Fabulous Savings - US site you HAVE to check this out!

Saving Is Fabulous!

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Fabulous coupons has coupons and/or coupon codes for tons of merchants including Victoria's Secret, Petco, UGG, and much more! constantly updated!

Happy saving!

P&G Brandsaver is back! over $130 in CANADIAN coupons!

I LOVE Brandsaver! these are the same coupons you get in your local newspaper from Proctor and Gamble, only now, YOU chose the ones you want and they get sent right to your address within a few days!
http://www.brandsaver.ca/en_ca/

US only - Join the Kraft First Taste Program for freebies, coupons and much more!

I just stumbled upon this, signed up, and was informed I was going to get a coupon for a FREE tub of new Philly cooking cream!  I have been wanting to try this!  http://www.kraftfirsttaste.com/ make sure you go to "My Homepage" when you are done registering, to see what special offers they have for you!

As a member of the Kraft First Taste community, take advantage of the opportunity to:

• Be among the first to know
  about the latest featured products from Kraft Foods.
• Share great products
  with friends and family by spreading the word and voicing your opinions.
• Connect to the community
  to meet others with a zest for trying new things.
• Keep informed
  with the latest activities and buzz that's happening at Kraft Foods

Toddlers and Tiaras...what's your opinion???

I just finished watching an episode of Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC. I've seen the previews before but never actually watched the whole show.
About 15 years ago, I remember my aunt entered my little cousin, then around 5 years old, into a local beauty pagent. She advanced and we all traveled out of town to a bigger show. I remember she had on a beautiful dress and her hair was blonde and curly. I don't recall any hair weaves, custom made sequined outfits or makeup bags jammed packed with cosmetics like what I saw on tv.
Do these little girls enjoy being made up like this by their parents? Personally, if you are forcing your child to smile, she is not having a good time! And the clothes some of these girls are wearing, I can't think of another word other than "skanky", don't get me wrong, some are wearing very tasteful fancy dresses, but others are wearing Daisy Dukes and knee-high boots!
I think the whole pagent thing has gone way to far, these children aren't being judged by their natural charm and beauty, they clearly aren't happy; they're live Barbie dolls being played with by their parents, perhaps these parents didn't have Barbies growing up, and they are filling a void.
To me, a children's beauty pagent should be about the natural, innocent charm and beauty of the child, like the one my family attended years ago, there is no need to stress these little girls out, or putting so much makeup on them even Tammy Fay would be jealous!
As I am writing this, there is another episode on, there is a 3 year old girl, freaking out because she can't find her lipstick! 3 years old! Unbelievable, I am glad I have boys!
I am sure I am not the only person who feels this way about these toddler parents, and to those of you who are for them, well that's fine, everyone has their own opinion, I am just putting mine in writing.

LOOKING FOR YOUR SUBMISSIONS

I would like to do an article on "amazing thrift store finds".  Have you ever found something amazing at a thrift store?  A designer bag, diamond ring, stief bear, antique or any other unbelievable bargains?  If so, I'd like to hear about it.  I will post submissions and pictures.  Please send all submissions to chalene8@yahoo.ca and don't forget to mention how much (rather how little!) you paid for your treasure!

Build and Keep a LEGO mini Model - Select States and Calgary AB Canada

Here is a schedule of lego.com stores across the USA and Calgary Alberta Canada, that offer workshops once a month where children ages 6 to 14 can build and take home a Lego mini model!

http://stores.lego.com/en-us/storeevents.aspx

Windsor ON parents not allowed to take terminally ill baby home for final days

As I sat, nursing my own baby boy, I could not help but cry as I read this article.  When my first son was born, he stayed in the NICU for 10 days, that was the hardest 10 days of my life as a mother, I cannot even imagine the pain and frustration this family is going through.

I personally do not agree with the doctors decisions, and agree with the parents; if it were me, I would want my baby home with family for his final days as well.

This article is extremely sad, and I find myself tearing up again as I blog about it. 

No baby or family should have to go through anything like this.  My heart and prayers go out to the Maraachli family.

Article can be found here:  http://ca.news.yahoo.com/windsor-parents-lose-fight-keep-baby-son-life-20110217-132048-555.html

6 year old taken to psych ward over a drawing

Pay careful attention to those pictures, moms and dads. 

Last week a 6-year-old California boy, Jack Dorman, was taken to a psychiatric hospital by ambulance — against his mother’s wishes — after he drew a “violent picture” in class and wrote that he wanted to die. When school called Jack’s mother to let her know, she explained that the his father had deployed for Iraq and that he was experiencing separation anxiety. She asked school officials not to send him to the psychiatric hospital, explaining that he had suffered from this in the past and that the family had a therapist she would get him into see that same day.
The school district sent him anyway, saying the ambulance was already on the way, and committed Jack for a 72-hour hold in a Los Angeles psychiatric hospital. The district superintendent released a statement, saying in part, “When any student indicates a desire to take his or her own life, the LAUSD is required to follow strict protocols to ensure the safety of the student … The safety of LAUSD students is paramount. We did the right thing here.”
Jack was returned to his mom after 48 hours. She told MSNBC he is “traumatized”. She is now homeschooling.
Yowza. I’m not one to second guess a death threat, but I wonder if a 30-minute conversation with the mom at school before the ambulance was called might have been a better first step. For a little boy who is afraid to be away from his family, I’m thinking it’s worth at least a quick conference with the parent and a mental health professional before sending him off to the psych ward.

Did the school district do the right thing?

via Today Moms
Image: Preventing and Reducing Youth Violence

Mall food court trays have more bacteria than a toilet seat!

There were as many harmful bacteria detected on reusable plastic food trays in some Vancouver-area shopping malls as are found on toilet seats, a CBC investigation has found.
Swabs taken from trays in food courts at three malls were sent to University of British Columbia microbiologist Bob Hancock, who analyzed the samples. The malls involved were Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver, Park Royal in West Vancouver and Metrotown in Burnaby
"We saw as many bacteria on some food trays as we saw on a toilet," said Hancock.
Swabs were taken from a gas station toilet for comparison and lab technicians did find similar types and amounts of pathogens.
Hancock said that one of the bacteria found in abundance on some food trays could be particularly dangerous.
"There was a fairly large number of a bacteria called acinetobacter," Hancock said. "Acinetobacter is one of the superbugs in our society that's causing major problems in individuals throughout the world because it's so resistant to antibiotics."
The acinetobacter was found on one tray at Park Royal and one tray at Pacific Centre.
The Pacific Centre mall's general manager, Ultan Kampff, said cleaning staff wipe the trays after every use and disinfect them every night.
"Our service provider has very high standards that are in line with acute care facilities," Kampff said. "Having said that, there's always an opportunity to revisit our procedures and our processes to see if we can do it better."
Park Royal and Metrotown both offered statements in response to the CBC test results, saying they had rigorous cleaning methods.
Despite the presence of some serious pathogens, they are not a major concern for healthy people, Hancock said.
"The number of bacteria that are transferred from a tray, even if it's in the range of hundreds of bacteria, they're not sufficient to cause disease because we have very efficient systems in our body for getting rid of bacteria."
Mall administrators said that while local health authorities do set the same standards for cleanliness in food courts as they do in restaurants, standards are not set for trays themselves because they aren't meant to be in direct contact with food.

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY TO MY FIRST BABY, DYLAN!!!

6 years ago today my first baby, Dylan was born!  Dylan came to us a month early and weighed 7 pounds!  His little lungs weren't fully developed and he had pnemonia and had to stay in the NICU for 10 days, it was the hardest 10 days of my life.  Living an hour away, we drove to and from the hospital in snow and ice every single day to deliver breast milk for our baby.  Today Dylan is a happy, healthy 6 year old and is a great big brother to his little bro Tyler!

Happy Birthday Dylan!!!  We love you very much!!!

Feb. 2005

Feb. 2011

Just ' Like' Lazboy on Facebook free Teddy bear Donated to Ronald Mc Donald House

Simply click "LIKE" when you get to the page, and one off these cute cudley bears will be donated to a child at a Ronald Mc Donald House of your choice.  Offer good until the end of Feb. or until supplies run out.

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http://www.facebook.com/lazboy?v=app...A3T23B3H40JL7C

How to fold socks!!!

I came across this instructional video on how to properly fold socks!  lol  Enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6_7W8GzunI

Over $35 in savings from SC Johnson Canada - Printable Coupons

I love SC Johnson, they are the makers of Glade, Windex, Pledge, and other household products we all know and love.  Head over to their website and check out their printble offers, like save $4.00 when you buy 2 ZIPLOC products, or buy one get one FREE GLADE candles!

http://rightathome.ca/default.aspx?sC=1

FREE Pyrex pot holder! US and CAN

Pyrex wants to teach us the 4 rules of taking care of your glass bake ware, and to help out, they are offering up 120,000 "I heart Pyrex" pot holders to US and CAN residents!  Hurry, these will probably go fast!

Click HERE to go get your free pot holder!

Alan Jackson Concert was awesome!

Even though he didn't play "I don't even know her name", Alan Jackson blew the roof off of the K-rock Center in Kingston, ON, Canada.  The show had a mix of both slow and upbeat songs.  When he played "Remember When..." I had tears in my eyes watching images on the monitors and thinking of my Grandma who recently passed.
When the faster songs came on, the crowd went wild! especially some girls who insisted on getting up on stage and dancing during "Don't Rock the Jukebox", one made it on stage twice!
Near the end of the show, Alan started autographing items people were holding up in the front row, everything from the shirt off peoples backs, to a stinky running shoe!  He spent about 10 minutes making sure everybody's items got signed.
One part of the show that I found really touching, was when he played "Where I come From" and on the monitors in the background, were images of Kingston, (where I come from!) the scenes and landmarks of Kingston really hit home and the crowd loved it as their favourite nightclubs and coffee shops were displayed, it was great.
The K-rock centre once again hit a home run with another sold out concert! 
If Alan were to return to Kingston, no doubt, I would definately see him again, but next time I think I will wear a plaid shirt and cowboy hat like 75% of the concert go-ers!!!

                                                   


Check out this video!

Alan Jackson - Country Boy

Check out Groupon ! CANADA and USA !!!

Groupon is an easy way to get huge discounts while discovering fun activities in your city.  Daily deals consist of ,restaurants, spas, hotels, theaters, and a whole lot more, in dozens of cities across the country.

http://www.groupon.com/r/uu20472286