Amazon has some amazing Halloween Costume deals going on right now

Amazon has some awesome deals on Halloween Costumes right now.
How cute is this little Yoda Costume for only $16.45?

Much cheaper than buying them at some well known Party store... Plus they have costumes for all age groups! Hurry though, they are quickly selling out. You can also get FREE Shipping on certain styles and sizes when you join Amazon Prime (you can cancel at any time) or when you spend $25 or more with FREE Super Saver Shipping.
Click HERE to check it out.

My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software, Review and Giveaway

I have a confession, I am a picture hoarder! I have so many digital photos on my computer I might need an intervention. But seriously, I just want to remember every detail of my children's lives (EVERY detail, lol). So, I just snap snap snap away. The thing is, besides sitting in my computer, the only thing I've done with all of these photos is to post them on Facebook. That, however, was before I was introduced to "My Memories Suite"
  I've never been organized enough or had enough time for scrapbooking. It is something I would have liked to do, but it just never worked out for me. Lucky for me My Memories Suite has allowed me to Scrapbook at my own pace and create beautiful scrapbook pages without clutter and mess.
  At first, I downloaded the software with some reservations. After all I've never done any sort of scrapbooking and I wasn't sure what to expect. I ended up being pleasantly surprised. My Memories Suite has beautiful easy to use templates that an inexperienced scrapbooker like me can just choose and edit. And for you scrapbooking pros, My Memories Suite offers complete creative license to create as you please. Not to mention that you can also make awesome calenders and cards with this software! I'm so excited to make calenders for some of my family members around holiday time.




  I was really impressed with what I was able to create. Here are a few of the pages I ended up with:

 

  So... pretty cool huh? Ok, keep in mind, I'm a beginner.
Not only are these a cute way to showcase all those photos I have but it was fun too! I am going to be making all kinds of nifty things in the near future.

Get it: If you want to show me up and make some beautiful and amazing scrapbooks of your own go to My Memories and enter code STMMMS28132 to get $10 off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software PLUS a $10 off coupon for the MyMemories.com store. That's a $20 in savings!That makes the Software only $29.97 plus you can get any additional packages for an amazing discount.


  Win it: One lucky winner is going to win a copy of My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software 2.0 (Value $39.97)


Mandatory Entry: Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect (right side bar)
Please make sure if your email is ot visible in your profile that you leave me an email address so that I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Visit MyMemories.com and tell me something you liked

Follow My Memories Suite Blog (2 entries)

"Like" Me Time on Facebook

"Like" My Memories Suite on Facebook

Follow @Purplemommi  on twitter

Follow @Mymemoriessuite on twitter

Tweet about this giveaway (can be done twice daily)
You can use this sample tweet:
 "#win My Memories Scrapbooking Software at Me Time Blog tinyurl.com/3wk3pqe thanks to @MyMemoriesSuite Create beautiful memories Please RT"

Blog about this giveaway and link back here (10 entries)




Disclaimer:Contest ends by October 1st. 1 winner will be picked randomly via random number generator. Please make sure that you leave a way for me to contact you or you may miss out on receiving this awesome prize. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification or will forfeit their prize and I will draw another winner. I received a free copy of this product  to try out and give my honest opinion to my readers. These opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated for this post. The prize will be provided by the sponsor upon receipt of the winner's information .

I won a Hydros Self-Filtering Bottle

I just received an email letting me know I won a Hydros Self-Filtering Water Bottle over at The Organic Blonde
My husband has been wanting one of these forever! He was very excited to find out that I won one for him.
The Organic Blonde is hosting another giveaway for a $20 gift card to Whole Foods! I am a huge fan of Whole foods. You should go on over to The Organic Blonde right now and enter for your chance to win. If I can win anyone can.

And by the way if you want your own Hydros Water Bottle check out http://www.hydrosbottle.com/. They're pretty awesome!

Wordless Wednesday Definitely Daddy's boy

I want to try the Cuisinart Smart Stick!

  As you may know from previous posts, I am a Bzz Agent. That means from time to time I get free products to try and review. Isn't that awesome? In fact you can join for free to do the same! Just go to www.bzzagent.com to join.
  Bzz Agent is actually doing something new called "The Daily Bzz" where you can invite yourself into campaigns instead of waiting for an email invite. Today's Daily Bzz item is the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender 200w. Um, hold on while I wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth... Ok I'm good. I want to try this baby out so badly! Talk about a useful kitchen gadget!
  The Cuisinart Smart Stick is a powerful little blender in a perfect easy to use stick. One touch controls and a powerful motor make this a handy tool for whipping up smoothies blending batters and mixing just about anything. With four kids and a tiny apartment kitchen the Cuisinart Smart Stick was made for people just like me! Not only is it easy to use but it's easy to clean as well. It comes apart so that the shaft and included beaker are dishwasher safe! Talk about making life easier. I am totally for anything that can make my life run a little smoother.
  I am hoping to get the chance to try out the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender and I know this will be a fantastic fit for my home. Get your chance HERE

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Sleep Deprivation

You really never know true sleep deprivation until you have children. Especially if you work or work at night like I do. I have never been so chronically tired in my life!
I crave sleep all the time. I envy the characters on my son's tv shows when they get to take a nap. I think to myself how good it must feel to be able to sleep whenever you want. The way men desire sex, I desire sleep. I fantasize about sleep. Yes I know that seems weird and extreme but I genuinely fantasize about sleep. I imagine myself finding time for a nap and sleeping until I'm just not exhausted anymore. I imagine fluffy pillows and cool sheets and most of all, quiet.
Even at night I never fall into a deep sleep due to co-sleeping and my youngest still nursing. It's a never ending battle with my body. I know (one day) I'll wean baby Dude but that might be in 17 years at this point. For now I'm in an intimate relationship with caffeine until my beloved sleep returns to me.


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I'm Gellin' with Dr. Scholl's

I work on my feet all day and most days by the end of the day, my feet are killing me. I started buying my work shoes a half size bigger so I could use inserts in them but have not yet found any inserts that really stop the ache. Until now.
Bzz Agent sent me a pair of Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles to try out. I have read a lot of complaints about the packaging being difficult to open. This was true. Honestly, I don't feel like it was a big deal. They want to protect the insoles and ensure they are in pristine condition when you purchase them. So, it took a bit of muscle and I just tore the back open like neanderthal.
My first impression was they look and feel like jelly. I was squeezing and squishing them because it felt awesome in my hands. I couldn't wait to put them in my shoes. First however, I had to trim them down. My feet are teeny tiny so I had to cut them down quite a lot. I have had other insoles that I just hate trimming. The Massaging Gel insoles however were very easy to cut along clearly defined size lines. These insoles fit from a size 10 to a size 6 so they are good for practically everyone. Did I mention the squishing? I just loved to squish them, lol. But finally, I got to put them in my work shoes and try them out. To my utter dismay they weren't noticeably squishy under my feet, probably a good thing to most people. I was really hoping for jelly like squishiness. Ok, I'm over it. What I really noticed was that I didn't notice them at all. It really didn't feel like there was anything in my shoes except that they fit me better. You will definitely need a half size of room because these are thick.
Because I wasn't able to feel them I assumed that they weren't going to work. I thought that perhaps I was foolishly too expectant that these were the answer to my foot pain. I became very skeptical but off to work I went with my insoles in place. Over the course of my work day I completely forgot I was wearing them. It wasn't until I took my shoes off at the end of the night and realized that my heels didn't ache that I remembered that I was wearing them. What a huge difference. I really felt a huge difference.
I'm hooked on Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles. I will never go back. I don't have sore feet after work anymore and I feel like I am making a positive difference in my overall health. After all aching feet can affect your posture, your back and your mood. I am very glad that I got to try these out for Bzz Agent and share my experiences with you.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A Coffee Break with Coffee Connection

Besides being a mom full time, I also work at a coffee shop part time. I don't know what I would do without my coffee. It's my addiction basically. So I'd like to take some time to talk about coffee.
Are you a coffee lover? I can't really think of a word stronger than love but if there was one that would be how I feel about coffee. I drink it everyday. It’s part of my daily routine and I wouldn't be able to get through my day without it!
Here in Virginia the weather has been hot. Hot is an understatement actually. So when it's hot I prefer to drink my coffee iced. There is nothing more refreshing than a sweet cold iced coffee (usually flavored with yummy vanilla) on a muggy summer day. Thats not to say I don't enjoy a deliciously brewed cup of hot coffee now and again. In my most stressful days nothing calms me like a hot brewed cup of coffee with some flavored creamer. Yum.
Does anyone own a Keurig brewer? I do not own one yet. I’ve entered to win one many times on various blogs and such but no luck yet. My mother owns one and I am seriously jealous. They are so easy to use and have so many coffee varieties.
This company, One Cup Connection, is holding a giveaway for the next couple weeks over at Kelly’s Lucky You. You can bet I’ve entered and you should enter too! I just think the convenience and ease of these one cup coffee brewers is fantastic. I hate having to make a whole pot to see half of it go to waste. With a Keurig, I could have a different flavor each time I make a cup… not the same old thing every time. I was looking through the K-Cups section and there is so much variety. I’m thinking I would try the Timothy's World Kahlua - 24 K-Cups first! My kids would love the hot chocolate and apple cider!
Do you use a Keurig? Tell me about it!
One Cup Connection also has their very own blog, how fun!? Check it out here!




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Location:Virginia

Weight loss while breastfeeding and other tall tales

I am so sick of being fat. I'm 30 pounds over my pre pre pregnancy weight, that is since before I had my third child. I was breastfeeding The Destroyer boy when I got pregnant so I was still 20 lbs overweight at that time. I never weaned him before I became pregnant so there was never any real weight loss.
I am one of those many whose body defies the laws of science and calories while breastfeeding. Many women do not actually Lise weight while breastfeeding as we are told. I understand the pro breastfeeding campaign wants more women to choose a more natural healthy way to feed their babies but flat out lying to these women just makes them feel like something is wrong with them when they are not losing. Now, I know that there are women for which this is true but these women are not the majority. No, the majority are women like me, fat and unhappy, unable to shed even an ounce until weaning.
My body literally defies the laws if science. Calories in calories out has no meaning. Burning 500 calories a day has no effect. Exercise and hard work goes unrewarded. It's beyond discouraging. I have been getting very depressed. I watch calories eat generally healthy and drink 10 to 12 glasses of water a day. I have kicked it into high gear in hopes that I could still happily breastfeed my toddler without the misery of being so extremely overweight. Alas, not one single ounce has come off of my body. It just doesn't compute. I am consuming far less calories than I am burning and I pee my weight in water each day. What gives? It's enough to make me want to just wean my little Dude but I know he's not ready. It's a miserable existence.
I know from past experience that once I completely wean the weight will drop off. I know this. But because I have been breastfeeding children for over three years without a break I feel like weaning will never happen. Baby Dude is 13, almost 14 months old and I keep telling myself that I'll go until 18 months. Yeah, that's what I said with The Destroyer but he was over two when I finally called it quits. That was due to the fact that nursing both boys was taking too much of a toll on my already exhausted body. He still asks from time to time but I insist that he is a big boy (even though he refuses to potty train, but that's a whole other post). How will I be able to wean Dude when I have been struggling for two weeks to night wean him and he still wakes up fighting and thrashing for boobie?
I keep telling myself that this weight lock is physically impossible and that there has to be some way to shift my body into gear. It's in a breastfeeding starvation mode basically. It's hoarding every calorie and every bit of fat in case of a famine. It's refusing to allow a single precious ounce of fat to be released no matter how hard I work against it. I'm just so so sick of this body. It truly is not fair. I'm doing something great for my child and I feel like I'm being punished for it. I know I'm not alone. I've talked to countless women who say the same things. Even my own doctor said it was completely normal for women to hold on to weight during breastfeeding. So why do I feel like something is wrong with me? It's partly in thanks to all those ads proclaiming the wonders of effortless weight shedding while lactating. It's so unfair!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone