Shhhhh! Just between u&me

February's $100 Amazon Twitter Blast

2012-02-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the next segment of the $100 Amazon Twitter Blast where you can win a $100 amazon card provided by us to you. Take your time to fill out the form following the Twitter accounts as you go. As long as you have your Twitter name on one of the entry forms, you do not have to put it in all to make it easier for you to enter. Come back do them all, and you get a bonus entry! Are you a blogger that wants in on the fun? You can join in late here to this event, or you can sign up for the other ones combined in with this one at the same rate.
Read more »

Day 45 of 366

2012-02-14T23:30:00.000-05:00

Click here to check out a picture of the Tasty Valentine's Day present I got, as a part of my 366 day photo challenge.

Sign up NOW for Facebook Blast and Twitter Blast

2012-02-14T11:03:00.001-05:00

Facebook Blast & Twitter Blast

What is a Facebook & Twitter Blast?

This is an event a blogger can join to boost their Facebook & Twitter accounts.

Then I will provide the prize-$100 Amazon code to the winner. (One for each event)

You can buy in to 4 events (that is $2.50 per event) for $10 per one Facebook & one Twitter account. If you want to include an extra Facebook & Twitter account it will be another $10. Facebook only is $5 and Twitter only is $5.

There will be two Twitter events and two Facebook events in an alternating fashion beginning at the beginning and middle of the event.

What do you need to do to join?

Post about the event with the button above linking back to this post. (Right click save the image)
Send a $10 paypal payment to jennifer@makobiscribe.com with your email address. After I receive the payment, I will send you the form to fill out. This way I won’t have to track payments at the end of the event. It will be sent to the email address you send the paypal from NO EXCEPTIONS. If you do not get it in 24-hours, check your spam, then email me if it is not there.
You will get the instructions once you send payment.
You can post on every blog you have, one post per Facebook and/or Twitter account.
I will email you on the last day of the month and the 14th to remind you.
Once the event is live, you will need to post on your blog. Facebook is optional.

The first event for this cycle is starting on the 15th of Feb.

Week of Love Day 3 - A Valentine's day Love Letter to my Husband

2012-02-14T09:49:00.000-05:00

Today's Love Letter is for my Wonderful Husband.

You are the part of me that I didn't know was missing. You are my best friend, the love of my life, and my soul mate!! I knew from the very beginning that you were the one!! You are an amazing man and an awesome husband & father. I am proud to be your wife and the mother of your children!
You have taken my life to new levels, inspired me and helped me to realize and utilize my inner strength. My love for you has grown over the year to a point of inseparability. I want only to be with you and share everything with you. You have supported me, unwavering throughout my time in school, and I thank you for that. I also thank you for you commitment to this marriage and the constant work involved in keeping it going strong. You are the Homer to my Marge, the Peter to my Lois and like with every cartoon love I will continue to love you no matter what!
I dedicate this song to you:

Week of Love Day 2 - The way I love me!

2012-02-14T00:37:00.004-05:00

Today is all about the love I have for myself, It's a Love Letter to me from me! So here it goes.... First and foremost what really matters is, I love the strength & will power (God given of course) that I have and use daily to endure the trials and tribulations of life. This strength has helped me through teen parent hood, college, and many jobs. Having and utilizing this strength & willpower has given me confidence to continuously pursue happiness and to find my passion.
Now, when it comes to more physical things... I love they way I stay true to my own style, as weird as it may be!!! Liking what I like, wearing what I want and never wavering because of ever changing fashion trends. I adore my size, my shape (or lack thereof). My super skinny frame is something coveted by women all over the world and its the way I am naturally. 30 years and 3 kids later I proudly wear a size 1!! I love my hair! My soft, curly, and long hair; with a little care it bounces, behaves, and gleams in the light. Leaving it natural has been truly rewarding & empowering.
I love who I am. I'm not perfect but I am continuously trying to better myself and become the best me that I can be!

I'm ready for St. Patrick's Day... are you??

2012-02-12T22:00:00.001-05:00

St. Patrick's Day is a big thing in our family, not because we're Irish... but because my son and niece's birthdays are on March 17th. Every year we go out of the way to find unique items to wear in celebration of this fun filled day. But this year I've already got my self and my hubby covered courtesy of Foulmouthshirts.com.

They have some really Funny Irish T-Shirts

My Shirt & My husband's Shirt
So if you like to party big on St. Patrick's Day or just want something cool to wear to get a couple of green beers after work Foulmouthshirts has just what you need.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Week of Love - Day 1

2012-02-12T12:10:00.000-05:00

Valentines Day is this week and I'm taking a que from Yolanda Shoshana of the Modern courtesan Magazine and her Lovefest Challenge, that dares, no double dares the participant to love life and the people in it. Valentine's Day is the one day of the year when most people openly profess their love for one another. I try to show my family I love them everyday, and not just one day out of the year. But it is nice to do something special for your loved ones on Valentine's Day (Love Day as the kids call it). So, this week is going to be my "Week of Love"!! Each day I will dedicate a post to each member of my wonderful household, including myself because if I don't love me how can anyone else love me. So join me all this week in celebrating the love!!

Google+ And Facebook Island Hop (Shared Post)

2012-02-10T23:28:00.003-05:00

Welcome again to another fun blog hop!

I hope you link up with me today right through to Wednesday.

Looking for a hop that doesn't have all the rules? You are in the right place.

Island Hop - Share Your Link - Reciprocate

The hostess of this hop is Colette from jamericanspice.com

I'm participating in and sharing this hop and hope you will participate and share the news with your friends and blog buddies.

Blog hops are great when they are free and blog love is being reciprocated.

Colette (the hostess) is an island girl and I go where the island breeze takes her, so while today might me a link for Facebook likes, next week it might be for twitter or blog comments or another hop. So read, visit others, leave your link, enjoy and make friends!

Theme: Google+ and Facebook follows

Don't forget to add your url to the linky below. Click Post title for linky to show up.
P.S.If you have a twitter account or a giveaway that you would like to share check out my Share Your Shhhhh Everyday Hop Page by clicking here or on the Everyday hop tab above.

Shhhhh is now a (.com)

2012-02-09T14:42:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to say that Shhhhh Just Between U & Me finally has a personal .com URL.

http://shhhhhjustbetweenuandme.com

Shhhhh, I feel like this is the start of bigger and better things Just Between U and Me!!

Me Time

2012-02-08T13:01:00.000-05:00

Like most moms I'm constantly busy with endless household duties, motherly & wifely responsibilities, plus I have school and my blog. Trying to keep up with all these things often leave me feeling drained and frazzled! I constantly struggle with putting myself first and I'm currently reading another book (Fit Moms for Life, that I won as a part of a Planet Weidknecht giveaway), that says that in order to be a better happier me for my family I need more "Me Time". This means regularly...30-45mins most days of the week (or more if I can spare it). So I made time for me today, and what did do... You know it =) Mani Pedi Me Time!!!!!

The product of choice is Sally Hansen, of Course!!

Base Coat Mint Spirit, Top Coat

The base coat and Top coat both in contain acrylic gel + nylon. These ingredients are suppose to help prevent chipping and make the mani or pedi last longer, we'll see about that!!

All in all I love this weeks color choice and even if the new base and top coats don't do what they are suppose to... at least it starts off looking super smooth & shiny like it was professionally done.

It was Me Time well spent!!

P.S.

Don’t forget to stop by and enter my latest giveaways:

30 day supply of Natural House Products ends 2/12

Kindle Fire Giveaway Ends 2/14

$125 Pamper Yourself SpaFinder Giveaway Ends 2/14

$850 Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 2/14

2012 Winter Blogathon Sign-up

2012-02-08T08:53:00.000-05:00

I just signed up to participate in the...

You know all those items on your Blogging To Do list? Those things you’ve been meaning to get to but haven’t had a chance? Now’s your chance to get a large amount of them done!

WHAT IT IS

Callista’s Ramblings is hosting a Blogathon for any blogger to join in and get things done. It’s a 72 hour blogathon, but you aren’t expected to blog for 72 hours straight! Do as much as you can in that time period. If you can do 24 hours straight, awesome! If you can only do one day great. If you want to do all three days but still sleep 12 hours, great. Whatever you can do. If you can only do 2 hours during the whole event, you are still welcome to join. The idea is to set aside as much time as you can to work on your blog.

WHEN IT IS

This one is Mar 9-11, 2012.

WHAT DO I DO

What can you do? Anything! Some ideas:

Transfer your blog to wordpress (if you want)
Write up some blog posts and schedule them.
Catch up on reviews or other posts.
Start a new blog meme or event
Brainstorm ideas for blog.
Start a Social Media profile you don’t have yet./
Change the Design/Template of your blog.
Do the “paperwork” of having a blog
Moderate/Pick Winners of Giveaways that have ended.
Review an Item
Clean up your labels/tags
Read about blogging

As you can see it doesn’t have to always involve the blog directly, maybe not even the computer. You could be sorting review items in your house, brainstorming with pen and paper, or cleaning up your email box.

So if you want to sign up to be a part of this great event head over to Callista's Ramblings to fill out the participation form and get out those to do list.

Day 38 of 366

2012-02-07T10:25:00.001-05:00

Click here to check out my latest cute & quirky find, as a part of my 366 day photo challenge.

Week 5 of my 366 Day Photo Challenge

2012-02-06T21:18:00.000-05:00

I've been so busy that I haven't been able to create posts specifically to let you (my wonderful follower) know that I've posted new photos as apart of my 366 Day Photo Challenge. So, even though my 366 Day Photo Challenge tab is always available for you to click on and stay up to date on my daily photo posts...
You can also click here or on the calender image to check out what you may have missed.

Inspire that Valentine's Romance all year long

2012-02-06T09:55:00.000-05:00

Most of us now a day are so busy with our day to day grind that we have little time for passion in our relationships. We shouldn't have to wait for Valentines's day to be inspired to get romantic!!

We should be bringing the heat all year long!!

I know I (like many moms) have a habit of throwing on the most comfortable thing I can find when bed time comes...and its never anything sexy. With the help of Edenfantasys I'm working on keeping the fires of desire burning continuously by going to bed each night in something silky, smooth, and seductive.

I just purchased some cute, comfy, & most importantly Sexy sleepwear that's sure to make more happen between the sheets then just sleep.

This luscious leopard print shirt and short set brings out the jungle cat in me whenever I wear it.

This sweet & sassy Heart Sleep Set is easy to slip on for lounging around and even easier to slip off when the time is right, ;-) wink ;-) wink

And this Sweet Sensational pajama set feels so good up against my skin and helps bring out my sensual side!!

If you need more then just some silky sleepwear to get thing going Edenfantasys has it all from sex toys for solo play to Fetish toys and couples games that'll curl your toes and send a tingle up your spine.

Click the links below or through out this post to get your passionate adventure underway!!

Free, Fast & Easy...

2012-02-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

Its tax time again... and like every year my husband did our taxes online. He has tried all of the different online tax services and he swears that TurboTax is he best by far.

With TurboTax you'll get your biggest tax refund guaranteed, with 100%accurate calculations and free help and step by step guidance so you areconfident your taxes are done right.
• TurboTax Federal Free Edition
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• Guides you likea GPS through your simple tax return(when referring to TurboTax Federal FreeEdition)

So if you want to keep your tax return money rather then giving most of it to one of those other tax prep companies... Click the link and get TurboTax Federal Free Edition.

Movie night with your Valentine

2012-02-04T23:30:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day is right around the corner... and if you're like me you want to spend some quality time with your Sweetheart on the most romantic day of the year with out spending your life savings. Well... with the great deals below you and your Valentine can cuddle up together and watch some quirky love stories. Using coupons like these on your Valentine's date night means money left over for flowers and chocolates for you.

Sing a long Saturday (music I love)

2012-02-04T14:13:00.000-05:00

P.S.

Don’t forget to stop by and enter my latest giveaways:

$100 + Visalus Balance Kit Giveaway Ends 2/7

30 day supply of Natural House Products ends 2/12

Kindle Fire Giveaway Ends 2/14

$100 Amazon Gift Code Giveaway Ends 2/14

$125 Pamper Yourself SpaFinder Giveaway Ends 2/14

Celebrating Black History Month - I Too Have a Dream!

2012-02-01T13:09:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day of Black History Month. During this time we celebrate and learn about contributions made by African Americans and people of African descent around the world. It was started by an African American man named Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926. Back then, it was called Negro History Week and was celebrated the second week of February. Now it is celebrated for the whole month of February in the United States and Canada, and the month of October in the United Kingdom.

In honor of Black History Month and in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, that I was unable to commemorate on January 16th because I was so busy with school, I want to share my dream for my children as they grow into strong adult African Americans.

As a mother I dream big dreams for my children. I want them to have the best possible life doing things that they love to do. So, just looking at my children now at 13, 6, and 4 this is what I could see them excelling at when they grow up.

For my Darling Daughter (now 13) because of her love of negotiations and being right, I see her living in New York City with a successful Law career on the fast track to partner at a very reputably law firm. I see her achieving that highly sought after balance between career and family while being able to give back to the community by doing Pro-Bono work.

For my 6 year old son because he has a passion for constructing elaborate buildings and vehicles with Legos, I envision him becoming an Architectural or Automotive Engineer. Establishing himself as a world renown designer of unique skyscrapers or automobiles. Happily sketching and assembling models of structures that are sure to stand out and above the rest.

And lastly I imagine my 4 year old son "Mr. Personality" excelling in a variety of different areas. I can see him having a flourishing entrepreneurial career. Being apart of some tremendously successful companies and the founding of amazing and innovative new companies. He has the type of personality that is sure to charm clients, CEOs, and Stock holders alike. I can see him winning the world over with his passion and wit.

As their mother it is my job to support them, teach them, and steer them in the direction of greatness; all while showing them unconditional love and teaching them right from wrong. So Ultimately my dream is that I do my job as their parent well enough that my children grow up to be strong, admirable, upstanding citizens that are sure to do great things in what ever field they choose.

That's my dream, What's yours?

P.S.

Don’t forget to stop by and enter my other giveaways:

$100 + Visalus Balance Kit Giveaway Ends 2/7

30 day supply of Natural House Products ends 2/12

Kindle Fire Giveaway Ends 2/14

$100 Amazon Gift Code Giveaway Ends 2/14

$125 Pamper Yourself SpaFinder Giveaway Ends 2/14

$100 Amazon Facebook Blast (giveaway via rafflecopter)

2012-02-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

Feb 1 9 AM EST to Feb 14 12:01AM

Courtesy of

Jen from all her blogs (Kobiso, Makobi Scribe, Sason and Pobi, etc)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cupids $850 PayPal Cash Giveaway (ends 2/14)

2012-02-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Cupids Cash Giveaway hosted by MamaNYC! I have teamed up with an amazing team of bloggers to bring you a terrific CASH prize that is sure to knock your socks off. One lucky winner is going to receive an amazing $850.00 PayPal CASH prize!

Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below in order to enter this giveaway. Open to residentsWORLDWIDE; 18+. Winner must have a PayPal account in order to claim this cash prize. All entries are optional, but the more completed entries – the higher your chances will be to win this prize.

Good Luck & Have Fun!

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Disclaimer: This giveaway is a self-sponsored group collaborative effort in order to provide a cash prize. Each participant has provided funds in order to present this giveaway. This event is in no way sponsored or affiliated with any company or other individual(s) other than those included within the Rafflecopter widget.

P.S.

Don’t forget to stopby and enter my other giveaways:

$100 + Visalus Balance Kit Giveaway Ends 2/7

30 day supply of Natural House Products ends 2/12

Kindle Fire Giveaway Ends 2/14

$100 Amazon Gift Code Giveaway Ends 2/14

$125 Pamper Yourself SpaFinder Giveaway Ends 2/14

Pamper Yourself $125 Spa Finder Giveaway (ends 2/14)

2012-02-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

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Happy Inspire Your Heart With Art Day

2012-01-31T12:59:00.001-05:00

According to http://holidayinsights.com today is

Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

Its Always on January 31st

Inspire Your Heart With Art Day celebrates art and the effect it can have on your heart. Art is valued and appreciated for all sorts of reasons.

So today the task is to look at a piece of art and ask yourself: What is is telling me? How does it make me feel? What emotions is it evoking (if any) within me?

I chose to share a beautiful painting of women dancing because it reminds me of my love of dance and my time studying dance in high school and briefly during college.

Dance and dance inspired art expresses a sense of grace and beauty.

P.S.

Don’t forget to stopby and enter my latest giveaways:

$100 Amazong Gift Code Giveaway Only hours left to enter

$100 + Visalus Balance Kit Giveaway Ends 2/7

30 day supply of Natural House Products ends 2/12

Kindle Fire Giveaway Ends 2/14

Limited Time Only

2012-01-30T14:59:00.000-05:00

I just posted and extremely outrageous and suggestive video on my Naughty Shhhhh Page that I want everyone to check out. It is hilariously crazy and super naughty. The only caught is that it will only be there for a limited time only. I'm all about sharing things on my blog but this video is not one I wanna be associated with for to long. So click Here or on the Naughty Shhhhh Page Tab above to check it out now, before its gone.

P.S.

Don’t forget to stopby and enter my latest giveaways:

$100 Amazong Gift Code Giveaway Ends 2/1

$100 + Visalus Balance Kit Giveaway Ends 2/7

30 day supply of Natural House Products ends 2/12

Kindle Fire Giveaway Ends 2/14

Day 29 of 366

2012-01-29T22:56:00.002-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab or the image above to check out

"What a Difference a Day Makes!"

P.S.

Don’t forget to stopby and enter my latest giveaways:

$100 Amazong Gift Code Giveaway Ends 2/1

$100 + Visalus Balance Kit Giveaway Ends 2/7

30 day supply of Natural House Products ends 2/12

Kindle Fire Giveaway Ends 2/14

Natural House Products Review & Giveaway (ends 2/12)

2012-01-29T00:52:00.000-05:00

This time of year when we're all cooped up in the house with the windows closed tight to keep out the cold we're inadvertently keeping something else in...Odors!

But Natural House probiotic cleaning products brings you a revolutionary, new method of cleaning the most dirty areas of your home and eliminate strong odors with out leaving behind a strong chemical smell.

Natural House products use an eco-friendly cleaning method ofprobiotics that create a beneficial, odor eating ecosystem to naturally driveout and digest odors at their source. Theirplant-based ingredients are eco-friendly, non-toxic and biodegradable tonaturally fight the toughest problems you face in your house. Theirproduct Trashy cleans andsanitizes your trash can and waste baskets, of all things, and leaves behind afresh minty scent. Natural House products, Sinky and Flushy even breakdown and digest fats, oil, grease, and solid waste to ensure your disposal,pipes, drain lines or septic tank run smoothly. Their cleaners contain good probiotics which continue to scour, clean,consume odors, grime, grease, and germs, and they continue to do sountil your next weekly treatment! I know you wanna know more, Right!? Take a look at Natural House's entertaining and informative video.

Now I know after seeing that you want some of these products foryour home. You can purchase Natural House products directly on our website http://www.naturalhouse.com/products/ or ClickHere to purchase Natural House on Amazon where you can use Amazon perks like"Free Super Saver Shipping" or "Amazon Prime."

Or...

You can enter for your chance to win a 30 day supply of Natural House Products using the super easy Rafflecopter form below. Open to US only. No purchase necessary. You must be 18+ to enter. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveawayI received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

A Simple Things Saturday (video post)

2012-01-28T14:48:00.000-05:00

This is my mother's newest favorite song about the simple things in life.

Please take a moment to listen to the words, I'm sure you will enjoy it!

$100 + Visalus Balance Kit Giveaway ends 2/7 (via Rafflecopter)

2012-01-24T12:33:00.001-05:00

This event is sponsored by Drink Yourself Skinny an Independent Distributor of the Body By Vi 90 Day Challenge. The 90 Day Challenge is not just a weight loss program it is a health and wellness program that can help you loose weight, tone up, or build muscle. Visalus offers those looking to become healthy the ability to refer 3 of their friends or family to the program and get their monthly kit for free. Plus everyone who joins the Challenge is eligible for the prizes, trips, and rewards offered by the company. Every 90 days new winners are chosen in several categories for the biggest overall transformation to win prizes like Hollywood Make-Overs and Tropical Cruises. (PLEASE INCLUDE SOMETHING HERE SO THAT WE ALL DON'T HAVE THE SAME POST AND MAKE GOOGLE UPSET. IT CAN BE PERSONAL STORIES OR YOUR REASON FOR CHOOSING HEALTH THIS YEAR> IT COULD EVEN BE A PICTURE OF YOUR PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION) a Rafflecopter giveaway

My name is Tiffany and i am an addict

2012-01-24T10:03:00.001-05:00

I'm not addicted to alcohol, drugs, pills, or porn. I'm a addicted to... lip balm.

I love the stuff! I can't go very long without re-applying some. When I don't have any on my lips they just don't feel right. While I'm eating I'm thinking about where my lip balm or lip gloss is so I can put some on as soon as I'm done.
TV's Dr. Oz is the one who made me recognize my addiction. He says that there are 3 main signs of lip balm addiction.
1. Do you apply lip balm to your lips more then 3 times a day??
My answer: OMG, Way more then that.

2. Do you keep lip balm in multiple place around the house.
My answer: Definitely! In my housecoat pocket, on the nightstand, in my purse, in the medicine cabinet, and extras in a makeup bag so I never run out.

3. Do you immediately reapply lip balm after kissing?
My answer: Of course! That dries out your lips more then any!!

It's official... I'm an addict!

My mom wants some better friends on Facebook

2012-01-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Are either or both of your parents on Facebook?

My mom is!

She loves Facebook and is on there all the time.

Its nice that she found something online that keeps her attention for more then a couple seconds, but its kind of annoying. Can you guess why??

Day 21 of 366 via webcam

2012-01-21T18:55:00.000-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab or the image above to check out today's photo

A Share the Sunshine Saturday (video post)

2012-01-21T14:36:00.000-05:00

This is a song that I love love love and I just wanted to share this with you (my wonderful followers)

Bryton Pick Review

2012-01-20T10:47:00.000-05:00

I love food! I'm one of those people who graze and snack all day long. I look forward to chances to go to eat and I enjoy going to the movies for the popcorn and snacks more then for the movie. But what I don't like is food getting stuck in my teeth! Getting something stuck in your teeth and not having any floss on hand or not being able to get away to use floss or one of those floss/tooth pick combos, can really ruin an outing.
But now with Bryton Picks I don't have to worry about anymore family functions or date nights ruined by the distraction of having food stuck between my teeth.

Bryton Picks are made from germ resistant stainless steel making it reusable for 30 days, which means no more searching for tooth picks at restaurants or carrying a whole pack of those floss pick combo things. Bryton Picks are designed to promote cleaning between teeth after every meal with their convenient portable go-anywhere credit card size carry pouch.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Check out the following video for more details on how to use Bryton Picks and other users opinions

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Clementine & Five-Spice Chicken (shared recipe post)

2012-01-19T09:10:00.000-05:00

I followed this recipe and my family happily devoured the delicious finished product;

So of course I had to share this recipe with you (my wonderful follower)

This amazing dish is brought to you courtesy of the Detroit Free Press Life/Food section

8 to 10 clementines (mandarins, honey tangerines or oranges work well, too)
Generous 1/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1/4 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns, crushed, or crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon canola oil
4 large, bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 pounds total), skin removed and fat trimmed
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/4 cup small fresh cilantro leaves
1 to 2 thinly sliced green onions
1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Finely grate 1 teaspoon zest and squeeze 1 cup juice from 6 to 8 clementines. Slice the remaining 2 clementines into 1/4-inch-thick round slices. Cut the peel off, discard and set the rounds aside.

In a small bowl, combine the zest, juice, five-spice powder and peppercorns or pepper flakes.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with the salt. Cook the chicken, turning frequently, until browned on both sides, about 5 minutes. Pour in the juice mixture and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook the chicken until just cooked through, 16-18 minutes.

When the chicken is done, transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm. Increase the heat to high and cook the sauce, stirring often, until thickened and reduced to 1/2 to 2/3 cup, 2-4 minutes. Stir in the clementine slices, cilantro, green onions and sesame oil. Serve the chicken with the sauce.

Happy Eating

Visalus $100+ Giveaway Blogger sign-up

2012-01-19T00:32:00.000-05:00

We are all looking to get fit, grab some cash and gain more followers, right?! Well, you can do just that! Sign up here for this awesome giveaway event! Totally free for some word spreading and you gain more facebook followers and you also can enter to win $100 and a Visalus Balance Kit! All of this for free! I'm signing up! Are you?!

Cupids Cash Giveaway Sign up

2012-01-19T00:16:00.001-05:00

MamaNYC will be hosting a giveaway event! Interested and want to participate? Keep reading for additional details.

Heat Up Your Valentines Day Kindle Fire Giveaway (ends 2/14)

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

With the use of Rafflecopter giveaways are pretty self explanatory, so here it is:

Heat Up Your Valentine's Day Kindle Fire Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Power Shopping at you fingertips

2012-01-17T10:08:00.000-05:00

Do you love online shopping but don't have hours to spend online searching for the best deals? That's definitely true for me!! But now with Become.com I can find out who's got the best deals on everything from kids clothing, to security systems like universal transformer model ub16401 with just a few clicks. Become.com is a premiere product research engine for advice on what you're shopping for and where to buy it. Become.com offers a variety of services from buying guides for LCD TVs to product reviews on baby strollers; as well as editorial tips for the hottest online deals and products this season. I was able to use this awesome site to help me find a great deal on garland door hanger to decorate our home over the Christmas holiday season; and to top it all of Become.com has an online coupon page where you can find coupon codes for some of you favorite websites.

So if you love finding exactly what you want online, you'll love the comparison shopping technology and large selectionof products that Become.com has to offer! Don't waste anymore time...click on over and check them out now.

Fabulous Lifestyle List

2012-01-17T09:11:00.000-05:00

Some people call them Life Lists, a Bucket List, or Things To Do Before You Die. I call it a Fabulous Lifestyle list because I wanna be able to look back on my life and amazed at all the things I did.

Read more »

Facebook Blast Blogger sign-up

2012-01-16T14:56:00.000-05:00

What is a Facebook Blast? You the blogger can join for $1.50 with one account – Facebook.

Then I will provide the prize -$100 Amazon code.

click here or on the image above to sign up

Day 15 of 366

2012-01-15T18:38:00.000-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab or the image above to check out today's photo

$100 Amazon Twitter Blast January Edition (giveaway via Rafflecopter)

2012-01-15T09:41:00.000-05:00

Jan 15 11:59 PM EST to Feb 1 12:01
Courtesy of

Amee from Madame Deals and Jen from all her blogs (Kobiso, Makobi Scribe, Sason and Pobi, etc)

Day 13 of 366 Back down memory lane

2012-01-13T15:33:00.000-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab above to check out today's photo and find out bout the trip I took back down memory lane. It makes me want to add one more thing to my bucket list (blog post to come).

Or if you need it to be even easier click here.

Today's the last day to enter my Tyler's Coffee Giveaway don't miss out on your chance to win some great coffee.

Freaky Friday 20 Weird Superstitions (shared post)

2012-01-13T09:57:00.000-05:00

In honor of Friday the 13th Lets take a quick look at 20 Weird Superstitions courtesy of Listverse.com

According to the dictionary, Superstition is an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear. There are superstitions for almost all aspects of our daily lives and most have unknown origins. Sometimes they are logical (for example, don’t walk under a ladder) but most of the time they are ridiculous. Some people can become controlled by their superstitions (such as the fear of walking on cracks) which is very unhealthy. Here is a list of 20 weird superstitions.

1. A bird in the house is a sign of a death

2. A loaf of bread should never be turned upside down after a slice has been cut from it.

3. Never take a broom along when you move. Throw it out and buy a new one.

4. If the first butterfly you see in the year is white, you will have good luck all year.

5. If a black cat walks towards you, it brings good fortune, but if it walks away, it takes the good luck with it.

6. An acorn at the window will keep lightning out

7. A dog howling at night when someone in the house is sick is a bad omen.

8. It’s bad luck to leave a house through a different door than the one used to come into it.

9. A horseshoe hung in the bedroom will keep nightmares away.

10. If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn you will not catch a cold all winter

11. If a mirror in the house falls and breaks by itself, someone in the house will die soon

12. Dropping an umbrella on the floor means that there will be a murder in the house.

13. All windows should be opened at the moment of death so that the soul can leave.

14. If the groom drops the wedding band during the ceremony, the marriage is doomed.

15. To dream of a lizard is a sign that you have a secret enemy.

16. If a friend gives you a knife, you should give him a coin, or your friendship will soon be broken.

17. You should never start a trip on Friday or you will meet misfortune.

18. Dream of running: a sign of a big change in your life.

19. If a clock which has not been working suddenly chimes, there will be a death in the family.

20. It is bad luck to light three cigarettes with the same match.

brought to you by

HYPOTHYROIDISM IN DOGS?

2012-01-12T13:34:00.000-05:00

Guest post thanks to Lemuel Craft.

This morning, after the installers from dishnetwork stopped by, I went took my dog to the vet. I usually take him quarterly. Recently he has gained some weight, enough so that I needed to take him to the vet. Also, he has had some bad skin irritation. I thought that it was just from a drier climate, but when I took him to the vet, there was a whole different reason than I thought. The vet took some blood work and found out that he had low thyroid hormone. I didn’t even know that dogs could have hypothyroidism. I was really upset. I didn’t want anything to be wrong with him, I actually got a little upset when the vet first told me. I was happy to hear that the treatment was better easier than I thought that is was going to be. Henry ( my beagle) only has to take one pill a day. The vest sells the medicine in a six month supply. I was really surprised that the medication only costs sixty dollars for a whole six months. When I heard “hypothyroidism” come out of the vet’s mouth, I thought that it was going to be about three hundred dollars!

Photo Challenge Update

2012-01-12T00:15:00.000-05:00

Are you keeping up-to-date on what I'm posting as a part of my year long photo challenge?

Click on the image below to check out the photos you may have missed.

If you are participating in a similar photo challenge leave a comment with a link to where I can check out what you are posting.

Hump day getaway - Escape

2012-01-11T10:07:00.000-05:00

Queenly tips for living a good life (shared post)

2012-01-09T18:23:00.000-05:00

After reading a great article in USA Weekend about Queen Latifah, I had to take a moment to share some of it with you my awesome readers as a part of my ongoing New Year New You theme.

Break bad habits:

Her mantra? “Be honest. Be aware. And absolutely tryagain. Don’t beat yourself up.”

Attract love:

“You have to not seek it. You have to be it.Love yourself first. It will come to you naturally. You don’t have to fake it.You don’t have to be needy. Be open. And don’t judge the package it comes in.”

Do what you love:

“If you’re passionate about it and it’srealistic, then you have to do it. Why wait? As long you as you’re breathing,you’ve got a chance to do something different.”

Embrace your age:

Getting older is “a blessing. It means you’restill alive.”

Be realistic:

“You gotta be honest with yourself, No. 1. Ifyou like to eat sweets at night, then you’ve got to prepare for it. You have toplan. Instead of eating the whole thing, just eat some of it.”

Give back:

“So many people need help. Sponsor a childinstead of giving a gift, or donate to an organization on someone’s behalf. Ortake your [old] clothes to the Goodwill or Salvation Army. When you give, youcan’t imagine how it’s going to come back to you. It always does.”

USA Weekend article written by Lauren Paige Kennedy; Photography by Larsen & Talbert

Don't forget to enter my Tyler's coffee Giveaway

New Year New You with Brain-Boosting Super Foods

2012-01-09T09:03:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about

The SNACK that makes you SMARTER and 11 Other BRAIN-BOOSTING Super Foods

Click here or on the image above to sign up for the Doctors Health Report to find out about the foods that could not only help you maintain your healthy brain function, but could also help you remember names and places with greater ability to recall. It will be like your mind has turned back the hands of time.

The bestpart, this report is absolutely FREE!

Day 8 of 366 (Even natural takes work)

2012-01-08T19:08:00.001-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab above to check out today's photo and take a look at all the stuff I use to make my hair cute and curly.

Or if you're trying to multi-task like me, I'll make it easier... just click here.

Don't forget to enter my Tyler's Coffee Giveaway

New Year, New You -- Get Organized with Manilla.com

2012-01-08T08:03:00.000-05:00

What is Manilla? Manilla is a free web based service that helps consumers better manage all of their household accounts, including financial, utilities, subscriptions and travel rewards programs, in one secure place online. Under a single password, Manilla provides customers with an automated, organized view of all of their account information, text and/or email reminders to pay bills and unlimited storage of account documents that Manilla has seamlessly retrieved for the consumer.

Why is Manilla necessary? Most people have more than 20 different household accounts, including three to four credit cards, several travel and hotel rewards accounts, multiple magazine and newspaper subscriptions, plus cable, phone, and other assorted utility bills. In order to stay on top of all this, people have to manage daily incoming paper mail, an array of online usernames and passwords, and websites in order to access important account information and take action. Manilla seamlessly retrieves all your account information – current balances, previous payments, upcoming bills due – and stores it for you in one secure place. Most importantly, you need only one password to view, manage and organize it all.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Manilla.

Day 7 of 366 (It's a leap year!)

2012-01-07T22:25:00.001-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab above to check out today's photo and find out how I'm getting the party started!
Yeah, I know that's to much work for a Saturday night... just click here.

Blaze of Glory (Book Review)

2012-01-07T18:31:00.000-05:00

I love to read... so when ever the opportunity comes along to review a new book I jump at it. The latest book in my Library is

Blaze of Glory by M. Garzon

This book is a young adult romance set in the world of Equestrianism (or horseback riding). It's intended for young women (ages 14+)but I would suggest 17+ because that is the age of the characters. Blaze of Glory is fulled with detailed imagery and wonderful story telling that has a way of really drawing you in to the character's life. The main character is Taya (also know as Tea) a seventeen year old who's on her way to a promising equestrian (horseback riding) career. Her life revolves around herfamily, friends, and her horses until one day she gets into an accident and hercareer is put on hold. This book is the tale of how she struggles to find her way back. As an adult reading this book I love the strong relationship between Tea and her brother and how Teaand her stepdad's relationship grows throughout the story. I even enjoyed the strange and taboo star crossed love between Tea and her adopted cousin Jaden. But I am happy that I decided to read this book instead of asking my daughter to review it; because she's only 13 and she's not ready for this type of reading.
All and all I give it 4 out of 5 stars because it was very well written and was hard to but down.
So if you're looking for a good book for yourself or for your teenage daughter I recommend clicking on over and Buy a copy of your own.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

You can Find me on Flawless Bananas

2012-01-07T17:05:00.002-05:00

So as you know I am participating in the 365 day (366 days this year)In case you are not already aware, Project 365 is simply taking one picture a day (or more if you so choose), everyday for the entire year.
Well, Jamie from:and some of her blogger friends are also participating. And I am happy to now be included on that list.

So take a moment and click on over to Flawless Bananas and Check out what photos she's posting this year.

Also don't forget to come back here to take a look at my photos and

Stop by and enter my Tyler's Coffee Giveaway

Day 6 of 366

2012-01-06T19:11:00.001-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab above to check out today's photo and find out what kind if day I'm having.
Or if you need it to be even easier click here.

Don't forget to enter my Tyler's Coffee Giveaway

$100 Amazon Twitter Blast

2012-01-06T12:17:00.000-05:00

What is a Twitter Blast? You the blogger can join for $1 with one account – Twitter. Then we will provide the prize-$100 Amazon card.

Amee from Madame Deals and Jen from all her blogs (Kobiso, Makobi Scribe, Sason and Pobi, etc) are the sponsors!!

What do you need to do to join?

Post about the event with the button linking back to this post. (Right click save the image)
Fill out this form - sign ups close Jan 14th at 9 AM EST.
Post the Rafflecopter on your blog and your Facebook page for the event. You can get it here
Then schedule the giveaway post to go live on Jan 15 11:59 PM EST to Feb 1 12:01
You can post on every blog you have, one post per twitter account
I will email you on the 14th to remind you.

Our strength ... (a shared/guest post)

2012-01-06T11:02:00.000-05:00

Our strength ... an amazing post by Maria of Beach Walking in the Desert

Picture From MysticMama

Strong women don't wait for time, we make it. We don't wait for love, we feel it. We don't wait for money, we earn it. We don't wait for the right path to take, we make one. We don't wait for the right opportunity, we create it. We don't go for less, only the best. We don't compare ourselves to others, we are unique. We don't complain about our misfortunes, we transform them. We don't avoid failure, we welcome challenges. We don't dwell on our mistakes, we learn from them. We don't back down, we find a way around. We don't close our eyes, we open our hearts. We don't run from life, we embrace it! ~Unknown

Day 5 of 366 - I'm feeling a little...

2012-01-05T17:10:00.000-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab above to check out today's photo and the life lesson I learned.

Okay I'll make it easier...

click here.

Day 4 of 366

2012-01-04T16:19:00.000-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab above to check out today's photo and the life lesson I learned.

Okay I'll make it easier...

click here.

Tyler's Coffee Giveaway (ends 1/14)

2012-01-04T10:33:00.000-05:00

If you're a coffee lover or know a coffee lover then this giveaway is right up your alley.

Day 3 of 366

2012-01-03T21:39:00.001-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab above to check out today's photo.

Or if you need it to be even easier click here.

When you think coffee, Think Tylers Coffee (Review)

2012-01-03T09:30:00.000-05:00

If you're a coffee lover like me and you want to try something new that will give you the caffeine jolt that we look to coffee for, without the harsh acid that can upset your stomach...

You gotta try Tyler's Coffee!

Tyler’s Coffee uses a “Z-Roasting” process that optimizes the time the coffee beans are cooked; the result is high levels of caffeine and free of acid. A little cup of joe can mean a big problem for stomachs. Acid levels in coffee, as well as impurities and resins, may wreak havoc on the digestive tract. If you are a coffee drinker with a sensitive stomach you be happy know that with Tyler's Coffee you can still continue enjoying a great cup of coffee whenever they want.

Tyler's Coffee has a Fragrant aroma and bold flavor that reminds the coffee connoisseur in my house to a very repitable donut shop brand of coffee. We can definitely see making the switch to Tyler's Coffee.

But you don't have to take my word for it, Check out this video to see what other people say about Tyler's Coffee.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Day 2 of my 366 day photo challenge

2012-01-02T22:01:00.000-05:00

Click on the 366 day photo challenge tab above or the following image to check out Day 2's photo.

P.S. if you are participating in this challenge leave a comment with a link so I can check out the photos you are posting.

Why I blog...

2012-01-02T14:57:00.000-05:00

I decided to start this year off by sharing a little bit more of me then I normally do. This post is for my new followers, a reminder for my long time followers, and for my own sanity (to help me remember why I do this).

I've kept a journal off and on ever since middle school. I love to write, to express myself with words, images & quotes clipped from magazines and newspaper. As an adult I started to grow tired of journal writing. Then as a stay at home mom with two small boys and very little adult conversation or interaction, I needed a way to journal or express myself in a way that others could read, see, or even hear what I have to say and have an opportunity to comment on it; a way that I could interact with others like myself. I battled over weather or not I should become a blogger and weather or not anyone would want to read what I have to say. Well as you can see, I decided to blog even if no one cared about what I posted other then me.

I started a blog to stay sane!

I started a blog because it looked like fun!

I started a blog to share my thoughts, my feelings and my brand of crazy with the world!

I started a blog to show my personable, outgoing side!

I continue to blog because it is fun!

I continue to blog because blogging opens you up to so many opportunities that I know I wouldn't have found with out it. I continue to blog because I regularly learn some new and exciting things from other blogger; like where to find great deals and how to be a part of more giveaways and product reviews.

All and all I have really enjoyed blogging thus far. It can be a headache from time to time but Its just getting good so I can't stop now.

The idea for this post was provided by UltimateBlogChallenge.com

365... Oops, I mean 366 Day Photo Challenge

2012-01-01T23:59:00.000-05:00

As the new year begins I feel that now is the best time to start something that I've wanted to do for a long time...
The 365 day photo challenge. But This year it will be the 366 day photo challenge (yup this year is a leap year!) I'm going to try my best to post 1 picture a day for a year but I am going to post the pictures on my tumblr blog because its easier to post photos from my android phone. Don't worry... each day I will post the link here for you my wonderful followers to see the picture I take.

Today January 1st 2012

Day 1 of 366

Me and Laptop

Happy New Years

2012-01-01T09:20:00.000-05:00

Happy 6th day of Kwanzaa

2011-12-31T21:21:00.002-05:00

Today is the 6th day of Kwanzaa and the principle is

A look back at 2011

2011-12-31T09:36:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day of 2011 and its only fitting that we take a moment to remember some of the good times.

Winter

Our first Trip to Lego Land in Schaumburg, IL

Little Lo & Daddy are great actors

Spring

No spring is complete without going to a Tigers Baseball game on Kids Day

Summer

Summer was filled with T-ball games, Carnivals, and a little Peanut Butter Jelly Time =)

And

Some lazy days on Navy Pier in Chicago

Fall

Fall was a time of Sad/Mad first days of school

Clowning around at the circus

Cheer leading Trophies

And Fun Family Game nights.

Winter

The end of the year meant the start of a new school for me

and

the beginning of Google+ use by bloggers everywhere.

All and all it was a good year! I hate to see it go but I look forward to what 2012 has to offer.

My Top 10 Posts Shared Just Between U & Me in 2011

2011-12-30T14:13:00.000-05:00

This year has been full of blog hops, reviews, giveaways, and the Sharing of other peoples Shhhhh! But out of all the things posted this year the following are my favorites. I hope that you have the time to check them all out but if not, you have to at least check out 1- 5 because they are the ones I love the most.

How she really feels... (My all time favorite post)
Holiday Funnies (quick video post) My second favorite because it makes me laugh!
Cartoon Love Funny romance
Kids Say the Funniest Things A Star Wars Joke
Its Alright - A feel better song Makes you wanna get up and move!
Taking Care of me Tuesday
Is It Them or Is It Me?
The Natural Me
Me on Blip.tv
22 Things I've never done

Happy 5th day of Kwanzaa

2011-12-30T10:57:00.000-05:00

Today is the Fifth Day of Kwanzaa (December 30)

On the fifth day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, the farthest right green, the next red and then the next green candle. This represents the 5th principle of Kwanzaa -

Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose

In recognition of today's principle we should be reflecting on what our individual and collective purposes are, and what we can do to improve both ourselves and our community.

For more information on the fifth day of Kwanzaa check out Kwanzaaguide.com

Happy Fourth day of Kwanzaa

2011-12-29T22:42:00.001-05:00

Today is the fourth day of the Kwanzaa, which celebrates the principle of Ujamaa, focusing on the important economic benefits gained from working together. The founder of Kwanzaa describes the meaning of Ujamaa as:

“To build and maintain our own shops and businesses, and to profit from them together.”

This principle encourages everything from utilizing local credit unions, buying food from a farmers market in your area, as well as starting your own business or becoming apart of a locally run establishment.

On the fourth day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, the farthest right green. And then the next red candle on the left. This represents the 4th principle of Kwanzaa.

for more information on the principles of Kwanzaa check out EcoLocalizer

Happy Third Day of Kwanzaa

2011-12-28T13:08:00.000-05:00

Today is the Third Day of Kwanzaa

(December 28)

Today's principle is Ujima

On the third day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, and then the farthest right green candle. This represents the 3rd principle of Kwanzaa - Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility.

The third principle is discussed. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.

For more information check out holidays.net

New Year - New You with EdenFantasys

2011-12-28T00:32:00.000-05:00

2012 is almost here and a new year means the time to reinvent yourself. In 2012 I plain to be a more sexy, sassy me with the help of EdenFantasys beauty and body products. EdenFantasys is known for their sex toys but they have an amazing selection of Make-up, Skincare, Fragrances and Pheromones.
I am a lipbalm and lipgloss addict and EdenFantasys has as sexy selections of Lip makeup that will definitely feed my addiction and spark some unforgettable erotic experiences in the bedroom.

Kissaholic aphrodisiac infused plumping lip gloss uses an exotic mixture of natural herbs and ingredients including Ginkgo Biloba, Ginger, Passion Flower, Muira Puama, Damiana and Phenylethylamine, also known as a the 'Molecule of Love' to give you high-shine, plump, fuller soft lips for a sexier more come hither pout.

Shunga Lipgloss is a sure fire way to bring your sexy back in 2012!

Apply the gloss to your or your lover's lips and experience the warming-cooling effect of the gloss designed to sensitize and excite both the male and female "intimate areas" wink, wink!

And...

The product that is #1 on my must have for new year list is EdenFantasys Flirty Little Favorites.

These three products: Flirty Little Secret Perfume Oil with Pheromones, Flirty Little Secret Pink Caviar Scrub with Pheromones, and Flirty Little Secret Luminizing Body Butter with Pheromones are sure to bring out your sexiest self. Flirty Little Favorites is a pamperlicious trio of seductive beauty boosters designed to trigger instant sexiness and inspire fearless flirtation.

So if you're looking to start your new year off on a sexier note, add some life and excitement to your relationship, or have a little bit more "Me Time" in 2012 I suggest you check out Edenfantasys for all your adult shopping needs.

Happy Shopping!!

Learn to Save More Money In 2012 with Couponing: The Extreme Video Course

2011-12-27T14:01:00.002-05:00

The 2011 holiday season is coming to an end; and now the bills are pouring in from all those gift purchases and trips to visit friends and family.

Don't you want to start the new year right? Don't you want to make a new years resolution that will benefit the whole family? Well I've got just the thing for you...Couponing: The Extreme Video Course. This course will help make your money saving resolutions a reality.

Whether you are considering using coupons, just beginning to use regularly use coupons (like myself), or a seasoned veteran, I highly recommend Couponing: The Extreme Video Course by Rayven Perkins.

This Extremely informative Video Course consists of 14 videos that are each approximately 5minutes in length. These videos provide you with details on Collecting Coupons, Organizing your Coupons, and The 7 Most Important Rules of Couponing. When you order your copy of this course you also receive 35 page Couponing Workbook for those who learn better by reading, or for those who would like to print off a handy reference guide, Members Only Resource Website the perfect place to go to get quick links to coupon sites and resources throughout the web, and 2 Bonus Videos one, on couponing resources, and the other, on how to save drastic amounts of money on food...without using coupons

**BONUS VIDEOS will be available on December 31, 2011; the rest of the course available instantly

I just finished the grocery coupon online class and I can't wait to put what I've learned into action. Hilariously, the main thing that I have to remember from this course is to always carry my coupons with me so I never miss out on a deal. I have a bad habit of leaving my coupons at home. But I will definitely be watching certain videos over and over again to make sure I'm doing everything right, so I can get free groceries.

Start saving today!!!! Visit Stay a Stay at home Mom Extreme Video Coursetoday!!!!

Check their YouTube video

"Like" them on Facebook.
Creator: Rayven Perkins
Cost: $37.00 with a 90-day 100% money back guarantee

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Happy Second Day Of Kwanzaa

2011-12-27T12:37:00.000-05:00

Today is the Second Day of Kwanzaa (December 27)
To represent the second principle the left most red candle in the is lit after the black one. This principle represents Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah) or Self- Determination. The person who lights the candle on 2nd day makes a statement which is related to the second principle. He or she also continues with a passage or a poem on that particular principle and explains how this doctrine is related to the meaning of their lives. The Unity cup is again shared between the members and the candles are extinguished.

For more information check out TheHolidaySpot.com

Do you know what Kwanzaa is? Let me fill you in...

2011-12-26T08:47:00.000-05:00

Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.

Kwanzaa builds on the five fundamental activities of Continental African "first fruit" celebrations: ingathering; reverence; commemoration; recommitment; and celebration. Kwanzaa, then, is:

a time of ingathering of the people to reaffirm the bonds between them;
a time of special reverence for the creator and creation in thanks and respect for the blessings, bountifulness and beauty of creation;
a time for commemoration of the past in pursuit of its lessons and in honor of its models of human excellence, our ancestors;
a time of recommitment to our highest cultural ideals in our ongoing effort to always bring forth the best of African cultural thought and practice; and
a time for celebration of the Good, the good of life and of existence itself, the good of family, community and culture, the good of the awesome and the ordinary, in a word the good of the divine, natural and social.

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

The foundation of Kwanzaa are the Seven Principles, or Nguzo Saba. When Dr. Karenga created the celebration of Kwanzaa he wanted to reflect the best qualities and characteristics of the "first fruit" or harvest festivals that were celebrated throughout Africa. It was these qualities that established the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. (Nguzo Saba is Kiswahili for Seven Principles).

The Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa are:

Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity
Success starts with Unity. Unity of family, community, nation and race.
Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-Determination
To be responsible for ourselves. To create your own destiny.
Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility
To build and maintain your community together. To work together to help one another within your community.
Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH): Collective economics
To build, maintain, and support our own stores, establishments, and businesses.
Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose
To restore African American people to their traditional greatness. To be responsible to Those Who Came Before (our ancestors) and to Those Who Will Follow (our descendants).
Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity
Using creativity and imagination to make your communities better than what you inherited.
Imani (ee-MAH-nee): Faith

Believing in our people, our families, our educators, our leaders, and the righteousness of the African American struggle.

The Seven Symbols of Kwanzaa

Meaning: the unity cup; Action: Celebrants drink from this cup in honor of their African ancestors. Before drinking, each person says "harambee," or "let's pull together."
kinara: Meaning: the candleholder, which holds seven candles; Action: It said to symbolize stalks of corn that branch off to form new stalks, much as the human family is created.
mazao: Meaning: fruits, nuts, and vegetables; Action: These remind celebrants of the harvest fruits that nourished the people of Africa.
mishumaa saba: Meaning: the seven candles that represent the seven principles; Action: A different candle is lit each day. Three candles on the left are green; three on the right are red; and in the middle is a black candle.
mkeka: Meaning: mat; Action: The symbols of Kwanzaa are arranged on the mkeka, which may be made of straw or African cloth. It symbolizes the foundation upon which communities are built.
vibunzi (plural, muhindi): Meaning: ear of corn; Action: Traditionally, one ear of corn is placed on the mkeka for each child present.
zawadi: Meaning: gifts; Action: Traditionally, educational and cultural gifts are given to children on January 1, the last day of Kwanzaa.

Each day, through January 1st using the 7 symbols of Kwanzaa, a different principle is discussed and celebrated as a family.

Today's principle is

So even if you are not of African decent or if Kwanzaa's just not you're cup of tea, it never hurts to learn something new!
Thanks for stopping by

Merry Christmas to all

2011-12-25T21:21:00.000-05:00

iCaughtSanta in the act last night

2011-12-25T08:54:00.000-05:00

Create you own photo @ iCaughtSanta.com

A Very Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T10:23:00.001-05:00

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Personal Branding book Review

2011-12-21T13:42:00.000-05:00

I love blogging because it gives me the opportunity to review some really great things.

Today I have the chance to share my opinion on the ebook

"What is Personal Branding? How to create a memorable and powerful brand that sells You!",

by Jim F. Kukral & Murry Newlands.

Thanks to Tomoson.com this review opportunity came to me right on time (at a perfect point in my life). This book is broken down into sections that help you, the reader, understand how to effectively build your personal brand that as the authors say " consistently presents the essence of you!". The authors point out that you are already establishing a personal brand even before you set out to, because branding begins with simple interactions and online communications that we all have everyday. But now with this book I know I can make the most out of each my person-to-person and online interaction or daily experiences, to aid me in "consistently presenting, online and offline, the essence of how I stand out from the crowd".

This book is a must read for anyone looking to succeed in any form of business or life in general! Everyone needs to understand what personal branding is, how it affects the worlds view of you, and that you are creating your brand already without knowing you are and it may be a negative and hindering one in the long run. I believe that the authors did an exceptional job of breaking this book up into very reader friendly sections that are perfect for using as a reference when situations arise. An example would be the section on
"Tools You Can Use To Increase Your Personal Brand"
This book is definitely a 5 star book and I have already recommended it you several family members.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.