 I'm going to let you all in on a little secret...Today is my 2nd Anniversary of turning 29. Yep, it's my birthday! We won't fuss over my actual age, as I'm sure you've all figured that one out. I stopped acknowledging the numbers awhile ago, since it makes me feel old. No, I don't have wrinkles or any gray hair, but anything over the big 3-0 makes me feel a little uneasy. Silly, I know. Age is really nothing but a number. Anyway, we're not going out or doing anything extravagant today. There will be no presents to physically open. There's a very good reason for this, though. Rather than giving me a neatly wrapped little box with a pretty bow, my husband has gone all out this year. He's buying me a house, hopefully in my hometown in Ohio. You don't get much better than that, and it's so much better than any other gift I could receive! As a matter of fact, we leave for Ohio tomorrow to go take a look and hopefully get the ball rolling. So if it's quiet here for a week, that's why! Although we have no real plans today other than packing for our trip, I still intend to do something special and relaxing here at home. Last night, we made a trip to Cost Plus World Market to find some treasures to help create our own backyard oasis. This was so exciting, since I had never actually been to this store before, even though it's only 5 minutes away. When we stepped into World Market, it was like stepping into another world. It was full of colorful, exotic items that made us feel like we were on vacation in Bora Bora or somewhere equally fabulous. We spent a few moments just taking everything in. There were "oohs" and "ahhs", but we were on a mission to create our own outdoor oasis, so we pressed on. As we made our way through the store, each section had something new and unexpected. There were beautiful necklaces and bracelets, colorful decor items, furniture that looked like it was straight out of an island paradise, and there was even a huge selection of mouthwatering gourmet foods and drinks from every corner of the world. Ultimately, since this would be my at-home Birthday celebration, we chose to find some great appetizer type foods and an exotic wine. After all, a nice adult beverage paired with imported cheeses and other goodies makes for a nice, relaxing evening on the deck, in my opinion! 
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  In an ideal world, I would walk into my house after a long day running errands and be greeted by the fruity aroma of something tropical or exotic. In reality, this is not the case. Often times, I come home to lingering cooking smells or even pet odors. (Not the most pleasant way to be greeted!) In the summer time when all of the windows remain closed at all times, these odors tend to become amplified. While my home doesn't stink, it sure could stand to smell a lot fresher sometimes.
I usually use some sort of air fresheners, like potpourri, or even those plug in oil diffusers. I also love scented candles and wax warmers. My favorite scents are those that remind me of yummy baked goods like fresh apple pie or buttercream frosting. These scents are comforting and just remind me of spending time at my Grandma's house when I was little. Another thing I do to help reduce odors is vacuum very regularly. With 2 toddlers and 2 dogs, there are loads of things that end up on my floor and furniture. Whether it's dog hair or cookie crumbs, these things when accumulated can produce a not so appealing funk. I am also a huge fan of natural cleaners, like baking soda and vinegar. (Not together, of course!) I have found that these non-toxic pantry staples clean just as well as chemical-laden cleaners and also help combat bad odors, especially in the kitchen and the bathrooms. Baking soda is a great stain remover, too! We're about to buy our first home in my hometown in Ohio and we plan to stop odors in their tracks before they become an issue. I just learned about the brand new Filtrete Odor Reduction Filters, and I am very excited to give them a try.  Call to all bloggers!!! Kerrific Online is hosting an amazing cloth diaper stash event that will run from August 1-15th. Sadly, I won't be able to participate, since we will be making our out of state move right around that time, and I may not have internet access readily available.
However, I know they'd LOVE to have any other bloggers sign up for this awesome event! The prize will include 12 diapers and a wet bag. Enough to get a mom started or update their stash! To sign up, please click HERE. Frankenweenie is a movie my family is really excited about. Disney meets Tim Burton? Now that's a winning combination, if you ask me! My 12 year old, Kyle, is especially eager to see this movie, so I know we will just have to hit the theaters on opening day. From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes “Frankenweenie,” a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous. A stop-motion animated film, “Frankenweenie” was filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D, which elevates the classic style to a whole new experience. FRANKENWEENIE arrives in theatres everywhere on October 5th! Website and Mobile site: disney.com/frankenweenie Like Frankenweenie on Facebook: facebook.com/FrankenweenieMovie Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/DisneyPictures  Beginning today through Sunday, Step2 is running a $2.99 Shipping Sale on all Step2 items (as much as a $27 savings!). Plus, some items ship for just $0.99 or even FREE!
No coupon code is needed - the shipping price is reflected on the product page. Not valid on Infantino items or Canadian shipments. Regular shipping prices resume at 12:00 AM ET on Monday, July 2, 2012.   I guess I can finally announce this, since it's official. We will be moving to my hometown in Ohio this summer! We have found a home we absolutely adore, and will be going to see it this Sunday. The home is an old Colonial built in 1924. It has been lovingly maintained throughout the years, and is absolutely gorgeous.
The funny thing is, I have actually been inside the home before a few times when I was a small child. The details are a bit fuzzy, since this was more than likely over 20 years ago. As far as I know, I was visiting the Queen of England. I really don't recall who we were visiting, as a small child's memory can sometimes resemble Swiss cheese. But I do distinctly remember the home, and was able to describe it very well to the real estate agent. I was even able to tell her that when I was there, the deck was not present. She confirmed that this was indeed a later addition. So to us, it almost seems destined that this should be where we raise our family. Our potential new home is grand, with large room sizes, original wood work, and it even has built in bookshelves in the living room. It totally embodies t everything I love in older homes. So much charm and character, and you can tell the family that lived there really took pride in their home. I am sure, of course, that some updating and minor cosmetic work will need to be done. We will need to finish the basement, which can be done at our leisure, and I know that the bathrooms may need updating. That's why the opportunity to review one of the stunning bathroom faucets from Danze couldn't have possibly come at a better time! Danze is a wonderful company that makes elegantly and thoughtfully designed kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Whether you're looking for the perfect faucet or showerhead, or maybe even a toilet or mirror, the folks at Danze have you covered. In fact, they have over 20 named collections of beautifully designed toilets, vanities, faucets, showerheads and bath accessories that give you the freedom to build coordinated suites for your bath or kitchen. Recently the Iowa Mom family went on a little vacation with our year older, yet still young children. Lengthy car rides up until this point were chaos and I was lucky to arrive with my hair still intact. This we wizened up and packed each of our children their own DSi and DSi XL to help make the ride a little smoother. While I typically do not promote game play for more than an hour a day, the continued play with numerous fun and educational games to choice from allowed my husband and I the need 3.5 hours of uninterrupted quiet time we need to get from point A to point B. Word to the wise from mom to another, never travel empty handed again!
The Nintendo DSi XL is a high-powered handheld video-game system with an extra large, wide viewing angle screen, and a full size, easy to hold stylus. It comes with features like touch-screen control for a unique gaming experience. Snap photos with the built-in camera, edit and send them to friends, play back your music with Nintendo DSi Sound, or browse the Internet with the Nintendo DSi Browser. From playing games to just playing around, the Nintendo DSi XL does it all.
BUY IT: Purchase the Nintendo DS XL from a variety of retailers online and in stores including Amazon.com for $129.99.
One lucky winner will receive a Nintendo DSi XL + 3 Games!Brought to you by Nintendo and Mom Powered Media. Thank you to our lovely co-hosts Giveaway Bandit and To Sew With Love Giveaway ends July 3rd at 11:59pm, open to US residents only, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck! I am drooling as I write this post...No, really...I am. I would love a new set of cookware, especially since we're moving to Ohio this month! And what better set than this beautiful Michelle B. 10-Piece Cookware set?! The giveaway is coming soon, but for now, the event is accepting great bloggers who would like to participate!  Prize: Michelle B. 10-Piece Induction Ready Forged Aluminum Cookware Set (retail value $199)
Giveaway Open to: US residents The event dates: July 23 – August 6 Link options are: Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon and Pinterest. Blogger Notes: Bloggers worldwide are welcome to participate as long as you have a large amount of US traffic to your website. What is required to join?
  As the mom of a preteen, breakouts are something I hear about a lot. My 12 year old son is right in that awkward, pubescent stage when peer pressure to fit a certain mold is very strong. Unfortunately, acne isn't generally included in this image, even though almost all teens get at least the occasional breakout. (Gotta love those hormones, right?!)
I am always looking for better solutions for my son's skincare challenges. We've tried many that work, but he tends to use WAY too much product, and they end up eventually drying his skin out. He hasn't quite learned the concept of "less can sometimes be more". That's why I was really excited about the brand new PerfectaWash system from Clearasil! I remember using Clearasil products when I was a teen, and they've always been very effective in clearing up my skin. However, Clearasil has come a very long way in the past 15 years or so, and their products are gentler and more effective than ever! Take for example the PerfectaWash system. This product makes washing your face so ridiculously easy. It even has a no-touch dispenser that automatically distributes the perfect amount of cleanser needed to wash your face. No guesswork, no touching a germ-covered dispenser...This is simplicity at its best, in my humble opinion. And the cleansers are wonderful, too. This product comes with 2 different formulas, SuperFruit Splash and Soothing Plant Extract. I love that they're plant based, smell wonderful, and pack an acne fighting punch for clearer skin quicker than a Kardashian marriage! Here are some of the benefits:
It's even quite attractive and won't be an eyesore on the bathroom counter. Take a look: |
  PR Friendly Mama!
I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com 
 
 
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