Well that's certainly nervy.

I'm sure many of you remember THIS EMAIL from StepfordMomCentral I got recently?
Well imagine my surprise when I got another "review opportunity" in my email today!
Clearly one hand doesn't know what the other is doing because they've grown and expanded (AND lost or moved all the good and wonderful ladies with whom I loved communicating)...OOORRRR maybe they're just sadistic Mean Girls and want to twist the knife, taunting me with another opportunity  so that they can summarily REJECT ME YET AGAIN as they have for EVERY review I've signed up for in the past year.
I imagine them cackling madly and sneering and saying "HAHA LOOKIT SHE'S SO DUMB SHE'S GOING TO ATTEMPT IT AGAAAAIIIINNNN! Now let's see if we can make her bang her head into a brick wall!"

Okay, not really -- clearly my little blog and I don't matter so much in the grand scheme of things.
I am just amazed at the ABSOLUTE NERVE.
If I was the last blogger standing, I wouldn't review a product for MomCentral.
But it sucks because I wouldn't mind checking out the sunblock wipes.

From the "Are you fucking KIDDING ME right now?" Files

As many of you are aware, I have been a big fan of Mom Central and the people I've worked with there (IN THE PAST, I MEAN) for a couple-three years. I used to get a ton of blog tours - in fact, there were a couple of months that I had several reviews in a row.
Mom Central and Mother Talk... ah yes, in the beginning when they were starting out and wanted blogs that seemed to have a decent readership. I also recommended Mom Central & Mothertalk to several of my favorite fellow bloggers, helped bring them on board so that we could share recommendations about different products, services, and books.

Sadly, it appears that they've fallen victim to the Too Big For Their Britches Syndrome.
They don't need little old ME any more.

They keep sending me offers and I keep signing up --- and I keep getting rejected.
WTF?
Finally about a week ago after YET ANOTHER REJECTION, I replied that I was very disappointed that for the last year I hadn't been given any tours.

TODAY I GET THIS EMAIL:

Hi Shannon,

We conduct periodic evaluations of our Blog Roll for quality assurance purposes to ensure that all blogs meet the needs of our brand partners. At this point, due to some of the editorial content of your blog (for example, the use of swear words), we don’t feel as though you are a good fit for Mom Central campaigns. We will conduct another evaluation in a few months and would be happy to re-evaluate your blog at that time.

Please let me know if you have any questions, we would be more than happy to jump on the phone to talk with you about this further. 

Thanks and have a great holiday weekend,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Chapin 

Project Manager

Mom Central Consulting

So...I guess moms don't swear?


I was always under the impression that the WAY I wrote my blog, without pretense or fakery or suck-uppiness, is WHY Mom Central picked me in the first place.

But clearly MOMS DON'T GET TO SAY FUCK.
OR SHIT.
Or talk about dildos.
Well you can keep your blog tours and products - it's not worth having to be someone I'm not just to tell people how much I love Clorox products.

NICE GOING, STEPFORDMOM CENTRAL.

HOLIDAY GIVEAWAYS! Gift ideas!

See, this is the time EVERY year when I start to panic.
I mean CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE FOR CRAP'S SAKE AND I HAVE BOUGHT NOTHING.

Well, not NOTHING -- my kids are pretty easy at the moment... my 14 year old daughter is NUTSO CRAZY for Bon Jovi.
I KNOW, RIGHT?
I have raised her correctly, OBVIOUSLY. She loves the 80s, just like mom.
MY mom calls it "brainwashing" but whatever.

My son? Well, he likes videos. DONE.

But everyone else? NO. IDEA.
I'm so lame at the whole gift buying thingie. Zero imagination.

So THANK GOODNESS, once again, for Mom Central's Gift Guide!
Plus also -- GIVEAWAYS! FREE STUFF!
Who does NOT love free stuff, especially at this time of year? Only someone much dumber than me.

Head on over to Mom Central and check out the reviews and the sponsors for the giveaways -- if you can't get some excellent gift ideas from all of that, then you're beyond hope.
There is TONS of cool stuff.
Just log in and win!

Now excuse me, I must SHOP. Which I HATE. I would like to marry the creator of ONLINE SHOPPING because it is the only way to go.
Only I don't get to yell at people, but hey, that's a small sacrifice.

---

---

OH YEAH HERE'S THAT ONE THING I HAVE TO ADD BECAUSE OF THE CHEATERS:
"I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central. Mom Central entered my name in a random drawing to win a gift to thank me for taking the time to participate."

TEXT A THON!

YES I KNOW, I HATE VIDEOS ON BLOGS.
But I swear this time it's for a good cause. Would I lead you astray?
Don't answer that.
Shut up.

As you may (or may NOT) know, September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
My grandma died of ovarian cancer, so this is a cause that is near and dear to me, just like my grandma was.
My grandma was made of AWESOME. She always knew exactly how to cook my eggs. EXACTLY. EVERY SINGLE TIME.
She taught me how to sop up the egg yolk with toast...and she always made toast under the broiler and it was the BEST EVER. She gave me coffee and homemade hot chocolate --no powdered packets for her, she mixed the cocoa and sugar and milk and cooked it on the stove.

She knew how to do EVERYTHING, as far as I was concerned.
There was always dessert at her house too -- homemade peach fried pies, German chocolate cake, red velvet cake, cookies cookies cookies... and ice cream.
I miss my grandma.

I wish I'd have had a few more years with her, because she died when I was just getting old enough to appreciate her.

ANYWAY. The point here is this: cancer research has come a looooong way...but we've miles to go before we sleep.

Now, I have a series of tasks for you.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be:

1. ENTER TO WIN! A NEW! WASHER & DRYER from MOM! CENTRAL! and ELECTROLUX! (I have had! Too much! Coffee!)

2. TEXT “KELLY” to 85944 to donate $5 to support the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund!

and

C. Send a VIRTUAL T-SHIRT to me (and your other friends, of course, provided you have any)(haha)(just keeedeeen). For every virtual t-shirt you send, ELECTROLUX WILL DONATE A $1 TO OCRF.


Now watch the video. Text. Send T-shirts. Win stuff.

---

I'm not transparent, I'm sheer.
"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Electrolux and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate."

But you guys probably knew that already.

Git-tar HERO

If you know me at all, you know I love my music. I love it so much that I rock it out every Friday night on my very own fake radio show.

It was the worst twist of fate that as much as I love music, as much as I live it and need it and feel it and immerse myself in it... I have ZERO MUSICAL TALENT.
I cannot read music.
I cannot play any instrument.
I cannot sing. Well, I can, but the results are not good.

But thanks to Mom Central and Guitar Hero and Nintendo DS... I CAN BE A ROCK STAR.

OH I know, I was already a RAWK STAR, thankyouverymuch. But this game is freaking AWESOME! I have a HUGE (eff off Paris, you utter twit, I can say HUGE if I want to) fan base and there's a cool Fan Request mode. You can FACE OFF against the game to win more fans. There are guitar duels in which you have to blow into the microphone to "cool" the fire, fix broken strings, & more challenges.

This particular game is the "MODERN HITS"... well, again, if you know me at all you know that I love my 70s & 80s music, my classic rock, my oldies... but surprisingly some of my favorites from Finger Eleven, Fall Out Boy & Modest Mouse were on the set list.
It comes with a "pick" stylus and an insert with the fret buttons.

If I have one complaint it is that insert does NOT always stay in securely when you have your hand through the "convenient" adjustable velcro strap -- several times I was TOTALLY rocking out and the game went BLANK and then gave me an error message because apparently the fret thingy had slipped out a little bit.
That was a large pain in my large ass.
BUT I eventually figured out that if I did NOT use the strap, the keys were less likely to come out.
Because seriously, you have to rock your whole body. And dance. And sing if you know the words.

I LOVE THIS GAME.
I've already decided to get my daughter one of the other Guitar Hero Tours so that *I* can play it when Christmas rolls around this year.

I LOVE THIS GAME.
Did I say that already?

Dear Dad: THANKS for, you know, everything.

Dear Ol' Dad's Day is JUST AROUND THE CORNER -- I don't know about you but I struggle EVERY year to find a Father's Day gift for My Two Dads (YES, I have TWO so I am DOUBLE LUCKY!)...both of whom already have everything.

Okay, maybe not EVERYTHING, but everything they WANT, you know? I have one dad who has practically non-existent needs because if he wants something, he just gets it. Come to think of it, a lot of guys I know are JUST LIKE THAT *coughJECKLEScough*.
My other dad just says "NOTHING. I NEED NOTHING" whenever one of us tries to probe for information.

SO FRUSTRATING.

So in retaliation I usually just call them with a "HAPPY FATHER'S DAY and I'M THE BEST GIFT YOU COULD EVER GET AND YOU'VE ALREADY GOT ONE OF THOSE!".

Shut up. I AM A GREAT GIFT TO HUMANITY.

Anyway. Mom Central has proved to be a HUGE help this year with the Father's Day Gift Guide!
BBQ Grill tools, tents, imported beer steins, Norelco razors, books, cameras -- you can find something there to fit your budget! They have gift suggestions from UNDER $25 if you're a cheap bastard like me to OVER $100.
THIS IS A MOST FANTASTIC IDEA.

Also? WIN FREE STUFF.
We all know how much I LOVE the free stuff. And the winning of it.

So hurry up and head over to Mom Central's Father's Day Gift Guide... do your shopping for Daddy-O AND register so you can enter to win FREEEEEE GIIIIIIFTS.
Srsly.
You can thank me later in the form of chocolates and french kisses.

I HAD to break my diet to do the REVIEW.

SO LONG DR. ATKINS! I was forced to eat pasta.

Well maybe not exactly FORCED. I do love me some spaghetti and I have SO missed it the last couple of months.
NOW I have to start ALL OVER AGAIN and I blame Ragu and Mom Central.
Okay, so maybe I didn't HAVE to eat pasta. But I'm pretty sure it was in the fine print so shut up and let me rationalize.

I am totally famous for my homemade spaghetti sauce which is NOT* Ragu.

(*Likely Possible untrue statement)

But when Mom Central invited me to try some new flavors of Ragu I was all, "OKAY FINE, I don't have TIME to make homemade ANYWAY."
Or something else that sounds plausible.

I got to try the Old World Style Sweet Tomato Basil and Old World Style Margherita flavors.
NOM.
NOM.
NOM.

Part of the Sweet Tomato Basil I cooked with some Italian sausage with green peppers & onions and it was SO FREAKING GOOD.
Also? EASY PEASY which is nice for lazy people like me. I was making the sausage & peppers anyway & just dumped some sauce in. SO yum.

The Margherita flavor has a sort of pizza-y taste & would be great for homemade pizza. If I was an adventurous cook (or really any sort of cook) I would've tried to make some little bagel pizzas or the ones you can do with biscuit dough.
But I found a recipe PERFECT for me, it only takes like five minutes and I didn't have to have any fancy ingredients.
Chicken, olive oil, sauce, and cheese.
Bake.
Done.
Enjoy.

Just one more reason to love Ragu; their recipes could have been put on the site JUST FOR ME. Five minute prep time. SCORE.

And OH YEAH, for those of you who are all about nutritional value blahblahblahblah, there is a FULL SERVING OF VEGGIES in every half-cup of sauce!
Don't tell the kids.

Got mold?

Okay, so my house is REALLY REALLY OLD.
Old houses mean leaky seals and drafts and extra work, which sucks because I'm really lazy. So of COURSE I was happy when Mom Central let me try some X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover...because seriously? My bathroom? Ugh.

I like a clean bathroom. Much as I hate to clean, I hate the thought of setting foot in a dirty bathtub even more.
I am not going to admit to having any mold or mildew stains.
Okay.
The shower curtain around the bottom? EW. Truthfully I buy cheap shower curtains because I just throw them away when they start to get mildewy. I have friends who WASH them. NO FREAKIN' WAY.

So I tried the X-14 on the shower curtain and it was LIKE MAGIC!! I didn't have to throw it away! So I sprayed a little in the corner of the tub, where my daughter always puts her wet washcloths, and within a few minutes I actually saw the stains start to fade!

There IS a fairly strong bleach odor (which I sort of like, because the smell of bleach = clean to my brain), so if you're odor-sensitive you probably want to wear a mask or make sure all the windows are open.
But the X-14 does the trick.

Now if they would just make a little robot person to do the rest of the scrubbing...

Because who WOULDN'T want to make life a little easier?

EASTER IS HERE! SPRING IS HERE!
How about some free ham or turkey? AND recipes? AND beauty tips?
You can get 'em all from the same place, Making Life Better.

Need a life coach? Need some fresh ideas for dinner? Fix your frizzies, learn to go green, have healthier skin!

Even though I'm not much of a cook, there were recipes simple (and inexpensive) enough even for me. I KNOW.
And no, you cannot come over for dinner because I don't like company. Or people. But trust me when I say the antipasto salad wraps were GOOOD.

HEY, did you clip the Holiday Ham or Turkey rebate form from your April 5 paper? Check it out. Get free ham or turkey. WOO!

Thanks Mom Central for introducing me to Making Life Better, because SHORTCUTS and EASIER are my keywords in life.

---

OH, and don't forget it is GOOD FRIDAY today -- which means a special theme on tonight's Friday Night Live!!

TUNE IN LIVE at 9pm Central/10 Eastern!

FEEL THE BURN, BABY!

Okay, so I was a leeetle leery when I volunteered my guinea pig services to Mom Central for this blog tour, because Listerine always scared me.

My grandma & grandpa ALWAYS used Listerine and when I spent the night at their house *I* had to use it too.
It was like drinking scalding bacon grease only much less tasty. (Sorry guys, but srsly, 30 years ago you KNOW that's how it was)

ANYWAY. I decided to push my luck & said OKAY, send me the Listerine Total Care to try. I figured at the very least I could use it to punish my daughter for sassing.

HEY, guess what? Still burns...but not as bad as I thought it would. In FACT I compared it to another brand of whitening-type rinse who shall remain nameless but rhymes with Krest and I have to say that the Listerine Total Care was more tolerable. AND does not leave a gooey film in my mouth, which is YUCK, so BIG BONUS POINTS for that.

PLUS!
Helps prevent cavities
Restores enamel
Strengthens teeth (which is cool because I use my teeth for things I shouldn't)(not THAT, perv)
Kills bad breath germs
FRESH BREATH FTW!
And fights plaque.

There you go. I like all that stuff because I never had any problems with my teeth until I got pregnant and my children LEECHED(leached?) the LIFE RIGHT OUT OF ME including my teeth.

Go getcha some Listerine Total Care.
No seriously.
You need some mouthwash.
Or at least a tictac.

My First Aid Kit

I LOVE when Mom Central lets me try new products from companies with whom I'm already familiar... and I LOVE me some Neosporin!

They have a cool new SPRAY ON antiseptic/pain reliever... I told my daughter to go run around outside until she fell down and scraped something so we could try it out.

KIDDING.

Mostly.

She's clumsy like her dad with his big ol' clown feet that she inherited.
HEY I'm just saying.

Luckily *I* managed to walk into the doorframe as usual and scratched my arm.

The pain-relief part of the Neosporin REALLY WORKS.
I've been using the neosporin ointment for years...FINALLY I tried the cream also and I am just as happy with that - moreso, when I need somewhere that might get on my clothes.

ANYWAY.
The cool little "ToGo" spray on Neosporin is VERY EXCELLENT. Prevent infection AND ease the pain all at the same time. No way to go wrong there.

If you don't use Neosporin, you should...especially if you're clumsy. Or maybe...not so coordinated in the kitchen. This stuff eases the burn sting as well when you get get spattered with hot bacon grease.
Or so I hear.

CUPCAKES FOR CANCER RESEARCH!

How sweet it is!

I think this is my favorite Mom Central blog tour so far, because I feel like I CAN actually help make a difference.

This year for Valentine's Day (oKAY, I know it's already passed but you can still play!!), Kelly Ripa and Electrolux Appliances have teamed up to help fund research for ovarian cancer.
This is personal for me, as I've had family members succumb to this very disease.

So... LET'S RAISE SOME MONEY!! All you have to do is send a cupcake.
Srsly, who doesn't like cupcakes?

Here's what:

Register on Kelly's site, then log in and start sending those cupcakes!! For every cupcake you send, ELECTROLUX will make a $1 donation to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

THAT.IS.AWESOME.

And as if that weren't enough, every day you log on and send a virtual cupcake, you are automatically entered for a chance to win a new Red Hot Red Washer & Dryer from Electrolux!!

Let's review:
Send virtual cupcakes, automatically help fund ovarian cancer research, and be entered to win your very own, brand new, SUPER exciting RED HOT RED WASHER & DRYER!

What could possibly taste sweeter than that?

NOW GO SEND ME A DAMN CUPCAKE, YOU.

It's GREEN!

Our commitment to being more "green" around my house is coming along...slowly but surely.
One thing that makes it so much easier for lazy asses like me is when the wonderful ladies at Mom Central send me new greeeeen products to try!
As you know I'm fiercely brand loyal to Clorox, so I get excited every time I get to try a new green product from them. I love that they're offering so many new products to help save the environment!
I am really into checking labels for the word BIODEGRADABLE -- and I just got to try some really excellent GreenWorks Natural Cleaning Wipes from Clorox -- they are 99% natural and BIODEGRADABLE.

I'm a HUGE fan of cleaning wipes, especially in the kitchen. I've always used them on my counter tops (because I'm messy and spill shit all the time), so they're handy.
Let me just tell you that these GreenWorks Wipes smell SO LEMONY and delicious, they clean really well (even my disgusting refrigerator, and PS HOW DOES IT GET SO GRUBBY UNDERNEATH THE HANDLE??), and NO STICKY residue left behind.
I've used other wipes that have left a film on the countertops, but these don't.
PLUS BIODEGRADABLE so how can you NOT want to do that small thing for the environment? Unless you're just dumb, then okay.
Go get some Clorox GreenWorks products and just try them. OR you can do what I do and make your kids try it while you ... supervise. Isn't that what kids are for? What, no?

Special K Challenge!

So I saw this commercial the other day for the "Special K Challenge" - and I seriously considered it because, well, I'm always thinking about dieting.
Unfortunately, after 40 years my body has betrayed me and I can no longer have any milk or cream in my diet, so there goes the cereal thing.
And PS when I was checking out their site, I discovered that they have LOADS of cereal flavors!! I always thought it was just the plain ol' Special K or the kind with strawberries.

But Mom Central sent me some of Special K's new LOW CAL snack crackers - we KNOW how I like to eat chips & crackers, right? Any crunchy yummy cracker that can be dipped in hummus or pimiento cheese is welcome in my house.

I got some Multi-Grain Snack Crackers (which come in individual little packets, which is EXCELLENT for PORTION CONTROL) and some delicious tomato-y Italian Herb crackers.

The Multi-Grain were a tiny bit sweetish - they reminded me of graham crackers as far as taste goes... only much lighter and crispier. PERFECT in the 3:00pm hour when my Snack Tooth gets hungry.
The Italian Herb were good too - EXCELLENT IN HUMMUS, I have to say.

The best part: ONLY 90 CALORIES per 17 CRACKERS.

Baked, delicious, SO DIPPABLE, and LOW CALORIE.
(and ALSO? Special K has TONS of products I didn't know they had! Protein bars and vitamin water and MORE! Who knew??)

You can thank me later, in the form of jewelry or gift cards.
YOU.ARE.WELCOME.

Holiday Gift Idea #2!

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ALL YOUR LITTLE GAMERS!
oooh, you know how I loves me video games - I can often be found with my daughter's Nintendo DS playing Pokemon.
SHUT IT.
I don't ALWAYS trump up some offense so that I can ground her from playing with it so that *I* can use the game...

When offered the chance to test a new game, well, you know I jumped right on it.
The kids really loved the first Madagascar movie, and although we haven't had a chance to see the second one yet, I'm guessing they'll like that one too. But THE GAME! OH, it's fun. Luckily I grabbed the Madagascar 2 game first to try it out...the beginning is fairly easy, with short steps to get to the next level. It gets more complicated as you get further into the game - there was one part that took me FOREVER because I couldn't get the zebra to balance on the pole, but of course my daughter zipped right through that.

Also, she's gotten a lot further(farther?) than I've managed to do. I liked it because it has little mini-games in certain places in each level; again, they start really easy and a little boring but do get harder as you go.

Not only can you get the game for the DS, you can get it for Playstation 2 and even Wii!

It's fun, the graphics are good, the games get a little more challenging at each level and you can play using different characters with different moves...it's just what we like around my house.
Get your kid one for Christmas, and you can thank me later.
BECAUSE YOU WILL.

---

ALSO!! I have FOUR sets of character DOG TAGS (each set contains four tags - one each for Marty, Melman, Gloria, and Alex) that I will give away to the first four people who COMMENT HERE & tell me you want one.
HURRY UP so I can get 'em out this week before Christmas!

Gift Idea #1!

I love to read. I love to find new authors - especially around the holidays because then I have stuff to add to my "All I Want For Christmas List".

The ladies of Mother Talk were kind enough to help feed my addiction and send me a copy of Knit Two by Kate Jacobs.
Usually I try to avoid coming in to the middle of a series when it's a new author, because sometimes the sequels or thirds don't stand alone very well.

I was a tad worried when I started reading Knit Two because the first few chapters were a little confusing, what with the introduction of a LOT of characters all at once.

Once I got 'em all sorted out in my mind, though, I was drawn right in. It's the story of the lives of a group of women - all ages, all lifestyles - that bonded over knitting.
I know firsthand how easily some bonds are formed, when you click together instantly with someone into lasting friendship.

They travel, they fight, they love, they have sex, they get married and divorced and give birth and grow up...
and the best thing was that from the oldest to the youngest, each character had some trait that I strongly identified with, when I thought, "EXACTLY!" or "RIGHT!" or "OH YEAH, been THERE!".

For me, that's the mark of a good book - once I got past the initial character muddle I was completely engaged.
Also it made me order the first book in the series, because I'm very curious as to what transpired before I came in.

I give it a thumbs up, and recommend that you give a copy to the Readers on your Christmas list.
Or better yet, give it to yourself.

Ultimate Meatballs!! NOMNOMNOM

Okay, so a lot of you know I don't cook.
That is not to say that I CAN'T cook - actually I'm quite a decent cook when I put my hand to it... I just DON'T.
See, my mom lives right next door and she cooks 'most every night for my dad & brother, and there's always plenty so...only a moron would turn that down, right?
And my mama didn't raise no fools.

Also? NO CLEAN UP for me (well, not much anyway, because mom has a dishwasher and I don't), which is a total BONUS.

But then the ladies at Mom Central offered me the chance to try the Ultimate Party Meatballs!
I said YES because:
1. It looked REALLY REALLY EASY
2. MINIMAL dish-dirtying, which also means minimal clean-up.
3. NUMMY.

Last year my friend made some meatballs for the Superbowl party, and when she told me the sauce was made with chili sauce and grape jelly I was all EWWW.
But? They were pretty darn tasty.

The Ultimate Party Meatball recipe is very similar, and EVEN YUMMIER.
Instead of grape jelly, it calls for CRANBERRY SAUCE. Got some left from Thanksgiving because you forgot to open it & put it on the table (and REALLY, who EATS that stuff, anyway?)? Get some delicious chili sauce, mix it with the jellied cranberry goo, and soak your balls heat up the meatballs in the sauce.

YUM-O.
A little tart (heehee, I said tart), a little sweet, and a little heat.
Delicious.

PERFECT for holiday dinners, New Year's Eve parties, Superbowl parties, lunch on Wednesdays, whatever.

Easy peasy, takes very little time and effort (SCORE!), and tastes delicious.

TRY IT. You know you want to.

Shoppin' from A-Z

First of all, anyone who really knows me knows that I HATE SHOPPING.
I hate spending money (okay, I like spending money on gifts for other people, but that's where I draw the line).
I hatehatehate the crowds - people become these horrible, fanged savage animals who trample innocent store employees just so they can satisfy their avaricious, greedy hearts and so their spoiled little brats do not have to go without The Very Latest (fill in the blank).
I hate dealing with people.
I don't like people in general.

But this time of year... well, shopping is a necessary evil.
SO!

I was introduced to a FANTASTICAL, MAGICAL website called SHOP.COM. I love it. AAAAAALLLL your favorite stores (and then some) consolidated into one user friendly website.
They do all the work for you!
Looking for clothes for the kids, a blue-tooth or golf clubs for the husband, jewelry or sexy FMPumps for the wife?
THEY HAVE THEM ALL.

Search for your item, and SHOP.COM gives you a list to choose from, with ALL SORTS OF PRICE RANGES listed for your convenience, and the stores from which they come. I saw iPod Touches from $300+ to $189. There were books, music, and videos. Clothes, shoes, handbags... perfume, toys, electronics, and game systems.

IT'S LIKE WONDERLAND, and I DO NOT HAVE TO BE SHOVED, KNOCKED AROUND, or most importantly, TALK TO ANYONE.

That makes me so happy I could almost cry, and I'm not even joking. No standing in interminable lines. No sour-faced idiots snatching the last (whatever) right out of your hand.

Shop.Com also offers recommendations for kids, teen boys & girls, men & women... this is helpful to me because really? I have NO IDEA what people like.
And it beats the hell out of giving gift cards (which personally I LOVE to receive, but then I have to go SHOP with them, so, catch-22) when I can't think of anything else.

I'd like to thank the wonderful ladies at Mom Central for turning me on to SHOP.COM...they are my holiday saviors.

NO MORE COUPONS. Sorry.

If you've visited here before, you're likely well-aware that I am brand loyal to very few things...but one of the products I will never, ever substitute is Clorox bleach.

LOVE IT. Even the plain ol' regular kind without any added scent. It just signifies CLEAN to me... reminds me of hanging sheets out on the line with my great-grandma on Saturday afternoons.

I've been lucky enough to get to review a few of Clorox's other products recently, and I still love 'em. I ALWAYS try to sign up right away for Clorox reviews.

As much liquid bleach as I've used over the years, I've never tried the Clorox 2 color-safe bleach, so I was VERY anxious to try it out. Most of you know that my son is in diapers and sometimes there are...leakage issues. ESPECIALLY at night.

THIS STUFF GETS THE PEE SMELL OUT. Even the detergent with Oxy-Clean that I typically use doesn't do the job on its own.

Also? I have a lot of black shirts and NONE OF THEM FADED. I admit I was a little fearful, because "bleach" and "black" do not go together well in the washing machine (or WARSHING MACHINE if you're my grandma).

I threw in black, red, and light blue... and Clorox 2 Stain Fighter and Color Booster.

No clothes were ruined in the experiment.

SCORE!

PLUS, if you head on over to this Clorox 2 site, they have a STAIN WARS contest!.
This stuff can even be used as a pre-treater as well. Want to give it a try??


I have 4 (FOUR) coupons to give away, worth ONE FREE BOTTLE/PACKAGE of CLOROX 2!
The coupons are good for the 44oz liquid or the 49.2oz dry Clorox 2.

SORRY. ALL GONE.

---

and now for something completely different...

Dear McDonalds:
I know it's a tradition, but I'm hoping that one of you will decide to rebel or think outside the box...and put the fries in RIGHT-SIDE UP some day.
Thanks.

---

Dear Braum's Dairy Store:
I really enjoyed snickering at reading your marquee sign that was advertising "PUMMKIN PIES"
Think spell-check.
Is all I'm saying.

---

If you missed the show LIVE on Friday Night - Now's your chance to get it while it's hot: EAT IT! Happy Day After Thanksgiving Show

---

That is all.
Have a day.

I LOVE CLOROX.

Tell you what, thanks to the ladies at Mom Central I've discovered tons of products that I might not otherwise have tried.

You may remember that I LOVE CLOROX. I have always loved the bleach; it's one of the few products to which I am totally brand-loyal.

This time I got to try another Clorox product, the Anywhere Anti-Allergen Spray. I'm not ashamed to admit that I was excited about this product before I ever got it.

1. My house is really old. The seals around the doors & some of the windows is... not good. There is always dust in my house. Even if I were a GOOD housekeeper (or mediocre, for that matter, which we all know that I am NOT, because we all ALSO know that I am full of lazy), I couldn't stay on top of all the stuff that floats in here and nests.

2. My kids - never in the very best of health - have big problems with allergies. My son is especially susceptible to dust and mold and pollen and ragweed and grass and whatever. At night he gets so clogged and he SNORES and WHEEZES and makes a variety of other obnoxious sounds.

First thing I did was spray down my son's mattress pad and pillow. The Anti-Allergen Spray says it's unscented, but it actually has a faint bleachy smell - which is not at ALL offensive to my nose. I love the smell of bleach, it just reminds me of CLEAN.

Guess what? I use it once a week and there is far LESS snoring and wheezing and snot on the pillow.
He's sleeping more comfortably, which means MOMMY can sleep more comfortably.
And without earplugs.

Tried it on the couch and curtains and so far, it seems like there hasn't been much sneezing or coughing from ANY of us, which is a definite bonus.

I don't have any indoor pets at present (my boy's allergic, BIG SURPRISE), but according to the website this stuff will work on pet dander as well! If you've got a problem with pet allergies & you try some of this anti-allergen spray, let me know how it works -- it might make the difference in whether or not we get another inside dog or cat.

I can't wait 'til summer, because that's really the worst on my boy and this time, I'm prepared.
Try some Anywhere Anti-Allergen Spray from Clorox.
You can thank me later, by sending cash and jewelry. Booze would also not be found amiss.
Is all I'm saying.