Shutterfly Photo Service Deals

Just received a fantabulous photo book I created on Shutterfly. I can snap-off hundreds of photos at a time, but can't seem to find the time or sort or organize the photos. I can never make the time to overcome my fear of scrapbooking so this is JUST THE TICKET! I invested about 20 minutes to download and select photos, add captions, pick backgrounds and....click...I was done! Received my beautiful new photo book of our Summer 2008 Memories within 6 days. To top it all off, I had received a promo code recently on my account to get the book COMPLETELY FREE, just paid a nominal shipping fee! (normally they cost $25 and up...)

Shutterfly is currently running a new member special to receive a free 11x14 collage poster and 50 4x6 color photo prints for new registrants. Visit www.shutterfly.com for more details.

Also, visit a friendly blogger at
http://www.thisfullhouse.com/reviews/2008/09/this-full-house.html?cid=131789770#comment-131789770

They are running a contest until Thursday for a free $25 Shutterfly gift certificate (4 winners).

SNAP HAPPY....

Just Unroll, Top and Bake!

• Warm from your oven, this Thin Crust bakes up delicious and evenly browned every time.
• Your whole family can get in on the fun of making a pizza — just the way you like it! Unroll the refrigerated dough, add favorite toppings and bake.
• Find Pillsbury Thin and Classic Pizza Crusts in your grocer’s refrigerated case. Look for great pizza recipes at www.Pillsbury.com.

HouseParty.com - PARTY ON!

Just wanted to share with folks that a wonderful opportunity can await you, if you like to host small parties and get FREE STUFF!

Visit the website www.houseparty.com
Explore the active, pending, and past parties to find out about these fun experiences.
Register to begin the submission process for upcoming parties listed on their party page!
I have been able to host several parties this year, and each one is such a joy. Party hosts receive free packages of products and information for themed parties to share with friends and family.

They currently have parties available to submit for Barilla Pasta, Ford, Saturn/Real Simple, and others. They frequently have parties tied to new TV show launches including Cartoon Network shows for the kids, Barbie, and Lipstick Jungle for us gals...

Go ahead and check it out - don't forget to invite me to your next party!

Qlubb.Com and Tote Bag Contest

Now that fall is in full-gear the scheduling insanity has struck! Lots of running and transporting the family to various activities and obligations is creating some serious havoc at the Fritz House. After doing some research I've located a great resource to help us "keep it together" in the face of all the chaos...

I'm loving www.Qlubb.com This outstanding service is available to help me organize and maintain the book club, work groups, PTA groups, church committees, etc. It's very easy and user-friendly, too. Qlubb is a web-based service that helps organize your groups online. I am very active at my daughter's school, Our Savior Lutheran School. I have assisted for over 13 years with their fund raising activities, and this will be a tremendous blessing to me as I begin organizing our auction planning committee and book fair volunteer group for the school. Whew!

Features include an event calendar, sign-up sheets, member rosters, a task reminder service, and bulletin boards for all members of the identified community group to access and share on their computers. Qlubb offers secure sign-in to protect group info and access; however, participants don't necessarily have to register to use it - but once they explore the features, I doubt anyone would want to pass up such a great opportunity!

If you are a busy gal or guy with group involvement, this site is worth a visit:
www.qlubb.com

And for those of us who need a little more baggage to help keep their family life in balance while "on-the-go", here's a fun contest to participate....


~QUILTED TOTE BAG CONTEST~
One winner will be randomly selected to receive one fall-colored quilted tote bag! (similar to Vera Bradley style)
Entrants may submit one comment entry to this blog thread for an entry. US mailing address only. Please share your favorite organizational idea that works for you in the Comments. Please ensure contact information is provided so winner may be notified. One winner will be selected from submissions received by deadline of 12 Midnight, Sunday-September 28, 2008. Winner will be contacted for mailing information. Prize Value: $50

Thank you for visiting my blog and for sharing your special organizational ideas with us!!!

What's Your Policy?

I've recently learned about a great site for family discussion hosted by Liberty Mutual called The Liberty Mutual Responsibility Project from Mom Central. The site provides some excellent resources for families to explore and evaluate about personal responsibility - an excellent character development trait that everyone needs to discover for themselves!

I visited the site with my daughter and son to promote some important dialogue. These days call for some concerted efforts to help our children grow into responsible adults - that is adults that will accept responsibility and not be inclined to avert that towards others.

The site offers videos to view with the family and discussion guides. Everyone learns about defining positions and helping our kids to learn to stand for their individual rights, values and responsibilities.

My daughter Kristen and I enjoyed the 5 minute, animated short film featured on the site, "Hot Seat," by Janet Perlman and Acme Filmworks. The film explores an imaginary war over an office chair that gave our family something to "chew on" and discuss. Great stuff!
Perlman states on the web site, "I hope people will recognize that this film is not so different from real life. Maybe they will wonder what they would do in a similar situation, or think about being considerate to their neighbors."

Janet Perlman, Creator of "Hot Seat"

I recommend visiting the site and learning more at:
http://www.responsibilityproject.com/

Also visit MomCentral at:
http://www.momcentral.com

Precious Girls Club Book Contest

My daughter Kristen and I have discovered a wonderful new multi-dimensional media opportunity for girls in the Precious Girls Club. The first book in the Precious Girls Club series, A Little Bit of Faith, is a fun read for girls. Moms can read along to enhance the fun. The books' author, Cindy Kenney has written a very lovely story that captures the innocence and joy of girlhood. The illustrations are created by those talented artists at Precious Moments Creative Studio.

The story is told by Katie Bennett - the new girl in town who is experiencing challenges in making new friends. Katie digs deep in her faith to believe in herself and reach out to make friends and connect with schoolmates. This new series is such a blessing and gift to our family! Kristen is an avid reader, and she's already asking for the next books!

The Club also features a new website for families to explore the online world of the Precious Girls Club. "It is a special world of joy and goodness created just for precious little girls!" Girls can play games, meet new friends, explore, learn new things, and earn your wings! (to fly around the web town!!)

You can visit the site at www.preciousgirlsclub.com


CONTEST FOR A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK AND "RAINBOW MEMBERSHIP" CARD:

I would love for you to experience these lovely books and online Club, so I am hosting a contest with the help of MomSelect and Precious Moments. Please post a comment to this blog and tell us how you have overcome challenges with a "little bit of faith". Winner will receive one copy of the Precious Girls Club "A Little Bit of Faith" paperback book and a free premium "Rainbow Membership" trial club card for PreciousGirlsClub.com online. Please be sure to leave contact information as I can't reach winners without an email address! One winner will be randomly selected from all entries at the end of the contest which concludes at 12 midnight EST on Saturday, September 27, 2008. The winner will be contacted directly and I will post the winner's name in the comments. Contest open to US residents only. Thank you for participating and Good Luck!

Family Traditions: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

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Have you ever wanted to run away with the circus??? I did when I was little - sometimes I even give in to a small voice inside....and consider the possibilities!
But, my realistic side takes over and it's back to the "daily grind".

However, I do make it a point to take the kids to visit the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (Feld Entertainment Productions) when they come on tour each year. Early on as my son Cameron was a little guy, the Ringling Circus would make it's first stop of the season every January here in St Petersburg. It's so much fun to watch the special production as they would parade the elephants down Central Avenue downtown to the arena! More recently, they have moved the first stop to Tampa which is still very convenient for a treat to see THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH! The Circus winters in nearby Sarasota, so the first stop is lots of fun for the performers as they work out their routines. Our favorite is Bello The Clown, and we even have a signed Bello Hair-style Hat they he gave Cameron a few years back! He's really awesome! We make it a fun family affair, generally inviting several friends to join us for a special day.

Here's some great news for those interested in attending the circus - a 20% discount code is now available for upcoming tours:

The 20% discount code for Ringling Bros. Circus. Code: MCC
The code is valid for the circus shows in the following cities:

Indianapolis, IN - Sept. 4-7, 2008
Kansas City, MO - Sept. 10-14, 2008
Grand Rapids, MI - Sept. 18-21, 2008
Denver, CO - Oct. 2-13, 2008
Boston, MA – Oct. 8-13, 2008
Cleveland, OH - Oct. 24 - Nov. 2
Chicago, IL - Nov. 6 - 30, 2008
St. Louis, MO - Nov. 6-9, 2008
Auburn Hills, MI - Nov. 12 - 16, 2008
Highland Heights, KY - Feb 27 - Mar. 1, 2009
Cincinnati, OH - Mar. 4 - 8, 2008

Another great tip for any new mommies or daddies with infants - visit the Ringling Circus website at www.ringling.com to learn more about their wonderful BABY'S FIRST CIRCUS PROGRAM. This helps every family begin the family tradition of visiting the circus by allows babies to receive a FREE TICKET voucher that can be exchanged for a free ticket to any Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance, anytime, anywhere - NO EXPIRATION DATE!!!

So, pop on your funny, red clown nose and mosey on down to visit the three rings of magic and wonder - cotton candy, snow cones, funny clowns, music, laughter, spectacle and joy await....

DELICIOUS WAY TO SERVE DAIRY TO YOUR FAMILY!

Our family has discovered how delicious and nutritious Horizon Organic Milk is! As all the crazy weather conditions and threatening hurricane activities have come into focus down south here in Florida, we've been gathering a variety of hurricane and emergency supplies for "JUST IN CASE"! An important element to our Kit is Horizon Organic and Flavored Milks. It gives me peace of mind to have our kit ready as need arises - hopefully never, but better to be safe than sorry...

Horizon milks are shelf-stable, which makes them great for anytime! Available in drink packs and a variety of flavors. We enjoy them with snacks and meals - they're perfect for on-the-go families. My daugher, Kristen, enjoys them in her lunch box now that school has started, too. She loves the Vanilla or Chocolate flavored milks.

School lunches and on-the-go snacks are not notoriously healthy and to add to that, there is a growing awareness about the dangers of growth hormones and pesticides in the foods our kids consume. So with the flurry of activities starting with the new school year it can be tough as Moms to make the right food choices to ensure our families are getting the nutrients they need.

There are, however, products out there that make it a little easier for us to attack busy schedules and stay healthy. I prefer Horizon Organic because it's one of those brands we can trust-they provide essential nutrients without the dangers of antibiotics, pesticides, or growth hormones-making school lunches and after-school snacks something we can feel good about.


Here is a link to the Horizon Organic website (http://horizonorganic.com/)—it’s a really great website for both parents and kids alike!

I really like their "Seven Simple Steps to an Organic Lifestyle" http://horizonorganic.com/raising/7steps.html :


7 Simple Steps to an Organic Lifestyle

At Horizon Organic we know how important it is to give your family a healthy, organic diet, but we also know how overwhelming it can sometimes seem. Here are some tips or ideas on how to make the process of Raising Organic Kids a little easier.
1. Take Inventory and Read Labels

Look inside your family's refrigerator and pantry. Be sure to look beyond the nutritional panel to the ingredient list. Do the labels include many ingredients you've never heard of? Steer clear of added chemicals by adding organic foods to your grocery lists.

2. Start with Items with the Most Impact

See Dr. Alan Greene's Organic Prescription.

3. Refuel with Snacks

Going too long without eating can make you feel tired and cranky. Healthy organic snacks that include protein and carbohydrates, like organic cheese sticks or apples, will help keep your energy levels high throughout the day, and they're easy grab-and-go snacks kids will love!

Try these convenient, high-energy organic snacks
1. Low-fat Horizon Organic cottage cheese (1/2 cup) and a pear
2. A Horizon Organic yogurt smoothie (12 ounces)
3. Half of a peanut butter and banana sandwich (1 tablespoon peanut butter)
4. A Horizon Organic hard-boiled egg and an organic apple
5. Baked sweet potato (1/2 potato) with low-fat Horizon Organic cottage cheese (1/2 cup)
6. A Horizon Organic cheese stick (1 stick)
7. Reduced-fat Horizon Organic cheese (1 1/2 ounces) and whole-grain crackers (5)
8. Low-fat Horizon Organic yogurt (1 cup) and fresh organic strawberries (1 cup)


4. Make Lunched Fun to Educate Kids on Organic

Eating habits are formed during childhood, so it's important to consider what's in your kids' lunchboxes, and to make preparation fun by involving your kids. Provide them with several organic choices and let them choose what they eat for lunch. One of the easiest ways to increase school-lunch nutrition is to pack some of your kids' favorite foods while opting for organic alternatives where you can.

5. Look for the Organic Seal

USDA Certified OrganicProducts that have not been certified cannot be labeled "organic." You should look for the USDA seal on products to determine if the products are organic.
6. Experiment with Organic Recipes

Once you have taken the step to add organic foods to your refrigerator and pantry, use organic in your everyday recipes to show your family that organic foods taste good! One idea: Add some blended butternut squash to organic macaroni and cheese — it provides your family with a vegetable and adds fun, natural coloring to the meal. This is also a great way to get your kids excited about healthy eating and teach them about the environment at the same time. Try these great kid-friendly recipes you can make together!

Get more organic recipes now >

7. Be a Role Model

If you lead by example and feed yourself nutritious organic foods, your kids will develop similar healthy eating patterns. Teach your kids valuable lessons in nutrition and good eating habits that they'll carry with them throughout their lives.