Hat Trick

We participated in a little craft project for Collective Bias and I thought y'all might like to see:

More check-ins at Michael's Arts and Crafts

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Stella's Graduation

Stella completed her Puppy Kindergarten class, although it should be noted that she refused to do any of her tricks during the final show-off rally. Typical. She is slightly more apt to come when called and will sit on command at least 75% of the time. Hey, I take what I can get.



And the tiny cap and gown? Priceless.

Wordless Wednesday- The Slug

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Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?

Don't You Need Candy?

We adopted Stella from the Kansas Humane Society four months ago and she's been a great addition to our family. Pets are such a big part of our lives and I wanted to share my friend Krista's experience as a pet foster parent at KHS on the off chance that someone out there is looking for a new best friend. (Also, Bob has fallen in love with this dog and we don't need TWO dogs at this point… please help to find Candy a good home!)



For over two weeks, I've been foster mom to a 5-yr-old black lab named Candy, who is just as sweet as her name implies. Candy was brought to the Humane Society after her owner passed away. She needed fostering due to kennel cough, but now that the kennel cough is cleared up, Candy's ready to find a permanent home.

Candy would want you to know that she was well taken care of and loved by her former owner. She is perfectly house trained, she's very laid back, exceedingly gentle, and she would make a great pet for families of all kinds. Kids? Yup. She's awesome with our 6-year-old. People staying at home? That's cool. She'd be happy to let you love on her all day. People out all day? That'll work, too. She'll watch the house while her family is out during the day at work or school. I also imagine she'd be a great dog for people who make visits to retirement communities or schools. She's just that sweet and gentle.

Candy has few demands other than the basics, but she is a bit heavy--currently about 100 pounds--and needs someone to watch the food and treats carefully, and make sure she gets some walks. In the past two weeks, she's lost a few pounds and is having an easier time getting around, and overall seems much more spry than when we first got her, but it'll take a little time for her to get into really good shape.

I'll be taking Candy back to the Humane Society in the next couple of days, and so she should be available for adoption very soon. Please contact me if you would be interested in Candy, or please pass the info along to anyone you think might be interested. She's really too good to pass up. I'd love to keep her myself, but we already have a dog, and she doesn't do very well with other dogs.

bauhausfrau at hotmail dot com or contact the Kansas Humane Society directly. Her ID number is A10392487.

- Krista


PSST! Tomorrow is Wagging Tuesday at KHS. Free treats for you & your dog, $20 off dog or cat adoptions and more from 4 - 6 p.m.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Rod!

The kids recorded a birthday message to my dad. Yes, I messed up and forgot to mail a card. Trust me, this is cuter, anyway.

Happy birthday, daddy!

Wordless Wednesday- Anatomy, Botany, Sleep

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?

Survival of the Hippest

Oh yes, I did… just in time for the first official Digital Wichita meeting tomorrow (Wednesday May 19 7:30am at Mead's Corner). I overestimated the girth of my neck, though, so it's a little long. Cute, right?

Custom Twitter necklaces from Survival of the Hippest from $49.95 (click on the birdie for a discount!)

HomeFree Allergy-Safe Treats

HomeFree makes treats that are peanut, dairy, egg and tree nut-free in a dedicated bakery that ensures safety from cross-contamination. "Allergy-free" is not usually a big selling point on snacks for my kids. We're lucky enough to have escaped any life-threatening allergies so we're not required to purchase them but it is nice to have something on hand to serve the kids' friends who do have food allergies. HomeFree treats are not only safe but they are delicious, too. We tried two varieties and both were gone almost instantaneously!

The Organic Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies are tiny and crunchy, reminiscent of store brands like Chips Ahoy. They are incredibly addictive!



The Organic Oatmeal Cookies come six to a box. They're more of a home-style cookie, very dense and soft and chewy. Each cookie packs a whopping 13g of whole grain and 2g of protein with a very low sodium and glycemic profile, too, so you can feel pretty good about serving them as an afterschool snack.



HomeFree also offers a variety of other allergy-free products, including Coffee Cakes, Baking Ingredients, and an Allergen-free Baking Cookbook.

Disclosure: We received samples of the cookies shown above in order to review them.

Triple Play Weekend at BBX!

No big plans this weekend? Why not take advantage of the Triple Play promotion at Blockbuster Express?

Rent two DVDs and get the THIRD free with this code: GCB15D2. It's good from now through Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 11:59 PM, so carve out a little time for yourself and catch up on the movies you ran out of time to see in the theater. I know I have a gigantic list I've been wanting to see. The top three new releases for me this weekend? Nine, Crazy Heart, and It's Complicated. I think Bob might actually go for Crazy Heart, just because Jeff Bridges was the Dude.

What's on your must-see list?

Get the skinny on new releases by following Blockbuster Express on Twitter or becoming a Blockbuster Express fan on Facebook! You can save time by pre-ordering online and picking them up at a Blockbuster Express kiosk near you.



Disclosure: I am one of the "Couch Critics" in the Collective Bias community but I did not receive any compensation for sharing this information.

Wordless Wednesday- Going to Grandma's

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Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?

The Horse Boy on PBS tonight

I've been a big PBS viewer since I was little but it's especially important to me to support KPTS, the only public television station in Kansas, since our state legislature has approved a measure to cut funding by 50%. (If you live in Kansas, why not use this form to relay your displeasure about this to the Governor?)

Anyhow, I wanted to tell you about Independent Lens, the weekly PBS series that is your in-home independent film festival. Tonight's featured documentary is The Horse Boy, the story of an autistic boy who finds his connection to the outside world through horses. The Horse Boy gives insight into the autistic mind first in Rowan's native Texas and then on his epic journey through outer Mongolia to seek guidance from traditional shamanic healers.



Be sure to check your local listings tonight for The Horse Boy.

Disclosure: I received a DVD of this film to preview.

Wild Creations EcoAquarium Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 5/31 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, windycindy!!!***

her comment...
My sons would like the Pocket Microscope, as well as the Classic
EcoAquarium. We have a Beta Fish@


Wild Creations EcoAquariums are a fun and easy way to learn more about frogs, up close and personal. Roo's kindergarten class recently adopted some African dwarf frogs so when we were given the chance to get some of our own, we jumped at the opportunity. Wild Creations EcoAquariums are 4" square self-contained aquatic habitats that contain two African dwarf frogs. The frogs only need to be fed twice a week and the water only has to be changed quarterly, so they're ideal pets for even the most forgetful families.



Our Wild Creations EcoAquarium sits next to our betta fish on our breakfast bar in the kitchen. (The other jar is full of grow-in-water toys.) Roo and Jasper named our frogs Star Wars and Courtney and they are pretty lively little guys. The kids love to feed them and sing songs to them. I like to discuss meal planning with them. No, not really. But I swear they do interact with us more than I expected them to.








To enter and win your own Classic EcoAquarium, please comment on this post with your favorite item from the Wild Creations catalog.


Entries will be accepted through May 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers only are eligible.


For an additional entry, like Wild Creations on Facebook, subscribe to the Wild Creations YouTube channel, subscribe to the Frog Blog, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fan me on Facebook, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Mother's Day

Best card, ever! Apparently, Roo thinks I am very glamorous with the red lips and accessories. Not sure about the clawlike feet, though.



Roo's handwriting has really gotten good this year. Her cursive "F" is way better than I could do, honestly. I am so proud of both kiddos and so happy they made me into a mommy. Even when they're screaming at each other, which is pretty often these days.

My dad sent me some beautiful flowers. The colors are just stunning:

Happy Mother's Day! (Giveaway)

***WINNER PICKED 5/20 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #15 TXsunlover!!!***

her comment...
Spending time with my family is the best Mother's Day gift that I could receive. My sons are grown and no longer live at home so it's wonderful to have them all to myself for the whole day.
Thanks for the chance to win!





This Mother’s Day Family Night In giveaway includes a $25 gift card to amazon.com to order a movie or two of your choice, along with free coupons from your favorite Nestle brands like Stouffer’s, Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough, Toll House Morsels, Nesquik, Ovaltine, Coffee-Mate, Wonka Exceptionals and Juicy Juice; as well as product from Raisinets and Wonka, with a $1.00 Wonka coupon and a 30-day Glowelle kit.

Don't forget to enter Nestle's Mother’s Day to Remember Sweepstakes to enter for a chance to win a $10,000 dream prize package.




Disclosure: I will receive a coupon package similar to the prize in exchange for hosting this giveaway.

To enter, please comment on this post with your favorite way to be appreciated or to appreciate your mom.


Entries will be accepted through May 19th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fan me on Facebook, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Naturalizer Tips for Spring

I used to wear heels all the time but now that I'm at home with the kids most of the time, I tend to prefer flats. Which can be adorable, sure, but they can also look very casual and teenybopperish, too. Especially when you're 5'2" and dress like a teenager. Ahem. Anyway, I just received a pair of chic Naturalizer flats for springtime: the Capri in pewter. They are very classy and sleek and can go with everything from jeans to a pencil skirt without looking out of place. They feature the cushy N5 Comfort Elements, which makes you feel like you're wearing bedroom slippers. They are a bit narrow in the vamp for me, so I had to stretch them out a bit. Otherwise, they are fabulous.




Naturalizer worked with reflexologist and mom of three Michelle Ebbin of Basic Knead to create this list of tips for springtime shoe shopping:

1. 15 minutes of…comfort: When selecting a pair of shoes, you should be able to walk for at least 15 minutes without discomfort or pressure to any part of the feet.

2. Breathe easy: Every woman knows how annoying sweaty, sliding feet can be… and when your feet can’t breathe, your energy can’t flow. Find shoes with a breathable lining.

3. Lighten up and embrace the softer side: Hard, clunky shoes are more than just ugly; they can affect your circulation.

4. The 2010 shoe mantra – NO BREAKING IN: Flexibility means no “breaking-in” period. Supportive, lightweight shoes lessen the impact of gravity, which can wreak havoc on your feet and your entire body.

Disclosure: I received the shoes shown to facilitate this review.

Dress-Up for Grownups

The following review/giveaway is for adult eyes only because it involves sex. Mommy and daddy sex. (Everyone under 18 just clicked away, right?) No super explicit stuff here but the links might contain NSFW content. Consider yourself warned.





I'm not really a dress-up kind of girl in the bedroom. It usually seems kind of counterproductive to the job at hand, in my book, especially when combined with my self-deprecating sense of humor and tendency to giggle at inappropriate times. But, hey, I'll give anything a go once. I've heard the menfolk like a little naughty roleplaying so I thought I'd try the Sexy Little Miss Muffet costume from Eden Fantasys. It's a pink gingham dirndl dress with a lace-up bodice reminiscent of the St. Pauli girl, who is undeniably foxy. Plus it has a big old spider on the apron. (No, I really don't get that, either. Not sure how many folks out there have nursery rhyme fetishes, I just thought the dress was cute.) It looks a lot like this:



No, that isn't me. This costume does not have those awesome transformative powers, although it is pretty stinking cute. It is also very, very short. I'm short (5'2") and tend to wear shorter skirts than my peers and this dress was still a wee bit too micro for public wear, although I was surprised at how nicely it's made. It has the same sort of feel as a slightly stretchy crisp cotton dress shirt and fits nicely. If you wore some opaque tights and perhaps the Teardrop Lace Petticoat, you might be okay to wear this in public. Like at a dark nightclub. The bodice is pretty foxy, too, very heaving-bosom barmaid. (Thankfully you don't have to re-lace it, the whole shebang zips up the back.) I accessorized with a pair of white thigh highs with ruffles and bows. Very sweet.

I still don't know how often I would play dress-up in the bedroom but I have to admit it's amusing.

$35.99Sexy little miss muffet Costume by Leg Avenue Material: Polyester Buy from EdenFantasys

This product was provided free of charge to the reviewer.

Disclosure: I received the Sexy Little Miss Muffet costume and thigh highs with ruffles and bows compliments of Eden Fantasys in exchange for my unbiased opinions. They also offer a wide variety of sex toys, if you didn't know.

Roo Sings!

Roo's always liked music but lately she's been going a bit crazy with making up songs. It's endlessly fascinating to hear what she will come up with next…

Wordless Wednesday- Water Balloons, Dr Visit, Shutterbug

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?

Happy Star Wars Day

I really didn't know it was Star Wars Day but I posted about Jasper's latent SW obsession over at Disco Fries and Pop. Check it out for some of the cutest clone troopers this side of the Galactic Republic.

Free State Social

I had an amazing time at the very first Free State Social in nearby (well, two+ hours nearby) Lawrence, although you probably wouldn't guess that by the number of pictures I took. Three. Is that even possible? I totally suck, I know. Here's the thing, though. I was more into hanging out with people and talking to them than in taking photos. Yes, I was actually being social at a social media conference– imagine that.

The speakers were all really great. We all knew the out-of-towners would be fantastic: Chris Brogan, Sarah Evans, Jeremiah Owyang, Shawna Coronado, Ellyn Angelotti, Scott Raymond. Each had a great way of relating their personal stories about social media and took time to answer questions from the audience at length. (I am fairly sure that Jeremiah made the audience's collective head explode.) Insightful and inspiring. The local panel was great, too, although honestly they could have gone on for a lot longer. Zena Weist and Ramsey Mohsen, Tony Botello and Shea Sylvia talked a lot about the importance of community, integrity and the value of blogging.

Chris Brogan, Briana Saunders, Shea Sylvia, Jeremiah Owyang

The Lawrence community TweetUp was a highlight after the first day although I must admit I only made it to two of the destinations. I am told that we got the first swarm badge in Kansas at The Sandbar, which many folks were thrilled about. Also Fail Whale shots and the pretty blue drink you see below.



Ramsey is a KU grad and heartily endorsed the "shark attack" at The Sandbar. It comes with a grenadine-filled shark that you upend, swirling like blood into the azure sea… so cool!



Of course, Ramsey is also the one who coerced the lovely Zena Weist and myself to climb onto the bar for a local tradition known as "the hurricane." Thankfully, he is a merciful videographer and captured brief moments of what ensued.




Now, if you've ever wanted to see Chris Brogan, Sarah Evans and Shawna Coronado dance on a bar for an uncomfortably long time (just call me leadfinger), well, here you go:



I had a couple of hours to reflect upon Free State Social while I drove home. It was very Kansas- big and wide and open for possibilities. A bunch of us Wichitans are planning to get a social media breakfast group together this week and see what happens. Keep the momentum going. Ease on down the road, so to speak.








And the cherry on top? I was quoted about the conference in the Lawrence Journal-World and not only didn't sound totally ignorant but my headshot didn't make me look like a criminal. Phew!