Holiday Gift Guide- SOL REPUBLIC RELAYS Headphones are a must-have! #ad #giveaway

**CLOSED**  Winner is Loremil J-- Congratulations! 

Can you believe that 2014 is slowly coming to an end? This means that the holiday gift-giving season is right around the corner. It's never too early to start planning and making purchases to save time. It also helps to stagger spending as well. If you are looking for a gift for the active person in your life, I have the perfect item: SOL REPUBLIC RELAYS In-ear 3-Button Headphones.

These are the absolute best headphones especially for runners or gym-addicts. Not only are they comfortable to wear during physical activity, they also stay put. I have had episodes of running on the treadmill and having one side of my ear buds fall out mid-tunes. They are very light-weight and have a low profile design. These RELAYS don't disappoint. Let's talk about the sound quality-- I am amazed at how crisp and clear my music is. You would be surprised how good the sound is from these tiny little headphones. The bass is superb! They come with 4 different sizes of ear tips to ensure a perfect fit. I also love the sleek little storage case as well for days I want to throw my headphones in my bag. They are really good when you are in the car and need to take a call since they are equipped with an in-line microphone. The person you are talking to over the phone will have no idea you have headphones on. It's just that clear! These are even great for homemakers like me since I move ALL day long. I love listening to music while I'm cooking or cleaning. The only bad thing is that my other family members try to snag them when I leave them out. Additionally, I would like to apologize when you become a headphones snob like I am :)

I think anyone would be excited to receive these as a gift. They come in a variety of colors including: Black, Black White, Horizon Blue, Fluoro Red and Lemon Lime and retail for $79.99. I have a pair in Lemon Lime that I got over a year ago and they are still going strong as if I just took them out of the box. It makes me think of all the years I have purchased headphones repeatedly, only to have them give out on my after a short while. These RELAYS are well worth the money! The work with most Apple and Android devices.

You can purchase these fine headphones on the SOL REPUBLIC site as well as Radio Shack stores. Be sure to follow SOL REPUBLIC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

One very lucky Mom Files reader will win a pair of SOL REPUBLIC RELAYS. Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to *Canada and US Residents only and will end on November 11, 2014. Please follow giveaway rules in Rafflecopter widget. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!*If you have won a SOL REPUBLIC giveaway in the last 6 months from Mom Files, you will not be eligible to enter.

I received a pair of RELAYS for review purposes. All opinions are my own as always.

Make your own LEGO Minifigure Family

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

Are any of your kids a fan of LEGO building sets? My daughters loved them when they were younger and my son is really getting into them lately. He has a LEGO kit in mind and is hoping Santa will leave it under the tree for Christmas. LEGO has the neatest site called LEGO Minifigure Family. You can make your very own LEGO family! The site is so easy to use and not only were we able to create each family member, we also got to include our pet. We could never leave out our little Milo! It is neat that you can choose skin tones, facial features and of course, outfits for each family member.

Little William was mesmerized watching me build our family out of virtual LEGOS. He was tickled to pick out his very own outfit. I think he makes a mighty handsome Santa! I loved the background choices.  I fell in love with the very classic family room during Christmas background. I had such fun making this that I am using in for my Facebook cover photo. I know you want to go make your very own LEGO Minifigure Family. Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday season! 

Own the mantel with the help of Cardstore.com #TopoftheMantel #sponsored

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Cardstore. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

I usually send out Christmas cards by the first week of December and this year, I am SO behind! Time hasn't been my friend since school started. Luckily, Cardstore is here to save me and the many procrastinators of the world. Did you know that you can create your custom cards with personalized pictures, messages, and signature and Cardstore will print, stamp and send the cards for you? –This takes the stress out of doing it all this holiday season. This year I plan to own the mantel! See how you can create your own cards at Cardstore.

How teens are giving our community a little H.O.P.E. this holiday season

My high school daughter, Briahnna is one very busy student. She is involved in two magnet programs at school and takes all honors/IB courses. She is the sport's editor of her yearbook and is also involved in the Youth Action Council as well as H.O.P.E.. HOPE stands for Helping Other People Everywhere. The HOPE organization at her school collects coats, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items for needy families in the community. Each year the HOPE chair sets a goal on how many food items they want to collect. The goal this year is over 20,000. Being involved in HOPE means that you have to sacrifice time on the weekends as well as after school. That is very hard with Briahnna's demanding courses, but she manages to get the job done! They have students volunteer for a time slot to collect food donations in front of grocery stores that have given them permission to do so. It's a win-win since the store will sell the items that end up being donated and the teens are able to have a secure place for collections.

As a family, we all pitch in and help where we can. I have volunteered to help purchase food items with any money they collect, since I know how to stretch a buck! Briahnna and a couple of her team members set up in front of Sam's Club last weekend and just in their 2-hour shift, they FILLED my very large car trunk and part of the back seat with so many donations! We helped her to get the items to the storage unit on the school campus to be sorted when they got back to school that following week.

I am so proud of Briahnna and her fellow HOPE team members for all of the time they are putting in to help others. Brie has really been enjoying herself despite having to wake up early some Saturday mornings. She is very passionate about this worthy cause.

We have used this time to explain how important it is to help others to little William. He really enjoyed helping to bring items into the food storage unit. He was sad when he learned that there are so many families who don't have a lot of food in their home. He was devastated when he found out that some kids may not get any toys for Christmas. I love that he is understanding it as much as a five year old can.

HOPE will collect food donations until the second week of December. They are already off to such an amazing start and I anticipate they will make their goal. All of the coats, food and toys will be delivered to a local food bank to distribute to needy families in our community. I look forward to attending the unveiling of all their hard work at the HOPE Assembly next month. I will be sure to post an update.

Ouidad 2013 Holiday Kits- Eat, Drink & Be Curly!

Winter weather has already hit many cities all over the country. Colder temperatures can affect your hair, especially curls. My older daughter has been wearing her hair natural curls for about 6 months now. She was flat ironing for years and finally decided to try wearing it in its natural state. The upside to that decision is that it is so much easier than using the flat iron. The downside is that you have to use the right products to keep your curls looking soft and shiny or else you end up with a big frizz ball. She went through that awkward transition of having the outer layers look stringy since they were straight from flat iron abuse and the underneath layers had a lot more springy curls. It took about 3-4 months and her hair has almost returned to its natural curly state.

She was very excited to try out some products from the Ouidad Holiday 2013 collection called "Eat, Drink & Be Curly".  This set contains 8.5 oz sizes of Curl Quencher Shampoo, Conditioner and Gel. The retail value of these products are $54 but can be purchased in this gift set for only $40.

She posted this photo on Instagram and said, "Ouidad products are the best thing I have ever used for my curls".

I am so glad she found something that makes her hair feel soft and shiny. I highly recommend these products for anyone who needs some curl control. A little goes a long way, so I feel like that offsets the cost. Believe me, my daughter has tried everything and this is the first time she has actually been happy with the results. 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Beginning Wednesday, November 27th though Tuesday, December 3rd, head to Ouidad.com to receive 20% off all orders during check out. 25% is also available for orders over $60! There are several Holiday Kits to choose from and they are perfect for winter upkeep.

I received products from Ouidad for review purposes. All opinions are 100% mine as always. 

2013 Hess Toy Truck & Tractor on sale now! Just in time for the holidays

We have a special tradition in our home that has gone on since before my son was born. He has received a Hess collector toy truck every Christmas from his grandpa. Of course he could not play with them until he was old enough to know what to do with them. Every Christmas morning, his dad would have to test out William's new truck. I think my husband had more fun with it than anyone else! We have everything from tractor trailers, motorcycles, jet planes and even a super cool helicopter.

This year Hess is offering the 2013 Hess Toy Truck and Tractor set. William loves tractors and diggers so he will love this one!

The toy truck comes with Energizer batteries so that is one less purchase you have to make. What kid (or adult) wouldn't love to be able to play with a toy right away? One of the things I love about the Hess trucks is how well made they are. They have so many great details and features to ensure many years of fun playing time. I am thrilled that you can order these toys online, because the 2 Hess stations in my area closed down.

Here are some of the details:

The 2013 Hess toy truck is a beautifully chrome detailed truck and trailer with loading ramp, custom designed to haul a versatile, self-propelled tractor.

Truck Features Include:

45 lights that work in flash or steady mode
Hidden, extendable rear loading ramp with sound effects
4 realistic sounds: ignition/idle, horn, backup alert, hydraulic lift
The self-propelled, multipurpose tractor has both front and rear buckets, and a fully motorized rubber track to take on the toughest terrain!

Tractor Features Include:

15 working lights
Motorized forward / reverse motion
Locking front bucket with release button
360° swiveling back bucket

The 2013 Hess Toy Truck and Tractor can be ordered now at www.hesstoytruck.com. It goes on sale November 8 at participating Hess and Hess Express retail stores. It retails for $27.99 plus tax (plus shipping for online orders)
Connect with Hess Express on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
I received a toy truck for review purposes. All opinions are my own as always. No other compensation was received. 

Give the Gift of Happiness this Holiday Season with Kohl’s Cares Classic Peanuts Storybooks

Give the gift that will leave the whole family grinning from ear-to-ear this holiday season with delightful and affordable gifts from the Kohl’s Cares merchandise collection the beloved Peanuts storybooks by renowned author Charles M. Schulz . Now through the end of December, Kohl’s is offering exclusive hardcover editions of Peanuts classics, including A Charlie Brown Christmas, You Can Be Anything, Be Yourself!, Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, a 2-pack of Happiness is a Warm Puppy and Christmas is Together, along with coordinating plush toys, for just $5 each through the Kohl’s Cares cause merchandise program.

Kids and parents alike will cherish the time spent snuggling up with these nostalgic story books, and everyone can feel good knowing that Kohl’s donates 100 percent of the net profit to children’s health and education initiatives nationwide. Since the program began in 2000, the Kohl’s Cares philanthropic program has raised more than $231 million for children’s health and education programs in local communities across the country.

In addition, Kohl’s has something to help everyone get in the holiday spirit and spread Christmas cheer this year:

Holiday Cheer: Make sure the halls are decked and everyone is jolly this holiday season with the perfect book for holiday recipes, decorating, entertaining and gift ideas. The go-to holiday handbook this season is filled with tips and tricks from Good Housekeeping, Redbook & Country Living, makes the perfect hostess gift for holiday parties and festivities.

Upon the Winter Solstice: Trans-Siberian Orchestra CD: Delight in the holiday spirit with the sounds of this year’s CD from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Grab one for the car, the home and the office to spread the holiday cheer!

Peanuts Jigsaw Puzzle: Wrap up in a blanket, pour a cup of cocoa and get to work assembling a jigsaw puzzle with artwork from the classic Peanuts storybooks. It is the perfect stocking stuffer this holiday season.

Could You Win Your Family Holiday This Year?

Times are tight for most families, with budgets being squeezed to pay ever increasing grocery, utilities and petrol bills. Add to that reductions in tax credits and child benefits for some and it’s easy to see why luxuries like a family holiday are having to fall by the wayside.

If you know you can’t afford to get away this year, why not try a different tactic and give winning your family holiday a go? What have you got to lose? Search online competition forums or keep your eyes peeled at the supermarket, when reading magazines or when watching the TV, and take every chance you get to win your family a great break.

For example, when you’re buying your loo roll this month, look out for special packs of Cushelle. Cushelle and Butlins have teamed up to give away three UK breaks, at the Bognor Regis Butlins resort. The lucky winners can check in two adults and two children to the brand new Wave Hotel, for a super exciting staycation at Butlins – for free!

If you have older children, between the ages of 8 and 14, the new Wave Hotel is ideal, as everything about it has been designed with hard to please teens and pre-teens in mind, including quirky submarine style rooms with the latest gadgets for tech savvy kids – including iPod docks, Freeview, and individual DVD players for each bed, saving on squabbles over what to watch!

The hotel is also the first Butlins hotel to boast a high-tech Games Port, where families can play interactive games together. In addition, there’s a kindle and iPod library for guests to use, and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, so the kids can still check Facebook, tweet and chat to their friends back home.

To enter, all you have to do is get yourself a Cushelle barcode from special packs (everyone needs loo roll, right?) and fill out a simple form online, but don’t stop there! Keep seeking out summer holiday competitions – after all, the more you enter the more chance you have of winning your family holiday this year!

Make this Thanksgiving Mishap-free with Walmart winner

Our Walmart Thanksgiving gift card giveaway had ended and we have a winner. Congratulations to Thomas Murphy! His tip was "prepare as much food as possible ahead of time" 

Thanks to everyone for entering and sharing your Thanksgiving tips! I know I enjoyed reading them all. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Have you tried the new Cool Whip Frosting yet? #coolwhip

Did you know that Cool Whip now makes frosting? I was thrilled when I first heard about it on the Facebook page and couldn't wait to try it! Lucky for me, my friends from Kraft Foods sent some in all three flavors-- Chocolate, Vanilla and Cream Cheese.

So far, we have tried the cream cheese variety on triple chocolate cupcakes, with sprinkles. We all loved it! It had a nice cream cheese flavor and had that amazing "whipped" texture you can only get from Cool Whip. 

Next up, vanilla on red velvet cupcakes. I know you are thinking, "why didn't you use the cream cheese on the red velvet and the vanilla on the chocolate?" Eh, I figured why not! We all preferred the vanilla flavor over the cream cheese and have yet to try the chocolate. I anticipate that will be very soon since there are two teenage girls that reside in our home bugging me half to death requesting we try it asap!

I am thinking about making a white cake with the chocolate variety and possibly a carrot cake for the cream cheese flavor. If you love Cool Whip, you will really love the new frosting! It is so easy to use and it is delicious!

Have you tried the new Cool Whip Frosting yet?

Classic Cheesecake Recipe and Food Lion's Holiday Bake-Off Recipe Contest

It's my favorite time of year. The holiday baking season is here! Every year I bake my favorite cheesecake that the family loves. I found this recipe online many years ago and I promise, it is fool-proof. I have shared this recipe with a lot of family members and friends and they all love it and found that it was very easy to make. The thing I love about this recipe is you can totally make it your own. You could add cocoa powder to part of the cheesecake batter to swirl it in and make it fancy. Instead of vanilla extract you could use almond or lemon. You can serve it with fruit or plain (just the way I like it!).

Classic Cheesecake
Ingredients
2 packages (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened*
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 Keebler® Ready Crust® Graham 2 Extra Servings Pie Crust (you can use a store brand or make your own)
1 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
1. In large mixing bowl beat cream cheese on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy. Add 2/3 cup sugar, lemon juice and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined after each addition. 2. Place crust on baking sheet. Spread cream cheese mixture in crust. Bake on baking sheet at 350°F about 30 minutes or until center is almost set. 3. In small bowl combine sour cream, 3 tablespoons sugar and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Carefully spread over cheesecake. Bake at 350°F for 5 minutes. Cool on wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 3 hours. 4. Garnish as desired. Store in refrigerator. *NOTE: Soften cream cheese in microwave at high for 15 to 20 seconds.

Right now, Food Lion is hosting a Holiday Bake-Off recipe contest on their Facebook page. You can enter the contest by sharing a recipe in any of the four categories: appetizer, entree  side dish or dessert. 12 grand prize winners will receive a $500 Food Lion gift card. The Food Lion Bake-Off contest kicks off 11/7 and will end 11/28. Hurry up and enter! You never know, your recipe can be a $500 winner!

What is your favorite recipe that you make for Thanksgiving?

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Food Lion. I received a promotional item to facilitate my shopping experience and review.

Make this Thanksgiving Mishap-free with Walmart {$50 GC Giveaway}

**CLOSED**

The winner is Thomas Murphy! Congratulations and thanks to everyone for entering and sharing your Thanksgiving tips! 

Now that we have the month of October behind us, we can now look forward to Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday and I almost always host a big dinner for family and friends. Along with the excitement of family time and good food, we sometimes run into mishaps here and there. It seems like no matter how much you plan, make lists or think you have it all together, something goes wrong! I decided to share some of my personal tips to help make your Thanksgiving a bit more Mishap-free.

• Plan ahead! Make a detailed list of your menu in advance so you can have a thorough grocery list made. This way, you can start shopping over the course of a few weeks and stock up on non-perishable items. 
• Don't be a hero. We all want to make the best meals made from scratch but sometimes shortcuts are your best friend! Pick up some cake mix and make it your own. Make your icing from scratch and use a piping bag to make it pretty. Semi-homemade is not bad! 
• Make sure to pick up some seasonal candles and room fragrance sprays. It makes the atmosphere more festive and relaxed.
• Practice a new dish or dessert a few weeks ahead in a smaller amount to see if you like it. I have made things before that failed miserably and there was no do-over.
• Every year I have cooked all my side dishes the day before and packed them up in the refrigerator for the next day. This makes the day of Thanksgiving so much more relaxed and all I have to do is roast my turkey and put my pies in the oven. 
• I love serving dinner on China plates but I have learned that you can buy "fancy" paper plates and disposable utensils and cups that you don't have to wash afterwards! Also be sure to have enough plastic storage bags and aluminum foil for leftovers. 
• Keep wine on hand! I don't think I have to explain that one!

Thanksgiving is all about time with the ones you love and should not be stressful.You can find some great tips and advice at the Thanksgiving Mishaps website to help get you through the holiday. Check out this video from Chef Richard:

 

I am so pleased that Walmart is providing a $50 gift card for one very lucky Momfiles reader to win. With Walmart's low prices and big selection, you can get a whole lot! Enter below...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on November 18, 2012. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Be sure to follow giveaway rules in Rafflecopter. Good luck!

Walmart provided me with a gift card and the giveaway, but the thoughts and tips shared in this post are my own.

Kraft Foods Delicious Desserts Pin & Win Sweepstakes #kraftrecipes

Attention all Pinterest and dessert fans:  I wanted to let you all know about the Kraft Foods Delicious Desserts Pin & Win Sweepstakes. There is a total of $2,500 in cash prizes up for grabs. Can you imagine winning a cash prize for pinning desserts? Um, I'm entering myself! The good thing is that you can get some great recipe ideas for the holiday season.

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER SWEEPSTAKES:

1. Go to pinterest.com/kraftrecipes and follow us.
2. In your Pinterest profile, create a new board called Kraft Delicious Desserts Recipes Pin and Win. The board name must include Kraft Dessert Recipes and be categorized under Food & Drink
3. Pin 10 or more of your favorite dessert recipes, from dessert.com OR kraftrecipes.com. Include #kraftrecipes in the description of each pin.
4. Email the URL link of your Kraft Delicious Dessert Recipes Pin and Win board to kraftrecipes-pinterest@kraftapps.com for a chance to win one of ten $200 VISA gift card first prizes OR the grand prize of a $500 VISA gift card.

What dessert would you bring to your holiday festivities? Get Pinning and let us know! All entries must be received between 11/1/12 and 11/21/12. NO Purchase Necessary. Open only to residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years of age and older. Ends: 11/21/12. For complete details, see the Official Rules here.

I made up my own Pinterest board of desserts and here are a couple that I WILL be making this month:

Lemon-Blueberry Swirl Cake (I want this NOW!)

And White Chocolate Cheesecake (**drool**)

I can't wait to try out these recipes and encourage you to enter the sweepstakes yourself! Good luck! :)

"Flavor It" Review & Giveaway

I am such a big fan of kitchen gadgets. I received a neat item from Primula Products called Flavor It Pitcher 3-in-1 Beverage System. You can make a wide variety of amazing infused beverages using just about any ingredient you want.  You can make fruit flavored teas, water, wine, even iced coffee! The only limit is your imagination!

The beverage system includes:

• Flavor Infuser - can be filled with fresh fruit, herbs, or spices to lend intriguing flavor notes to water, tea, punch, and more. Creating a multitude of beverage options from cucumber lime drinks to blueberry iced tea, to sangria and more. 
• Stainless Steel Tea Infuser - designed to brew loose tea or ground coffee, either hot or cold. The infuser's filter sits low in the pitcher, accommodating small quantities as well as a full pitcher. 
• Chill Core - filled with non-toxic gel, it is better than ice because it keeps the beverage cool without diluting the flavor.

I decided to test it out over the weekend and decided on fruit infused water. My daughters are big on fruit flavored water so we took a vote and went with peach and lime. I added slices of peaches and limes into the Flavor Infuser and added filtered water the pitcher.

I love the design of the pitcher because it fits perfectly in my fridge door. This frees up more space for bulky milk jugs and other drinks. I let the fruit infuse overnight and we all tasted the water. It was fantastic and very refreshing! I plan to make sangria this coming weekend and will use red wine with a mixture of fresh fruit. My 16 year old is looking forward to make some vanilla flavored iced coffee. I really love that you can tighten the lid to close it to reduce spills. The pitcher itself is BPA-free, dishwasher safe, scratch resistant, shatter proof and  stain resistant. 

The Flavor It Pitcher 3-in-1 Beverage System would make a great wedding, anniversary, hostess or holiday gift. Check out Primula Products on the web, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

How would you like to win one? One lucky Momfiles reader will win the Flavor It Pitcher 3-in-1 Beverage System. Enter in the Rafflecopter widget:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on October 25, 2012. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

I received a product sample for review purposes. All thoughts/opinions are 100% my own as always.

Play Time Fun with Playmobil

Playmobil toys are a classic option for indefatigable kids with growing imaginations. With components themed around certain settings like pirate ships or veterinary clinics, each set is charming and vibrantly coloured with parts individually wrapped in plastic for assembly later on. We have picked two of the best ideas for Christmas and birthday presents alike.

The Playmobil Robber Amphibious Vehicle

Aimed at the four to eight year old age group, the Playmobil Robber Amphibious Vehicle is perfect for the child who soaks up pop culture like a sponge and wants to experiment with cops and robber role-play. Parents of younger kids should know that pieces are small enough to be swallowed by children under three, so it pays to be vigilant. The set comes with play money, a case, robbers, police and a getaway amphibious vehicle that's perfect for those last minute dashes away from the fuzz.

Other toys integrate well with Playmobil, and can form an extensive obstacle course all over the lounge room floor. This is a type of toy that really encourages imagination, creative and lateral thinking and fine motor skills.

 Playmobil Vet Clinic

Perfect for the budding animal lover, this vet clinic comes with an ultrasound machine, bird aviary, bunny pen and dog pen. There are also a vet surgeon, a mother and child and lots of animals waiting to be looked after. Easy to construct, the set looks great whether placed on a shelf in the child's room or sprawled out on the floor.

Generally, the great thing about Playmobil is that each set overlaps and interact well with other ones. These ever-expanding world of new characters such as the gorilla and baby set, the farmhouse with market and the forest animal station, are all conceived to increase the imaginative powers of the child. Playmobil is a vibrant and colourful universe of fun in its own right.

What motherhood has taught me

My life changed forever when I became a mom. From the moment I heard the cries of my firstborn child, I felt differently inside. I instantly became very protective. I felt fear, anxiety, happiness, sadness and so many other emotions all at once. I knew from that day that my life was never going to be the same. Of course this feeling repeated itself 2 more times. I went through days that I wondered what to do about certain changes my kids were going through. Am I doing enough? So many times I just had to figure it out, even try different techniques. I have made many mistakes along the way. At the same time I have made many strides in my mommy role. I have gained a great bond with each child. My children show me daily how much love, respect and appreciation they have for me.  They have shown me how much my hard work as a mom has paid off through their actions, personalities and more importantly through their hearts. I have learned how important unconditional love is and showing my children how important they are. I embrace how different each child is and praise them for it. I want to make sure my kids all have a memorable childhood. It took me almost the duration of my years as a mom to know that I am doing enough. I am more than enough.

The best advice I ever got about being a mother came from one of the greatest and most inspirational women that ever walked the earth, the late Mrs. Emma Stevenson. She told me that the most important thing you can ever do as a mother is to talk to you kids. Even if you are not sure they are mature enough to understand, you still talk to them. You give them all the knowledge you can about every subject. Teach them before their peers or others get to them. To this day, those words carry on in my actions as a mother. It is truly the most valuable thing I have ever learned.

I want to wish all my mom friends and family a very Happy Mother's Day. Celebrate your great contribution to the world... being a GREAT Mom! xoxo

Thanksgiving 2011 with the Mckoy family

Wow, I feel like it has been a while since I last posted on my blog! I had been so busy with Thanksgiving preparations and having the most fun family friends come visit us. Tanyetta and her family came to South Carolina for a few days and spent the holiday with us! We have been friends for about 4 years now (met through the blog) and we finally got to meet in person. We had such a wonderful time and it is amazing how much Dwayne and Tanyetta are alike as well as how much Darrin and I have in common. I told Tanyetta that she and Dwayne were separated at birth! They were working my nerves :)

Look at how all 3 of the younger kids were totally not feeling being photographed! We ate, we laughed, ate some more, laughed a whole lot more and repeated the process. To say we were meeting for the first time, you would have thought we had known each other for life. The children had so much fun running around and playing. I enjoyed holding sweet little Gracen. I got to have my baby-fix. There is nothing like having a sleeping little one in your arms. If Dwayne is reading this don't worry, I am NOT getting any ideas :)

Is this not the sweetest family photo? Awww!! By the way, Tanyetta is the most "picturetakenestfool" ever! Her hubby Darrin is such a good sport! She takes pictures of EVERYTHING! She insisted that they had to get a photo by the wall letters I have up in the front entrance of our home. I will say that it is a lovely photo :)

Look at these faces. They refused to cooperate all at the same time. They were ready to get back to having FUN!!

We were so happy to have the Mckoy family visit us and this was the BEST Thanksgiving EVER!! Thanks for driving from so far to spend it with us. Great memories were made!