Saturday, July 30, 2011

Spotlight Saturday Blog Hop

It's Spotlight Saturday Hosted By







Between the Lines



Welcome to our fun 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 is I'm Spotlighting Jodi from Magical Mouse Schoolhouse!
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! )



Friday, July 29, 2011

Summer Pantry Crackdown

Now that summer is upon us and that dreadful bathing suit must make an appearance, it is time clean out that pantry. I have gotten away with not wearing a bathing suit in quite some time, but with the pool open and my husband at work, I guess I’m going to have to get in. So with that in mind, let’s start the cleaning. My weakness is baked goods. Breads, cookies, pastries…I love them all. So an easy fix for this weakness, is to just stop baking. So, the first thing I’m going to do is toss my sugar. Luckily, I really didn’t have much left so I don’t feel too wasteful. The only thing I ever use sugar in is baked goods. And without it, I can’t bake. The next thing that must go is the crackers! Boxes of crackers are not good to have in the pantry. I can’t just eat a handful of Cheez-its or Wheat Thins and be satisfied. I just munch on them occasionally throughout the day without even realizing it. So out with crackers and in with the Goldfish. This way my kids can still have a cracker treat that won’t tempt me. Thankfully, I never have chips or sugary snacks in the house because I don’t want my kids eating them. Since we’ve never had them, we won’t miss them.  What items are in your pantry that shouldn’t be? What is your weakness? How long could you give it up? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!


Thursday, July 28, 2011

Build a Dream Playhouse Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Cari!  She is the winner of our Build a Dream Playhouse.  Out of 222 entries, Cari won with comment number 154 (Adding us to her blog roll).   The winner has 48 hours to accept her prize or another winner will be randomly selected.   Thanks to everyone who entered and a huge thank you to Build a Dream Playhouses for sponsoring such a fun giveaway!

Kidorable Giveaway (With Discount Code)

“In 1997, Kidorable sprung from the minds, hearts and efficiency apartment of Liping and Jonathan Domsky. They proclaimed, "The world needs someone to create children's apparel and accessories that are both functional and fun. We can do that."”   And they did just that.  Kidorable is a fun company that sells umbrellas, raincoats, Rain Boots, backpacks, Hooded Towels, scarves, decorative hangers, and much more!  All of their items are designed in fun themes for both boys and girls.

My girls love their Butterfly Raincoat and Umbrella.  The raincoat is a perfect fit for my older daughter and is so well made that I know my younger daughter will be using it in a few years.  And they both love the look of matching their umbrella and raincoat.   They also love their Ballerina Rain BootsThey are actually cuter in person than in the picture and my daughter absolutely loves them.  She actually wears them in the house pretending she is a Ballerina.   If ballerinas aren’t for your kids, check out all their other great themes.  Our favorites were the fairies, mermaids, lotus flower, and lady bug.  But we have a house full of girls.  If you have some handsome young men in your house, they may love the frog, dinosaur, fire truck, or pirates.If butterflies aren’t for your kids, check out all their other great themes.  Our favorites were the fairies, mermaids, lotus flower, and lady bug.  But we have a house full of girls.  If you have some handsome young men in your house, they may love the frog, dinosaur, fire truck, or pirates.
 
Do your kids want to go back to school with the cutest boots?  From August 8 - 22, you can get 20% off their impossibly cute Rain Boots. Just use coupon code SCHOOL at checkout on www.kidorable.com.


 Buy it: Buy your own Kidorable items today!  Prices range from around $11.50 - $45.00.
Win it:  Thanks to the generous people from Kidorable, one lucky reader of Between the Lines will win their choice of Rain Boots.  Simply visit Kidorable and let me know which Set you would choose.    Please leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win!

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)
~ Follow Kidorable in Facebook (3)
~ Sign up for Kidorable Newsletter (3)
~ Follow Kidorable 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 current giveaways (1 each)
~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)


This giveaway will end on August 11th @10p.m Eastern
Giveaway open to US 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: . The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no  compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Boost Your Buzz $1,000 Giveaway Preview


Survey Junkie


Enter the Boost Your Buzz $1,000 Giveaway! One lucky person is going to win $1000 USD paid via Paypal!
Gain entries in this giveaway by following Between the Lines!
The giveaway starts August 1st 12 am EST  and will run until August 15th 11:59 pm EST and is open worldwide. 
$1,000 CASH prize will be delivered via Paypal after the winner has confirmed. The winner has 48 hours to confirm their winning notification.  If the winner does not respond within 48 hours of receipt of the winning email a new winner will them be drawn and so on and so forth.
Boost Your Buzz $1,000 Summer Giveaway can be entered on Survey Junkie,  Simply Stacie or Little Yaya’s (you only have to enter on one of the sites as the forms will be the same on each

Recipe Corner: Grilled Corn

Now that grilling season is well underway, I have to share my all time favorite corn recipe.  I shared this recipe last summer,but  for all you new readers out there, I wanted to share. It takes a little prep the first time because you have to make the Essence seasoning, but then you have it stored for future use. I do not have the words to do this recipe justice. It is just that good! I hope you try it and enjoy! (Unlike the recipe, I removed the husks before grilling. Just our preference.)

Ingredients

• 4 ears yellow or white corn in their husks
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lime, quartered
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro leaves

Directions
- Pull back the husks on the corn and remove the silk. Pull the husks back into place and soak the corn in a large bowl of water for at least 2 and up to 4 hours. Remove and drain on paper towels.

- Preheat the grill.

- In a small bowl, mix the butter, Essence, salt, and pepper until smooth. Pull the husks down and spread 1 tablespoon of the mixture evenly over each ear of corn. Pull the husks back into place, tying the ends if necessary to keep in place.

- Place on the grill and cook until the kernels are tender, about 20 minutes, turning occasionally.

- Remove from the grill and carefully peel back the husks. Place on a platter and squeeze lime juice over each cob. Sprinkle with the cilantro and serve immediately.

Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning ):

• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

Yield: about 2/3 cup

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Open Discussion: Mom Faces Jail Time

Have any of you heard of Tara Keener?  She is an ER Nurse and loving mother who now faces the possibility of jail time.   Why does she face jail time?  Because she tried to save her son's life.    I know what you're thinking, "What????"   I thought the same thing.  This all started because the Pennsylvania mother saw her son slumped over in a school bus with children surrounding him.  The children were yelling that they couldn't get him to move and that they couldn't wake him.   Worried that her son was seriously in trouble, Ms. Keener rushed onto the school bus to try to save him.  The driver warned her that it was illegal for her to come onto the bus, but she was focused solely on her son.  It turned out, her son was just in a deep sleep and was fine.   Despite the situation, the bus driver reported Ms. Keener. A few days after the incident, a trooper told her she wasn't going to be charged. But almost five months later Keener discovered that she was indeed facing a third-degree misdemeanor, an offense that could lead to jail for a year, and a $2,500 fine.

Did you know that it is illegal to board a school bus?  If you thought your child was in danger, would you board the bus regardless?  Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Sea-Band Review and Giveaway


Remember a couple of weeks ago when I shared a great giveaway from Sea-Band with you?  Well, now I've tried it out and I can't wait to share my experience with you.  As any parent can tell you, a family road trip usually involves kids whining “are we there yet?” or “can we stop? I feel sick.” Answering the first question may present a challenge, but Sea-Band Drug Free Nausea Relief Bands may prevent the second question from even being asked!   But of course, kids aren't the only ones who get car sick.  In my family, I am the one who gets car sick.  I have had problems with it since I was a child.  My poor parents have had to deal with a sick kid in the car more than once.  



Last week, we went on a long car trip to the beach.  Before the trip began I put on my new Sea-Band Drug Free Nausea Relief Bands.  I got a few teasing jabs from my husband.  But despite his disbelief, I was determined to find out if they really worked.  Approved by the FDA, Sea-Band works by exerting constant, gentle pressure on a point on the inner wrist known as the Pericardium 6 (P6) acupressure point. It brings effective relief within five minutes of being applied and can be used before or after the onset of nausea. The all-natural, drug-free, latex-free Sea-Band does not cause the side-effects often associated with anti-nausea medication such as drowsiness, disorientation, dry mouth or possible interactions with other drugs. It’s safe for children, pregnant women and patients taking prescription medications.  I am happy to report that this was the first car trip that I can remember not getting sick!



Sea-Band Relief Bands are not only great for motion sickness, but also for those suffering from morning sickness, chemotherapy nausea, post-operative nausea, and nausea as a result from a Migraine.   Sea-Band also sells a Ginger Anti-Nausea Gum.  This gum has been such a relief to me.  I have been suffering from severe migraines for the last few months.  Often my migraines bring me to the point of vomiting.   Since I've had the Anti-Nausea Gum from Sea-Band, I have reduced my nausea by 95%!   I will continue to buy their Ginger Gum as long as I suffer from Migraines.   


If you are interested in trying Sea-Band's Relief Bands or Ginger Gum, you can purchase them at their site or from local mass market retail, supermarkets and drug stores in the US or Canada.  Thanks to the generosity of Sea-Band, one of you lucky readers will also win their own Relief Bands and a pack of Ginger Gum.


Mandatory Entry: Visit Sea-Band's website and leave me a comment telling me something that you learned.  Please remember to leave your email address so that I can contact you if you are the winner.
Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)
~ Follow Sea-Band on Facebook (3)
~Follow Between the Lines (3)   
~ Follow me on Facebook (5)
~Follow me on Twitter (2)
 ~ 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)
~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)
~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)


This giveaway will end on August 8th @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: . The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received sea bands and ginger gum for my review nor but I was not under any obligation to give a positive review. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Pink Dandy Sunday Blog Hop


Welcome to the Pink Dandy Sunday Blog Hop!





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Between the Lines



Blog



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How does this blog hop work?


1. Make sure to follow Pink Dandy Chatter and Between The Lines so that we can follow you back!!

2. To ensure that Pink Dandy Chatter will follow you back, you need to make sure and leave a comment (below on this post) saying that you are a new follower and also leave a link to your blog.

3. Add your blog name and the URL to one of your favorite posts on the Linky below.

4. Please follow at-least 2 blogs on the list that appeal to you

5. Your blog must be family friendly ONLY. Explicit sites will be removed from the list.