Mmmm...Monday....

*I have a new favorite wine.  It's A to Z Pinot Gris and it is SO good.  Seriously good.  If you haven't tried it before, I recommend it...

*Last nite the husband and I watched Home for the Holidays.  Have you ever seen it?  It's hilarious!  Seriously dysfunctional and fun.  Perfect Thanksgiving week movie.

*We are decorated for Christmas!  Yay!  The tree is up, the stocking are hung, my new fabulous Target tablecloth is on the table.  I love it all.  So happy we did it before we leave for Houston this week--coming home to Christmas is going to be wonderful!

*ABC Family Channel is showing their uber cheesy, yet uber good Christmas movies!!  Our DVR is practically filled up with the amount of movies that I've recorded.  I love this time of year!

*Isabella now insists anytime that I say 'ouch!' that she must get me a Band-Aid.  She says, 'C'mon, mommy, c'mon. Owie.' and takes my hand to the bathroom so she can get it out of the cabinet for me.  I love my little girl so much!

*Maddie is cute as can be.  Snuggly.  Smiley.  Happy.  Baby giggly.  I love baby giggles.  And baby drool.  And the sock lint that gets stuck between her toes. {don't judge. It seriously is adorable.}

*I'm so 'gogogo' with Christmas and holiday travels and parties and cookie swaps that I can't even think of a decent full post to write lately.  I'm sorry?  But I've always had a secret crush on random posts.

*Am I the only person to not have read Twilight??  I started it awhile ago.  Couldn't get into it.  The movie was good.  They eye candy was better.  I hear New Moon is really good?  But I'm wondering if that's because of all the eye candy?  And what team are YOU on?

*I hate it when people hear that I quit the book and they tell me to give it another chance.  I have so many books to read and I usually don't give books a second chance.  I'd rather see the movie.  It's okay if I don't know all the inside scoop like the book readers know, right?

*Maddie can halfway turn over from back to tummy.  But then she decides she like laying on her side.  And stays there.  Super cute.  I love my little Butterball.  That's her nickname that Leo gave her.  And it stuck.  I must take pictures of the cuteness that I call her baby rolls.  I'm thinking you are going to love it all.

*I want a pedi.  Badly.  But I cannot justify spoiling myself when there are so many things that I need to buy right now.  So until then I may go get a Ped Egg.  Are they good?  Or are they as gross as the commercials show?  Something about emptying a container of dead foot skin makes me gag.  A lot.

*My back is still bothering me.  It was feeling better.  Then I gave the girls their baths.  And it hurts again.  Back on the muscle relaxers.  Ugh.

*Leo is all freaked out that I've had: knee injury, swine flu, nasty cold, lumbar sprain.  He thinks it's all related.  I looked at him like he was crazy and reassured my worrying husband that I am okay.  And I'm fairly certain that none of the above is related.

*Sorry this was so long.  I just miss you all.  And hope my randoms are okay.  xo

Bryan Sausage {A Winey Mommy Review and Giveaway}

With the holidays arriving shortly you can imagine the amount of party planning that is going on right now.  I know my house is so busy planning our Christmas party!  We have been so excited to plan everything from the decorations, to if we want to play any games or not, to the menu.

Out of everything our menu is the most important to me.  I know when I go to a party the one thing that I always remember is the food.  Our menu this year is going to be based on simplicity.  We're doing the appetizers, the others will bring one of their favorite dishes--and nothing too fancy.  I want everyone to feel at home here.

When I was contacted by Bryan Foods to see if I would be interested in sampling their different sausages I was so happy!  It gave me the chance to try out a product before cooking it for my party.  I was sent their smoked sausage, their cocktail smokies and an nice black apron with the Bryan Foods logo.  The apron will come in very handy for when I'm prepping and cooking up a storm for all of my mommas that will be coming over to eat and have fun!

This past week we cooked up the Bryan Foods smoked sausage.  It. was. sooo good!  Leo loved it, Isabella loved it and I loved it--and it's not every day around here that we all agree on something to eat.  It had just the right kick to it--and living in the South we love our food to have some of a kick to it.  I truly believe that's why the Bryan Foods logo is 'The Flavor of the South'--because it's true!  So good, so yummy.  I can't wait to use the smokies for my pigs in a blanket that I'll be serving up at my party.  I know that they will be a big hit with the girls.

***WIN***

Bryan Foods has been so gracious to offer one of my lucky readers a chance to win the same party pack that I won!  It includes cocktail smokies, smoked sausage and the black apron--awesome, right?

So now that you know what you can win, here's how you can win it.

***ENTER***

To win, just visit Bryan Foods and tell me what product looks the best to you and what type of occassion you would serve it at.  Easy!  This must be done before any bonus entries will count.

***BONUS ENTRIES***

Be sure to leave a seperate comment for each bonus entry you earn!

1 entry: follow my blog via Google Friend Connect

1 entry: subscribe to my blog in a Reader

2 entries: subscribe to my blog via email

3 entries: follow my blog on Facebook's Networked Blogs {widget is on my righthand sidebar}

3 entries: grab my *new* button

1 entry: follow me on Twitter

1 entry per tweet: Tweet this giveaway {up to 5 times/day}.  Include @winey_mommy & a link to this post in your tweet.

5 entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link back to the original post

*****

Fine Print: Open to US residents only ages 18+. Must leave a valid email in comment if blog profile is not published or is private.  If you do not have a blog leave your email address in comment.  Comments not following giveaway instructions will be deleted by me.  Giveaway will end on December 3rd at NOON CST.  All entries after that time will be deleted and void.  Winner picked by Random.org. Winner will be notified by email that they won and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be picked.  I was not paid for this post.  I received the product in order to do an honest review.  All opinions above are based on my own.  All recipes below were given to me by Bryan Foods to share with my readers.

***RECIPES***

Traditional Pigs in a Blanket

32 cocktail links - Bryan Cocktail Smokies

1 can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

Method:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut each dinner roll in quarters. Wrap each Bryan Cocktail Smokies cocktail link in one quarter roll. Place wrapped sausages on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with ketchup and mustard, if desired.

*****

Triple Cheese Dip

1 Pound Bryan Cocktail Smokies
¼ cup shredded Swiss cheese

¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 (1.5-oz.) pkg dried onion soup mix

2 tsp. chopped parsley

½ cup mayonnaise

½ cup sour cream

2 cups cottage cheese

Method:

Mix sour cream and mayonnaise in 2-quart bowl. Stir in cottage cheese, onion soup mix, and parsley. Add cheddar and Swiss cheese; mix well. Serve with Bryan Cocktail Smokies, fresh veggies and bread.

Serving size:

50 servings

*****

Big Game Snackers

45 links - Bryan Cocktail Smokies

2 pkgs. fresh bacon slices

Mustard or barbecue sauce

Method:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Wrap each sausage with 1 slice bacon. Place wrapped sausages on shallow baking pan. Bake for about 15 minutes or until bacon is crisply cooked. Dip in mustard or BBQ sauce.

Serving Size:

Makes 45 servings

*****

Bryan Cocktail Smokies in Peach Barbecue Sauce

1 can (15 oz.) peaches in juice

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

2 pkgs. Bryan Cocktail Smokes

Method:

Place un-drained peaches, vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, garlic, cinnamon and ginger in blender container. Cover and process until smooth. Open package of Bryan Cocktail Smokies and drain off any liquid. Place peach sauce and Cocktail Smokies in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer over low heat 5 minutes. Carefully pour mixture into a 3-4 quart slow cooker. Cover, heat on low for 30-40 minutes or until flavors are blended.

LONG Overdue for a Fun Meme!

The fabulous Loukia of Loulou's Views has tagged me for a fun meme!  I haven't done a meme in a LONG time, so I was really excited to see that I was tagged! 

Here we go--grab a glass of wine, some chocolate and a cozy blanket.  It's time to read about moi.

Name someone with the same birthday as you:

I so had to Google it, but I found out that Donald Trump and Boy George both share my special day--that's quite the pair, haha!

Where was your first kiss?

It was in 7th grade at a school dance.  I still remember his name and that we were slow dancing to some couple's song.  So funny to actually think about that nite.

Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property?

No!  I don't think I could ever do that.  And I honestly don't think that tp'ing counts, does it?

Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?
I remember in 7th grade I slapped a boy across the face.  I have no clue what he said, but I still remember the look of shock on his face!

Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people?

NO WAY.  One of my biggest fears is karaoke.  I'm not even kidding.  I shudder even thinking about being on a stage and singing with everyone staring at me....

What's the first thing you notice about your preferred sex?

Height and teeth. 

What really turns you off?

People that smack their food/gum/candy.  Ew.  And mean people.  And liars. 

What do you order at Starbucks?

In the fall/winter a Pumpkin Spice Latte.  All other season?  An iced, non-fat, caramel macchiato.  And if they ask I get it layered.  Seriously delish!

What is your biggest mistake?

Biggest mistake?  I would say not finishing college.  But if I had stayed in I would not have joined the Air Force and met my husband and had my two little girls.  So, I have to say no mistakes are big enough for me to regret.

Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?

I am going with what Loukia said--besides staying up WAY too late only to have to wake up WAY too early, nope!

Say something totally random about yourself:

My thumbs are freakishly double jointed.  I can bend them so they touch my wrist/arm--kinda gross, I know.  And I have no clue how I figured out I could do that?!

Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?

I used to get Kirsten Dunst.  Back when I was skinny.  And blonde.  Now?  Not so much, haha!

Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows?

Yep!  Isabella takes care of that when she demands to watch Fresh Beat Band.

Did you have braces?

Yes, but my dentist wants me to get them again for my jaw.  Joy!

Are you comfortable with your height?

Yes.  5'6 is perfect for me.  Although, when I was younger?  I always wanted to be shorter like my friends!

What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you?

One nite I was really annoyed that Leo was just in our room forever.  I had a really bad day...but then?  He came out and had the bathroom totally made up for a relaxing bath.  Candles, beautiful music, bubbles and peace and quiet.  I love that man!

When do you know it's love?
 I'll put it this way.  If you have to ask yourself if it's love?  It probably isn't.
 
Do you speak any other languages?
A few Spanish words.  I can understand it better than speak it!

Have you ever been to tanning salon?

Oh, yeah.  But I haven't been in years.  And I won't ever let my daughters step foot in one!

Have you ever ridden in a limo?

Yes!  I love limos!

What's something that really annoys you?

People that always expect a free handout for everything.  And people who complain constantly about things that they can control.  And people who try to shove their beliefs/politics/religion down my throat.  And people who don't know what to do at a 3 or 4 way stop. 

What's something you really like?
Makeup!  I love makeup--and especially makeup stores like Sephora and Ulta.  Oh!  And Target!  LOVE Target!!

Can you dance?

No....I don't really like to dance--I'd rather sit back and have some wine and watch everyone else make fools of themselves, ha!

Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?

Yes!  I had a really bad reaction to a medication.  It was so scary and I was home alone with Isabella.  She was a tiny baby, it was so scary!



Fun, right?  So now I want to tag:

Lynn
Kristin
Theta Mom

And anyone else!  It's 1 in the morning and I need to get to bed asap.  Have fun!

Sorry!

I am apologizing in advance, but I've had to turn on word verification.

The spam comments are getting WAY out of control!

I'll disable it later on down the road, but for now it's on.

Thanks for understanding and being patient.

Want to Earn Some Awesome Giftcards?

Then you should really, really do Swagbucks.

Do you use search engines {think Google, Ask.com, etc} daily, occassionally, frequently?

Then you should earn great giftcards {think Target, Amazon, etc} for your searches!

It's SO easy to use.  You install the Swagbucks toolbar.  You perform your searches.  You earn Swagbucks.

They also give you little codes occassionally to input on their website to earn Swagbucks.

You can also shop online {great time to enroll now during the holiday season!} and earn Swagbucks.

SO easy!  I've been enrolled for a little over a month and have close to 100 Swagbucks.  I'm saving them for a Target giftcard.  Yay!

If you want to learn more, you can enroll with me as a referral.  When you earn?  I earn.  Then when you do a post about Swagbucks and people enroll through you?  You earn! 

Click here to learn more and enroll!

If you have any questions, let me know and I'll answer them as best I can.  Have fun and get some great things to search the internet!

Because Don't We All Strive for Softlips? {A Winey Mommy Review}

'Tis the season for cold weather, warm houses and chapped lips.  Although I love Christmastime, I am not a fan of my dry lips that come along with the cooler weather.  Sometimes they get so dry and crack--which we all know what a pain that can be--not to mention a painful experience!

That's why this winter?  I'm all stocked up on my Softlips.  Softlips has the best lip products out there--and believe me when I say I've tried a lot of them!  They make my lips incredibly soft and smooth.  And another bonus?  They don't gunk up on me like so many other lipglosses and chapped lip products do.  You know the gunk-that film that just forms and it stays on your lips until you wipe it off.

Softlips dual packs would make for a great stocking stuffer also.  They come in the perfect size package  and they have so many new flavors to choose from.  The yummy limited edition packs that are out exclusively for the holiday and winter season come in Sugar & Spice and Sugar Plum Berry which you can pick up at Target and Winter Mint and Sugar Cookie which is available at Walgreens.  I just tried out the new flavors--LOVE them!  They are wonderful and I would recommend them to anyone.

Softlips even has a Facebook page that you can go and be a fan of.  Some of their status updates are hilarious and you can be one of the first to know about their new, amazing lip balm.  Go ahead and check it out! 

**GIVEAWAY!**

One of my lucky readers will be receiving all four of the Softlips limited addition dual packs of lip balm!  They include: Sugar & Spice paired with Vanilla, Sugar Plum Berry paired with Cherry, Winter Mint paired with Vanilla, and Sugar Cookie paired with Cherry!  Estimated value is retailed at $16.

That would be a great addition to any stockings, co-workers or just keep them for yourself.  As a lip junkie, this is a great giveaway--and just in time for all of this cold, wintry weather that is hitting us all.

**HOW TO WIN**

Winning is easy!  Just head over to Softlips and tell me something you learned about their site.  Check out their flavors, the lip q&a, where to buy--it can be anything!  This must be completed before any bonus entries will count. 

Want to earn some extra entries?  You can do one, none or all of the following:

1 entry: follow my blog on Google Friend Connect on my right sidebar
1 entry: become a blog subscriber
2 entries (leave a separate comment for each): subscribe via email
1 entry: follow me on Twitter
1 entry per tweet: Tweet this giveaway! Include @winey_mommy in your tweet and a link to the post.  Can be done FIVE times per day!  Please allow one hour between each tweet
2 entries (leave separate comment for each): follow my blog on Facebook's networked blog found on my right sidebar
5 entries (leave separate comment for each): blog about this giveaway.  Include http://softlips.com/ and http://wineymommy.com/ in your blog post.


Good luck!!  I know you'll love the Softlips dual packs--I have mine in my purse, diaper tote, bathroom...they're everywhere I am.

***This giveaway is open to US residents only.  Must be 18 years of age or older.  Giveaway is open until noon CST on November 30th.  Winner will be contacted by email.  Please include email in comment if your blog isn't public or if you don't have an email in your profile.  Winner will have 48 hours to reply back with name and address.  If winner does not respond I will pick another winner.  All winners are picked via Random.org.

***All opinions expressed above are based on my own experience with Softlips.  I was given the product in order to conduct an honest review.  No money was given for this post.  Thank you to the Product Review Place and Laura who made this review and giveaway possible.

Randoms...That's What I Got....

*So I woke up yesterday and my back was hurting.   No biggie.  Woke up this morning and it was hurting even more.  Then today I was getting up out of our recliner--and I had the worst back pain.  Ever.  I couldn't move and was stuck with Madelyn crying and Bella freaking out.  Awesome!  Isabella got me the phone and I called Leo telling him I was stuck--ha!  Went to the ER (no appointments available...) and I have a lumbar sprain.  Now on muscle relaxers and motrin.  Let the good times begin...

*We've started our Secret Sister gift month with the playgroup.  I'm so excited!!  I'll be dropping her goodies for the week off on Friday.  Although I may need Leo's help since my back is killing me.  Poor guy always gets duped into helping me with things that he doesn't want to help out with.

*Watching Modern Family right now--this show is hilarious!  I love Wednesday nite tv on ABC.  If you haven't seen the show, I definitely recommend it.

*Oh--today I got the most amazing candle from my Secret Sister--I love it!  Total sweetheart and it really brightened my day.

*Remember the Ultimate Cloth review that I did last week?  Well, you can now get your OWN for FREE!
Just follow them on Twitter or become a fan on their Facebook page.  I love mine--so go and get yours for free!

*I'm getting so excited for Thanksgiving, my Christmas party, the cookie/ornament exchange, Christmas....I love this time of year.  It's crazy and super busy but I wouldn't change it for the world!  I'm so thankful for all of the good that I have in my life.

*I need to post a pic of my new haircut!  I love it!!  It's a little under my chin and the back is layered.  So easy to fix and straighten--and I love how it looks!  Also went a little darker--you know, for winter and all.

*I just started watching True Blood from Netflix.  I'm hooked!!  I seriously love that show...and I can't wait to get my next DVD in the mail.

*A new wine shop opened by the Target.  Seriously, how awesome is that?!  Went there the other nite and got a yummy bottle of wine.  I can't wait to go and try out another one.  Oh, and an Ulta opened up there, too!  I have to go there, but am seriously dying to go.  I love makeup and perfume sooo much.

*Okay, I have over 400 posts to read now...I'm hoping to get lots of them read and lots of commenting done tonite.  Hope y'all are doing great! xo

A Peek Into My Week....

It's been a ca-razy week over here, that's for sure!

{Almost} always having fun...

{Almost} always happy.

And always gorgeous.

My girls.

Does This Make Me Famous?

I got my first real interview today.

Me!

Lynn over at Midday Escapades asked me if I would like to do an interview for her blog....

Would I ever!

I love her.

Her blog.

And her kind, sweet words!

So head on over and check it out--I know you're gonna love her!

McDonald's Coffee Drink {A Winey Mommy Giveaway!}***CLOSED***

CONGRATS, LLAMA!!

YOU WON THE MCDONALD'S FREE COFFEE CARD!

This giveaway is being done out of the kindness of my heart.  Nobody gave me a product to review--but I did receive an extra McDonald's 3-in-1 coffee card!  And what better way to do your holiday shopping than with a hot coffee drink in your hand, right?

Now you may be asking....

What is a 3-in-1 card?

A 3-in-1 card has three coupons on it: 1) One free McCafe drink of your choice! (iced coffee, mochas, lattes, cappuccino and hot chocolate).  Awesome!! 2) Two coupons for buy 4 get 1 free!

Cool, right?

What do you have to do to win?

Easy!  Just leave me a comment why you need this 3-in-1 coupon card.  Simple!

And, like always, here are your bonus entries (please leave a separate comment for each bonus entry):

1 entry: Follow my blog publicly

1 entry: Subscribe to my blog

1 entry: Subscribe via e-mail

1 entry: Follow me on Twitter

1 entry: Tweet about this giveaway.  Be sure to leave me your tweet link. This can be done up to {5} times daily.

2 entries: Add my {new} Winey Mommy button


That's it.  Easy. 

This giveaway will end on Friday November 20th at noon CST.  It's a short giveaway because all three coupons expire on December 31st. 

Good luck! 

Fine print: Must be 18 or older.  Must be a US resident.  I'll be picking a winner via Random.org on Friday.  Leave an email address in your comment if you don't have a blog, have a private blog or your profile is not public.  No email left?  I'll pick another winner.  Winner will be notified by me via email and will have 48 hours to respond.  If no response?  I'll pick another winner.

Christmas Party Menu

With my Christmas party for the playgroup less than a month away, I've started planning out a few minor details...in my head.  I need to write this out in list form on paper.  I have to have a list.  For everything.  It drives me crazy if I don't!

The party will be potluck style.  We just can't afford supplying the food for 18 women plus any children that come.  I will be providing beverages (soda/water/coffee).  In addition to the drinks I think I'll be making the following:

*White chocolate dipped pretzels

*Pumpkin bread

*Pigs in a blanket

*Cookies

*Crackers/cheeseball

*Homemade Chex Mix

*Rotel/Velveeta cheese dip


This is where I need a favor from you--tell me, what are your favorite party foods for Christmas?  Would you like what I have above?  Is there anything that I must make?

I love y'all for giving me your opinions!  I can't wait to come up with the final menu, because honestly?

I want to start my decorating!  {which I've planned to do the past two weeks...}

5 Minutes for Mom Christmas Giveaway!

   This year's 5 Minutes for Mom Christmas giveaway is HUGE! They are giving away some amazing prizes: Hasbro giveaway Veggie Tales entire DVD library Band hero super bundle AND MORE! It's easy to enter--just click here to find out how you can win. Good luck!

There Can Never Be Too Many Prayers....

Meet Heather.

She's a momma.

A crafty momma.

An organized momma.

I consider her a friend--even though we haven't met in real life.

Yet.

And she's fighting cancer.

I'm a big believer in the power of prayer.

God.

Us.

If you have a second, could you go to her blog?

Give her words of encouragement.

And say a prayer for her.

Please?

I know you're gonna love her.

She's sweet.

Funny.

Sarcastic.

And caring.

So get over there.

Read about her battle.

Read about her life and her kiddos.

And say a little prayer.

Because there's no such thing as too many prayers.

Woah, Nelly!

Wow.  Talk about a long, dragged out day.

I had some tantrums thrown in.

With a dash of timeouts on the naughty mat.

Followed by overspending at Target--I mean, Isabella so needed that pink Christmas tree for her room.

Ending with cutting my hand in three places opening a bottle of wine. 

Don't ask.

At least I have this prettiness to drink the almost needing stiches cutting bottle of wine yummy wine out of:

It says:

Mommy's Little Helper.

I could never thank Shell enough for my gotoforhappinessinaglass glass.

Lets hope my hair appointment goes a lot better than my day today....

Some Girls...

Some girls love their

dolls

barbies

stuffed animals.

This girl?

Loves her plastic, purple ball.

ps...this picture reminds me of that Poltergeist movie with that little girl! She was watching movie previews before Max & Ruby, though!

Richard Scarry's Busytown Mysteries Television Series {A Winey Mommy Review}

When the One2One Network contacted me to see if I would be interested in reviewing the brand new Busytown Mysteries tv series created by Richard Scarry, I jumped all over it--I knew that Isabella would love this show.  And alright...I knew that I, too, would love the cartoon.

We reviewed two episodes: The Falling Fruit Mystery and The Dragon Hunters.  They were adorable and Isabella actually sat through them with me and watched.  When the first episode was over she told me she wanted more--so we sat through the next episode together and enjoyed that one as well.

Richard Scarry has sold over 150 million books which have been translated in over 30 languages over the past 40 years.  Amazing!   I remember growing up and reading the Richard Scarry books. I loved his books and the characters that he created.  The combination of his writing style and those beloved characters made reading so much fun and is part of the reason that I still enjoy reading.

You can catch Richard Scarry's Busytown Mysteries  television series on CBS weekend mornings.  In the half hour that it airs two episodes will be shown.  To check when it will be shown in your part of the country you can go here and enter your city information.

Thank you to One2One Network for letting me review the great dvd with my daughter.  We both enjoyed spending that time together watching such a great television show!

*The above opinions are based on my experience with the product that was reviewed.  One2One Network provided my family with a dvd.  I was not paid in any other way.  All opinions are honest opinions and are not influenced in any way.  By completing this review I am eligible to win a giftcard.

Procrastinator? Yes, Yes I am...

Every year I vow to myself that I will not wait to complete all of my Christmas shopping.  Every year.

But guess what happens the next year.  You got it--I wait.

But I have two main reasons why I am how I am and do what I do.

Reason #1:  I get a thrill from the rush of things. From the "I hope this gets delivered in time!" to the "I can't believe how crowded and busy the mall/Target is!" I love it all.  Some people do drugs, some people smoke.  I choose to procrastinate.

Reason #2: I have also found out the hard way if I am even remotely close to claiming "I'm done!" I will start buying more.  It's a conspiracy I tell ya!  I start paying attention to toy ads or I see just one more little thing while I'm out.  And then the next time it's the exact same thing.  I can't help it--I love to shop and when you just tell me I'm done but all I see are shopping commercials and the coveted red Starbucks cup?  I just want to join the crowd and buy buy buy!

So, I ask you my lovely friends....how are you when it comes to shopping for the holidays?  Do you get it done early?  If so, how do you refrain from buying more?

Using Our Imagination {A Winey Mommy Review}

My favorite part of Christmas shopping is buying gifts for my girls.  The hunting for the perfect gift, finding that perfect gift and watching the opening of said perfect gift.  It's so magical!  And it takes me back to Christmas morning when I was a little girl.

There is one part of the shopping that I don't care for--the insane, mad crowds.  I used to work at the mall and Christmas time brings all sorts of people out.  The crazy parking lot drivers.  The ones who would return things that were obviously used to the end yet they had a complaint which meant a refund or store credit.  The crowded stores.  The long lines.  The getting to the store knowing exactly what you want to buy and then it being out of stock. 

That's why this year I'll be doing a majority of my Christmas shopping online.  I recently came into a great Blog Sponsorship Program.  It's incredibly easy to sign up--and once you do you will get contacted to review educational toys on your blog that come from Growing Tree Toys. 

Growing Tree Toys has such a fun assortment of educational toys that it was difficult for me to decide.  I finally decided on the My First Purse.  This purse is wonderful!  It's made of a leathery material and came with so many of the items that Isabella steals from my purse.  It has a mirror, a pretend lipstick, keys, a debit card and a plastic case to place the pretend debit card in, and a cell phone.

Isabella has had a blast with her new purse!  She packs it up and tells me that she's going to work.  She can also fit plenty of her must-haves in it as well.  You know, all of the necessities for a 2 year old--her favorite rosary beads, some baby doll pants.  She's also been talking on her phone and putting on lipstick.  I just love watching her use her imagination.  Imagination is a wonderful thing that we should all hold onto no matter how old we are--I honestly believe it is what keeps us feeling and thinking young!

Before I end my review, I would love to thank Growing Tree Toys for an opportunity to review a wonderful educational toy for my daughter!  There are so many toys on their website--I know you will find something for that little one in your life.  You can also visity their Deal of the Day which offers one toy at a great discounted price until it sells out.  Check it out daily and remember when they're gone, they're gone!

*This review was based on my opinion of  the product reviewed.  I was not paid for this post.  I was given the product in order for me to do a thorough and honest product review.