisher-Price Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo (Contest Alert!)

One of the very first things we purchased before my daughter was born was the Fisher-Price Little People Castle and Princess Castle. I went nuts looking for those little people - they even had a witch! - to add to her "collection". It was time (and money!) well spent, because she adores all her Fisher Price Little People toys. I thought that maybe by the time she'd be turning three, she'd start to outgrow them, that they would be "baby toys", but they still get played with on a regular basis. That, to me, is what makes a toy stand out. Kids these days have so many toys that they get bored too easily and a toy can end up hidden in a toy box after only being played with once or twice. If they head back to a toy over and over again, I'd say you definitely have a winner!


The Fisher-Price Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo arrived on her birthday, of all the days, and she went crazy! Meant for ages one and a half to five, it teaches animal names and animal sounds. It comes with a zookeeper, a monkey, a lion (ROOOOAAARRR! lol), and a polar bear. Now not only are there little buttons with animal pictures on them that you can push for the sound (heads up, you do need 3 AA batteries and one 1.5V battery that are not included in the box), but there are other buttons with sound effects like in the water where you can push a lily pad to get water noises and watch the hippo mouth open and close.


Like I mentioned above, it only comes with three animals, but if you have other Fisher Price Little People Animals, there is no reason they can't live in the Zoo too. ;) The neat part is that is has different habitats for kids to learn about - of course you have the jungle with the monkey and the lion, the South Pole with the polar bear, and then the water with the hippo (who doesn't come off the playset, it's just his little head) And it's not just one sided - there's playroom on the back so if you have several kids playing together, they can all play on the same set. (Oh, and Moms - there is a handle built into the top of the South Pole, so you can easily pick this up for placing on a shelf when the kids are done playing.)

The new Fisher-Price Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo retails for $39.99, and I'm sure with holidays here faster than we'd probably like (lol), you should be able to find some great sales and deals at the stores.


In honor of this latest addition to the Fisher-Price Little People line, Little People is hosting the Fisher-Price Animal Sounds Contest with help from celebrity Zoologist and children’s television show host, Jarod Miller! Parents, pull out those digital video cameras and snap a 20 second or less video of your child under the age of 5 demonstrating his or her best roar, grrrr or squawk for the chance to win a $10,000 cash prize and a trip to Fisher-Price headquarters in East Aurora, N.Y. for a special photo shoot! Your child can choose from the following animals to imitate: lion, tiger, elephant, bear, penguin, rhinoceros, leopard, whale, polar bear, hippopotamus, monkey, seal, gorilla, alligator, zebra, giraffe, ostrich, dolphin, snake, or bird.

...my munchkin wants to do the monkey. I thought for sure she'd go for the tiger or lion. lol

Anyways, the contest runs through November 30, 2011, and there are also ten first prizes, and *100* random prizes, so it's definitely worth a shot to enter! For more information, including rules, click here. Good luck if you decide to enter!

Thanks to Fisher Price, I received the Fisher-Price Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo product to review. All opinions are my own as a Mom and consumer, and they are not that of Fisher Price.

Book Review & Giveaway: My Monster Burrufu

I recently received a copy of the book My Monster Burrufu by Alberto Corral and illustrated by Alessandra Sorrentino to review.


My Monster Burrufu is the story of Olivia, a seven year old little girl, who moves to a new house. Unbeknownst to Olivia, it seems she has a new housemate - a lonely white monster named Burrufu who lives hidden in a secret attic! Suddenly, when Burrufu just can't resist the smell of freshly baked cookies (who could?), Olivia spots Burrufu, and the friendship begins. But Olivia's father begins to suspect something is up, and when he is introduced to Burrufu, flips out! Suddenly, even the military is after poor Burrufu! Will things calm down and Olivia and Burrufu get to play together again?

My Monster Burrufu is geared for the intermediate reading crowd - about ages 8 to 10. I thought the premise of the story was adorable - of course we loves monsters around here! - and Olivia's character was easy for my daughter to identify with. (She too, has coal black hair and wears dresses and flat shoes. lol) Of course, since my daughter is too young to read this book herself, we read it to her. There are some black and white pictures throughout the story for kids to look at, and there is a color drawing of Burrufu on the cover so they can "see" him. The message in the story is one that is very important - that just because someone looks different, doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with them, and of course you can still be friends.

The only thing that bothered *me* reading it was that there was one or two parts that I felt didn't belong in the book. One was in the beginning where there was exchange between Olivia's father and his best friend talking about stealing from her (it was friendly banter, but banter that I felt unnecessary to the story) Another part was where right after Olivia's father "met" Burrufu and freaked out, asked the phone operator to call anyone "Someone, for God's sake!" - color me a little different, but I don't think a book meant for a child should take ANY deity in vain. But hey, maybe that's me? I skipped reading this line to my daughter at any rate. Other than those two nit picky things, I adored the story, and oh, the ending - it warmed my heart.

And we baked cookies afterwards - and temptingly left some sitting out. ;) By the way, you can check out the book's website here.

My Monster Burrufu by Alberto Corral and illustrated by Alessandra Sorrentino is a children's paperback book published by Petite Grande Idée. It is 83 pages long. The suggested cover price is $10.95, but Amazon has it available for $9.85 as of this posting.

Win it! Thanks to the publisher, one lucky reader is going to win a copy of this book! To enter, just tell us if you (or your kids) wish there was a monster living in your home. Easy, peasy?

-Subscribing to my feed OR following my blog
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
Win My Monster Burrufu! http://bit.ly/pNDmt6 ends 10/1 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends October 1st at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Review: smilegram paper

When I was a little girl, I was taught to always send a thank you note whenever I received a gift, or someone did something special for me. I remember the joy of getting to go to a local college bookstore campus, where I could purchase pretty writing paper by sheet, with matching envelopes. I can remember picking out sheets with castles and unicorns, to lots of purple patterns.... it was just so much fun!

I know you are saying, Storm - that was the 80's! There's email now! Yes, I know - I rarely write a letter anymore myself it seems - but that still doesn't mean you don't like to be on the receiving end of a handwritten surprise note in your mailbox, right? :) I've been trying to teach my daughter the same thing - it's simply good manners to send out a thank you note when you receive a gift, and since it recently was her birthday, we've had practice! She's getting better at writing her name, and our little thank you's were mostly drawings lol but it was fun still. :)


smilegram paper, a mom owned company, is a fun and unique line of stationery just for children. The paper is made from recycled materials and is eco-friendly, and all of their graphics are original. The stationery can even be personalized with the child's name on it, making it a special gift that's practical too. smilegram paper sent us on over a set of the Color Me Happy stationery. Look at how nicely it is presented:


It really is perfect for gift giving and the design is super cute. Unlike the writing paper you usually find in the store, this stationery is kid friendly for beginning writers - it has the same dotted lines that you find on handwriting worksheets. The set comes with 12 sheets and envelopes for $9.99. There are other sets available for both boys and girls, and the prices vary from $8.99 to $17.99. Now granted, if your kid decides they messed up and want a new sheet, it can get expensive lol but when you think of the cost of nice stationery in most stores, it's about on par. You can purchase smilegram paper online via their website, or if you live in Michigan, there are several small stores there you can purchase it from! If you're ordering online, use promo code SMILE20 to receive 20% off your entire purchase, valid now through October 15th, 2011.

If you are interested, you can follow smilegram paper over on Twitter, or "like" them on Facebook.

I received a sample of the product in order to share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday - My, What A Big Boney You Have

Hanes Virtual Comfort Package For Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From friends to family, it seems everyone knows at least one person who's life has been ransacked by this disease. We can only hope and pray that one day a cure is found for this and other forms of cancer.

It's nice to hear that even in this crummy economy, companies are still trying to help. Hanes - you know, the comfy cotton undies, socks, and clothes - has created a comfort-sharing Facebook App for Breast Cancer Awareness. If you're on Facebook, you can head on over to Hanes page on Facebook. Once you're there, "like" Hanes, and click on the pink tab where you can personalize and send free virtual Comfort Packages to friends and family via a digital tool on the Hanes Facebook page. You can completely customize each "gift" to the person you are sending it to with photos, videos, recipes, T-shirt designs, music and messages.


For each package sent, Hanes will donate $1 (up to $25,000) to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. to promote early cancer detection and provide mammograms for those in need! I can't think of a better way to waste a few minutes this evening, can you? Not only is it fun to create these little gifts, it's fun to "open" them (no wrappings to go in the trash!), and money is raised for a very important cause. I hope you'll take a few minutes out of your busy day and send one to someone you know! (Hey, you can even send me one! Add me as a Facebook friend if you haven't already!)

I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated in the post are my own.

Random Thoughts Tuesday - Ehhh...

I am starting to feel a bit better today. Like I actually managed to get in the shower and wash my hair, which I swear angels came down and the heavens opened up, it felt that good. LOL My house looks like a warzone though. :( DH did the dishes but that's about it.

I'm still not hungry though. DH, bless his little heart, went to the grocery store and bought one of my ultimate comfort foods - Kings Hawaiian Rolls. The buttery ones, the other ones pfffttt... sorry King's Hawaiian, but they're just not up to snuff. lol

Just about every morning, Magick heads into the bathroom, huffs his big rear end up onto the counter, and stares at his reflection for about an hour. Can you say vain? lol He's my bathroom cat, I can't walk in there without him accompanying me. (The door closes, but not properly so if he pushes against it with his 22 pound body, he can open it)

Benefit Evil: Killing Zombies for the Kids I totally wish we could participate in this one... You can donate too, if you're interested.

It's getting closer... Walking Dead Season 2 Zombie looks! I cannot wait for season 2 to start up!!! I want to wake up and it's October, lol.

And here's the teaser trailer for Zombie Apocalypse:


Direct Link for the feedreaders

(Remember, not for the kiddos!) The only problem is that The Asylum is in charge of this movie. No offense to them, but most of their movies leave much to be desired. :( The make-up looks good so far, so here's hoping the rest of their effects in this one aren't as cheesy as they usually are.