SXSW ~ Part 1

I can't believe it has been over a month since SXSW! I didn't post back when I returned because I got home and I was overwhelmed with things going on at home, and I figured there would be so many SXSW posts people would get tired of reading them one after another, so maybe you will enjoy my post a little more since SXSW has kinda worn off a little.

I have so much I want to share with you I have decided to break it down into a few separate posts.

Today's post is about how I got to SXSW.

I want to start by thanking Walmart and Pledge to End Hunger for sponsoring my trip. It was an amazing trip that I could not have made without their help!

If you haven't heard about Pledge to End Hunger please go here and see what you can do to help fight childhood hunger in the United States. So far thanks to everyone who has signed the pledge, Tyson foods has donated 3 semi trucks full of food to food banks in Austin, TX, St Louis, MO and Indianapolis, IN. Each truck contained 35,000 pounds of food! Pledge to End Hunger is still working toward a goal of 5,000 signatures on the pledge. If you have not pledged yet please go to Pledge to End Hunger now and sign!

I attended the conference as a representative of the new Walmart program called More than Elevenmoms. This program is an extension of the 11 Moms program John Andrews and Rockfish Interactive created for Walmart. Our community is a group of parents and bloggers who help support the Walmart and 11 Moms brands. John Andrews held a contest for the members of the community and the prize was a trip to SXSW for one lucky member, ME! Thank you John, I owe ya!

So off to Austin for me! I found out I would be sharing a room with Michelle from Sparks and Butterflies, (she won the trip from a contest that was held at Blissdom) and I would be flying part of the way with Robin from Pensieve (she also won the trip at Blissdom). Prior to leaving we all shared our interests, packing lists and apprehensions with each other and found out we had a lot in common! I also found out I would be meeting all but I believe 3 of the 11 moms. I was so excited to have the chance to meet all of the fantastic women I talk to online on a regular basis and to make new friends with bloggers I did not know much about.

I met up with Robin in Dallas and we flew to Austin and her friend Lisa picked us up at the airport and took us to a fabulous local Tex-Mex restaurant for dinner. Can I just say, I could eat Tex-Mex for the rest of my life. By the end of the trip, lots of people were sick of it but I could still be eating it! Thanks Lisa and Robert for the fantastic taste of local cuisine.

Once we got to the hotel it was off to get our conference badges and meet our roomies. The hotel was great check out this view! Coming from Pittsburgh, I cannot believe how flat Texas is! I could see forever, it was like looking out at the ocean.

Walmart and Rockfish left a little something to welcome us to Austin.


I ended my long travel day with a fantastic night sleep in a comfy bed ALONE! no kids, no dogs, no snoring hubby. It was pure heaven!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Go to Blessed With Grace to see more yummy recipes this week

Meatball Sub Bake

2 lbs ground beef
12 oz spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cups packaged dry stuffing cubes (I use Pepperidge Farm)
12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

~cook beef, drain fat
~stir in sauce, water, and seasoning
~put beef mixture in 9 X 13 baking pan
~add stuffing cubes and toss lightly
~sprinkle cheese on top
~bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes

Wordless Wednesday ~ SXSW

You can goto 5 Minutes For Mom to see this weeks other Wordless Wednesday Posts :)
Enjoy

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Since it is The Ultimate Blog Party week, I decided to post an easy drink recipe for you to try at your next party! Make sure you go to Blessed With Grace to see the other great recipes this week.

Frozen Slush
9 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 packages of frozen fruit of your choice (I like raspberry)
12 oz can of frozen orange juice
1 package of unsweetened Kool-Aid (match flavor to chosen fruit)
2 cups vodka

~boil 1 cup of water, dissolve sugar in water
~combine orange juice, fruit, Kool-Aid; blend until smooth
~add sugar water, mix well
~add vodka and remaining water
~freeze in a large container
~mix with 50/50 or Sprite to serve

Ultimate Blog Party 2009 & Chic Buds Giveaway!

I am so excited to be participating in 5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate Blog Party :) I can't wait to start blog hopping and finding great new friends. If you haven't joined the fun yet, go to 5 Minutes for Mom right now and link up!

Did you know there are prizes!? Who doesn't love prizes. The top 3 prizes I would like to win are:
~#58 Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer provided by Moms Who Think
~#45 Diaper Bag from Made by Michelle
~#41 Charm Necklace from Elemental Memories

I also like Intl1, Intl 36, USC10, USC74,#113, #118.

Welcome to my blog! My name is Kim, I am a 36 years old and I have been married for 13 years this year. We have 4 great kids, a daughter who is 11, and 3 boys ages 9, 7, and 3. We also have 3 dogs, they are all labs, a yellow one, a black one and a chocolate one. We also have 2 cats. We live in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA.

I just posted my 100th blog post today as well, so you can read 100 things about me here.

I also have a great giveaway to celebrate the Ultimate Blog Party! I am giving away a pair of Chic Buds ear buds. I love my Chic Buds!, I use them for my laptop and for my MP3 player all of the time. They are super cool, compact and stylish. You can find out more about Chic Buds here.

Here is what you need to do to win your own pair of Chic Buds!

Main Entry ~ please complete both parts to be eligible.
1. Read my 100 Things About Me post and let me know if there is anything we have in common.
2. Subscribe to my blog by clicking the panda in my upper right hand sidebar.

Bonus Entries ~ leave separate comments for each task completed.
1. Follow my blog (left sidebar)
2. Put my button on your blog
3. Follow me on twitter here
4. Tweet this contest by copying this tweet "Win a pair of Chic Buds from Craftymamaof4 http://bit.ly/sErfm "(you can do this once a day, leave a comment each day)

PLEASE READ THIS
US entries only please. Please make sure to leave a valid email address or your Twitter ID in at least one of your comments. I will not hunt you down if you win. If you do not follow the entry requirements as stated above, your entry will be invalid, so please make sure you read the directions carefully :) This contest will end at 11:59 pm EST, Sunday, March 29th . The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified via email or Twitter DM. The winner will also be posted on this blog. The winner has 48 hrs from the time of the posting to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.

Happy 100th Post To Me! 100 Things About Me

Wow I can't believe it's been 100 posts already! Time sure flies when you are having fun doesn't it!

From what I understand it is time to do a "100 things about me" post for my 100th post. Here goes, they are in no particular order, just typing as I think of them. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think :) Thanks.

Most of you know I am married and have 4 kids so I'm gonna skip that! I hope you enjoy :)

1. I always wanted to be a toe dancer and took dance for 13 years until they finally told me (at age 14) I didn't have a chance cause I was too tall.
2. I'm 5'11" tall
3. I like to garden and I have had my own garden for about 7 years. 4. My favorite girlfriend movie is "Grease" I know all the words by heart.
5. Before my Twitter addiction, I was addicted to playing Webkinz.
6. My first car was a brown Plymouth Volare. It only had an AM radio and no rear window defogger. We parted when it spontaneously caught on fire on my way home from student teaching one day.
7. I have a degree in Elementary Education from The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Also known as UPJ.
8. I met my husband when I was 16, we have been together ever since.
9. I used to be really skinny. Disgustingly skinny.
10. I collect Precious Moments. I currently have over 200.
11. I have never taught a day in my life, I ended up working in Human Resources after graduating from college.
12. I had MAJOR 80's hair.
13. I am afraid of heights, but I love the adrenaline rush of a good roller coaster.
14. I went to England when I was 13 with an Explorer group and partied HARD! OMG would you let your 13 year old daughter do this? I know I wouldn't, hard to believe my mom let me go.
15. I lived in a bubble as a child, my mom was very protective. (why did she let me go overseas???)
16. So, when I was in labor with my 1st child I blamed my mom for all of my pain because she never let me get hurt so I didn't know what real pain felt like. Love you Mom :) All the pain was worth it.
17. When I was little I used to cry about my "problems" to my poodle Pepe.
18. I used to sell Pampered Chef and I think I have everything they produce.
19. My best friend is Wendy, she lives in Nashville, and I miss her everyday.
20. I always wanted 8 kids, but finally realized 4 was my limit.
21. I can't stand the smell of vanilla candles, they give me a headache.
22. I love chocolate, but I don't like chocolate cake.
23. I can't eat french fries without ketchup, but I can't eat ketchup on anything but french fries.
24. I don't drink coffee, I don't think I have ever even tasted it.
25. When I was in labor with my 1st child I flashed my dad (I was delirious) to show him the one spot on my belly where all the pain was. I think he is still recovering.
26. Before November 2008, I didn't even know what blogging was.
27. I was in love with Kirk Cameron as a tween.
28. I also was in love with John Taylor from Duran Duran, still love them today.
29. My first concert was Duran Duran in 1988, I went with my Grandma.
30. I said I was gonna get pregnant on my honeymoon, and I did. My Grandma was counting on her fingers when my daughter was born 3 weeks early.
31. I watch way too much tv and I let my kids watch way too much tv.
32. I have a weakness for bags of all kinds. I had 4 different diaper bags with my last baby.
33. I hate doing dishes.
34. My house is always a mess.
35. I love Disney movies and I think I have most of the older ones on VHS.
36. My favorite flavor is raspberry.
37. My favorite color is pink.
38. I live across the street from my parents, next to my mother in law and on the same block as my brother. My parent's house is the house I grew up in.
39. I love the beach.
40. I torture my children every time we go to the beach while trying to get the "perfect" beach photo. I think they still like the beach.
41. I can't dance.
42. I like Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers, but my DD11 and DS9 keep trying to tell me I'm to old to like them.
43. I am an impulse shopper
44. I don't have any cavities
45. I'm stuck here on #45
46. I have recently fallen in love with Edward from Twilight
47. I bite my fingernails
48. I cry way to easily, I even tear up when I talk to people in regular conversations.
49. I have watched every episode of Survivor from the beginning
50. I met Amber after the first time she was on Survivor
51. I met Amber and Rob after Survivor All Stars.
52. I love the Harry Potter books.
53. I love Ellen.
54. I love Chris Mann.
55. I swear I saw a ghost when I was a kid in my Aunt's attic.
56. I use way too many paper plates. (see #33)
57. I fixed my wiper fluid hose in my Volare once with a straw from Sheetz. It was winter and I needed my wiper fluid to make it home from college!
58. I dye my hair, I have tons of grey. Really!
59. I never learned how to drive a stick shift.
60. I grew up boating every weekend from the time I was just a few months old.
61. I never learned how to water ski (see #15)
62. I cried when my Dad sold our boat. It was about 8 years ago :(
63. I wish I could afford a boat.
64. I am Italian.
65. I want a tattoo. I don't know why since I don't like pain, it's a mystery to me.
66. "@tncountrygal thinks I'm good people" ~ thanks @tncountrygal :)
67. I used to have 5 piercings in my ears, they have long since closed up and I am now down to 2. 68. I have a ton of shoes, but I hate wearing shoes.
69. I eat my salad without dressing.
70. I don't like to try new foods.
71. I did try Indian food for the first time at SXSW and it wasn't so bad.
72. I still don't like to try new foods. Lol
73. My favorite ice cream is Eddy's Loaded Peanut Butter Cup. YUMMY
74. I just started text messaging last week at SXSW.
75. I cannot make brownies to save my life. They are either uncooked or hard as bricks.
76. I am a Pepsi addict
77. I still have my pooh bear and blankie from when I was little, thanks to my mom who saves everything.
78. I threw away the roses from my Mom and Dad's wedding cake (over 30 years old). They were in her freezer, I was cleaning it out, I didn't know what they were until months later. She was pretty mad when she found out. Sorry Mom :)
79. I can't take liquid medicine, I have an overactive gag reflex all I have to do is smell the medicine and I'm done.
80. I listen to Taylor Swift while I cut my grass.
81. I stay up way too late every night (like tonite, gotta finish tomorrow)
82. When I was a tween I was the roller skating limbo champ at our roller rink.
83. Merry-go-rounds make me ill.
84. I like to do puzzles.
85. I'm a geek, would be lost without my electronics.

86. I dream of winning the lottery, but I never play. I guess it doesn't work that way huh?
87. I have always wanted a light blue convertible VW Cabriolet. Do you think I could fit 4 kids in one?
88. I am a Cub Scout Den leader.
89. I worship the sun. I used to use baby oil mixed with iodine when I was in high school to accelerate my tan.
90. I am clumsy.
91. I don't like making lists about myself.
92. I am obsessed with putting things in containers. My pantry is full of Tupperware and all the kids toys are sorted and put into storage bins.
93. I can't sing.
94. I had a piano teacher when I was around 9 and I hated it, I wish I would have stuck it out.
95. I love to read, I wish I had more time to do it.
96. I do lots of crafts (duh, I know that's kinda obvious, but I thought I'd throw that one in!)
97. I like to bake cookies (unfortunately I like to eat them too)
98. I don't like Spongebob
99. I can't spell.
100. I love you for sticking around until #100 and reading all this crazy stuff about me :)

Winners ~ Fiber One Spa Basket

The 3 winners of the Fiber One Spa Baskets chosen by random.org are

Comment #26 ~ @Valerie2350
Comment #21 ~ @LeslieVeg
Comment #36 ~ @3BoyzMom

Congratulations!!! Please contact me within 48 hours to claim your prize.

Thank you to everyone who entered my contest :) Keep coming back I have lots more goodies to share!

kiru Etsy Shop Twilight Giveaway

In case you haven't heard yet the Twilight DVD is coming out this Saturday March 21st and we are very excited here at the crafty house. You can pick up your copy at Walmart for only $17, we will be there at 12:01 am getting our copy, my 11 year old daughter wouldn't have it any other way!

We have read the books but not seen the movie yet, Saturday we are having a DVD premier party, stop back to see the guest blog post about it written by my daughter.

If you love Twilight as much as we do, you need to check out the kiru Etsy Shop. They have some really unique and creative Twilight items. Here is what Lori has to say about her creative arts:

Danny Kaye once said "Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can." Now that's something I can get behind and that's exactly what I'm doing with my crafting. When I'm not making magnets, cell phone charms, mousepads, and many many other items for the world I can be found spending time with my friends and family seeing a show or a band or just hanging out laughing and having fun. When I'm on a solo mission I can be found watching a good movie or reading a good book or making more fun stuff for the world...

Lori has made some really fun Twilight stuff for the world and she has generously donated a great prize pack for me to give away and spread the Twilight excitement!


This prize pack includes a “got Edward?” pen, Twilight Gift Card Notebook (50 pages, Approximately 3 3/8" x 2 1/8"), and a Jacob Cell Phone charm with a pewter apple and pewter wolf charm. How cute is this stuff! My daughter is so bummed that she can't win, I'm gonna have to go buy some great stuff from kiru for her!

Here is how you can win.

Main Entry ~ you must complete both parts and leave a comment for each
1. Subscribe to my blog via reader (panda in upper right sidebar) and tell me if you are for "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob" leave your email address or Twitter id in your comment.
2. Visit kiru and let me know your favorite item in the shop.

Bonus Entries ~ leave a separate comment for each entry
1. Put my button on your blog
2. Tweet this giveaway " Win cool Twilight prize pack from kiru Etsy shop http://bit.ly/HJIw "
3. Stumble or Digg this post by using the "share" bar below
4. Follow my blog

PLEASE READ THIS!

US entries only please. Please make sure to leave a valid email address or your Twitter ID in at least one of your comments. I will not hunt you down if you win. If you do not follow the entry requirements as stated above, your entry will be invalid, so please make sure you read the directions carefully :) This contest will end at 11:59 pm EST, Friday, March 27th . The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified via email or Twitter DM. The winner will also be posted on this blog. The winner has 48 hrs from the time of the posting to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.


Good luck!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday ~ Cranberry Granola

Check out more great recipes at Blessed With Grace

Cranberry Granola

1 cup oats
1/2 cup bran flakes
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins
1/2 cup margarine/butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon

~preheat oven to 300 degrees; spray a cookie sheet (with edge) with non stick spray
~in large bowl combine all dry ingredients EXCEPT cranberries/raisins
~combine margarine, honey, vanilla, and brown sugar in small bot over medium heat; stir until well combined
~pour half of the mixture into dry ingredients and stir
~pat into greased cookie sheet
~drizzle remaining sugar mixture over the top
~bake 30 -35 minutes; cool
~put cooled granola in an air tight container and add mix in cranberries/raisins

Enjoy :)

New Munchie Mug Winner

Well my first winner never responded so I pulled another tonight :)

The new winner of the Munchie Mug chosen by random.org is

Comment #24 ~ @kotibeth

Congratulations!!! Please contact me within 48 hours to claim your prize.

Thank you to everyone who entered my contest :) Keep coming back I have lots more goodies to share!

Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars

I have to admit, I am not one to try new foods especially when they are "good for me" so when I received this great Spa Break Basket from Fiber One it took me a few days to try them just because the word "fiber" is in the title. I know call me crazy but don't tell my kids because I make them try everything!

I was PLEASANTLY surprised when I tried the Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars! They actually didn't taste like "fiber" they tasted like chocolate! These bars are packed with yummy bits of chocolate and much to my delight they didn't taste too much like coffee as I am not a coffee drinker. Fiber One Bars provide 35% of the recommended daily fiber intake and are a great source of calcium as well. I could really use some calcium in my diet because I have a hard time drinking milk. My kids really liked these too, they thought it was cool that they were tasting coffee! I just may have to hide them from the kids for myself though!

So I know that fiber helps keep your digestive system on track but what I didn't know was:

• Fiber can help you satisfy your appetite and manage your weight.
  Research suggests that people who have high fiber intakes tend to have healthier body weights
• 9 out of 10 Americans aren’t getting the recommended amount of fiber (I am sadly one of the 9, but not anymore thanks to Fiber One!) You can see if you are getting enough fiber by using this Fiber-O-Meter

So do I have you convinced to try Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars yet? How about a coupon for $1.35 off a pack to give them a try! Click here for you coupon.

Still not convinced? How about if I give them to you for FREE! I have 3 great Fiber One Spa Break gift baskets to give to my fabulous readers!

The baskets include the following items:

• Coupon to receive a FREE box of Fiber One Chewy Bars
• A bath pillow
• Chocolate scented lotion, soap and bath salts
• Coffee scented candle

Here is what you need to do to enter: Remember I have 3 to give away!

Main Entry~you must complete both parts to be eligible:
1. Leave a comment telling me why you could use a spa break.
2. Follow my blog via reader (panda upper right sidebar)

Bonus Entries~ Leave SEPARATE comments for each completed item.
1. Follow me on Twitter here ~ leave comment
2. Share this post by using the share bar at the bottom of this post ~ leave a comment telling me where you shared it
3. Tweet about this giveawayby copying and pasting this tweet "Win a Chocolate Spa Basket from Fiber One and @craftymamaof4 http://tinyurl.com/b3vglw" (you can do this one time each day) ~leave a comment
4. Fav my site on MomFaves by clicking the button on the upper left sidebar ~ leave comment
5. Grab my button and put on your blog (I will go and grab yours too and put it in my blogroll) ~ leave comment with link to your blog
6. Post a link to this giveaway on your blog ~ leave a comment with a link to your post.

PLEASE READ THIS!

US entries only please. Please make sure to leave a valid email address or your Twitter ID in at least one of your comments. I will not hunt you down if you win. If you do not follow the entry requirements as stated above, your entry will be invalid, so please make sure you read the directions carefully :) This contest will end at 11:59 pm EST, Friday, March 20th . The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified via email or Twitter DM. The winner will also be posted on this blog. The winner has 48 hrs from the time of the posting to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck :)

My Side of the Sassy Mama Story

Wow its been a crazy 24 hours and I have had some time to soak it all in and things have gotten way out of hand and I feel I need to tell my side of the story, so here goes. I have so much going through my mind right now so I apologize if I begin to ramble or jump around during this post.

About 2 weeks ago I was at a #gno twitter party and we were talking about PR and sponsorships and how to develop relationships. As a new blogger this is a topic of much interest to me so during the end of the party when someone named @sassymamas came into the party saying if you were interested in Blogher sponsorships to dm her, so did. I was told to join the www.sassy-mamas.com community and send her an email about what I wanted and my blog stats, so I did. A few days later on the site I was given the title of "Sassy 16" and was asked to begin promoting the site, get members, and start groups on the site, so I did. A few days later I was given a "sponsorship" to blogher by sassymamas. I would like to clarify that this "sponsorship" was $100, a very small amount of money in relation to the overall cost of the trip. I am not greedy, I am happy for any amount of help, but the way @sassymamas is presenting this fact on twitter, she is making it sound as if she has given 5 full sponsorships and she has not. The more I thought about it I felt it was unfair the amount of work that I was being asked to do for her site in return for a small amount of money.

Anyway, I invited my friends, started my groups and was actively promoting Sassy-Mamas, then some of my friends and some others who are much more educated in social media than myself started to ask questions about the site, questions I didn't have the answers too so asked Sassymamas myself. I told her people had questions and I myself had questions and before I could continue to promote her site I would like my questions answered. I asked who she was? She knew who we all were we knew nothing about her. I asked her where the funding for her sponsorships and site were coming from. I also asked her what her goal for the site was. The answers I received were, if I didn't know what the site was about I shouldn't be there and for personal reasons she was keeping her identity a secret. Think of it like this, If your tween came to you and said they just accepted money from someone whom they know nothing about and was "working" for them wouldn't you freak out? So I decided to follow my inner mom voice and try to find out more about sassymama since she was not sharing.

I found that the site and the email address where recently created and came out of nowhere very quickly, I found that the address I was given was at a shopping center and I found that the email address that sent me my "sponsorship" was a completely different person all together. So I decided to approach Sassymama again with the information I found, I asked her to come clean and explain what was going on. I woke up this morning with an email from Sassymama telling me it was sad that I had nothing better to do than investigate her and I was no longer welcome at Sassymamas and please return my "sponsorship" I was also banned from the site. I go back again to the point, if you are going to do business with someone don't you have the right to ask questions such as these. Okay so you have an office in a mall to protect your privacy, then say that, to get defensive and not answer reasonable questions. If you are just a mom trying to help other moms, why not just say that. Isn't social media about transparency and building relationships? How can you build a relationship with someone you know nothing about?

Before I was asked to leave I had decided I was going to lay low at Sassymamas until I felt comfortable, I contacted a few of my friends who had joined to let them know how I was feeling, what I knew, and what responses I was getting and asked them to make up their own mind about the whole thing and just to proceed with caution. I was in no way trying to ruin anyone's reputation or character, I was only looking out for myself and my friends. I did not send out a broadcast email to all members of the site, I only spoke with a few women whom I trust and consider friends.

I see as I am writing this that there are posts saying the "real Sassymama is revealed" I cannot comment on this information because you must be a member to read it and I am not allowed on the site.

I apologize if this has hurt anyone, that was not my intention, I was just asking questions I felt I had a right to ask. When I didn't get answers I stepped back, that's it. I felt I was looking out for myself and my friends. If I was wrong then I was missing out on a great opportunity and that was my problem no one else's. I did not tweet any malicious tweets, I did not publicly tweet that people should not join Sassymamas, I did not tweet anything negative about Sassymamas or start any other sites about the issue.

I would like to put this behind me and move forward and do not plan on talking about it publicly anywhere else. I wish everyone involved with Sassymamas the best of luck in the future.

I am not sorry that I decided to follow my instincts and look out for myself and my friends.

Feel free to leave your comments.

Wonderwash WOW!

Introducing the Wonderwash from Laundry Alternatives - the space saving, time saving, energy saving Green Clean solution for your laundry needs! As seen on The Rachael Ray Show, through a patented pressure system, the Wonderwash thoroughly cleans a five pound load in just minutes using less water and detergent than even hand washing!

What can you wash with the Wonderwash? How about a week’s worth of dress shirts, 10 t-shirts, 30 pairs of socks, bibs, cloth diapers, burp clothes….the list goes on and on.

How does the Wonderwash work? When you put warm or hot water into the drum, fit the lid in place and seal the machine,the air inside the drum will absorb the heat of the water and expand (i.e., just like a hot air balloon). When the air expands it creates pressure inside the drum. The pressure forces the detergent (which is diluted into the water) into & through the fabric (which is porous) about 100 times faster than you could by hand or machine.

Tell Us How It Could Work for You – And Win a Wonderwash PLUS a Mini Countertop Spin Dryer, which quietly spins the water out of your clothes in just minutes.

To participate follow these easy steps!

1. Blog on your site about what YOU would use the Wonderwash and Mini Countertop Spin Dryer to clean.

2. Post a photo or a video of your mess and be sure to link back to Laundry Alternatives at http://www.laundry-alternative.com/.
3. Fill out this secure participation form here to be entered to win!

Then join us on Twitter Friday, March 13th from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. (EST) to tweet with Green Cleaning experts and find out who won the grand prize! Five attendees will also win The TrueGreen Laundry Washing Ball, which cleans your clothes without bleach or detergents in cold water. It does not contain harmful synthetic detergents, perfumes, dyes, or oils!

RSVP for the Twitter Party at Resourceful Mommy here.

Good luck!

Pledge to End Hunger

I have signed the Pledge to End Hunger will you?

The following is taken directly from Tyson Foods website:

"For the next couple of weeks, we'll be involved in a collaboration with a number of great partners, including our longtime friends Share Our Strength. Designed to increase engagement in hunger relief, the Pledge to End Hunger will be highlighted in an online effort peaking at Austin's South by Soutwest festival, by social media superstars Beth Kanter and Chris Brogan.

You can find out more about the Pledge to End Hunger here. For every person who signs the pledge, Tyson will donate 35 pounds of food to the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. If we get 1000, signatures (a truckload of food), we'll continue donating, up to two truckloads of food to the states with the most signatures.

At Tyson Foods, we’ve always donated food to hunger relief. But only in the past nine years, have we taken a strategic approach to doing it.

Some critical things we have learned: We can leverage what we’re doing in making donations beyond the value of the food delivered. We can use donation events to shine a spotlight on the need in our country. We can engage new stakeholders. We can create new awareness of the groups and people on the front lines of the fight against hunger. And if by doing so, we bring a return on investment to our shareholders, we can keep the efforts sustainable, even when our company is not making a profit.

Social media have already proven to be natural and effective tools in expanding a critically-needed conversation in our country about hunger.

We’re excited about the Pledge to End Hunger. It brings new partners into the issue of hunger, and allows us to support Share Our Strength, who came alongside Tyson as a phenomenal partner when we made a formal commitment to hunger relief in 2000. It’s built around the energy and enthusiasm of South by Southwest and offers the prospect of bringing thousands of new minds and fresh ideas to bear around a social problem that’s inexcusable in a country with the finest food production system in the world.

We can’t wait to see what happens. Please join us."

Please take a minute, visit the site and make your pledge today :)

Thank you!

Winner ~ Munchie Mug

The winner of the Munchie Mug chosen by random.org is

Comment #5 ~ @independentmami

Congratulations!!! Please contact me within 48 hours to claim your prize.

Thank you to everyone who entered my contest :) Keep coming back I have lots more goodies to share!

Why Moms Matter

While I was at Blissdom I met the greatest couple, Josh and Rebecca Unfried. I got to know a lot about them as we made lunch for 500 homeless men in downtown Nashville at the Nashville Rescue Mission with Mom it Forward . They are so sweet and I think it is great that they have a combined vision in their site MomFaves. I hope to someday see them again!

Here is a little more about Josh, Rebecca and MomFaves:

Rebecca and Josh Unfried are proud parents and the founders of MomFaves.com, the new mom word-of-mouth network™ that reveals what moms love most.

Josh and Rebecca created MomFaves to honor Josh's mom who died from cancer in 2004 and to empower moms in every neighborhood across the country with an easy and fun way to share and discover their favorite things together. As a result, moms have a free resource to rely and depend on daily for trusted mom recommendations.

The moms of MomFaves.com are in a position to spark a word-of-mouth revolution. What they are doing will not go unnoticed. They are building a universal brand for moms, a modern mother’s seal of approval behind the things they love most.

I also met Danielle Smith from Extraordinary Mommy at movie night at Blissdom, I was drawn to her because of her cute bunny slippers! After chatting with Danielle I found another great person I hope to see again someday, but for now its great to be her friend in the blogosphere :)

Here is a little more about Danielle:

Danielle Smith is a wife and Mommy to two young children. In her 'free time', she balances work as the founder and primary author of ExtraordinaryMommy.com as well as co-anchoring the new Blog Talk Radio Show – Why Moms Matter. She is also the Editor for StLouisKids.com and is a regular contributor to FamilyFoodies.com.

ExtraordinaryMommy.com is a website designed to remind moms of the Extraordinary work they do daily while loving and raising their children. The site provides resources as well a regular blog chronicling life as a Mommy - as Danielle sees it.

In her previous life (aka before children) Danielle was a Television News Anchor and Reporter as well as a Wedding Planner. Therefore, much of her life's experiences have been in writing, talking and listening. Both career paths have served to make her the author, organizer, social media addict and right-brained, creative girl she is now.

Recently mentioned in USA Today for her relationship with children's publisher, Mackinac Island Press, much of Danielle's energy is focused on teaching and sharing gratitude and 'giving back'. Through her Give Good, Get Good Project, Danielle hopes to help parents learn new ways to make a difference, and by example, to teach their children one of the most important traits they can possess - a kind and giving heart.

So, now we come to the fantastic project these 3 extraordinary souls have created: The Why Moms Matter Project and The Why Moms Matter Blog Talk Radio Show.

Being a mom is easily the most rewarding and the most challenging thing you have ever done. You love, you experience joy, you sacrifice – every day. You live a million ordinary moments…and each one of them combines to make you the Extraordinary mom you are. You might have one child or ten. You might stay home, or maybe you work – but you have something in common with millions of other mothers – You Matter. You are a teacher, a friend, a chauffeur, a cook, a craftsman, a doctor, and the best medicine a child could need. You put your family first and yourself last. Your challenge may be potty training, a toddler who throws regular temper tantrums, or something more painful – like balancing the grief of losing your own parent with the raising of your own little ones, or you may be putting on a brave face watching your very own child receive treatment for Leukemia. No matter what your day holds – You Matter.

The Why Moms Matter Project recognizes the beauty and the significance of Mothers. The Why Moms Matter Blog Talk Radio Show will highlight a new mother every week on Fridays at 12:30 Pacific, 2:30 Central. You will hear stories that will make you laugh and make you cry – but every story, every woman, will remind you Why Moms Matter. Each week’s featured mom will also be highlighted on Extraordinary Mommy as well as Why Moms Matter.

Join hosts Josh and Rebecca Unfried of MomFaves and Danielle Smith of Extraordinary Mommy as they uncover the stories that will remind moms they are living Extraordinary lives.

If you would like to nominate a mom you know with an Extraordinary story, go to Why Moms Matter . Nominated moms do not need to be bloggers, nor do they have to be ‘young’ mothers. Grandmothers have fantastic stories as well.

You can meet the first Why Moms Matter Award Recipient, Norma Unfried and hear her story here. Norma will be showcased on the first Why Moms Matter BTR show on Friday, March 6th at 3:30 Eastern Time. Tune in to hear all about this great mom and the great project Josh, Rebecca and Danielle have created.

Good luck guys!