I recently heard about a giveaway that I think you may be interested in… and it involves you getting just a little more sleep!

Sleep Number Beds is having a sleep-in challenge - and they are giving away a sleep number bed to one lucky (and well rested!) winner! There are other prizes too, plus you get all of the benefits of getting just a little more rest.

For more info on this contest, head over to Sleep Number, or click on the big countdown button below…

Tags: giveaway, summer fun

We recently reviewed some great seasonings that are perfect for Summer BBQ’s, back-to-school get togethers, fall parties, family gatherings… just about anything!

After Nine Gourmet is a new company that offers seasoning blends and soup mixes, and I have to tell you that they are wonderful! Everything that they sell is hand mixed by them using fresh ingredients when you order it. What does that mean for you? It means that you are getting the freshest herbs and spices to use when you are cooking - whether it’s for your family or friends.

We tried out the Ranch, Garden Dill, Garlic & Onion, and Harvest Herb flavors, and used them in a variety of ways.
- The Garden Dill is fabulous to use on salmon - just drizzle the fillets with olive oil and sprinkle the seasoning on them before you grill or bake it to add a lot of flavor.
- Are you looking for a yummy “green goddess” type of dressing? Try the Harvest Herb or Garden Dill mixed with some buttermilk and mayo for a delicious salad dressing!
- Do you like garlic? No, I mean really like garlic? We made a dip with the Garlic & Onion seasoning and some sour cream. It was delicious, however I would recommend using only half of a seasoning packet! And I should have followed the directions to add in some mayo! It was a very thick, very garlic-y dip that worked perfect for blue cheese hamburgers and rosemary fries.
_ the Ranch makes a tasty salad dressing or dip, and it would make a great seasoning for oven fries or chicken.

If you are looking for a good source of fresh, hand blended seasonings or soup mixes, I recommend After Nine Gourmet!

Did I mention that it is a mom-owned company? Your purchase will support a small business and help a Mom be able to be at home with her kids!

After Nine Gourmet

Tags: gourmet cooking, Gourmet Gifts

Mother’s Day is upon us, but it’s not too late to find an amazing gift! We have looked through the web and brought together a mini-gift-guide to help you find a fabulous gift for that special Lady.

Click on the pictures to take a look at some of the ideas below…

Send a gourmet cake to Mom for Mother’s Day - and if you’re lucky she just might share it with you too!

Not the cake type? How about cookies? David’s Cookies are absolutely delicious - we have tried them on many occasions, and can vouch for them. My favorites are the frozen dough - just pop in the amount you need and bake!

What mom doesn’t like jewelry? Blue Nile has gifts for every style - from sterling silver lockets to pearl or diamond earrings, you are sure to find a piece of jewelry that Mom would love!

Are you looking for something a little more personal? Julie over at Jules Jewelry makes the most beautiful family jewelry! We ordered in a Mama Love necklace for my Mom-in-law a couple of years ago, and it is wonderful! We included all of the kids and grandkids birthstones on the hearts. This year she has added the necklace above - and it is beautiful! Take a look!

With the special that they are running over at 1-800-Flowers, you can get your wife a dozen roses too - she will never know that they were the free bonus! Or use this great deal to get your Mom and her mom a dozen roses each! Personally, I vote to give the roses to your wife… being a wife and mom!

Flowers are always a hit, but cut flowers will fade and die. Send your Mom a flower that will continue to grow year after year and remind her of your love and thoughtfulness!

Is your Mom a gourmet? iGourmet has a variety of fabulous foods from chocolates to cheeses to wines.

Is Mom more of a coffee girl? Head over to Joffrey’s to find a wide selection of coffees and teas that she is sure to love.

These are just a few ideas to help you - every Mom is different, but we know that you will find the perfect gift just for her!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Tags: gifts for mom, mothers day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Candy, flowers and cards can be so expensive these days. Wouldn’t you rather make homemade valentines? If so, here is how making homemade valentines saves money.

If you have a computer, this is your first link to making homemade valentines cards. Using Photoshop or other card-making software is not only fun, but easy to use. You can make scores of valentine cards within no time.

Perhaps you’d like to make a valentine wreath for your door. That’s easy enough!
Find some red fabric of different textures and make heart shapes. Then stuff them with newspaper to give them fullness. You can make several hearts and sew them together to form a larger heart which you can then add to a round piece of wire.

How about a valentine basket? Fill the basket with homemade heart shaped cookies. Be sure to use red icing; or even red food coloring would suffice. Add some Hershey chocolate kisses in red foil and set it out on your table for your family to enjoy. Using your baking skills to prepare a homemade valentine cake. You can even shape it into a heart. Surprise your family after dinner!

Make a valentine heart for your loved one by taking some red construction paper; glue; and write your heartfelt sentiment on it, then sprinkle colored sparkles on the glue and hang it so that your spouse can see it as soon as they walk in the door. You can even cut out tiny hearts with red construction paper and stream it across a wall in your home. Write notes of love on each one!

It doesn’t take much to make homemade valentines. Just imagination and a few items can really make a splash without having to spend a fortune. It’s the thought that counts!

Tags: handmade valentine, valentines crafts, valentines day crafts, valentines gifts

By the time kids reach their teen years, so many things that parents do can seem sappy and dull. Gifts on Valentine’s Day can become one of those things. This year, give a gift that shows your teen that parental love is still a cool thing to have in their lives.

Teens these days are into vintage and eclectic things. This includes their clothes, shoes and gadgets. Think of a throwback gift that you can surprise your teen with that will get you a hug or at least a smile of gratitude. Remember the Rubiks cube or the magic 8 ball? These gifts are especially fun for a girl.

What about your son? He could use a Nerf football or basketball. Every boy should have an over-the-door basketball hoop in his room. Making a few baskets helps him to think over his problems or just let off some steam. He would enjoy the Rubiks cube or a Simon game. They now make these kinds of games pocket size and keychain size.

Find out what kids of movies, music celebrities, and games your kids like and get them some new posters. They’ll be surprised that you even know where to find those posters.

Gifts from the heart show that you are interested and care about their life and their passions. They may be interested in the guitar this week. Even though you have a sneaking suspicion that next week they will want to be an artist, give them a gift certificate for a few free guitar lessons. At least they will have a chance to try it out and see if they really want to play the guitar.

Girls and guys like jewelry. Surprise your daughter with a necklace and earring set in the color of her birthstone. Boys are usualy more into silver rings or necklaces. Instead of choosing a piece of jewelry for him, get a gift card to the jewelry store and let him pick out his own accessories.

Create some cards that they can redeem for free services around the house. If your teen is on the younger side, they might appreciate getting to stay up an extra half hour, a free movie, or a sleepover with friends. Older teens would like an extra half hour or hour out with friends on the weekends or extra driving time in the family car.

Give a special card to your teen. This card doesn’t have to come from a store. Handmade cards aren’t that hard, and you can be very creative with color and design. If handmade cards aren’t your thing and you have a card creating program on your computer, you can make it as lavish as you want. Express to them how you feel about them and how proud of them you are. A card is a keepsake that they can look back on in days, months and years to come and remind themselves of your feelings.

Valentine’s Day affections don’t have to be lost on your teen. Think of something that would interest them. They may act annoyed by it, but deep down they will cherish the sentiment forever.

Tags: gifts for teens, gifts for tweens, valentines day, valentines gifts

Kids like to create things. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to let them get creative. Here are some ideas to get them started.

If there are girls in your childís class, jewelry is a good craft. Stores sell kits to create bracelets, necklaces and rings. Your kids can visit a craft store and choose their own necklace material and the beads to go on them. In keeping with the theme of the day, they can choose heart-shaped beads in various colors and a necklace material that is suitable for school age little girls. Create one necklace yourself so that they can see how it is done. Matching bracelets can be made using the same beads.

Kids can give their teachers a bouquet of roses. These aren’t just any roses! These special roses are made of tissue paper and wood dowels. Show kids how to fold the tissue paper and wrap it around the dowels. The flowers can be presented in a vase or with a ribbon tied around them. Get the details at TaterberryCottage.com

Candy is still the most popular thing to use for crafts. Instead of beads, use candy to create bracelets for boys in the class. Candy pieces can be strung over a piece of string. Itíll look nice at first and the boys can nibble on the candy throughout the day, kind of like a snack on the go.

Valentine’s Day crafts can be created for family members. If grandma is into flowers, kids can give them a flower pot with seeds and a little bag of potting soil. Using paints, kids can decorate the pots in red and pink hearts for true Valentine’s Day fashion.

Instead of buying packs of Valentine’s Day cards, let the kids use a card program and make their own for other members of the family. They can add whatever they want to the card. Some cards come blank for the kids to write what they want or with cute sayings already inside.

Kids can make Valentine’s Day decorations for the house to put everyone in the mood to express their love. Using a piece of string, construction paper, scissors and glue, they can create a banner to be hung in the kitchen or anywhere in the house. Each paper heart can contain one letter in the words “Valentine’s Day”.

Make arrows for the boys so that they can pretend to be Cupid. Instead of metal, use wooden skewers as the arrow. Styrofoam pieces in the shape of hearts can be painted red and stuck on the end of the skewer. Pieces of ribbon can be glued to the other end to act as feathers on the arrow. To create a quiver for the arrows, use an empty cereal box.

Your child can make a Valentine’s Day box for each child to hold their precious cards. The boxes can be purchased at a dollar store. If the boxes are not already decorated for the occasion, kids can use markers or paint to add hearts to the box. Write each childís name on the outside of the box. A piece or candy can be added to the box so that the kids donít open it and find it empty.

Valentine’s Day is fun for kids. They get to have a good time making crafts for others and enjoying gifts given to them.

Tags: crafts for kids, kid crafts, valentines day, valentines day crafts

The holidays are here, “Jingle Bells” is in the air, and snow flakes are falling on our noses. Stop by and visit with our holiday shoppers and vendors during this very festive time of year.

We have our shelves stocked and our samples ready. Don’t fret about the lines or the weather. Come in your jammies and slippers.

Our online Holiday Expo will be located in an online conference room where our vendors will share information about their services, products, and specials. Our vendors will be speaking through microphones or typing through keyboards. Our attendees are encouraged to use webcams, microphones or keyboards to communicate with our vendors.

http://www.womenbizowners.org

Our Jolly Vendors: Cindy Powers with Bright Minds, Ginny Headley Maserang with that’s Headley! Jewelry Designs, Lisa Keone-Teeter with Chez Ami Children’s Clothing, Julie Christin with Julie-Marie Bags , Helen Brown with Purse Party, Inc., Caryn FitzGerald with Biometics International, Yvette Syversen with Tastefully Simple, Barbara Bodling with Heaven’s Blessings, Kathy Bittner with Nevaeh Bath & Spa Essentials, Lisa Wald Guarino with Lisa’s Art & Horses, Treasia Stepp with Southern Belle Invitations, Karen Tracy with Arbonne, Patricia Thackston with The Baby Hammock, Lisa Keone-Teeter with Silpada Designs, and Jennifer Hudson with Mimsi Bags are excited to help you cross off your Holiday Gift List!

Our Merry Sponsors: Gazelle Simmons with Admin Services, Maryella Blundo with Dream Come True Travel, DJ Nelson with Little Diva Toys, Jennifer Hudson Mimsi Bags & Accessories, Tonya Ramsey with Life By Design, Kelli Claypool with Mom Of Praise, Ginger Marks with DocUmeant Designs, Michelle Jasper with Discovery Toys, Terri Vassallo with Luxurious Candles, Sherry Miller with Warm Spirit, Rebecca Vanni with Raining Gems, Holly Munsinger with HoustonWAHMs, and Martie Collins with Host Caters help make this event possible!

Tags: Christmas shopping, online shopping

I forgot to mention that David’s Cookies has Hanukkah offerings as well - all Kosher!

David’s Cookies Are OU-D Kosher - Use Code KOSHER10A For 10% Off - Rugelach, Message Cookies, Cakes & More. Free Shipping!

Hanukkah starts on Wednesday, so don’t delay! Order your treats today!

Tags: cookies, Hanukkah, hanukkah treats

David’s Cookies are the latest craze in gift giving. They are showing up in Good Housekeeping magazine, on 3 on your side on CBS, and in school fundraisers.

My daughters’ school recently did a fundraiser that featured David’s Cookies and I have to tell you that they are delicious - and very easy! They come pre-portioned and ready to pop them into the oven and bake. My 5 year old has no problem baking them herself. No more messy mixing and scooping, just drop the frozen cookie dough onto your pan and put it into the oven.

Cookies aren’t the end of what they offer, however. They have cheesecakes - both individual sizes and family sizes, cakes, pies… if it is a sweet treat, they probably offer it and deliver it straight to your door. They offer pre=baked cookies too. Take a look at their Hot Products for a brief sampling of their sweet treats!

Head over to see what they have just in time for your next Christmas get-together!
Shop online for fresh baked gifts!

Use coupon code LSCHEESE10A now through December 2, 2007 for 10% off all cheesecakes.

Tags: cheesecake, christmas baking, cookies

This is a great craft that is easy enough for 2-3 year olds to do!
Supplies:
Chinet® paper plates - these really do work best
Green paint
construction paper in the following colors
red
yellow
orange
glue
marker or pen
yarn or ribbon

Cut the center out of the paper plates, leaving about 3 inches of the edge. Punch a hole in the top about 1/2 inch from the edge. Paint the bottom of the plate with the green paint and allow it to dry.

Cut some assorted leaf shapes from the construction paper.

Choosing some of the larger leaves, write things you and your kids are thankful for (i.e. mom & dad, brother or sister, sports, music, etc).

When the plate is dry, glue the leaves onto the green side in little clusters, putting the leaves with your thanks on top.

String the ribbon or raffia through the little hole as a bow.

If you want to hang it up with ribbon, punch another hole towards the top.

Ari’s wreath is a couple of years or so old, it started out with LOTS more leaves! This craft is fun because you get to hear things that your kids are thankful for that just might surprise you!

Tags: crafts, fall decor, fall holidays, kid stuff, Thanksgiving