Sunday Funday

A collection of photos and videos showing how we spent our Sunday at home while "the man of the house" was at work all day!

The girls filled up some left over water balloons from the party yesterday. Mj was outside when I let the girls start filling up the balloons but he found them a few minutes later and started helping with the balloons too. They had alot of fun and ended up eating some left over cake and playing with some tiny water guns :) We ended our Sunday Funday with funny faces then the kids watched a movie while in bed!

Jade don't like being hit or splashed with water but Loran and Mj didn't seem to care

The kids also helped me try a new product that we received for review!

The Wizor (review coming soon!)

SILLY FACES!!!

Gotta love kids!!

How did you spend you Sunday?

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Friends of the Greenville Zoo

Join the Greenville Zoo's Circle of Friends!

Did you know that the Greenville Zoo has a non-profit organization called "Friends of the Greenville Zoo"?

The Greenville Zoo is one of the top rated tourist attractions in the Upstate of South Carolina and one of my all time favorites! It's one of the closest Zoo's to my hometown of Asheville, NC and a top pick for alot of the locals! I love being able to visit all the animals throughout the Greenville Zoo's 14-acre facility that  features wildlife from around the world including giraffes, monkeys, giant tortoises, elephants and a variety of reptiles. (The Elephants are my favorite!)

The Zoo is open seven days a week, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

From 3/1 to 9/30, the Greenville Zoo extends their hours of operation from 9 AM to 5 PM, giving the guests an opportunity to take advantage of the cooler mornings during the Summer months of the year. Also, the zoo has added a third ticket booth to shorten the wait time for both groups and individuals. (Shorter wait time is ALWAYS a plus! Who wants to stand in line for an hour with 2 kids begging to see the monkeys?!)

Zoo entry ticket sales will close at 4:15 PM

The Friends of the Greenville Zoo is a non-profit organization that serves as an independent community outreach group, whose purpose is to provide financial, resource, and advocacy support for the needs of the Greenville Zoo

• Friend's Society (previously the Peacock) - $112

Free admission for 2 adults plus children or grandchildren under the age of 18
Four guests any time plus 10 additional guest tickets
Early sign-up and discounts to educational programs, camps and special events
Reciprocal free or discount admission to more than 140 other zoos in the US
10 percent discount in Greenville Zoo Safari Shop
Car magnet

• Friend's Patron - $250

Same benefits as "Friend’s Society" as well as:
"Meet the Keeper" talk at select exhibit (elephant, lion, giraffe or orangutan)*
Friend's Gallery - $500

Same benefits as "Friend’s Society" as well as:
"Meet the Keeper" talk at select exhibit (elephant, lion, giraffe or orangutan)*
Two (2) tickets to Sippin’ Safari or Brew in the Zoo signature events

• Friend's Benefactor - $1000

Same benefits as "Friend’s Society" as well as:
One (1) Behind-the-Scenes tour for four (4)*
Two (2) tickets and VIP tent access to Sippin’ Safari or Brew in the Zoo, our signature events
Recognition on donor board located at the Zoo and website

• Friend's Conservationist - $2500

Same benefits as "Friend’s Society" as well as:
One (1) Behind-the-Scenes tour for eight (8)*
Four (4) tickets and VIP tent access to Sippin’ Safari or Brew in the Zoo, our signature events
25 percent discount on facility rental
Recognition on donor board located at the Zoo and website

• Friend's Circle of Friendship - $5000

Same benefits as "Friend’s Society" as well as:
One (1) Behind-the-Scenes tour for ten (10)*
Four (4) tickets and VIP tent access to Sippin’ Safari AND Brew in the Zoo, our signature events
50 percent discount on facility rental
Recognition on donor board located at the Zoo and website

* Important Notice* -- Keeper Talks and Behind-the-Scenes tours are given on specific dates and will be coordinated by the Friends with the Greenville Zoo. Some age restrictions may apply.

If you would like to learn more about joining the Friends of the Greenville Zoo, Visit their website and/or fill out the Circle of Friends Application

Purchase from Domino's - Receive a Gift Card

Sign up for Plink today

Make any purchase at Domino's by Sunday, 7/7 11:59 EST, and receive 1,000 Plink Points - enough to redeem for a $10 Gift Card of your choice at places like Amazon.com, Target, Walmart, Kohls, Starbucks and more!!

New Members Only

Start early and Save on Back to School Shopping

The Crazy 8 Semi-Annual sale

Why not get an early start on your back to school shopping?!

Better to be early than late... atleast that's the route I'm trying to take this year.

 The Crazy 8 Semi-Annual sale is in full swing and they've added extra 30% off markdowns. Don't miss your chance to stock up on the cutest tops and bottoms for the "apples of your eye".

This offer is only valid for a limited time and while supplies last, so be sure check out Crazy 8 today! 

A New #Hashtag Happenings - #IfIWroteFortuneCookies

I've decided to change up my #Hashtag Happenings series to spice things up a bit! I quickly got tired of my other version and needed a change.

Instead of posting various tweets from a chosen #hashtag, I'm still going to chose one of the #hashtags but one that requires an answer. I'll give the subject "All that I've got" and see what kind of crazy stuff can pop into my brain from the crazy Twitter #Hashtags! (Who comes up with these things anyways??)

Sound like fun?

Today's #Hashtag is: #IfIWroteFortuneCookies

(Trended on 6/29/2013 at 5:25am EST)

This hashtag is one where I'll have to finish the sentence 

So...... #IfIWroteFortuneCookies:

#IfIWroteFortuneCookies - I would come up with some really "off the wall" and random fortunes! A few right off the top of my head would be:

• Your future is unknown - Please insert fortune back into cookie and try again
• Warning! You will star in a Rodney Carrington joke very soon
• The Fashion Police are still looking for you, RUN!
• They lied to you!! What are you going to do about it?
• Smile, Your Beautiful :)
• Forget the one who made you cry - they aren't worth it
• If they're in your past... Leave them there
• You won't eat this cookie, Will you? I bet your a little upset about this fortune too.... but will never admit it :)

#IfIWroteFortuneCookies, there would be no Lucky Numbers or Lotto Guesses... Some people let these so called "Lucky Numbers" run their life and who wants to be controlled by a few numbers found inside a cookie?

#IfIWroteFortuneCookies they would be awesome

My favorite tweet that I ran across was

"A big change is coming. If you want anything more specific than that, don't ask a cookie." #IfIWroteFortuneCookies (@clgood)

Go ahead! Join in on the fun with me! This hashtag has endless possiablities of random and awesome responses! I would LOVE to hear the rest of your sentence! 

:) Don't be shy, it's alot of fun!

Finish the sentence: #IfIWroteFortuneCookies ........................

Keurig Kcup Coffee Sale - This Weekend Only

Green Mountain Colombian Keurig Kcup coffee is on sale this weekend only for $11.99 per box of 24!
Sales runs Fri-Sun




ALSO
Spend $59.00 or more on items and your coffee you receive FREE SHIPPING!!

Save on your favorite coffee today!

To purchase, click the banner or link above to visit Cross Country Cafe

Soaking Wet Saturday - Water Party

At 5pm today, we will be having a combined Birthday Party for our 2 daughters. They are so close in age that having one party is cheaper, easier and the girls love it! This year I have been so stressed out with everything that I have going on in my life right now that I wasn't able to actually plan the party! My fiance seems to think that planning a party is a piece of cake, his words were "Just buy a cake and invite people over, how hard is that?"

Ummmm.... That's not exactly how I see things.

In my eyes - You have too:

• Choose a Theme
• Decide on Activities
• Make a supply list
• Purchase Supply list - Double check list
• Order or Make the cake
• Start setting things up the day before party
• Have party -- Have fun

Did I forget anything?

Anyways -- The point is that today we are having a Water Themed Birthday Party. We have a Slip n' Slide and I'm planning on buying Water Balloons as well. Yes I said PLANNING on buying! We have nothing purchased or planned and I'm in a bit of a panic but as long as my family shows up then everything should be okay since Loran and Jade don't care too much for the fancy stuff, hanging out and having fun should be just fine for them... I hope

Wish me luck everyone!!

Need a laugh for the day? Check out this collage of my fiance and I along with our close friends, going down the slip n'

 slide for some Grown-Up fun!

What kind of planning do you do before throwing a party?

I would love your feedback! :)

Freak-Out Friday! - No Planning for a Party

Tomorrow is the day...

I'm on the verge of freaking out due to the fact that time has ran out before I even realized it!

I'm throwing a birthday party of my daughters. They turned 6 and 7 a few weeks ago and now it's time to celebrate with the family!!

Any normal year, I would of planned this party, bought supplies, etc. But since I've been stressing over the house and work, among other things, I haven't even started planning the birthday party except that it's going to be a water party!

We have a Slip n' Slide -- Atleast one activity can be checked off my list!!!

In the past years, my daughters have had a Faerie Princess Dress Up Party and many regular little kid parties. Tomorrow is going to be tough but I'll get through it like I do all the other "sper of the moment things"

So far, this is my list of supplies that I need to buy:

(Tomorrow morning seems to be when I'll be shopping! Ahhhhh)

• Butterfly Cake (Or regular cake to add Butterflies to)
• Plastic Toy Butterflies from The Dollar Tree
• Candles (A big pack - Need 13)
• Plates
• Silverware
• Cups
• Ice Cream (In Cups or Tub <-Cheapest Option)
• Water Balloons
• Drinks
• Chips
• Dip

This is defiantly doing to be a Party on a Budget!

How much time and money do you normally spend on a Child's Birthday Party?

Here are a few photo's from last years party

Our DIY Pinata! - I believe we'll leave it out this year but you can check out how to make your own with my Simple Pinata Directions!

How much time and money do you normally spend on a Child's Birthday Party?
 I would LOVE your input, my fiance and I have a disagreement on this subject and any input would be grateful!

Simplify your "New Mom" Life with Citrus Lane

Babies take up alot of time, money and space, Not to mention all the running it takes to make sure you don't run out baby snacks or forget the wipes at the store! My daughters aren't babies anymore but if I ever have another one, Citrus Lane will be one of my first purchases once I give birth! No joke, their geniuses! The boxes they send out, could of really simplified my "New Mom" life 7 years ago! But that doesn't mean that you can't simplify your own life today!!

You receive the best, age-appropriate products for your child delivered to your front door each month. Citrus Lane makes also would make the perfect gift for new parents! (This gives me an idea...)

Use the Promo code - TAKEHALF at checkout!

Simply select the plan that works best for you and your little one.

Their plans start at just $21 a month!

All you have to do is let them know how old your little one is (They cater to kids ages newborn to 3yrs) so they can make sure they chose just the right products for your box! It's a bit like personalizing but without your kids name :)

Make life alot easier when you let Citrus Lane deliver a special box to your door every month full of "presents" for your favorite little baby.

This photo is of my friend's Citrus Lane box from about a month ago

It's even cooler that shipping is free!

Gift subscription and multi-month packages including 3, 6 and 12 month packages do not qualify. Limited to 1 TAKEHALF use per household!

4th of July Crafts for Kids

Free eBook: 21 American Craft Projects

Patriotic Crafts just in time for 4th of July!!!

These 21 Crafts for Kids features 50 pages of the best patriotic craft activities + Crafty Kid Creations eNewsletter for FREE!

Get this brand-new, FREE eBook collection filled with crafts that are sure to make your holiday the best one yet. In our latest eBook, AllFreeKidsCrafts has made sure that your holiday will consist of a little sun, a lot of crafting, and a ton of red, white, and blue. There are crafts that decorate your yard to turn your barbeque from fun to fantastic and others that will keep you busy right up until the fireworks show.

The eBook has step-by-step instructions for easy patriotic crafts like:

• Firecracker Foodie Frills (page 42)
• Patriotic Pom Poms (page 32)
• Fourth of July Luminaries (page 28)
• Stars and Stripes Cookie Bites (page 26)
• Rockets’ Red Glare Bracelets (page 17) and lots more.

One of my favorite Crafts from the Free ebook is Crash, Boom Bang Glitter.
Watching fireworks is all my daughters' talk about once they realize the 4th of July is creeping near! We've made these Glitter Fireworks a few times but I didn't take pictures, I'll make sure I take some next time. Below is the photo from the ebook!

Craft from 21 American Craft Projects ebook (Page 7)

Replicate beautiful blasts of color with your kids with the directions below for the
Crash, Boom Bang Glitter
Fireworks Craft

Materials:

• Paper
• Glue
• Glitter (assorted)

Instructions:

1.) Use glue to draw firework shapes on a black sheet of construction paper.

2.) Sprinkle glitter on top of the glue.

3.) Turn the paper upside down to remove the excess glitter and let it dry completely.

Find more Easy Patriotic Crafts by downloading the FREE ebook!
Nothings better than Free Kids Crafts!
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Win #HealthySnacks with The Almondina Cookie Giveaway

Here it is!!! The Giveaway that we've been waiting on...

Welcome to the
Almondina Biscuit Cookie Giveaway!

Hosted By - My Kind Of Introduction

Sponsored By - The Almondina Brand

Snacks are a big deal in my house. My daughters are ages 6 and 7 and are always on the go! Running in and out of the house, through the neighborhood, playing and simply being kids. All that playing can wear a kid out and what better to boost your energy than with food! Not to mention that my fiance eats just as many snack as our girls do!!

A couple weeks ago, I received a box full of various flavors of Almondina Cookies. They are created from a recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation and were said to be sweet, crispy and of course... have almonds. I'd never tried them before but I was willing to give them a try!
Not only did my fiance and I enjoy the cookies, our daughters LOVE them as well! They kept taking the packs outside to share with their friends as well as eating whole packs by themselves! Lets just say that all of Almondina Cookies were gone in less than week! Crazy right!!??

Almondina Biscuit Cookies are:

• All Natural
• Free of Cholesterol, Coloring and Preservatives 
• Kosher and Pareve (no dairy)
• No added Fat or Salt
• Perfect side to pair with Tea, Coffee or even a glass of wine
• Can be used as a Cracker with Cream Cheese, Chocolate Spreads, etc
• Crumbled as an Ice Cream Topping!
• Milk and Cookies for the kids!
• Also make a wonderful little breakfast on the go!

Don't Almondina Cookies sound delicious? -- My daughters sure thought so!! Points to Mommy for saying YES to Almondina Biscuit Cookies!!

Don't forget to read my Full Almondina Biscuit Cookies Review 

Now you have the chance to WIN some Almondina Cookies for your family!
Use the Giveaway Form Below to Enter
Full Official Giveaway Rules in the Terms & Conditions on Giveaway Form
Continental US Entries Only
Good Luck to you all!!


Enter Below

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC guidelines - NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. We are not associated with any of the companies named above. Void where prohibited by law.

The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received.

**This promotion is no way sponsored, endorsed/administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Etsy or Instagram**

This giveaway is compliant with Facebook Rules!

Must be aged 18+ to enter and win. Continental US Only.

Bloggers are NOT responsible for delivery of prize.

Tiring Thursdays - Summer Cleaning

-- "About to fall over on this gloomy Tiring Thursday" --

Right before I passed out I took this picture.... I guess I knew I wasn't going to last much longer and needed something to talk about today :)

This week has been nothing but cleaning cleaning cleaning, at my house and I ended up falling asleep earlier today and got WAYYY behind!! Now I'm in panic mode and extremely tired! I feel like I'm moving as slow as a turtle and I don't believe that I'll finish what needs to get done......

My landlord is due to stop my tomorrow and then I have Loran and Jade's birthday to do on Saturday!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Not to mention that Alan works 2 jobs and has been helping me as much as he can but truthfully..... the birthday party is not planned and I have no clue how that's going to turn out and the clothes seem to be multiplying. Atleast we had a little cookout on each of the girls' actual birthday...

(My bed... lost in clothes!)
This is a tiny bit of what
I keep having to go through!

Last night I stayed up for many hours, simply going through boxes, drawers and fresh loads of clothes. I ended up surrounded in boxes and piles of clothes. The one thing about Season change is the need to trade out clothes. My daughters had LOTS of clothes but now I know that they don't all fit......

This is going to be a LONG day... I have more clothes to do and just found another big box of summer clothes that I had forgotten about!

I see a Yard Sale or BIG Donation in my near future.... Maybe even both!

That's why I'm having to cut this so short due to my house being tore apart from what I'v gotten started and haven't finished yet.....

I'll update on my progress when I get a free moment!

Wish me luck!!

I'm going to need it!

For some reason,

I decided to look up the word Tiring.....

Yep.... That's me!!

Eat Naturally Fresh with Zaycon Foods

Discover High Quality Natural Food 

Good-Morning Everyone!

I am extremely proud to say that I'm a USFG Blogger and couldn't be happier with my decision to be so! One of the perks of teaming up with with USFG is that I get the chance to work with a wide variety of wonderful brands and businesses along with the chance to introduce them to my some of my favorite people... YOU - My Readers! 
Zaycon Foods just happens to be one of those brands and if you know anything about natural food, then you may have heard about Zaycon Foods before. If not, or even so... Read below to learn more and see what they have going on for you, during this Summer Season!
This post is sponsored by USFG and Zaycon Foods

Zaycon Foods is America's Drive Thru Meat Market - Fresher, Faster and Cheaper.

For FAMILIES, we represent the GREATEST VALUE in the food industry

How does Zaycon Foods manage to provide such high quality super fresh meat and produce to its customers at such low prices? The answer is strength in numbers. And not our numbers, yours!

Zaycon Foods can sell its products at bulk rate prices to individual consumers and families because our unique sales event business model brings lots of people together, adding all their purchasing power into a combined bulk food purchase. And when you buy as part of a group that’s committing to such a large purchase, the power is in the hands of the purchaser! It’s the ultimate group buy in terms of both price and consumer empowerment.

You can pre-select exactly what you want to order from a given Zaycon sales event – sometimes you may want to stock up on our amazing meaty back ribs and sometimes it might be all about the Zaycon bacon – and then, on the day of the sales event, you and a whole big bunch of your neighbors will find yourselves in a nearby parking lot watching as an entire tractor trailer’s worth of high quality natural food is unloaded into all of your cars! You will be amazed at how quickly one of our refrigerated trucks goes from being filled with natural, fresh chicken or hundreds of gallons of grade A non-homogenized milk to being empty and back on its way to the farm!

A Zaycon Foods truck sales event often lasts less time than you would spend on a trip to the grocery store, yet you will leave with a whole lot more food than you’d get at the market, and for much better prices, too!

When you use the Zaycon Foods sales event as your preferred place to purchase meats, milk, and any of our other fine products, you get advantages even beyond the bulk pricing that comes with our special sales model. You also have the peace of mind of knowing exactly what you’re going to get! A trip to the grocery store can involve wasted time wandering around looking for various foods spread out across the store; at a Zaycon Foods parking lot meat truck delivery (or milk or berries or fish delivery, too!) you have pre-ordered your foods, so all you have to do is show up and wait for our friendly staffers and volunteers to load up your car. 

Also, unlike in the grocery store, the prices you will pay for a Zaycon Foods product are locked in on our website, so you will know how much you are going to spend before you have committed to a purchase.

At a supermarket, you might pay one price for chicken on one day, and then a higher price on another day. With Zaycon, you decide that you want to order a case of our fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts, you check the price and then you commit to it, knowing that from that moment on, we are committed to getting you your fresh, natural food!

Zaycon Foods was featured on Good Morning America!! - Watch below!

-- Get Started Today with Zaycon Foods --

Click on the links above or visit: www.zayconfoods.com

Disclaimer: As mentioned above - This post is sponsored and written by US Family Guide and Zaycon Foods. My Kind Of Introduction accepts various forms of compensation for sponsored posts from carefully selected brands and businesses that I have either personally used and/or worked with in the past or believe the content matter may be of interest or able to benefit my followers. No amount of compensation nor others, can alter my honest opinion. I promise never to steer my readers toward any product or service that I do not personally believe in myself. See Full Disclosure Policy for further details.

Wordless Wednesday - Comparing Faces

I've decided to join the crowd with a Series of Featured Daily Posts!

Beginning with today - Wordless Wednesdays

Comparing Faces - My daughters and I - Photo's at 1yr of Age 

Me aka Autumn

Loran

Jade

Do we look alike?