Win It Wednesday~ My Memories Suite Software- CLOSED

I'm going to admit I have scrapbooking material, books, paper, special pens, and stickers sitting in a drawer just WAITING for me to do something with them...umm they have been there for a couple years!  Now look at what I did in an hour with the help from www.MyMemories.com! Oh my gosh it was so easy and so much fun.  I have ideas just coming out of my head!  I even made a Thanksgiving Card that I will be sharing with everyone TOMORROW!  Also working on a XMAS CARD.  The things you can do are endless! 

These are just the FRONT pages of my kids digital scrapbooks. 

My Memories Suite is the #1 rated scrapbooking software and I totally agree they should be!  This software can be used by beginners and experienced scrapbookers. There are ready made templates and embellishments or you can custom design your own templates/layouts.  When I opened my software it already had pre-loaded design templates, embellishments, word art, and much more.  WOW!  You can also purchase additional scrapbooking kits plus they offer FREE ones too!

I was very impressed how simple it was to SHARE my new found hobby~ digital scrapbooking software!  I was able to print from home, save it to JPEG, send it to have printed on all kinds of products (xmas gifts people!), you can even send it to your iPod!  I saved as a JPEG and put in on Facebook and got so many LIKES. 

My Memories are giving ALL my readers a special deal : $10  discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software ($39.97 reg) and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!) Please use my code: STMMMS73670 HERE to get this AWESOME SOFTWARE for $29.97. 
ALSO I'm GIVING AWAY a full version of the MY MEMORIES SUITE software please use the Rafflecopter form below. Thank you MyMemories!





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I was provided with a free download of the My Memories Suite Software so that I could provide a honest review.


MY MEMORIES SUITE DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK SOFTWARE WINNER: Kristin Wheeler!!!

The X Factor- Top 10 Performances

Rock was the THEME this week and oh boy did some of them fail.  They did awesome performances but not ROCK PERFORMANCES and some of the songs they were stretching it.  Really the only one who ROCKED it last night was Josh Krajcik and he should have!  I'm not a Josh Fan but I voted for him last night because he deserved it. 

http://www.thexfactorusa.com/videos/josh-krajcik-top-10

My opinion on the other contestants:

• Drew~ well she has a different kind of voice but its the same every week.  Kind of boring.
• Melanie Amaro~ has a beautiful signing voice for sure- but not my favorite last night.
• Stacy Francis~ Oh my what happen last night to her- she didn't take the criticism very well either. 
• Lakoda Rayne~ They are good but last night wrong song choice!
• Rachel Crow~LOVE LOVE everything about her!
• Marcus Canty~ He is my favorite right now- he is an ENTERTAINER and I didn't care what song he sang, he did his thing!
• LeRoy Bell~ I love him but I do agree with the judges- he needs to connect with the audience and do something different next week.
• Chris Rene ~ WRONG SONG DUDE!  But hey he is so cute I hope he stays! 
• Astro~  what can you say- he did his thing too!  But more ROCK would have been nice. 

Wonder who will go tonight:  My prediction in Drew, Lakoda Rayne or Stacy Francis but you never know! 

Tip Tuesday~ Uses for Peppermint Oil

I've always loved smelly stuff and lately been using aromatherapy (thanks Mom). I like to use oils to help with different ailments and love the way peppermint makes me feel.

Anyways, I was checking out what different oils can do besides just smell good and I found a whole list of what Peppermint can be used for:

• For morning pick up~ place drops on shower floor
• Add a pep to your step by placing 2 drops on bottoms of socks
• Place a diffuser at your desk and first thing in the morning put 2 drops in
• Later in the afternoon inhale for a cooling boost
• Put a couple drops in the car while you are driving- keeps you alert
• To energize at YOGA: mix 6 drops per 1 oz water and spritz your yoga mat
• Freshen the bathroom (or any room): mix 6 drops per 1 oz water and spritz in room
• Inhale prior to workout routine to amp up the energy
• Sore Muscles: add 12 drops per 1 oz of skin care oil and massage muscles- good as new!
• Even helps with nausea on boat~ inhale and sail on.
• Dilute and rub on temples when feeling the effects of a long day
• Transporting Dog~ place 1-2 drops on floor of pet carrier- calming!

What do you use Peppermint Oil for or on?

BTW~ I got this info from www.auracacia.com

Also here are some Health Benefits of Peppermint Oil: http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/natural-essential-oils/health-benefits-of-peppermint-oil.html

I Suck at Cooking!

So this is one of the wifey/mommy duties that I just can't get right.  I pretty much got everything else down but COOKING well is not my forte.  There is a couple dishes I can make that everyone loves but this day to day cooking thing is something I stress about every morning- what can I ruin tonight!

I go through cookbooks, websites, and even been getting recipes from Pinterest but do they come out like they should...nope!  I just don't have the cooking gene.  They kids even say "Daddy is a better cook, mommy"  "Thanks kids...I know!"  Now I just wish my hubby would cook but I can't ask him too because he works hard and shouldn't have to come home to cook. Plus I stay home M-F.  It's not his fault his wife sucks at cooking.  I even watch cooking shows to get inspired but it just doesn't work. 

Is my family doomed with crappy dinners for the rest of their at home lives (oh boy I feel sorry for hubby)?  I guess I can only hold on to the hope when he retires he will cook. Or maybe I will win a lot of money and hire one of these cool chefs and my family will eat like kings...I know wishful thinking plus I don't even play the lottery so winning money won't be happening either.  Sorry family! 

Lil Man Rolling His Eyes- Hate It!

My son is really into the ROLLING OF THE EYES lately and I just want to scream STOP IT- oh I think I have expressed my feelings on this matter to him.  This isn't really his fault since I am QUEEN of the Eye Rolling (ask anyone).  But now that it is done to me OMFG I hate it!  I am sorry to everyone I ever rolled my eyes at...oh wait never mind they all deserved it!  LOL!  Just Kidden Mom!

Yesterday I got a text from one of my son's teachers letting me know he rolled his eyes at her and they had a talk (I know the talk very well).  As mom I don't like that he has picked up this habit but as a person it's a lot better than flipping them off behind their back or talking back- they are all bad habits and shouldn't be done.  I had the "RESPECT your teachers, parents, anyone older than you" talk with him last night and DON'T ROLL YOUR EYES anymore.  As I was walking away found myself rolling my eyes...need to stop that, lol! I'm not being a very good example but at least he didn't see it. 

So what to do...not sure since this is my bad habit too.  Sometimes parenting sucks but it has to be done! 

Somedays I wish we were the Jetson's

Today trying to get my kids dressed and out the door was totally trying and with no coffee in my system I was having a hard time keeping it together.  I pick out the kids clothes at night, I let them see what I have for them and I get a nod or OK Mom.  When they get up in the morning its SUPPOSE to be stress free RIGHT???  Not with my kids!

This morning Lil Mama didn't like how the school pants fit her and then we couldn't find any other school pants (that she likes) to wear so she picks a dark pair of jeans (not school uniform).  She informs me that a lot of kids wear jeans.  Now I'm active parent that KNOWS you are NOT to wear jeans but I guess my kids know best because I turn around and Lil Man has on jeans too!  Ugh..its too damn early to fight and in my head I'm thinking well I hope you get in trouble at school so we don't have to go through this again. 

Then they are tired of cereal...yes I'm not the best morning person so making a big breakfast in the morning is not realistic in my world.  But they don't want toast or eggs they want a smoothie!  Really...fine guess that's not hard but still upset they are messing with me.  Okay so whipped up some strawberry, banana, OJ thingy and they drank it up!  They hugs made me feel better. 

I try to pack their backpacks but they are always emptying them and rearranging or whatever they do to their backpacks in the morning.  When we are walking out the door I ask...lunch, homework, paperwork all in bags...I get "YES mom" with of course the eye rolling and then off to the car.  I drop them off and head back home and walk inside and starting picking up and in my son's room I find his lunch and on the kitchen table I find paperwork that needed to go to school.  I had all that packed in their backpacks plus asked.  Ugh! 

I would love to be able to put them on a converter belt where they get dressed, backpacks packed, lunches made and OUT THE DOOR YOU GO- with no issues! 

Plus I would LOVE LOVE the Jetson's Maid!! Pretty Please!

Halloween 2011

Wow yesterday was fun packed full day!  The kids had to dress up as a book character and later in the day did a neighborhood parade. 

My Thing 1 and Harry Potter:

Then they turned into Zombie things for the nighttime Trick N Treat.



I'm just HAPPY it's over.  We stayed busy all weekend- going to parties, festivals, and events.  So after all that running around and doing this and that can you believe they gave me such a hard time when I asked for some candy.  Geez can I get a piece of candy for all the hard work I put in.  Guess I asked for too much. 

Bullied into going to the Pumpkin Patch

When I got home from working HARD on my feet for 8 hrs dealing with cafe customers on a Sunday the last thing I wanted to do is go anywhere.  But Lil Mama had other plans!

I came home and started to take off my shoes but Lil Mama says "Umm what are you doing?" I responded back " going to relax" she informed me "No you are not- we are going to the Pumpkin Patch- NO EXCUSES" and looked at me like I was the child and she was the mom.  I felt like I needed to give her the puppy dog look she always gives me and I got back from her "NOT GOING TO WORK"  wow did this little 7 yr old just used my words/actions against me?  She bullied us into going I swear!

Now this Pumpkin Patch is SAD:  where are all the pumpkins???












Also cost me $10 for 15 minutes of FUN for the kids to go on the slide.  Plus $10 for a small a** pumpkin.  They had pony rides ($7 per kid), face painting ($7 per kid), Jumper ($5 for 10 minutes) but who can afford all that??? 

But in the long run Lil Mama had a blast and that's what it is all about.  Next time though I'm finding a REAL pumpkin patch and it will be FUN for everyone. 

Kid's Homework Is HARD!

Yes, it's been about 30 odd years since I've been in elementary school but dang the MATH homework is hard (for me).  I read the problem over and over and still can't get it.  Of course I have lil man looking at me like "WTF you don't know this MOM?"  I stare back and shrug my shoulders and than we both roll our eyes.  If I'm having this issue now just imagine what I'm going to go through in the years to come.  I need to go back to elementary school I guess.  My kids do math different too...I learned last year they don't CARRY anymore but TRANSFER. 

My son's class is doing their math homework online this year and the program is wonderful.  I had a get a couple problems wrong so I could have the site walk me through the process and my son got mad at me because I was ruining his quota...whatever dude!  I needed to know how to do it so I could help if needed.  Geez! 

My daughter is a whiz at math but younger than my son so when she tries to get in the middle of his homework I ask her to back up and do something else.  I can see my son getting upset that his little sister is telling him how to do his homework.  Someday he might want her help! 

What I do like about homework is we get to sit around the kitchen table and I cook all at the same time- wonderful family time!

What is like in your house with homework???  Or am I the only one who doesn't remember what I learned in 4th grade...LOL!

Our Earthquake Aftermath

Okay so last week the Bay Area had an earthquake around 4.2 and several aftershocks. I've lived in Cali for almost 15 yrs and every time a earthquake has hit I've been in a car or just didn't feel it. I felt this one and I'm still kind of shook up about it! It was the oddest feeling to have everything under you MOVE. My hubby and I were at home so we jumped up and ran outside along with the rest of our neighbors who were home at 2:30pm. The kids were at school and they were evacuated to their safe place.

  Later that night after 8pm another one hit and WOW those kids ran to our room so fast and the rest of the night was HARD. The kids wanted to sleep with us and that wasn't going to happen. We talked lil mama onto the couch (right outside our room) and lil man well he ended up all curled up in our chair in our room. I don't think we slept well that night because the next day we were all grumpy.

Now the next night I guess there were a couple small aftershocks that happened but we didn't feel them except for my son. He came in the room about 12:30 am waking us up talking about another earthquake. I snapped at him to go back to bed because there was no earthquake and he needed to go to BED! Wow, did I feel like a bad mom the next day when the news informed us YES there were a couple small shakes last night. Ugh! Gave him big hugs apologized for my behavior and told him I will believe him next time.

Lil Mama hasn't slept in her room since and I'm not sure when she will be going back. She has her pillows/blankets/stuffed animal friends all over the couch now! Keeping fingers crossed that we won't feel another earthquake for a LONG LONG TIME because that wasn't cool!