Spotlight Saturday Blog Hop

It's Spotlight Saturday Hosted By

Between the Lines, Survey Junkie, and Little Yaya's

<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 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 Jasey from Crazy Daisy! 

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! )


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Don't Miss Spotlight Saturday!

Don't forget tomorrow is Spotlight Saturday!  Hope you all come back in the morning to join us, along with Survey Junkie and Little Yaya's, for our fun little Blog Hop with a twist!!!  Link up your own blog and another that you would love to share with the rest of us!  Linky opens at midnight!

Tricky Trivia

What it estimated time that a plastic container can resist decomposition?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Painful Oddities

Last night I woke up with a painful charley horse in my calf (This is not the first time). As I rubbed it out and fought back my tears, I began to wonder where in the world this pain had come from. For those of you unfamiliar with charley horses, it is a leg/foot cramp that hits suddenly when the muscles contract. The pain is usually intensified if you try to stretch it because the muscles are so tightly constricted. It is usually a good idea to massage it out for a bit before attempting to stretch it out S-L-O-W-L-Y! Charley horses were my ultimate enemy during both of my pregnancies, but they hadn’t bothered me much since. So I decided it was time to do a little research. Leg cramps or charley horses are often the result of muscle fatigue, dehydration, heavy exercises, electrolyte imbalance, side effect of certain medications, and being overweight. You can easily prevent many leg cramps by simply staying hydrated, stretching often, and not overdoing your workouts. In my case, it is possible that I overdid a workout, but it is more likely that I wasn’t keeping myself hydrated enough. It is easy to let life distract you, but after last night I’ll be sure to increase my water intake!


While I was researching charley horses, I began to wonder about other minor irritations and why they occur. Canker sores, for example, bother my husband and I at least 4-5 times a year. Despite the fact that canker sores are the most common sores found in mouths, most people don’t know what they are and why they form. That is probably because doctors themselves aren’t 100% sure. Canker sores are not contagious like cold sores, so they can’t be passed from person to person. Doctors suspect that they are caused by a reaction of the immune system. So if the body has to fight off a bacterial or viral infection, you may be more likely to develop a canker sore. Stress and the overuse of anti-inflammatory medication are also contributing factors in canker sore development. Thankfully, there are many methods of treatment that can speed up the healing process. According to eMedicinehealth.com, “Try rinsing your mouth with a solution of ½ teaspoon salt dissolved in 8 ounces of water. Another mixture that may be helpful consists of 1-2 tablespoons of Maalox mixed with ½ tablespoon of liquid diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Swish a teaspoonful in your mouth and spit it out. This can be done four times a day. Liquids or ointments with a numbing ingredient such as benzocaine (Anbesol, Oragel, Orabase, Zilactin-B, Tanac) help relieve the discomfort of canker sores. Using these treatments won’t cure the canker sore, but they will help relieve pain and lessen the chance of reoccurrence. What other painful oddities have you baffled?


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

Tricky Trivia

How long can a snail sleep?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Veggie Tales: Twas the Night Before Easter Review

I was introduced to Veggie Tales about nine years ago when my niece was born.  Even as an adult I was hooked on the fun, yet meaningful, stories presented by Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato.  When my children were born, I was introduced to more silliness of the Veggie Tale family, including their favorite Junior the Asparagus.  If your children have yet to meet this fun loving family, they have definitely been missing out.  Every Veggie Tale show, movie, or song teaches a valuable life lesson in a fun, unique way that children can understand. 

Big Idea, Inc. has just released all new Veggie Tale movie called, Twas the Night Before Easter.  Although, we may often get caught up in the commercial aspects of the Holidays, it is important to remind our kids the real meaning behind them. Twas the Night Before Easter was the perfect, fun way of doing this.  My girls love the silliness and the music that comes along with the Veggie Tales and I love that they come away from the movie asking important questions.

DVD Synopsis

It’s Easter time in Crisper County and cable news reporter Marlee Meade is hunting for a way to help others. She cooks up a plan to save the old theater with a cast of costume-clad townies, massive props and a 20-foot robot rabbit to perform “Up With Bunnies.” Now there’s only one thing missing – the star of the show! When word spreads that singing sensation Cassie Cassava (Melinda Doolittle) is arriving to perform in her hometown church’s Easter service, Marlee schemes to steal the starlet for her own pageant! But when things go haywire, will it be curtains for Marlee’s dreams – or will she discover the true meaning of Easter and what helping others is really all about?



I definitely recommend sharing this wonderful DVD with the little ones in your life.  And if stick around and watch it with them, you are sure to enjoy it too!  Happy Spring!!!

VeggieTales® on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/veggietales

Disclosure:  I received a free DVD in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to give a positive review,

Texting and Driving

Do you text and drive? Has this resulted in your heart stopping a few times because you’ve almost run off the side of the road? According to a study done by the University of Utah, cell phone distractions slow a driver’s reaction as much as a blood alcohol level of .08 percent. Slower reaction times result in drivers to cause four times as many accidents (NHTSA). According to Mark Keel, who oversees the state’s troopers as director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, “…a national safety study recently… said that for every six seconds a person is texting while driving, their eyes are off the road four-and-a-half seconds,”. That single statistic scares the life out of me. Think about how far a person traveling at 65 miles per hour can go in those four-and-a-half-seconds. How many people are they endangering because they couldn’t wait to send or check an incoming text? Don’t believe me??? Check out this short YouTube video and see for yourself: 



If after watching that video you still feel you won’t be able to resist checking those incoming text messages, check out this new alternative. “DriveSafe.ly is a mobile application that reads text (SMS) messages and emails aloud in real time and automatically responds without drivers touching the mobile phone.” (http://www.drivesafe.ly/). My husband tested out this application last night, in the safety of our home. He sent himself an email and within 30 seconds his Blackberry was reciting the email back to us. Now we have no excuse to take our eyes off the road. No urgent texts or emails will be missed.


Please share the YouTube link with all those you care about, as I have shared it with many friends over the past year. Let’s work together to get our roads safer for everyone.

Cheesecake Anyone?

A delicious giveaway from Cheesecake.com ends tonight at 10pm est.  Don't miss your chance to have a freshly made Cheesecake sampler delivered to your door!  Head over HERE to enter!

Tricky Trivia

What was the first CD pressed in the US?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Does Make up Really Expire?

Do you have a drawer of make-up that you keep, just in case? You know what I mean, the purple eye shadow that you just might need. Or the perfect shade of lipstick, if you ever get a tan. Although some make-up comes with an expiration date on it, I always wondered if it really could expire. Is it ok to have that just in case make-up? After a little perusing of the internet I discovered that make-up can indeed expire. The problem us women will face though is that the expiration date on the make-up is not really accurate. Make-up that is store incorrectly will expire long before the actual expiration date, just as make-up that is stored properly will have a longer life than it has been labeled. If you are interested in a suggested length, however, here you go:

Concealer – 6 to 8 months (If it starts to smell funny, however, toss it!)

Water based foundation (compact) – up to 12 months

Oil based foundation (compact) – up to 18 months

Liquid Foundations – 3 to 6 months

Powder - 1 to 2 years

Eye Liner – Up to 3 years if you sharpen it regularly (If you develop an eye infection, don’t reuse it.)

Eye Shadow – Up to 3 years

Lip Liner – 1 to 2 years

Lipstick – 1 to 2 years depending on how you store it (hint: keeping it in your car is not a good idea!)

Mascara – 3 to 4 months (As with the eye liner, if you develop an eye infection, throw it away.)

With all make-up, use common sense. If it looks or smells different than it out to, don’t use it. Changes in your product will begin from the first time you open it. As soon as it is exposed to air and to your face, it begins collecting bacteria. Make sure to keep your brushes and sponges clean to avoid unnecessary infections. Do you have a “just in case” make-up drawer? Do you ever end up using it or does it go to waste?

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

Educational Toys Planet Review

Since my children were born, their curiosity and thirst for knowledge was apparent.  The two of them have been soaking up knowledge around them since day one and never get tired of asking questions and discovery the exciting answers.  So it is no surprise that they were very excited to receive My First Penguin Kit from Education Toys Planet.

The My First Penguin Kit introduced my girls to life of a penguin.  They learned about the wide variety of species, they watched their own baby hatch and grow, they discovered the importance of feathers, and even shared the penguins Fish Pops!

My girls, like most children, believed that all penguins looked the same and were the same size.  They were excited to discover the differences in the penguins and especially excited to discover how tall an Emperor Penguin is.

Their favorite part of this Science Kit, was taking care of their baby penguin. Their baby started as an egg and they practiced trying to keep it warm with their feet. Next, we stuck in a bowl of water and waited for it to hatch.  Of course, my youngest didn't want the baby to be all alone, so she stuck some sea creature friends in the bowl too. Once the egg hatched, we had a tiny baby penguin.  But the fun didn't stop there.  We left the penguin the water for a few days and he grew so big that he couldn't fit in our bowl any longer.  So the girls took him out and played with him until he shrank again.  Then they stuck him in water again and her grew back!

You should head over to Educational Toys Planet and check out all of their great toys for kids of all ages.  From science kits to activity tables, you will find the perfect gift idea for the little loves in your life. 

Tricky Trivia

Who was the world's first billionaire?

Take a guess in the comments below !

Must Visit: Beaches

 All this snow has had me daydreaming about warm sunny beaches. Not just any beaches, but quiet beautiful beaches. So after a little research, I have found some of the nicest beaches in the world.

Anse Source d'Argent, Seychelles is a definite must see beach. This beautiful beach is made out of soft pink sand with a great coastline to explore. If you enjoy snorkeling, the reef right off the coast is waiting for you.

Lanikai Beach, HI is another must see beach. This breathtaking beach, located in Kailua, Oahu, is a favorite swimming spot even among the locals. “An offshore coral reef protects the deep turquoise lagoon, making the surf relatively mild and ideal for splashing around as well as kayaking, sailing, canoeing, and windsurfing.” (Sherman Travel Editors). If you get a chance to visit this little paradise, be aware there are no lifeguards and the waters may have Portuguese Man-O-War (especially June-September).

Manly Beach, Australia may be a little more crowded than the first two beaches, but it is just as beautiful. As we are dealing with cold and snow here in the U.S., the summer heat is just beginning in Australia. If you are looking for a little night life after relaxing on the beach all day, Manly Beach is the place for you. The busy city of Sydney, Australia is just a few miles away.

Plage Malendure, Guadeloupe is a black sand beach located at the base of a “jungle covered mountain”. For those of you looking for a quiet beach with scuba diving, snorkeling, and hiking, this is definitely the place for you.


Where are your must see beaches? Are they peaceful or full of life? Are they local or exotic?


Grab a latte, put up your feel, and join the discussion!

Four New Winners!

Congratulations to traciet!  She is the winner of the Baby Einstein giveaway.  Out of 168 entries, traciet won with comment #16, "Like Baby Einstein on FB."  Our winner has 48 hours to claim her prize or another winner will be randomly selected.  Thank you so much for everyone who entered and HUGE thank you to Baby Einstein for offering such a great giveaway!

Congratulations to Inquiring Mind, fdigsby, and Cheryl!  They are the winners of the Supergirl/Nastia Liukin giveaway.   Our winners have 48 hours to claim their prizes or another winner will be randomly selected.  Thank you so much for everyone who entered and HUGE thank you to Supergirl for offering such a great giveaway!

Kellogg's Share Your Breakfast

When you have a free minute today, swing on over to A Nut in a Nutshell to learn more about how a simple picture can help hungry children get free breakfast while at school!  If you have a free minute, you can feed a child!

Tricky Trivia

Who is the world's largest distributor of toys?

Take a guess in the comments below.

Is It Really That Time Already?

This week will begin a period of time that I have been dreading for about two years.  Since my eldest daughter stepped onto the school bus for her first day of kindergarten, I have been secretly holding on tighter to my youngest.  How they grow up so fast is still a mystery to most moms and I wish I had discovered a way to slow down the process.  This week begins the kindergarten registration process for my youngest.  My last little baby is preparing to start her school career.  I know it won't sound like a big deal to most, but for some reason it makes me feel very sad.  On a positive note, I  know that she is ready.  She is a very smart and social little girl.  And I suppose, if she decides to love Kindergarten, that will make easier on me.  Does anyone else notice that their children are growing up faster than you want?  Would you rather keep them home longer or are you just ready to get them out of the house?  Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Blogmania Exclusive Color Challenge (Contest and Giveaway)