Menu Plan - Week of 5/21/12

One of the worst things about coming home from vacation is not having any food in the house! I have been trying the past few weeks to make meals mostly out of what we already had... and now I am in desperate need of some meat! To the grocery store today, and to try to not spend over my budgeted amount!

Here is the week's shortened meal plan:
Tuesday:  Easy Skillet Cordon Bleu
Wednesday: Cream Cheese Pasta
Thursday: Jeff is going to a show with his parents, so E. and I are ordering in Chinese
Friday: pasta salad

The weekend will be leftovers! Not sure if I am doing a dessert this week, maybe just cupcakes from a mix! I do want to make something for Memorial Day... any ideas?

For more menus, visit orgjunkie.com

Well Hi There!

So apparently Google decided that it detected unusual activity on my account and deactivated my blog. Did it bother to tell me? Oh, no, why would it do that?? Nice to come back from vacation and have a minor heart attack.

Yes, I am back from Disneyland! The vacation was all right, not relaxing, unfortunately, but when can you relax when you have a 13 month old? lol It was good to be in Disneyland, but I barely got to see any of my friends, which is the important part. Oh well, it is what it was. Here are a few pics from my phone.

First ride: Peter Pan

Water on the train

In his element: meet at the hub

Pintrest for Dummies Review and Giveaway (Radical Review Wednesday)

I am a Pinrest n00b. I resisted for a long time, and only joined about a month ago so I could enter giveaways. I have not even linked to my Pintrest page on my blog yet! When I joined, you could still join via e-mail, and when you joined there was NO info. I tried to repin a pin for the giveaway, and couldn't - I asked a very kind friend who told me that I needed to create a board first. Oh! Pintrest never told me that, and they never obthered to respond to my help request.

I really could have used Pintrest for Dummies by Kelby Carr!This book is great! Chapter 1 is very basic - it showed me the steps that Pintrest should have taken with my account but didn't. The book covers pinning and repinning, creating boards, hashtags, using the @ symbol and socializing as jsut a few of the topics covered.

One reason why I didn't care much for Pintrest was that I didn't really know HOW to use it. Pintrest for Dummies not only shows you the basics, but it also has ideas on how to use Pintrest. From recipe and craft ideas to self-improvement and even to help out social causes, Pintrest

My favorite chapter is the self-promotion chapter. Kelby Carr is the founder and CEO of Type-A Parent, a social network and online magazine-style blog, so she knows what she is talking about! She writes about creating quality posts, optimizing images and buttons, widgets and plug-ins to help your blog make the most out of Pintrest. 

This book has helped me to understand Pintrest and  how to use it effectively for my blog. If you are a new Pintrest user or someone who wants to learn how to use it better, then this book is for you! One lucky blog reader will win a copy of Pintrest for Dummies. Open to U.S. and Canada! Enter using the Ralfflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. no other compensation was received.

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 5/14/12

Today is a short week! We leave for Disneyland Thursday afternoon!!! So this week we are using up what we have in the fridge. No grocery store! No planning past Wednesday! YEE HAW!!!


Monday: I really have NO idea!!! Maybe just some pasta?

Tuesday: Potato soup from the freezer... supposed to be a rainy day!

Wednesday: Perdue Italian chicken packets


That is it!!!! So excited for very little cooking this week, and for Disneyland at the end of the week!!!

For more information or to join the hop, go to I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Happy Mother's Day!

Cutest Baby EVER!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

to all of the other hard working, awesome moms out there!!

Reading!

My gift from E. was him WALKING!!! Yes he has been taking lots of steps from point A to B. He has been standing and crouching more too. full fledged walking is nearby I am sure! The video is all I have been able to catch, but he is definitely walking a lot more than that, and also a lot more often!



Hope everyone is having a great day!

Happily grabbing his snacks

Bright Starts Ultimate Baby Shower Giveaway

Welcome to the Bright Starts Ultimate Baby Shower Giveaway!

Bright Starts and Mom to Bed by 8, the Iowa-Mom have teamed to offer an amazing Bright Starts Sunnyside Safari Collection giveaway to one lucky reader!

This includes the Sunnyside Safari™ Chair Top High Chair, Playard, Plug in Sway & Swing, Portable Swing and Saucer making this truly the Ultimate Baby Shower Gift.

Special thank you to the wonderful bloggers who made this possible including our co-hosts: To Sew with Love, The Lucky Ladybug and Mom Blog Society.

I just love the bright colors and how it coordinates without being too matchy!

Big smiles and bright adventures go hand in hand in this exciting, fun-filled collection!

Take a walk on the sunny side-where baby gear goes together in delightful new ways. It's a win for infants and parents alike, with irresistable jungle characters adorning an array of fun coordinated products you'll use every day. Each piece of the collection does its job charmingly, with non-stop fun at an unbeatable value.

The Bright Starts Sunnyside Collection is available at Wal-Mart!

Sunnyside Safari™ Chair Top High Chair
A good high chair is a must for moms, and Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Chair Top High Chair is as good as they come! It does what a full-sized model does and more, adjusting to four different heights (and nearly any table), reclining to three positions, and converting to a booster seat for smooth transition to the toddler years.
The reversible seat pad is made of stain-resistant fabric you can wipe clean or machine-wash. The removable Stay Level Tray™ remains flat even when the seat is reclining. All this, plus the friendly characters of the Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Make mealtime and snack time more enjoyable for baby and you. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• Convenient 2 piece reversible seat pad is made of stain resistant fabric that is wipeable and machine washable
• 4 height positions to fit most table sizes
• 3 position recline
• Removable Stay Level Tray™ remains level even when seat is reclined
• 3 locking positions to grow with baby
• Built-in holders are convenient for drinks or snacks
• Converts to booster for easy toddler transition
• 5 point convertible safety harness

Sunnyside Safari™ Playard
A bright, sunny place for baby to rest, play, get a quick diaper change and spend a few moments with some friendly jungle pals! That's the Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Playard. This playard includes a removable bassinet with our time-saving One Less Step™ feature for easy fold-and-go mobility.
There's a convenient changing table, a handy side storage pocket, easy-roll wheels, a travel bag, plus a colorful toy bar to delight baby. And like all Bright Starts™ products, this playard is an unbeatable value. Part of our coordinated Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• Removable bassinet with One Less Step™ to quickly fold and go
• Convenient changing table
• Toy bar with 2 fun toys
• Side storage pocket
• Wheels for easy portability
• Includes travel bag

Sunnyside Safari™ Plug in Sway & Swing™
Some swings go back and forth. Some go side to side. This one does both—and does it with music, toys, and delightful jungle style. With a seat designed for 180° rotation, allowing three swing directions, the Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Plug in Sway & Swing™ uses our unique TrueSpeed™ technology to sense baby's weight and adjust for consistent speed—so it grows along with baby.
The swing also boasts a volume-adjustable 20 minutes of melodies and nature sounds, an overhead mobile—even an AC adaptor to save on battery expense. And it features the fun and engaging characters of the Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• Seat rotates 180° for 3 swing directions
• TrueSpeed™ technology maintains 6 speeds as baby grows
• Mobiles with 2 playtime toys easily pivots out of the way
• 20 minutes of melodies and nature sounds with volume control and auto shut-off
• AC adaptor saves money on batteries
• Swing time with 3 settings: 30, 45 and 60 minutes
• Whisper Quiet™ operation
• 5 point harness
• Machine washable seat pad
• Non-slip feet

Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing
Find baby's favorite speed with this innovative portable swing. The Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing is a win for parents and babies—from its machine-washable padded seat right down to its bright yellow, non-slip feet. With six distinct speeds to choose from, you'll find it easy to suit your little one's mood—and our patented TrueSpeed™ technology keeps those speeds consistent even as baby grows.
The Comfort Recline™ seat gives you a choice of two positions, and WhisperQuiet™ operation makes this swing silent in use. Wrap it all up in the super-fun animal decor and you've got a perfect travel companion. Part of Bright Starts™’ Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Features:

• TrueSpeed™ Technology maintains 6 speeds as baby grows
• Comfort Recline™ seat with 2 positions
• Whisper Quiet™ operation
• Easily folds for storage or travel
• 5 point harness
• Machine washable seat pad
• Non-slip feet

Sunnyside Safari™ Saucer
This is where babies go for serious fun. A Walmart exclusive, the 7-activity Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Saucer offers entertainment options galore—and a lighthearted jungle theme with fun characters you'll adore.
The seat rotates a full 360° for endless interaction with the activity stations. Twin overhead toy arms provide even more entertainment options. And the three different height positions make this one saucer your baby won't soon outgrow. Four link loops mean still more toys can be attached. Part of the Sunnyside Safari™ Collection, this saucer will quickly become a family favorite. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• 3 adjustable height positions allows entertainer to grow with baby
• Seat rotates 360° for nonstop interaction with 7 activity stations
• 2 overhead toy bar arms with mirror, hanging toy and fabric crinkle leaves
• Hanging elephant toy
• Bendy giraffe teething stalk
• Bead chaser with easy to grip textured beads
• Lion popper with spiraling beads
• Rotating ladybug barrels with fun textures and beads
• Rocking toucan on leaf stalk
• 4 link loops for attaching more toys
• Lays flat for storage
• Built-in toy tray is easy to clean

Giveaway starts on May 7 at 12:01AM and ends May 28 at 11:59PM. Open to the US residents only; must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Enter to win the Bright Starts Ultimate Baby Shower Giveaway including the Sunnyside Safari Collection on the rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 5/7/12

Menu planning fail! LOL The sad fact is that I was BORED Sunday night playing computer games, waiting for Jeff to get ready for bed.... it never crossed my mind to plan this week's menu! So this is a slapdash, stuck together menu using what I have at home.

Monday: We had leftover Mexican Fiesta!
Tuesday:  pigs n blankets
Wednesday:  Italian chicken
Thursday: Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken
Friday:  something from the freezer

I usually don't cook on the weekends, and I am NOT cooking on Sunday :D :D :D Happy Mother's Day!


For more recipes, check out MPM at orgjunkie.com

Char Crust and Over the Moon sipper Cups Winners!!

Congratulations!!

to Erinn S who won the Char Crust dry rub seasonings

and 

Rebecca A, Melissa B and Maggie T - winners of an Over the Moon sipper cup!

You all have been e-mailed and have 48 hours to reply before I choose another winner.

Thank you to all who entered and stay tuned for more giveaways!

V, W, X, Y and Z

Without further ado, what you have all been waiting for lol

V is for Villas at Grand Californian

It is so miuch prettier than this pic, I swear

The Grand California hotel in Disneyland is one of the prettiest hotels in the entire portfolio, and Jeff and I are lucky enough to own  a share in the vacation club there. As you can kinda tell by the picture, it is just gorgeous, and being able to get to DCA literally without leaving your hotel, and having Disneyland steps away is such a perk!

W is for Woody's Fabulous Belt

close up it is sooo sparkly and gaudy and FAAABULOUS

I am so bummed that I cannot find my close up of this, but trust me, it IS fabulous!! Several years ago, Disneyland changed It's a Small World, adding in some Disney characters and mostly getting rid of the wonderful rainforest section. It was replaced by cardboard cutouts and paper mache Jessie, Woody and Bullseye... perhaps the best part being what a friend coined Woody's Fabulous Belt, bedazzled and all.

X is for X Atencio

X Atencio

 I do feel a bit remiss about not featuring any Imaingeer, so here you go, courtesy of Disney Wiki. 

Francis Xavier "X" Atencio  is a former Imagineer, writer, lyricist and animator. He joined Disney in 1938 as an animator. In 1965, he became an Imagineer. He wrote the scripts for several Disney theme park attractions, most notably Adventure Thru Inner Space, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Haunted Mansion, as well as the lyrics to the theme songs of the latter two, Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me! and Grim Grinning Ghosts, respectively. His voice can be heard as the Talking Skull at the beginning of the Pirates of a Caribbean attraction, and in a safety spiel for the Haunted Mansion attraction.

Y is for yellow Mickey balloon

Mickey balloons at Disneyland... so pretty

Perhaps cheating a bit, thanks to my friend Wendy, but the Mickey head balloons are iconic. And they are still in the parks, in a bit of an altered form, but it is still nice to see something last for so long.

Z is for Zero

Zero from Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington's loyal sidekick, he is kinda cute for a sheet!!


Hope you all enjoyed reading my Disney A to Z! It was a challenge for sure but lots of fun :)