Printable Crazy Cuizine Coupon

You can print a coupon to save $1.00 off any Crazy Cuizine product. Jut like Day-Lee Foods on Facebook to access it.


Plus, you can unlock a free product coupon by getting five friends to Like Day-Lee on Facebook! Check out the page for more details.

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!

Giveaway: ThunderCats

Thunder - Thunder - Thundercats HOOOOO!


My husband refuses to grow up ;) so I am well versed on the shows from our childhood, even 25 plus years later. (Gulp!) One of his (OK, our) favorites is/was the Thundercats, so when news hit our casa that in support of the Cartoon Network series finale of new reboot of the series, Warner Bros. is rolling out 11 characters and villains over a 3-week period in a Facebook app that allows fans to transform their photo(s) into their own ThunderCat, and share their new look with friends and Facebook community - well, we got a little geeked out. DH had way too much fun playing with it.

The app is super easy to use - just pick which character you want to become, from Lion-O to Mumm-Ra to my personal favorite, Snarf - and then pick a photo either from your Facebook account, or upload from your computer. You'll want to choose one that has a clear shot of your face since you're cutting it into a photo of the character you choose.


Win it! One lucky reader is going to win a ThunderCats 4 inch Action Figure - Lion-O, ThunderCats Collector 6 inch Action Figure - Lion-O, and a ThunderCats 4 inch Deluxe Action Figure - Tygra. To enter, tell us who's your favorite ThunderCat? (Or your child's) Do you prefer the old school series from the 80's, or are you loving the new series?

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly 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) example:
Win ThunderCats figures! http://bit.ly/uWwVmP ends 12/10 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends December 10th 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 didn't receive anything for this post, but one winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Random Thoughts Tuesday - Abandon Ship?!

Dear Dog Owners: you might think your doggy is having fun when at the dog park they don't listen, or cute when they jump on others. I love pets - look at my houseful - but it's not cute when your dog misbehaves, and your 150 pound mastiff head butts me not once, but twice. If I can rescue two dogs who had no formal training, weren't even potty trained, you can teach your dog not to jump on others.

Yeah, I'm not happy. Since it wasn't raining yesterday, we decided to head towards the wooded trail dog park and get some mileage in off leash. First a guy with four dogs has one of his large labs jump on me, then the mastiff hit me, and then as we were leaving, a Burmese Mountain dog would not leave the Grumpy Princess alone. My blood pressure went through the roof, because it was that kind of dog that took a chunk out of the Pudgy Princess - in my head sometimes I forget it was Pudgy not Grumpy that happened to whenever we run into big, big, big dogs. That was the busiest we've seen that park - I guess we'll avoid it at that time of day from now on.

I rant though because it happens ALL the time - dogs jumping onto me. Half my bruises come from simple trips to the park. And very rarely will anyone say "I'm sorry" or even reprimand their dog. Don't get me wrong - my two have their moments, but they know when they are in trouble.

Today is one of those days where I can't seem to drink enough caffeine to keep my eyes open. They might as well just put caffeine in an IV for me - ha! ;)

I swear I just did four loads of laundry two days ago, and the pile has grown right back to what it was. Where does it all come from???

I really need a good sale on eggs this coming week, or I am going to have to break down. I cannot wait until we move and can have chickens. Sigh!

Poor Captain. Last night he was desperately trying to chew on one of his sister's bones. Not so easy when you hardly have any teeth left. :(

We still need to finish raking leaves in the yard. It just keeps coming down from the neighbor's tree!

‘Living Dead’ Fans Digging Up Funds to Keep Chapel from Going Under

Well, we need to take the record back! Mexico City claims zombie walk world record

Man, seriously - everyone is jumping on the zombie ship. EVERYONE. Take this: Eat Like a Zombie Apocalypse Survivor: Healthy Lessons from The Walking Dead Shape magazine. I love this magazine - I've subscribed on and off for years, but really? Can you get anymore so called trendy?

I love my zombies, but geez, I might have to jump ship - mainstream-ism is scaring me.

Watch Your Pet Treats!

I had a reminder in my email box again today about chicken jerky products for dogs. The long and short of it is to avoid all pet foods (including treats like rawhide and cookies) that are made in China. If you'd like to read more about it, you can read this post here.

I'm rolling up my sleeves and putting on the boxing gloves here. I personally feel we should avoid ALL food products that come from China. They simply do not have the standards we have - hello, melamine in BABY FORMULA?! - and if you love your family, furry members included, you won't feed them junk. Because that's what it really is - JUNK. Cheap, unhealthy junk that can kill you. Read your labels, be aware of the ingredients and what the country of origin is for the food.

I know times are tough - we're struggling ourselves - but cutting corners and playing roulette with foods and even health and body related items (Geez, there was even a recall on tampons recently!) is not a game any of us want to play. That's certainly not to say Made in America items are never recalled - but being proactive and knowing where and how things are made that you put into your body via your mouth or skin is something we need to do.

To get back to the original subject, if your dog adore chicken jerky - and really, what dog doesn't? lol - it's super easy to make. All you need is a dehydrator, a sharp knife, and chicken. I know a dehydrator sounds expensive, but you can ask on Freecycle, or pick up a cheap one like the Nesco American Harvest FD-37 400 Watt Food Dehydrator. It costs a little up front, but you'll actually be saving money because making it yourself is cheaper than buying dog treats at Petco or Petsmart anyways.

(Amazon link is for your convenience, it's not a referral link for me)

Book Review: Food Cures (Revised) By Joy Bauer

I recently received a copy of the book Joy Bauer's Food Cures: Eat Right To Get Healther, Look Younger, And Add Years To Your Life by Joy Bauer MS, RD, CDN with Carol Svec to review.


Originally published in 2007, this is the completely revised and updated version of the book. Ms. Bauer is a nutrition expert for The Today Show, so you might recognize her from there.

I personally believe the food you choose to eat helps dictate how your body feels. These days, we are quick to reach for a pill or other fast "relief" when we really should be getting to the root of the problem - your nutrition. You might be seeing your hair dull because you are lacking certain vitamins, which is an easy fix - just add a few extra ingredients to the meals you are already creating. Cinnamon, for instance, can help diabetics with their blood sugar problems. Knowing that Ms. Bauer feels much the same way, I was excited to take a look at the revised book.

Food Cures is a large book, but it covers several different concerns such as losing weight, living longer (Type 2 Diabetes is in this section), as well as looking great and feeling good. Each of the sections contains a breakdown of the plan, with tips and tricks, recipes, meal plans, and snack options. (You don't have to make everything from scratch, but always be aware that fresh can be better for you) The book has lots of Q&A to answer subjects that come along in each section, as well as explaining more about every day things - such as WHY Omega 3 fatty acids are incredibly important in our diet.

There is even a possible trigger list for those who suffer from migraines. In fact, if you seem to suffer from any sort of "weirdness" that crops up out of the blue - from unexplained mood swings (ie: not the time of the month) to feeling incredibly tired after you have just eaten, you might want to take a look at the list included in this book. It took me months to realize I was starting to feel itchy on my face after I had just eaten, and make the connection that it had to be something I had just eaten - at first I thought it might be a processed ingredient, but now we're starting to think it could be - gasp! - some dairy products. (Yes, that's a sobbing sound you heard. lol)

Bonus points to the author for calling out "gluten free" as the new trendy way to loose weight. Yes, there are lots of people who have severe gluten allergies, but there's a whole bunch of people jumping on the bandwagon who don't. You're not going to loose weight going gluten free!

If you're trying to eat healthier, I recommend you pick up a copy of Food Cures and take a look through it. It's easy to read and could help give you the boost you need to be feeling better. (Yes, you over there saying HOGWASH! lol) You don't have to follow everything to a T, but some of the choices you decide to make could help you feel better in the long run. Now don't go looking at this book as a cookbook - while it has some recipes, there's not a ton of them, so keep this in mind.

As with all changes to your diet, you may want to discuss some of the ideas with your physician or nurse - especially if you are trying to treat a pre-existing condition like diabetes or migraines.

You can visit the author's website here to learn more about the book.

Joy Bauer's Food Cures: Eat Right To Get Healther, Look Younger, And Add Years To Your Life by Joy Bauer MS, RD, CDN with Carol Svec is an oversized paperback book published by Rodale. It is 528 pages long. The suggested cover price is $21.99, but Amazon has it available for $12.87 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.

Review: Baggu Reuseable Bag

I started carrying reuseable bags before it was "trendy", back in the mid 90's. I hate plastic grocery bags. Hate is a strong word, but I really do. It amazes me that people whining about the price of gas still refuse to carry reuseable bags and purchase plastic products like mad. Um, hello - plastic is made from oil. You know, the oil that makes your car go vroom? ;) That's actually why I love stores that have self checkouts - it means I can bag my purchases uses my re-useable bags, vs having to repeat myself multiple times THAT I DON'T NEED A BAG, I HAVE MY OWN!!!! I must be a bullseye or something, because I always seem to get the grocery clerk that doesn't listen to what I am saying. Sigh! (The funny ones are the ones who keep trying to find the tag on my bag even after I tell them it's MINE! Geesh! lol)

I probably have about 50 different re-useable cloth bags. Some I bought, some I was given, but I'm not about to need to use a plastic bag anytime soon. ;) I have ones that are made to carry glass bottles like wine with special inserts inside so they don't bump around, sturdy hemp bags for my heavy cans, and fun lightweight ones that fit into tiny little holders so they fit easy in my purse. Now those are my favorite, because sometimes I am not expecting to be buying something, but end up doing so - with the ones that fold or fit easily in purse, I don't have to worry about not having a bag with me!

Reuseit.com carries Baggu reusable shopping bags that are sturdy, strong and stylish. They are made out of ripstop nylon - those of you unfamiliar with ripstop, it's a very thin and strong fabric that some of the hunting and military pants are made of. They fold into a little zipper pouch:


It's very thin and easy to carry in a purse, pocket, or even briefcase.


The one in the photo above is the smoke color, and the nice part about it is that a guy can even use it thanks to the color and style! The regular size can carry up to 25 pounds. The one I chose to review is the Baggu Large Reusable Shopping Bag - it holds up to 50 pounds according to the tag, (the website says 25 though?) and it's HUGE! When it's open, it's nearly 3 feet long. I carried two big blankets in it the other day, and I used it when we went to the restaurant supply store too - I was able to carry a large package of romaine lettuce, 5 pound bag of carrots, a large batch of peppers, and even a 5 pound bag of cheese. It handled the weight and bulk with no problem! It was so nice to have everything in one bag, instead of several, especially now that we are out shopping with the truck. It also fit over my shoulder too, so I could carry it to the truck easily.

I love love LOOOVVVEEEE this Baggu bag! At $11.95 (plus shipping) I found it a good deal for me - they have a bulk discount, so if you buy more than one, you can save a little extra. If you sign up for emails on the website, you can enter to win a $100 gift certificate!

I received the item shown above in exchange for sharing my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

An Update On DH's Weight Loss

He's down another four pounds in the last month! You might remember, I was participating in the Lunch Makeover Challenge With Truvia - I think that might have helped a little bit. I switched out using sugar for Truvia in many of my baking recipes, such as bread and pizza crust. He had no clue! ;) I could tell a little bit of a difference in the baking myself, but I didn't mind using it at all. There was a few adjustments (a little more was needed in the pizza crust, for instance). We didn't use the individual packets in drinks around here (because really, other than DH using sugar in coffee, we're not big on added sugar) so I can't say if maybe he could have lost another pound or two.

It's such an uphill battle because I am fighting 20+ years of bad habits. I do not want this to sound like I am picking on my inlaws, because I am really not - but there was no groundwork for healthy eating in DH's life. He makes poor choices far too often when it comes to what he's eating - sure, you can eat fast food, but you have to BURN those calories off, and you don't do it playing video games in the evening. (Sigh!)

I keep trying to tell him rule #2: Cardio, cardio, cardio (that's a Zombieland reference), but it just doesn't seem to click in his head. At any rate, I'm happy for each pound he drops, and I hope they stay off! (Now if only *I* could drop five pounds from the last few days of eating... LOL)

Menu Planning Monday - 11/28 - 12/4

It's hard to believe I am planning for December already!

We've been using so little packaged goods here compared to what we used to, that I need to get cracking on using some of them with our lunches so I can rotate them out! I think I have about 40 cans of soup we are going to need to use by the end of the year! lol I have just found it so much easier to throw some leftover meat and veggies in the slow cooker with spices and make my own lately.

Monday: grilled chicken Florentine pasta

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches, salad

Wednesday: homemade macaroni & cheese, rolls

Thursday: Bratwursts, baked potato "bar"

Friday: Deep Dish Pizza

Saturday: taco night

Sunday: Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

Review & Giveaway: Natural House Probiotic Cleaning Products

As some of you know, I'm trying to switch to doing things as natural as I can around the home. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't - but I'm not afraid to try! So when the opportunity arose to try out Natural House Probiotic Cleaning Products, I was super happy to take it! They sent me on over three of their best selling natural house cleaning products to try out: Trashy, Sinky, and Flushy.


Natural House's plant-based ingredients are eco-friendly, non-toxic and biodegradable to naturally fight the toughest problems you face in your house. How do they work? Well, Natural House probiotics creates a mini-ecosystem on a microbial level that produces enzymes which break down odors, dirt, fats, oil, grease, food scraps, waste and toilet paper products on a continuous basis between applications. This creates a natural, clean, balanced environment that is safe for even the most sensitive members of your natural house.

I love my husband, but good grief, he is a disaster waiting to happen sometimes. lol I purchased conventional toilet bowl cleaner a few weeks back so he could "help" me clean the bathroom (OK, I actually read him the riot act. lol), and was shocked when two weeks later he had gone through the entire bottle! (Those of you who read my blog might remember my story about how much laundry detergent my MIL used during their short visit here - I think it's pretty clear DH is the same way! Zoinks!) After I picked my jaw up off the floor and stopped complaining that he put the empty bottle back on the shelf (guys!), I realized if I wanted any help from him, I was going to have to figure out how to ration toilet bowl cleaner!


Flushy came to my rescue. This Toilet Bowl Cleaner and Septic Treatment comes in little pre-sized packets just like some of the dishwashing packets you find on the market:


Since all my DH has to do is drop it in and scrub away, I figured at least extra cleaning product wasn't being flushed down the drain. The cleaning part cuts through stains, hard water and calcium deposits in the bowl, while the probiotics are continuing to consume toilet paper and waste build up in the p-trap, drain and pipes, and maintain the overall health of your septic system. It's biodegradable and eco friendly, and I like that.

This was another one of those products that made me go hmmmm when I was looking at it. It couldn't possibly do what it says it does. I waited for the toilet to look pretty rank - I didn't clean it for a week. (It was killing me, too) We all stood around and watched it go in - we were like the Toy Story aliens Oohhhhhhh LOL It fuzzed and went blue with the little things swirling in them, and away I went with the brush. It came out just as clean as any other heavy duty product I've used! One packet works for one week (A 30 day supply is four of the little non toxic packs), although I only made it to the 5 day mark before using it again. (It's the germophobe in me!)


Now Sinky Probiotic Cleaning packet breaks down grease and food scraps to help prevent clogs and slow drains. Pop one of the little packets down into your sink drain, turn on the hot water for a few seconds, and then turn on your garbage disposal next. We don't have the garbage disposal, but what I have is cranky pipes. If I don't keep up with cleaning them on a regular basis, I end up with slowly draining pipes that start to clog.

I'll admit I was not overly impressed visually with the Sinky. There was a little bit of plastic goo left even after I turned the hot water back on for a few more seconds the first time I used it. I found myself still treating the drain with my usual baking soda and vinegar a few days later just to be sure. I think this one would work best for those who have a garbage disposal - you will probably benefit the most from those probiotics. Remember to let it foam for a few moments!


Trashy is a small spray bottle that removes odors at their source. You can use it in your indoor or outdoor trash cans to dissolve odors, grease and food scraps. Those of you who cloth diaper will love it to clear out that last lingering smell from your bin before you refill it, and of course it's good in disposable diaper cans too. I loved Trashy! Instead of having to wash out every single trash bin in my house, I could simply spray them down and then let them air dry - it saved me a few minutes each week, and this one really does smell nicely, almost like spearmint. Trashy will definitely become a permanent part of my cleaning regime around here.

Here's a video to share with you more about Natural House Probiotic Cleaning Products:


Direct Link for the feedreaders

You can purchase Natural House Probiotic Cleaning Products online via their website, or head over to Amazon where you can take advantage of the free super shipping on orders over $25. A 30 day supply of each retails for $4.99. If you'd like to find out new product information, or get heads up on sales, promotions, and giveaways, be sure to follow Natural House Probiotic Cleaning Products on Twitter or "like" them on Facebook.

Win it! Thanks to Natural House Probiotic Cleaning Products, one lucky reader is going to win a 30 day supply of Trashy, Sinky, and Flushy! To enter, tell us which of the three you look forward to trying out in your home.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly 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) example:
Win Natural Home cleaning products http://bit.ly/vS2RIJ ends 12/10 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends December 10th 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 samples of the products mentioned above in order to try them out in my own home and share my thoughts on them. All opinions are my own. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Book Review: Brave Irene By William Steig

My family and I recently received a copy of the children's book gift set Brave Irene by William Steig.


Irene Bobbin is the dressmaker's daughter. When her mother falls ill, it is up to Irene to deliver the ball gown to the palace for the duchess to wear that evening. A formidable task itself for most young ladies, but even worse - a snow storm is brewing! Can Irene make the dangerous journey in time?

The storybook is accompanied by a CD telling of the story, and it's narrated by actress Meryl Streep. It also includes a read-along track for kids to practice their reading skills with.

My family fell in love with this story! I liked that Irene wasn't afraid to do what really was a difficult journey even in the best weather. Granted, it wasn't really an emergency situation, but it still teaches kids bravery. Irene cared about her mother, and through that, the family's livelihood too. The pictures are illustrated nicely, and listening to Meryl Streep narrate the story was pleasant - I hope she'll lend her voice to more storybooks in the future! The other thing I truly loved about the book? It uses words! Not just plain, boring, every day words - but descriptive words!

Brave Irene by William Steig is a softcover children's storybook and CD set published by Square Fish. Best for ages 4 to 6. The suggested retail price is $9.99, and you can find it at your local bookstore or via Amazon.

This post is part of my Holiday Gift Guide 2011. To see more great gift ideas, just click it.

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

Small Business Saturday Featuring Etsy Stores

Today it's Small Business Saturday, and though I do feature big brands on my blog, I'm all about the love for small businesses owned by folks like you and I. I love purchasing handmade items made here in the USA! So today I am featuring items from Etsy store owners. Many of these incredible artists still managed to craft their goods while holding down full time jobs. I hope if you are on the hunt for a special gift for someone in your life, that you'll turn to Etsy and look there first. You can snag free shipping on all of the items I am showing you today!

Look at these lovely Fluorite Earrings Oxidized Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Blue Green Petite Earrings FREE Shipping Etsy Black Friday Cyber Monday from NovemberJewelry:


I am in love with this adorable Greyhound Christmas Martingale, Free Shipping Etsy, Black Friday Etsy, ONLY 1 LEFT from HuggableHound - I think it would be so cute on Captain!


Since it wouldn't be from my blog without some mention of zombies, check out this Organic cotton Men's Zombie T shirt - Aim for the Brain - GREY from JDNewitt:


How about this neat Free Shipping Wooden box purse, Retro handbag, vintage cigar box, custom orders welcome, OOAK from HopscotchCouture?


Teehee - I know a lot of you can identify with this one too! Funny Wall Art Print - Gone Crazy, be back soon - 8 x 10 - Yellow, from TheWallaroo:


And because I cannot resist sharing from one of my favorite Etsy sellers ever, Gizmo Mogwai Mouse ornament brown white pink fake fur hamster rat mice cute gift for animal lover or collector from TheHouseOfMouse. Everyone should own at least one of her mice - who can resist the cuteness? ;)


This post is part of my Holiday Gift Guide 2011. To see more great gift ideas, just click it.

Review: Teflon SHIELD Wiper Blades (20" 20-200)

Living in Washington, we get a lot of rain. Take this past week, from about 4:30 Monday morning to 6:30 Wednesday morning, 6.57 inches of rain had fallen according to records at Bremerton National Airport. We had a little bit of the white stuff fall here and there in the area, too. DH's work is about 20 minutes away from where we live, so just because we have rain doesn't mean where he's working won't have snow or ice, so we take it seriously.

We have to - DH is the only driver in the family, and he didn't see snow until he was 25. LOL (I, on the other hand, was insane enough to attend Ohio State University and even though I don't drive, I saw more than my fair share of snow over those years. Blech! lol) Even though our now former vehicle had it's issues, we were always careful to have good tires and windshield wipers as part of our winter weather preparedness. The night we brought our new-to-us truck home, it was raining. Both of us were so tired we didn't really think much about it, but the windshield wipers seemed a little... off to us.

Now through November 30th, Advance Auto Parts stores are offering Teflon SHIELD wiper blades at a discount (buy one, get the second half off), and a portion of the sale of each pair sold will be donated to the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, which helps children with cancer. I was sent on over a set of the 20" 20-200 and I held my breath when they arrived the day after we bought the truck - because I thought they might not fit! It worked out perfectly though - they were the right size so I had nothing to worry about.


The Teflon SHIELD wiper blades have a high-strength shell to safeguard the blades from elements. The wiper element is infused with Teflon surface protector to protect the wiping element from extreme temperatures and significantly reduce friction, which improves wear resistance. Considering how often you use windshield wipers here in rainy Washington, this is important to my family. I want windshield wipers that will stand up to the near daily use and won't fail when we need it most.


(That is probably the cleanest the truck ever will be. LOL We had just thrown everything into the truck quickly at the dealership, so when DH came home from work we took everything out to fix it just right. It was perfect that the new wipers were here!)

The Teflon SHIELD wiper blades were easy to install on our truck. We instantly saw a difference. Remember how up above I was telling you something seemed off? Well, the dealership must have thrown on whatever they had lying around, because not only were they a KIA brand (on a Ford truck. LOL!), but they were TWO DIFFERENT SIZES! Geez! I'm not sure whether those old ones were simply old, or just cheap, but boy - the first time in the rain after installing the new ones we definitely saw a HUGE difference. DH has been using them throughout our near daily monsoons over the last two weeks and he says he is really impressed. For me, I'm happy that he will be able to see clearly out the windshield, and I will definitely continue to purchase Teflon SHIELD wiper blades for our truck in the future. I've already recommended to my parents that they need to pick up a set for their car, too.

Depending on what size you need for your vehicle's windshield, the wiper blades retail for from $20-$30 each, so take advantage of that sale at Advance Auto Parts if you can! (Amazon also carries them if you don't have a AAP close to you)

I received the product mentioned above in order to try it out and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own (or my husband's!).

End of November Random News, Savings, & Contests

You know the drill: rather than fill your inbox with tons of individual posts, I'm condensing some interesting things that have landed in my inbox into one post for y'all. I hope you'll save some money, help support a charity, and maybe win something good!

You can print a $1.00 off Sunsweet PlumSmart coupon on the Sunsweet Juice Facebook page. And while you are at it, you can play the Instant Win Game, where you can win FREE PlumSmart, other great prizes and even $10,000 CASH! Check it out here-- www.StayFitontheInside.com. (You'll find the rules over there, too)

This holiday season from November 29-December 13, generationOn and Hasbro are making it simple to give back while helping to make the holidays brighter for children who need it most through the generationOn Holiday Gift Campaign. Every time a child or teen takes the pledge to volunteer at www.generationOn.org, Hasbro will donate a toy through Toys for Tots — up to 100,000 total toys.

In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month in November, Sunstar GUM has partnered with celebrity nutritionist, author and motivational speaker, Robert Ferguson, to create the GUMline to Waistline Challenge, an exciting eight-week program focusing on the correlation between oral health and diabetes management. To find out more, and to register, click here. You can also save $5 off an order over $25 on the Sunstar GUM website. Just enter promo code TWDA at check out.

You can save 15% off at The Ritzy Rover Boutique on November 26th and 27th 2011 using promo code thanks at checkout. (They have the cutest Armoire for storing dog clothes with Betty Boop on it! If they ever sell one without a character, I just might have to beg DH for the Grumpy Princess's clothes. lol)

Remember the LoveSac Creme Phur Slippers I reviewed last month? You know, the ones that I live in? lol Well, this weekend, they are on sale for just $29, which saves you $20 off the regular price and brings them more into a normal price range. ;) BTW, they have several different Sac packages at 50% off their regular prices too, so if you are interested in a "bean bag" that's the real deal, and not the cheapy things that are uncomfortable and spit beads everywhere, you might want to check out the sale.

From now until Saturday, December 9, anyone eligible can enter for a chance to win $2,000 in free airfare and a $250 CafePress gift certificate in the CafePress “Fly a Loved One Home for the Holidays” Facebook sweepstakes. To enter, simply “like” CafePress on Facebook and fill out the entry form. Entrants will receive an additional entry for every Facebook friend they refer who also enters the sweepstakes!

...I really want to win this one! Southwest flies into a local airport back home, so we wouldn't have to drive all the way down from San Antonio. (I'm sitting here with all my fingers and toes crossed. LOL)

Contest: Sweet Secret

Do you have a super secret ingredient you add to your perfect dessert? According to a recent survey conducted by Kelton Research, nearly a third of surveyed bakers use sweetened condensed milk as their secret ingredients. 32% keep it on hand in the pantries at all times.

I'd be one of the 32%! I don't bake a ton of sweet desserts around here, but I use in other recipes year round, such as making mashed potatoes from scratch. But if you like to bake desserts, I've got a contest you need to hear about!


Now through December 7th, home bakers can enter Eagle Brand's "Sweet Secret" contest! Submit your original dessert recipe, along with an essay of 100 words or less describing why Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk is the "sweet secret: ingredient in your recipe. You can enter in English, or for my fellow Latinas, you can enter your recipe in Spanish at www.marcaeagle.com. The only requirement is that the recipe you submit must use at least one 14 oz can of any of the Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. You have five categories to choose from: fudge, cheesecake, pie, cookie bar, or other. The grand prize is $10,000!

For complete rules and to enter, click here. Good luck if you decide to enter!

...now I want to make fudge. My White Chocolate Fudge uses Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk, so if you have a hankerin' for some fudge this weekend too, you have to give it a try! (I am not responsible if you find yourself eating the whole batch in the blink of an eye, OK? lol) If my recipe isn't up your alley, check out the website for tons of great gift worthy baking ideas!

DVD Review: Prep & Landing

My family and I recently received a copy of Disney's animated Prep & Landing on DVD to review.


Wayne is an elf who has worked for 227 years as a member of the high tech team of elves from a unique called "Prep & Landing", who ensures that homes around the world are ready for Santa's arrival. Without this team, you'd be surprised at the things that could go wrong! But Wayne is upset when after all his hard work, he doesn't get the promotion he was waiting for - to become Director of Naughty List Intelligence. No, instead he feels he gets a slap in the face - he's partnered with a rookie names Lanny. In the true spirit of Murphy's Law (lol) everything starts to go wrong when Wayne slacks a little and threatens Christmas for kids everywhere. Can Wayne and Lanny work together and fix it all before it's too late?

We giggled our way through this movie over here! It has a short run time (it was originally in a half hour time slot last Christmas), so while the movie sounds like it's a full length, it's just the right length to bring in some Christmas laughs.

There are a few bonus features on the disc, including several "stocking stuffer shorts": "Tiny's Big Adventure" and "Operation Secret Santa". There are several "Prep & Landing Kringle Academy Training Videos" that are as funny as they sound: "Elfdate.com/The Fruitcake Factory/Spa Navidad", "Welcome To Kringle Academy", "Kringle Academy Equipment Training", and "Academy Do's and Don'ts".

And if you like hidden jokes, you have to watch this one! You'll even spot Mickey on the TV in one house. Don't forget that Prep & Landing 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.

Prep & Landing is available on DVD now wherever DVD's are sold. Widescreen format, it is rated G and safe for all ages. The total running time is 22 minutes long (not including bonus materials). The suggested retail price is $19.99, but Amazon has it available for $13.49 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this title is not currently available, but check back to see if it is)

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

Friday's Featured Etsy - WickedSoaps

Welcome to my Friday's Featured post, in which I showcase Etsy stores and small businesses from folks like you and me. Recession, smession! ;)

Our stop on our this week's journey through Etsy land is a store called WickedSoaps.

WickedSoaps makes cold process and natural goat's milk soaps, thick and creamy sugar body polish, decadent body lotions, to moisturizing lip balms and perfume oils. They use the highest quality vegetable butters and oils, clays, botanicals and other additives, phthalate free cosmetic grade fragrance oils and essential ois, and FD&C approved colors. The last day to place orders for domestic Christmas delivery is December 10th, and through Saturday, September 26th, you can receive 20% off your entire order - no coupon code necessary!

Wouldn't this Vanilla Fig Body Lotion - Coconut Milk and Aloe Body Lotion with Cocoa Butter and Pumpkin Seed Oil - Vegan Friendly be a great stocking stuffer?


This Lip Balm - Peppermint Candies Cocoa Butter and Beeswax Lip Balm would be a fun way to get in the holiday spirit - plus it ships free with any other item:


For the guy in your life, there's Mens Soap . Black Irish Natural Soap Bar Cube by WickedSoaps:


Stop by Wicked Soaps today and have a look around! Support handmade - especially on Small Business Saturday!

This post is part of my Holiday Gift Guide 2011. To see more great gift ideas, just click it.

Happy Shopping!

I guess today kicks off a long weekend of serious shopping with today being Black Friday, tomorrow being Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday a few days from now. Have you snagged any incredible deals? Are you all finished with the gifts you plan to purchase?

Review & Blog Tour: Hickory Farms

MomCentral recently asked me if I wanted to be a part of the Hickory Farms blog tour again this year. Well, of course! The holidays aren't the holidays around here without Hickory Farms.


When I was a little girl, my mother would always order a gift box for our family from Hickory Farms, and we would share it on Christmas Eve before Midnight Mass. Whenever I see little jars of mustard and jellies, and sticks of beef sausage, I associate it with Hickory Farms. I now carry on the tradition with my family, and bring out the cheeses, sausages, and crackers on Christmas Eve. (OK, and a lot of other days throughout the holidays, I admit it. It's just so yummy!)

Hickory Farms sent us on over the Home For The Holidays Gift Box to us:


Doesn't it look so good? In it there was the Signature Beef Summer Sausage and Italian Recipe "rolls", 3 different kinds of cheeses, two kinds of mustards including Sweet Hot and Honey Pineapple, and two boxes of crackers.

Have I mentioned how much I adore Hickory Farm's Honey Pineapple mustard? I wish I could purchase it in an extra large container, because we zip through it so quickly! I love that all the items in this gift basket are shelf stable until opened. It makes it easy to take along with us when traveling, or having in case of emergency when the power is out, or even to save for early Spring camping! (Not that THIS box will make it there. As I am typing this, we're down to one, yes, one, sausage roll. lol We're certainly enjoying it for Thanksgiving!)

The Home for the Holidays gift box retails for $55. I know from a frugal standpoint, this seems a little high, but if you need to ship a gift across the country, it's hard to find shelf stable cheeses and such to bring the cost down and still ship it for a good price - even with flat rate boxes.

By the way, the box it comes in is perfect to recycle to hold holiday decorations for storage!



The Home For the Holidays Gift Box is perfect to send to loved ones serving overseas, so they can have a taste of the holidays too! It has FREE shipping on all APO/FPO military addresses!

Don't fret if you're not shipping overseas, Hickory Farms has announced 3-day shipping for $3 promotion on ALL gifts this holiday season! It's a great time to take advantage of this deal to ship a gift to someone special in your family, or to send it to YOUR family for the holidays!

This post is part of my Holiday Gift Guide 2011. To see more great gift ideas, just click it.

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a product sample to facilitate my review.

Happy Thanksgiving!

To all my readers, I hope you are having a fabulous day spent with your loved ones - whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving or not!

Review & Giveaway: Uncommon Goods

At this point in my life, romantic evenings out with a fancy dinner is but a distant memory. lol We're seriously lucky to be able to get out and see a movie sometimes! So we try to bring date night here. The kiddo's bedtime is 7PM sharp, and DH and enjoy a few hours each evening of alone time. I look for things to make our life a little more entertaining without breaking the bank. My family isn't the only one stuck at home, so I am always on the hunt for gift ideas that make date night at home a little more fun!

Uncommon Goods carries plenty of thoughtful gift exchange ideas - and as a bonus, many of these items are made from recycled items. They sent us on over a fun wine lovers gift set that includes this really neat Wine Bottle Platter, which is made from a recycled wine bottle:


I love when ideas keep things out of landfills! It's just the right size for a piece of brie or Gorgonzola to be on.

A nifty Wine for Two - Glasses Holder:


Which is SUPER NEAT - it's made from an old wine barrel, and it balances two wine glasses with a bottle of wine. If you're on the hunt for gifts for wine lovers, click here for more ideas.

It's one of those focal pieces that will get tons of attention if you use it as a centerpiece at a gathering, too. (Sorry, I had no wine to balance in the middle! My only choice was half a bottle of DH's Jack Daniels and it just didn't look right! LOL!!)

And finally, we received the Fondue for Two set, which DH is officially in love with.


It uses no electricity, just a little tea candle to melt the cheese. It's the perfect small size for two - and we've decided to try to take it camping with us this summer for a little bit of fun. ;) (You can purchase fondue cheese in the deli section of your local grocery store. You can also use this with melted chocolate, too!)

Each of these items retail for $20 or under, so you won't break the bank picking up a gift. Wine related items not your thing? Check out some of the other really cool things Uncommon Goods sells, like this set of record magnets.

Win it! Thanks to Uncommon Goods, one lucky reader will win a Wine Lovers gift set too! To enter, head on over to Uncommon Goods and tell us something you would love to be gifted this holiday season.

You can receive a second entry for tweeting a link to the Gifts for Mom page here. (please leave your tweet link in a comment)

And a third entry if you sign up for the Uncommon Goods email list.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly 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) example:
Win a wine lovers gift set! http://bit.ly/u1fhTs ends 12/3 @psychotichouse

That's six (6) possible entries! Giveaway ends December 3rd 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!! :)

This post is part of my Holiday Gift Guide 2011. To see more great gift ideas, just click it.

I received items shown above in order to share my thoughts on them. All opinions are my own. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Free Seattle Area Family Game Day Event 12/4

Mark your calendars - Sunday, December 4th, you'll find free fun for your family at the Lynnwood Best Buy! You'll find XBOX Kinect systems set up for your family to play Family Game Night 4 - the video game version of all of Hasbro’s most popular games including Sorry, Yahtzee, Life and Scrabble. There will be a face painter on site and giveaways for video games and other prizes throughout the event. Plus, you will be able to enter to win an iPad and a trip to Disneyland!

Sounds like fun, doesn't it? It runs from 11 AM to 3PM, so there's plenty of time to stop by and join in on the fun!

Free Book of Days E-Book Download

If you're planning to purchase an iPad or iPhone, or don't mind reading via your computer - you can snag a free download of Book of Days by James L. Rubart for FREE via iTunes now through November 29th, 2011.

Save Our ZomBcon! #SaveZomBcon

So ZomBCon needs our help! Those of you who have ever helped put on an event - even something like a church fundraiser - know it's a hard job to do. You have to chase down sponsors, get volunteers, advertise everywhere as cheap as you can - well, you know. ZombCon has been a labor of love for Ryan Reiter, but as you may know, puttin' on the Ritz with a big festival ain't cheap. In order to bring in the big names and have your event at a safe, great location like the Hilton, you have to pay to play.


ZomBcon has done an awesome job over the last two years the event has been held - bringing in icons like Bruce Campbell, George A. Romero, Max Brooks, Tom Savini, Malcolm McDowell alongside the cast members of the Evil Dead, The Walking Dead, and HBO's True Blood. In fact, it was so awesome this past year - my family simply cannot wait to see who the guests of honor will be at ZomBcon 2012!

But in order for ZomBcon 2012 to happen, fans like you and me need to get the word out about this great independent fan convention. We - yes, you, the zombie fan reading this post - need to raise $75,000 to help greenlight ZomBcon. It sounds like a huge amount of money at first, but if 2,500 people contribute $50 to the cause, we keep Seattle the host city for ZomBcon 2012.

And it's not that I don't want to spread the love around the US, and let other cities host ZomBcon, but fans who have ever made the journey from other areas know how hard it can be to plan ahead when a 'Con is held in multiple cities. Part of the reason ComicCon is so successful is because it's held in the same city, year after year. Fans can plan ahead easily for vacation time from work, you can shop around for the best airline and hotel prices. When you're waiting until 4-6 months before an event, it dwindles down some options - and we want everyone to experience ZomBcon that wants to!

Can't afford $50 to help out the cause? Well, there's a $5 donation option even - but your word of mouth is just as valuable. Those of you who have blogs, are on Twitter or Facebook - help spread the word. Make ZomBcon a big name to even the non-zombie folks. If you work for a big business (or own one), ask if they can help sponsor ZomBcon 2012 - a $10,000 donation gets someone the chance to host their very own panel at ZomBcon 2012! The business could then use panel to reward an employee, either by random draw or by who sells the most, etc. Or.... you could just ask my DH to host the panel for you. ;)

If you'd like to donate, pledge to volunteer, or just find out more, check out the fundraising page here. We have 45 days left to meet our goal! #SaveZomBcon

Random Thoughts Tuesday - Grrrr, Cranky Woman Alert

So we were on the road yesterday when the problems happened with the truck. Luckily, we were close enough to the house that I figured I could haul kid + dogs home. One problem? No inhaler. I'm sure you can guess what happened next. Sigh! By the time the tow truck showed up, the repair shop was almost closed so we're sitting here waiting for the verdict from them. We think it's simply a blown spark plug, which considering how cold it got two nights ago (21) I'm not really surprised, just frustrated. And Ford trucks are sadly known for the blown spark plugs, so I'll just guess it's that. Geez, I hope it's not anything worse. (ie: more money)

Yeah, that screaming sound is me.

I am really hoping my turkey is defrosted on time! My fridge is playing havoc with me again - my carrots and spinach ended up frozen. Bad fridge, bad! I am drooling for some cranberry and stuffing though, Thursday can't come fast enough! lol

I was almost tempted to drive back home for a warm Thanksgiving until this happened with the car. The call of 80+ degrees was almost too much to ignore - especially as cold and dreary it's been so far this last week.

I can't stop sneezing. I hate allergies.

Uh oh, the Corgis are staring me down. I haven't fed them yet, and I am afraid I might end up being breakfast....

Blu-Ray Review: West Side Story 50th Anniversary Edition

My family and I recently received a copy of the 50th Anniversary Edition of West Side Story on Blu-Ray to review.


One of the greatest movies ever made, West Side Story is one of the most loved musicals of all time as well. It follows two young lovers from rival gangs in New York City back in the 1950's who fall in love - a la Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Maria and Tony begin meeting in secret, planning to run away, but end up trying to stop one last planned "rumble on the streets". Everything ends up going horribly wrong.

It's actually hard to believe it's been 50 years since this movie was released. I remember getting to watch it as a child years later with my parents - it's one of my mother's favorite movies. When you look at movies being released today vs the movies in the past, there's a big difference. It's almost frustrating - they just don't seem to make movies like they used to. It's a wonderful thing that these older movies have been preserved so the younger generation can be introduced to them.

The 50th anniversary edition is a three disc set that contains the Blu-Ray edition of the movie, as well as the DVD version. The DVD disc contains the movie digitally restored in standard definition. It also contains a special feature called music machine, that allows viewers to go straight to their favorite musical numbers.

The Blu-Ray discs are a bonanza of special features, let me tell you! The first Blu-Ray disc contains the movie, remastered in 1080p Hi-Def with 7.1 DTS HD Sound. How this appears to you will depend on your TV and set up, but as someone who owns the regular DVD set that came out about ten years ago, I can tell you there is a big difference and it's phenomenal! Wow! This first disc also contains some of the special features, including Pow! The Dances of West Side Story in movie viewing mode, which features cast members, contemporary filmmakers, dancers and choreographers who analyze and illuminate the film’s famous dance sequences. It also contains song specific commentary by Stephen Sondheim, who was the lyricist for the movie. The disc is rounded out by the music machine feature as well.

The second Blu-Ray disc contains even more special features, including A Place for Us: West Side Story’s Legacy, which is a look back at the iconic film and the impact it has had all over the world. (This one is super neat!). It also includes "West Side Memories", as well as a storyboard to film comparison montage. You'll also find the original trailer for the movie, as well as the new one for the one night only theater performances a few weeks ago.

If you are looking for a great gift idea for the film buff in your life, this is definitely it! Everyone should view this movie at least once in their life.

The 50th Anniversary Edition of West Side Story on Blu-Ray is available today, wherever DVD's and Blu-Ray's are sold. The total running time of the movie is 153 minutes long, but the special features add quite a bit of time. Widescreen format, it is not rated (use your judgement with the littles). The suggested retail price is $29.99, but Amazon has it available for $18.99 as of this posting - and that's a steal, if you ask me.

This post is part of my Holiday Gift Guide 2011. To see more great gift ideas, just click it.

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

This CANNOT Be Happening!

Not even two weeks in and we are having to have the truck towed after smelling gas and hearing a POP. I am going to loose it!

Free Seattle's Best Coffee If You Are Working Black Friday!

As someone who worked retail for years, I have a love/hate relationship with Black Friday. When I worked for someone else, Black Friday meant we had to have extra help in the store, and to be prepared with our best deals for the bargain hunters. It also meant cranky people might end up in store, too, so we had to be on the lookout. I say cranky lovingly, because I was under no delusions that anyone would stake out a clothing store first - they all went to the big box stores (which I totally don't blame them!) By the time they would get to our store, they'd be tired and probably ready to grab the last item on their list and head home to a warm couch!

When I ran my own business, the importance of the sales you make that day really came through. It meant making sure everything was ready to be sold that needed to be, and that everything gave off the words "BUY ME!" lol The whole week was just as busy as the Black Friday for me, in a sense that I didn't have a free moment to stand still.

Whether you own your business, work for someone else, or you're just a die hard shopper who will be at it all day this coming Black Friday, I salute you! Seattle's Best has a perk for you, too: visit the Seattle’s Best Coffee Facebook Page to request a free sample of Level 3 coffee mailed to your home! The sample will brew an entire 10 cup pot of coffee and keep you in the game while you are fielding requests and customers left and right this coming Black Friday. If you're not working, you can still request a $2 off coupon for the Level of your choice, which can be redeemed at grocery stores and mass retailers.


Not familiar with Seattle Best's new level system? The Level System’s unique array of numbers and vivid colors tell consumers exactly what they want to know: which type of coffee fits their taste profile. Seattle’s Best Coffee is the first brand in the coffee category to offer this unique approach; consumers can easily choose from a selection of blends from a bright, crisp Level 1 to a bold, dark and intense Level 5. Each Level represents a finely tuned recipe crafted from decades of roasting experience, blended from beans carefully chosen for their nuances and characteristics, and carrying the hallmark taste of Seattle’s Best Coffee: velvety, round and smooth.

I vote picking up Level 5 for Friday, because whether you're working or shopping, you need to be on your toes! ;)

Sponsored Review: BradsDeals.com

I would say 'tis the season for saving money - but I'm all about saving money 365 days a year! Unless I am purchasing a handmade boutique item from a site like Etsy, I always check first to see if I can find a free shipping coupon or percentage off coupon from the site I'm about to order from. I love my promo codes!

BradsDeals.com is a site that offers online coupon codes, handpicked deals, and discounts - they had me at codes and deals, so I immediately checked out the site. Some online coupon deal sites are full of stores you've never heard of and expired coupon codes, so I was thrilled to see BradsDeals.com has a Top Online Coupons section where the expiration date (if it's known) is easy to find. I spotted Macy's coupons that could save you 15% off any order, as well as Pottery Barn coupons that included free shipping on select items.

What I really loved most was Brad's Handpicked Deals, where I could find some of the hottest sale items across the Internet right now. Even better was that I could sort the list between "Newest" and "Most Popular". Here I spotted some cute little Crocs Kids Blitzen Polar shoes for $12 shipped. They were originally $30, but on sale and had free shipping thanks to a promo code you can find on the site!

They even had links to printable coupons you can use in the stores, including Target coupons. There are so many deals to be had on BradsDeals.com, that I was almost tempted to make it my homepage! (DH would kill me though if I started shopping like a madwoman, considering our current pickle. But oh, the temptation! There's a Smashbox Be Discovered Palette for $60 with free shipping!)

Seriously, if you're still on the hunt for holiday gifts, you might want to check BradsDeals.com and see if it can help save you money!

This is a sponsored post as I am compensated with a gift card in exchange for sharing my thoughts on the site mentioned above. All opinions are my own, and I wouldn't share it with you if I didn't think it could help you save money.

Recipe: Marsala Whipped Sweet Potatoes

oh oh oh, this recipe just landed in my email, and it looks so yummy that with Thanksgiving upon us, I just had to share! I haven't made it myself, but I may just have to zip out this week for some of these ingredients because I am now drooling! lol


INGREDIENTS
3 lbs. orange-flesh sweet potatoes (red garnets)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup Holland House Marsala Cooking Wine
6 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Grated peel of 1 orange
1/4 cup whipping cream (optional)
Toasted pecan pieces


DIRECTIONS
Fill a 6-quart pot halfway with water. Peel each potato and place in pot to prevent browning. Cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes and return to pot. Drain water so there is enough just to cover potatoes. Stir in salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Boil 10 minutes or until potatoes are soft.

In a small microwaveable bowl or 1-cup glass measuring cup, heat marsala cooking wine in microwave 1 minute on medium power or until very hot. Stir in butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange peel.

When potatoes are cooked, drain water from pot. Add marsala cooking wine mixture to pot. Whip with electric beater until smooth. Stir in cream, if desired. Keep warm until ready to serve. Garnish with pecans.

Helpful Hint: Whipped sweet potatoes may be made a day ahead and refrigerated. Reheat in microwave, covered, on medium power. Stir occasionally.

Nutrition Information (per serving): 260 calories, 3g protein, 36g carbohydrate, 12g fat, (7g sat. fat), 30mg cholesterol, 390mg sodium, 5g fiber

I didn't receive anything for this post - just sharing a yummy looking recipe.

The Shelter Pet Project

Four years ago this week, Magick and Mara (Housekeeping Cat) were rescued off of death row from the local pet shelter. Mara had until the shelter closed for the night to find a new home - just about an hour. They both were super lucky - so many cats are not. :(


Seven pets currently call this casa their home - Magick, Mara, Mystery, Sabbath, Grim, Captain, and the Grumpy Princess. Each one of them were a rescue, stray, or adopted from the shelter. All of the pets I have had in my life before them with the exception of Bear, one of my Corgis, were rescues or strays. Even our beloved Pudgy Princess was a throw-away to someone else. I have to tell you, I've had some of the most awesome pets with hardly any problems - while I've heard others who have purchased their pets have problem after problem. Just because you purchase (or adopt) from a breeder does NOT save you from health or behavior problems. Bear, the one Corgi I actually paid to adopt from a really great breeder, is also the pet that I've had the most health problems with. Most of the seven years he was alive was spent battling one health problem after another - he had the worst allergy problems the vet clinic had ever seen before. (I jokingly say that I helped build their new addition with my tab there alone!)


I'm telling you this because I'm joining in to raise awareness about The Shelter Pet Project, a public service campaign from The Humane Society, Maddie's Fund and the Ad Council. There are so many cats, dogs, even rabbits, horses and chickens stranded in shelters across the USA at this very moment in need of a loving home. I'm not one to say bringing in a new pet during the chaos of the holidays is a great idea - far from it - but if you're like us, and celebrate low-keyed, it might actually be a good time to adopt!


Picking up toys is a daily occurrence here too. Maybe I should hide the toys a little better, LOL

So go adopt. If you can't adopt, help by donating old blankets and toys, or pick up an extra bag of dog food on your next trip to the grocery store and donate that - many shelters are struggling as donations are down. They are also in need of volunteers to intact with the animals and walk the dogs, too. The Grumpy Princess asks you to:


And how could you say no to that face? If you're planning to bring a new pet into your home, choose to adopt not buy. If you'd really like a specific breed - you know I am all about Corgis - get in touch with a breed specific rescue organization. Many times they even have young puppies available because someone thought a puppy would be a good idea, and it didn't work out like they planned.

No one's paying me to post this. I'm doing it out of LOVE and HOPE that other pets will find a great home.

EdenFantasys Has New Goodies!

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.

Just in time for the holiday season, EdenFantasys has introduced a ton of great new products perfect for gift giving! They expanded their beauty and body products to include more things like facial skin care, body treatments, body washes and moisturizers to even shaving creams, as well as a makeup line that includes eye shadow palettes, blushes, bronzers, lip tints, and more! They have some Shine On! lip gloss that I am itchin' to try.

The younger crowd can now shop their club wear collection that has some great dresses, tops, and leggings too. I love this Tutu skirt corset and stockings, but I am realistic enough to know I'd never wear it.


Well, more like I have no place to wear it these days even if I was daring enough to - can you see me wearing it to the library or grocery store? Yeah, I didn't think so. (Ah, if I was 21 again! lol) I'm still holding out hope that EdenFantasys will one day start to carry shoes!

Oh, and speaking of corsets - my fellow corset lovers, I noticed a few new ones on the site! Run, because you know how quickly certain sizes sell out!


Psst - EdenFantasys still has a free gift with every order, and free shipping on orders of $59 or more!

This is a sponsored post for EdenFantasys, an online retailer of sex toys, - I received a gift card in exchange for this post.