I love them

This photo warms my heart...

Celebrate family night with Coca-Cola & American Idol {Giveaway}

Although it may not feel like winter, there is still enough of a chill in the air that most folks are staying indoors, especially for family time. At our house we have been enjoying more comforting meals with plenty of Coca-Cola and watching a lot of football, basketball  and some of our favorite shows or movies together. Some days we just hang out and talk for hours. 

This winter, as a sponsor of American Idol, Coca-Cola is looking to spice up the colder months with the Coca-Cola Family Night initiative on MCR.com. At MCR.com/family, you can find exciting contests, instant wins, rewards, recipes and games—with many fun American Idol based activities for your family! 

My daughters are big American Idol fans and have been watching for years now. I checked out the site and found some neat game ideas that our family would love like, "The Silent Game". Hey, it can get rowdy and loud with 5 people in the house so something quiet would be nice for a change :)

I was thrilled to receive this fantastic American Idol themed prize pack that came with (1) Handheld Camcorder (1) American Idol – The Hits Volume 1 CD (1) Coca-Cola and Pringles coupon. This prize is valued at over $100 and we LOVE it! The mini camcorder has some great features including a ruggedized exterior, 2.3" screen, full HD 30p (1920x1080), waterproof, shockproof and dustproof. It is VERY nice! The girls love the CD especially since they know and love all of the songs. We also will gladly enjoy getting $1 off Coca-Cola and Pringles. We are big snackers at our house!

I am so excited that Coca-Cola is providing the same prize pack for one lucky Momfiles reader to win! Don't you want this prize?! Entering is easy, just follow the directions below and make sure you complete the mandatory entry method first.

Running out? Run in. | Publix Rafflecopter $25 gift card giveaway

Contest Closed- Winner is #440 Omeisha Jones. Congratulations!

Do you ever go to grab something and realize you have run out? It always seems to happen to me all at the same time. Well Publix is running a great deal with the "Running Out? Run In." event at your local Publix store taking place, February 9th through February 14th. The deal is that you receive a $5 Publix® gift card to use on your next shopping trip when you purchase $30 or more in participating items during the event (2/8 – 2/25); simply mail in the rebate form found in-store or online at runningoutrunin.com along with your original receipt(s).

From Feb. 9th through Feb. 14th, look for the “Running Out? Run In.”event at your local Publix store and “run in,” to take advantage of the great savings available on some of your favorite brands from General Mills and Procter & Gamble, including Yoplait yogurt, Cheerios, Charmin, and Crest. Also, don’t forget to look in-stores for over $14 in coupon savings – coupons are valid Feb. 6 through Feb. 25. I am going there tomorrow after school to get some much needed laundry detergent, toilet paper and toothpaste.

To help you take advantage of these great savings, Publix and MyBlogSpark is providing 1 lucky Momfiles reader with a $25 Publix gift card. Enter below:

And it hit me...

I was just blow-drying my hair when I glanced over at the burgundy velvet box that was sitting on the dresser. Inside the box are the most gorgeous gold hoop earrings my husband bought for me as an anniversary gift. I love them so much that I decided I would only wear them for special occasions and if I am not wearing them, they would be tucked safely away in the box. Then I thought to myself...wait... why am I not wearing them right now? Last time I checked, EVERY day is a special occasion! I decided that I will wear the earrings as often as I want and enjoy them fully! What good do they do me if they are sitting in the jewelry box? I challenge everyone to eat your weekday dinner on that fine china that sits up on a high shelf. Grab those crystal goblets and drink Kool-aid out of them! Forget the holidays, silverware can be everyday ware! Why keep the special stuff locked up when we can be enjoying them NOW!

Undoing the damage I have caused

This post has been sitting tucked away in my brain for some time now. Perhaps you can call it out of sight, out of mind. You might even call it denial. I have been slowly suffering inside from guilt. I do the best job I can at being a great mother. So far, I have succeeded and my kids are happy, well-rounded individuals. I do have one secret though. I have over-mothered little William. What does that mean? Well I have ruined this child by doing WAY too much for him. I do EVERYTHING for him. It's such a shame. He is a very well-mannered and sweet child but there is one problem... He can't do a lot for himself because I have him conditioned to me doing it for him.

I am feeling so much anxiety as I type this post. I am so embarrassed by how much the average 2 year old can do for themselves and how pampered my boy is. I don't even make him pull his own underwear up. It has finally hit me that I need to get William in a more independent mode if he is going to start kindergarten in Fall 2013. I never thought I would spoil a child like I have with this last one. I am too ashamed to tell you the extent of how bad it is.

Thankfully I have been able to recognize what I am doing wrong and have made a vow to make it right.

Have you ever encountered this type of situation raising your children?