Out of Ideas... HELP!!!

Ok... I know that I am a confessed Pinterest JUNKY... BUT, I haven't been on in a while (things are really getting busy around here).  I haven't seen/heard any great ideas in a while.  I KNOW that there are some awesome crafts and recipes floating around out there.  So, let's hear 'em.  I'm on my way to search through Pinterest and find some super fun things to do with the family RIGHT NOW.  But, if there's something you've done, snap a picture and send it my way handyhousemom@gmail.com.  I would LOVE to share it with the HH readers.

Happy Hump Day!!

Cyber Monday Deals @LeapFrog

Cyber Monday Hot Deals! Select gifts up to 60% off! Limited quantities available. Offer valid 11. 28 through 11.30 ONLY!

Cyber Monday Sale! Save an additional 15% off already marked down bundles (excludes LeapPad) with promo code LFCYBERDEAL. Offer valid 11. 28 through 11.30 ONLY!

Save on select LeapPad bundles and get Free Shipping! Offer valid now through 11.30!

25% off Sitewide @crocs CYBER MONDAY

CLICK HERE and check out the Cyber Monday Deal at Crocs.com... 25% Off Sitewide (some exclusions apply) on 11/28 at Crocs.com!

Cyber Monday Deals at Barnes & Noble @BNBuzz

Toys and Games- Click here (Disney Princess Castle $144.45 REG $169.95 + FREE SHIPPING)

 

Kids Books- Click here (Every Thing On It $9.99- REG $19.99)

 

Nook Tablet $249 + FREE SHIPPING Click here

Cyber Monday Deals @Emealz SAVE 30%

Ok... so I was going on to check and print my menu out for this week on E-mealz... and low and behold, they too have a cyber Monday deal!!  Use the code CYBER at checkout and get 30% off of your subscription.  You can buy gift certificates to E-mealz too!  So, if you know someone who could really benefit from something like this (not sure who COULDN'T), snatch it up today... before the deal ends!!  Click here and get shopping :-)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Phew... the holiday season is upon us, and in FULL effect in our house.  I chose to take on a part time retail job for the holidays (for both a little income and some time OUT of the house)... sooooooo, that has kept me busy and I've slacked a little on blogging :-(

And for that, I apologize.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I have chosen to do an anagram with a list of some of the things that I am thankful for... here goes...

Time- I'm thankful for the time that I've been given here on the earth.... for the time with my family, my kids, my husband, my friends... just VERY thankful!
Husband-  He's one of a kind and I'm BEYOND lucky to have found my soul mate.  I thank God for him    daily!!
Adventure-  As a wife/mom (of 2)/part time holiday employee/laundry doer/grocery getter/meal maker/ etc... finding time for adventure doesn't always happen.  BUT, when it does, I am extremely grateful.
Neighbors- (not in the literal sense) Neighbors are those close to me, maybe not in the house next door, but they're close in my heart.  Friendships like that are PRICELESS, I am BEYOND thankful for my dearest friends.
Kin-  I have been blessed with the greatest family.  They are the most supportive people I know.  It's amazing to me, though, that some of my 'family' members are NOT blood.
Service members-  EVERY day there are soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines (and anyone else I may have forgotten) as well as first responders that are working hard in the US and overseas for me, I HAVE to say, THAT makes me lucky- I'm VERY thankful for that!
Grace-  Eph 4:7 "But to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it."  Grace is something that isn't easily given (by me), but I am SO thankful for God's grace (Lord knows I need it).
Income-  I am thankful that in this CRAZY economy, my husband has a job and can provide for his family.
Vehicle-  I am thankful for the 2 vehicles that we own.  That we can get from point A to point B and don't have to share.
Internet-  Technology is a blessing and sometimes a curse, but I do enjoy it's conveniences.
Necessities-  I am thankful for ALL of the basic necessities that I have at my fingertips.  There are so many people around the world that don't have nearly what I do.  I'm not sure that I always realize that.  I am so thankful for the 'basic' things that I have.
God-  John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His ONE AND ONLY SON that whoever believes in Him, will not die, but have ETERNAL LIFE"... YUP, DEFINITELY thankful for that!!

So, HH readers... what is it that YOU are most thankful for this Thanksgiving Day?  I hope that you take a few minutes to count your blessings and enjoy the holiday and time with friends and family.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

LeapFrog Leapster2 on SALE @amazon

THIS is what I've been waiting for!!!!  I KNEW that I was going to get these for the kids for Christmas... and this is a STEAL!!!!  SUPER excited!!!  CHECK IT OUT!  Click here and grab yours!!
$39.99!!!

PRINTABLE Toy Coupons @Target

CLICK HERE and check out ALL of the TOY COUPONS at Target.com!!!

'Tis the season to go SHOPPING!!!!

Holiday Traditions

Well, with only a little more than a week until Thanksgiving, dinner planning is in full swing.  I know that Thanksgiving in my parent's house was always about family, eating, and dessert. :-)  Well, now that I have my own family and we live out of town, going to visit the grandparents for every holiday just isn't feasible.  Loading up the 4 of us and heading in the car for 5 hours to spend 2 1/2 days with family and a LOOOOOOONG car ride to get home, well... it just isn't EASY.  So, we've decided that every other year we are going to stay in Savannah for the holidays.  It wasn't an easy decision but, I really think that my kids need  to experience our family traditions and waking up in their own house.  

So, that leaves me with the tough questions/planning.  How do I make traditions for our family?  I've already thought of some and thanks to Pinterest, added a few more to the list.  Here's what I have so far...

For Thanksgiving:

Gratitude Rolls- As guests arrive, they write something that they are thankful for on a piece of paper.  The paper is rolled into the crescent rolls and cooked.  When everyone eats their rolls, they get to guess who wrote what.

For Christmas:

The Elf on the Shelf- I have seen  this in action.  When I was teaching, kids talked about their elves and what mischief they got into.  The kids REALLY loved it and interacted with it.  We'll DEFINITELY be doing this one!!

Christmas Pajamas- This was a tradition that my mom did and I LOVE it!  We always got to open ONE gift Christmas Eve.  It was ALWAYS Pajamas (matching of course).  It honestly took us like 7 or 8 YEARS before each of us caught on that the gift was ALWAYS going to be pajamas.  But, our pictures Christmas morning were always cute and matching. :-)

So, those are really the only for SURE ideas that I have.  What about you?  What's something fun that you do around your house for the holidays!  Let's Chat....

Butterball Oil-Free Electric Turkey Fryer/Roaster @Target

Not sure if you've ever FRIED our turkey for Thanksgiving, but it tastes FANTASTIC!  My family has now made a tradition of doing it and I couldn't imagine doing it any other way.  The turkey turns out so YUMMY and moist.

Well, we all know that to fry a turkey, you have to use oil.  Hot oil, is extremely dangerous.  It can cause severe burns.  Not to mention, if your turkey has water on it, the reaction that could cause...  Frying a turkey has proven through time to be a dangerous thing.

I don't have to go on and on about how NOT good for you all of that oil is... so I won't.  But, check this out Butterball makes an Oil-Free Electric Turkey Fryer/Roaster.  Target is selling it right now!  Be sure to check it out and try SAFELY frying your turkey this Thanksgiving!!

Christmas Lights on SALE @Target

Getting prepared for Christmas?  Whether you just decorate your tree, or you decorate your inside AND outside... this deal is GREAT!

CLICK HERE to get your Christmas Lights ON SALE: Buy 3 Save 10%, Buy 4 Save 15%, Buy 5 or More Save 20% at Target.com

Scooters and Riding Toys ON SALE @Target

CLICK HERE and check out the SALE On Scooters and Riding Toys at Target.com

FREE SHIPPING @crocs

Now's the chance to do your online shopping and take advantage of FREE SHIPPING!!!  Click here to get shopping!  Be sure to use code FREESHIP at checkout!!

Opposite Party

Ok... so this recipe is so cute!  And honestly, it doesn't require much explanation.  I think that the pictures will pretty much explain everything for you!  My little brother (almost 17, not so little anymore... we'll call him 'younger') has a Fall Festival party every year.  My mom goes all out and plans a cute theme and the kids LOVE IT!  It's a GREAT alternative to OTHER mischief that kids can get into on Halloween night.

Last year she did a SUPER fun murder mystery (she ordered a kit on line... GREAT IDEA).  The kids had to dress like the character that they were sent in the mail and play that part the whole night.  Like I said, it was lots of fun and the kids REALLY enjoyed it!

Well, this year they had an 'Opposite Party'... EVERYTHING was supposed to be opposite.  Kids were encouraged to dress opposite of how they normally dress (they could interpret that however they wanted to).  I had an idea to send Thank You cards with all of the info as the invite... but mom was worried the kids would be confused. ;-)  She DID prepare the food to look opposite of what they really are.

Crocs (and MUCH MORE) on SALE @Zulily

GREAT deals started TODAY!  Grabbed a couple of pairs of Crocs for my little man (he LOVES them).  Check out the deals here and save money for the holidays!!

New Daily DEALS @HauteLook

The list of deals on Haute Look are too many to list!  You have GOT to check this out!  Shoes (men's and women's), purses, accessories, and on and on and on... GREAT DEALS!  Check them out... GREAT way to save money around the holidays!!

Wordless Wednesday

(I know this is supposed to be 'wordLESS' but, I had no IDEA what it meant when I first saw it.  Not sure I totally understand now, BUT... I'm going to post just pics on Wednesdays and show what we've been up to in our CRAZY HECTIC lives.  Hope you enjoy :-))

GA/FL GO DAWGS!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM  

PEBBLES

AND BAMM BAMM :-)

Addison's PapPaw stood in at Donuts with Dad Day at school.  

They had a GREAT time!

1/75 Ranger Memorial in honor of SSG Katzenberger and Sgt Plutino.

Click here to see a clip.

Hospital Bag...Let's Chat...

Packing your bag can be a pretty overwhelming thing at times.  I mean, you've already been getting a nursery/house/clothes/lifestyle ready for your new addition but, packing your bag often gets put on the back burner.  The thing about labor is that you never now how things will go.  If you'll be in active labor for-ever or if things will go quickly.  Either way, "It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it" my dad always says this!!

Sign it. Seal it. Send it. for $4.99 @Vistaprint *GREAT DEAL*

20 Holiday Cards

140 Labels and 

1 Engraved Pen 

for $4.99! 

Get a head start on sending out holiday cards this year! Click here and choose from over a thousand designs and personalize with your own holiday greetings. Then, create custom return address labels to make sending your cards a breeze. Interested in adding a handwritten message in some of your cards? Don’t forget to pick up your personalized engraved pen to make writing notes a breeze! Shipping not included.

Shipping Price:

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CLICK HERE

Circle Chalkboards

Here's another FUN idea from my sister, Jenn!  THANKS GIRL!  Love you!

So, there was a blank space in their house that she turned into a fun way to display info between roommates.  They share info like when they're having people over, etc... GREAT idea!  In my house, I might use this as a great way to post the menu or things that the kids have going on that week/appointments.  Really, the possibilities are endless.

Personalized Thanksgiving Day Card for FREE @TinyPrints **TODAY ONLY**

Click here to visit Tiny Prints and order yours TODAY!  Use code FREETHX11 at checkout.  This offer is good TODAY ONLY!  It will end at midnight tonight PST.  I have to tell you, I did the Halloween one and it turned out SO CUTE and it was SO EASY!  I will DEFINITELY be doing this one RIGHT NOW!!!  If you choose "send it to me" it will be COMPLETELY FREE.  If you choose to have it sent, you'll pay the postage ($0.44).  Either way, it's a GREAT DEAL!!!  ENJOY :-)

Limit 1 per household.  

Tantrums

I know that I have posted about this before... BUT, this is a different kid so, I feel like I'm not being repetitive.  First of all, why did I EVER think that my sweet angelic first child was ever naughty (I'm kidding here, kind of)??  Her level of naughtiness was NOTHING (that I remember) compared to what my sweet little 'Pistol Pete' (as I now OFTEN refer to him) is bringing to the table.  He is only 18 months old and has ANXIOUSLY entered the terrible twos... EARLY... what a blessing (eye roll... I'm being EXTREMELY sarcastic).

Right now, I am blessed with at LEAST 4 melt downs before lunch.  And these melt downs include ALL the works... SCREAMING, CRYING, HITTING, THROWING HIMSELF ON THE GROUND, SCREAMING, DOING A BACK BEND WHEN I TRY TO HOLD HIM, SCREAMING, did I remember to say screaming?  UGH!  I am honestly TRYING to be patient.  TRYING to find teachable moments, but DANG, it is NOOOOOOOOOOT EASY!

The gym is currently my hour or so saving grace.  I can go and run my brains out (or whatever) and he plays, nicely (no tantrums there) during the same time.  Yeah, did you catch that?  NO TANTRUMS for the nice ladies at the gym.  Don't get me wrong, I would be HUMILIATED if he did.  But, knowing that he saves all of his extra special fit throwing for M-E.... well, it doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :-(

Just today I'm trying to use time out.  The thing is, he doesn't really get it.  I sat him down (while he was SCREAMING so it isn't like he could hear me anyhow), and kept myself very calm (NOT easy).  I explained that he couldn't get up until he calmed down.  he would scream and reach for me to hold him.  I would hug him and then set him back down.  Which of course led to more screaming.  We did a cycle of that for probably close to 5 mins. (with screaming in the background the ENTIRE time).  Eventually, he calmed down.  I asked him to tell his sister he was sorry and he did and hugged her.  All was good... for about 5 minutes... It's just ridiculous and honestly, I just don't have the time or patience to sit there with him while he learns that it is socially unacceptable to throw a fit when things don't go your way.

I guess I will be getting started on the book that I got a while ago, Setting Limits with Your Strong Willed Child... now's as good a time as any, right?  Is there something spectacular that you've done?  Please feel free to post any and ALL advice that you have!