Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife

Today is National Chocolate Cake Day!

2012-01-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

Talk about a yummy holiday right up MY alley! LOL We salute you, yummy chocolate cake! Since I didn't find out until about oh, five minutes ago, I don't have enough chocolate on hand to bake a cake and share (I used the last of my cocoa last night for brownies!), so I'll direct you to My Baking Addiction, and her fabulous blog posting with a recipe for Chocolate Cake & Espresso Buttercream. Here's a taste:

Photo courtesy of My Baking Addiction

You're drooling now, aren't you? I know I am! Yum!

Book Review: Queen Of America By Luis Alberto Urrea

2012-01-27T13:05:00.001-08:00

I recently received a copy of the new book Queen of America: A Novel by Luis Alberto Urrea to review.

Queen of America: A Novel is the follow up to the author's book, The Hummingbird's Daughter. Set in the end of the 1800's, Teresita Urrea, who has become a beloved healer and the "Saint of Cabora," in her home country of Mexico tries to flee with her father to Arizona after the bloody Tomochic rebellion. Just wanting to live a normal life, she is once again claimed as the Spriritual Leader of the Mexican Revolution, and back to being worshipped by the people, Teresita must be careful as assassins could take her life. She ends up traveling through turn of the century America, meeting many people, all while longing for something else. Even though she is a saint - after all, she came back to life after being declared dead - could she love?

Although the book is fiction, Teresita Urrea was a real person, and a member of the author's family tree. To truly understand Queen of America, you really need to read The Hummingbird's Daughter first. A little knowledge of Mexican history around the time this book is taking place is helpful, but not necessary. There are a few words here and there that might be hard for some to understand, but you'll get the gist of it anyways. It's great book, and if you find my review interesting, I recommend you add it (well, both) to your library or want list.

Queen of America: A Novel by Luis Alberto Urrea is a hardcover historical fiction book published by Little, Brown and Company. It is 496 pages long. The suggested cover price is $25.99, but Amazon has it available for $15.26 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.

Friday's Featured Etsy - Valentine's Day Is Coming!

2012-01-27T12:12:00.001-08:00

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

This week, I'm featuring great Valentine's Day gift ideas from a plethora of Etsy shops! Many are under $10, so you're getting some deals!

Need a Valentine's Day card for a teen or Twilight fan? Check out this Valentine's Day Card- Vampire TrueBlood Twilight Card FREE SHIPPING from Scrappingoodtimes:

Or a gift for a little girl in your life, check out this Valentine's Day Conversation candy hearts and pearls bracelet from bamfkat - bonus, proceeds are donated to animals!

There's the Hearts in a Bottle Valentine's Day glass vial necklace OOAK from Woodland Trinkets:

To decorate the bathroom a little, check out there Valentine's Day Heart Soap, Lavender hearts with flower buds, Vegan Cold Process Soap in Purple from Second Spring Soaps:

And to wear out there's the Pink Valentine's Day Heart Button Ring (Free Shipping) from Moonstone Beginning. It's a steal at just $2!:

Head on over to Etsy for your Valentine's Day gifts - support handmade!

Thrifty Thursday - Party Stock Up Time

2012-01-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

This week for my Thrifty Thursday post, I'm here to remind you that many of the prices you'll see on tailgating and party foods will probably be the best you'll see until Memorial Day. Foods like burger condiments, chips, soda, grilling meats can be purchased ahead - check the dates to be sure they don't expire too soon. If you use a bottle of ketchup every other month, you can easily purchase 2 or 3 now, saving yourself as much as a dollar a bottle.

If you drink alcohol, be on the lookout for rebates that will give you money back for purchasing items such as meats with the beer. (Be sure to save your receipt and remember to mail that rebate in!)

If you're looking to cut costs on your Big Game party, try hosting a potluck! Assign each person attending a category - have one person bring a drink, another a dip, someone else a condiment - and you'll cut down on costs while still being able to throw a fun party.

Blu-Ray Review: Real Steel

2012-01-26T11:52:00.000-08:00

My family and I recently received a Blu-Ray combo set of the new movie Real Steel to review.

Set a few years ahead, Charlie Kenton is a washed up former boxer who wants to make a comeback. In the meantime, he makes a living as a robot-fight promoter and builds robots from scrap - ironic, since it's because of these robots that he lost his chance to be in the ring. Eventually, he ends up teaming up with his estranged son Max to build and train a championship robot boxer.

This CGI/live movie features the acting skills of Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, and Dakota Goyd as the young son. Dany Elfman, one of Hollywood's music geniuses, was in charge of the music. The line up is good, the graphics are killer, the storyline is different - and entertaining for young adults and adults like. That being said, I wouldn't agree with this movie being called a "family movie" as I have read in previews of this movie - at least not MY family. It does have it's share of violence - even if a lot of it is CGI - and it's share of bad language. However, both my DH and I enjoyed it as adults.

The movie is being released as a two disc set. The regular DVD contains the movie, as well as a few special features - some bloopers, several mini featurettes "Making of Metal Valley" and "Building the Bots", as well as some audio commentary with director Shawn Levy. The Blu-Ray disc contains the Blu-Ray version of the movie and the same special features on the DVD disc, as well as some extra deleted and extended scenes with introductions by director Shawn Levy, a featurette on boxer "Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman's Champ", "Countdown to The Fight: The Charlie Kenton Story" - which gives you kind of a background on the main character of the movie, and the super neat "Real Steel Second Screen: Ringside With Director Shawn Levy", which allows you to explore interactive content with your iPad or computer while you watch the movie.

I love these two disc sets that contain both the DVD and the Blu-Ray - if you don't already have a Blu-Ray player, you save money by not having to re-buy all your movies, plus you can play the regular DVD on computers and portable DVD players while traveling or just on the go.

Real Steel is available now wherever Blu-Rays and DVD's are sold. Rated PG-13, the total running time (not including special features) is 127 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $39.99, but Amazon has it available for $22.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this title will be available on DVD, so add it to your queue)

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

Giveaway: Celtic Woman - Believe

2012-01-25T14:14:00.000-08:00

Celtic Woman, an all-female singing group featuring vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lisa Kelly, Lisa Lambe and Celtic violinist Máiréad Nesbitt who perform classic Irish songs and Inspirational songs, just released their new CD yesterday, called Believe. They also released a companion live concert DVD! You may remember my review on Songs From The Heart, so I was happy to hear a new album has been released! Look for my review on Believe, coming soon!

The DVD was filmed at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA with a dazzling array of visual and musical effects including a 20 piece orchestra, 7 piece Celtic Woman Band, 16 piece Atlanta Bag Pipe Band; lush vocal harmonies from a 10 piece Aontas Choir, 30 member children’s choir and featuring a world champion Irish dancer formerly a lead performer in Riverdance all serving as the backdrop to the grace and beauty of Celtic Woman. You'll be able to view this special on PBS, if you haven't caught it yet. (By the way, this is about the time of year many PBS stations start their pledge drive - you may be able to score a copy of this DVD for free with your donation! Check your local station!)

Celtic Woman is also launching their US tour on February 3rd in Nashville, TN. Check out this list to find out when Celtic Woman is coming to your nearest town! I'm excited to know they will be coming to Seattle here in April at the Paramount Theater.

You can purchase the Believe DVD here and the Believe CD here via Amazon.

Win it! I am super excited that I'm getting to give away one signed copy of the Believe CD and one signed copy of the Believe DVD! To enter, either tell us your favorite Celtic Woman song, or if you're not very familiar with them, tell us what you think about Celtic music in general. Please leave in your comment whether you'd prefer the CD or the DVD.

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 Celtic Woman Believe CD/DVD http://bit.ly/xPs62U ends 2/4 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends February 4th 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!! :)

Two lucky winners will receive the prize(s) stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Giveaway: Kisseo eCards

2012-01-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

Remember when we were little kids the fun Valentine's Day cards we used to give to all our friends at school? I know I sent Garfield ones one year, and I think Care Bears another. How about a little nostalgia - send Valentine's Day cards to all your friends this year via Facebook, thanks to Kisseo eCards!

Kisseo eCards has over 5,000 different e-cards to send for any occasion, from birthdays to thank you's to Congratulations! You can choose to send them via regular email, and now you can send them directly on Facebook using their handy app! They have a free basic option, which allows you to choose from a limited amount of cards, or a premium subscription that gives you full access to every card available!

I love e-cards because not only does it save me money on postage, it also helps the environment by cutting down on waste. Alas, gone are the days where cards were something special to keep for many years - folks just toss 'em right out. :(

Win it! Thanks to Kisseo eCards, one lucky reader is going to win a one year subscription to Kisseo eCards, a $24.95 value! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends February 4th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. This one is open Worldwide. Good luck everyone!! :)

I am not receiving anything for this post, but one winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Looking For Valentine's Day Gifts?

2012-01-25T11:35:00.000-08:00

While I love handmade, I understand that it's not every one's cup of tea. If you're on the hunt for a special gift for Valentine's Day, here are a few gift ideas that popped up in my inbox.

Kris Nations is designed by sisters with a free-spirited sense of style - equal parts sophisticated and bohemian, with a little vintage inspiration thrown into the mix. Their jewelry is made from recycled metals here in the USA. They have some lovely dangly heart earrings and matching cuff priced under $100, and they have free shipping on orders over $100.

Alice Roche carries contemporary, silver and mixed metal jewelry inspired by the world of nature and architecture with a handmade quality. Many items are made from reclaimed metal, so it's a little more environmentally friendly. There is a pretty Limited Edition Open Heart Necklace available for $120 with free ground shipping on all orders.

I'm not receiving anything for this post - just sharing gift ideas!

Book Review: Unhallowed Ground By Mel Starr

2012-01-25T11:03:00.001-08:00

I recently received a copy of the book Unhallowed Ground: The Fourth Chronicle Of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon by Mel Starr to review as part of a Kregel book blog tour.

Set back in the medieval ages in England, Unhallowed Ground is the fourth book following Hugh de Singleton, a surgeon and "detective"/bailiff. Thomas atte Bridge, a well known person in the community, who is also as hated as he is known, is found hanging in a tree near Cow-leys Corner. Eager to be rid of the man, the town is quick to call it a suicide, but de Singleton is not so sure after finding evidence to the contrary. The corrupt priest John Kellet had been in town at the same time, perhaps it was he. He sets off to find the elusive priest, only to discover the priest simply could not have done it. Now he must return home to discover which townsperson - a friend - may have killed atte Bridge before he and his wife Katie become the murderer's next target.

I was giddy with glee when this book arrived. My favorite time in history! Back then, a suicide was a sin, and those who took their own life could not be buried on hallowed ground. The area where atte Bridge was found was an area most would not wander after dark, as it was the area where the bodies who could not be buried on church ground were buried - hence, unhallowed ground. The author does well in writing the book from a historical point of view, making it easy to loose yourself in the story and not nitpick that things are "off". For those unfamiliar with medieval speak, there is a glossary in the beginning of the book with many words that are no longer common in today's tongue. It also has a little hand drawn map of the town.

As I stated earlier, this is the fourth book in the series, and while you don't need to read the first three, I recommend you do. The books all pick up one after another, and if you like one, you'll enjoy them all. The fifth book in the series should be out later this year! I highly recommend it if you are into historical mysteries. (I'm thinking this should be made into a movie or TV series with Sean Bean as de Singleton - anyone else think so?)

You can visit the author's website here for more on his books.

Unhallowed Ground: The Fourth Chronicle Of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon by Mel Starr is a paperback historical fiction book published by Monarch Books. It is 240 pages long. The suggested cover price is $14.99, but Amazon has it available for $8.88 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 as part of a Kregel blog tour in order to share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

A Question For Those With Dogs...

2012-01-25T09:42:00.001-08:00

I stumbled onto this great post over on Dogster called Let’s Talk: Do You Use Retractable Leashes, or Do You Think They’re Completely Lame and Dangerous?.

The long and short of it is that the majority of people commenting think retractable leashes should be taken off the market.

I don't. While we don't use ours all the time - only when hiking state parks - I see the value in them for OWNERS who are properly trained. No, owners isn't a typo. The problem is that the retractable leashes can be a tool for lazy pet owners who don't bother to train their dogs properly. They don't pay attention to the dog, talk on the cell phone a mile a minute, and before they know it - oops, the dog has nearly yanked their arm off going after a squirrel or dashing into traffic. (Usually, it's the same kind of dog owner who doesn't pick up after their dog in public, too)

Granted, I have 30 pound Corgis, not 100 pound Labs. I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable carrying a retractable leash that big.

What do you think? Yay or Nay? Do you use one?

Uh Oh...

2012-01-24T22:05:00.001-08:00

I have one cranky DH. Apparently he missed out on getting the special package for the upcoming Behemoth concert on April 20th - there were only 15 available. Poor guy, there is even packages still available for San Antonio, but not here in Seattle.

Actually, I'm sulking a little too, because included was a pass to jump to the head of the line so I wouldn't have to stand in line. Not a huge deal, but this is Seattle where it rains all the time - me no want to be wet. lol

I Love Avocados!

2012-01-24T13:01:00.001-08:00

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

As some of you know, we're trying to use more and more natural products around the home. One of the areas I have been having the hardest part with is my hair. I have hair with an attitude, lol. I tried several natural shampoos and conditioners, and unfortunately, my hair was dry, and impossible to detangle. So I wandered the internet, and found a few homemade hair treatments to try out to get my hair at least softer.

Avocados from Mexico, believe it or not, are not only yummy - they are one of the best natural conditioners you can try! To use, simply mash one avocado and a pinch of salt together, then mix with 1/2 cup of olive oil. (If you have super long hair, you might want to use two avocados!)

Apply the mixture to your wet hair, massaging it into the scalp and ends. Leave on for about 20 minutes, then rinse off. When you think about how much some of the deep conditioning treatments can cost at the salon, this is a bargain - and you can do it in your own home, no appointment necessary! This is great especially if you have an overripe avocado that you might have otherwise been tempted to toss in the trash - there's no need to waste.

Do you use avocados for anything besides the usual dip? If you do, I'd love to hear your recipes!

Right now, if you visit I love avocados on Facebook, you can download free ringtones, wallpapers & screensavers, as well as send virtual gifts to friends! I downloaded the Authentic Guacamole wallpaper.

Mine never looks that nice. lol Oh well, it's more about taste than the way it looks, right? ;)

By the way, you can connect with I LOVE Avocados! on Twitter @guacgrl and tweet your love of avocados by using the hashtag #iloveavocados.

Like, Share, Change The World

2012-01-24T12:17:00.000-08:00

Country music star Trace Adkins gets an A+ in my book. He's teamed up with BC Powder, NASCAR legend Richard Petty, and Goody’s Powder for the “Like, Share, Change The World” campaign to help support the Wounded Warrior Project and the Victory Junction Camp for special kids. For those of you unfamiliar with Wounded Warrior Project, it provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life. It's a great cause.

Both Mr. Adkins and Mr. Petty are asking folks to visit their respective Facebook pages and offer ways that people can help change the world. For every person who visits the Facebook pages www.pickapowder.com and “likes” the videos, a donation will be made to these special charities.

Direct Link for the Feedreaders
What's in it for you? Well, once you like those videos, you can enter to win a trip to either a NASCAR race (if you like Mr. Petty) or a Trace Adkins concert. I don't do NASCAR (sorry!), so I'll pin my hopes on winning the trip for the concert.

Also, for a limited time, you will find Trace Adkins and Wounded Warrior Project on select boxes of BC, and Richard Petty and Victory Junction on select boxes of Goody’s. With each purchase of these specially-marked boxes of BC or Goody’s, made between now and April 1, 2012, fans of Petty and Adkins will have yet another way of giving back to the charities affiliated with each spokesperson and each brand.

I'm not receiving anything for this post - just trying to support a very important cause - our brave men and women who are sacrificing so much for our FREEDOM!

Random Tuesday Thoughts - Recycled Tires

2012-01-24T12:08:00.000-08:00

Meatloaf last night was a DISASTER. It was so crumbly, it was more like hash. Geez. I even messed up the mashed potatoes! (and spilled flour all over the floor... I swear, the kitchen troll was out in full force yesterday.)

Last night we were looking at property back home and using Google Earth because neither of us could figure out where some of these places were for the life of us. So for kicks and giggles, I went to go look at the house I grew up in in. Weirdly, it's just aerial, but when you cross down to where DH lived, the whole town is street view. There really is no method to the madness, is there?

I did notice the house I want to buy if we even won the lottery have dropped the price another half a million AND added more photos and information. The drool is only getting worse. I'm almost tempted to start playing the lottery. (yeah, right lol) Someone's getting a deal though when they buy the place. (I feel bad for the seller, it's been on the market almost 3 years now)

I'm ready to do some serious Spring cleaning. I want my windows open, it just seems so stale in here. Sadly, even though it's been raining, there's still plenty of snow on the ground... so it's probably not going to happen any time soon.

We took the car in to have the power steering flushed (it was routine maintenance) and while we were waiting, someone called about having 80 tires to get rid of. 80! *swoons* That would practically build an entire outdoor wall for an earth ship house! (For those going what the... check this link out Isn't her home beautiful?)

*kicks the wall* Man, I want to get to this show on the road. I am itchin' to start digging into my own dirt. I want chickens and goats. More fruit trees. Most importantly, I want SUN. Geez. Sweet irony. I avoided the sun like the plague back home because it would make me blister, and here, all I want is that sun again - I don't care if I blister and burn. (I will about a half an hour later, I'm quite sure - oh, but it will be worth it! lol)

Wah! I just opened the last jar of my peanut butter stash. The last time I stocked up, it was $1 a jar. Somehow, I don't think I am going to get that lucky this time.

The dryer is calling...

Menu Planning Monday 1/23 - 1/29

2012-01-23T17:23:00.000-08:00

Monday: meatloaf, mashed potatoes & gravy

Tuesday: Sweet 'N Sour chicken, rice

Wednesday: Texas BBQ Chicken, rice side dish, salad

Thursday: recipe of the week

Friday: pulled pork sandwiches, waffle fries

Saturday: chicken lasagna, garlic bread

Sunday: slow cooker roast, roasted potatoes & veggies

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

A Little Vintage Cheese Chatter

2012-01-22T14:53:00.001-08:00

I don't go out thrifting as often these days - the prices scare me - but I was lucky to hit upon a $1 a bag of book sale at a smaller thrift store last week. I'm not going to say it was a goldmine of books as I mostly ended up with some mass market paperback books to take camping this Summer, but I did score this fun vintage Hickory Farms cookbook from 1970.

It's called Cheese Chatter: A Fine Cookbook by Hal Rothschild. The back still has the price tag of $1.49 from back then, which was rather expensive for a paperback cookbook! I love getting Hickory Farms every year for the holidays, so it's a little bit of nostalgia with some fun old recipes to have on my shelf. What I really loved about this one is that each recipe is filled with little stories and anecdotes. There's the background on how the recipe came about, or a memory about the author's family. The recipes aren't cold and sterile like many cookbooks these days, but rather the author sitting down at the table and sharing things with the reader - and you know how I love that. Everything is so impersonal these days. :( At any rate, I'm super pleased to have this one in my collection - especially with the emphasis on CHEEEESE. ;)

I think I was born in the wrong time.....

Giveaway: Little Caesars HOT-N-READY Pizza

2012-01-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

Prices keep rising everywhere, from the little things we need to have like toothpaste to basic food items we can't really go without. Have you noticed the price increase on peanut butter alone? *faints* With the extra money going to your grocery bill, having a meal out can be hard to afford.

Little Caesars can help you have a night off from cooking and have a fun family meal together! For just $5, you can pick up a HOT-N-READY pepperoni, cheese, or sausage pizza at your local Little Caesars! Check the Store Locator to find your nearest Little Caesars location in your neighborhood.

Direct Link for the feedreaders

When we cross the bridge to Tacoma, our on-the-go meal of choice is always to pick up a Little Caesars HOT-N-READY pizza - for just $5 plus tax, we all could eat. If we went out to a fast food place, or for a sit-down meal, we'd spend quite a bit more. About six months ago, we had a brand new Little Caesars open up down the street right next to Fred Meyer. DH was super excited. I indulge him from time to time with a HOT-N-READY. ;) I was super tired from the lousy weather this week and wanted a break from cooking, so I told him that he could stop off on the way home today and pick up a Little Caesars HOT-N-READY pepperoni pizza:

I was thrilled not to have cook, and even though I love my homemade pizza, Little Caesars is still pretty good. And at $5, it can't be beat!

Plus, it's almost time for the Big Game! Are you getting excited? Little Caesars can help you prepare for the game on a budget! If you need a big order, call your local Little Caesars. Or simply stop by! From pizza to Crazy Bread to Caesar Wings to soda, Little Caesars has you covered. (Psst... check the website for printable coupons to make your celebration even cheaper!)

For news and promotions, be sure to follow Little Caesars on Twitter or "like" them on Facebook.

Win it! Thanks to Little Caesars, one lucky reader is going to win a $5 Little Caesars gift card! To enter, tell us which HOT-N-READY pizza you'd choose!

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 a Little Caesars GC http://bit.ly/wrhzTs ends 2/4 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends February 4th 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'm receiving a gift card for this post. One reader will also win a gift card, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Book Review: Hard Target By Howard Gordon

2012-01-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

I recently received a copy of the new book Hard Target by Howard Gordon to review.

Dale Wilmot would have given his life for his country. His only son, Evan, had joined the military, and nearly given his own life as well - coming back from Afghanistan in pieces, missing limbs and scarred from his wounds. No father should have to see his son like this. Now, Dale is angry at the country that sent his son off to war. Gideon Davis, a former diplomat and presidential advisor, is settling in to a quiet life of being a college professor. He looks forward to being married in a few short weeks to Kate Murphy. His brother, Tillman, was set up as a "terrorist", and sent to prison. He's given a presidential pardon just in time - Gideon is approached by a white supremacist meth head who says he has evidence of an impending attack on US soil. At first, Gideon brushes it off, but when the informant is conveniently murdered, Gideon takes the information to his ex-girlfriend Nancy Clement, who happens to be an FBI agent. Together the three of them must stop the attack before it happens.

At first, I was a little confused why the book jacket had a bunch of praise for one of the author's other books, Gideon's War - usually it should be about the book you're reading, right? Well, Hard Target is the follow up to it. It was a fast paced page turner for me, although there were a few moments that confused me, it would make sense as the story continued. The author is a writer and producer for a lot of fast paced TV shows like 24 and Homeland, so if you like those shows, I think you'll enjoy this book. While you don't have to read Gideon's War to understand what is going on in Hard Target, I recommend that you do first, because you'll understand some of the characters a little better. (I like knowing my characters as well as I can!)

Hard Target by Howard Gordon is a hardcover thriller fiction book published by Touchstone. It is 288 pages long. The suggested cover price is $25.99, but Amazon has it available for $17.04 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.

Review & Giveaway: Shout Color Catcher With Oxi

2012-01-20T14:53:00.000-08:00

As part of Mom Central's Shout Ambassador blog tour, I recently had the chance to try out new Shout Color Catcher With Oxi.

I'm not one who can sit back and ignore the laundry basket all week, and then spend all day doing load after load. I'm OCD - it has to be done. The last thing I want to do is get caught with frozen pipes or a water main break and boom - we're almost out of clean towels and I'm stuck heading off to a laundromat. (The only one in town is super icky!)

I love the color red, and when we painted our kitchen that color, I started buying red towels and dishcloths whenever I could find a good deal on them. I love them, but I live in fear sometimes that I will miss one of those red towels, and DH will end up with a drawer full of pink undershirts! (I'll admit - it would be funny to see my metalhead DH's face if it happened though! LOL!) Thanks to Shout Color Catcher With Oxi, I don't have to worry so much about darker colors - or even red - being mixed in with light fabrics in my washer. I can just toss one of these little pouches with Oxi Powder in the wash before adding my detergent and fabric softener:

They are supposed to be dryer safe, but I pulled them out as I put the clothes in the dyer. (With my old dryer, anything added like that always ends up in my lint trap) I tell you what, it was nice to not have to worry about washing DH's black socks with his lighter colored clothes. I even tossed in my white socks with a load of dark clothes. I'm not sure I'd spend the money to use Shout Color Catcher With Oxi every load - but I like the idea of keeping a box on hand for when I want to make sure my laundry bin is totally empty (like when guests are visiting). If you don't like strong smells, be aware that the scent of what I assume is the Oxi is pretty strong when you open the box.

Don't forget, Shout is offering downloadable coupons on their Facebook page for Shout Free and Color Catcher with Oxi! Head on over to print yours now.

Win it! Two lucky winners will each win a box of Shout Color Catcher With Oxi! To enter, tell us how often you do laundry in your home.

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 Shout Color Catcher ends 1/28 http://bit.ly/wpcTnY @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends January 28th 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 wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Shout and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Printable DiGiorno Pizza Coupon!

2012-01-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

Click here to access a printable coupon to save $1.00 off 2 DiGiorno pizzas (print the coupon by going to any of the products under "Pick Your Winning Lineup") It will probably go fast - so hurry if you want to print!

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!

Friday's Featured Etsy - Hot Tots Cool Kids2

2012-01-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

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 Hot Tots Cool Kids2.

Hot Tots Cool Kids2 creates custom kids clothes at affordable prices! The owner has been sewing all of her life, but began making custom clothes when her granddaughters were born. If you have an idea for a custom outfit, be sure to contact her so you can work something out!

Check out this cute Ready to Ship Custom Boutique 2 Piece Girl Valentine Fabric Twirl 3 4 5 Pom Pom Skirt:

No one show this Custom Boutique Dora Explorer 2 Piece Nie Nie Set Girl 2 3 4 5 6 to my daughter, please. LOL

This Custom Boutique Black White Dot Stripe Twirl Elizabeth Sundress Halter Vacation Cruise 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 makes me long for Summer to arrive!

Stop by Hot Tots Cool Kids2 today and have a look around! Support handmade!

Snowmageddon 2012

2012-01-20T12:41:00.000-08:00

It started out innocently on Monday...

And most of it was gone come early Tuesday. This was the snowstorm they were worried about? But it started back up later Tuesday....

And by Wednesday I wasn't laughing anymore!

It seems every two years we get whacked here with a decent snowstorm - so much for it supposedly not snowing here, right? I am going to need to order us a cord of wood for the rest of the winter - we've almost zipped through the last of our wood! I know those of you who live in areas where it snows a foot in a day (lol) are laughing at me!

Giveaway: Tropicana Trop50

2012-01-19T12:59:00.000-08:00

I have a saying I remind myself over and over again when the going gets rough: Ninety degrees and tropical trees. Rough has been this last week - snow, power outage, and DH unable to drive into work. (Not good for my New Year's resolution of working down our debt, not good at all!) I'll do anything to remind me of my saying, from pulling out coconut smelling lotions to drinking a little fruity drinks. Tropicana Trop50 can help me with the last - they have a line of beverages with the goodness of fruit juice with 50 percent less sugar and calories, and no artificial sweeteners. This way, I'm getting my fruity goodness without drinking a ton of calories!

If you missed my last post, Tropicana is hosting the Trop50 True Resolutions contest to celebrate the real reasons behind New Year’s resolutions. All you have to do to enter is share your secret motivation, and you’ll earn a coupon for $1 off Trop50 for yourself and 50¢ off coupons for up to 50 of your friends! You can even submit incognito, if you don't want anyone on your Facebook to know. And whether you choose to submit a resolution or not, you can still enter a sweepstakes to win a $1000 gift card! Head on over the Trop50 True Resolutions page on Facebook to enter! The contest ends January 31st, so hurry to enter! Good luck!

Win it! The folks at Tropicana Trop50 ROCKS, because one lucky reader is going to win a $50 Spa & Wellness Gift Cards by SpaWeek again! To enter, tell us how you're doing on your New Year's resolution. Are you hanging in there? If you didn't make any resolutions, do you have a long term goal you'd like to accomplish?

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 a $50 SpaWeek GC! http://bit.ly/Ay2Pz4 ends 1/28 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends January 28th 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!! :)

Trop50 Winner!

2012-01-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

The winner of the $50 Spa & Wellness gift card by SpaWeek thanks to Trop50 is:

Kristen said...

I want to eat more fruit for snacks.

Congratulations! I'm sending you an email right now - remember you have 48 hours to get back to me!

Why Being Prepared Is Important

2012-01-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

What started out as a poor excuse of a "snow storm" ended up picking up yesterday. We ended up with about 7-8" of snow over here - I know, for those of you in some areas, that's nothing. But for us here in the Seattle area, that's more snow than we normally see all year! (In fact, I don't think we got more than a dusting of snow last year?)

Very early this morning turned to freezing rain, and you know what that means - heavy branches with snow end up breaking and there goes the power. Luckily, I keep an extra case of Duraflame logs on hand (I've tried almost all of the fast light logs, and those have given me the best results in our fireplace), we had plenty of extra water to drink as well as flush, flashlights ready to go, and the fun games ready to play. We also have alternate ways to cook having both a charcoal BBQ as well as a propane camping stove, so things go pretty much as normal here when we loose the power.

If you haven't taken the time to have the basics ready to go, take a moment this morning to double check those flashlights (and the batteries for smoke alarms if you didn't during the time change!). Check on your extra water, and come up with a plan of where to head if the weather is just too bad to stay at home. Remember, if you will be leaving in a vehicle, to keep an emergency kit in the car with items such as extra warm clothes, kitty litter for traction on slippery roads, and those awesome little heating pads you can find in the camping department of stores like Walmart, REI, etc.

Will The Poe Toaster Return?

2012-01-17T20:02:00.000-08:00

For nearly 60 years, a shadowy figure had stopped by on the date of author Edgar Allan Poe's death on January 19th to leave three roses and a bottle of cognac on the grave. A fitting tribute to this great author, sí?

However, the last two years, no one has left a gift near the headstone, making many folks wonder if the tradition has been stopped. Was it a secret society? Descendants of Poe? A family totally obsessed with the man? Will we ever find out?

Mayhap we will, mayhap we won't. It's an intriguing tale nonetheless. I first read "The Raven" when I was six - no, that's not a typo. By the time I was eight, I had read all of the tales and poems written by him. I haven't visited Virginia yet in my life, so I haven't had the chance to visit the Edgar Allan Poe museum, but I look forward to it one day.

If you're a Poe fan too, which is your favorite piece of his work?

Random Tuesday Thoughts - Flashback to High School

2012-01-17T12:58:00.000-08:00

Anyone else not feeling like taking a cruise in Italy any time soon? Yowser! Those poor folks! :(

DH came home sick the other night, and I thought for sure we'd all be goners. Turns out he ate leftovers at work. I guess I forgot to send him to work the first day with a sign that said "Do not feed the pappi". The thing that makes me mad was that I had sent him with a nice lunch, too! Serves him right! (mean of me, right? lol)

Even the snow here is just wetness. All we have is a slushy mess. It's icky out there, and wasting my wood! I want it to be warm again! lol

On the bright side, DH is at home today so I put him to work. He's currently grooming the Corgis, and I had him vacuum earlier. Maybe I should con him into cleaning the bathroom next? ;)

I've seen this before: How Much Is A Homemaker Worth? It's a good reminder that it's not necessarily always in a family's best interest for Mom (or Dad instead) to work, too. By the time you add up an extra vehicle, gas, work clothes, faster prep foods, daycare, etc - depending on the job, especially if it's minimum wage, you can end up almost losing money.

No, really? Study: Junk food doesn’t cause obesity in middle schools It's called no more P.E. - where you really had to hoof it - and cutting back on recess. Let's not forget that the most exercise your average kid gets after school is walking into the house from the bus or up the stairs to their room. We've created a nation of LAZY kids. Bring back P.E. and home economics, and watch our kids start to get back on the right track.

...which reminds of all those brutal "line drills" during volleyball season. Do they even do that anymore? Man, our coach was EVIL. lol If you had a slowpoke who didn't make the time, he'd make you ALL keep running the drill until you made the time. By about the third of fourth time, you'd want to cry.

...he really was evil. I missed ONE serve. ONE. And he wouldn't let me serve the rest of the season. What was worse, he'd sub in my most hated school rival in my place. You know, the one with the Snow White hair.... yeah, I have issues. ;)

DH still carries my senior picture in his wallet. Isn't he adorable? lol ;)

I ran out of cat food. With the weather, I got stuck buying at Freddy's, so I'm just waiting until Magick's sick again. Sabbath is happy though, she got "junk food". lol I really wish I could get her off the dried kibble. I tried making a version of those Purina Busy Bones for the Corgis this weekend from scratch. I have the basis for it, but I'm still needing to tweak a few things. It wasn't as hard as I would have liked it to be, and I need to make them a bit smaller. The Grumpy Princess enjoyed them though. lol

Giveaway: Perricone MD

2012-01-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

My skin hates the winter. You would think having a damp winter would mean my skin wouldn't be quite so dry, but I'm not quite so lucky. My forehead is drier than the Sahara desert. My hands look twenty years older if I skip putting lotion on them. And my feet? Good grief, it's a good thing flip flop season is a way off. It's enough to make me cry!

Perricone MD, known for their best skin care products, can help if you feel the same way. You can shop on the website via product, like looking for toners, or via the way I like best - specific skin concerns, like hydration and redness. I find it easiest to do it that way online - otherwise, I get overwhelmed with all of the products available, and could end up with the wrong formula for my skin! (On the bright side, if you accidentally end up buying the wrong product, or you totally hate it after a couple of uses, Perricone MD will take it back within 30 days for a return or exchange.)

If one of your resolutions this year is to look your best, check out the Perricone Diet. They carry supplements to help your skin and body look better. All of their supplements are free of wheat, gluten, soy, synthetic colors, flavors, dyes and dangerous sugar substitutes.

And all of Perricone MD products are Paraben-free, and they are not tested on animals - two very important things to me. I'm eyeballing the Hypoallergenic Nourishing Moisturizer myself. It's made for sensitive skin, and formulated to soften wrinkles and repair the skin barrier. Sadly, I'm not getting any younger, and my skin is starting to show that. Me no want wrinkly skin!

Perricone MD products ship free with your $50 order. You even receive free samples with every order, too! I love free beauty samples because it's a great way to try a new product and know if it's right for me or not, before spending a ton on products I might not actually like. (DH over the years has been the benefactor of all the bottles of shampoos and conditioners I've tried once and not liked. LOL)

Win it! Thanks to the fabulous folks over at Perricone MD, one super lucky winner is going to win the product of their choice, up to $150! To enter, head on over to their website and share with us what you'd choose if you won. (Take a few moments, because what you share is what you'll receive if you win!)

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 Perricone MD product http://bit.ly/zDcWJT ends 1/28 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends January 28th 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.

Menu Planning Monday 1/16 - 1/22

2012-01-16T12:35:00.000-08:00

The weather has me yearning for comfort food!

Monday: Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup, rolls

Tuesday: Creamy Cheese Chicken

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Sweet BBQ Chicken, salad, rolls

Thursday: Slow Cooker Kickin' Chili

Friday: BBQ Chicken cornbread pizza

Saturday: Slow Cooker Roast Chicken, green beans, garlic bread

Sunday: leaving this day open

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

Review: Yum Yum Bowl

2012-01-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

How are you doing on your New Year's Resolutions? If you made a goal to loose weight, or eat healthier, do you feel like you are making progress?

Mindless eating is what gets most of us in trouble. You know... you open a bag of snacks, sit down at the computer or in front of the TV, and before you know it - wham! half the bag is gone! Most of us could eat just about everything we wanted to - from cake to potato chips - if we just paid attention to the serving size. We're guilty over here - a bag of Doritos was gone in just a day! If we'd eaten the recommended serving size on the package, that bag could have lasted a week.

If you too, are guilty of mindless eating, you have to check out Yum Yum Dishes.

Yum Yum Bowls were developed by a Mom who used to own a restaurant and now is an advocate in the fight against childhood obesity. They are designed for enjoying your favorite foods and snacks in a perfect portion size, and come in pre-boxed sets of four fun colors: cherry red, sunshine yellow, pistachio green and bold blue. The little bowls are perfect for children, teens and adults who want to enjoy all their favorite foods in moderation.

If you're like me, and you like to prepare snacks in the morning, you'll be happy to know that the Yum Yum dishes come with a removable plastic lid. You can easily fix snacks when you are making another meal, and then pop that bowl into the fridge or on the counter and grab it for snacking when you've got the munchies. If your child doesn't finish the entire snack, you can also cover it and put it away for later. Since the bowl is ceramic, you don't have to worry about plastics leaching into your food or wondering if it's BPA free. These little dishes are also dishwasher safe. (Although, hand washing would have them last longer, of course) Here is a dish next to a quarter so you can gauge serving size:

and with a serving of one of our favorite snacks, Cheerios:

I love that the bottom of the bowl says OVER. These are super cute, and not just for kids! Portioning snacks out really helps cut down on extra calories mentally - you are more inclined to not refill a bowl and realize you are done snacking vs just eating out of a bag or box. This way you can enjoy your guilty pleasure - from cheese cubes to Cheez-its, or even ice cream! I really love this bowl, and I'll be picking up a set for our use. They are a little pricey a $24 for a set of 4, though. Do keep in mind though that since these are ceramic, little hands can drop and break the bowls - be careful, especially at that price.

The company also makes portion plates called the 9Plate. The plates have sections labeled with Protein, Carbs and Veggies to help you with your portion control. If you are trying to encourage kids to eat healthier, try out these plates!

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

It's National Dress Up Your Pets Day 2012

2012-01-14T12:06:00.000-08:00

...and I am always more than happy to oblige. The Grumpy Princess is modeling one of her favorite dresses, her LOVE dress in pink. Yes, it's a sundress, and yes, I know it's January, but she picked it out. I think she's missing suntanning out in the yard.

Magick wanted to join in and borrowed Captain's evil wizard costume, but when he heard he had to actually pose for the photos, he got up in a huff.

...this is where I don't want to admit the amount of pet dress up clothes we have. lol

I Totally Covet This...

2012-01-13T12:08:00.000-08:00

Isn't she a beauty? I've been coveting the one that's similar in the Lehman's catalog for YEARS, and even though it's incredibly pricey at $4,000, I think we would have made the jump by now except:

The Sweetheart is exempt from EPA regulations and is legal for sale in most of the USA. However, it is not legal for sale in the state of Washington.

Grumble, grumble. I mean, c'mon! I actually live in a state where I could use something like this nearly year round, and what happens? It's illegal to ship it here. *pounds head*

Speaking of Lehman's, I want one of everything in their catalog. I think I was born in the wrong century... lol Or at least we should have moved to an area where there are Amish. Do you get the catalog too?

Book Review: Bad Kitty By Nick Bruel

2012-01-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

My family and I recently received a copy of the new book and CD set Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel to review.

Bad Kitty is the story of kitty, who was told all her favorite foods were gone. Now she had to eat boots like Asparagus, Beets, and Cauliflower... oh, the horrors of these unappealing veggies! She wanted revenge - she became a BAD KITTY! She ate the homework, bit grandma... until her owner returned from the grocery store with the proper food for a kitty like her - An assortment of anchovies, buffalo burrito...

All was well, until a new puppy arrived....

Mwhahaaa, this story - and the fun pictures - gets two thumbs up from my family! The storyline goes with the alphabet, so kids can pick out their ABC's as they are going. If they can't read yet, they can follow along with the accompanying story on CD, which just happens to be read by the fabulous Vanessa Williams. The kitty herself is priceless - especially the face when the new puppy arrived. lol

So maybe I'm biased because it's a black cat... ;) no, seriously, the story is fun to read to kids. C'mon, they kitty drives to school! LOL If you enjoy this story too, it's actually part of a series of stories about Bad Kitty - guess what we're going to have to add to our book collection?

Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel is available as a hardcover book, a paperback book, and a paperback book and CD set, published by Macmillan. The suggested retail price for the set is $9.99, and it will be available this coming Tuesday, January 17th. You can find it at your favorite bookstore, or order it online via sites like Amazon.

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.

Friday's Featured Etsy: Kyra Botanica

2012-01-13T10:55:00.000-08:00

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 Kyra Botanica.

KyraBotanica creates herbal teas, facial steams and baths, tinctures, elixirs, herbal pillows, lip balms and salves. She hand-crafts and delivers these to those who could benefit from their down-to-earth, inherent blessings of nourishment, flavor, aroma, medicine and comfort. Plants and herbalism is her passion.

Need a little gift, or something relaxing for you? Check out this Lavender Love Sample Set - Two Lavender Teas and an Herbal Bath:

To soothe winter chapped lips, there is the Vegan Lip Balm - Citrus flavored with Lemon and Lime - .7 oz Tube:

Or treat yourself to a little Licorice Mint Tea, Loose Leaf Herbal Tea 2oz:

Stop by Kyra Botanica today and have a look around! Support handmade!

On The Bright Side...

2012-01-12T11:50:00.001-08:00

After cringing at spending $80 a week on gas the last couple of weeks, things have settled down around here. DH is working his new job full time, and while things are run a little differently, it's a bit less stressful on him for now.

Of all the color scrubs they wanted, it was dark green. Guess what color DH didn't own? Yeah, green! Out of all of the scrubs he has, from purple to black to tons of blues (since that's pretty much what everyone else seems to use?) the one color he doesn't have is what they want - of course, Murphy's Law. lol Luckily, they said it didn't matter for now. (Whew! See? More easy going at the new job!)

And the weather folks have forecasted snow coming in this weekend. Normally I would be turning into henny penny freaking out, but this year, I can sit back and say HEY! We're prepared! Snowboots? Check! Snow shovel? Check! Flashlights ready? Check! Wood, gloves, extra water? Check, check, and check! I even bought snow pants for DH over the summer at the thrift store, so bring on the snow!

....doesn't mean I'd want to live in an area with lots of snow, but after the last few years, I'm prepared for the worst. You know what this means, right? We'll see one snowflake. LOL

Thrifty Thursday - Saving Garlic

2012-01-12T11:31:00.001-08:00

This week for my Thrifty Thursday post, I'm talking about garlic.

Fresh garlic, nothing compares to you. The jarred powdery stuff might good in a pinch, but nothing beats the wonderful flavor of the fresh stuff. The problem is that unless you cook using a lot of garlic, some of it can go to waste before you use it or you might simply end up forgetting about it in your garlic crock. (Been there one too many times myself!) How about an easier way to store garlic long term? You can keep it in the freezer!

Start with clean, fresh garlic - either from your grocery store, or out of your veggie garden. Next, pull apart the head and peel the papery skin off of each single clove, just like you would if you were getting ready to use it in a recipe. Be sure to cut off any brown spots and the hard root end! Unlike most veggies, there is no need to blanch garlic. Simply place all the garlic in a freezer bag, squeeze all the air out, and label the contents as well as the date you packaged it. Frozen garlic can hang around your freezer for up to a year! When it's time to make a dish using garlic, just pull out the amount you need and let it defrost on the counter for a few minutes while you are preparing everything else.

DVD Review: Transformers Prime: Darkness Rising

2012-01-12T11:10:00.000-08:00

My family and I recently received a copy of the new DVD Transformers Prime Darkness Rising to review.

Transformers Prime is the latest incarnation of the Transformers family, and it's a CGI animated series that airs on The Hub network. Darkness Rising was a five part miniseries that aired in early 2011. It features many of the beloved Auto-Bots - Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Rachet, and Arcee - up against the usual suspects of Megatron, Starscream, and the Decepticons gang trying to get control of Earth. Now Megatron is more powerful than ever, thanks to a rare element that allows him mastery over life itself. The Auto-Bots find strength and help, in a bond with three teenagers. Who will win?

Even though this aired in five parts, the DVD itself is one long movie, edited together so the cuts aren't obvious. Some diehards prefer Generation 1 shows and movies only, my DH - he just loves his Transformers, period, so he was super excited when this showed up. Having seen my share of Transformers cartoons too, I have to say the CGI is a pleasant change, and a fun one too. The old cartoons didn't have as much detail as the new CGI drawn ones do. And while it's still the same voices for some of the characters - Peter Cullen does the voice of Optimus, and Frank Welker does the voice of Megatron - there's plenty of new-ness to the series which allows for a joining of the old school ranks of fans, with a new generation of fans - ie, their kids!

The DVD also brings some fun in the way of special features with "A Look At Character Design", "A Look At Set Design", and some animatics for the episode. Transformers geeks who don't run away from anything after Generation 1 should be pleased, if my DH's reaction was anything to go by.

Transformers Prime Darkness Rising is available now wherever DVD's are sold. Widescreen format, it is not rated, but geared towards boys 5 and up. The total running time is 106 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $14.97, but Amazon has it available for $10.49 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this title is not currently available, but be sure to add it to your queue to be notified when it is)

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

Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?

2012-01-10T19:46:00.000-08:00

So our six year wedding anniversary is in March, and I wanted to start thinking of ideas so I googled what the traditional and modern gifts are supposed to be. Apparently, it's iron and wood, with candy. So.... the first thought that popped into my head was something like this:

Or maybe this:

Or this?

With a side of this? Can Twinkies count as a candy?

Because nothing says I love you like a way to kill zombies, right? LOL No seriously, I was thinking of something like the top two for DH to use when dressing as a Pirate for festivals. Whatcha think? :)

Walgreens Is No Longer Able To Accept Express Scripts

2012-01-10T14:00:00.001-08:00

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

Having Asthma means I've gone through multiple prescriptions trying to find something to keep it under control. I like going to the same pharmacy - I know it means they have my complete prescription history on file and will be able to warn me properly of any interactions that could happen. I also like being able to visit a location that's convenient for me to run other errands and my DH doesn't have to drive out of the way.

I know I'm not the only one who feels that way. So when I heard that Express Scripts Inc decided that Walgreens will no longer be in it's network, I felt bad for those who are now stuck trying to find a new pharmacy that works with their plan. Walgreens and Express Scripts did try to work it out - Walgreens even offering to hold rates for a new contract flat and not seek an increase in rates. Apparently, the response from Express Scripts was to insist on being able to unilaterally define contract terms, such as what does and does not constitute a brand and generic drug. Express Scripts also proposed to slash Walgreens reimbursement rates to levels below the industry average cost to provide each prescription.

Fine, I understand that - but what irritated me was hearing Express Scripts itself has stated that clients will not see any significant savings from excluding Walgreens from its network, and that prices could actually even go up!

What's worse is that one of Express Scripts clients is Tricare - you know, the insurance for military folks. What a way to say thank you to the brave men and woman who serve our country and give us freedom - and their families who make enormous sacrifices. :( Things are hard enough right now - our military folks don't need other problems thrown their way.

If you're unsure if you might be affected, check the back of your insurance card. If you see Express Scripts located on the card, you might be affected. You can also check with your pharmacist who can tell you if you'll be affected or not.

Among the steps Walgreens is taking to help those affected is offering a special discount on annual membership for its Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens. An individual can join during a special January promotion for only $5, or $10 for a family membership, and receive savings on more than 8,000 brand name and all generic medications. More than 400 generics are available with a three-month supply for less than $1 a week. Regular annual membership is $20 for an individual and $35 for a family.

If you're unhappy with this whole situation, be sure to speak up and let others know you're unhappy. Blog about it, complain to your insurance - even talk to the media. Changes happen because we MAKE them happen!

While you're at it, be sure to like Walgreens on Facebook and follow Walgreens on Twitter. You'll hear updates, as well as get advance notice of sales and promotions!

Random Thoughts Tuesday - It's The End Of The World?

2012-01-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

I really did not want to roll out of bed this morning.

Grimmy turns into kooky crazy bunny and loves it when packages arrive stuffed with paper, instead of those annoying packing chips. Packing paper = free bunny entertainment. He rips it, carries it around the house - currently there is a giant piece of paper moving around. It's so big you can't even see him. Talk about a way to flip out someone who doesn't know he runs loose - "UM, ma'am - do you have a rodent infestation?" "Actually, they are giant cockroaches..." O_0 Yup, I guarantee that's one way to make unwanted visitors never show up again.... *snicker*

Awww.... look! Goths are the darkest treehuggers ever Yes, yes we are! ;) If that author has never seen so much panne velvet, maybe he should stay out of my closet. lol The blog he's actually linking to is hilarious to me. There's some really funny photos - some are mall goths, some are us old school. And DH is telling me I probably should check to make sure they didn't dredge up any of our photos, because yes, we are guilty of tree photos too! LOL!

My fascination with trees started as a little girl. Burger King used to have a talking tree - it looked like the talking tree in HR Puff N Stuff. Anyways, my Dad would get coffee at BK just so I could go talk to the talking tree. Ladies, when you have bad cramps - go hug a tree. It drains your pain away.

This is totally intriguing to me. TenYurt – A Simple Prefab Supposedly it can be built for under $500! And the pieces could fit into the back of a pick up truck? OK, granted, it's on the tiny side at about 118 square feet of floor space - but it could make for an interesting short term sleeping quarters until the Hobbit House is built. And besides, who says your "home" needs to be all under one roof? One could be the sleeping quarters, one could be a kitchen quarters... ah, the wheels are turning.... ;)

I love that blog, by the way. Tiny houses work if the space is created properly. That's the problem with this house - 640 square feet would be fine IF there wasn't so much wasted space.

Man, someone beat me to it: Zombie Store Cashes in on End of World Predictions

...if I hear one more Mayan related story, I think I am going to scream! lol

Review & Giveaway: Tropicana Trop50

2012-01-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

Do you have a New Year's resolution to loose weight and eat healthier? I don't really do resolutions myself, but I have a goal of cutting the diet soda cord. It's hard - I try and I give up after a few days and end up back with my morning cold caffeine. I enjoy water, but I like variety! The problem with some fruit juices is there are so many calories and sugar in them, I'd rather just stick to the caffeine with no calories.

Tropicana Trop50 is an innovative line of juice beverages, delivering the goodness of fruit juice with 50 percent less sugar and calories, and no artificial sweeteners. Part of cutting the soda cord is that I want to avoid the artificial sweeteners, so I was glad to know Tropicana Trop50 doesn't have them. They also come in a variety of flavors, from Orange to Pomegranate Blueberry, so you don't have to get bored drinking the same flavor over... and over... again.

I was sent a free product coupon, so I tried out the Raspberry Lemonade. I picked this because it reminded me of Summer when I really needed it - this mama is tired of the dreary weather. I was pleasantly surprised at the taste - I could quickly become addicted to it! Of course, the 59 ounce bottle doesn't last as long as a 2 litre of soda around here, and it's a little more expensive at $2.99, but that's alright. It's a bit healthier for me and that's what matters.

Right now, Tropicana is hosting the Trop50 True Resolutions contest to celebrate the real reasons behind New Year’s resolutions. Share your secret motivation, and you’ll earn a coupon for $1 off Trop50 for yourself and 50¢ off coupons for up to 50 of your friends! You can even submit incognito with a fierce disguise, if you don't want anyone to know. And whether you choose to submit a resolution or not, you can still enter a sweepstakes to win a $1000 gift card! Head on over the Trop50 True Resolutions page on Facebook to enter! The giveaway ends January 31st, so hurry to enter! Good luck!

Win it! Thanks to Tropicana Trop50, one lucky reader is going to win a $50 Spa & Wellness Gift Cards by SpaWeek! To enter, tell us your New Year's resolution, or a goal you have.

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 a $50 SpaWeek GC! http://bit.ly/yXz5W7 ends 1/14 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends January 14th 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 free product coupon for my review. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Book Review: Spontaneous Happiness By Andrew Weil, MD

2012-01-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

I recently received a copy of the new book Spontaneous Happiness by Andrew Weil, MD to review.

We all do it. If only... If only I made more money... If only we could take a vacation... If only my spouse paid more attention to me, I could be happy!

In my case, If only we could pay off more of our debt so we could move back to Texas quicker!

See? By putting those thoughts into our head, we make it feel like we can't be happy in the here and now. Without those thoughts - many of which really are tangible and sadly, tend to revolve around money - would we, and could we, be happy anyways? Why do we let ourselves fall into the "grass is always greener on the other side" trap?

Yesterday was a beautiful day here. It was sunny and dry (yippee!), so we left for a hike. We stopped at Costco on the way home and had some frozen yogurt. Not only did we get some fresh air and sorely needed exercise, we had fun. There were no "if only!'s" - just here and now. We had no time frame to follow, no concrete plans.

I had previously seen Dr. Weil's name branded about on the Internet, so I was familiar with him a little bit before reading this book, although I had never really paid much attention to all that he said. If Spontaneous Happiness is indicative as to the rest of his ideas, I'm going to have to start reading more. I needed this book. I am guilty of letting the depressive, dreary weather here in Washington really get to me. From short term strategies to long term goals, this book had ideas and gentle reminders to nudge me back into a happier state of mind.

Another thing in the book that I really agreed with was "limiting information overload". We here in the US spend so much time glued to TVs, computers, and smart phones that we don't really disconnect. When I talk about heading into the woods and hiking or camping to others, crickets tend to chirp. lol Our personal family goal for 2012 will be to spend more time completely disconnected from technology, and spend more time reconnecting with our world.

If you too are feeling that something is lacking and stopping you from being happy... that you need a change, even just a gentle push, I suggest that you pick up a copy of Spontaneous Happiness even if it's just from the library, and see if there is some ideas to help you too be happy now - not tomorrow, not next week, not even next year - NOW.

Spontaneous Happiness by Andrew Weil, MD is a hardcover mental health book published by Little, Brown and Company. It is 288 pages long. The suggested cover price is $27.99, but Amazon has it available for $18.47 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.

Giveaway: Cost Plus World Market Tintin Chocolate

2012-01-09T10:53:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite stores to waste time in, especially around the holidays, is Cost Plus World Market. They always have unique items from around the world to decorate the home with, and they have such pretty ornaments to decorate Christmas trees with. If I ever won the lottery, I'd make a stop there for a few goodies to decorate our home!

Right now, Cost Plus World Market has goodies from The Adventures of Tintin movie that came out over the holidays! Have you seen it yet? We're (somewhat patiently) waiting until it arrives on DVD to view. You can find everything from a set of two Tintin Metal Lunch Boxes that are collectible retro-style lunch boxes featuring Tintin and Snowy to Tintin Travel Pasta that helps kids travel the world at the dinner table with Tintin inspired pasta, shaped like planes, trains and cars. They also have Tintin Chocolate Bars available for $1.99. Each character bar comes in a different flavor.

....mmmm.... Belgian chocolate! ;)

Win it! One lucky reader is going to win a set of four Tintin chocolate bars in a variety of flavors! To enter, head on over to the TinTin movie shop, and tell us your favorite product.

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 Tintin chocolate! ends 1/21 http://bit.ly/A4xgu4 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends January 21st 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'm not receiving anything for this post, but one winner will receive the prize stated above, thanks to the giveaway sponsor.

Menu Planning Monday - 1/9 - 1/15

2012-01-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

If you've seen my dinner planning motivation, please send it back to me. I think it ran away when it saw the prices grocery shopping yesterday! LOL I need it back so I can bake today too!

I borrowed some books on monthly freezer meal planning from the library, so I'll be looking through them this week to see if there is any we like.

Monday: taco night

Tuesday: chicken fried steak, veggie medley

Wednesday: BBQ Chicken cornbread pizza

Thursday: slow cooker BBQ pork sandwiches, salad, cut veggies

Friday: grilled chicken Florentine pasta

Saturday: dinner at DH's co-worker's

Sunday: homemade fried chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

Dog Friendly Houses

2012-01-07T17:34:00.000-08:00

One of the benefits of our building a home from scratch means that not only can we incorporate personal design preferences, it means we can accommodate having a small petting zoo running around our home. We had already planned to build "running ramps" into the walls to give the kitties a bird's eye view - and give them a place to hide from rambunctious kids, of course lol - so when I spotted this article on homes built with dogs in mind, I was intrigued.

But the homes really don't seem to be for "pet parents" - more for those who simply have a dog in their home. A kennel that has a window attached to a child's playroom? (Yeah, I have a playroom - it's called my living room.) Entrances for dogs through a window that leads into the basement? That's convenience for people to keep the dogs out of the way.

Some of the pictures and ideas were interesting, but it wasn't really that the house was built with the dogs in mind, but rather creative use of space - such as turning an area that would have been a simple cabinet into a hidden area for a dog bed. Psst... I have news for you, cat owners have been doing that for YEARS - see the hidden litter box in my bathroom shelving.

The mudroom at the front of the house with a sink sounds interesting, but we had that growing up on a farm - that's nothing new to me. I guess I don't see the allure of paying someone to do what I can already do as a quick weekend project myself. Would you?

Review & Giveaway: Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid

2012-01-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

The only thing I think I do more than laundry around here is well, dishes. Cooking and baking does give me a few extra dishes, but normally it's not such a huge deal. Note that I said normally!

Since before Christmas, we've been dealing with a seriously clogged pipe that has meant I've been unable to do dishes in the kitchen sink. I know some of you are saying why not just use the dishwasher? But I couldn't even use that, as it's the same drain. I've been a cranky housewife, let me tell you. It's meant that I've been doing dishes in a bucket. It's not such a huge deal, but it's a pain to lug a 5 gallon bucket of water into the bathroom to dump out. It's also been a pain because some of the dishes, such as our turkey roasting tray, didn't fit into the bucket. It was also hard letting other dishes soak enough to get the grease out of them - some things I swear I'd wash 2-3 times before it felt clean.

Tropical Traditions had just sent me on over a bottle of their Dish Liquid to review. It's free of fragrances, dyes, and petroleum solvents, as well as being safe enough not to cause respiratory and skin irritations. Like many of the products Tropical Traditions carries, it's coconut based, and breaks down rapidly making it safer for the environment... and my pipes. To use, you simply add some of the dishwashing liquid into the sink (or in my case - a bucket! *sigh!) and fill it water.

At first, I was a little cranky because I felt there wasn't a lot of sudsing in my bucket. I figured out the problem - I use a foam pump normally and that's what gives me the extra sudsing I was used to. After I got over that moment, I have to say I was pleased with the cleaning power of the Tropical Traditions dish washing detergent. My dishes felt clean on the first try. Since I was using a bucket, my hands have been submerged more than usual doing dishes, and they were starting to get dry - I didn't notice that the Tropical Traditions dishwashing detergent was as drying on my hands, so I was pretty happy there too! If you're looking for a more natural based dishwashing liquid, give Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid a try!

A one quart bottle of Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid retails for $19.95, but it's currently on sale for $9.99. For those of you who are like me and purchase in bulk/stock up, it's also available in a one gallon container for $50.00, and on sale for $29.50! Plus, now through January 9th they have free shipping, so it's a good time to try it out if you are interested!

Oh, and as I am posting this - I FINALLY seem to be able to use my sink again! It only took a 50 foot snake (cringe!).

Win it! One lucky reader will win a jar of Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid! To enter, head on over to Tropical Traditions website, and tell me another one of their products that you want to try.

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 Dish Liquid! http://bit.ly/zdKYKc ends 1/21 @psychotichouse

That's six (6) possible entries! Giveaway ends January 21st 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.

Friday's Featured Etsy - Cynthia Couture

2012-01-06T09:40:00.001-08:00

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 Cynthia Couture.

Cynthia Couture creates Victorian and vintage inspired special occasion and wedding jewelry and accessories. All the Jewelry in my shop is handmade in the USA. While many pieces are limited edition, the creator happily welcomes custom requests.

Look at this exquisite Swarovski Crystal PERIDOT cuff vintage inspired Victorian oxidized sterling silver filigree bracelet:

These Swarovski Crystal VITRAIL LIGHT antique earrings vintage inspired romantic Victorian JULIA would make a lovely Valentine's Day gift!

I love this Swarovski Crystal Siam sparrow necklace vintage inspired romantic Victorian antique LOVE POTION

Stop by Cynthia Couture today and have a look around! Support handmade!

Thrifty Thursday - Get Ready For Spring Planting

2012-01-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

This week for my Thrifty Thursday post, I'm reminding you that Spring planting season is on the horizon.

If you haven't already, it's time to start saving paper egg cartons, paper towel and toilet paper rolls to use as seed starters. Why pay $3.99 at the store for something you've already technically paid for - and can be easily planted in your soil?

Come Chat At Ivory's New "Soap Dish"

2012-01-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

Did you know that a recent survey taken by Ivory of more than 1,000 moms reveals that 80 percent of American moms think motherhood is actually more complicated today than it was 20 years ago?

I wonder if that's a combination of more moms working, and kids being involved in more activities. When I was a kid, we only did one activity at a time. Depending on what time of the year it was, for me it was 4-H or dance. My brother's was Scouts and karate. My mother also was a SAHM until I was in high school, so she really wasn't stuck balancing scheduling insanity.

I can't say as a Mom I look at motherhood being more complicated - but then again, I have a three year old. I'll probably rethink that thought when she's about 12. lol The survey also says while Moms may be more stressed out and busier than ever, almost nine out of 10 moms think they’re doing a better job balancing it all than their mothers did.

Do you feel you are balancing being a Mom better than your mother did?

Reading through the survey results, I was happy to see I'm not the only one who gives herself a "time out" in the bathroom, LOL. My shower time really is less than five minutes, and though it's interrupted on a fairly regular basis by kid, husband, and staring pets, I look forward to those few moments of hot water. I actually keep several different scents of body wash in the shower depending on the "mood" I need to fix - I'll use a perky smell in the morning, and a soothing smell if I am taking a shower at night. I also keep a fruity smell one too. I admit I am the cause of shower clutter. ;)

In honor of Ivory's new Soap Dish, their social community over on Facebook, Ivory sent me on over several of their Simply body washes, including original, aloe, and lavender, as well as a three pack of their bar soap. Guess who couldn't wait to jump into the shower? Yeah, ME! I hadn't tried Ivory's body washes before, so I was curious as to how it would be. You know how some body washes just smell chemical-ly and they don't even seem like soap? Not the case with Ivory! I could smell a soap-y undertone to the scent, especially in the Lavender. The body washes lathered well, and I felt clean after using them. I didn't feel like I had a coating still on my skin after rinsing off, either. The great part is that none of the products used propylene glycol, which is on my no-no list. They are priced right for my budget, too, as the suggested retail price for a 12 ounce bottle is about $2.29.

I liked the simpleness of Ivory. Color me nostalgic, but when I pulled out the bars of soap, I almost felt like I time traveled back fifty years. How many brands can say they have been around for 125 years with the same name? Not a lot!

The results of the survey were shared to me by Ivory. I received samples of the products mentioned above in order to share my thoughts on them.

Free BJ's Trial Membership

2012-01-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

I just received this in my email from Vocalpoint, and I thought of you of who live in an area where a BJ's is located might want to try it out. It's a free trial membership to BJ's Wholesale Store. If you're unfamiliar with BJ's, it's a warehouse store like Costco and Sam's Club. Unlike those two, however, BJ's accepts manufacturer's coupons!

If one of your goals this year is to start buying in bulk to save money, or to work on food storage, trying out the free membership is an excellent way to see if it really is for you. At least if you walk into the store and hate it, you're out nothing but the gas to get there! You can also use your membership to shop online via BJ's website.

I've never been inside one as we don't have them here in Washington (or back in Texas), but I wish I could take advantage of this freebie and see how they are!

Just sharing an email for a freebie, that's all!

DVD Review: A Mile In His Shoes

2012-01-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

My family and I recently received a copy of the new DVD A Mile In His Shoes to review.

Presented by Thomas Kinkade and from the director of Angels In The Outfield, this is based on the true story of baseball coach Arthur "Murph" Murphy and his losing minor league baseball team back in the 1940's. On a mission to recruit new talent for the team and break their losing habits, Murph stumbles onto Mickey, a young farmer with a great pitcher's arm. It sounds like a miracle, but Mickey's parents don't want to let him join the team, as he has Asperger's syndrome. Finally, Murph manages to convince the parents that becoming a minor league player will benefit Mickey, but he doesn't realize how much it will end up benefiting the team.

Years ago, we didn't really know what Autism was, much less the different variations of it. Folks back then would pretty much ostracize those who were different, and this shows in the way the team reacts to Mickey at first. If you're looking for a great family themed movie to help kids understand that just because someone is different from you, doesn't mean you can't be friends and work together, this is a great one to show them. Dean Cain does an excellent job in the role of the coach.

The DVD also includes a few special features, including "The Making Of A Mile In His Shoes", the trailer for the movie, and the Thomas Kinkade Painting Gallery. With your purchase, you also receive a free Thomas Kinkade limited edition 4" x 6" painting.

A Mile In His Shoes will be released on DV this coming Tuesday, January 10th, 2012. It's rated PG, and I recommend it for the ages 7-8 crowd and up. Widescreen format, the total running time is 89 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $14.93, but Amazon has it available on pre-order for $11.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this title is not currently available, but add it to your queue to be notified when it is)

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

Clear Out Some Of That Clutter & Make Some Cash!

2012-01-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

The average American family does a lot of gift giving during the holiday season. You probably already recycled most of the packaging, but what do you do with the older electronics, books, DVD's and video games you no longer want?

Many thrift stores will take these items as a donation, but if you don't itemize your deductions on your tax return, you might want to see a better benefit from them. Having a yard or garage sale is great - but those of us in colder areas are stuck until after Memorial Day if we really want to make the most bang for our time.

You can make the most money off these items by selling them yourself via sites like eBay or Craigslist, but the trade off is you'll have more time invested. If selling via Craigslist, be sure to say cash only (unless you are trading!), and try to have pick ups scheduled when you aren't home alone for safety's sake. Invite a friend over for timely cup of coffee if you have to!

Gamestop will purchase used video games, and you can receive cash up front. Half Price Books will purchase your older books, DVD's, and video games as well. Both of these are fast options to get cash towards paying off any leftover holiday bills, but you won't receive as much as you will if you sold them outright yourself.

The quickest, hassle free option without leaving your home is to take advantage of Amazon's Trade-In Store. Type in what you have to get rid of - an older iPod, a DVD title, books, etc, and Amazon will tell you exactly how much that item's trade in value is worth. If you agree with what they are offering, Amazon will send you a pre-paid mailing label to send the item in via UPS. It's the most convenient out of the options - you don't even have to leave your own home! - but the catch is you'll receive Amazon gift card credit, not cash. If you already shop a lot on Amazon, it works out for you. It could be great to get a super extra early start on holiday shopping.

And if you have books, DVDs, CDs, etc that none of these options seem to be interested in, remember many local libraries hold book sales and include media in them. Donating them to your library is a great way to help support your local library.

DVD Review: A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures

2012-01-04T11:51:00.000-08:00

My family and I recently received a copy of the animated new DVD A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures to review.

It's an underwater adventure as Sammy the Turtle sets off to search the oceans of the world in search of the love of his life, Shelly. As he travels, he sees the effects of global warming on the oceans. It's a journey through the years as this voyage takes fifty years!

The movie has a star studded voice cast, including Melanie Griffith, Kathy Griffin, Tim Curry, Anthony Anderson, and Stacy Keach. It also has a bunch of well known music in it, including songs from The Mamas & The Papas and Michael Jackson.

If you're feeling a little familiar looking at the cover and reading the storyline, yes, you'll get a little bit of a Finding Nemo vibe, but that's a bit of a good thing. I always thought Disney should have come out with a short film with those awesome turtles, anyways! ;) Living next to the ocean means we see a lot of trash wash up on shore. :( It's awful the way we dump stuff in the water - and that's just what we can see. I believe in "global warming" differently than most, and I'm not using this post to preach it - but the movie does help kids understand that for every action they do, there is a consequence. Adults will be terribly bored (although we weren't, but we're weird. lol), but remember who the target audience is - 3-7 year olds.

There are no special features included on this DVD.

A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures is available now wherever DVD's are sold. Not rated, it is safe for all ages, and is widescreen format. The total running time is 86 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $19.95. (Netflix users: this title is not currently available, but add it to your queue to be notified when it is)

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

What A Mixed Message!

2012-01-03T14:27:00.000-08:00

The hot word of 2011 was "bullying". It was everywhere.

You know what? You suck it up and deal with it. It makes you stronger. And yes, I can say that, because I was miserable as a kid. I heard it all - that my family was Satanists to being rotten foreigners to being fat. Even some of my teachers were guilty. I sucked it up and hey, here I am.

Now Children's Healthcare of Atlanta goes off with billboards and ad campaigns about childhood obsesity. The slogan?

Warning: It's Hard To Be A Little Girl If You're Not

What the?! It's bad enough being chunky - but having everyone tell you that you're not a "little girl" just because you are chunky? Excuse me? What are they, fat adults? I see where they are going with this, but their phrasing is awful. Let's single the overweight kids out - brilliant! /sarcasm Little girls have enough body image issues as it is, why add to it?

I have a bone to pick with this one too: One of the statements that the OAC found humiliating for overweight children read, "Big bones didn't make me this way. Big meals did."

No, big meals did not make you this way. Overprocessed drive thru and boxed junk made from genetically modified ingredients made you this way. Sitting on your butt inside playing video games instead of playing outside and having fun made you this way.

We need to get to the root of the problem: folks aren't cooking like they used to. Point blank: convenience foods are killing our kids. It's time to bring back home economics as a required class in high school and teach kids nutrition alongside how to prepare the healthy foods. Require attending food and cooking classes as a contingent for receiving food stamps. The only way we are going to fix this problem is to start at the bottom and work our way up.

Recipe: Creamy Cranberry Spread

2012-01-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

If you have leftover cranberry sauce, here's a super easy idea on what to do with it. All you need is:

cranberry sauce (canned or fresh)
cream cheese

Use about twice as much cream cheese as you do the leftover cranberry sauce. Mix well. See? I told you it was easy! I actually used the Philadelphia Cooking Cream in original in the photo you see, which made it a little faster than regular cream cheese to mix, but each works well.

It's great to spread on a bagel or bread, or to dip fruit in. You can also use it as a filling with stuffed crepes.

DVD Review: The Garfield Show: Dinosaurs And Other Adventures

2012-01-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

My family and I recently received a copy of the new DVD The Garfield Show: Dinosaurs And Other Adventures to review.

Hide the lasagna! Ah, Garfield - every one's favorite tubby orangey striped cat (Well, second here to Hobbes over at Duck And Wheel With String). I'm not even going to think about how old Garfield is, but I love having this new CGI show around to continue the fun of the cartoon, books, and old school show.

This latest DVD includes six episodes: "Down On the Farm", "The Pet Show", "Bone Diggers", "Underwater World", "Fish To Fry", and "History of Dogs". Only one really covers dinosaurs, as you can probably guess by the episode titles. In "Pet Show", Odie and Neville are entered in a pet show - who is cuter? In "Underwater World", Garfield is stuck going on a fishing trip after Jon packed the contents of the fridge. (LOL) Odie ends up overboard thanks to a none to bright clown fish. And in "Fish To Fry", Liz leaves her fish at Jon's, and Garfield is tempted to eat them. Very, very tempted thanks to the fishy buffet. ;)

The DVD also includes some Garfield shorts.

The Garfield Show: Dinosaurs And Other Adventures will be released this Tuesday, January 10th, 2011. Widescreen format, it is not rated, and safe for all ages. The total running time is 74 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $14.93, but Amazon has it available on pre-order for $11.99 as of this posting.

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: Love And Shame And Love By Peter Orner

2012-01-03T12:40:00.001-08:00

I recently received a copy of the new book Love And Shame And Love by Peter Orner to review.

If we wrote down every thought we had - everything that happened throughout the day - the paper would be a jumbled mess. We skip from thought to thought in the snap of a finger. Meet Alexander Popper. He's the main character of this book, living in Chicago.

A very corrupt Chicago.

Alexander skips from thought to thought to what's happening to things in the past. One moment its 1984, then you're back in 1944, following several generations of the Potter family. Here is the "official" book description:

Alexander Popper can't stop remembering. Four years old when his father tossed him into Lake Michigan, he was told, Sink or swim, kid. In his mind, he's still bobbing in that frigid water. The rest of this novel's vivid cast of characters also struggle to remain afloat: Popper's mother, stymied by an unhappy marriage, seeks solace in the relentless energy of Chicago; his brother, Leo, shadow boss of the family, retreats into books; paternal grandparents, Seymour and Bernice, once high fliers, now mourn for long lost days; his father, a lawyer and would-be politician obsessed with his own success, fails to see that the family is falling apart; and his college girlfriend, the fiercely independent Kat, wrestles with impossible choices.

Covering four generations of the Popper family, Peter Orner illuminates the countless ways that love both makes us whole and completely unravels us. A comic and sorrowful tapestry of memory of connection and disconnection, Love and Shame and Love explores the universals with stunning originality and wisdom.

This one left me with my head swirling round and round. I picked this book up multiple times, only to make it through several pages before putting it back down. I finally just had to give myself tunnel vision one night and drag myself through it. I don't normally simply post the jacket description - but I almost don't know what to say, other than if you are familiar with this author, you should enjoy this book. For me, it left me feeling like I was reading a book for Lit class in college that did nothing for me - so I'll just leave it at that.

Love And Shame And Love by Peter Orner is a hardcover fiction book published by Little, Brown and Company. It is 448 pages long. The suggested cover price is $24.99, but Amazon has it available for $1398 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 share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Random Thoughts Tuesday - It's 2012

2012-01-03T11:36:00.000-08:00

Momma needs a vacation. As much as I would say somewhere warm, right now I'll settle for a decent hotel room in town, as long as it has a comfy bed I can have all to myself with no one waking me up at night, and the Food Network showing on the TV. Is that too much to ask? lol ;)

2012 is not looking that great so far. DH's old job has thrown a monkey wrench our way. I'm waiting on word to hear how the situation will go... and not happy.

And as to the kitchen sink... apparently the issue is a lot further down that we though. We purchased a 12 foot snake - it wasn't long enough. That sound you hear is me banging my head against the wall!

On the bright side, at least it's not raining at the moment!

As a treat on the last trip to the restaurant supply store, I picked up a giant bag of Buffalo Chicken Wings for DH. When I emptied some out of the bag, it didn't really look like there was a ton of sauce on it - it barely looked like there was any to be honest. So I tossed them in a batch of my Buffalo sauce. Um, looks can be deceiving - they ended up being a Man Vs Food challenge they were that hot. LOL Good thing I still had some milk for DH! Next batch I'll skip adding the extra sauce. lol

I'm not really into the whole resolution thing, but I really want to make a dent on our debt this year. At least I can say I paid cash for our home, and for our truck - but we still owe more than I am comfortable with thanks to the old car and other disasters. We'll see how far we get, I guess.

I'm in the mood for an 80's movie marathon. A little Breakfast Club, followed by Say Anything, with a little Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Who's with me? I'll make some popcorn! :)

The First Giveaway Winners Of 2012

2012-01-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

The winner of the SnapSac giveaway is:

bettycd said...

tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/bettycd/status/150764698487365632

And the winners of the Shout Free giveaway are:

Erica H said...

My toddler son is the worst offender!

Aileen said...

https://twitter.com/#!/monkeygrl59/status/150891801065177088. tweet

Congratulations everyone! Emails are being sent now - remember you have 48 hours to get back to me!

Menu Planning Monday - 1/2 - 1/8

2012-01-02T13:41:00.000-08:00

This is a week of a really weird schedule for DH, so it kind of messes up meal planning for me. I'm mostly planning easy to reheat meals.

Monday: ginger shrimp & noodles

Tuesday: grilled cheese & tomato soup

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Chicken Gumbo

Thursday: Chicken Tenders Salad

Friday: Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Saturday: Slow Cooker Torilla Soup

Sunday: Slow Cooker Roast Chicken, rice side dish, rolls

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T19:20:00.000-08:00

I know I say this every year, but I certainly hope that the coming year is better than the one we are leaving behind! May the coming year be incredible for you and your family, too!

Well, It's Not Exactly Snow...

2011-12-31T11:18:00.000-08:00

But it sure feels like a winter wonderland with all the frost outside!

(Believe me, I can live without the snow! lol)

Review: Tyler's Coffee

2011-12-31T10:57:00.000-08:00

If you suffer from acid reflux, many food and drinks you once loved, you can no longer enjoy. If coffee is one of those, then you might want to give Tyler's Coffee a try.

Tyler's Coffee uses a “Z-Roasting” process that optimizes the time the coffee beans are cooked and the result is high levels of caffeine and free of acid. The “Z-Roasting” system is computerized to optimize roasting time to assure that Tyler’s Coffee is acid free with maximum flavor. Tyler's Coffee uses hand-picked Arabica beans that are shipped from South America to their roasting factory in Arizona.

I was sent a packet of the Regular variety to try out. Since it was a small packet meant to brew about 10-12 ounces, I decided to make it with a French Press coffee maker. Tyler's Coffee suggests that you brew with purified water to give a cleaner taste, as simple tap water can cause an unpleasant chemical taste.

I'll be honest: I wasn't running out to the store to buy distilled water for one small pot of coffee. (I'm nuts, but not that nuts!) I simply used my PUR filtered water to make the coffee.

Upon opening the foil package, I was greeted with a nice smell of the Arabica beans. I always make fun of those commercials where they are sniffing the open package of coffee LOL - but really, some of the open packages you can barely smell the coffee, and Tyler's Coffee you could definitely smell the beans!

It was easy enough to make the coffee, and tasted alright. I didn't notice any chemical taste, so I guess the PUR filtered water was more than enough! The one thing I noticed was that the coffee tasted best that hotter it was - I walked away from my cup for a few minutes, and it had cooled down - the cooled coffee was bland and I tossed the last bit out. I don't think after tasting it cooled that this coffee would work at all as an iced coffee, but that could just be my opinion. While coffee rarely is a trigger for my acid issues, I didn't have any problems drinking this.

A week's supply of Tyler's Coffee costs $26.00, while a month's costs $60.00 with free shipping. One “Perk Pack” as the week's supply is known, will make approximately 18 cups of coffee. Personally, I think this is on the high side myself, but if you are suffering from acid reflux and are desperate for that coffee taste without the pain, then it could be worth it for you. $26 just 18 cups of coffee is out of my personal household budget.

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

Storing Candles

2011-12-30T12:54:00.001-08:00

Over the holidays, many of us love to use candles in our decorations - either at the table or on the fireplace mantelpiece. Retailers know this too, and so there are always plenty of candle clearances this time of year! Sometimes you can score candles for pennies on the dollar - but you need to store them properly, or come when it's time to use them, you can end up with a warped, melted mess.

First of all, candles always need to be stored lying flat, especially if they are a taper candle. A long flat box is best to keep them stored in. (I reused one of the Hickory Farms gift boxes for mine - it is long, but not too deep, so it was perfect to store taper candles in!) Clear boxes are tempting since you can see what is in them, but you want to keep your candles out of the light as light damages them. Just be sure to label your box so you can easily find your candles, especially if you are planning to use them in case of power outage. (Safety rules apply here)

Don't layer too many candles on top of each other. If the candles you are purchasing are scented, try to keep them in their original wrapping to keep the scent in. If you no longer have the wrapping, simply wrap the candle in a layer of plastic wrap. Use leftover tissue paper around candles to keep them from bumping into each other and chipping. For candles in glass containers, wrap with leftover bubble wrap.

Don't store candles long term in a fridge or freezer. For a few hours it can help them burn longer, yes, but long term will cause the candles to crack, especially with taper candles, which could become a fire hazard if a candle is used with an unseen small crack!

Do keep the candles stored in the coolest part of your home, preferably a dark closet. The attic or garage can be tempting, but the summer heat can cause them to warp or melt completely.

DVD Review: Spongebob Squarepants: Spongebob's Frozen Face-Off

2011-12-30T12:27:00.001-08:00

My family and I recently received a copy of the newest animated Nickelodeon DVD release, Spongebob Squarepants: Spongebob's Frozen Face-Off, to review.

Break out your cold weather gear (well, if you haven't already!), because winter is coming to Bikini Bottom! Spongebob's Frozen Face-Off contains seven episodes from season eight. In the title episode, Frozen Face-Off, a big worm sled race to the South Pole is happening in Bikini Bottom. The grand prize is one million clams! Will Spongebob's team win?

It also includes the episodes "Accidents Will Happen", "The Other Patty", "Drive Thru", "The Hot Shot", "A Friendly Game", and "Sentimental Sponge", where Spongebob can't bring himself to throw anything away when he realizes everything has a memory attached to it. (Yes, hoarding has come to Bikini Bottom! lol)

The DVD includes several special features, including two episodes from Fanboy & Chum Chum: "The Last Strawberry Fun Finger" and "Power Out", as well as two episodes from T.U.F.F. Puppy: "Snappy Campers" and "Lucky Duck". If you're unfamiliar with either show, both appeal to about the same age range as Spongebob does, with the same off-the-wall sense of humor. Maybe a little more off the wall in Fanboy & Chum Chum, but if you don't object to Spongebob, I don't think you'll find F&CC any worse. (That show has actually become my husband's guilty pleasure, lol)

Spongebob Squarepants: Spongebob's Frozen Face-Off will be available on DVD this coming Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012. Not rated, but best for the ages 5-7 and up crowd, it has a total running time of 88 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $16.99, but Amazon has it available for $12.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this title is not currently available, but you can watch many older episodes via instant streaming)

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

Review: Private Selections Frozen Pizza

2011-12-30T11:29:00.000-08:00

As a BzzAgent, I recently had the opportunity to try some of the new Private Selection foods sold at the Kroger company of stores, including Fred Meyer and QFC here in the Northwest. One of the products we got to taste at home was the Private Selection Pepperoni Pizza, which retailed for $5.99 in our local Fred Meyer.

Frozen pizza definitely is a convenience food - just toss in the oven and bake. Usually it's done faster than delivery can arrive, and it gives moms a break from cooking.

...except this Mom still had to cook, because the pizza was so small, it wasn't enough. One pizza was enough for four small slices - which is fine for me, and the kiddo, but a hungry husband could eat the entire thing and still be starving. The thin crust was flaky, and while baking it on the oven rack itself would have made the crust even crispier, I don't put food directly onto racks that have been cleaned with oven cleaner (ick!). This led to the toppings not quite melting all the way.

I'd call this a complete disappointment. For $5.99, I can make an incredible pizza from scratch myself with tons of toppings - not just a dozen slices of pepperoni. Even on sale, I don't think I'd bother. Sorry, Private Selection Frozen Pizza - you might be great for other homes, but not in ours.

If you're interested in giving it a try, the Private Selection Frozen Pizzas also come in BBQ Chicken, Margherita, and Roasted Vegetable varieties. You'll find them in the freezer case with the other brands of frozen pizza.

I received free product coupons as a BzzAgent in exchange for sharing my honest thoughts with others.

Friday's Featured Etsy: Robin Hood Couture

2011-12-30T10:48:00.001-08:00

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 Robin Hood Couture.

Robin Hood Couture is a Canadian based Etsy store that creates Victorian Jewelry and Steampunk iPhone Blackberry Cases. A mix of eclectic accessories for girls and guys, she happily combines shipping - all additional items purchased from the store ship for no extra charge!

Look at this lovely Red Rose Necklace - Alice in Wonderland:

One of my personal favorites is this gorgeous Blue Goldstone Locket - Night Sky:

If you have a guy in your life who also loves steampunk, this iPhone 4 4S Case - Steampunk Ship Wheel would be a neat yet practical Valentine's Day gift!

Stop by Robin Hood Couture today and have a look around! Support handmade!

Contest: Challenge Butter's Real Heritage Recipe Contest

2011-12-29T13:10:00.000-08:00

I love being in my kitchen, and I love knowing that the food I am making is enjoyed by my family. I don't have many recipes that have been handed down in my family - well, my mother is known for her marzipan, my grandmother for her apple cake. In my husband's family, his Tia (Aunt) who passed away a few months back was known for her divine tortillas. (You know the song "Nothing Compares 2 U" - his whole family practically sings that when it came to her tortillas. LOL)

Sometimes I sit back and wonder what recipe I'll be known for down the road. As long as it's because the food was good - and not bad! LOL - I'll be thrilled. I didn't spend much time in the kitchen as a child, so I have been trying to make sure my daughter will know her way around the kitchen. Just before the holidays, we went on a baking spree. One of the easiest recipes she was able to help me with was the Peanut Butter Dog Cookies for the Corgis:

We made yummy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies:

And the last batch of cookies that I ended up messing up was my Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies. I was rushing to get the baking done before dinner, and kapow - I didn't clean my cookies sheets in between batches and ended up with flat cookies. Boooo. At least they still tasted good. LOL Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) Challenge butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups Chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup dried cherries

Preheat oven to 375. Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Next, beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Follow by adding the eggs, one at a time, and beating well after each one. Carefully beat in flour mixture. Finally, stir in chocolate chips, nuts, and cherries. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until they look golden brown. Remove from the sheets, and allow to cool on a baking wire rack.

I'd show a picture here normally, but I'm not kidding when I say they came out looking awful! Trust me though, they taste really good!

If you have a wonderful recipe that's been handed down through the generations, or maybe you've tweaked a newer recipe that everyone asks you to make over and over again, you have to enter Challenge Butter's Real Heritage Recipe Contest.

Simply share the recipe, and the story behind the recipe. Do you have a wonderful dessert your mami learned to make from her mami? A special side dish that your great-great-aunt created back in the 1800's? Or maybe a special loaf of bread that every one adores? As long as one of the ingredients is Challenge butter, you could win $500 worth of Good Cook products and $2500 CASH! 12 finalists will score $250 worth of Good Cook products too!

The contest runs through January 3rd, so hurry on over and enter now!

I received free product and Good Cook kitchenware in exchange for sharing this information.

Recipe: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-12-29T10:49:00.000-08:00

Here's a yummy chocolate chip cookie with an emphasis on the chocolate!

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt - and then set aside for a few minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy.

Next, you'll want to slowly add the flour mixture into the butter mixture until well blended. Follow this by mixing in the chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. (I repeat UNGREASED cookie sheets. If you are doing multiple batches of cookies, wait for the sheets to cool and then wash them quickly between baking batches. When that butter starts to melt as it's baking, it greases the sheets - even if your cookie sheet looks alright, it's best to go ahead and clean them between batches. I know, it's an extra step and a pain, but I ruined the next batch because I was trying to hurry and get them in the oven!)

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

I need an oat based double chocolate recipe - do you have one you use? Please share if you do!

Dear Kirk,

2011-12-29T10:26:00.000-08:00

I know what car you drive, down to the model and year.

I even know when your last oil change was and where you have it done.

I know that you have a fondness for online gaming. You like to purchase in-game items for those games, too.

I know your political choices, down to who you voted in the last election.

You'd think we were best friends, but our paths have never crossed.

You see Kirk doesn't bother to double check his email address when he gives it out, and always gives MINE. I'm guessing he uses something like an auto former filler, and never double checked that the address he entered was correct.

Let this be a lesson in privacy and online safety for all: when you're entering your information online, from making a purchase to signing up for an email list to entering a contest - be very sure that your information is correct. Not everyone is as nice as me and simply hits the delete button and unsubscribe - others can take that information and do very bad things. :(

EdenFantasys Review: Coquette Fully Boned Corset

2011-12-29T01:52:00.000-08:00

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.

As I have mentioned on here before, I have a corset addiction. I started wearing them back when I was 12 (I know, scandalous to some of you!), and I was so comfortable wearing them, that I wore them almost every day. Yes, even to school! In recent years, I've gotten out of wearing one on a daily basis, and I can tell the difference in my back - I slouch more! I don't feel as put together either when I leave the house not wearing them - I feel LAZY. It's not just about feeling sexy for me.

EdenFantasys has several really nice corsets, including one I added to my collection a few weeks ago: the Fully boned lace and satin corset, which is made by Coquette.

Some corsets are what I just call "tourist corsets" - it sounds funny, I know, but some corsets really aren't made to be worn more than a few minutes in the bedroom, and those are the "tourist corsets". Don't get me wrong, they can be fun - but I like the real deal. I loved this corset, because the corset fits right without being too uncomfortable. The lace over the fabric is pretty, and it comes with removable garters - so if you hate to wear thigh highs, you can skip this part of the lingerie. It laces up the back, and has hook and eye closures in the front. Now if you're looking for a hardcore corset - the ones that really cinch in your waist - this isn't it. The plastic boning is sturdy, but not suck it so your waist drops three inches kind of sturdy. It is very pretty though, and if you are daring enough, you can almost get away with wearing it as an outer garment with the right shrug or jacket.

All in all, I was pretty pleased with my purchase. The great part is that it comes in sizes small on up to 3X/4X. The sizing does run pretty true to size from my experience, and since it doesn't have cups, you can get away with a bigger bust (although, if you run a DD or bigger, you may want to go up a size. I am a C cup, and this worked with my bust just fine)

Right now is a great time to take a peek at all of the sexy lingerie EdenFantasys carries, because they have free shipping on orders of $25 or more! There are some pretty pieces under $20, too - go take a peek! Don't forget that you can choose a free gift with your order as well! (Psst - Valentine's Day is about six weeks away!)

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

Fireplace Safety Tips

2011-12-27T19:44:00.000-08:00

I've seen one too many heartbreaking stories about fires and fireplaces recently, and I just want to remind folks to be very, very careful. Nothing beats the warmth of a fireplace, and it's great to fall back on when the power is out, but it can be dangerous.

First of all, you need to make sure your fireplace is cleaned on a regular basis, especially if you use it frequently. You can purchase wood creosote logs to clean up the build up in the chimney at most hardware stores to help with this.

Make sure all flammable items are as far away from the fireplace or wood stove area as possible. Open the damper fully - if you try to burn with it closed, you'll end up with a bunch of smoke in your home and possible carbon monoxide poisoning!

Use dry hardwoods to burn. Oak, Maple, etc, are great woods that will burn long and warm if it's properly seasoned. Pine is a wood that you shouldn't burn unless it's an emergency (IE - the end of the world!) as it can add creosote build up very quickly. If you rarely use your fireplace, or mostly save it for emergency purposes, there are a host of manufactured logs you can find at your local hardware store, such as Duraflame logs, that are easy to store and easy to light.

To start the fire, use dry crumpled newspaper with thin pieces of wood as kindling. A bit of dryer lint can help start a slow fire, too, but be careful that you don't burn items you really shouldn't. Don't ever burn plastic or magazine pages.

NEVER leave a fire unattended! As tempting as it might be to leave a fire burning while you go to bed, this is incredibly dangerous.

To dispose of the ashes, use a metal shovel and move the ashes into a metal bucket. Ashes can still have hot coals in them for several days, so keep this bucket away from your home, and away from items that could catch on fire easily. A metal trash can with a lid is a good way to keep the ashes from flying away. Dump a pail of water on top of the ashes to stop any embers from from catching.

Later on, you can work these cold ashes into any flower or vegetable beds you have in your yard - the wood ash is a great fertilizer for the soil!

Recipe: Peanut Butter Dog Cookies

2011-12-27T13:52:00.001-08:00

If you are looking for an easy to make dog treat that won't break the bank, or take up an entire afternoon, this is it. It's simple, with only four ingredients, and you can have it mixed and ready to cut into shapes within five minutes. Plus, it gives kids entertainment if you let them loose with the cookie cutters. It's a win-win situation! ;)

You'll need:

2 cups of flour (really, whole wheat is great, but if you only have regular white, dogs don't mind)
1 cup oats (not the instant oatmeal, but the steel cut or similar)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/4 cup hot water

Mix the flour and oats together in a medium mixing bowl. Spoon in the peanut butter, followed by the hot water, and mix well.

After your ingredients are mixed well, check to see that it doesn't look overly sticky - if it does, add another tablespoon of flour in. You want to be able to kneed the dough so you can flatten it out with your rolling pin.

Now you can chill that dough for a few minutes while you preheat the oven to 350, and pull out all your cookie cutters. Depending on your dogs waistline, you might want to pull out the smallest ones you have. (You can purchase tiny little dog bone shaped ones at most cake supply stores!) You'll see in my photo I made some star shaped and bunny shaped.

Roll out the dough, remembering that the thinner the cookie is, the faster it bakes. Try to get all of your cookies about the same width. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes. If your doggies love extra crunchy, you can bake them for 40 minutes. Pop the light on in your oven from time to time to make sure they aren't burning.

Transfer the cookies off the sheet and let cool at least an hour before serving. If you have a tin - like one of those empty popcorn tins we all seem to get around the holidays! - you can store them in there for a good week or so. If you have smaller dogs and this makes a ton of cookies for you, you can also freeze these cookies in between sheets of wax paper and slip them into a freezer safe bag - this will keep them good for up to a month. Our Corgis inhale these so this is less than a week's worth for us. lol

Book Review: The Big Book Of American Trivia By J. Stephen Lang

2011-12-27T12:55:00.000-08:00

I recently received a copy of the new book New Commemorative 200th Anniversary Edition The Star Spangled Banner: The Big Book Of American Trivia: Over 3,000 Questions & Answers by J. Stephen Lang to review.

The Big Book Of American Trivia: Over 3,000 Questions & Answers contains over 3,000 questions with the answers, from topics about American History, to politics, to landmarks, to even entertainment and music. If it pertains in some way to America or an American, you just might find out something about it in here. They range from the slightly easy:

What popular children's book (also a movie) was originally titled The Emerald City? ~The Wizard Of Oz

To a little more historical in:

What general and World War I hero requested to be buried n Arlington Cemetery with only an enlisted man's marker? ~John J.Pershing

If you're not into history per say, and feel this book would be absolutely boring, this book seems to have much more pop culture trivia questions that you would think at first glace. There are questions from everything on auto racing to Vegas to state history to Grammy winners to even the bible. It's truly a hodge podge of eclectic information. I honestly thought it would be more history about the country - states, presidents, laws, and less about authors and actors, but I guess this way it attracts readers it might not have, instead of just us history geeks.

The one thing I wish is that the questions and answers had been presented differently. It's a little confusing at moments, because the questions are on one side of the page, with the answers on the back. That works for the games, because there are usually only 4-5 questions on a card - but in the book, there can be as many as 25 questions on the same page. When you're looking for the answer to question #17, you can get overwhelmed with all of the other answers. I think it would have been better to have one question followed by an answer, but hey, that's just my opinion.

If you're looking for an edge in trivia games, pick up a copy of The Big Book Of American Trivia: Over 3,000 Questions & Answers. You'll learn a lot from it. It makes a great gift for any American history buff, too.

New Commemorative 200th Anniversary Edition The Star Spangled Banner: The Big Book Of American Trivia: Over 3,000 Questions & Answers by J. Stephen Lang is a paperback games/trivia book published by Tyndale that will be available on December 30th, 2011. It is 368 pages long. The suggested cover price is $14.99, but Amazon has it available for $9.98 as of this posting.

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.

Random Thoughts Tuesday - I Need New Boots

2011-12-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

Can you believe 2011 is almost over? I know I say this every year, but gosh I hope 2012 is a better year. (I feel like I am rolling dice trying to get some lucky numbers. lol) You know this mami is seriously frustrated when I contemplate moving into my in-laws yard.

I really hope my sink gets fixed soon. This would be a lot easier in the Summer, where I could use my leftover water to douse my yard and plants. Alas, the yard is so saturated from the rain, I'm just flushing my dirty water... and that seems like such a waste.

I read this article over on Dogster and giggled at first - Captain is known for getting leftovers, he's even managed to UNZIP a reusable bag and get the takeout container open, that little booger - and then I felt bad because that dog was so sick. And then I got mad, because I felt like the post was trying to say it was because he ate fatty human food. Um, I think the aluminum foil didn't exactly help the situation. I'm thinking the carne asada super burrito actually had some serious spice, and that was the problem, not the meat, but hey, I could be wrong.

I tell ya what though, I feel a lot better feeding my dogs home cooked food than I do mechanically separated insides from China packaged dog food. ;)

I need to go shoe shopping. Well, hiking boot shopping. I think the last pair I purchased that was on clearance at REI was on clearance for a reason. :( The bottom sole looks OK, but I am getting wear patterns on all of my hiking socks and for the first time, my left heel aches when walking. I expect pain from 4" heels, not hiking boots! The problem is I am normally uber picky when it comes to buying hiking boots.... I bought these on clearance and the 75% off called my name. I should have ignored it. lol Sometimes, you get what you pay for!

Ugh, I am so tired of this rain. I wish we could send it to those of you who need it!

I wonder if it's safe to go shopping yet. When we poked our heads out last week, it was scary. We're running out of dairy, and there's a few other things I could really use stocking up on. I've got to bake more bread - it lasts maybe 24 hours around here.

DH's job gave him a turkey as a gift. LOL Good thing I only bought 2 this year, or I would have had to fire up the second deep freezer - and I would have felt stupid running it for just a turkey. lol

We do need to do something about the fridge situation. I lost some green peppers again. *grumbling* I swear, every time I open the door I hear it laugh at me. It likes to torture me! If we run electric in the new house, I'm buying an industrial fridge. I don't need the freezer part - the deep freezer takes care of that for me. The only thing I keep in the fridge's freezer is ice, and when I menu plan, I add the meat for the week in there so I don't have to go in and out of the deep freezer.

DVD Review: Dora The Explorer: Dora Loves Boots

2011-12-26T11:59:00.001-08:00

My family and I recently received a copy of the newest Nickelodeon DVD release, Dora The Explorer: Dora Loves Boots, to review.

No, not the shoe style - her best friend, the purple monkey! Dora Loves Boots contains four episodes, including three brand new to DVD! In "Boots' First Bike", the Delivery Duck flies in with a postcard of a shiny yellow two wheeler bike for Boots, and he's super excited to get his very first bike! It's ready to be picked up, and this episode is full of "firsts" as you'll see Baby Blue Bird take her first flight, and Lil' Piggy sail on her pirate ship too. In "Bouncy Boots", Boots gets his favorite boots back from the Shoe Shop - but they don't feel like his boots. When he puts them on, he starts to bounce! Uh oh, these aren't his! It's bounce time for adventures on the way back to the Shoe Shop.

In "¡Vacaciones!", Dora and Boots are going camping with Diego and Little Jaguar. They meet up with lots of other friends, too, and help Isa water her veggie garden before she leaves on vacation as well. Uh oh, Swiper has swiped their snacks! Can Diego and Baby Jaguar help rescue their snacks back? And in "The Big Red Chicken's Magic Wand" (LOL at this title!), The Big Red Chicken is doing magic tricks and turns Boots into a chicken too! In the chaos, the wand is broken! They'll have to do a bunch of things to enter the Wand Shop, including a math game to get the Giant Dice to disappear.

While there are no special features on the DVD itself, inside the box is a certificate for a free "call" from Dora. It's good through August 2012. We're saving this as a surprise. ;)

Dora The Explorer: Dora Loves Boots will be released this coming Tuesday, December 27th, 2011. Full screen format, it is not rated, but geared towards the preschool crowd. The total running time is 95 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $16.99, but Amazon has it available on pre-order for $13.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this title is not currently available, but be sure to add it to your DVD queue to be notified when it is)

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

Review: Philips AmbientLED Bulb

2011-12-26T11:01:00.001-08:00

During the winter months here in Washington, the lights are on more than they are off. It's just dreary and blah during Winter. I don't think I'll ever get used to it! You never realize how much you need sunlight until you barely see it.

CFL's can save money - well, for some folks - but the light they give off isn't always the brightest. Incandescent light bulbs give off better light, but they use a lot more energy. Either or, you've got a good side and a bad side!

Philips must know what it's like to live in Washington state, because they recently created the world's first LED replacement for a 60 watt incandescent bulb - and the first to earn an Energy Star qualification. Meet the Philips AmbientLED 12.5 watt light bulb:

It looks a little funny at first - but so do those CFL bulbs, right? Like the CFL's, it uses a LOT less energy than old school light bulbs. The Philips AmbientLED bulb lasts 25 times longer and uses 80% less energy than the 60W incandescent it was designed to replace!

I was given a Philips AmbientLED bulb to try out in our home and see what I thought. I immediately decided to put it in our dreariest room - our bedroom. The lighting situation in there is less than ideal - it's rather depressing. I figured if there was a room I'd see a difference in immediately, this would be it.

(Please excuse the dust, I thought it was clean. Geesh. lol) Holy moly mack-a-toly, I was SHOCKED when we put that bulb in the difference in the lighting - it was BRIGHT. It was WARM. It was INCREDIBLE. I can't even begin to tell you the difference in writing, but it was AMAZING. One light bulb was brighter than the three we had in the room before!

I had my socks knocked off by a lightbulb. LOL!!! Seriously, the room we had avoided because it was the one that felt most like a dungeon has become the room we're happiest to be in. Instead of lingering in the living room in the evenings, we head into the bedroom to read and relax.

The only downside I can see is that the Philips AmbientLED bulb is only sold at Home Depot currently, and it does retail for $24.97. Yes, for one bulb. Here's the thing - these bulbs are meant to last 25 years. They don't go KABOOM like the old school bulbs do, and these Philips AmbientLED bulbs have a six year warranty on them. Have you ever seen a light bulb with a warranty on it? Yeah, me either. You don't see them with that EnergyStar qualification either.

If you crave light in your home, I recommend picking up one of the Philips AmbientLED bulbs for yourself and giving it a try in your home. You'll probably find yourself wanting to replace every single light bulb, too.

I received a sample of this product in order to try it out in my own home and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Menu Planning Monday - 12/26 - 1/1

2011-12-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's the last week of the year! The year has gone by fast - and I have to admit, I'm a little thankful for that. I still don't have a sink that's working right - apparently we seem to keep making it worse, go figure - so I was trying to come up with ideas that don't use a ton of extra dishes. Hello, slow cooker. ;)

Our turkey came out DIVINE by the way! Rather than OD on turkey this week, I simply processed all the leftovers using the food processor and portioned it out into freezer bags for down the road. This way I can just grab a bag of precooked chicken, rather than needing to make chicken for dishes like tacos, etc.

Monday: BBQ Chicken Cornbread Pizza

Tuesday: Barbecue Chicken II

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Meatball Sandwiches, Italian green beans

Thursday: Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken Filling, tortillas

Friday: fish sandwiches, veggie side dish

Saturday: Semi Homemade Slow Cooker Mac N Cheese

Sunday: slow cooker roast chicken, rice side dish, roasted potatoes

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

To All...

2011-12-24T17:50:00.000-08:00

No matter what your beliefs are, I hope that today and tomorrow are wonderful days for you, that you are surrounded by those you love, and may the coming year bring wonderful things your way. Feliz Noche Buena y Feliz Navidad!

Review & Recipes: Carapelli Olive Oils

2011-12-23T12:36:00.001-08:00

One of my staples in my kitchen is olive oil. It's a healthy way for me to cook, and I've even been known it use it on my hair! I use it to make everything from marinades to cooking veggies to salad dressing - and now I can add mashed potatoes to that list.

Carapelli makes premium extra virgin olive oils imported from Italy. Their Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made with the first cold pressing of the olives. It has a deep green color, an intense flavor, and it's perfect for flavoring entrees or side dishes. I was sent some samples so I could try it out in my kitchen, as well as some new recipes to try out. One of the recipes was so easy to make - and so yummy - I wanted to share it with you now so you can try it out for your holiday dinner!

Olive Oil and Herb Mashed Potatoes:

Serving Size: 12

10 8-ounce potatoes, (about 5 pounds) peeled and cut in half
3/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
1/2 cup Tuscan Herb paste*
1/2 cup Carapelli Premium 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cup heavy cream, warmed

*Here's the recipe for the Tuscan Herb Paste:

(Yield: 2 1/4 cups)

3/4 cup Carapelli Extra Light in Taste Olive Oil
1 cup Carapelli Premium 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tablespoon fresh basil
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
1/2 packed cup fresh Italian parsley
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
2 tablespoons fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Blend herbs and crushed red pepper with light olive oil using a blender or food processor, then stir in extra virgin olive oil.

I ended up using dried herbs instead of fresh, because I only had fresh Italian parsley on hand at the moment. I also used Yukon Gold potatoes, since that's what I had on hand - but you can probably use any type of potatoes if you'd like. Now to get back to the mashed potatoes recipe, boil the potatoes in salted water. When cooked tender, mash potatoes. Mix salt and pepper with Tuscan Herb Paste, olive oil and warm heavy cream. Fold into potatoes, and serve.

And because the stock photo makes my photo look awful, I'm showing theirs instead of mine:

Thank goodness mine tasted as good as their photo looked. LOL The Tuscan Herb Paste sounds like it's a lot of work to make at first glance, but really all you are doing is tossing a bunch of ingredients into the blender or food processor. It takes seconds. My next try will be using it on our turkey on Christmas day! (You'll notice the Tuscan Paste recipe makes more than the potatoes uses - even though you're not supposed to store olive oil in the fridge, I put the remainder of the paste in ours) I'll take some photos (hopefully it looks better than my potatoes LOL) and I'll let you know how it turned out. I think I have a new go-to paste for chicken too - I like the idea of it with some chicken and pasta!

Right now if you visit the Carapelli website, you can find a coupon to save you $1.00 off your next purchase of Carapelli olive oil, 17 ounce or larger.

I received samples of the product mentioned above, and recipes to try out in my own home. All opinions are my own.

Review & Giveaway: Shout Free

2011-12-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

Mom Central recently asked if I wanted to be a part of the new Shout Ambassador blog tour.

I feel like I am always doing laundry. It seems to be the most time consuming chore I have. It's not that I mind, really - it's just that I am floored at the amount of laundry our family of three seems to come up with! I went from doing about two loads every two weeks, if that, before I was married - to 7 to 10 loads a week these days! If I ignore it for more than a day, I loose sight of my laundry bin in the bathroom!

You would think that my daughter would be the worst stain offender in our home, but it's actually my DH. My first job way back when was a thrift store, and because of that, I learned the stain and wear patterns kids would make on their clothes. I kept this information in the back of my head all those years, and have actually done a really good job at keeping the stains from even beginning to happen by carefully planning clothes vs activities vs food choices. It's not foolproof, of course - but let's say I've avoided 50% of stains we could have ended up with if she was as bad as her daddy. Now if only I could get that to work with DH.... LOL

When stains do happen, I try to catch it immediately, use a stain remover, and let it soak overnight. I take pride in our wardrobes and I don't like fabrics to look sloppy. I really do believe taking care of your fabrics with quality laundry detergent and following care directions on garment labels can make a difference in the lifespan of the garment. You might be rolling your eyes at me, but if a shirt lasts longer, you're saving money not having to replace it AND you're helping the environment.

Speaking of the environment, some of you know I've been trying as best as I can to switch our home over to green product choices. I have always liked Shout! products, so I was happy to hear they have come out with Shout Free. Shout Free has zero dyes, zero fragrance, and 99% natural ingredients. Like the other Shout! stain removers, it works in all water temperatures, and has that convenient trigger dispenser we all know and love.

It didn't take long after the package arrived with some Shout Free for us to try for stains to appear. I should have just sat there with the bottle in my hands, lol Actually it was my fault - I served up some Thousand Island dressing with the carrots at snack time and you can guess what happened to the little dipping container. (the dogs were more than happy to lick at whatever they could get to LOL!) Even though I was in the middle of preparing dinner, it took me seconds to take her shirt off, zip on some Shout Free! and get right back to chopping veggies. When I was done, I let the shirt soak in a bin for a few hours, then tossed it in the next load of laundry. I saw no difference between regular Shout and the Shout Free! in stain removal to my eyes - it worked just as well, and the stain was pretty much gone! I'm pretty pleased, and I'll continue to purchase it in the future.

Right now, Shout is offering downloadable coupons on their Facebook page for Shout Free and Color Catcher with Oxi! Head on over to print yours now.

Win it! Two lucky winners will each win a sample of Shout Free! To enter, tell us who is the worst stain offender in your family.

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 Shout Free ends 12/31 http://bit.ly/rXg2uL @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends December 31st 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 wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Shout and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Friday's Featured Etsy: Not Just Cookies

2011-12-23T10:48:00.001-08:00

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 not just cookies.

Notjustcookies makes homemade gourmet cookies from scratch, as well as homemade candy, truffles, pastries, muffins and more. All items are packed in a bakery box and tied with ribbon. She mails baking goods on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, so that you get them as fast and as fresh as possible.

Check out these fun looking Almond Tri-Color Cookies Pastries Italian Rainbow Venetian All Natural 1 pound:

These Baci di dama Almond Cookies Chocolate Filled Sandwiches Lady' kisses Shortbread 18 pieces No Eggs look yummy!

And Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a fruit cake, right? LOL So here's a Homemade Dark Fruitcake Brandied All Natural Delicious 1 pound:

Stop by not just cookies today and have a look around! Support handmade!

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

Cabela's Gift Card Deal

2011-12-22T21:40:00.000-08:00

If you have a guy in your life who adores Cabela's and still need a gift - or maybe you're just trying to stock up for the zombie apocalypse ;) - then you're going to want to take advantage of the SaveMore.com Cabela's gift card deal going on now through tomorrow! You can purchase a $25 gift card for just $15!

We are Cabela's addicts over here. Don't think it's just hunting and outdoors stuff - ladies, you can get some fun stuff for your kitchen!

I've been contemplating the Cabela's Pro 150 Slicer:

And even though my slow cooker still works fine, I've been wanting the Stainless Steel 8.5-Quart Slow Cooker. It's bigger than mine and I could make bigger batches of chili and stews If it wasn't sold out right now, I'd snag it thanks to this deal. :( Maybe they'll get it back in stock!

*The SaveMore.com link is a referral link. If you purchase through it, I'll receive a credit.

Thrifty Thursday - Keeping Eggs Fresh

2011-12-22T11:25:00.001-08:00

This week for my Thrifty Thursday post, I'm talking keeping eggs fresh.

There's a great deal on eggs one week, and you decide to buy several dozen. Keep the eggs stored in the clean paper carton, rather than taking them out. Don't be tempted to place the eggs inside the fridge door. I know many refrigerators have a special tray in the door for eggs, but I swear the idea was placed by someone who never bought eggs. Placing them in the door cuts their shelf life way down, because they are basically removed from the cold air every time the fridge door is opened! Instead, place the eggs on the shelf towards the bottom, where they will benefit from the cold air the longest. (If you have to store eggs in the door, just try to use them as quickly as possible.)

If you have a carton of eggs you remember buying a few weeks ago, but the date is garbled and you can't tell if it expired last week, or this week. There's an easy way to tell if the eggs are still fresh. Fill a decent sized bowl with cold water. If the eggs sink, they are still fresh. If they float, toss it out right away as it's too old to eat.

Thanks To My Blog...

2011-12-21T13:02:00.001-08:00

Ten kids received gifts through the giving trees.* We also donated a bag of groceries for holiday meals to our local food bank!

I couldn't have done it without YOU! Those of you who read my blog regularly and leave comments helped make it happen! THANK YOU!

*For those who don't know, each year I turn around and purchase gifts using gift cards such as the ones from Amazon to buy gifts.

Game Review: National Geographic Challenge! (Wii)

2011-12-21T12:47:00.000-08:00

My family and I received National Geographic Challenge! for the Wii to review.

We take family gaming seriously here. lol We each have our own games that we love to play, but I am always on the hunt for family friendly games that we can play together.

National Geographic Challenge! allows players to explore our planet through its history and geography, providing a journey through the ages and an inside look at the extraordinary extent of mankind’s achievements. You can play in English, French, or Spanish, to help kids work on a foreign language! The game can also be played single player, or with up to four players. You can use your created Mii, or pick a premade character. You also get to choose an avatar for your character to be, each of which gives special powers - everything from an astronaut to a pink skull treasure hunter!

There are two major modes: quiz mode, which lets you choose between 40, 60, or 80 questions based on one of seven different regions of the world. You can choose from easy or hard on the subject questions. There are a variety of different questions, from puzzles to basic trivia. Some videos are also shown, and you have to answer questions based on the information shared in the video.

Explorer mode is a capture the castle kind of game. The world is broken into different random territories depending on the amount of players. Your goal is to "capture" all six pieces of a territory. Like the quiz mode, you can choose from easy to hard. You'll answer quizzes, play mini games, anagrams, and compete head to head to own each territory. Certain territories are worth more than others, and you can use your special ability to overtake a certain territory if you need to. Once you explore a whole region, that region will be locked down, and your opponents can no longer capture it. There are also hidden wildcards that can have an effect on the game - everything from gaining a turn to random opponents being included in your quiz to gain that territory you were trying to grab!

There are also the Puzzle Challenge and Classic Puzzles. For these, you need to place puzzle pieces into pictures. The puzzle games do require good handling of the remotes, as do the quiz questions - you need to click exactly on the answer. If you miss the small space - you could end up accidentally choosing the wrong answer!

The game also requires a good amount of reading skills, as well as the obvious world knowledge. While the game says it is rated E for Everyone, I'd have to say it's geared more towards the ages ten and up crowd. That's not to say that younger kids can't buddy up with an older player (this is what we do in this case - the winner gets our kiddo added to their team), but even on easy, the world questions can be tough. It also warns on the back of alcohol and tobacco references, but after playing the game several times, we didn't spot any of them. Do keep this in mind - it probably just has to do with questions asking about where tobacco fields are, etc,.

If you don't own a Wii, this game is also available for both the Xbox 360 and the PS3. Although I can't comment on those versions of the game as I haven't played them, I believe you can also purchase extra downloaded quiz questions through their platforms.

All in all, we had fun with this game. At first glance it seems like it's just a kids game, but this is one of those games that adults can really have fun with without kids present. There have been other "party" style games that DH and I have rented or bought, and really ended up bored with one the first play - we were actually itching to play this one sans kiddo several nights in a row. lol If you are looking for a last minute gaming gift for a Wii owner, especially if they like trivia or traveling - National Geographic Challenge! is a great idea!

National Geographic Challenge! for the Wii retails for $19.99, and you can purchase it wherever Wii games are sold, including online via Amazon.com.

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

Review: HandSan

2011-12-20T12:45:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year where every where is so busy - public restrooms can be out of toilet paper, soap, and paper towels faster than the employees can check them.

Bio+Green Crystals has a new product - HandSan, an alcohol free organic hand cleaner! It comes in a convenient purse sized container, and it even kills things such as Ecoli and Salmonella. HandSan kills 99.99% of germs naturally - no need to worry about what chemicals are in the cleaner, and your hands won't dry out, either. Simply spray some on your hands, then rub until dry - no need for towels.

I received a bottle for my family to try out, and I immediately tossed it in my purse. It came in handy right away, because when we went to the mall (or rather tried to) we needed an emergency potty break on the way home where not only was the bathroom out of toilet paper (luckily, I keep a small travel size roll in my purse for us!) but there was no paper to dry hands either! I whipped the bottle of HandSan out and was able to wash our hands. A couple of sprays were more than enough to clean our hands, and there was no smell from the product. My hands didn't react to it, either, and they didn't dry out like alcohol based products would do. (I really hope for others using the bathroom after us that the store went ahead and refilled everything, because most folks aren't as prepared as me!)

I found HandSan to be a great little product from the Bio+Green family, and I will definitely restock my bottle when it's empty - I can see this really coming in handy for summer camping trips for us. If you need a good hand cleaning product for any emergency or hurricane preparedness kids, this HandSan organic hand cleanser is a great choice!

A two ounce bottle sells for $5.99 - which could seem a little high to some folks, but it is organic and a hand cleaner, not a hand sanitizer.

I received a sample of this product in order to try it out and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Random Thoughts Tuesday - Must Bake!

2011-12-20T11:07:00.000-08:00

I have a giant to-do list that I think keeps growing by the second. Not enough time in the day to get it all done - so I am cheekily campaigning for a maid to DH. ;)

Cookies, cookies - I need to bake cookies!

So last week our sink had issues. We followed my daddy's advice first, then DH's daddy's advice next - and yep, we made a mess. Until DH's next day off, here I am doing dishes in a bucket in the bathtub. Happy Holidays to me, y'all. (Can you see why I'm behind on everything?) I keep trying to remind myself that at least I have running water...

Jingle bells + little girl shoes = buy earplugs. ;) When kids are so happy though, how can you take them away?

We attempted to brave the chaos at the mall yesterday. BIG mistake. BIG BIG BIG mistake. The parking lot was a nightmare. I saw rudeness and said forget it. All we wanted was to pop into World Market and pick up an ornament. :( I thought folks were struggling, but apparently it doesn't seem to matter - I saw folks with arms full of stuff. *shrugs* I don't get it, I really don't. I must be weird. What happened to a single homemade gift and maybe something special that was a heartfelt gift for someone? How is plastic junk that falls apart within a few months special?

It's funny because I was reading one of those holiday do's and don'ts articles, and it say don't buy household items like a vacuum or slow cooker for anyone. Um, I'd love those gifts! Practical, and it can make my life easier! Someone get me an industrial meat slicer! LOL ;)

I actually really covet one of those. Oh oh oh, and one of those potato slicers that attach to the wall that Cabela's sells. Totally not necessary on that one, but fun to play with ;)

I crave cheesecake.

Last night I was looking at real estate back home in Texas. I swear, home prices have gone down everywhere BUT Texas. lol You can tell there are companies that are doing well there, because properties priced below market are snapped up in a blink of an eye. Good for those folks - bad for us! I did see two properties in our price range that was decent acreage, but was one immediately nixed when I realized in the tiny picture what kind of brush I was looking at - all I heard in my head was DANGER! WILL ROBINSON! DANGER! lol One lightning strike or spark and it would go so fast we wouldn't have time to save anything. An acre or two would be easy enough to clear, but it was almost 15 acres of that stuff - and by the time you cleared it, you'd have nothing left on the land hardly. No wonder it was priced so low - I guess it could be a good deal for someone else.

I did get a kick out of one house that was listed on the same road DH's family lives on. Five acres, overpriced - and the real estate agent said you'll love the mature trees on the land. There was all of FOUR trees on that property. LOL!! Some of the things these agents say are so funny. I get what they are trying to do, but it's so easy to see right through them. (In this case, the house was on a flood plain)

Oh, and DH's present? Something new to kill zombies with. Double Tap. ;)

Menu Planning Monday - 12/19 - 12/25

2011-12-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe it's Christmas this week! The year has gone fast, hasn't it? Happy Holidays to all!

Monday: homemade slow cooker chicken soup

Tuesday: Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta

Wednesday: sweet 'n sour chicken and rice

Thursday: Cheesy chicken sandwiches, tomato rice

Friday: BBQ Chicken Cornbread Pizza

Saturday: appetizers to snack on all day! (our tradition)

Sunday: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

More Giveaway Winners!

2011-12-18T16:28:00.001-08:00

The winner of the Hershey's Holiday giveaway is:

Mama V said...

GFC follower: Mama V

The winner of the Country Crock Kids Cooking giveaway is:

Grampy said...

Just tweeted this post.
grampyandyou
Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife: Giveaway: Country Crock Makes Veggies Yummy http://www.confessionsofapsychotichousewife.com/2011/12/giveaway-country-crock-makes-veggies.html?spref=tw

The winner of the Subway Customer Appreciation giveaway is:

alovelydissenter said...

Meatball Marinara is my favorite sub so I'd have to go with it.

The winner of the Paul Anka CD giveaway is:

Anonymous said...

White Christmas.

Tim Moss

The winner of the Tropical Traditions Raw Honey giveaway is:

Anonymous said...

I'd like to try their coconut cream concentrate :)
I also like Tropical Traditions on Facebook.
-Monique

Congratulations everyone! Emails are being sent right now - remember you have 48 hours to get back to me!

Easy Tips To Winterize Your Home

2011-12-18T11:50:00.000-08:00

Many of us are throwing away money on heating bills, and don't even realize it! Depending on the size of your home, and how well insulated your home is, you could easy be wasting $20 or more on heating costs each month. You'd pick that $20 off the ground if you saw it, right? I know I would! Here are a few easy ideas that won't take you more than a few minutes to accomplish.

Make sure the filter has been recently changed to your heating furnace. Some filters need to be changed once a month, others only once a season. Become familiar with your furnace and be sure to change that filter on time - this is a super easy fix that can save your quite a bit each year!

Insulate your water pipes and your water heater. This will help hold the heat in your house, and help your water heater not have to work so hard. Unless you have a water heater that is tank less and/or simply starts up when you need it, your water heater can be the most expensive thing in your house to run!

Weatherstrip your doors and windows. These little self stick strips can be found in the home improvement aisle at your favorite store, and if applied properly, should last all winter season. If you don't typically open the windows in your home, you can leave it on through the summer months to save on air conditioning costs, too.

Find those drafts and fix them up! If you are renting and need a solution that's not permanent, cut the sleeves off an old sweatshirt, use a rubber band to rope off one side, and fill with stuffing. (If you have no stuffing, use old rags) Then rope off the other end with another rubber band, and you've got a cheap and eco friendly draft dodger to use to stop cold air from coming in underneath doors and through windows.

And if you need to cut costs just a little bit but don't want to sacrifice your comfort, consider turning the heat by just a degree or two. It might seem like it won't make a difference - but it will!

Book Review: Come A Little Closer By Dorothy Garlock

2011-12-17T11:41:00.001-08:00

I recently received a copy of the new book Come A Little Closer by Dorothy Garlock to review.

Set just after WWII in 1946, Christina Tucker is a nurse who is putting her wartime skills to use by helping a doctor in Longstock, Wisconsin. She wants to reconnect with her country life. Dr. Samuel Barlow might be a country doctor, but there is always a call to be answered - upon picking up Christina at the railroad station, they head straight to work! Poor woman didn't even have time to freshen up after her journey!

Dr. Samuel Barlow has two nephews - Holden and Tyler Sutter, both who saw action in the war. Holden has come home shell shocked, Tyler came back back angry and cynical. Christina meets them at dinner - where she finally thinks she might get a decent welcome - and ends up taking dinner up to Holden. So much for a relaxing meal. ;) She decides to try to help Holden recover, but in doing so, ends up disturbing memories best left buried. She turns to Tyler, and ends up growing closer - but there's a terrible secret on the horizon. Among the trouble - including Christina's life in danger - will Christina and Tyler have a happy life together?

This was my first book from the author, although it follows two other books about the Tuckers - Stay a Little Longer and Keep a Little Secret, this book is easily read as a stand alone. I enjoyed the storyline, and Christina was a strong heroine that was likable. (spoiler alert) At first I thought she would end up following in love with someone else. (/end spoiler alert) I also didn't expect the danger Christina would be in towards the end of the book. There was a little more, ahem, play by play action than I care for, but it was easily skipped over for me. If you like romances set in this era, Come A Little Closer is definitely worth adding to your to-read or library list.

Come A Little Closer by Dorothy Garlock is a paperback historical romance book published by Hachette. It is 384 pages long. The suggested cover price is $14.99, but Amazon has it available for $10.19 as of right now. 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.

A Holiday Vote For Me?

2011-12-16T13:57:00.000-08:00

The Tacoma News Tribune is having a holiday pet photo contest, and my DH entered the Corgis into it. There are 35 entries for folks to vote for. If you think Captain and the Grumpy Princess are worthy of a vote, I'd love it!

If the link isn't working, here is the link to his entry here.

You do have to log in with Facebook or register in order to vote, which I know is a hassle, but it does keep the contest a little more fair for the entrants.

Wish us luck! :)

Giveaway: Hershey's For The Holidays!

2011-12-16T13:30:00.000-08:00

The holidays aren't the holidays around here without chocolate! ;) I keep our candy dish (OK, so it's not very Christmas-y, as it's a skull... maybe I should dress it up with a red bow? lol) stocked with a familiar assortment of red, green, and silver Hershey's Kisses this time of year.

...I love those kisses because I can get a little taste of chocolate without a ton of calories. It helps offset all of the other holiday foods I am chowing down on! lol

Whether you’re looking for the perfect stocking stuffer or a sweet treat to fill your candy dish, Hershey’s holiday collection has a variety of items sure to top every wish list this season. From Hershey's Kisses to Hershey’s Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate Bells to Hershey’s Miniatures Assortment, there's an assortment of chocolate and sweets to fill your candy dishes with, or stuff those stockings!

And if it's recipes or crafts you're on the hunt for in order to make last minute gifts, visit CelebratewithHersheys.com for quick and easy ideas! I'm going to try making the Chocolate Cherry Bars Recipe this weekend - it looks scrumptious! (and for once, I have all the ingredients on hand so I don't even need an emergency trip last an item at the gocery store! Yippee!)

The kiddo and I will also be making a couple of the HERSHEY'S Holiday Gift Jar Craft to go along side some of out other jar gifts. I fear Christmas is arriving quicker than I thought it would this year - I am way behind on my gift making! (eeek!!!)

I might have to break out some extra doses of caffeine and pull a few late nighters to get all my gifts finished up. If you are making homemade gifts or gift baskets this year, are you all finished, or are you running behind like me? Does chocolate motivate you to work a little faster? ;) It does? Awesome, because....

Win it! Thanks to Hershey's, one super de duper lucky reader is going to win an assortment of holiday sweets including Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme Santa, Hershey’s Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate Bells, Hershey’s Miniatures Assortment, Rolo Holiday Candies, and 1.45oz Hershey’s Kisses – Santa Hat.

To enter, tell us if you have all of your holiday shopping done or not!

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 Hershey's Holiday Chocolate! http://bit.ly/sjuse5 ends 12/17 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! I'm running this one short and sweet, in hopes the winner will be able to enjoy it for Christmas (I can't guarantee it though) Giveaway ends December 17th 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 an assortment of Hershey's products in exchange for writing this post. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Friday's Featured Etsy: Fluffy Flowers

2011-12-16T11:14:00.000-08:00

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 Fluffy Flowers.

Felicia is the designer and creator of Fluffy Flowers, and she creates handmade lovable creatures in Georgia. Each creature starts life in a craft room, born from piles of fur, fabric, and fluff. She is a member of The Plush Team, The Georgia Street Team, and the Indie Free Spirit Team. Right now, she is having a big sale with 50% off, so it's a great time to buy!

Check out the SALE 50% off Monster with striped horns:

Have you forgotten to pick up a gift for the kitty in your life? Uh oh! You better head over and check out the catnip Hairball cat toy:

One of my personal favorites is this fun Steampunk Peg Leg Lady doll that just begs to be part of a story read to littles:

Help kids fight back against evil monsters under the bed and in the closet with this cute Monster with striped horns:

Stop by Fluffy Flowers today and have a look around! Support handmade!

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

Special Challenge Butter Printable Coupon

2011-12-16T10:33:00.000-08:00

I just got a head's up from Challenge Butter that it will now be sold in Walmart Supercenters in the midwest in the following states: Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Kentucky, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska.

It's on sale the rest of the month for $2.99, which is a couple of dollars less than the usual regular price! Even better, you can print a $.55 off coupon, which brings it down into my personal stocking up price! (If I lived in those states, I'd be all over it!)

Do you stock up on a lot of butter when you find it on sale? What's your personal stock up price? (I remember when I'd stock up at 4/$5 - those days are long gone! sniff, sniff! I feel like the old man saying when he went to school, he had to walk five miles in the snow all uphill... LOL) Or are you more of a seasonal butter buyer, only buying for holiday baking?

My Story: Cutting The Trash Cord

2011-12-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

Over the last few years, we've taken "baby steps" in our quest to live a more natural life. The word "green" just sounds overly trendy to me, and most of you know how much I hate trendy. ;) I prefer "gothic hippie tree hugger" - but DH just rolls his eyes at me.

Let me back track a bit and mention that when we move, we ultimately hope to purchase a piece of land that's as far in the middle of nowhere as we can. We plan to build our home, and do it as environmentally friendly as we can - not just for environment, but more because A) recycled materials are cheap and B) see the phrase "gothic hippie tree hugger" up there. ;) We have two different houses that we've planned on, depending on how the land we purchase ends up working for us. One is basically a hobbit house, like this:

which anyone who knows me is laughing. I have to share this background on me - my first year of college, my two English classes were with the same professor. She was evil. EVIL. The first class I took, we had to match the entire Narnia series to the Bible. (This was long before the current movies) I spent nights on the phone with the Priest from my family's parish trying to figure it out - he couldn't even come up with it. The second class, she choose the Lord of the Rings series to torment us with. My task? To show Gollum/Smeagal's good characteristics and portray him as a good guy.

By the time the movies came out years later, I still refused to even look at them - even though I know half of you are thinking the movies are perfectly up my alley. I finally broke down about two years ago and watched them with my DH, because he ADORES them.

And yes, I still cringe every time I see Gollum. Anyways... where was I?

Oh, the houses! The second one is pretty similar, but built into the ground using concrete. We call it the cave. It's not a bunker - it's rounded like the Hobbit House.

Both would rely completely on solar and propane power, along with a whole host of other earth friendly - and pocketbook friendly ideas. Each of the baby steps we take, brings us closer to our ultimate goal of basically living off the land.

Back in October, I cut our trash and recycling pick up off. I felt that it was an unnecessary expense for our family. Three months worth of pick up cost us $55 - and half the time my DH would forget to put the trash out so it wasn't getting picked up anyways. I was tired of waking up, panicking over whether the can was outside or not, and it also became one less bill I had to pay. It was a win-win situation, let me tell you.

The closet trash drop off and recycling center was actually right on the way to one of the dog parks, so we didn't have to go out of our way to get rid of it. Recycling was free, and it was less than $4 per trash can's worth to dump. Unless we suddenly had double the amount of trash we usually had, we would be coming out ahead by disposing of our trash our self.

As the weeks progressed, I found we had less and less trash to throw away. The recycling center actually took more items than Waste Management picked up from our home - and we weren't charged for it like WM did! I found myself paying more attention to the items we were buying in the store, and checking out the packaging it came in. If I saw an item with those awful plastic bubbles, I tried to avoid it if I could. I didn't find myself spending any extra money to do so.

Suddenly, a single trash bag was lasting us almost two weeks! I was saving money by not having to buy as many trash bags, too! It took over a month for our trash container to be full, and that included pet waste. The worst offender are those awful Styrofoam meat trays. :( I try to buy from the butcher whenever possible because the outer paper can be recycled, (or burnt) but sometimes it's not always wallet friendly to do so - it can be twice as much as the pre-wrapped from other stores.

Now we compost food waste (excluding meat, of course), so I don't have to worry about trash cans smelling. For anyone else considering taking the no pick up plunge too, keep that in mind. As for the recycling, we simply dropped it off once a week on our trip to the dog park.

So what was costing us $55 now came to less than $12! And we are much more careful with our waste, too.

Review: Orgreenic 10" Fry Pan

2011-12-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

Know someone who is probably going to make losing weight or eating healthier their upcoming New Years Resolution? I have a gift idea for you!

Orgreenic Kitchenware has a ceramic green non-stick fry pan that allows folks to cook without oil, butter, or grease - helping to make a meal a little more healthier. The pan has an aluminum alloy core, with a stay-cool handle. Orgreenic is PTFE & PFOA free - both of which are harmful chemicals that can be found in other non-stick cookware.

I received the 10" fry pan to review:

I had never used ceramic cookware before, although I do have a ceramic knife that I use in the kitchen and adore, so I was a little familiar with it already. The 10" pan is the right size to make an omelet, a nice cut of fish or meat, make a grilled cheese, and to saute up some fresh veggies as a side dish. Bigger families would probably desire a bigger size, but a family of 2-3 will get plenty of use out of this size.

Unlike most non-stick cookware though, the Orgreenic needs a little bit more care. First of all, before you can use it, you need to season the pan the first time. If you've ever used cast iron cookware or stone bakeware, you might already be a little familiar with the process. You need a spread a coating of vegetable oil all over the inside "green" coating of the pan, and then keep it on the burner over medium-high heat until it starts smoke. (Or, in my case - about 40 minutes later of stalking it, I realized there was no smoke!) Let it cool completely, and wipe away the excess oil with a cloth or paper towel. You'll want to do this about every six months or so, maybe a little sooner if you are using your Orgreenic pan on a daily basis.

You also need to handwash your Orgreenic cookware using a mild dish soap. You can't just toss it into your dishwasher, because you will ruin it. For me, this is no big deal since 95% of items get washed by hand around here anyways.

Now I don't know how others cook, but I own both cast iron and non-stick cookware. Personally, I prefer the cast iron - but I keep the non-stick around to use from time to time. I use a little more oil when using the cast iron vs non-stick, but after viewing the video hosted on the Orgreenic site, I cringed a little at the amount of oil shown. I know it's dramatized, but I couldn't help but be like a vampire seeing sunlight when I saw that much oil being used! I love using healthy oils like olive oil and coconut oil in my recipes more for flavoring. I also don't use fattening cuts of meat - we eat mostly chicken with a little bit of beef or pork - so for me - I'm not worried about cutting that out. If you're trying to loose weight, you will want to be skipping all of the oils and simply make that meat without any olive oil and then your veggies. The Orgreenic pan will help with that! (The finished meal will be a lot better for you than those frozen weight loss meals)

I've been using my Orgreenic pan for just over 2 weeks now, and of course, there's no scratching, etc on the surface. (If that changes, I'll update my review!) My family loves scrambled eggs, but I always hate scrubbing the leftovers off the pan - this definitely cut it down to miniscule egg "crumbs" left. I used it to make sausage links, and even a piece of fish, and had no problems with it sticking.

Bottomline: I think the Orgreenic is perfect for beginning cooks, college students, and single folks who want a healthy meal but don't want to jump through hoops to get it. It's safer than traditional non-stick cookware because it doesn't use all of the chemicals the other does. It is made in China though, so if you are avoiding anything not made here in the USA, keep that in mind.

The Orgreenic 10" Fry Pan retails for $19.99, and you can purchase it online via the Get Orgreenic website. You can follow Orgreenic over on Facebook, or follow Orgreenic Cookware over on Twitter. You can also read more Orgreenic Reviews via their WordPress site.

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

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