KC Pumpkin Patch Pics of the Day Friday

We got to go to the KC Pumpkin Patch last month and I have all these great photos I keep forgetting to post! Read here to find out what's going on with them having to move and how nobody wants them as a neighbor. I would totally want them as a neighbor!

KC Pumpkin Patch Pics of the Day Thursday

We got to go to the KC Pumpkin Patch last month and I have all these great photos I keep forgetting to post! Read here to find out what's going on with them having to move and how nobody wants them as a neighbor. I would totally want them as a neighbor!

Creekside at Beaver Creek ... Time for a Colorado Vacation

It is so time for a vacation around my household. I got the chance to post about Creekside at Beaver Creek today and jumped at it. Just looking at the gorgeous mountain sunset has me dreaming of Colorado and dying to go again!

Vacationers looking to leave everyday life behind and enjoy remarkable skiing and the grandeur of a modern alpine ski resort should head to Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Creekside at Beaver Creek is a luxury ski-in/ski-out property located within the heart of Beaver Creek village. Nestled right up against the bubbling Beaver Creek, guests are steps away from world-class restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. In the morning, you can ski right to the lifts and access nearly 1,900 acres of skiable terrain including immaculately groomed green cruisers to steep powder-filled Aspen groves and chutes. At the end of the day, after a relaxing dip in the hot tub, unwind in a comfortable two or three bedroom condominium, elegantly decorated to make oneself at home.

Whether you are visiting Colorado to ski/snowboard or just take in the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains, you’ll find your stay at Creekside at Beaver Creek a memorable one.

Book by Opening Day and Save up to 30%!

Book your winter 2013/2014 vacation to Creekside at Beaver Creek by the time the lifts start turning and save up to 30% off regular rates for the 2013/2014 ski season! (Beaver Creek opening day is Nov. 27, 2013)

"Get Organized, Stay Organized" by Christine D. Shuck

Yeah, I'm putting this in my Holiday Gift Guide for every year. I mean, I know you would have to carefully slip this to someone as a gift, since giving someone a book like this is like telling them they are a bit of a slob. Oh, I know ... give it as a Secret Santa thing and then never reveal yourself! Or give it to:

• that person who is always griping about their messy house (like me, except I already own this book) as a friendly gift. 

• to that hoarder down the road. G'head, just slip it in their mailbox! I dare you.

• as a wedding gift for a new bride who is clueless about combining two households of junk.

Happy 47th Birthday to Mr. Kerrie: Aron McLoughlin

My husband is amazing. Today he turned 47 and he spent most of the day cleaning out the van with the kids and then later fixed my driver's side van window which broke a couple of weeks ago and would not roll up or down. 

Tonight I got him World War Z to relax to while the littles watch something cartoony on the laptop upstairs. I plan to SCRAPBOOK nearby (I know ... scrapbooking ... it's been a long time!).

Popcorn and mocha hot chocolate are also on the docket for the evening. AFTER he gets the van door put back together, poor guy.

Earlier we had homemade pizzas and then a blue suede cake that some guy named Duff has out. It was super yummy, actually and totally worth it. There's also a tie dye cake and a zerbra cake we will be purchasing. We put white cream cheese frosting on top, but I used food coloring to make it lime green.

$1,000 Countdown to Black Friday #Giveaway ends November 29, 2013

Countdown To Black Friday Giveaway

Organized by Mom Powered Media and the MPM Blogger Network.

Looking for the best contests around this holiday season? Make sure to visit http://www.sweepstakesfanatics.com/" target="_blank">SweepstakesFanatics

where you can find the newest sweeps, blog giveaways and even a special section for Canadian giveaways.

Here's the link to my post leading you to the 2013 Toys R Us Black Friday ad, and I have my eye on the Disney movies for $11.99 and the Lego Eagle Castle, but don't tell my kids if you see them. And if you are one of their friends reading this, PLEASE do not tell them because that is just not cool!

One lucky winner will receive $ 1,000 Visa Gift Card or Amazon Gift Card {choice}!

Event co-hosted by: My Dairy Free Gluten Free Life, Ultimate Coupon Club, The MamaZone,  How We Learn at Home, Growing Up Bilingual, Nest Full of New, MomAt40.com, The Preschool Toolbox Blog, It’s Peachy Keen, One Punky Mama, Mamamusing, GimmieFreebies, Memoirs of a Clueless Woman and Making of a Mom.

Giveaway ends November 29th  at 11:59 pm, open worldwide, ages 18+. Please note if the winner is a non-USA or non-Canadian resident, they will receive $1,000 via paypal instead. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck.

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Disclosure:The Kerrie Show is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com" target="_blank">teri@mompoweredmedia.com

with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

My Well Woman Check! Details Here.

So I just wanted to update ya'll and let you know I made it through my well woman check with flying colors.

Well, not really. It seems my cervix is still a little red and angry-looking. Yes, a gyno actually said that to me once when I was in my twenties (before I met Mr. Kerrie and when I was not, ahem, so kind to my body). So we'll see how all that shakes out. I'm not freaking out or running for the HPV vaccine or anything (do not get me started on that rant).

And since I'm all 42 and losing my hair (no bald spots so don't freak out, Mom, Dad and Aunt Cathy) and had gestational diabetes with Joel (borderline, people, but I jumped through the hoops because it was my first pregnancy), I get to GO BACK TO THE DOCTOR for blood tests for my thyroid and sugar and cholesterol and probably some other stuff.

That means more time out by myself, which I am oddly craving since the hardwood floors arrived and made my world all LOUD and echo-y.

By the way, how much do you love trying to make conversation with your doc and the lady that has to supervise him while he has his hand inside you and then has to do the breast exam?! We for real talked about how I'm proofreading AND writing now and my doc of 16 years said I'm the only person he knows who proofreads! Shoulda given him my card but my gown had no pockets.

Let this be a reminder for you to schedule your well woman exam. They are usually free if you have insurance and maybe Obamacare will also make them free?!

Sorry there are no pictures to accompany this post. Next time.

Kerrie McLoughlin's Print Books and Kindle Ebooks

Hey, did you know that you don't need a Kindle to read my ebooks? Back when I didn't have a Kindle I would just download books I bought or got for free on Amazon onto my Amazon Cloud Reader to read whenever I wanted later on my laptop. Here's my author page so you can see all my offerings on one page, you lucky duck.

Have files of article reprints that you own but have no clue where to start reselling them? Have ideas for some fantastic new pieces but no idea who might want them? Check out my 386-page PDF of tips, tricks, and insider information, as well as 384 paying parenting and family markets! Just head to this page to download How to Get Published (and Paid!) Writing About Your Kids and get started immediately!

Sign up for an email subscription to The Published Parent and get two amazing freebies: 10 Parenting Markets That Pay $100+ and 10 Markets That Pay Writers to Write About Writing! And join my Facebook group called Parenting Magazine Writers ... it's FREE and full of tips and tricks and markets and like-minded writer friends!

The Tater Tot Casserole Cookbook

Available in print and ebook (free on Kindle Unlimited)

I Love Shopping for Retro Stuff!!!!

Okay, Aron and I got to go to a Liberty Ball at the Riverfront Marriott in Lawrence, Kansas over the weekend to support Aron's cousin, who is running for governor of Kansas on the Libertarian ticket. (did I say that right? it sounds too smart to come out of my mouth!).

Anyway, the night before I had gone downtown to the Crossroads District of Kansas City to support my friend Angeliina at her art show with my BACKPACK slung over my shoulder. It wasn't freezing, so I did not wear a coat. My coat options are a heavy Liz Taylor furry thing or my 13-year-old busted up Yale jacket.

Saturday morning I realized it was time for a coat and a purse, for gosh sakes. My mother would be so proud that I am, at the age of 42, recognizing a little bit of class.

So after Weight Watchers (I don't even attend meetings anymore; I just weigh in and leave with my head down) I trucked to Pete N' Repeat in Downtown Overland Park because I knew I would find what I needed there in about 5 minutes.

And I was right!

I literally ran in, asked where the black purses were, and the woman said she had just organized them! A cute Liz Claiborne caught my eye and $20 seemed fair so there you go. Then I ran over to the coats, checked the Medium rack, and found my new lover, a gorgeous gray pea coat for $45. You get the full effect when it's buttoned up, and rest assured I will post pictures of that fabulousness.

I never cared much for fashion but looking back I realize I've always had a certain kind of retro style. Always. Now I can really buy what I love and look like I stepped right out of the 1960s without spending a fortune to do so!

What's your style like?

OraMD Review

Okay, here's the thing. You know I'm not going to lie to you. I got something to review and I'm just not so sure about it. So I'm going to say it. It might work fine for you and maybe I just have a super sensitive mouth.

But I got this OraMD stuff and it's a tiny bottle that is supposed to last for a month of tooth brushings (for one person?). It costs $15.31 per month per person. That is not going to work in my house. Toothpaste is much cheaper! Baking soda even more so!

Anyway, the cost is not my problem. My issue is that when I was using this stuff my teeth were hyper-sensitive. Things hurt when I ate hot or cold foods or drinks. I tried this experiment twice and got the same result both times. I have not used this stuff in weeks and my teeth are just fine.

I get that it's all natural and made with peppermint and spearmint oils and menthol, but maybe my processed-foods butt just freaks out when natural and organic touches my body ... haha?

Never fear, this company also offers a colon normalizer for $39.95 per bottle and Vitamin C for $29.95 per bottle. Being healthy is EXPENSIVE!

Could Prevagen Be My Brain Fog Lifter?

Okay, here's the deal. It's hard to tell something like if my brain is working better. I couldn't exactly do scientific tests on myself to see if I, say, did better at a timed test on Day 1 of taking this stuff versus Day 30. The company says you should take it longer than 30 days and I only got a 30-day sample, so I have to base my review on that.

That said, maybe I felt a little more spring in my brain's step for a while and was able to really go crazy on working on ebooks and writing creative and fun things. Maybe it lifted some of the fog. But then my grandpa died and the fog came back so it's hard to say about this Prevagen stuff.

Depending on how much it costs, I would buy it and take it again. I know this kind of things is all relative, like when you are taking vitamins and then don't and feel sluggish. Still, I put my faith in B12 for my daily energy and credit it with not needing naps! If the cost of this is no more than vitamins, I would stock up on it because I think brain health is very important. I'm 42 and Mr. Kerrie is almost 47 and we can use all the brainpower we can get to thwart the evil plans of our 5 kids. Just sayin'.

Here's some info from the company and after that how to find them online:

Prevagen (pronounced “prev-uh-gen”), developed by Quincy Bioscience, is a unique brain health supplement that promotes clearer thinking and improves memory. Prevagen’s main ingredient is a new use for a well-known protein called “apoaequorin” which was originally found in a certain species of jellyfish.

As we age, the body’s ability to produce essential proteins slows down. When this happens you begin to lose about 30,000 brain cells every day, and may start to experience difficulty with memory, focus and concentration. Apoaequorin has been clinically tested and shown to supplement these proteins during the natural process of aging and improves brain health and overall memory.

In 2012, Prevagen became the number one selling brain health supplement in chain drug stores across the country, and continues to remain on top. Prevagen is available in health food stores and pharmacies nationwide including Walgreen, CVS, Rite Aid, and Vitamin Shoppe.

Prevagen is safe and effective. Daily use for 30-90 days is the recommended length of time to experience noticeable results.

Learn more about Prevagen at www.prevagen.com. 

Here's how to find them on Facebook!

UPDATE: $40 is the cheapest I could find this online for 30 pills. For that price, I choose to remain stupid!

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.

Who Cares About Klout? I Do! Love Those Perks!

Some of you may have heard of a site called Klout. And then wondered what is it? Is it like Twitter? What's the big deal? Who cares?

Well, I'm still not really sure. I know that the higher your Klout number, the more of an influencer you are. So I think I'm in the 60s somewhere, which means I'm pretty average, just like I was in high school. So no surprise there.

I used to spend every day like a monkey with a food button giving and getting Klout until I realized it wasn't making any difference in my numbers. I think Klout is smart enough to know that it's your friends giving it to you over and over again. Maybe if celebrities were giving me Klout every day my number would go way up, but otherwise, nope.

Here's my page. It says my top 3 things that I'm influential in are Moms, Parenting and Books. I'll take it. Then it's Blogging, Writing and Business. Okey doke. Will I get jobs off of it? Probably not. But ... I do get things called Perks, which come like this:

I wrote recently about the barkTHINS right after they arrived and added them to my Holiday Gift Guide because if I can't stop eating something, then it's amazing! I wanted to give a shout-out to the other products that came in the Perk box from Klout because it's all great stuff sent by great companies who are all about FAIR TRADE. Fair trade fights poverty in farming communities around the world.

Target's Archer Farms Fair Trade Tierra del Sol medium roast ground coffee. Loved this stuff, but when I looked up the price online, it said $20 for 12 ounces through Amazon. Cheaper at the actual Target store? We shall see! I compare it to Starbuck's, easily.

Lake Champlain mocha hot chocolate. I put this in my coffee for a decadent little time! A little goes a long way.

Larabar ... yes! Could eat these daily! So many choices!

Make a Stand Lemon-aid. When you buy a bottle, they help a child. No jokes about how my kids need help, please. But if you want to help their mother, you may donate BarkTHINS.

prAna cloth tote bag. Sturdy enough to hold the contents of our snack bag that we take everywhere with us. Directly benefits the farmers who grow the cotton and the workers who sew the clothing or tote bags.

Traditional Medicinals chamomile and lavender tea. I hope my friend is not reading this because I'm not a tea freak and I'm giving it to her in her Christmas goodie bag. She is going to love it!

Everybody Loves SeaLife Aquarium Kansas City

This giveaway is over, but head here to find out about Crown Center's Homeschool Week, then below I have my original review post about SeaLife Aquarium.

Okay, so this post right here was written after we went on our very first SeaLife Aquarium visit. Then we went a year later during the week when school was in and the place was not busy at all, so we've experienced both ends of the busy spectrum here and the place is awesome no matter how you slice it. We really are very lucky to have this in Kansas City!

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Everybody Loves Legoland Discovery Center Kansas City

This giveaway has expired but go here to check out the SeaLife Aquarium giveaway!

We love Legoland Discovery Center in Kansas City! We've only been once but we could go like EVERY DAY! I could ride the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride all day long and then hit the theatre. If you have not been to the theatre yet, I won't spoil the surprise that awaits you when you're in there, and the movies change, so see them all!

You are not going to believe the awesomeness of this, but I am giving away a family 4-pack of tickets valued at $76 to Legoland Discovery Center in Kansas City! Here's the layout; there is so much to do and you are in for an entire day of fun! What a perfect thing to do as the weather is getting colder! If there are more than 4 people in your family, of course you can purchase extra tickets for them; this is FOUR free tickets, though ... how cool is that?!

2013 Holiday Gift Guide: barkTHINS by @ripplebrands

I have a new obsession around here and it JUST came in the mail for me today. I got this box of fun stuff from Klout as a perk, and the box was full of all this great fair trade stuff. Here's my new favorite thing:

Introducing barkTHINS by Ripple Brands. You know I dove right into the bag when it came and could not stop. The kids are also fans. I went to their site and found out they also have other varieties, like dark chocolate with almonds, pretzels, peppermint, mint and pumpkin seeds, as well as milk chocolate peanut.

Yes, smarty-pants people, they ARE on my Weight Watchers plan. Everything is, in fact, just in moderation, which MIGHT be a tad bit of an issue with these.

I think you need to try these out!

Here's how to find them on Twitter. And on Facebook.

I was given a free product or sample because I'm a Klout influencer. I am under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

When She Transformed Into a Butterfly ...

It's like in the movie The Matrix, people. Once you KNOW cool stuff and REALIZE cool stuff, you can't UNKNOW it. You just have to keep moving forward and hope the rest realize cool stuff, too. If they do not, that is not your problem. Be yourself.

My Speech at my Poppy's Funeral

Hello, I’m Kerrie, [my grandpa and grandma's] first-born and oldest grandchild, and I don’t think they quite knew what to do with me after having 4 sons!

  

I was always making my Poppy, as I called him, play customer to my waitress and babysit my dollies and restart the hi-fi over and over so I could twirl around the family room in my pretty dress.

  

Poppy is so special to me and always will be, for so many reasons. I remember 1,000 things about him, but don’t worry; I’ll only share a few with you now!

  

He was never grumpy, and I don’t remember him saying one unkind thing to me ever.

  

He built me the most beautiful dollhouse, which I still have.

Through his hard work as a carpenter and builder of homes, he funded all the trips to Independence Center Grandma and I would take, the Cabbage Patch Kid I never dreamed I would get for Christmas, a trip to Bible camp in Colorado.

  

I remember going to see him at job sites and being amazed at what he could do. I wanted to live in every house he built.

I remember how much in love with Grandma he always was and how she was his everything. I wanted that for myself and got it finally, actually by taking some of his kindly and carefully given advice.

  

And of course, his family and God always came first. He was a loving father who was always looking out for, and having fun with, his sons and their families.

  

And when it came time to welcome new family members, he always invited them in with open arms. I know my husband will miss Poppy — and their fishing trips — VERY much.

  

He treated my kids and my cousins’ kids so well, joking with them, coloring with them, having fun. He was always smiling.

  

He was a jokester, that’s for sure.

  

He was a Christian who walked the walk.

  

He modeled the biblical principle of Turn the Other Cheek and was patient and kind.

  

I always wanted him to be proud of me and he makes me want to strive to be a better person still.

  

I think of him now as fishing in a nice, big boat with his brothers, his sister and his parents on the most beautiful lake imaginable.

  

I see him smiling at all of us and telling us that everything is going to be okay.

We will miss you so much, Poppy, but what gets us through this tough time is knowing we will see your smiling face again someday.

  

I love you, Poppy.

Happy 15-Year Anniversary to Us!

Happy anniversary to my wonderful husband, Mr. Kerrie. Thanks for taking my name 15 years ago on a lovely Saturday on your mom's birthday! In the immortal words of Queen, You're my best friend!

Here's the post I wrote about us over at Bubblews. It talks about our romantic plans for the day (ha!) and how it's better than what we were doing four years ago today, anyway!

Life is good, so my sappy message would be a shout-out to anyone who is in an abusive relationship. I am your poster child for GET THE HELL OUTTA THERE! Time's a wastin' and you have a better person to be with and maybe even terrific babies waiting for you. This is YOUR life ... go live it the best you can!

He's Fishing in Heaven

Early this morning my first grandparent died. Now I only have 3. They are all exactly 84 years old. My parents are 63 and I am 42.

I am so grateful that I made the drive to the nursing home last night to go see him one last time. I talked to him some, but he was asleep, preparing to move on to a place where he can hear perfectly, he can fish all day, he can build houses if he wants to and he can watch over all of us. I told him it's okay to move on, it's okay to let go. I hugged him and gave him a big kiss. I told him the kids and Aron also love him. I told him it will be nice to have him watching over all of us.

Samuel's birthday was Monday, my cousin's birthday was yesterday, and my 15-year-anniversary is tomorrow. He picked a good day to die, right in between all these things and we will always remember him.

Here are some things I wrote about him about a month ago in case you're interested. Here are some photos of him during times before the Alzheimer's took over and then that brain hem started the fast decline.

Please pray for my family during this difficult time. He has 4 sons, 8 grandkids and 9 great-grandkids.

Aron and Poppy after Sam was born

Poppy and my dad on a fishing trip

Poppy, my dad, Uncle Tod and Joel

Happy 4th Birthday, Samuel!

Don't let this picture fool you. Samuel, age 4 today, is not all studious. No, he's a daredevil terror who loves to watch me freak out at his little antics! Is it enough that he was born with meconium aspiration? http://www.thekerrieshow.com/2009/10/meconium-aspiration-birth-story.html

No! He has to give me daily mini heart attacks as he climbs things he shouldn't climb, Sharpies the newly painted walls, draws Xs on my minivan with a rock and more.

He doesn't like to be "the baby" ... he's the big boy, running around with the other kids.

We love you, Samuel! Happy birthday today. You're going to have a great birthday and a great life!

Here's what we'll be doing today: http://www.bubblews.com/news/1285430-happy-4th-birthday-to-samuel

All I Want for Christmas

Is this. The Fisher Price Little People Play Family House. I have a huge thing for vintage stuff. I was born in 1971 and this was born in 1969, so I played with a toy just like this growing up and I have this nostalgia thing going on and I just want this so badly.

I guess I would  let the kids play with it ... during supervised visits, of course. I don't need Sharpie all over it, for dang's sake (I'm talking to you, Samuel). Then I would hide it in my closet.

#Free #LEGO Monthly Mini Build!

I honestly don't know why I'm telling you about this because that just means more people in the dang line, which is long enough already. But I like to share, and if that bites me in the butt, so be it. My karma will be intact.

The first Tuesday of every month LEGO stores do this thing called a free monthly mini-build. They give you a little package which contains all the pieces to make this tiny creation in the store. You don't grab it and go, people. They want you to build it there, fueling your already obsessive love of LEGOs and then peruse the other LEGO offerings in-store then go home $200 poorer.

But I digress. Here's what the boys and Callie build in July after their dad stood in line for a century. Sorry it's so tiny; blame LEGO because I got this off their site. It's a crab, people.

Here's what they built in September (we missed August and September): (it's a pirate)

If you miss one, you can download instructions for how to build it at home, but sometimes your kid might not have all the pieces. Bummer.

So when Michael kept asking about going again, AND MICHAEL NEVER ASKS FOR ANYTHING, I decided I was going to make it happen. It might entail paying a sitter tomorrow while I go stand in line with the 2-3 oldest kids, but I'm going. I'm camping out at the LEGO store so we can get that dang mini build witch, so there!

So here's the link to check these out in the future. Find your store to find out the exact times and all that.

See you in line! I'll bring the wine! (hey, that rhymes!)