My name is Anita DeFrank and I am a soda-holic. Isn’t that the first step? Seriously, ask my friends and they’ll tell you they never see me without a pepsi in my hands. 24/7/365

That’d be why I’m really excited about this new product I found via Twitter of my good friend @Ravish30 – actually I found the contest to win one and the name of the product really caught my attention. It’s called SodaStream

Sounds cool, doesn’t it? (Well if you’re a soda-holic like me then it really caught your attention as it did mine, lol!)

I clicked on her giveaway link just so I could at least see what the product was. You’ve got to at least go to SodaStreamUSA (link above) and check out the video. It’s pretty short but it shows you exactly what this thing does and how it works. To make the long story short … you make your own soda at home! Do you have any idea how much money that would save me??

And I’ll admit upfront, the main reason I’m telling our readers about this is cause it’ll get me 5 extra entries to Laura’s contest at New Age Mama’s but that’s not the only reason. I truly think this product is cool! Plus Laura gave it a great review to boot. I’d love to get my hands on one of these!

You too can get a few chances to win by entering here:
http://newagemama.blogspot.com/2010/01/sodastream-review-and-giveaway.html

And I’ll wish you good luck but darnit, I really want this thing! lol!

{Sigh} Now if only I could just convice the folks at @sodastreamusa to let me do a review for you all …

I missed National Hug Day but – who needs an official holiday to pass out the hugs, eh? I know I sure don’t. Although, it would have been nice to participate. I know someone who didn’t miss it and participated – my great friend Lauren of MyWahmBlog.com.

She participated by posting the cutest video on her blog. It’s really a must see and a guaranteed smile maker. It makes you want to find your significant other and your kids, grab a hold of them and share a great big family hug. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

Go check it out – it’s only about 3 1/2 minutes – it’s time well spent. Visit the blog and let the video answer Lauren’s question – Who will you hug today?

P.S. Make sure you come back here and let me know … would you have hugged him?

Who doesn’t love saving money?
Boy do we have the event for you!

Save your precious liquid gold … GAS … and join us for two fun days filled with specials, games and prizes! With a guaranteed game every 45 minutes … you’re bound to come out a winner! We’ll also be giving away prizes randomly throughout the whole two days!

How do you save Gas? Easy! Our event is Virtual!

Wanna know more? Of course you do … so here goes …

Beat the Summer Heat Vendor Fair
Wednesday, August 27th & Thursday, August 28th
10:00 AM EST to 9:45 PM EST
www.OnlineShoppingParty.com

Order safely online from our long list of vendors …

The Scented Tub, The Body Shop at Home, Scentsy, Noah’s Ark Traveling Workshop, Private Quarters, For Every Home, Home Interiors & Gifts, Inspiranza Designs, Rodan + Fields, Cookie Lee Jewelry, Usborne Books at Home, PartLite Candles, Belly Buster Diet Inc., Thirty-One Gifts, Lokelani Designs, Jockey Person to Person, Uppercase Living, Blessed Aromatherapy, Arbonne, Jafra Cosmetics, At Home America, Lia Sophia Jewelry, Mary Kay Cosmetics, DOVE Chocolate at Home, Wildtree, Wine Shop at Home, Petlane, Party Gals, Athena’s Home Novelties by Jessica & Barefoot Books …

We literally have something for everyone!

Click here to view our full schedule. And while you’re there … be sure to visit our vendor’s pages to see what they have to offer, our event exclusive specials and even the prizes they’re giving away – Plus much more!

We would love to have YOU join us!

Click here to join our event by simply entering your name and email address to our Event News list.  Shortly before the event, we’ll contact you and let you know how to join us (at NO cost to you!) We’d love to have you join us!

Make a stand and stop paying these outrageous gas prices!
Shop from your seat at home!
www.OnlineShoppingParty.com

A few days ago I was venting a bit and asking Why Does It Have to Be So Hard? I complained a bit and even asked for some suggestions to help keep on track. Thanks to those of you that emailed me your words of encouragement – I really appreciated it!

I ended up coming up with my own solution – and I’m happy to say it worked pretty darn well! Wanna know the secret? I’ll be happy to share it … for nothing even, lol! I’ll share this one little secret that got me through what turned out to be nothing more than a little bit of writer’s block, wouldn’t you know?

This technique was so unbelievably SIMPLE and I was able to turn my entire day around!! I will be doing this many times again – every single time I’m having any difficulties keeping on track! - Anita DeFrank

The best thing about this little technique for me was that I was able to put all my thoughts into full, easy-to-read sentences. The words had come to me so easily that I actually came up with too much information. I now get to take one page and turn it into THREE different pages!

Using this one special technique is 100% guaranteed to:

Invigorate & Refresh You!

Help you organize your thoughts making it easier to put into words!

Clear Your Mind!

Be so simple, you’ve never done nor will you ever do anything so simple!

Not require ANY Experience!!

Be a 100% F-R-E-E Technique!

Easy to Use Over and Over and Over Again and Again and Again!

Be Able to Accomplish – No Matter Where You Are!

Be Able to do at 3:00 PM or 3:00AM – ANYTIME!

Anybody Can Do It – Even an 18 Month Old Baby can do half of it (Mine has!)!

I’d offer you a Lifetime, No Questions Asked Full Money Back Guarantee but since it’s free – I can’t.

I know what you’re thinking … “Okay Anita, I’m biting at the bit – and can’t wait to hear it! Tell me already!!”

Alrighty, I’ll tell you but, for me to tell you … you have to promise if you ever see a fellow wahm, a fellow marketer or just a good ole friend struggling … you have to promise you’ll share this one little technique with them.

How?

Simple, I’m not only giving you this little secret absolutely F*R*E*E* – I’m also giving you FULL MASTER RESELL RIGHTS!

But wait! There’s More!!

You also have F_R_E_E PLR Rights! That’s right – You can take full credit for this fabulous tip!!

Okay … I’m done now … here you go:

This is so simple it only takes 2 Super Easy Steps

Step One: Save whatever you’re working on.
Step Two: Turn off the computer and come back no sooner than one hour!

Enjoy your day!

And remember …

You heard it here first!

Congratulations Ladies!

I’m a little ashamed to say that I didn’t even know this day existed! But I think it’s important that we celebrate it.
Hey, it’s important to celebrate anything if you ask me!

Come celebrate with us:
http://mommyshelpercommunity.com/phpBB2/about10351.html
(And no worries … it’s never to celebrate!)

©Lisa Barker

(An excerpt from Lisa Barker’s book Just Because Your Kids Drive You
Insane…Doesn’t Mean You Are A Bad Parent!)

I rarely take my kids on a clothes-shopping expedition–unless it’s for
the child in tow and all the rest are at home. This means I have a 90%
record in my favor of happy, well-behaved kids when shopping for
clothes.

Unlike me when I was a child, my kids aren’t running through the aisles
or hiding themselves in the middle of a circular rack.  I have kids
who actually look forward to clothes shopping.

That is, until today.

I haven’t been shopping seriously for clothes for myself since my twins
(now eleven) were about the age of their youngest sister who’s now
three.  That was back in the days when just about the time I was
completely down to my underwear one or both of the twins would whip open the
curtain of the changing room, much to my chagrin and the surprise of all
the other customers in the vicinity.

So, eight years later, I’m a little wiser and really desperate.  I tuck
the two little ones in the double stroller and embark on my daring
mission to seek clothes for my new body that, after five kids, is a new
body.

Well, we’re at my favorite store—the one where I mooned everyone
eight years ago. I’m relatively sure that no one remembers me.  I riffle
through the racks like a clerk at the post office sorting mail.  Yep,
nope, maybe, nope, nope, YES!

Once I accumulate a load of ‘yesses’, I pile them on the stroller and
park the kids just out of arm’s reach of the dressing curtain. I’m fast,
I’m greased lightening and I’m in and out of outfits so fast I’m
busting a sweat. And then it starts.

At first it sounded like the low growl of a finely tuned Chevy. But it
begins to build and crescendo with vehemence. I peek out of the curtain
just in time to see the sweet blonde head of my three-year old rotate
360 degrees. Her eyes cross, that deep guttural growl sounds again and
then—yikes!  I duck back in the dressing room before the pea soup can
hit my new skirt.

The three-year old tries to take her two-year old brother’s head off
(she sits behind him in the stroller) while he simultaneously attempts to
reach back to scalp her.

Okay. Time to go. Wait—just one more thing!

“BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

“Snorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre.”

One is possessed. One is out cold.

We check out. It’ll be months before these two won’t shriek when they
see a rack of clothes.

But hey, good news! One skirt was half off…and the toys were free!

LISA BARKER of Greenfield is a syndicated humor columnist and mom of
five. Her latest book is “Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane …
Doesn’t Mean You Are A Bad Parent!” See JellyMom.com for more
information.

I posted the actual picture here earlier but it screwed up the template soooo …
you’ll have to click the link for words to live by …

I wanted to post this much earlier today but … such is life, it didn’t happen, lol!

Enjoy!

We’re not holding it but rather a good friend of mine, Lara from Designed by Lara.

Anyway, it’s a super-simple contest and it even gives you a chance to do a little dreaming And here’s the awesome part … the prizes!

Grand Prize:
$75 Design Credit to be used for any purchase by Designed by Lara.

Runner Up:
A Free Button, Banner, OR Header Design. Your choice of one.

For more details and informaiton on how to enter, visit Lara’s Blog.

Good Luck!!

Okay readers! Time to check in! If you’re reading this post right now … DO NOT leave without leaving a quick Hi!! LOL!

And if being forceful doesn’t work, how about if I say Pretty, Pretty Please??

We see those of you who are members of MyBlogLog over there on the right —>> but, for those of you that aren’t members there, we don’t know you were here. Besides, look at it this way, you’ll be able to get a backlink to your website when you post a comment too.

In your reply, feel free to tell us how we’re doing or don’t. Just a plain old simple HI is more than enough. Oh and we know you’re here … we can see our stats. So, I hope to see our stats match our comments

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