PB&J Cake Giveaway

I think this is adorable...a PB&J (or any other kind of sandwich) cake mold. I got it thinking I would be creative but who am I kidding...it's still in the box so I'm giving it away to someone who might actually use it and make something terrific. If you want a chance to win it, leave a comment. Leave a second comment if you're a follower. I'll pick a winner when I return from my trip next Thursday. Sadly, I'll have very little chance to check blogs while I'm traveling so save all the good stuff until late next week, 'kay?

On another note I'm convinced Bug is becoming one with Dennis the Menace. Even his hair has that little cowlick these days. If he didn't already have a Halloween costume, I would get some overalls, a striped shirt, a slingshot for one back pocket and maybe a frog for the other and call it a day.

The "You're Gonna Love Me For This" Giveaway

I know many of you are getting things lined up for your kids to go back to school so here's a little something for you that has nothing to do with pencils, crayons or school lunches. A few months ago I posted about things that make me smile and this necklace was high on my list.

It still makes me smile...I love, love, LOVE it and always get compliments when I wear it. Whenever I have it on it's an instant mood booster. What could be better?

I'll tell you what...ripegoods is doing a giveaway on my little blog!!
ripegoods is beautiful hand-crafted new and vintage jewelry. It's a place to find hip, original designs for body and soul. Founded by mom and daughter to express their creative spirit, all products are by Kathie and Lindsey Fieldman. Every ripegoods product embodies a sense of simplicity, freshness and elegance. All jewelry is hand-crafted using selected gemstones, metals and vintage elements. They are committed to using locally sourced, recycled and sustainable materials.

Here's the scoop:

• Check out ripegoods and pick out what you would like to win (up to $65). Look at all their stuff because it's not going to be an easy choice. (Winner must be in US or Canada.)
• If you're a follower of my blog, leave another comment for a second chance to win.
• Like ripegoods on facebook or follow them on twitter and leave a comment.
• Post on your blog about the giveaway for another chance to win.

I'm already trying to decide what my second piece is going to be. I love the simplicity of the mama necklace but I'm now thinking this mama needs some earrings...

Go to ripegoods and tell me what you want to win! I'll pick a winner on Monday, August 31. Isn't this so much better than shopping for new school supplies??

Dear Someone (and a giveaway)

Dear Bug,


I get it: You. like. order. I was very pleased when you were playing quietly in your room. I should have known you were on a mission when you ran from room to room then back into your room and shut the door. When you called to show me what you had done, I was eager to see.

Did you notice the surprise on my face when I looked on your bed. There all lined up in one row were the tampon applicators. In another perfectly straight row were the tampons. All the wrappers were in the tucked neatly in the trash.

See...order.

Love,
Mommy


Dear CVS,


I'll be over soon. I need to stock up on tampons and put them on a higher shelf in my house.


Signed,
Using my extra care card AGAIN

Dear Snow,

Are you really coming again tomorrow? This is been a real winter for us! Nearly twenty inches of snow in December (it's okay that you ruined altered my weekend plans--it was nice to see you and shoveling was invigorating). Five inches earlier this week after making snowballs with Bug was perfect!


I'm not sure I believe you'll be back this weekend with 12 inches or more but I'll be watching! If you do visit, I'll make sure there's plenty of hot chocolate in the house after we've played together (wine, too).


Signed,
Snowmama


PS. Have you heard Bug singing "Frosty the Mommy?"


Dear Work,


What a fun time it's been! We released a new book last week and another one is going to the printer tomorrow. This week has been filled with edits, corrections, cover proofs, copyright issues...all fun stuff. I can't wait for that new book smell to arrive!


Signed,
Mag


Dear Everyone,


Kristen Chase of Motherhood Uncensored has agreed to sign a copy of her new book, The Mominatrix's Guide to Sex for a giveaway (don't you love signed books?!).


From amazon: Kristen proves that there is more to motherhood than diapers and timeouts. Good moms can be sexy mamas with just a little mominatrix training!


Leave a comment for a chance to win the book and I'll pick a winner on Monday, February 8.


Signed,
Mag


Visit Amanda at Family of Shorts for more letters and tell her I said hi.

Be Darling Tee Giveaway

Darling Mummy is selling Be Darling tees for $10 with the entire purchase price going to the American Red Cross' Haiti Relief and Development Fund. I bought a shirt to give to my friend for V-Day and received an extra shirt in the package. Long story short: Darling Mummy told me to keep the extra tee and I'm doing a give away.

So...I've got a large brown tee with a pink (candy) heart that says Be Darling for someone to win. Here's what the tee looks like (sorry I can't make the shirt image any bigger). Leave a comment and I'll pick a winner on Wed, Feb 3 and get it in the mail right away so you can wear the tee before Valentine's Day or wrap it up as a gift for someone. If you don't win, you can still order the tees but quantities are limited. Post the giveaway on your site for an extra chance to win.

don't hate me because I'm organized (bwhahahaha)

Oh, how I struggle trying to be organized. I should have reserved a copy of One Year to an Organized Life for me but I would rather live vicariously. However, today I'm feeling pretty good because: I folded the multiple loads of clean clothes that had become a fixture on our couch and made tonight's dinner yesterday. That should count for something, right? Please? Pretty please?


Here's the winner of the book: B at The Nabors Baby. Lemme know where I should send it and I'll get right on it, I swear!


Bug is at preschool! Highlights for Bug: seeing two trash trucks, six (really, six) school buses, two police cars and saying hello to one police officer and two city workers on the walk to school. Quite a bit of action in those few blocks this morning. Highlight for me: I mentioned to Bug's teacher that I had his EpiPen and Benadryl and without missing a beat she recited Bug's allergies to me and went through the procedures if he has a reaction. Whew, that almost made me cry.


Now I'm patiently waiting for the mail to arrive. My order from amazon should be here today and I would love to start my new book True Confections now that the clothes are folded and dinner is made.

a new giveaway for a new year

As we're getting ready to kick off a new year, it seems like the perfect time to do a giveaway for this book: One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for GoodI'll pick a winner (well, random.org will do that for me) on Monday, January 4, 2010 (gulp!). Leave a comment for a chance to win. Here's to a happy (and organized) new year!

Warming up and a winner

He's a little bit Jewish and I'm a little bit Catholic so our house is beginning to look a lot like Christmukkah. I'm finally getting out our decorations (other than the new menorah that we've been lighting) and trying to make the house festive. Bug did his part by sporting a Santa cap although as the day goes on and I untangling Christmas lights or trying to remember when I put something from last year I feel like I'm playing Scrooge while trying to be cheerful. Ho ho humbug.


I had a good trip to SD and am still amazed that I didn't get stranded in Minneapolis for a day. Those first few blasts of cold air upon leaving the airport are rough. It was 1 degree when I arrived and the windchill was minus 16 or 20 (does it really make a difference if you have to say "minus" before the number--it's all just cold, right?). I was convinced I wouldn't have feeling in my toes until I returned to DC. It was so cold that we decided my mom shouldn't go outside. Mom wasn't happy but after hearing the temps a few times she agreed she would stay put.


Thursday and Friday mornings I did some holiday shopping for Mom and finished everyone on her list. We spent the afternoons wrapping presents in her room. On Friday there was a heatwave break and the afternoon temp hit 20 so Mom and I went to the mall. We were there for four hours and only hit two stores. She was thrilled. We had dinner at the food court (Taco John's anyone?! Yum!) and by then she was exhausted. It takes us a bit of time to adjust to the wheelchair, getting in/out of the car and I always feel like we're channeling Lucy and Ethel with some of our movements but we manage.


While I was back I got to see several people I knew. I had a lunch with four classmates while Mom had physical therapy. (One of them even visited my mom--how nice is that? Of course, it was Russ and he's pretty much the definition of a good guy.) While we were at lunch, I saw my cousin and his family then ran into other people from my hometown. (Everyone in my hometown goes to the town where my mom now lives to shop because it has the nearest mall [42 miles away] so it's not uncommon to see people you know.)


There's something very comforting being back there. Of course I get to spend time with Mom and see my brother and his family (and drink wine with my sister-in-law!). These trips are so different from past visits now that Mom is in the nursing home but it's great to be there for/with her and nice to see friendly faces and have people ask about Mom or stop by to visit her. Many of them know her from their childhoods. It's true there's no place like home...and no matter how cold it gets the hearts are always warm.


Dee from Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House is the Santa cake pan winner. Happy baking, Dee! Email me and let me know where I should send it.

Ho Ho Ho...Cough Cough Cough

If you want to make/win this...

click here for the Santa Cake(pan) giveaway...

Onto other things...

Apparently watching our lovely snow on Saturday gave me a cold/cough. If Hollywood is looking for a new face for a cold medicine commercial or possibly an unknown to play the role of a woman suffering from consumption, here I am. As a bonus the make up crew could take the day off...I'm sick and I look it. This pale shade of blah isn't a really good look for me.

If my coughing kept any of you awake last night, I apologize. Even Bug gave me a pass on telling him a story because I was "coughing too much." I'm now in the fuzzy world of cold medicine and hoping it all kicks in before I get on a plane Wednesday to visit my mom. Keep your fingers crossed that we don't get the "wintry mix" that's in the forecast Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. I'm leaving my house at 4:45 am (as in MORNING...yawn) and would prefer to actually get on a plane if I'm going to be up and ready at that hour.

Side note: It's going to be single digits when I'm in South Dakota with the lows below zero! Welcome home!

So because I was lazy under the weather I did NOTHING to get ready for Christmas or Hanukkah this weekend. There's not tree in our house yet (well, it's there but not up or decorated--we're doing a fake, small tree this year because Bug seems to be channeling Curious George these days and I don't want my little monkey climbing a real tree and then me cleaning up the mess when he, the tree and crushed ornaments are on the floor. I never had a real tree until I met Donnie. I still find it funny that it took a Jewish man to get me to buy a real Christmas tree.) On the bright side, I do have a new peace sign menorah this year and can put that out immediately to feel somewhat festive:

The photo makes it look like a hamster wheel but in person I like it. We've yet to get Bug a menorah of his own. We have a few in the house. One that Donnie received when he was younger so that's the one we really use. He gave me one years ago and when Bug was born we got one made by an artist I like. Bug saw one that he wanted because it was a truck. It was also $118, handmade in Israel and is one of a kind. Yeah, that's not in our house.

When I return on Saturday and thaw out, I'll try and get the house ready for the holidays...none too soon since Hanukkah starts on Friday night! I'm thinking this isn't the year to make potato latkes from scratch. One of these years I'll give it a shot but not this year.

AND...I used the random number generator and Bea from This Wonderful, Crazy Life won the infant holiday tee giveaway. Bea, email me and let me know style and size.

Santa Cake(pan) Giveaway

Here's a giveaway for a baker...or a gift for a baker. I gave a couple of these cake pans as Christmas gifts before and found them at the Williams-Sonoma outlet last week so I bought one for a giveaway. The cake pan comes with a recipe (I think it's for a peppermint cake).

I can assure you if someone saw this cake on my table the question would be "where did you get that?" because no one would think I made it but I do think it's adorable...



Leave a comment if you want to enter the giveaway. You'll get two chances if you're a follower (leave a second comment) and three chances (three comments) if you mention the giveaway on your blog and link back to this post. I'll pick a winner on Monday, December 14.

It's beginning to look a lot little bit like Christmas

We had snow today! It might melt by Monday but for now WE HAVE SNOW!


One of a few snowy roses left on the rose bush...

Check out Mama-Face at Blog-Ignoramus...she has a giveaway (like you didn't already know...)

I see London, I see France...I'm glad I wore underpants (and another giveaway)

It was just yesterday that I was longing for colder weather. It’s really not much cooler today but enough that I opted to wear tights and a skirt or maybe I didn’t have any clean pants. Whatever…

Most days Donnie and I drive into work together. We work two blocks apart (weird, huh?). Anyway, he had a doctor’s appointment so he dropped me at the Metro before heading out to his appointment. I like taking the Metro except when I forget to bring a book like this morning…arrrrgggghhh. Again, anyway, I rode downtown, bounced off the train feeling like a real city commuter, made my way up the escalator and started on my short three-block walk to my office.

I’m happily walking down the street when something just seems wrong. It takes me a second to pinpoint it but the very tights that made me smile just a short time earlier are now slowly moving south….then not-so-slowly moving south. I was grateful for the short walk. By time I reached my office the waistband of my tights had somewhat settled on my hips. I was beginning to feel like I couldn’t walk with a normal gait but luckily, the crotch hadn’t dropped to my ankles—just mid-thigh. Oh, I'm a classy one…

I recall last year tossing out several pairs of wayward tights. This stubborn little bitchy pair must have been hiding and decided to resurface on a brisk Wednesday morning after a late Tuesday night. Why a late night? I accidentally got hooked on the season finale of Sons of Anarchy. Accidentally, because I’ve never seen the show and would have preferred to know what was happening instead of coming in not only at the end of the season but after this particular episode had started. No matter…I couldn’t leave the couch. Umm, does anyone watch that show? I get that it’s on cable rather than HBO or some other pay-extra channel but I swear it made The Sopranos look tame. I think I’ll now have to find season one on DVD to know all the players.

And then for some reason Bug woke up and wanted to chat around 3:30am. I don't have a lot to say at 3:30. Answer me this...why is it a baby’s first word is “da da” but the first word out of his mouth in the middle of the night is “MOMMMMY”? Then shortly after 5 he was up for good pretending he wanted to snuggle, which is apparently code for "put Winnie-the-Pooh down Mommy's pajamas." Fun game.

I guess that’s my long-winded way of saying I didn’t notice that the tights fit funny prior to my walk to work because I don't think I was fully awake until I got off the train.


Now onto other matters...


Want to win these vintage diamond and amethyst earrings? Nice holiday gift (for you, maybe?)and you can't beat the price...



Visit Deb at Menopausal New Mom and give it a shot. Tell her I said hi.

oh, baby...a giveaway

So I'm lining up a few giveaways for the holiday season and I'm starting with this one because it's easy. I'm giving away an infant/toddler holiday tee. The real reason this is so convenient...I designed them and they're on my website for my little (as in teeny tiny) side business.
Before Bug was born I created a few women's tees (it was a nice outlet/distraction from the wait...). After Bug arrived, I started making tees for him then decided to put them online. The first tee for babies was inspired by my little bald Bug: Hair is Overrated. I haven't done much with Charming Maeve in the past year although in 2008 four of my infant/toddler tees were carried on Target.com (Yes, that Target! Crazy, huh?). These tees are currently sold on a couple of sites.

Anyway, I did a giveaway over the summer for one of my women's tees so I decided to now have a giveaway for the infant tees. Sizes start at 3 months and go to 18 months. (Note: all tees are currently available but there's a chance that I might sell some between now and the end of the contest so I hope the winner will be flexible if the style/size is unavailable.) Here are the options (sorry the photos aren't too clear...I'm not sure what's up with that). All are long-sleeve tees and 100% cotton.

Silent Night (I don't think so)
Available for Holiday Parties
Boy to the World
You get one chance for one comment. A second chance (with a second comment) if you're a follower. A third chance if you post about the giveaway on your site. I'll draw a winner on Monday, December 7. I'll post other giveaways later this week or early next week assuming I can get my act together.

a benefit, winners and a little bug

Ah, the benefit is over and it was a fun night! The one downside (although not really a downside)...the theatre lobby was on the small side, which meant it was packed because we sold more tickets than expected (see--all in all a good problem). The performer was terrific! She was adopted through our local agency but grew up in London. She started off in her fabulous British accent announcing that she's American and followed that by saying she's a redneck. She shared her story through words and songs. I laughed (a lot), I cried (often) and I had a great time. I even won a silent auction item (the place was crowded but I fought my way through to outbid others). The night ended with a champagne reception that was bubbly and wonderful!

Bonus: I'm referred to as a young mother at the adoption agency. I'm far from young but I'll do just about anything for them if they keep saying that...

The warm fuzzies continued through the night...Bug woke up around 4am and we heard him leave his room and patter through the hallway to our bedroom. He stood in the doorway, opened the door a little, shut it again and went back to his room to sleep until nearly 8am. Bravo, little man, bravo!

I loved your comments both about height (mine and yours) and babysitters. Katy of Bird on the Street and I have the same problem both think we're the same height as everyone else. When I first started dating Donnie, I asked a friend to see if he was taller than me. When she met him, she got a good laugh...Donnie is 6' so I guess there's a bit of difference. Also, I need to hire some of your babysitters. Last night's outing was nearly $70 in babysitting!

Okay, onto the winners...

I wish I had one of those bubble things used for picking lottery numbers but I used the random number generator site instead. The two winners are: #30 Jen of For Immediate Release Reviews Kids (check out her book reviews of recently released children's books...there are some great holiday gift ideas for little readers!). The second winner is #18: Mama-Face of Blog Ignoramus (you know and love her already). Go visit them both and say hi from me.

Win one, bake some (and send a few to me)

First of all...a big thank you for all your kind comments on my post yesterday. I know several of us are dealing with similar things with parents and other loved ones. I appreciate your thoughts, kind words and hugs.


I have a giveaway for two of you to win. I've got two signed copies of Cookie Sensations by Meaghan Mountford. This is a beautiful cookie cookbook with spectacularly decorated cookies and clever (oh-so-clever) ideas. So, if you're gearing up for a big bakefest this holiday season, this would be perfect...or a terrific gift.


I couldn't find any links to images in the book, but here are a couple of photos from the bakery where Meaghan used to work. We were sent a cookie bouquet when Bug was born. It was adorable and the cookies were yummy!

To see some of her more recent cookies and other creative ideas, check out her blog, the decorated cookie. I'll pick two winners on Wednesday, November 18. No big rules...just leave a comment. You get two chances to win if you're a follower (but leave two comments). Oh and maybe send some cookies my way if you're one of the winners.

What does a gal have to do to get a nap around here?

I'm feeling a bit rotten (or maybe more than a bit)...mood and physical. I decided to skip the mall in my search for green clothes for Bug's Halloween costume and take a nap when he was sleeping. Good plan, right? I tucked him in, Donnie settled in to watch some football and I headed straight for bed.

About 10 minutes into my *almost* nap, the phone rang. Fine, Donnie's on it--one ring and no more. Great, back to trying to fall asleep. A few minutes later our house alarm goes off warning of a low battery. It won't stop beeping. ARRRRGGGH. After punching about 38 random buttons it stops and Bug stays asleep. Whew, back to the bed. Twenty minutes later the damn house alarm goes off again. Forget it I'm up...apparently I wasn't meant to nap and I still don't have Bug's green clothes for his costume. I am however in my jammies in the middle of a rainy afternoon and that doesn't seem bad at all.

Random.org picked number 10 for the book, Marrying George Clooney (I do love that title). Desert Rose from Desert Rose Moments is the winner. Please email me and let me know where I should send it.

Dear Someone and a giveaway...

Dear Motivation,

Where are you? Honestly, I've been waiting somewhat patiently for you to show up and enroll me in a boot camp or something. By now you must realize I need you I can't do it on my own...I'm weak.

Signed,
The one who is about to reach for a Snickers


Dear Hair Follicles,

Gray, really? All of you? C'mon, give the girl a break...

Signed,
Sad...so sad


Dear Anyone who wants to leave a comment,

I have a book to give away. If you want to win Marrying George Clooney, just leave a comment below. I'll pick a winner on Saturday. Really, how great is that title?
Signed,

Mag

For more letters, check out Short Mama at Family of Shorts.

Second Base Tee Winner

Hey there, random.org selected the winner for the tee. The winning number is 6 and that's MiMi at Living in France. MiMi, email me and let me know what size you want.

Save Second Base Giveaway

When I was in Target a few months ago as opposed to when I was in Target a few days ago I saw a shopper wearing a great Saving Second Base t-shirt and practically jumped over shopping carts and small children to ask her where she got it. So clever! Sadly, I'm still searching for that tee and waiting for calls to be returned. Sigh...

But that search led to other findings and I thought a tee would be a good giveaway just in time for someone (perhaps you?!) to wear during breast cancer awareness month and after, of course. So, wanna win this Save Second Base tee?
Leave a comment to enter. You'll have two chances (leave two comments) if you're a follower. Three chances if you post about the giveaway on your site and link back here. I'll pick the winner on Tuesday, September 22. That will give me time to get the tee to you so you can start wearing it in October. (Save2ndBase.com currently has all sizes in stock so after the winner is chosen I'll get the size from you.) From the Save2ndBase.com site:

Save 2nd Base’s goal is to provide exposure for the mission of The Kelly Rooney
Foundation. Each shirt has the potential to “spread the word” about a beautiful
person and the mark she left on the world. Our shirts have been sold in all 50
US states, distributed to our troops overseas, and sit in a boutique in
Australia. Save 2nd Base shirts are a vehicle to put Kelly’s favorite phrase in
motion…”PAY IT FORWARD!” Save 2nd Base has donated more than $30,000 to
KRF and other Breast Cancer non-profits.

Winners

The two winners of While I'm Falling are:

Funnyrunner at Literally Laughing Out Loud and

Mama-Face at Blog Ignoramus.

Email me and let me know your address and I'll get the books in the mail.

Giveaway

Have you read Laura Moriarty? I picked up her first book when it came out, The Center of Everything and shut off the rest of the world until I turned the last page.

A couple of years ago I was at a convention and passed a booth where Moriarty was scheduled to do a signing of her second book The Rest of Her Life. I ran back to the booth shortly after the appointed time (slowing before I got too close so I would look like a regular convention attendee and not a freaky fan) and sure enough there she was and there wasn't a line. I calmly walked over to her and blurted out, "I loved your book" and then froze. (I'm always so original and demure...remember how cool I was when I met Springsteen? Sigh...) Once again, silently, (who knew I had a mute button?) I was reliving scenes from the book...the pain I felt for Evelyn as she was walking during the "shoe" scene or my uncomfortableness during the family dinner wishing I were at the table and could spill something to divert attention away from Tina.

I somehow regained my composure and we chatted. She was lovely. I gushed about her book and I stopped short of reciting the first sentence because I didn't want her to call security she might think that was weird. She was gracious and probably a bit flustered with this stalker fan babbling on. She thanked me then laughed a little when she realized she signed my book twice. I skipped off--clutching a signed book to my chest.

While I'm Falling, Moriarty's newest book was released earlier this month. Do you see where this is going...

Thanks to Rachel at Hyperion, I have two copies of While I'm Falling to give away! I'll announce the winners (2 copies = 2 winners) on August 31.

Leave a comment for one entry. If you're a follower you'll get two entries (but you have to leave a second comment...last time I had to add extra entries for followers and it required me to pull out math skills that were hibernating in my brain that proved to be a bit taxing). You can get another chance if you post about the giveaway on your blog and leave me a comment letting me know. Oh, and the winner must be in the US/Canada. So, there you go. Interested? I hope so. Here's a bit about the book:



In While I’m Falling, Laura Moriarty presents a compelling depiction of how one young woman’s life changes when her family breaks up for good.
Ever since her parents announced that they’re getting divorced, Veronica has been falling. Hard. A junior in college, she has fallen in love. She has fallen behind in her difficult coursework. She hates her job as counselor at the dorm, and she longs for the home that no longer exists. When an attempt to escape the pressure, combined with bad luck, lands her in a terrifying situation, a shaken Veronica calls her mother for help—only to find her former foundation too preoccupied to offer any assistance at all.

But Veronica only gets to feel hurt for so long. Her mother shows up at the dorm with a surprising request—and with the elderly family dog in tow. Boyfriend complications ensue, along with her father’s sudden interest in dating. Veronica soon finds herself with a new set of problems, and new questions about love and independence.

Darkly humorous, beautifully written, and filled with crystalline observations about how families fall apart, While I’m Falling takes a deep look at the relationship between a daughter and a mother when one is trying to grow up and the other is trying to stay afloat.


Reviews
“While I’m Falling deftly captures the moment a child realizes that growing up means being responsible for your parents’ mistakes—and preventing yourself from making the same ones. Laura Moriarty keeps getting better and better.”
—Jodi Picoult, author of Handle with Care