Never Forget

Nine years ago, our world changed forever.  Around 8:15 in the morning, on September 11, 2001, four planes full of innocent passengers, turn into four planes full of terrified, yet brave people.  Around 8:30 in the morning, on September 11, 2001, four planes full of terrified, yet brave people, became four planes full of innocent victims.  These loved ones, along with the thousands lost in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, were not the only victims of this unspeakable act.  Families and lives everywhere were shattered on this horrific Tuesday morning.  Although we were all touched by this event differently, there can be no question that it somehow changed us.  Whether you lost a loved one, or lived in fear for hours as the phone lines were tied up, this tragedy changed your heart.  Whether you lived close to a crash site or watched it unfold from afar, your anger changed your heart.  Whether your family supported  the war on terror financially, or watched loved ones enlist, the change in family dynamics changed your heart.

Do you remember where you were on this unforgettable morning?  On September 11, 2001, I was sitting in a classroom surrounded by 28 nine year old children whom I'd just met about 7 days ago.   Since they were so young, we were not allowed to have our TV's on, so all of our news was being relayed by the secretaries in our school.  Living so close to Washington, D.C., the first we heard of the tragedy was that the Pentagon had been bombed.  Of course, we later found out it was a plane.  With my husband working near the Capital building and my Dad working near the D.C area, my heart dropped.  Of course the phone lines were completely tied up in our area, so it was many hours before we got any word from either of them. After this tragedy my husband joined the Air Force to support our Country on this terrible war on terror.  My Uncle has flown overseas to keep us safe more times than I can count.  Where were you on this tragic morning?  What changes happened to your family?  Keep our brave soldiers in your prayers and God Bless America!

Do you have a story you would like to share.  Link up with Mommy Moment as we all remember the precious life lost.

Spotlight Saturday Blog Hop

It's Spotlight Saturday Hosted By

Between the Lines, Survey Junkie, and Kindred Spirit Mommy

<a href="http://www.betweenthelines-kel.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Between the Lines" src="http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/jacquiblogger/LINES%203/Spotlightanimated2.gif" /></a>
Welcome to our new blog hop with a twist!  Every week swing by to link up your blog and one you want to spotlight!  Did you find a new blog you liked this week?  Is there one you visit on a daily basis?  Well, simply link up your Spotlighted blog right under yours.  We will Spotlight our favorite blogs of the week in spots 4, 5, and 6.  

This week I'm Spotlighting Sarah from Sarah's Blog of Fun!

How it Works

1) Link up your own blog.
2)Link up a blog you want to spotlight for the week.(ex. Spotlight: Roslyn's Closet)
3) Follow your three hosts.
4) Grab our button and post it on your sidebar or in a Spotlight Saturday Post.
5) Follow as many blogs from the list as you like and leave a comment so they know you stopped by.
6) Return the favor by following blogs that followed you.
(Be aware that URL's cannot be duplicated so please have a second spotlight choice in mind. If your blog's URL has already been spotlighted, just add one you'd like to spotlight. And don't forget to leave a comment with the blog you spotlighted so they can come and join the blog hopping fun! )

 

Another Fun Blog Hop you may be interested in!

Will you be attending?

So the entire Blogosphere is buzzing with Blogmania.  The question is, will you be attending?  Between the Lines will be offereing over $200 worth of prizes thanks to our wonderful sponsors!  Join us September 15-16 for over $38,000 worth of giveaways from all the Blogmania team members!  Let me know in the comments if you are planning on joining us.  Hope to see you here! :-)

Blogmania Featured Shop: Wired Whimsy

Are you looking for some beautiful, yet unique jewelry?  My lovely blogging friend Christy, from the Etsy shop Wired Whimsy, offers a great variety of necklaces, earring, rings, and other great products. Her handmade jewelry has a vintage feel that you will love. Not only is her selection great, but she loves custom orders. If you see something you like, but would rather a different color or chain length, don’t hesitate to ask her.

Aren’t these pieces just perfect??    If you like these, make sure to join us for Blogmania.  These fun pieces will be included in the Between the Lines prize pack! Stop on over at Wired Whimsy and check out Christy’s selection. If you fall in love with her jewelry, like I did, don’t forget to join her on her blog, Twitter, and Facebook. You never know when a special discount may come up!  Don't Miss Blogmania September 15-16!!!

Fabulous Food Friday with Created by Diane

Welcome to Fabulous Food Friday! While exploring the blogosphere, I realized that there were many great recipes to share. So every Friday, I am going to try to feature an awesome blogger with their great recipe! Today’s feature blogger is Diane from Created By Diane.    When you get a chance, swing by Diane's yummy blog.  I’m sure you’ll find a recipe you and your family will love. A word of caution...don't visit her blog hungry because your stomach will be very upset with you!

I am so happy to be the guest blogger for Between the Lines today.

I'm Diane

and I blog at:

You will often find me up to my elbows in flour and sugar as I like to bake cookies, cupcakes and other sweet treats. I enjoy cooking just as much, but usually eat it before I can get a photograph taken!

I love to share recipes and ideas. 

Stop by and lets talk food!

These orange cupcakes have a yummy taste of almond.

I wanted to make a quick batch of cupcakes and began with a box of vanilla cake mix, I replaced the water with orange juice and added a teaspoon each of orange extract and almond extract.

I made buttercream frosting with half cup butter half cup shortening along with 6 cups powdered sugar and a teaspoon each of orange extract and almond extract, and a drop of orange and yellow Americolor food coloring. 

They were a big hit.

I decorated them with a 104 tip.

I placed the large end down and began working in a wavy pattern around the cupcake in two layers.
The almost reminded me of Mums, and with fall right around the corner they would be pretty all clustered together like a bouquet.

Vacation Memories: Part Three

**Another Flashback**

As we grow older, our memories inevitably begin to fade. But despite our fading memories, there are always a handful of precious ones that stick with us. My brothers, sister, and I were very lucky to have spent some of our childhood in Europe. Living in Germany allowed our family many opportunities to have extraordinary vacations (and even more mini day trips). Although I cannot recall all the details of these vacations, the memories I do have are worth treasuring.

I unfortunately don’t have many memories of Holland. I remember the flowers, the windmills, and doing gymnastics on the beach. But the memory that stands out the most in my mind is our trip to Madurodam (located in Scheveningen, Holland). Madurodam is the smallest town in Holland, literally. Everything in Madurodam has been shrunk to 1/25 its actual size. Visitors get to see Holland “in a nutshell”. My family had a great time wandering around the miniature city looking for all the moving pieces. Besides the intricate landscapes and detailed architecture, Madurodam had moving cars, trains, planes, windmills, and boats. I remember how excited we all were when we discovered something new in the city. If you would like to see some more of Madurodam, check out this YouTube link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDwtQDVzIEg  

Holland is a beautiful country. If you ever make it out to the Netherlands, you should definitely check out the tiny town of Madurodam. It is an incredible work of art. Please feel free to share any great memories of your childhood vacations. I would love to hear them all. I will hopefully continue later this month with my favorite memories of Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Florida.



Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion.

Tricky Trivia

A fetus starts to develop fingerprints at the age of ________________.

Take a guess in the comments below.

Tortuga Rum Company Giveaway!

Congratulations to Rebecca Graham!  She is the winner of our Tortuga Rum Company giveaway.  Out of 218 entries, Rebecca won with comment #118, "Follow Tortuga on Twitter #1".    Rebecca has 48 hours to claim her prize before I will randomly choose a new winner with Random.org.  Thanks to everyone who entered and a HUGE thank you to Tortuga Rum Company!

Blogmania Featured Shop: Tiny Dots

It is time again for another sneak peak at an awesome Blogmania Sponsor. Tiny Dots is a fabulous Etsy shop run and created by Robyn. At Tiny Dots you will find a great variety of Hand-Stamped Jewelry including necklaces and bracelets.

Tiny Dots carries not only the traditional silver Hand-Stamped jewelry, but they also carry jewelry in gold tones. All of the jewelry from Tiny Dots can be personalized in some way. Whether you choose a name, initial, or color and shape of a charm, it can be made just for you.

As an awesome Blogmania sponsor, Robyn from Tiny Dots will be donating an item to the Between the Lines Prize pack. I’m not revealing any of the great prizes yet (necklace..hint, hint.), but swing over to Tiny Dots and check out all of Robyn’s wonderful creations. You will not be disappointed!  Don't Miss Blogmania September 15-16!

Vacation Memories: Part Two

**Another flashback**

As we grow older, our memories inevitably begin to fade. But despite our fading memories, there are always a handful of precious ones that stick with us. My brothers, sister, and I were very lucky to have spent some of our childhood in Europe. Living in Germany allowed our family many opportunities to have extraordinary vacations (and even more mini day trips). Although I cannot recall all the details of these vacations, the memories I do have are worth treasuring.


As I start writing part two of this post, my mind is shuffling through the countless fun experiences we had in Germany. My family and l visited too many places to describe in such a small space, but I will share my favorites in hope that some of you may be able to visit Germany one day. There was always so much to see and explore in Deutschland. Although we barely scratched the surface, we traveled from mountains to caves and from castles to forts.

As you would expect, there are many castles in Germany. Perhaps one of the most recognizable castles is Neuschwanstein in Bavaria. Neuschwanstein, a 19th century Bavarian Palace, was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland. Although I would love to say I remember everything about the castle, I can actually only recall a few minor details. I remember how beautiful the castle was (but that my dad liked the mountains in the background better) and I remember some of us kids whining that we were tired of walking! :)  Oh how I wish I could go back and enjoy it through new eyes. But for now, our family pictures and videos will have to do.

Our favorite castle in Germany can in no way compare to the beauty of Neuschwanstein, but my memories are much more vivid (probably because we went so often). Nanstein Castle, or Landstuhl Castle as we called it, couldn’t have been more than 30 minutes from our house. My parents took us there often to “explore” the ruins of the castle. Our favorite activity was probably finding dungeons to lock each other up in!

I also have a lot of great memories of visiting the Salt Mines in Berchtesgaden (near Salzburg, Austria). Before beginning our exploration of the Salt Mines, we all dressed up in “authentic” miner’s clothes. We may have looked ridiculous, but we had fun. As kids there was so much to love. We took a short train ride to start our journey into the mines. Then after following the tour guide around we went further down into the mines by sliding down a dark tunnel. I remember my mom being very anxious. At the time I thought she was scared, but now that I am a mother, I realize she was probably worried about one of us freaking out. If you want to check out the slide, go to this YouTube link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DjOAhxnQ68  

Germany is such a beautiful place to visit. Wherever you go you are surrounded by beautiful nature and architecture. If you ever have the opportunity, I would definitely encourage you to go. Please feel free to share any great memories of your childhood vacations. I would love to hear them all. Tomorrow I will continue with my memories of our trip to Holland.


Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion.

Tricky Trivia

Mr. Kiss-Kiss-Bang-Bang is better know as _________________.

Take a guess in the comments below.

Blogmania Featured Shop: Cinnamon Creek Country Candles

 
It is time again for another sneak peak at an awesome Blogmania Sponsor. Cinnamon Creek Country Candles is a wonderful Etsy shop that makes “Truly Scrumptious Bakery Candles”! At Country Candles you will find a great variety of 100%, all natural soy candles. With so many fun designs and delicious scents, you will definitely find a candle to fall in love with.

 

The fantastic designer behind Country Candles has been making candles for over 10 years. Her candles have been sold in various stores, craft fairs, and online. Her designs are so beautiful that they are often imitated. All candles are made from the strongest undiluted premium quality fragrance. And since they are made in a smoke and pet free environment, there will be no hidden smells.

Country Candles’ hand poured creations are tested to make sure the containers provide an even burn. The wicks are also lead and zinc free . When you have a few minutes, swing by Cinnamon Creek Country Candles’ Etsy shop or online store and check out her delicious designs. They look so real, that you will have to remember not to eat them!  Don't Miss Blogmania September 15-16!!!

Vacation Memories: Part One

**Another flash from the past.**

As we grow older, our memories inevitably begin to fade. But despite our fading memories, there are always a handful of precious ones that stick with us. My brothers, sister, and I were very lucky to have spent some of our childhood in Europe. Living in Germany allowed our family many opportunities to have extraordinary vacations (and even more mini day trips). Although I cannot recall all the details of these vacations, the memories I do have are worth treasuring.

My family and I had a great time visiting places in France. The memories I have of France are unfortunately all jumbled together. I can’t even remember how many times we were there. Maybe it was just once. My favorite memory of France was our visit to the castle/abbey on Mont St. Michael. Mont St. Michael is a tidal island in Normandy, France. It was once upon a time connected to the mainland by a natural bridge, but since the bridge was always completely covered during high tide it wasn’t very efficient. Thanks to modern advances, visitors can now visit the island by a man-made causeway. Although I remember having fun wandering through the old buildings and castle, the memories of exploring around the island stick out most in my mind. The tides at Mont St. Michael are very fascinating. During low tide visitors can walk around the island’s sandy beach. However, when high tide is coming in, it is time to run. The tides in the area change very quickly and have been described as being as “swift as a galloping horse”. When the tides have completely come in, the island is entirely surrounded by water. I can still hear the worry in my mom’s voice as she told us is was time to leave the beach. I’m pretty sure she didn’t want a bunch of wet kids in her car. If you want to check out Mont St. Michael from the comfort of your own home, check out this youtube link and enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RpIc2aXy7Q

Paris was another great place we visited in France. Looking back, it is funny to think of the things that impressed me the most. When we went to the Louvre, I was more impressed with the outside of the building than the art inside. As we walked by street vendors, I was more impressed with the young artists’ doing pencil drawings than I was of the expensive oil paintings. And as we laid eyes on the Eiffel Tower, I was more impressed by the people who could walk to the top than of the tower itself. Of course now I regret that I was not mature enough to appreciate all the wonders of Paris, but as a child I still had a great time! Notre-Dame was one place in Paris that was magnificent enough to impress children and adults alike. Whether standing inside or outside of the cathedral, the sights are breathtaking. If you are ever in Paris, this is one place you can not miss.

Please feel free to share any great memories of your childhood vacations. I would love to hear them all. Tomorrow I will continue with my memories of our German vacations.

Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion.

Tricky Trivia

Polar Bears can smell seals from ___________miles away.

Take a guess in the comments below.

Blogmania Featured Shop: Red Harp

It is time again for another sneak peak at an awesome Blogmania Sponsor. Red Harp is a wonderful Etsy shop created and run by Kate. At Red Harp you will find a great variety of handmade items, such as fabric bags, journal covers, and pendants.

All items from Red Harp are designed and created in a smoke and animal free home. All fabrics are prewashed in detergents that are free of all dyes and perfumes. Not only are all the products made by Kate herself, but she also uses her leftover fabric to create bears for Teddy Care, a small nonprofit who sends bears to the children of deployed military parents. http://teddycare.coastside.net.

As an awesome Blogmania Sponsor, Red Harp will be donating an item to Between the Lines’ gift pack. I’m not revealing any of the prizes just yet, but swing on over to Red Harp and check out all of Kate’s wonderful creations. You will not be disappointed! Don't Miss Blogmania September 15-16!

GourmetGiftBasketscom Giveaway!

Congratulations to Emma!  She is the winner of our GourmetGiftBaskets.com giveaway!  Out of 662 entries, Emma won with comment #289, "I subscribe to email 4/5 entries."  Emma has 48 hours to claim her prize or I will randomly select a new winner via Random.Org.   Thanks to all that entered and a huge Thanks to GourmetGiftBaskets.com! 

Executive Gift Shoppe Review and $50 Giveaway!

I am so excited to share a great online store that I have recently discovered.  The Executive Gift Shoppe “started as a small personalized gift store in Nanuet, NY in 1999 catering to the wedding & corporate gift industry. We built our reputation by providing unique, engraved & personalized gifts at affordable prices. Over the years, [they] have added thousands of new products, many personalized and many that aren't. One thing that hasn't changed is [their] commitment to quality and, more importantly, [their] commitment to customer service."

The Executive Gift Shoppe offers a huge variety of items from leather business card holders, personalized flasks, and even top of the line watches.  Choosing an item for review was very difficult.  I was torn between buying something for my hubby (he would have loved the fold and go putter), something for myself (have you checked out the bags?), or something for the family.  In the end, I decided to choose something that the whole family would get to use.

I decided to review the Malibu Insulated Cooler Tote with Picnic Service for two (in Olive Green).  Our family is always taking long car trips or hanging out at the park.  This picnic tote is perfect for both.   Not only is the Olive green color very stylish, but the Polyester material is very durable.  The inside liner is removable which is a huge plus in my book.  Messes are bound to happen and I love just how easy it is to clean up.  This is not your every day cooler tote.  This tote comes with all the necessary items you would need for the perfect picnic.  Just check out what’s included:

·  Insulated cooler

·  Deluxe picnic service for 2

·  Removable water-resistant liner

·  Two bottle wine section

·  12 can capacity

·  Made of polyester canvas

·  2 Wine glasses (acrylic)

·  2 Napkins (cotton 14 x 14 in.)

·  1 Corkscrew (waiter style stainless steel)

·  1 Cutting board (wood 6 x 6 in.)

·  1 Cheese knife (stainless steel w/wood handle)

·  2 Plates (melamine 9 in.)

·  2 Ea. Knives forks & spoons (stainless steel)

·  2 Napkins (cotton 14 x 14 in.)

·  Dimensions : 15.75" x 9.5" x 11.75"

·  Features the Executive Gift Shoppe Guarantee

I love the great quality and fast shipping guarantee from Executive Gift Shoppe.  With the holidays quickly approaching, I know where I will be looking for unique gifts for the men in my family.  And thanks to Pete, the generous owner of Executive Gift Shoppe, one lucky reader of Between the Lines will have an opportunity to win any product up to $50.  Pete is also offering the winner free shipping on their item choice!  Thanks to the Executive Gift Shoppe for this wonderful opportunity!

Mandatory Entry:  “Like” Executive Gift Shoppe on Facebook and come back here telling me you did.  Winner will have to give their Facebook name for verification.

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)

~ Sign up for Executive Gift Shoppe’s Newsletter (5)

~ Follow Executive Gift Shoppe on Twitter (3)

~Follow Between the Lines (3)         

~ Subscribe to my email (5)

~ Grab my button and leave a link of where it’s displayed (5)

~Add me to your Blogroll and leave a link (5)

~ Follow me on Facebook (5)

~Follow me on Twitter (2)

~ Add my Spotlight Saturday button and leave a link (5)

~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)

~ Enter another one of my giveaways (1 each)

~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)

~Make a purchase from Executive Gift Shoppe (10)

This giveaway will end on September 24th @10p.m Eastern

Giveaway open to US and Canada only.  Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a picnic tote in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review.

Sweaty Bands Review

For years, I’ve been running to keep in shape.  I’d never run more than 30-40 minutes a day, so the fact that my headband didn’t stay up for the entire run didn’t bother me too much.  They’d keep the hair out of my eyes for the first part of my run, but once I started working up a sweat, they’d slip right off.  Now that I’m training for a marathon, I was in desperate need of something that would stay put.  That is why I was so thrilled to learn about Sweaty Bands.

For my next Sweaty Bands Purchase

At Sweaty Bands they’ve turned “perspiration into a fashion sensation! Sweaty Bands are the ultimate sports and fitness headband, uniquely designed for women and girls who want to show their style, even when they sweat a while!”   Sweaty Bands offers a great variety in fabrics and two different sizes, thin or thick.   There are so many colors in styles that you can wear them to workout in or with your favorite casual outfit.

Me and my Sweaty Band (Picture by my 4-year old)

Sweaty Bands differs from the typical sports headbands you find in stores because of its velvet like backing.  The material not only keeps the headband from slipping, but is also absorbed the sweat to keep it out of my eyes.  A big plus in my book.  Now I can’t wait to pick my race outfit, so I can order a new Sweaty Band to match!  You can order your own Sweaty Band from about $15.00.  Or you can purchase a 6-pack for around $84 (sale price).

Tricky Trivia

What is the most popular car color in the US?

Take a guess in the comments below.

Blogmania Featured Shop: Clutch That

Are you looking for a new clutch? One with style? Rosemary, from the Etsy shop Clutch That, is sure to have something for you. All of Rosemary’s beautifully unique clutches are hand made out of the highest quality material. Rosemary specializes in “Peacock Clutch purses, brides and bridesmaids clutch purses, evening bags and many other clutch bag styles”. Each bag she creates are done with the greatest care and “attention to detail”. On orders of 3 or more, Rosemary offers complimentary embroidered personalization. Include a monogram or even a special date.

When you have a chance, take a minute to check out this lovely Etsy Shop. Your new bag may be waiting for you there!  Or you never know, you may be the lucky winner of your choice clutch during our Huge Blogmania Giveaway!  Don't Miss Blogmania September 15-16!

Hotel Horrors

**As I am feeling a little under the weather, I thought I'd share a post from a time when I only about 20 followers.  I'd love to hear what all my new blogging friends think.**

As my friends and I were discussing the possibility of a girls’ getaway weekend, I decided that it was time to disclose one of my greatest phobias. Hotel Rooms!!!! The very thought of a sleeping in a hotel makes me cringe. You never know what has happened in that room, who has been sick, or what little critters they have left behind.


Generally, hotel maids leave rooms looking presentable and clean. But research has proven that looks can be very deceiving. Of course, most people are aware that a hotel bathroom isn’t as clean as home, but are they aware of where else the germs are hiding? While the showers and toilets are scrub after each patron’s stay, other surfaces are not so lucky. The sinks, floors, and light switches are seldom disinfected and can easily be carrying the last person’s flu germs on them. Even the simple act of walking barefoot in the bathroom could have you taking home a new case of athlete’s foot.


The sleeping area is not any better. Although the sheets are laundered after each person’s visit, the bedspread and comforters are seldom cleaned. And the mattresses, of course, cannot be cleaned. Therefore they are the home to many critters that you may or may not be able to see. Although the common dust mites are too small for our eyes to see, bed bugs are just big enough. If you pull down the sheets in your hotel room and look closely, you may be able to make out some tiny red or brown spots. Those are your friendly neighborhood bed bugs. If you suspect you see them, but aren’t sure, grab a hair dryer and point it at the mattress. Bed bugs are attracted to heat and as they cluster together they will be easier to identify.


When planning a vacation, it would be smart to include some disinfectant wipes to your packing list. The wipes may save you from picking up a virus that is lurking on the doorknobs, remote control, ice bucket, telephone, or lamps. A simple wipe down of the hard surfaces may prevent your vacation from being spoiled.  What are your feelings on hotels?  Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Tricky Trivia

The first television broadcast of the Oscars took place in______, hosted by ______________ on ______.

Take a guess in the comments below.

Simple Sunday Twitter Hop

Welcome to the

Simple Sunday Twitter Hop .

Hosted by Survey Junkie, Between the Lines ,

Its Me Melbie & Crazy Daisy.

With this weeks Guest Host Baybee Luv

<center><a href="http://www.betweenthelines-kel.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af324/staycee413/Twitwith4blogs.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /> </center> Grab a cup of coffee & join us every SundayYou can gain new Twitter followers, find some great blogs & bloggers in the process.
Have Fun !!!
Plus every week we will draw a random guest host to fill our #5 seat :)
How it Works
1. Follow blogs 1 -5 ( we will follow back )
2. Add your Twitter URL ( not your blog url or giveaways)
3. Snag our new button to use in a post about the Simple Sunday Twitter Hop
4. Follow as many ppl. as you would like & follow everyone back that follows you :)
( This is not a giveaway linkup & anything other than your Twitter url's will be deleted ) Link up every Sunday at 12:00 am est !!