Top 10 Must Have Items for Baby and a GIVEAWAY!

So, I'm running a GIVEAWAY over at my review blog!!!!  If you head over there you can see what it's about.  Part of my post is that I'm going to list my Top 10 Must Have Items for baby.  I decided, since ya'll are baby lovers I'd share my list here and see what you think.

10. A support system - I know it's not really an item, but it's key to survival.  The first few weeks with a new baby are exhausting.  They are emotional, draining and new.  Having people around you, spouses, family, friends or even your health nurse and doctor mean that you can face those things one step at a time.  It means there is someone there to hold your baby while you go pee, there's someone to give you a tip when you don't know what to do or just to listen when you need to cry because everything is overwhelming, you don't know what to do and now your socks don't match!

9. A Good Stroller - After going through 3 strollers in as many years I have to say they are a big investment, as big as a car.  Do your homework, think it out and then purchase with care.  If you're planning on having more than one child think about doubles, covertable and sport strollers.  Even if it seems far off, do you really want to have to purchase another stroller a year or two down the road?

8. Bottles/Formula -  Now I'm the first to say I believe breast is, when at all possible your best choice.  I'm down with breastfeeding, but we all know it wasn't down with me.  I lack in the production department, which meant that my kids needed formula.  And yes, I mean needed.  If I hadn't had a few bottles and some sample formula here when they each came home, they would have starved - literally, production in this body didn't happen.  Even if you plan to nurse, be prepared just in case.  You never know when you'll be glad you have it on hand.

7. Snuggly Receiving blankets -  There's something so sweet about snuggling your new baby up in a soft, gender specific blankie.  We had girls and I loved looking at them bundled up in a sweet pink blanket.  They also came in handy when Audrey was spewing formula down my shirt, due to some seriously nasty episodes of spit-up.

6. Tiny Sleepers - Everyone said to us before we brought Bethany home.  "Don't bother with newborn stuff, they out grow it too fast.  Best to stock up on 3 month clothes, most kids never wear newborn"  Due to that, Bethany came home in a sleeper that her feet didn't pass the crotch and the sleeves were folded up 4 times.  I also wound up out sleeper shopping a few days after her birth.  Have a few on hand.  As much as it feels like you've birthed a teenager, these babies are tiny and need sweet tiny sleepers to come home.  Also, those sleepers make good reminders that yes they were that small, and no it wasn't just sleep delerium that had you thinking so.

5. Hypo- Allergenic baby soap - I've got nothing against Johnson's baby products, but they didn't really work for us.  Our girls had super sensitive skin and the usual baby products dried them out and left them rashy.  We loved the Bert's Bee's Baby line!  It smelled sooooo good and they were soft and crack free.  It was a little more pricey but it was worth every penny.

4. A diary - Have a book to jot down the tiny things.  I promise you think you'll remember but you won't.  I've kept one beside my chair in the living room for each of our girls since I was pregnant with them.  Those little notes and blips have jogged my memory and will one day be something special to share with them.

3. Diaper Cream - There are more than just one reason to have a good diaper cream on hand when it comes to your kidlets.  It helps prevent diaper rash, soothe and cure diaper rash and also, good cream helps that meconium poop and subsequent baby poops a little easier to clean off.  

2. Camera - This is almost a duh! moment, but I figured I'd better say it.  I won't be without our camera, it captures the big stuff and the little and helps with the Mommy brain.  Yes, you know Mommy Brain it's where you can only remember things for about 35 seconds before your brain blanks and you have to ask someone what your name is. 

1. Love, Patience, Tears and Tissues - New babies bring with them buckets and buckets of "news".  The new baby, the new experience, the new memories, the new emotions.  Your heart is overwhelmed with the new love and the fact that life doesn't move as fast as it used to, heck neither do you.  There will be moments you look at your child and tears fall because you didn't know it possible to be this IN LOVE with anyone.  Even if you said you knew it before you had them, you soooo have never felt this.  You're also tired, so you'll probably cry at things that don't matter and laugh at things that aren't funny.  But at the time wears on you realize that while those things might fade a litte the love just keeps growing, same as your new precious babe.

So there you have it.  My Top 10.  I could go on for days about everything you need for baby, but those are the ones, when I think back to my girls being tiny that I think off.  Time goes to fast, hang on to your hat.  Now go over to OFS Reviews, leave me a comment with what one of your Top Items is and see how to win. 

And, if you don't want to enter the contest but have a great tidbit to share with the expecting and new mommas that are hear reading, leave me a comment here to share!

It's nice to be a winner!

Well, the contest is closed!  The winner has been selected and it's time for the reveal.  Because it's Sunday and I'm slightly less than awake yet, and because I don't want to spend an hour at the computer I'm just going to tell you who won, tell them how to claim their prize and carry on. 

Before I do, I will tell you that there is another giveaway planned very, very soon!  You'll have to keep checking back to find out when and it probably won't be in the title, you'll have read on to find it!  So keep watching, you never know when something awesome's headed your way.

The Winner is......

The Smith's for their comment... (Before you keep reading, click on the link to their blog.  They are new to us here at Our Family Stone and are expecting a baby very soon.  Go over, wish them luck and take a read!)

Ola! I am definitely a Starbucks fan... and I definitely now make my own GTL (green tea lemonade) at home... because the girl told me how to make it. So sad. Although it definitely does not taste the same as the way they make it at the store so when I am in town... I still buy GTL's to drink. I am a fan of the raspberry lemon loaf and the banana chocolate chip loaf too. So yummy in my preggo belly!

Congratulations guys!  You have 48 hours to claim your prize.  You can e-mail me at ashleystone7(at)hotmail(dot)com with your mailing address and clarification that Starbucks is the prize you'd like, you know because I don't want to read that comment and assume - we all know what that gets you :-) 

Disclaimer: If the winner doesn't contact me by Tuesday July 27 2010 at 10am a new winner will be selected and posted.  Again, these prizes were purchased for this giveaway by Our family Stone.  There is no advertising or payment being received for this contest, yadda, yadda, Yadda.

Summer Giveaway: It's all Revealed!

Ok, it's Friday!  And you all know what that means?!  It's reveal day!  That's right, although it may be a little later in the day than I intended I have the Summer Giveaway prize assembled and photographs taken and so it's time to share it with ya'll.

Now, before I do that (and the crowd collectively groans.... ) it only seems right that I share another thing that makes me happy.  Seeing as how this is Friday, which is still part of the week, and well....whatever.

When it comes to things that bring me joy, giving gifts tops the list.  I love the look on someone's face when they open a package that I've taken time to either create or purchase.  I love knowing that if it's in the mail, someone will receive said package on a random day (because let's face it I'm too cheap to pay for it to arrive on a specific day) and that it might just be what they needed.  And nothing is greater than the look on Bethany or Audrey's face when I pull something tiny, something to me insiginficant but to them monumental from a shopping bag after a Monday night Grocery shop. 

I think in general making someone happy, brings the average person joy.  Now that's not to say that we don't all enjoy being on the receiving end*, because we do.  But there's something so complete about a selfless act, whether it's a gift, an action or a kind word.  It's one of the great things about this rat race we call life, no matter how crappy your day is, making someone else's better ultimately brightens yours, even just slightly.

That's not just a reference to giveaways here, but to parts of my life in general.  I love sending out small encouragement notes, or thank you cards, or yes, even Facebooking a hello.  You never know when those kind words, even if they are in the form of a comment (hint) make someone feel important, make them feel validated (hint, HINT), make them feel loved (get it yet?).  All kidding aside, take today, after you've commented to solidify yourself a place in this giveaway, and do something kind for someone else. Whatever it is you want to give, that's your business, but do it and savour it and know that you've done something to make everyone happy.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for.  Or at least, you started waiting for it since the beginning of this post, or if you're like me and God forgot to give you patience so you scrolled to this part to see the prize and then went back to dutifully read the post incase there was something important you couldn't miss....

Inside this Summer Giveaway you'll find some of the things we (because this is our family blog) love...

Go Fish Fizzing Bath Sand - This stuff fizzes away in the tub, turning your water a lovely, orange frosty shade

Blistex Raspberry Lemonade Blast SPF 15 - Remember when I was on my Soap Box a few weeks ago about Suncare, you can't forget your lips, skin cancer grows there and most of us forget to protect them.  Keep in mind that 15 SPF is the minimum required to protect you and more is even better.  Apply often and enjoy!

One Step Cucumber Melon Hand Sanitizer - With the heat and the moisture found in so many places this summer, water parks, pools, beachs bacteria LOVES to grow.  We don't go anywhere without some on hand, keep the worst of the germies away!  And I love the Fragrance.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage lotion - This does say for stretch marks, and I did use a huge bottle while pregnant with Bethany (hello, two babies and no marks, aside from one on a boob that didn't grow and never got milk, that's Murphey for ya) this is amazing for dry, cracked summer hands and heels.  Put it on at night before bed with some warm socks and you'll have soft heel in no time!

Bath Towel - You'll notice the "beach" towel in the background, I did not notice until after that this is not an adult size towel but rather a kid size one.  That's ok though, we have kids, and if you don't you might have a dog.

St.Ives Apricot Scrub - We love this stuff!  Corey loves it for his face to remove all the grim from work without smelling like a giant orange.  I love it for my face and also my knees - exfoliate your knees before you shave or wax and get a closer, smoother, longer lasting shave (No this is not a commercial)

PartyLite- You'll get a mixed box of a dozen summer PartyLite tealights, to use and enjoy!

Dairy Milk - We've already talked about this, HERE.

Cadbury Flake - This is my FAVOURITE bar.  It's made from the "left over" bits of chocolate from other bars.  It's compressed together and is sheer cadbury heaven in your mouth.  Be warned eat it either cold from the fridge, over a plate (or on ice cream) or with a whole tub of baby wipes because it can be messy

IT's up to you- I will also need to know a special tidbit from the winner to include the final piece to this puzzle.  I couldn't possibly talk about Tim's or Starbucks without including a touch of one.  So the winner will need to Reply to me in the alotted 48 hours, including their favourite drink choice to claim the final prize. 

And that's it, the contest runs until tomorrow.  I've got the rules below to doubley make sure you've been listening.  Don't forget to blog about it, link here and let me know in a comment, you get more entries!  The more linking the more Entries!

Here's how it works, I'm going to post each day this week about something that makes me happy. Be warned some of my "happy thoughts" may be mushy enough to deserve pixie dust, other's might be lame but they're my happy things, and I love them! Your job is to comment each day, answering the question of the day. Each comment (1 per person, per day) from Monday to Saturday will count for 1 entry into the draw I will do on Sunday for a BIG SUMMER GIFT BASKET!

Want more chances to win? Link to us on your blog, or on facebook, Telling your friends to drop your name in their comment and you'll get 1 more entry per friend! Contest closes 12:00pm Saturday July 24 2010, I will post the winner on Sunday July 25 2010, the winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize (which means let me know your mailing address etc) so I can get it in the mail before it's winter.

Question of the Day: Tell me one time, you were completely and utterly happy, with no thought of the next moment?  If you can't remember, tell me what would make you that happy?

*I like receiving gifts (althought I'd rather give them) if I'm not in a huge crowd of people.  I do not like big parties or crowds and surprise parties make me want to puke, so anything other than that is awesome.  Just in case you were planning something for my 30th (which is coming sooner than I'd like, but not this year) please don't... Corey.

pss. This Contest and it's prizes are NOT paid for by anyone else, I bought the prize, I'm not advertising for someone, and stuff.

Summer Giveaway - Hope and Joy

Apparently, yesterday's title had a few people confused, so before I get going today I'd just like to clarify, No I'm not giving away the man who makes me happy.  He's mine, I don't know what I did to deserve him but God passed him this way and I'm not sharing!

And so, now that we have that clear I'll continue.  It's impossible to do a week of things that make me happy and leave out my two greatest joys.  Actually, if you're getting specific my Hope and my Joy - my Bethany and my Audrey.  They are so often the source of my laughter, the topic of my conversation and the pride in my eyes.  They do, in contrast also possess the ability to drive me to the brink of insanity, to a place I thought only my Mom lived, now, I know I sent her there.

Bethany is my big girl.  She's growing so quickly and she's truly becoming an awesome person.  Gone are the days of a baby, she's now this chattering (constantly) little bubble of entertainment.  She prides herself on being funny, loves to dance and sings songs that go something like this "I love my MOOOOOOOM, I love my DAAAAAAD, and I love AAUUUDREEEEEEEY, Oh ya!  HmmmHmmHmmmm"  or "Today, oh today, today, yes today"  this particular song has a scratch and plays this verse on repeat for as long as I can stand it.  At which time I then do my best to bite back a scream and say, "Bethany! Your song needs new words, fast!"

She's also this little bundle of compassion, if her sister cries she's right there to console her (unless she's caused the tears and then she's the first to put on a cute face and try to get out it).  If you tell her you have a sore (fill in the blank) she will ask you continually if it's better until you say it is.  She's sweet and Hope is such an apt middle name for her.  She'll ask for something, usually a Gummy Bear and the look on her face is so full of Hope that it makes me melt. She's also says some of the funniest things....

Bethany walks over, runs her hand down my shin and says,
Bethany: "Meow.  Now can I have a cat mommy?"
Mommy: "Um huh?  No, sorry kiddo."

Mommy: "Bethany why does Mommy exercise?"
Bethany: "To get Injury!"
Mommy: "You mean energy?"
Bethany: "Ya, and to be healthy for us."

She's a great kid and if you get the chance, you'd be lucky to know her.

Then there's my Rosebud.  She too is growing up so quickly, some days it feels as though I've blinked and a month has passed.  She's a walking little bundle of engery, both good and bad.  She's learning her temper and the torch of "Little Ms. Mini 'Tude" has been passed to her.  She's not angry or grumpy all of the time, but in the moments that she is, look out.  She's strong willed and strong natured and the phrase, "NNNNNNNNo!" is heard coming out often.  I keep hanging onto something my Mom told me, I was a strong willed kid, I had tantrums that rocked the neighbourhood and I'm sure I almost broke her sometimes.  But she said it was that strong will that saved me later in life, that made me able to stand up to peer pressure and to be who I've become.  And since I'm pretty down with who I've become I hope that I can teach AJ to temper her temper but allow her to be who she is without breaking her spirit, so she can grow into the strong woman God's intended her to be.

But that aside, she's just full of Joy.  Again I feel the name suits the sweetheart, her face is just full of light and joy.  She's truly the cutest little girl you'll ever meet.  She's a little shy, sometimes quiet but very quick.  She's also her big sister's shadow.  If Bethany does something Audrey's sure to follow suit, it's cute, it drives Beth nuts sometimes but it makes me mush.  They're so different and yet, so much the same.  There are times that I just have to giggle and others where I'm amazed.  Courtesy of our Bethany, Audrey's decided to potty train herself, she can be heard shouting down the hall, "PEEE! Mama! PEEEE" and ya know she pees most times, often if I'm on it right away she'll keep a pull up dry for hours and a few times now she's even pooped on the potty!  Wahoo!  I always know when she's going to poop because as soon as her cheeks hit the seat she demands that I "Go! Mama Go!"

Audrey is her Daddy's girl, in her eyes the whole world revolves around him and that's just fine.  The girls both love him but the relationship I see blooming between AJ and Corey is something neat.  You never know when there's more than one kidlet how each parent will  bond with the next baby and I'm so glad to know the our girls and their Daddy each have different and special relationships.

I could prattle on and on about our girls, but I think you get the drift.  When it comes to things that make me happy, these girls and this family take the cake.  I can't imagine life without them, I feel, on more than one occasion like I didn't breath before them and I couldn't breath without them.  They are, without a shadow of a doubt my greatest achievements.

And now, on to the contest.  Yup the giveaways still rolling, only a few more days to enter!  And to re-cap here's the paste and copy version of the rules...

Here's how it works, I'm going to post each day this week about something that makes me happy. Be warned some of my "happy thoughts" may be mushy enough to deserve pixie dust, other's might be lame but they're my happy things, and I love them! Your job is to comment each day, answering the question of the day. Each comment (1 per person, per day) from Monday to Saturday will count for 1 entry into the draw I will do on Sunday for a BIG SUMMER GIFT BASKET! I'll reveal a photo of the basket on Friday, but for now I'll just say it's full of great goodies for everyone.


Want more chances to win? Link to us on your blog, or on facebook, Telling your friends to drop your name in their comment and you'll get 1 more entry per friend! Contest closes 12:00pm Saturday July 24 2010, I will post the winner on Sunday July 25 2010, the winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize (which means let me know your mailing address etc) so I can get it in the mail before it's winter.

*Disclaimer, this contest and it's prizes are provided by Our Family Stone. Nobody gave me anything for free to run it, paid us for the space or is sending us to Europe for a month - but they should have.

Question of the day: Tell me your greatest Joy.  What gives you Hope or brings Joy to your day?

Summer Giveaway: The Guy who Makes me Happy

It was almost 5 years ago I learned what truly coming home was.  I learned that the "perfect man" I'd created in my mind was seriously lacking, he only possessed 1/3 of the things I needed in life, I learned that love is so much more than the high of a first date and I learned that I deserved to be loved like a fairy tale princess.

Almost 5 years ago (August 10th to be exact) I had my first date with Corey.  Sometimes I look back and think, "Man it's only been 5 years? Feels longer, like forever even" and other times, it feels as though we've only just begun.

I've mushed and gushed about this guy many, many times  before, and I'll spare you a good portion of the gooeyness today, but I couldn't possibly talk about things that make me happy without talking about the man I love like no other. 

Corey's one of those people you can't help but like, whether it's adults or kids, old or young everyone who meets Corey love him.  He's unassuming, sweet, kind and a little naive.  His compassionate nature and soft spoken ways make little kids gravitate to him and they really make him a great dad, they make him a great husband.

He remembers that flowers for no reason mean more than flowers on Valentine's Day.  He understands that sometimes my fierce and firey passionate personality causes me to laugh until tears pour down my face or get angry to the point of explosion.  He knows that should that anger be pointed in his direction, it won't last long and an apology is soon to follow, and he loves me inspite of it.  He still opens doors, pulls out chairs and treats me like we're on a first date, at least when his arms aren't full of little girls and/or all the stuff they require.

Corey loves our girls just the same, he's teaching them to tinker on things in the shop, how to ride a tricycle and that ice cream is it's own precious food group.  He's a wonderful dad, more fun than mom sometimes because he's got the ability to let loose and not "follow the rules" but he's guiding them swiftly and smoothly towards being wonderful people.  They will be better women because of their Dad, of that I'm sure.

So much for not being mushy, oh well.  It's the way it is, Corey makes me mush.  He also drives me bonkers, ya totally nuts but that's part of being married.  I don't believe for one second that two people can live under the same roof and not have moments of frustration.  Not that we argue often, we don't, but we both have our days when we simply and completely frustrate the other one.  It's how this life of the married rolls. 

Without a doubt, Corey is truly one of the things that makes me happy.  And in keeping with things that make us happy, I'll share two of Corey's most favourite things.  Ice cream and Cadbury milk chocolate.  Oh, he loves all kinds of chocolate and treats, but Cadbury's takes the cake.  Each Christmas I purchase a 1kg bar for him and he savours each piece as though it's his last.  I on the other hand, love the chocolate and scarf it down (when it's mine that is) as if it won't land on my hips in the morning - maybe I'm a little naive too.  As for ice cream, I'm pretty sure he'd sleep with a bucket and a spoon if I hadn't implemented the NO ICE CREAM IN BED rule after there was a major body pillow catastrophy. 

Did anyone forget there's a Giveaway going on here?!  How could you possibly forget?   Well, if you did or if you've missed the last posts, here's the rules again...

Here's how it works, I'm going to post each day this week about something that makes me happy. Be warned some of my "happy thoughts" may be mushy enough to deserve pixie dust, other's might be lame but they're my happy things, and I love them! Your job is to comment each day, answering the question of the day. Each comment (1 per person, per day) from Monday to Saturday will count for 1 entry into the draw I will do on Sunday for a BIG SUMMER GIFT BASKET! I'll reveal a photo of the basket on Friday, but for now I'll just say it's full of great goodies for everyone.


Want more chances to win? Link to us on your blog, or on facebook, Telling your friends to drop your name in their comment and you'll get 1 more entry per friend! Contest closes 12:00pm Saturday July 24 2010, I will post the winner on Sunday July 25 2010, the winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize (which means let me know your mailing address etc) so I can get it in the mail before it's winter.
*Disclaimer, this contest and it's prizes are provided by Our Family Stone. Nobody gave me anything for free to run it, paid us for the space or is sending us to Europe for a month - but they should have.

So here's the question of the day: What one great treat do you love?  What's that one thing you either scarf or savour, but is your absolute, hands down favourite sweet?

Summer Giveaway (that's something for free!): Starbucks' Bliss

If we're gonna start talking about things that make us happy, I think now would be a good time to share that I have another love in my life.  One that isn't my children or my husband, one that I visit on a very regular basis and one, that can bring me to heights of great pleasure. 

We're talking about Starbucks people, and not just Starbucks but more importantly Starbucks' Earl Grey tea, sigh.  It's sweet and fragrant and with a little bit of Splenda (did you know that stuff is uber sweet?!!!  Half a package in a Venti tea is more than enough, unless you're my husband and then 3 are necessary) and some milk and you're set for bliss.  Then, if you're feeling indulgent you add a Lemon PoppySeed loaf and pretty much you're heaven bound. 

I make the tea at home sometimes and to be honest, even with milk and Splenda, it's not the same.  I've decided the bliss is in the paper cup, which is actually really frightening but I just don't think of it.  I've also discovered there are two kinds of Canadians, Tim Hortians and Starbuckians, you're either camp Timmy Ho's or heading to the Resort of the 'Bucks.  I am a resort girl all the way.  My husband, will visit Starbucks with me in good humour, but is a true Tim's man and would rather camp there than sleep in 5 star luxury.  Whatever floats your boat dude.

The genius' at Starbucks headquarters also have developed their own lemonade and it's the perfect combination of sweet and tart and yumminess.  It also packs more calories than my usual tea so it's a treat that's had on rare occasions, but one that again is thoroughly enjoyed.  It's crossed my mind on more than one occasion that I should have been more on the ball when I was 12 years from birth and bought shares in Starbucks way back when (They opened in Seattle in 1971 - see, I'm a fount of useless information).  I'd be livin' it up large now and also, I'd probably also be drinking for free.....a girl can dream.

Now before ya'll go grab your keys and head out to the nears S.Bucks, don't forget it's GIVEAWAY WEEK!  You need to comment to get your name in the draw.  Just to be consistant here are the rules again, and yes, they are copy and pasted....

Here's how it works, I'm going to post each day this week about something that makes me happy. Be warned some of my "happy thoughts" may be mushy enough to deserve pixie dust, other's might be lame but they're my happy things, and I love them! Your job is to comment each day, answering the question of the day. Each comment (1 per person, per day) from Monday to Saturday will count for 1 entry into the draw I will do on Sunday for a BIG SUMMER GIFT BASKET! I'll reveal a photo of the basket on Friday, but for now I'll just say it's full of great goodies for everyone.
Want more chances to win? Link to us on your blog, or on facebook, Telling your friends to drop your name in their comment and you'll get 1 more entry per friend! Contest closes 12:00pm Saturday July 24 2010, I will post the winner on Sunday July 25 2010, the winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize (which means let me know your mailing address etc) so I can get it in the mail before it's winter.

*Disclaimer, this contest and it's prizes are provided by Our Family Stone. Nobody gave me anything for free to run it, paid us for the space or is sending us to Europe for a month - but they should have.

So the question of the day is this: What's your love, Starbucks or Tim Hortons?  And since I know you have a favourite, tell me what it is?

Summer Giveaway Day 1 - Things that Make Me Happy!

I'm generally a "Glass half Full" kinda girl.  I like to think that people are generally good, life doesn't suck very often and when times are tough they're eventually gonna get better.  Somedays though, that's not so true.  I have my moments, (approximately once a month - weeeeird) when the glass isn't just half empty it's also got a crack and is that a fly swimming in my water?!  I can get myself into a funk that is nasty, stinky and rough to see out of. 

And then just when I think the fog will never clear, I'll see this...



and it will make me laugh until I almost pee (again, this generally only happens once a month - bizarre! or when I'm exhausted beyond belief, which happens more like once a week).  That commercial is so absolutely ridiculous I can't help but roar, "I'm on a horse" What?!  The kicker is, in our house we mute commercial, generally they annoy me, Gecko's can't talk, but this one, whenever I see it I unmute.  I just have to, even if Corey shakes his head.  The icing on the cake for me is I love Old Spice.  In fact over the past four years I've converted Corey into an Old Spice deodorant wearing, body wash using feind.  He smells so darn good I can't help but love it!  It's also helpful because when he comes home smelling like cow manure the slight hint of OS left over helps me keep from gagging. (Lova ya babe ) I also totally love the commercial that ran a few years ago where the lady throws a bowling ball down the hallway right into a wall.  I'm pretty sure it was for BCLC but I can't find the link, it's my all time favourite!

Anyways, as facinating as I'm sure you find all this you're probably thinking - "Lame commercial, long post, when do I find out about the GIVEAWAY?!"  Right now!

I got to thinking this weekend about things that make me happy.  And while there are a few that make me sad, the ones that make me happy are in abundance right now.  It's summer, the temperature has returned to a semi normal heat and I have a wicked awesome family.  I also have great blog readers, and I thought why not share the love and make someone else happy? 

Here's how it works,  I'm going to post each day this week about something that makes me happy.  Be warned some of my "happy thoughts" may be mushy enough to deserve pixie dust, other's might be lame but they're my happy things, and I love them!  Your job is to comment each day, answering the question of the day.  Each comment (1 per person, per day) from Monday to Saturday will count for 1 entry into the draw I will do on Sunday for a BIG SUMMER GIFT BASKET!  I'll reveal a photo of the basket on Friday, but for now I'll just say it's full of great goodies for everyone. 

Want more chances to win?  Link to us on your blog, or on facebook, Telling your friends to drop your name in their comment and you'll get 1 more entry per friend!  Contest closes 12:00pm Saturday July 24 2010, I will post the winner on Sunday July 25 2010, the winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize (which means let me know your mailing address etc) so I can get it in the mail before it's winter.

*Disclaimer, this contest and it's prizes are provided by Our Family Stone. Nobody gave me anything for free to run it, paid us for the space or is sending us to Europe for a month - but they should have.
So that being said, here's the first question:

Tell me what your favourite commercial is and why?  Does it make you happy, sad, silly, or just roll your eyes dramatically.

It's a Wobbling Giveaway!

Remember that buddy I went to see?  You know the one who had her paintings in the Art in the Park in Kamloops?  Come on, I know the sun is shining and you've only been half paying attention but work with me here....the one from the last post.

Yes!  That one, we'll she's up to something, and it's something good!  She's giving away two of her paintings!  Can you say, yeehaw?  YEEHAW! 

And if you want to win it's kinda easy (although to be completely honest I'd like you to win 1 and ME to win 1), all you have to do is go over HERE to her blog and comment on the post, mentioning that you saw it here.  That way, you'll get an entry to win and so will I.  Then if you want to win again, snag a buddy of yours, give them her link (or mine) and they can comment, mentioning you.  It's that easy!

You need 15 minutes to let the new layer of sunscreen soak in so why not?  Go on over, leave a comment and maybe win a prize!  And then, keep watch over here, we've got a giveaway coming soon!

Cindy's Wobblog Giveaway!

Remember when I told you about my good ol' Buddy Cindy? We'll she's also the buddy who's pregnant. And...she's also the author of a new and fantastic blog! That's right, she's joined the blogosphere and is writing over at Cindy's Wobblog, yay!

Wanna know what else she's been up to?

For as long as I can remember Cindy has been painting. I'm pretty sure that if you cut her she'd bleed pretty pastel paint, or maybe vibrant and exuberant colors, that's how deep the painting vein runs in her. And over the past few years she's taken that love from being just a hobby but also a business. Or at least the start of one. She's held her very first art show! Provided my daughters with beautiful paintings for their rooms (which I will take photos of and post at a later date, their sleeping right now and may not appreciate the flash), has opened and Etsy shop aaaannnnd has made a donation.

That's right, Cindy has donated a beautiful painting for a GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Hurrah! That's right something for free and YOU can win it.

The painting is cute enough that I may have considered keeping it. Corey may also have reminded me that Cindy reads my blog and visits my home and would know if I didn't follow through and the whole give it to someone else thing.

Darn!

This photo embodies what I thought our lives would be when we grew up. Sitting around visiting over coffee (and when I say coffee what I really mean is tea for me because, well, coffee is blech!) talking about life, our marriages, our kids, the fact that Starbucks has been out of Earl Grey for like over a month and I'm starting to show signs of withdrawl.

Unfortunately we don't live next door to each other like I imagined, but that's ok. Our friendship transcends distance, it can be a day or a year since we've visited and when we're together it's as though nothing has changed. When it comes to our friendship, all I can say is God is Good.

"Yay for you, get to the point, I want the Picture" I know that's what your saying!

So here's how you win.

1. Go over to her Etsy shop! Take a look at the lovely photos over there, then come back and let me know what you love! Let me know your favourite, or better yet, let me know what you'd order if you were ordering a custom picture. She does that you know, custom orders, well worth it!

2. Blog about the contest, include a link to my blog and a link to her Etsy shop, then pop back over here and let me know you did it (I'm sure there is some fancy, shmancy blog way of knowing that without you telling me but I'm just not that smart).

I will draw the winner on Friday April 16 2010 at Noonish (I say ish, because you all know how the best laid plans go....)

Thanks Cindy for the donation and congratulations on your blog, your Etsy shop and your continued success!

A Winner!

The thing about doing a Giveaway is usually someone has to win the prize.  And the thing about finding the someone who won the prize is that someone has to put the numbers into the Random.org generator and get a result.  And the thing about that is, I'm the only one here who knows how or even uses this here blog so I was elected by default.  And the problem with that default result is that this past weekend and week has been hairy raisingly crazy and I  haven't got around to it.

Until now, I figure I shouldn't keep you in suspense any longer!  You need an answer and I, well I now have one.

Like last time I still can't figure out how the heck to copy the random.org results here so I'll just have to tell you.  I'll tell you that their results are truly, random (duh, you say).  I'll tell you that it wasn't that hard to do (mmhmmm), I'll even tell you that it's Thursday and it's March and it's slushing outside my window ("shut it", you say, "I live in Saskatchewan and we haven't seen the ground since October and there's no hope in sight until June", to which I say, "Sucka, ahem I mean I'm sorry to hear that").

That's not what you wanted to know?  Oh, I guess you wanted to know that this is the time of year when the cow manure trucks start spreading their joyful juice (also known around these parts as Shit Shooters) and now is the perfect time to visit Chilliwack.  The perfect time of year that is if you have a nasal disorder that completely eliminates the ability to smell or you have mastered the art of breathing through your mouth all of the time.

Still not what you needed to know?  Hmmm, what was I supposed to tell you, think, think, think.....

A winner!  Right!

Ok, without further adeu, or further attempt to make you smile even a little, the Winner is...

Cindy! with her comment....

cruberg said...Yeah for givaways! I think one of my favourite memories of Easter is living next door to you and having those easter egg hunts at the garden outside. I can't remember if you and your brother were a part of those hunts, but it sure was fun

Congratulations!!!!  I know you'll need all those candles in the coming months! 

And now for the big question.  Who was happy to see another giveaway?  Who would like another giveaway in a week or so?

Here's the deal, if ya'll want to see another contest run, I need to hear about it!  I need you to leave a comment and say "YAY!" or "NEY" (so I can't figure out how to spell that...) and if you do should it be candles, Starbucks or a mystery gift?  I need at least 10 "YAYs!" to run one again soon.  So comment, tell your friends, who are lurkers to comment, the more feedback the more excited I'll be and the more excited I am the bigger the prize!

Hump Day

It's Wednesday and I'm glad. I have a love/hate relationship with Wednesdays. I love that they mean we are officially half way through the week, as close to Friday as we are to Monday. I love that they mean that we're 5 days away from facing another Monday. I hate that they aren't Friday and totally loath the fact that so many people refer to it as "Hump Day". Seriously?

I can remember the first time I heard someone call it "Hump Day" I practically choked on my lunch. I then stared at this particular fellow across the table, embarassed and totally taken off guard. I was dating him at the time and I thought, that he had just made a rude and inappropriate suggestion, being less than romantic. cough, choke, sputter!

Seeing the look of complete and utter confusion on my face had him giggling. When he calmly and slightly mockingly explained to me that "Hump Day" was just another name for Wednesday, my racing heart began to slow, my face however continued changing shades of red, something like a lava lamp changes colors. Then he asked me to explain what I thought he meant, my dirty look (to accompany the previously active dirty mind) was enough to have him laughing so hard he almost choked on lunch.

A small part of me wished he would. Choke that is.

That was many years ago, but that moment still flashes back into my mind every Wednesday. And, each time I turn on the radio, sign into Facebook or chat with a stranger, who refers to Wednesday as "Hump Day" I cringe. I understand now, that "Hump Day" refers to getting to the top of the hill, the Hump of the week, so the journey is a downhill event to Friday.

But, really, am I the only one who's mind goes to the mud pit rather than up a hill everytime someone says "Hump Day"? And if I'm not then why, oh why do we keep saying it? Or is that one of those things that goes without saying too?

So let me ask you, do you say "Hump Day"? If you do, is it because it's just what people call it or is it because you know people's minds go exactly where mine did that day and that's the point?

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope you have fun, getting over the Hump.

*Don't forget that any comments today are an ENTRY towards the PartyLite Giftpack Giveaway! Link to this post on your blog or your Facebook and get another entry!*

I GIVEAWAY, because I can!

I'm having writters block!  I've got about 6 million post ideas in my head.  The problem is the part of my head that holds ideas and the part of it that formulates their existance aren't on speaking terms.  One's in time out, the other, in a bath.  Their indifference has left me frustrated, blocked and lost.

Since the extend of my running damage control around these parts is limited to making sure Bethany doesn't kick a hole in her sister's rear end and that Audrey doesn't knock her sister unconcious with her Canadian Flag, I've decided it's time for another measure.  A desperate measure, but one that I think everyone will find satisfied.

It's time for, wait for it, wait for it...

A GIVEAWAY!  Something for...dundunduuuuunnnn FREE!

And after an impromptu Facebook Survey the prize has been decided!

A PARTYLITE GIFT PACK!!! Yay for Candles!

I say it's very appropriate, I mean I sell PartyLite candles (which have some awesomeness deals this month!) and I love PartyLite so why not share the love with those I love?!

What does it include?  Well, let me tell you:

- 1 dozen Iced SnowBerries Tealights (because they have been a super favourite amongst my customers)
- 1/2 dozen Cranberry Delight Votives (because they are uber yummy!)
- 1/2 dozen Votives in a suprise Votive Fragrance (because I have 3 great ones to chose from and can't decide today)

How do I enter?!  You can get multiple entries and all in a few moments...

1. Leave a comment telling me your favourite childhood memory of Easter (worth 1 ENTRY)
2. Click on THIS LINK and check out my PartyLite website and come back to tell me your favourite product (worth 1 ENTRY)
3. Blog about this contest, with a link back to me (you'll have to either comment again so I know you blogged or e-mail me at ashleystone7(at)hotmail(dot)com) (worth 2 ENTRIES)
4. Come back each day until the end of the contest and leave a comment on each post (worth 1 ENTRY per day)
5. Facebook about this contest (copy and paste the link to this post in your status) (worth 1 ENTRY)

That's a total of 10 potential entries!!!!!

All without having to get dressed, tell me your age or listen to any recorded messages.  You know what I'm talking about, those phone calls "You have been randomly selected to win $501 cruise dollars....press 1"

Contest closes at midnight on Sunday March 7 2010, the winner will be randomly selected and announced Monday March 8th 2010.

ps. If you don't want to enter but do want to comment please feel free to do so, just make a note of it on your comment.

Good luck everyone and happy Monday!

A Winner!

Well, that's it.  Christmas is over, all the gifts have been opened, the store shelves empty from Boxing Day madness and the last of the Turkey bloat wearing off.  We're heading towards New Years, but right now, just sitting in the limbo of mid holiday blahness.

But wait!  You have one more thing to bring excitement to your day!  Something you've been anticipating for a week, checking back, commenting and re-commenting about!

That's right, it's the winner of our Christmas Giveaway #4!  The winner's been announced over HERE, click on it and find out who the winner is!

Thanks to everyone who participated.  I've had fun and I hope you have too.  We'll be back to regular blogging for awhile, but who knows, we might throw a contest in here and there.  You'll have to keep coming back to find out!  Or, just keep coming back to oogle the cuteness that is my children :)

Urgent, Urgent, URGENT!

Today's the last day to enter our Christmas Giveaway #4 - Starbucks, Second Cup, iTunes and a Gift!  Go on over HERE today and leave your comment telling me what your favorite Christmas Gift that you GAVE was, for another entry!

"Starbucks!  Mmmmmm!"

Contest closes tonight at midnight and marks the end of our Christmas Giveaways!  Then we will resume our regular, blabbering blog posts, the fun, she shall be over :-)

It's Starbucks, what are you waiting for?!

So I'm a bit surprised!  I figured this would be the contest that everyone entered because you can win a Starbucks, Second Cup or iTunes card and also help someone else in the process. 

However, our mystery prize received much more traffic. 

I thought about that for a minute.  Why wouldn't everyone want to win a Starbucks card?  I want a Starbucks card?  I ♥ Starbucks, a lot!

Then it hit me, nobody wants to do the leg work to get all the answers to all the questions.  Well, not nobody but very few.

So, in an effort to make things easy for you, I've devised a plan!  I scheme if you will, that will give you a chance to WIN BIG!

So, if you'd like to enter our CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #4 - Starbucks, Second Cup or iTunes, leave a comment on the contest post telling me whether or not you've enjoyed the past 4 weeks worth of contests.  Or if you'd rather I resumed the regularily scheduled program.

I mean really, nobody wants their blog to feel like one of those annoying Important News Updates that interrupts Days of Our Lives to tell you that the new Boeing Airplane had to land due to....poor weather. 

I'm sure you care but I don't!  What I want to know is if Bo and Hope are going to survive yet another woamn threatening to destroy their marriage while taking care of a little girl who's aging rapidly (thanks to the technology of TV) and looking for another little girl who's been abducted from an abductor.  And let's not forget Stefano.

Anyways, leave a comment over HERE telling me - love the contests or fire them!

And get commenting, linking and reading, you get a great prize and so does someone else!


ps. To those who've already commented on the contest please leave another comment answering this question for a bonus Entry.

Christmas Giveaway #4 - Starbucks, iTunes, Second Cup and a gift!

CONTEST CLOSED!

WINNER: Niki!

Niki said...



And I blogged about it too! I'm winning this one!! :)

Thanks to positive thinking and "random.org" you're a winner!  (We'll you're always a winner, but now your a winner with a prize!)

Facebook me and let me know which card you'd like shipped out to you!


CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #3 - Winner Announced HERE!
It's here, it's here, it's finally here! 

Are you excited!  Have you anxiously been checking the blog waiting, wondering when, it would happen.  Did you loose sleep last night over it? 

No? Oh.  I did.

Ok, so maybe I didn't but it sounds good.  Or lame, I'm not sure which.  But whatever, you didn't come here to debate with me whether or not I'm lame.  You came to find out about our two fold, extra fantacular CHRISTMAS CONTEST #4!

In true two fold fashion this week's contest has two parts. 

Part #1 is for you!  That's right, follow the contest rules and you can enter to win, your choice of a

Starbucks Card!

or

A second Cup Card

or

An iTunes card!

Wahoo for choices!  And some pretty sweet winnings too!! 

But wait that's not all, if you order in the next 15 minutes we'll double your order and throw in a nail file that doubles as a lock de-icer, magnifying glass, tire gauge, cellphone and if held upside down for 15 seconds will self destruct.

Oops, guess I shouldn't watch late night infomercials any more...

There is more though, and unless your Get Smart you're going to think this is much better than a self destructing nail file

Part #2: When you win, you will be able to chose one of the 2 charities from the list below and we will make a donation in your honor!   This Christmas season we've made a real effort to be aware of the areas in which we can help others, this is just another one of those areas and we'd like to include you in it too!

Choices:
     1. Kids Help Phone - Kids Help Phone is there 24 hours a day 7 days a week for kids in need of help and hope. When you buy time you are helping to ensure Kids Help Phone’s professional counsellors are able to answer the call.

     2. Canadian Red Cross - Dedicated to helping people deal with situations that threaten their survival, safety, security, well being, and human dignity.
    
Due to the fact that there are a vast number of charities out there to chose from we narrowed the list down a little.  Both of these causes can hit home.  You don't hear very much about the Kids Help Phone but their services are vital.  They are a place for abused, scared, troubled kids to go.  Kids can be annonymous and have someone to talk to.  I hope, that my kids will always want to talk to me about the things happening in their lives, but if they ever get to a place where something is upsetting them and they don't feel like they can talk me, I'm glad to know there's someone else there.  These guys help kids stay away from drugs, get away from an abusive boyfriend/girlfriend and preven suicide, all because people donate and other people listen.

The Canadian Red Cross is another organization I'm glad is out there.  We never know when a disaster is going to hit, when a flood will happen, a tornado will rip through your town or when you'll stand out side your work, like I did in Kelowna in the summer of 2003 and watch a moutain and the homes of your friends burn.  These guys are there, when everyone else can't be.

How do you enter?!  It's easy and a little different this week!

Contest: Christmas Giveaway #4 - Starbucks, iTunes and a gift!
Prize:  Your choice of a Starbucks, Second Cup or iTunes gift card and a donation made in your honor to your choice of charity!!!
How to Enter:
1. Leave a comment on this blog, that includes the following information from the posts from last week.
   a) What do I L-O-L-O-L-O-L-O-V-E on my Caesar salad?  Answer found here
   b) What was the name of my first Cabbage Patch Doll? Answer found here
   c) What happened on my 3rd date with Corey? Answer found here
   d) What did my brother and I use to replace eggs in our brownie recipe? Answer found here
   e) What game did I play in grade 5? Answer found here
 Due to the labour intensive nature of this answer you will receive 3 entries for all correct answers!

*If that feels like too much work, you can leave a comment telling me about your favorite charity instead, for 1 entry

2. Write about it in a blog post linking back here and receive 1 entry share the love with someone else!
3. Twitter about it, Facebook about it or Stumble on It and receive 1 entry

That's 4 entires!  And keep watching all week, I might have another way for you to enter later in the week. But you'll have to stay tuned.

Contest Closes December 27 2009 at Midnight.  Winner will be announced Monday December 28 2009

And if nothing else, I urge you to do something for someone else this week.  Not in the "I'm buying christmas gifts for every Tom, Dick and that guy Harry, and their dog" kind of way but more in the, I know you need something I have (whether it's money, time or kindness) and I'm willing to share it, kind of way!

Merry Christmas and Good luck!!!

Disclaimer: This contest is run by Our Family Stone, and this blog and it's Author are receiving NO COMPENSATION for the above contest.  All prizes have been purchased by Ashley Stone.

What would Christmas be with out cookies?!

If there is one thing that makes a house feel like Christmas it's the smell of fresh cookies.  Shortbread, ginger snaps, sugar cookies and other Christmas treats, yum!  Doing the Christmas baking is one of my favorite parts of this season.

It's not so much the consumption of these delectable treats that I love (while they taste fantastic, shortbread being my favorite, most of them contain corn so it's a nope for me.  Which, is why my pants still fit post Christmas), it's more the making of them.  Especially this year, I have a helper  now, who when she's not trying to put the entire container of cinnamon in a batch of ginger snaps or accidentally pouring vanilla all over her feet, is actually a help.  Watching the joy on her face as she helps me measure, mix and roll cookies, is more fun than doing it alone. 

This year was also our busiest baking season to date.  My parents have a big company dinner every year and this year we decided to give all of our guests homemade gifts instead of purchased ones.  I, being completely insane, maybe even off my rocker ambitious decided to volunteer to bake all of the cookies for all of our guests, totalling about 350 cookies, that's 29 dozen.  It was work, lots of work.  But I loved it!  I love baking, and decorating.  Packaging them up, taking time with pretty boxes and smooth, parchment paper, ribbons and bow, oh my!

Anyways, by Sunday night when the party began, I was finished.  Both with the baking and with my energy.  It plum tired me out, all that baking with 2 little girls is fun for sure, but still amounted to a little work.  Thank goodness the venue we booked for our party was fantastic, treated us like royalty and made the snowy evening fun for all.

I'm at a total loss for how to end this post with a flourish so, you're going to have to settle for a few dozen photos!

Sugar Cookies, warm from the oven.

Painting the cookies!  She had so much fun, we had a huge mess everywhere but fun was had by all.

Even Audrey helped.

Finished sugar cookies.

Chocolate Peppermint hearts.  These took Forevah!  Do you have any idea how many candy canes are broken in a box of 100?  About 85.  And do you know how long it takes to glue w/chocolate 85 candy canes together?  Too long!

I love how these turned out.  They were well worth the work, and sure looked pertty when they were done.

Chocolate kiss shortbread.  It didn't dawn on my until I was editing this photo that they look like a bunch of boobs.  It's ok to giggle, I did.  (Yes, I'm that grown up)

The finished product, one of our packages before lid and ribbon.

Dancing at the party. 

Everything with her tongue hangin' out!

I love this one of my Beth.

They clean up nice, eh?!

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY Hint #4: When my brother and I were young we attempted to bake brownies while my parents were out at bible study.  We were out of eggs and instead of phoning a neighbour to borrow some, I, in my infinate 13 year old wisdom substituted Crisco shortening.  The brownies were in the over for 1.5 hours and never solidified.  MMMMM, gag.

Christmas Giveaway #3 - It's a Mystery to Me!

CONTEST CLOSED

And the winner is Caren! Congratulations Carren!

Caren said...



I would love to be surprised on the holidays, birthdays or whatever. Actually, since my family consists of a bunch of lousy liars, it would surprise me if they manage to get something past me to surprise me with something special(a good kind of special). And under those circumstances, woudn't that be a welcome surprise!

Send me an e-mail ashleystone7 (at) hotmail (dot) com with your mailing info and your surprise will be on it's way!

Merry Christmas!









*Note: The Contest Winner for Christmas Giveaway 2 is up, click the link to see who won!*

So here we are, less than 2 weeks away from Christmas. I'm in a little bit of shock! I can't believe that next Friday (not the one coming up) we will be eating turkey, opening packages and watching Christmas through the eyes of our children. Then it will be over.

But it's not over yet because it's time for our CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #3! Everybody having fun with these? Anybody sick of signing in over here finding out about yet another "Free Prize"?

This week was a toughie. I mean, I know what I want to do next week as my final Huzzah! But this week, it's the 3rd one and much like the "forgotten" middle child in a 3 bunch crew (not that you forget your middle child, it's an analogy) I was a little stumped. Do I send Christmas baking? A box of Shortbread, Biscotti, GingerSnaps and Chocolate Peppermint hearts? Do I do something else, more creative, more unique? Anyone for Reindeer droppings or Snowman poop? No? Hmmm.

Then it hit me, a mystery gift! I mean we don't know what's under the tree until we open it (unless you are one of the party poopers who sneaks a peak...) so why not have a prize that's a surprise until you receive it?! The anticipation will abound!

I'll give you two hints. Hint #1 - This prize will be an adult prize, while it may have some things included that suit for your children too, it will be geared to the crowd of legal age (not that you need to be of legal age to win or consume it but just, well...you know what I mean. No kid stuff here) Hint #2 - This prize will be awesome...of course!

And since I'm in the hinting mood, I will tell you that the prize next week is a two fold prize! That's right people 2. Fold!!! So keep checking back, there will be clues to be found on each post from here until next Monday :)

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #3: A mystery prize package.

How to Enter:
How to Enter: There are 3 ways to get your name into the draw
1. Leave a comment here on this post telling me if you love or hate surprises at Christmas or any other time*. (1 entry)

2. Blog about this comment on your own blog, linking back to this post and then come comment telling me about it I will pop over and say "HI" (2 entries)

3. Write a Facebook Status about it (linking back here, why not share the great blog and Wonderful prizes with all your friends) and then comment and let me know you did it (1 entry)

4. Twitter about it. Again twitter about this contest and then comment to let me know and you'll have another entry or add me as a friend on Twitter! (1 entry)

Contest Closes Sunday December 20 2009 at 12:00am (midnight!) and the winner will be announced Monday December 21 2009. All prizes have been purchased by moi and this blog and it's author have received no payment for the above contest.

*I am not always a surprise lover. There are very strict requirements for a surprise to please me. Good surprises include flowers (check Corey does that often), back rubs from Corey (check again), presents from anybody and kind gestures. Bad Surprises included surprise parties (I HATE THOSE), back rubs from strangers or vague aquaintences (Don't touch me. Ever. Period), presents that are found in a diaper - not good. This is a Good Surprise! I promise!

clue: I absolutely love (and when I say love I mean in the Ashlee Simpson "L-O-L-O-L-O-L-O-V-E" kind of way) ketchup on caesar salad.