Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot

  As a mom, I get to listen to a LOT of cartoons but never really watch them. I am in and out, picking up, cleaning up, bringing laundry through etc... I am sure many of us function this way.  The Poo loves to watch My Little Pony Friendship is Magic on The Hub. I had My Little ponies when I was growing up so if I can I try to watch it with her sometimes. The memories of my childhood come rushing in and I am filled with nostalgia! Well that is about to kick into full throttle. The Hub has a new show starting June 2nd......wait for it........wait for it.......Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot! YES!!! The Care Bears are coming back....wooohoooo!!! SERIES PREMIERE: THIS SATURDAY at 8am ET /5am PT. Go check out the website for information on all of the bears and a clip of the show! They also have wallpaper for your computer that is free to download.

The Poo has some of the movies because I bought them but now she will be able to watch them on the T.V.!  Now she loves the Care Bears as most of us did growing up. I have even found her a few Care Bear stuffies to cuddle with.

  So now we will be able to cuddle in the recliner and watch Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot together and have our special time! We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the first episode before it airs and let me tell you we LOVED it! The animation is wonderfully detailed to the point you can see their fur move with them. The story line is great and teaches them about caring for others as Care Bears always has. It is more updated than the older Care Bears movies but just as entertaining. We watched it 2 times in a row and the Poo can hardly wait to get to watch it again, this time on the television. I don't want to give away what this episode is about so I won't say more than preprogram your T.V. so you don't miss it!

I have a coloring page and some poster printables free from The Hub for you and your little ones. I hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer:

This is a review. I was given a link to preview the first episode for review purposes. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the advertising company.

Wordless Wednesday

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Giveaway

As a gardener and a mom, I am always looking for better ways to help keep my family healthy and feed them the best food I can. I even try to make sweets nutritious and not tell them! I was very excited when I got the opportunity to try Tropical Traditions Gold Label Coconut Oil. I was even more excited after I tried it.
Anywhere you use oil or butter, you can substitute this delicious coconut oil. The benefits of coconut oil are mainly from the nutrient value of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Tropical Traditions offers all natural, organic coconut oil. For free recipes using coconut oil go to :http://www.freecoconutrecipes.com/coconut_oil_recipes.htm . My family loves this recipe and had no idea I had substituted coconut oil for butter but I was told several times these were the best pancakes ever! Preparation time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8 medium sized pancakes
2 large eggs
1/4 cup heavy cream
 2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
 pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup finely ground shredded coconut
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1. Combine the eggs, cream, coconut oil, sugar, and salt in a medium sized bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the baking powder,nutmeg,cinnamon and ground coconut.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix gently until completely incorporated.
4. Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt a bit of butter or coconut oil.
5. Spoon batter into skillet, making one or two at a time. Take care to not let pancakes run into each other. Let cook until edges start to brown, add walnuts then flip gently and let cook for another minute on other side. Serve immediately. They are so delicious and easy to make.
Tropical Traditions is going to give one of my lucky readers a chance to try their Gold Label Coconut Oil for themselves! Go enter for your chance to win!

Win 1 quart of  Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil? You can also watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the  advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil. As always, please leave your email so I can contact the winner!

I received a free quart of coconut oil to review. I give my honest opinion and do not recommend anything I would not use.

A letter to my Mom

Dear Mom,

  I never know how to start a letter but it just seems like "Hi, how are you?" doesn't work here. I will start by telling you how wonderful the Poo is doing in school. She loves to go everyday and hates to be late! She got accepted into the gifted and talented program for next year. She is so excited because they get to do projects and crafts. She can hardly wait!
We had to replace the pool this year. The old one tore down the seam when we were moving it. I found a really good deal on it though so it didn't cost too much. I have been saving to get the Poo a swing set for her birthday this year. She loves to swing more than just about anything. Nothing new there, huh!

The other day she was telling me about the first time she remembered it snowing here and you and her played snowball fight and made Dr.Pepper slushies with the fresh snow in your favorite coffee cup.  I had to fight back tears when she told me she is starting to forget what you look like. The picture in her mind is fading but she remembers you. She still has a lot of memories of things you did together.

Some friends of ours moved to New York and I was showing her where it was on a map so she could see how far away it is. Poo asked if maps went all the to China and I told her they did and I could show her China if she wanted. She said she wanted to see a map of Heaven so she could know where you are now.

I told her it must be a really great place because everyone that goes to make a map decides to stay there and tried not to let her see me cry.

I miss you everyday but more today. I find myself still trying to pick up the phone to call you. I am glad I was able to say all the things I wanted to before you left but at the same time I still want to tell you I love you everyday! Things are hard right now but life is good. I smile at my family everyday and and grateful for all we have. I pray every night that you can see Poo growing up and are watching over her. I pray she will remember you always with the same love she has now.I pray you found Bessie May when she left me to be with you and you both have a belly full of Hershey's kisses.

Munchie is doing well in college. She has grown up to be a really good person. My Evil Sister is doing well too. She will graduate next year and I tell her often how proud you would be of her. I think she really needs to hear it. I try to talk to them at  least once a week and sometimes Munchie comes and spends the weekend with us. Poo really enjoys when she does. They play games together and color a lot.

I guess on this Mother's Day I just really wanted to share with you that as hard as it is without you here, and as much as I miss you all the time, we are doing OK. I smile when I remember you more and cry less. I think of things we did together and I am happy more than sad. I still think of you everyday and I am sure I always will. I am grateful for the person you were and grateful you made me the person I am. You taught me not to long for what I don't have but to be grateful for what I do have and that is a wonderful blessing. You taught me to be strong enough to handle whatever comes my way but to be gentle enough to be kind to others no matter how bad I feel. You taught me that your children come first and if you always feel that way you never have to make a difficult decision to get them what they need. You just do it and go on, no matter what you do without. I am proud to be your child. I am proud you are my mom. I do not know if Heaven has Wifi but even if it doesn't I am sure you will get this. I just wanted to say thank you and I love you.

Love,

Your sometimes imperfect but steadily improving daughter.

Hallmark: Tell Me...

Recently, I had the opportunity to join Hallmark and learn more about their Tell Me campaign. I also had the fortune of finding out a lot about what goes into making that special card that is just right for your loved one. I for one am amazed at all the work they put into making a moment special for us as a consumer. Now I am lucky enough to get to share a wonderful giveaway just in time for Mother's Day!
Crazed Mind has graciously offered up a beautiful blooming rose from Hallmark for one of  you lucky readers! Here she is in her words :)

Mother's Day is right around the corner.  Are you ready?  I know I am...Not!  No not yet...but am working on getting there.  You see I need to know just how do I tell my Mom how much I really do appreciate her.  Hallmark has a new commercial....Tell Me.  It makes me wonder just how to do that.



Let me paint you a rosie pretty picture of my childhood with Mom baking cookies and patting my head.  Or let me tell the truth.  Mom was a busy working woman raising 5 kids that were loud crazy and out of control 90% of the time.  Mom taught me the home truths of life....work hard so you can pay the bills so your kids never worry about the lights being turned off.  Love someone that you have seen their ugly side as it will be the one that is snoring beside you in the middle of the night.  Hug your babies tight because there is a day they wiggle away to play with their friends instead.  And use sun block...you will wrinkle...you will age....you will not like it but you can accept it when the grandbabes run to you screaming....NONNIE!

My Mom taught me that as children we are protected and as adults we protect.  My Mom was tough.  She fought for us as much as we fought with each other.  My Mom most often fell asleep in front of the TV right after serving us dinner because her days started at 5 a.m.  And my Mom did without meals, new shoes and at times even transportation so that we could have what we needed.  I want to tell her....

Thanks for bringing me into this world.

I appreciate all you have done to raise me into a strong woman.

Your beautiful because of the lines in your face.

I love you!  I respect you!  I want to be just like you!

And this year I am just trying to figure out how to get it all written on one lil scrap of paper that will unfold out of a red rose.

We have one of these to share with you too.  One that will be able to tell your mom or special person just what you want them to know.  Now all you have to do is figure out just what you want to tell them too!

Wordless Wednesday

Starbucks Giftcard Giveaway

Crazed Mind jumped over to share a guest post and a giveaway! YAY!!!


I am a total coffee addict.  It is like a life line to me.  I do not need it to get going but love it for the flavor and warmth.  Also what a great way to deliver amaretto to my cup too!

But as a dedicated coffee drinker, I have to have times where I can get it on the go.  And who does it best?  Your right....Starbucks!

So today I am thrilled to offer Two $10 Starbucks e-Gift Cards for giveaway.  I am sure you can find a way to use them in no time at all.  This giveaway will run from May 1st to May 15th.  I want to thank all the blogs that are jumping in on this bandwagon to share.  Great group...I know because we all hang out together over on facebook.  A bunch of chatty patties and pauls we can be.  Sure would be fun if we could all get together at a Starbucks and share.

Here are the girls and boys of the band who brought you this giveaway!

Rants and Raves

Kathleen's Blog Spot     

Ink & Grit 

Love My 2 Dogs 

Coupons and Freebies in TX 

SoCal Coupon Mommy 

Mommy Coupon Swappers

Aunt Rene

Columbia Gorge Coupon Mommy     

The Centsible Family 

The Coupon Hubby

Shore Savings with Patti    

Cny's Extreme Couponing 

Tomboy Tools by Angel 

Plum Crazy About Coupons