I'm Back!

Good morning, Folks!

I haven't been on here in a while, but I'm back!  Things at my house are settling back down again after the holidays, after the birth of my granddaughter, and after me changing jobs.

I love my new job.  I do something different every day, and I like that.  I'm still working for the State of Maine, but now I'm the new office manager for the Ellsworth and the Machias DHHS.  What do I do in a day?  It's actually hard to explain because I'm constantly doing something different.  I love it though!

Monster Pants!

Recently, a friend posted on Facebook that she would like to have someone make these for her son.  

Aren't they adorable?!

Well, I found my own pattern here and made my own.

I think they came out great!

Blogger Idol

I want to be a Blogger Idol!  What's a Blogger Idol you say?  Well, here's the description from their website.

You've been eyeing the prizes, kissing up to the judges, and now... It's GO TIME! Auditions are open for Blogger Idol 2012!

It doesn't matter how big your blog is. It doesn't matter how old your blog is. The only thing that matters is that you can entertain us. We've got a scoring system in place that ensures that this is not a popularity contest, so it doesn't matter how many fans you have. For all the details on how to audition, check out the Try Out page.

Auditions will close at 11:59 PM CST on Monday, September 17, 2012, and the Top 12 will be announced on September 20, 2012. You can find the full schedule here.

Are you going to audition? If you aren't going to audition, who are you rooting for? If you know a blogger that deserves the title of Blogger Idol, send them over here!

The prizes are pretty cool, but I'm more interested in the challenge and in getting my blog's name out there a little more.  These are the prizes:

Blogger Idol 2012 Prizes:

Grand Prize:

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition

7" WSVGA TFT screen

With a 1024 x 600 resolution to showcase movies and games.

8GB on-board memory

Offers spacious storage

VGA front-facing camera

Rear-facing 3.0MP camera 

Digital media card reader

Bluetooth 3.0

USB 2.0 port

Keyboard dock

For more info, check out the stats here.

This awesome prize is courtesy of our sponsors!

Blog2Print

Have you ever wished you could turn your blog into a book? Now you can! Blog2Print enables you to upload your blog to their site, and customize it to turn it into a book that you can have sitting right on your coffee table! Winner will receive a $150 voucher.

First Runner Up:

Ghirardelli Chocolate

Ghirardelli Chocolate... does it get any better? Winner will receive the All About Ghirardelli® Gift BasketAn abundant presentation of Ghirardelli® gifts including:

• 1lb bag of Whole Bean Ghirardelli® Coffee

• 1 box of Masterpiece Truffles (4.3oz)

• 3 boxes of assorted SQUARES™ chocolates

• 1 Caramel Collection Gift Box (6.38oz)

• 1 San Francisco Skyline Chocolate-Covered Assortment Gift Tin

• 1 Hot Cocoa Gift Pouch (3 pack)

• 1 Heritage Gift Tin filled with 5 Intense Dark™ bars

• 1 box of Intense Dark™ and Sublime White™ chocolates

• 1 Heritage Drinking Chocolate Gift Tin

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium Edition

Have you ever wanted to write a blog post without having to type it all up? With Dragon, users say words and they appear on the computer screen -- three times faster than typing -- with up to 99% accuracy right out of the box. You can even personalize Dragon with custom word lists and formatting preferences. Dragon gets more accurate over time as it learns your word choices and writing style. Read more HERE.

Newman's Own Organics

Newman's Own Organics goes beyond snack foods. When Nell Newman and business partner Peter Meehan started Newman’s Own® Organics: The Second Generation® in 1993, they were sure there was a market for organic snack foods, but they couldn’t have anticipated just how fast the demand for their products would grow. What started with pretzels and grew to include other snack foods has now expanded to many other organic items: coffee, tea, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, organic dried fruit, and pet food. Prize package includes four items of winner's choice.

Second Runner Up:

DaVinci Gourmet

At DaVinci Gourmet®, flavor is what they do best. For more than a decade they have been making your coffee more flavorful, making your mochas creamier, sweetening your favorite desserts and tempting you with their gourmet confections. Their family of delectable gourmet products lets you experience how flavorful life can be. Prize package includes a variety of DaVinci Gourmet Syrups, valued at $75.

Sogno Coffee Company

Is it your dream to find that perfect cup of coffee? But among the thousands of chain coffeehouses and the dizzying array of trendy brands, where do you start? Actually, it's simple. At Sogno Coffeehouse, they know it all starts with the beans. Truth is, many people have not had the pleasure of enjoying a real quality coffee. No matter the price, brand, or packaging, it all comes down to the beans. Sogno roasts only the finest Arabica beans in their one of a kind, custom-built roaster. The product is unrivaled: the aroma, the body, and that very first sip... it's like un sogno, a dream. Prize package includes two 8oz bags of your choice.

Freetail Therapy

Freetail Therapy offers readers the opportunity to learn about how to use coupons ethically and legally, in a way that will benefit, not only themselves, but the stores they shop at. She leans to the crunchy side and loves to promote eco-friendly companies and products. Our awesome judge from Freetail Therapy is  offering a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com!

Third Runner Up:

Healthy To Go!

To Go Brands, Inc. is committed to creating high quality, all-natural, great tasting and easy to use products for those of us striving to remain healthy in this fast-paced life we lead! They developed their Healthy To Go® line of antioxidant-rich drink mixes as a convenient, nutritional supplement solution for those of us that just can’t seem to consume all the good stuff that we know we should, every day! Prize package includes Trim Energy, Acai Energy, Green Tea Energy, a Healthy To Go tote, water bottle, Greens To Go, Grape and Vitamin C VitaRocks.

snackTAXI

The mission at snackTAXI is to make high quality, affordable reusable bags that empower everyone to reduce waste, while embracing business practices that respect our community, environment, and Earth. Winner will receive a prize package.

Fourth Runner Up:

Small Concept

Small Concept was born of a love for children and an obsession for tiny tot style. Modern fashion. Cool Styles. Hip Graphics. Great quality – in everything for your little ones – kid’s apparel, nursery furniture, toys, maternity and more. Winner will receive a gift code.

Tyler's Coffee

Tyler's Coffee is different. They use a “Z-Roasting” process that optimizes the time the coffee beans are cooked. The result is high levels of caffeine and free of acid. Benefits of an acid free coffee are that the tooth enamel is protected and teeth are stronger, leading to fewer cavities. Even those with sensitive stomachs can enjoy Tyler's Coffee!

Fifth Runner Up:

GIANTmicrobes

Founded in 2002, the mission at GIANTmicrobes Inc. is to produce unique and interesting gifts for children and adults alike. Whether your interest is educational, medical, or just plain entertainment, they are your number one source for all things microbial! The winner will receive their choice of one giant Gigantic plush toy.

Boogie Wipes

Boogie Wipes® are the first ever saline nose wipe. They are a great solution for kids’ sore, red, runny noses. Boogie Wipes are made with natural saline to dissolve boogies (mucus) caused by the common cold, allergies or otherwise booger-filled kid moments. Winner will receive two 90 count canisters and several individual packages of Boogie Wipes.

They're all pretty awesome, but that grand prize is something I would LOVE to have!

 

 

Life is Hectic

Life is very hectic in the Lounsberry household now that it is September.  As most of you know, I live in a big, old farmhouse with my husband, four children, one child's spouse, four dogs, numerous cats, and a partidge in a pear tree.  With the new month came the start of school for the 16-year-old girls, plus soccer games and everything that goes along with that. 

My son and his wife are expecting my first grandbaby, and I couldn't be more excited!  They already know they are having a girl, and they have decided to name her Miya Rose.  Don't you just love those names together?!  Miya Rose.  Their due date is actually on Christmas Day so we might have a wonderful, little present at the end of December. 

I, of course, have been buying baby girl clothing ever since I found out her gender, and my son is now saying, "Stop!  She has enough!" but I can't help myself.  It's all been from secondhand stores and yard sales so I haven't spent a great deal of money.  My son wears mostly Carhartt clothing so I did spend a little bit on this little diaper cover.



Diaper Cover



Aren't they so sweet?!

In addition to all of this, Jon's schedule is so different now than it was just a year ago, and it's been a little bit difficult for me to adjust.  He's working at KidsPeace again and has been since late March, and he works some days and some nights.  I was used to having him home a lot more when he worked for the State, but he's so much happier now, and happiness is far more important than anything else.  Oh, and he makes more money!

Emily is living at home, too.  She is working full-time for the State of Maine in Ellsworth.  I'm so proud of her.  She pays her own way and is (most of the time) a joy to have around.  She's engaged to a lovely young man who is in the Army and stationed in Georgia.  Unfortunately, he is being shipped out to Afghanistan in November and will likely be gone for a year.  She's figuring out how to cope with that.

So that's my life in a nutshell.  It's hectic, but I guess I wouldn't have it any other way!

Who likes coupons?!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Famous Footwear for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As most of you know, I have sixteen-year-old twin girls - high school girls - who can be a little bit fussy.  Okay, they can often be very fussy, especially about their appearances so, as you can imagine, school shopping can be a trying time for me.  It seems as though the only things they are willing to wear is t-shirts and jeans.  Ha, you thought that would be easy to shop for though, didn't you?  It isn't.  They try on hundreds of pairs of jeans and there's always something just not quite right about each and every pair <large sigh of frustration here>.  

So while my girls are only wearing jeans and t-shirts every single day, they do wear many different kinds of shoes.  They love shoes and can't seem to have enough pairs.  As you can imagine, this can cost me quite a bit of money!  Well, I learned today that Famous Footwear is having a terrific sale right now.  They are offering a 15% off coupon AND a BOGO offer of buy one pair and get the second pair half off.  You have saved me, Famous Footwear!  Now I can make one stop, at one store, and tell my girls to pick out the shoes they want, try them all on, and then be out of there without losing every last bit of patience I might have (sorry, Girls, I do NOT have unlimited amounts of patience!).  They have tons of styles all in one place and they have always had my girls shoe sizes.  And I'll be spending less money!  Yay!

Here's the coupon.  Print it!  Trust me, this will help during this difficult time!  But remember, you need to use the coupon between August 2nd and August 18th.

BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon

I just learned something else today, too.  Famous Footwear also offers a free Rewards Program.  Just by joining and buying shoes with them, you earn rewards toward future purchases.  

 

• Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend in-store or online
• Accumulate points to earn certificates up to $100 a year
• Discount offer just for signing up
• Other special inside discounts and perks

 

Shutterfly-fourth week!

This is the fourth week to enter Shutterfly's contest to win a trip to the Bahamas.  I've entered three times already and earned 100 free 4x6 photos, two free 11x14 prints, and six 3x5 folded cards.  I haven't entered yet this week, and I can't wait to find out what the free gift is this time.

So don't forget to enter!

Enter to win



Shutterfly Sweepstakes - Don't forget to keep entering!

Don't forget to enter Shutterfly's sweepstakes again this week.  The picture theme this time around is The Great Outdoors.  After entering today, I received a promotional code for 100 free 4x6 photos!!  Woohoo!!

Shutterfly Sweepstakes