Ecelctic Whatnot Giveaway

This is the time of year when nothing and everything get done simultaneously. Shopping...check. Singing...check. Laundry...check. Getting mail from mailbox? Well, I think I did that a few days ago. Can't wait for the hate stares from our mail carrier when she comes by today. Voicemails? Could be up to a week old. Schedules...packed. If you are at all like me (and I sincerely hope you are NOT as scatterbrained and over-extended as I am! LOL) then you might be at the end of your Christmas budget already, but no where near the end of your list. Perhaps I could make just this one little one thing easier for you. Right now you can enter to win. Just wanted to make you aware of a cool camera strap giveaway over at House of Smiths. They are darling, and I know just who mine would go to if I won!

Rayovac Giveaway of Paper Jamz and cash!

Paper Jamz is in the top ten of my kids' Christmas lists, so of course we had to enter this giveaway.

Rayovac wants to power your holidays with fun new contest. To enter, just visit the  Mom Rocks the Holidays with Rayovac contest tab on Facebook, like them and tell them how you or your mom makes the holidays rock for a chance to win the Grand Prize of $1,000 cash! There will be 3 Grand Prize winners and 20 Runner Up winners will take home a Paper Jamz guitar, amp, drum kit, guitar strap, and two Rayovac Alkaline AAA 24 packs of batteries.


Disclaimer: Followers who promote the Rayovac Mom Rocks the Holidays Sweepstakes may receive gifts from Rayovac

In Flight with Delta

Last night my family and I took a four hour flight on Delta Airlines. Just so you know, my children are ages 7 months, 5 yrs., 7yrs. and 11yrs. The flight was relatively uneventful, and by uneventful I mean the TVs weren't working. No kids' music, no games, and no movies--which grandma and grandpa were willing to buy, but couldn't. The TV feature was working fine so we checked out Nickelodeon, but only iCarly was on and I don't let the kids watch that show (I despise iCarly), so we switched the channel and watched Animal Planet for a while. Nothing could top the 200 lb. catfish and after a while even that got boring, but luckily we had brought the Nintendo DS with us and all was not completely lost. Grandma saved the day with a airplane-style picnic lunch (I still can't believe they did away with meals on airplanes. I remember the first time I flew after they made that change and no one had bothered to share that information with me.) My sister-in-law and I were talking about how the in-flight TV choices have diminished over time. She has such a good memory that she reminded me how even Cartoon Network used to be available, now it's just Nickelodeon, and I really do think that if the movie/game system is prone to breakdown they need to add a few more kids' TV channels. Overall, however, the service was pretty good and a dicey landing in Orlando was made good by an expert pilot.

Nonni's Biscotti

I never thought I would love the flavor of anise and chocolate. In a way, it is like eating M&M's mixed with Good N' Plenty candies...not a combination I would ever think to try. But the truth is, I love (LOVE!) Nonni's Biscotti.

As I enjoy them, they evoke in my mind the image of a small Italian cafe in a countryside village. Outside the cafe is a cobblestone road that leads out into the countryside, and inside the cafe the scents of basil, chocolate, garlic and freshly-baked bread swirl in the air. Traditional Italian music is playing quietly in the background. The sound of it puts me in a trance every bit as much as my delightful dessert does. I heave a deeply satisfied sigh of appreciation for all that life is and has to offer. The sensation of thereness is so tangible I can almost believe it's real. And, that, is why I love Nonni's Biscotti.