Friday, November 30, 2012

The Tale of the Tooth Fairy Box Set Review




Man, the Tooth Fairy has a hard job. She/he has to wait until the kid with the lost tooth falls asleep, then she/he has to FIND the tooth, then quietly remove it and replace it with a gift or some money. That Tooth  Fairy is busy. Sometimes she/he even comes to our house while we are in the other room praying and doesn't even wait until the kids are asleep. It's like she/he just KNOWS when the kids have hidden their lost tooth and quickly swoops in to replace it with some cash.

"The Tale of the Tooth Fairy" box set would make a great birthday or other holiday gift for a special child in your life. It not only comes with a very cute book, but also comes with a Tooth Fairy doll with a pouch to hold a lost tooth. This way the child can put the lost tooth in the pouch and put the doll on a dresser or shelf and the Tooth Fairy can easily find the tooth! This set comes in a sturdy box which could serve as the Tooth Fairy doll's little home when not being played with or used for official tooth business!

Here's the skinny from the writer and illustrator:

Now for the first time - The Tale of the Tooth Fairy tells the story of how a little fairy finds her trun calling in helping children with the very first sign of growing up - the loss of their baby teeth!  Includes hard cover storybook with Tooth Loss Record Keepker, a boy or girl Tooth Fairy plush doll with Tooth Pouch and a Keepsake Box.  Similar in likability to The Elf on the Shelf, the Tale of the Tooth Fairy will be a darling for parents, grandparents and children alike!    The Tale of the Tooth Fairy was written and designed by husband and wife team Mary Kate Fleming and Brian Ledig. 

Here's where you can buy this super cute set, and here's how to friend them on Facebook!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Holiday Baking: Chocolate Stars

Now that Thanksgiving is over, let's concentrate on our holiday baking, shall we? For years now I have not had time to mess with this, as much as I love making things for people and sampling the chocolate fun! But this year will be different! This year is as easy as 1, 2, 3 ... (okay, and 4)

ONE ... buy some milk chocolate melts from your local baking store.



TWO ... melt them in a double boiler or White Trash Double Boiler as I have made below

THREE ... spoon chocolate into a mold like stars or Christmas trees or skulls or whatever floats your holiday boat

FOUR ... pop the mold into the fridge for a bit until they set up. Then pop the chocolate creations out of the mold and ... into your mouth, of course. And then the next batches can go into nice holiday boxes or bags to give to neighbors, coworkers, friends, family and your mouth again. ENJOY!





That Freaky Anti-Germ Mommy

You don't want to be one of those parents who is all freaky about your kid getting sick off of another kid. You don't WANT to be that mom who is like, "Oh, your kid coughed. We have to leave the playdate now."

So you write Zen things on Facebook like, "Oh, it's okay that your kid puked last night. We are still coming over for the playdate today." and then after the playdate, when the kid puked AGAIN, you write stuff like, "Oh, I like to just pray and do positive thinking and it will all turn out okay."

And usually it's fine. Your kids have a nice, built-up immunity.

Then they all 5 get sick at once and are puking and you're cursing yourself and your damned positive thinking and Pollyanna sick-itude because plans are cancelled and puke bowls are handed out and hair is held back and Saltines are blown through like money in this house.

Then, yeah, you kind of turn into that freaky mom who sees a runny nose at a mass playdate and you bribe the kids to get in the car NOW and we'll get some ice cream on the way home.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Holiday Gift Guide 2012, $289 Prize Package, Ends 12/12/12

Welcome to my first ever Holiday Gift Guide and Giveaway! I have some great products for you to check out, and all of the companies are offering a giveaway, so please enter, tell your friends, and tweet daily because this prize package is worth $209, with another winner getting an $80 prize! Here is what the sponsors are offering:

Live Clean Baby is offering their full line of Live Clean Baby products, which includes tearless shampoo and wash, moisturizing baby wash, moisturizing baby lotion, non-petroleum jelly, diaper ointment and moisturizing bar soap. This package is valued at $47.94, and you can read my review of this amazing line here.

Kimco is offering 4 of their stylish wine bottle covers. This prize is valued at $11.96, and the awesome review of this product is here.


DVO Enterprises is offering two copies of their Cook'n Recipe Organizer Software ($80 value each), and the recent review can be found here.

Modern Art Announcements is offering one design of greeting cards you print yourself, valued at $6. The options can be found at the Etsy store here, and the sponsor is offering 10% off your order with the coupon code KERRIE.

Don Tomas Estate Coffee is offering your choice of one bag of their terrific coffee. This prize is valued at $10, and you can check out my review of this great coffee here.

ReUsies is offering a 2-pack of your choice of their awesome reusable snack bags, valued at $16.  Find my review of this green product here.

Sophisticated Apparel is offering one ear warmer, valued at $18, and you get to choose the color. This is a great,  hand-knitted product, and if you don't live where it is cold, this makes a cute headband! The Etsy shop can be found here; many other products can be purchased, such as belts, leg warmers for adults and kids, wrist warmers, booties and more knitted products! The sponsor is offering 10% off your order with the coupon code KERRIE.

I am also offering a copy of my ebook "Make Money to Write About Your Kids", valued at $19.85.

So many ways to enter on the Rafflecopter below! Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Some of the products listed in the Holiday Gift Guide are products I have been sent to review.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Cook'n Recipe Organizer Software Review


Whether you are a fledgling cook like myself or an expert in the kitchen, you will love the Cook'n Recipe Organizer software from DVO Enterprises! First of all, it's preloaded with a bunch of great recipes, and I'm always looking for new recipes to try out on my family and friends. Then it has all these great categories to put recipes you capture from anywhere on the Internet. This program is as easy as moving files around in your Windows Explorer program. This program even includes a glossary of cooking terms for the cooking-challenged like me!

Check out more info about the product and some screen shots, then load it onto your laptop and get cookin'!! You can find Cook'n on Facebook and Pinterest. Then come back because Cook'n is giving away a copy of their software to TWO lucky winners of my Holiday Gift Guide 2012 prize package!



Cook'n Is The Easiest Way to...





I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanks-o-ween!


This  picture is for my friend Smoosh, who I have known forever, as in BEFORE I GOT MARRIED. We worked together at a public relations firm and were both secretaries who ended up having a much better time as stay-at-home-moms sharing a breast pump and other gross secrets. She said her son looked over her shoulder when she was reading The Kerrie Show (like a good friend should!) and wanted to know what my kids were for Halloween.

Laptop issues prevented me from posting in a timely manner, so here you go on Thanksgiving: the picture of my kids at the church Trunk or Treat. It was COLD here in the Midwest, so they are a bit covered up! Here's your cheat sheet:

Joel was a leopard with taped-on spots because his mom is too lazy and cheap to sew or buy a costume.

Michael was a wizard (recycled costume and hand me down from a friend).

Callie was a "skating queen" (hey, whatever floats your boat and I don't have to come up with a creative idea for).

Eva was a ghost, using a trash bag and a Sharpie, costume by Michael. A neighbor asked if she was wearing a trash bag (incredulous!) and I said she was going as White Trash this year.

Sam was a cow. Can I get a WHOOP WHOOP for a costume that has been used by ALL FIVE kids in my family? Take THAT, Green Movement!

No, I was not passed out drunk on the couch while they got dressed. Would that I could drink alcohol and enjoy it and not get a headache. I just like to let them use their imagination and get creative and find their own stuff to wear!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

ReUsies Sandwich and Snack Bags Review


Picture above: the snack size and sandwich size

How stinkin' cute are these ReUsies sandwich and snack bags I got to review?

Here's what the company has to say: "ReUsies™ are a re-usable alternative to sandwich and snack bags. Each one has the potential to eliminate hundreds of plastic bags. ReUsies™ are 100% cotton lined with leak-resistant nylon and are secured with hook and loop closures. They are easy to clean either by hand, dishwasher, or washer and dryer." They keep "food safe and come in a variety of prints for any member of the household."

A hook and loop closure means Velcro to you and me, folks. I scratched my head on that one for a second, but the kids have taken all my brain matter, so go figure.

The one on the top is the sandwich size folded down even smaller to hold a half sandwich or snack ... so versatile!

Okay, so we are ALWAYS on the go. Like almost EVERY DAY we are going somewhere. And I take snacks with us in case we want to stay a little longer somewhere. I go through a lot of sandwich baggies when we pack lunch for the zoo or wherever we are headed around lunchtime. I also go through a lot of snack size baggies for my new Weight Watchers routine: servings of grapes, carrots, pretzel crisps. ReUsies help make my life a lot greener. I used cloth diapers for 10 years on 5 kids; why would I not do the same for snack bags?

These would also be fabulous for packing school kids' lunches and your own lunch for work!

Check out all the cute prints and size options at ReUsies.com!


Come back soon for my Holiday Gift Guide because ReUsies is offering a giveaway of a two-pack of your choice! In the meantime,  here's their Facebook page and their Twitter handle!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Kimco Wine Bottle Covers Review

I love giving gifts. I love the holidays, too! So when Kimco sent me a couple of their wine bottle covers to review, I knew right away who would be getting a nice bottle of wine this Christmas. Last year we gave my brother- and sister-in-law a bottle of wine for Christmas, but it sure was not wrapped in a cool cover like this one! And they can then wrap a bottle and give it to someone else.

Each cover comes with a tall gift bag with a gift tag so you can put the covered wine bottle in it and write a special message. And then you are all set.  I love an easy gift to give, seeing as how finding lots of time to shop is just not possible in my current situation, having so many little ones.

I love these wine bottle covers because they jazz up and class up an otherwise ordinary gift item.





To purchase this terrific product for only $2.99 each for the cover AND gift bag/tag, head to the store here. There are several great options, and all you have to do is buy a bottle of wine, and you are all done with your gift giving!

Kimco is offering one lucky winer FOUR wine bottle covers in my Holiday Gift Guide 2012 gift package, so please come back next week and enter to win the giveaway!

Monday, November 19, 2012

"Weirder Than Marshmallows" Book Review




“Weirder Than Marshmallows” says it’s the “essays and musings of Dan Fogg.” I think it’s just funny. It’s only about 87 pages, so you can grab it and take it anywhere and finish it in no time, then pass it on to a friend. Or grab it for your e-book reader and read it over and over again.

 

Here are some samples from the book:

 

Here he’s talking about writers and why they write: “And that idea won’t let go, won’t let go no matter what, won’t let go until pen hits paper and it’s evicted from the apartment of your mind with a simple combination of movement and ink.” I love the EVICTED FROM THE APARTMENT OF YOUR MIND! Now I see all my writing ideas as little renters in little apartments in my brain and when I get one on paper and out the door to try to sell somewhere, it gets a tiny eviction notice.

 

In the essay Helplessness and the Valor of Others he describes himself a little: “To carry something this large is an inconvenience to anyone. Even more so when a three month old baby can out arm wrestle you and you need one hand to drive your motorized wheelchair.”

 

In the essay on Electile Dysfunction 2000 he explains the Gore/Bush election mess so well that even I understand it, and even takes a paragraph to describe the CHAD! “And the pregnant chad, which can’t help but make you giggle, is one that’s simply dented in the middle.”

 

The book is varied in topics and broken down into tiny chapters, which I love. He tells tales of human stupidity, “warnings that should never have to be warned”, “stories of mass ignorance”, “Twilight Zone like tales”, and comments on the world in general in an amusing way. AND then includes a few pages of his favorite quotes.

 

My only complaint about this book is that I wish the editor’s note at the beginning would explain more about the author, who died at the age of 22. His mom compiled the book, and I would love to see more about this funny kid without having to Google him. What was his “disability”? How did he die? What was he like as a kid (wry, sarcastic, aware of “inhuman stupidity” even then?)?

 


 

Bottom line: It breaks my heart that Dan Fogg (1980-2002) has left our world, but his mom hints that there’s more to read, as he also wrote fiction, which he told his mom will blow your head off J


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Kitchen REMODEL 2012/2013

Believe it or not, some readers of this blog actually like to see pictures of my messy house. So here is a shot of our kitchen BEFORE it was painted.
 

And here is a shot AFTER. I did a little spackling and painted the ceiling but otherwise my dear husband does EVERYTHING! Here's a post and pictures of this area when it had wallpaper on it.

 
 
Here's the other side of the kitchen ... woo hoo! You can see a couple of BEFORE shots of this little area here.
 

I thought this was all that needed to be done, but there is lots more to come, people. Me and hubs, we were like Jeff and Jenny on Flipping Out (BRAVO Channel) as I made a list of things to be done and upcoming cost. Stay tuned, remodel lovers.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

It Goes Too Fast



One day recently the kids and I went to a place called Trailside Nature Center to get our Passport to Adventure books stamped. We learned a teensy bit about history then did what we do best: hit a nature trail.

I love to play with my kids but much of the time I just like to watch them. On this day they were building a rock bridge over parts of a stream so they could go further down the stream and explore more. I love how they work together and play together and help each other. I love how we were completely alone on this stretch of stream and how it was one of those fall days where it's warmish cool.

I love when I can snap a picture of all 5 of my kids together and think about how fast this journey of motherhood is going. I realize it never ends, but sometimes this little-kid part of it flies by and I wish I could live certain days over again.

Not the days when I'm impatient and yell about getting teeth brushed and clothes on and rushing out the door to something we have to be at. But those lazy days when you don't have to be anywhere and can take your time with life ... those are the days I want to live again and again with my family.

I guess all any of us can do is savor every moment with our loved ones. I was kicking myself for not scrapbooking lately and being years behind. Then I realized I've been too busy LIVING this great life and that I will [fortunately/unfortunately?] have plenty of time to scrapbook and write when my kids are driving and dating and at college and working and planning their weddings and raising their own families.

I will greatly miss these times like in these pictures.

My Favorite Foods for Weight Loss



No, this is not a post about foods that will MAKE you lose weight. I mean, if you eat fruits and veggies all day long and nothing else, you will lose weight. And you will be grumpy because you need some protein, people. And some carbs other than fruit so your tongue is happy. Or is that just me?

So here are my recent go-to foods that I hit when I want a burger or a Twinkie or Dove chocolate or a 500-calorie Starbucks mocha. My list changes, so I may be back in another post to update with more of my favorites as I discover them:

  1. Pretzel Crisps and hummus. Yeah, I have to count the Weight Watchers points, and there are plenty in this treat, but the crunch rocks and makes me feel like I'm being somehow Food Naughty.
  2. Sugar free chocolate syrup. YUK, I know. It takes a while to get used to. But mixed with a Starbucks VIA, skim milk and ice, you have a 3-point treat to sip all morning instead of a 10-point coffee that goes too fast.
  3. Weight Watchers has this SMOKED string cheese that's only 1 point each instead of the usual 2 points for a string cheese. The only catch is that you'll have to sell your kid to buy this stuff because it's like $4.50 for a package of 12. Us people with food issues will do anything to buy that extra daily point, though!
  4. Yoplait yogurt has a zillion flavors of their light line and it's only 2 points each. Mix a banana in with that and it's still a 2-point treat!
  5. Quaker Weight Control oatmeal comes in at 4 points per package but is pretty filling.
  6. Sara Lee makes a bread that is 1 point per slice (45 calorie bread), so I have an egg sandwich every morning for protein that adds up to 4 points total. It's expensive though. I was introduced to it by a friend who had a TRUCKLOAD of it from a grocery store and let me have as much as I wanted. Then I found out it's $4 a loaf so I went with a cheaper version. Just read the nutrition label.
See, you CAN eat whatever you want on Weight Watchers; you just have to count it. I'd love to hear your go-to foods to keep you out of Burger King. I've reinstalled Intense Debate for comments, so I hope to God it's working again because I'm missing hearing from ya'll!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Taking Kids Out to Eat!


We love Taco Bueno and don't have one close to us. So when we were nature center hopping one day when Aron was out of town, we hit one up "out of town" ... I felt very brave taking all 5 kids INSIDE A RESTAURANT by myself! They behaved well and we had a great time!

How do your kids do when you eat out?

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Nano Onyx Pendant Jewelry Review


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All the way from Israel came a very interesting necklace for the Kermeister to review.

Nano says it has “jewelry from another dimension” and it is indeed pretty cool. I got to review the I Love You in 120 languages onyx pendant, and it even comes with a tiny magnifying glass so you can read the words on the necklace. Maybe I’m just getting super old, but even in the sunlight, and even with the magnifying glasses, without my real glasses on, it was hard to read the fine print on this necklace. I do understand the premise of it, though, and this would be a great gift for someone you love since you’re telling them how you feel in 120 languages.

This piece of jewelry is definitely unique and the chain it came with made the pendant fall at a nice spot on my chest. It didn’t hang way down low and it didn’t choke me, which are two reasons why I normally won’t wear a necklace.

I will be wearing this piece out, though, and can’t wait for people to ask me about it. You saw it first, though! To buy this piece and/or peruse other gorgeous jewelry Nano makes, head here. They do have a lot of cool stuff!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: Scarecrow Kids


I had a prettier picture of my scarecrow family that is stuck in front yard, but this one gives a better idea of my life: the 3-year-old with the butter knife headed to hack up the pumpkin, the dirty front door, the 563 other kids in the house, the stickers all over the front windows. Happy fall!