Virtual Baby Shower: A Week of Giveaways

I didn't want to do a BIG BIG baby shower event cause of the stress of organizing it all, plus with work and ya know... A baby on the way, I figured doing my Full Term of Giveaways, and hosting a giveaway once a week would be substantial. But there's a few other companies that I want to squeeze in before LadyBug is born and this next week just seemed like the perfect time to do it! Especially since the remainder of my giveaways before she's born are all AWESOME. I'm talking things from belly casts, to home cleaning services, to pre-packed hospital bags, and home decor.

I'm not a full blown mommy giveaway blog, but I think a little celebration from time to time isn't so bad. The last one we had for finding out Spawnie's gender was fun, and this one will be a little bit smaller but just as fun.

To celebrate LaduBug's impending arrival Monday-Friday next week I'll be taking a break from normal blog posts (except for my on my Project Pregnancy blog) and doing a couple of giveaways a day. One of the giveaways each day will be a BIG prize, worth anywhere from $50-$170. I'm not going crazy, this isn't going on for weeks and it's a smaller scale, but I think it'll be the perfect length and size for my style.

You can get an extra entry to each of the giveaways by posting a comment RSVPing on this post. They'll also be extra entries for leaving some advice for Ladybug or myself as we start our lives together. I'm going to print out the "advice cards" later.

Ok so, what do you think? Will you join me? Here are all of the giveaways!

By the way, my adorable animated giveaway button was made by Jessica from A Blog to Brag About!

The Spontaneous Decision

I'm normally a homebody. So when I heard that Schlitterbahn aka "The World's Best Water park" was having a media day, so me and my husband could go for free, it sounded fun, but a little bit of a hassle.

I had woken up at 3am yesterday to get ready for work. Normally I'm the evening anchor on weekends, but since the morning anchor was out of town, we switched shifts this weekend. Friday afternoon one of my friends told me she and her husband were going to the water park Saturday afternoon and that we should come too. "Yea, yea" was kind of my thought, I wasn't planning on going after an eight-hour work shift that started in the wee hours of the morning.

Saturday rolled around and though I was having a rough morning the thought of having fun after work was seeming more and more appealing. I told me husband about media day and he, like me was slightly intrigued, but the idea of lounging around the house watching movies always seems like a fun option to both of us too. My hair is also something to consider as once it gets wet it's a fro and I'll have to schedule a hair appointment shortly after so I can wear it straight to work etc. etc.

Then, somewhere between 11 and noon I felt a spark of energy and had a change in emotions. You know what? How often after having kids will I get the chance to just up and decide I want to go do something alone with my husband all afternoon? Sure-- It'll be fun to do as a family, but it'll be more expensive, and way more of a hassle. "We're going" I thought.

I called, got us on the VIP list and told hubby I wanted to go. He heard the excitement and finality in my voice and was totally with me.

It was cold rainy for part of the day but we didn't care, it was fun and it was free. We met up with my friends and visited most of the park. The lines were short and we were having a blast. I felt like a kid again as we raced off one slide and ran right back up the stairs to go down another. We ate pizza and funnel cake and went on so many rides. In fact, we stayed until the park closed at 8am.

I was feeling the pain this morning before work, once again at 3am, but I'm smiling and knowing it was worth it. It's nice to get out of our shells every once in awhile and do something sporadic... Especially since once our two becomes three, we probably won't be able to do things like that for awhile.

We saw cute families there with small kids but we know it's not the same. It won't ever be the same--Not necessarily a bad thing but something to remember as we enjoy the now.

We only took the one picture. Yep, the trip was so spontaneous I didn't even take lots of pictures... Sad, but I did get this one to remember the fun time!

The Look Back

It's a little late because I work Sundays and I just HAD to share my excitement about cooking, but better late than never right?

Sometimes I don't think I'm ready for parenthood because I still act like a child myself. A perfect weekend for me would consist of watching at least one Disney movie and maybe a cartoon show or two. I love playing board games, and eating snacks like Mac and Cheese.

I often get nostalgic about the days when my sister and I would play with our Barbie dolls, dress them up and cut their hair. We even teased our little brother once and pulled off all of the heads on his power ranger action figured and switched them with the other super hero heads. It was mean, but it was fun.

One summer we got creative and turned our sleeping bags into sleds and drove them down the staircase. Karaoke and dress-up were commonly on our to-do-list. We loved to play! But you know what?--I still do.

It's a lot easier to entertain myself with the Internet at my hands, but I miss the good 'ol days of laughing at childish movies, and watching them over and over a million times.

I got a taste of this a couple of weeks ago. I watched Tarzan than Cinderella, then when my husband got home I made him watch Tarzan with me again cause he had never seen it before.

Have I mentioned I love Disney? I think I have... Once or twice. But really, I DO! I bought an entire DVD collection of EVERY Disney Classic (cartoon) movie from Snow White to Ratatouille (I just need Bolt and Wall-E). I can't wait to have kids and be able to share all of those movies with them. They may not like them as much as I did, but I sure hope it's a tradition I can pass on to my kiddos!

I love being around little kids cause I feel like it gives me an excuse to BE a kid again--An excuse to take me back. I don't want to feel like an old fart already. Is this why people say children keep you young? I hope that means becoming a mom will take off a few years for me. If anything it'll give me someone to watch those things with since right now getting my husband to watch them with me is like pulling teeth. And now that it's Easter season I'm sad that I don't have a little girl to dress up in a pretty dress, or a cute little boy to put in a suit.--Even worse, I don't have someone to decorate eggs with... It's not dying them alone (or with an unenthusiastic husband).

Same story at Halloween and Christmas time. I'm really looking forward to being young again through my children.--At the same time thought I'm hoping I'm not one of those crazy moms that tries to force my kids to do things I didn't get to do. We'll see how it works out.

What are other fun traditions you have with your kiddos? And do your kids keep you young, or make you feel old?

The First Giveaway

Since I'm going to be gone for a week I'm leaving you with something kinda fun.

As promised I'm having my first contest/giveaway! I hope you like it! Here's what you'll get!:
-3 Handmade crocheted baby hair bows... Made by yours truly! I'll include 3 interchanging bows so you can mix and match!
-Chocolate covered mints (my favorite)
-Pretty scented body lotion OR Pretty scented bath beads (I like to smell good)
-A pink (my favorite color, sorry) photo album
-Baby oil *wink* (be creative people)
-What I thought was a baby chew toy but it's actually a Tigger gel pack for owies OR A soft green baby blanket
-And we can't forget our furry friends! You'll also get a cute doggie bandanna and a dog (or cat) picture frame (not pictured)
-Finally, you get to keep the nice decorative basket that it all comes in!
*Disclaimer, you have to send me a pic of either your baby in a cute hair bow or the blanket or something, if you win! I want to see my craft in action!
And if you're like me, and don't have human spawn, but also have no urgent need for baby bows and don't want to use them as gifts, perhaps I'll exchange it for a cute dog collar hand made by muah! You can see photos of what I make at JustFurDoggies.

What you have to do to enter:
-Follow me (click the link on the right) and/or put a link to me on your blog
-Post a comment on this post telling me you did it! How easy! Right?

-You can get an extra entry if you link to this contest post and let me know!

I'll have a drawing when I get back on the 24th. Ok... Maybe on the 25th (give me a day ok?) Let's say you have until midnight the night of the 24th to enter. Then I'll put all of the names in a bag and draw not one but TWO winners! Woohoo, aren't you excited? Your chance of winning just doubled (is that the right math? I have no idea).

So good luck! Have fun and tell your friends (or don't if you're worried they'll beat you). I Hope you win!