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Win It Wednesday #Giveaway #Linky

Mellisa — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:49:41 +0000

Welcome to Win It Wednesday! Please feel free to link up your giveaways below. You are more than welcome to link up as many times as you like just make sure that your link goes directly to your giveaway and not your homepage.

While your here make sure you check out some of my current giveaways below.

Otterbox-Your Choice up to $50 ARV

Duraflame Campfire Roasting Logs

Disney Princess Castle Greenhouse

4 Boxes of Cheerio’s-3 Winners

Aerin Rose Swimwear Review

Mellisa — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:36:17 +0000

Having the body shape of a normal women and not a supermodel I often find it not so easy for me to find swimwear. I have looked high and low for a cute bathing suit or bikini that will actually hold everything in place and still be comfortable. I have been able to review a few bathing suits over the past few years, and while I have had more luck with one piece suits I really have been wanting a bikini. Aerin Rose Bra sized swimwear is made for women who want quality swimwear that’s stylish but holds things in place. One of the problems I have found with bikinis or even one -piece swimsuits is that your suppose to hold your boobs up with just a few strings, Realistically there are very few women in this world that can get away with this, especially us women that have been blessed with an after baby body.

I was so excited to find the Aerin Rose collection! I immediately noticed what an amazing selection of swimwear that they have for women of all shapes and sizes. After searching through their look book I finally decided on the Watermelon 103 Convertible Underwire Bandeau Top and Watermelon 500 Shirred Skirted Bottom.

What I love about Aerin Rose Swimwear is you can customize your suit to fit your needs and wants. Many times when I have found a color or style of a suit there is only option but that’s not the case here. With the Watermelon color there were five top options, five bottom options and two one piece styles. You can mix and match things up however you like because each piece is priced separately. You could even mix match colors if you wanted to. The styles and options are really endless.

I love my new Aerin Rose Bikini! It’s very comfortable and the support both on top and down below is great. The top looks like a regular bikini on the outside but it’s made to fit your body and gives you the support like a bra.

If your looking for a swimsuit this summer season, that is cute, comfortable and stays put be sure to check out Aerin Rose. The swimsuit I received retails for around $86 per piece.

Disclosure: I received the above product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are based on my own experience and are my own.

My Worst Fear Has Arrived

Mellisa — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:38:27 +0000

When Aubrey was born it was one of the happiest days of my life. I had two healthy and happy kids and everything just seemed to be perfect, or so I thought. When Aubrey was just 5 1/2 months old she started to get really sick, she has an older brother in school so I just assumed she had caught something from him. Her fever spiked to 103 F so we took her to see the pediatrician who diagnosed her with a viral infection and pretty much sent us on our way. After another two days Aubrey was still sick and her fever could only be brought down with medication so I took her back to the Dr. At this time she decided to run blood work and also a urine test to see if there was something else going on that wasn’t viral. Since Aubrey was so young in order to test her urine they would have to use a catheter. I can’t tell you how devastating it is as a mom it is too watch someone hold your baby down and place a catheter inside of them, it’s heartbreaking to say the least. Little did I know that this would be the first of many more catheters over the next few years. After about 15 minutes the Dr. comes in to the room and tells us that Aubrey has a pretty bad kidney infection and will need to be admitted into the hospital for IV antibiotics. My heart sank, all sorts of thoughts ran through my mind like had I started blaming myself for letting this happen to her.

At the hospital Aubrey quickly got better with antibiotics and we were sent home. The Dr. explained to me that it is very uncommon for a young child to get a kidney infection and that often times there is an underlying condition causing the problem and we would need to have Aubrey tested. At 6 months old Aubrey was scheduled for a VCUG (Voiding Cysto-Urethrogram), during the test Aubrey would be placed on an X-Ray table and with a catheter in place a special dye would be injected into her bladder while X-Rays are being taken. This special dye allows doctors to see how your bladder and kidneys are working. The news was bad, very bad. Aubrey was diagnosed with Kidney Reflux in both of her kidneys, Grade 3/4 in her right and Grade 4/5 in her left. From this moment on our lives would be forever changed, Aubrey was immediately placed on a low dose antibiotic that she would have to take every single night until her condition was fixed. She also had to have ultrasounds on her bladder and kidney every 3 months and a VCUG every 6-12 months.

To date Aubrey has had more UTI’s and Kidney infections than we can count but by the grace of God she has had no permanent kidney damage, which can be caused by frequent infections. At the beginning of 2012 Aubrey went in for her 4th and final VCUG which confirmed to us that her reflux had improved but not enough to hold off waiting any longer. After much thought and talks with both her pediatrician and urologist Aubrey was scheduled to have an open surgery called Bilateral Ureteral Reimplantation. During the reimplantation Aubrey will be put under general anesthesia and the doctor will make a low line bikini incision. Her ureters connecting her bladder to her kidneys will be removed and re-implanted deeper into a different spot which will hopefully cause the reflux of her urine to completely stop. The surgery itself will take 3 hours and she will be required to stay in the hospital for up to 3 days, depending on how well she does. We knew this day would eventually come but it doesn’t make it any easier to watch your child’s life be put into the hands of strangers.

I have been preparing Aubrey, as much as you can for a 4 year old, for about two weeks on what is going to happen. I have been very careful not to scare her, but I want her to somewhat know what is going on. I have told her that her doctor is going to fix her back so that she doesn’t get sick anymore and she won’t have to take her nasty banana medicine anymore. She is very excited about no more medicine! Her surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning and I am hopeful that everything will go smoothly and she will do well. Please keep Aubrey in your thoughts and prayers. I’ll keep everyone posted on how she does in the next few days.

And the Winner is….?

Mellisa — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:17:24 +0000

I have several winners to announce from giveaways that have ended over the past week. All of the winners have been emailed so if you think one of these names is yours, please check your inbox and follow the instructions to claim your prize. Thanks so much to everyone who entered and congratulations to all the winners.

The Winner of the Trash Pack Egg is…?
#97 Tabathia

The Winner of the Planet Earth DVD Prize Pack is…?
#1520 Ronald Oliver

The Winner of the War Horse Combo Pack is….?
#585 Christal Simpson Ainsworth

The Winner of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Book is…?
#83 Christal Simpson Ainsworth

The Winner of the Bubble Guppies DVD is…?
#559 Harmony

The Winner of the Marvel’s The Avengers Giveaway is…?
# 890 Keely Hostetter

National Learn To Swim Day is May 19th @SwimWays

Mellisa — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:39:42 +0000

There are only a few more weeks left of school here in Oklahoma and that means I will be one busy mama very soon. I have lot’s of fun activities planned for the summer to keep my kids busy and entertained. One of our favorite things to do during the hot Oklahoma summer is to play in the water as much as possible, when temperatures hit 100+ degrees it’s really the only thing you can do to stay cool while outside. We always get season passes to our local water park and we also visit the lake at least a few times a month so needless to say there is lot’s of swimming going on in our family. My son Jeremy just learned how to swim without a life jacket last year and we are still working on Aubrey but I still always have my guard up and keep a watchful eye on both of my kids while they are in the water. Water safety is extremely important because according the the Red Cross, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1-14 years old. This is so alarming but it happens much more than you would think.

Statistics show that children in this 1-14 age range drown most often in home swimming pools and were out of sight less than 5 minutes while under the care of one or both parents at the time of these drownings. Sadly just last week a 2 year old in my local area drowned in the small pond right in her front yard, her mom had only took her eye off her for a moment and that was all it took. Being the mom of two young children myself it absolutely breaks my heart to hear devastating stories such as this one and that’s why I think it’s so important for all of us parents to teach our children early swimming skills and get them familiar with the water as well as teaching them how to stay safe.

Swimways, a leader in the pool and leisure market place and creator of Swimsteps program that helps kids learn to swim recently announced that they have named Saturday, May 19th ‘National Learn To Swim Day’. This nationwide campaign was timed specifically to coincide with National Water Month (May) and the upcoming Memorial Day weekend where many families and children will be enjoying the weather and swimming. National Learn To Swim Day is an effort to raise awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim, and provide resources to parents to help teach their children this important skill. I truly believe that if we work together and give our children the confidence and skills they need to learn how to swim we will have much less reports of drownings each year.

Here are some ways that you and your family can celebrate National Learn To Swim Day:
-Enroll your kids in a swim class at a local YMCA, Boys & Girls Club or other local swimming club.
-Visit a community pool together as a family. Make it even more fun and bring along a picnic.
-Host a group swimming lesson at your local pool.
-Check out smart pool safety tips at TeachMeToSwim.com
-Encourage your kids with down-loadable rewards and swim charts. All kids love seeing themselves improve.
-Take a CPR or First Aid Class.
-Talk to your Children about Water Safety.
-If it’s still too cold outside, do what our kids do and practice swimming in the bathtub. I let my kids put their googles on and they love it.
-Also take the time to tell your local lifeguard how much you appreciate them. Lifeguards are often the unsung hereos and don’t get the credit that they deserve.

For more information about National Learn to Swim Day visit www.Nationallearntoswimday.com and Swim Steps at www.teachmetoswim.com. Also be sure to

Disclosure: As part of the SwimWays Swim Team I am provided with free products for my family. No other compensation is received and all opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own.

ET’s Hanging With The Stars Sweepstakes

Mellisa — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:09:52 +0000

I have always dreamed of what it would be like to walk down the red carpet, dressed in an elegant evening gown while mingling with Hollywood celebrities. Of course for many of us the closest we will ever get to a red carpet event is watching it from our living rooms while snacking on a bowl of popcorn. But for one lucky winner they are going to have the chance to have their Hollywood dreams come true and hang with the stars in person.
From now until May 24th, 2012 at 4:59pm PDT you can have your chance to enter the ET’s Hanging With the Stars Sweepstakes and win a trip for two to LA that includes air-fare, accommodations, ground transportation and the opportunity to hang out with celebrities at the star studded ET’s Exclusive Emmy Gala Party. How amazing is this?! But the fun doesn’t end their not only do you get to attend the event but the lucky winner will also get to walk the red carpet and receive 2 seats in the VIP section during the musical performance.

In addition to the amazing grand prize mentioned above there are also eight weekly winners that will be each receive a 10-15 minute private call with one of Entertainment Tonight’s Show talent: Mark Steines or Nancy O’Dell. And also 20 daily winner’s who will get their first or last initial on Entertainment Tonight in on air graphic within the ticker, air bumper or end credit.I don’t know about you but not many people get to say they have had their name broadcast on national television.

There is only a little over a week to enter so be sure to get your entries in today. You can also get extra entries by sharing the contest with your friends and family. The more they enter the more entries you receive. Remember the sweepstakes ends on May 24th. Be sure to read the Official Rules and Regulations of this sweepstakes on Facebook.

Enter today at ET’s Hanging With the Stars Sweepstakes. Good Luck!

Disclosure: This is a partnered post and I was compensated for my time to share this contest with you.

Save Money Online with Coupons By Answers.com

Mellisa — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:24:09 +0000

By now you probably know that I am someone who likes to save money. As a stay at home mom, my income was almost cut in half when I left my job so in order for me to still enjoy the things that I like I had to find a way to save as much money as possible. Shopping the internet is one of my favorite things to do because I can browse through different shops and stores online but not have to worry about whether my kids are behaving or throwing a tantrum because I’m at home. Many people don’t realize that you can actual save quite a bit of money by shopping online especially if you use resources such as Coupons By Answers.com.

Coupons By Answers.com is an online community and the newest way for consumers to find and share the latest deals from your favorite and most popular online stores. As a deal hunter myself I have found that it’s extremely important to have somewhere to go to ask questions, learn about time sensitive sales and deals as well as learning more about different stores that you may or may not be familiar with. You can find all of these helpful things at Coupons By Answers.com and so much more.

So how does Coupons By Answers.com work? Well it’s simple, first you visit their site and search from 1,000′s of stores and products featured. After you find the store or product your looking for you, search to see what coupons or online deals they are offering and you just saved yourself time and money! It’s really that easy. There are no fees to use the services provided Coupons By Answers.com, it’s free and very easy to use. Right on the homepage you will find a list of all of the most popular coupons, featured store coupons, hot deals, and the most popular stores. If your not sure what your looking for or you need more information about a store or coupon you can type your question into the Q&A box to get your answer from other members. I also love that you can give back to your fellow deal shoppers by submitting a coupon or deal that you have found online that you want to share.

Shopping online is a lifesaver as a mom of two young kids and now that I have resources and sites like Coupons By Answers.com that can save me money I am able to cut costs and purchase more things with our one income family. We are in the process of redecorating our bathroom so it’s nice to have a place I can find Bed Bath & Beyond Promo Codes to help me get more bang for my buck. Before you make your next online purchase be sure to check out Coupons By Answers.com and see how much they can save you.

This is a partnered post, however all opinions expressed are my own.

Menu Plan Monday

Mellisa — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:06:47 +0000

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day! We spent the day together as a family and went fishing and although we didn’t catch any fish we did end up with 4 new baby turtle pets. It was one of the best Mother’s Day ever. This week is a very busy week for us and we actually won’t be cooking that much since Aubrey is going to be having surgery Wednesday. She will require a 1-3 day hospital stay so I am planning on eating out or making something easy for most of the week. I still posted some of my favorite recipes for you all to enjoy below. I’ll keep you posted on what’s going on but for now here is what’s on the Menu Plan.

Monday: Chicken Alfredo Sandwich (So Good and Easy!)

Tuesday: Chicken Shish Kabob

Wednesday: State Fair Corn Dogs and French Fries

Thursday: Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas

Friday: Baked Potato Pizza

Saturday: Lasagna Cupcakes

Sunday: Slow Cooker Coca-Cola BBQ Roast Beef

Have a great week!

The Love of a Mother

Mellisa — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:03:50 +0000

Star Gazing on the Beach #Brandcation #gulfcoast

Mellisa — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:58:43 +0000

I have always loved looking up at the sky at night and trying to match up all of the constellations. The night sky is beautiful and so mysterious especially to someone who doesn’t know much about it. Up until a few months ago I had no idea that you could actually see Neptune, Saturn and Mars with no other equipment than your bare eyes and a clear sky. During Bloggers Gone Coastal we all had the chance to meet with some amazing folks at the Escambia Amateur Astronomer’s Association and learn all about the night sky and even get to see the planets and moon closer than I ever thought possible. These wonderful people took time out of their busy schedule to bring out the top of the line telescopes so that we would all get the chance to experience something everyone should see and do at least once in their lifetime.

Eight different telescopes were set up on the beachfront. They were all strategically placed so that we could have the best visibility of the planet we were looking at. There were also several telescopes that were positioned so that we could see the moon up close and personal. The first telescope I looked through I saw a glimpse of Saturn, at first I thought it was just a picture but I was looking at the real deal! It was very small, of course, because Saturn is so far away but I could still see the circular shape as well as the rings that surround this planet. I looked through a few others and out of the 8 my favorite thing to look at was the moon. It was amazing to see the moon up close like this, I could actually see the details of different craters right on the surface of the moon. It was so close I kept thinking if I looked close enough I could see the spot where we landed on the moon.

This was such a great experience and I want to thank all of the wonderful and incredibly knowledgeable folks at . If your in town you should definitely find out about when they will be out, because there is nothing more spectacular than seeing the planets, moon and stars up close like this. You can find out more information on Star gazing as well as a list of dates you can find them out and about by visiting their website at http://rlwalker.gulfweb.net/astronomy/index.html