Thursday, August 20, 2009

Friday Madness with Mr. Linky!

It's that time again to enjoy giveaways all around the bloggersphere! I love entering all of the fantastic giveaways and what makes it better is when I win some ;0) Yes, i have won several giveaways and that is why I am so addicted.
Well today I will make it short and sweet. Be sure to visit the current giveaways at "Catch the Drift..." while your here!

Signed copy of "Hot On The Range" (Ends 8/25)




8 oz. Soy Candle (Ends 9/1)



SnackTAXI Winner!

#241 FDP 4 Life said...
"i car pool to contribute to the planets health"

Congrats. You will love your SnackTAXI set, it will be very useful when packing yummy snacks for your family.

Looking for a great garage sale in UT.

I know how all my followers love a bargain. If this is so you also have to be like me and love garage sales. Here is one in SLC, UT (West Jordan) that you won't want to miss. I have seen all of these items since it is my sister who will be holding this garage sale. She has great taste, especially when it comes to her daughters clothes. I promise you there will be TONS of adorable clothes for girls and excellent condition. My sister also owns her own dance studio and for this reason there is going to be a lot of costumes and dance attire. This starts early and my guess is the cute clothes will go fast, so depending on how interested you are, you will want to hit this when it starts. Maybe I will see you there!

What will be sold:
* High quality childrens clothing and shoes that are in excellent condition; from The Gap, Gymboree, The Children's Place, Nordstrom's. Ages 0-5 years of age.
* Everything that is needed for a new baby; beautiful crib that turns into a twin bed, playpin, high chair with leather seat, stroller, car seat, baby carrier, beautiful handmade baby blankets, bottles, bottle sterilizer, wipe warmer, baby toys, children's books and videos, baby jumper, bath seat, bath toys, and so much more for babies and toddlers!
*Halloween costumes for young women and women.....mulitple sizes and many choices! All new and never been worn!
*Tons of dance clothing and dance costumes....multiple sizes and never been worn!
*Kitchen items; canisters, dishes, glass bowls, silver platters, food processor, cook books, cooking magazines and more.
*Ballet barres
*Designer purses
*Houseware; vases, picture frames, house decor
*Cassette tapes, VCR
*Women's clothing; active wear, beautiful almost new sweat shirts
*Books; self help, LDS titles, LDS fiction, multiple titles
.......and so much more!

This is a multi family garage sale and the above items that are listed are only from one of the families! This will be huge! Lot's of QUALITY items.....new and/or barely used!

Directions: From Redwood Road turn on 7200 South and head West. Go to 2200 West and turn right so you are heading North. The very first LDS church that you come to with be at approximately 6600 South. ALL CARS SHOULD PARK IN THIS LDS CHURCH PARKING LOT! There will be a lane directly to the North of the LDS church called, "Bowler Lane". In the North-East corner of the church parking lot there will be a gate that will lead onto Bowler Lane. Attendees should walk through this gate which will lead into the private lane where the multiple family garage sale will be held.

Date: Saturday, August 22nd

Time: 7:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Looking for Sponsorship at IZEAfest 2009!


I am so excited to share with you that I, Mama Snow, will be attending the IZEAfest 2009! I have heard so many wonderful things about this conference and of the opportunities it will bring. IZEAfest will provide me with tips and information on marketing, increasing traffic, building a brand and more. I am thrilled to have the privilege to learn from the best bloggers around.

Each day their will be time to meet and greet other bloggers and companies. With that being said, I want to be able to share with these people some of the best companies I have worked with. This is where I need you.

I am looking for full or partial sponsorship for this amazing conference. I understand attending this event may cost more then you are able to pay for yourself alone. Through your sponsorship I am providing a way for you to receive exposure through my attendance at IZEAfest and beyond.

Below is a list of benefits I can provide for your sponsorship:

- A free 125 x 125 ad spot on my sidebar from now to October 2010.
- I will wear any pin or T-shirt you send me to promote your company. (As long as it is appropriate of course ;0)
- I will hand out any samples, business cards, swag bags, etc. that you send me.
- Sponsors will be mentioned and linked in every post about IZEAfest 2009.
- I can create any button or banner applicable to your business. Furthermore, I will include the button/banner on my flier advertising my side business (creating banners and buttons).

Additionally, If you have other desires or demands, I am willing to work with you on an individual basis.

Please contact me regarding sponsorship and your expectations. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to working with your organization.

Mama Snow
Hail2theSnowQueen at Gmail dot com

3 Steps to Homemade Baby Food! (Guest Post)

3 Steps to Homemade Baby Food!
Post by Shannon of " "Milk and Cuddles.""

Homemade baby food - the perks are obvious! It's WAY cheaper than pre-packaged baby food. You get to control the ingredients. Plus, it let's you introduce food combinations, and ingredients you can't find in typical jar food! And best of all- it's FUN!

But it's hard to do, right? And only granola loving, hippy moms living in communes do it, right? Right?? WRONG!!! Making baby food is super easy, and you don't need expensive equipment – although William Sonoma won't tell you that! All you need are some fresh fruits or vegetables of your choice, and a dream!

Here is how I make one of my daughter Molly's favorite meals – Carrots & Green Beans with Dill.

You need:
Carrots
Green beans
Dill (optional)
Microwavable dish
Blender
Something to freeze your puree in

STEP 1- Prepare the veggies.
First I peel and wash a large bag of carrots. Or, if I'm feeling lazy (and I usually am!) I just buy a large bag of pre-peeled baby carrots, that are ready to go! You can also find carrots, and green beans in the frozen food section. I used frozen green beans in this puree.



STEP 2- Steam.
I stick the carrots and green beans in a large microwavable dish, add a few cups of water, and put a loose cover on them. You'll know when they are done microwaving when you can pierce them easily with a fork. Above, you'll find a picture of my carrots and green beans all tender from the microwave, and ready for step 3!



STEP 3- Blend.
It's important to let your veggies cool down before putting them in your blender. Depending on the size of your food processor or blender you may have to puree your baby food in batches. Also, some fruits & veggies need very little extra water added to the blender because they are so juicy naturally. But other ingredients like our carrots and green beans, need water added to the blender in order to puree them smoothly. I use the leftover water from steaming, and add additional water as I need to. Blend for just a short amount of time for a chunkier texture baby food, or a longer time for a silky smooth consistency baby food. If you want to add any spices, this is the time to do it. I like to add a dash of dill before I blend, and after blending.

And then... wallah people! Fresh baby food!!!



STORAGE- I use ice cube containers to freeze my puree, but you can also freeze portions in Ziploc bags. The benefit of using ice cube trays is that you can keep the cubes in a baggie in the freezer, and then pull out as many, or as few cubes as your baby is hungry for at any given time!



Making baby food is a simple, economical and creative activity! It's also, thankfully, pretty mistake proof! Try different fruit & vegetable combinations as things at the grocery store go on sale. Hide vegetables your baby doesn't really love, like spinach for instance – in sweeter vegetable like acorn squash or sweet potatoes! And don't be afraid to taste your baby food as you go! In fact something like mango puree, is a pretty yummy adult snack as well! And finally - HAVE FUN!

Shannon is the author of the blog "Milk and Cuddles." She recently left New York City and busy career in TV production, to move to Texas and marry her soul mate. She feels blessed to be a stay at home mom, to a beautiful & zany 11 month old daughter. Her blog features recipes, stories of spit up and new motherhood, and reviews & contests! She is new to the "mommy blog" scene- be among the very first to discover, and follow her!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Winners of Educator.com giveaway....

The winners have been selected to receive a 3 month membership at Educator.com. This includes unlimited tutoring on 9 school subjects! And here they are...

4- Terra said...
"This would be great for my teenage daughter to get help in math and biology. I never was too good in those subjects, so this would give her the help she needs."

12- Tammy said...
"My daughter is a visual learner. So anything visually stimulating, and presented in an interesting manner will keep her attention. And she's starting to study for the ACT as well. That will make this site even more valuable."

46- Donna said...
Button on my blog.

Congrats and remember you have 48 hours to redeem your prize!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Maddison Avenue Soy Candle review and giveaway!!! (CLOSED)


Maddison Avenue Candle Company is all about taking care of our enviroment one candle at a time. All their candles are made of 100% nautural vegatbale soybeans. Not only are these candle environmental friendly, but studies show that soy candles are preferred for those with breathing problems and allergies.

Some other great features of Madison Avenus Soy Candles include:
- eco friendly
- no paraffin or petroleum
- made from renewable and sustainable resources
- no animal testing
- lead free wiks
- blend of essential and frangrance
- true fragrance blends
- Longer burning times
and more...

Review:
I love candles and I especially love my Soy Candle from Maddison Avenue. I recieved the "Lemongrass" from the Country Selection. The smell is absolutly lovely. It has to be my favorite scents yet! Not only is the smell fresh and natural, I know that no chemicals are being spread in my house while I am burning it. It comforts me to know that it was made from reusable resources and nothing was waisted in the process of making it.
I have already burned my candle several times and the wax is still filled to were it was when I first recieved it. For only $9.95 you can receive the same 8oz candle. This is an awesome price and I can already see it will alst much longer then other candles I have purchase for more.

Buy It:
You can purchase soy candles and other environmental friendly products at maddisonavenue.com.

Giveaway:
One winner will receive their own 8 oz. square soy candle.

To Enter:
Visit Maddison Avenue and look around. Come to back to leave a comment telling me another item or scent you would like to try. (This is a MUST)

*Extra Entries*
- Follow Maddison Avenue's blog
- Grab my button
- Subscribe to "Catch the Drift..."
- Follow me on Twitter
- Blog about this post or Tweet it! (Be sure to leave the link)

Rules:
Be sure to leave a comment telling me what the entry is for. Leave a separate comment for each entry. Also be sure to leave an email address for me to contact you. A winner will be selected randomly using Random.org. They will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen. US ONLY!

Giveaway Ends: Sept. 1, 2009

Looking for more guest post...

I have been loving our guest post and know you have been as well. I am looking for more bloggers who would be interested in writing a guest post on Catch the Drift.

I you are interested please email Mama Snow at Hail2theSnowqueen at hotmail dot com. Be sure to let me know what you would like to write on and I will touch base with you on more details. I am really opened to any topic as long as it is family friendly. I think some fun ideas may be "kids Crafts to do during the cold months", "School Lunch ideas", "Remodeling/Home Makeover ideas", etc.

I can't wait to hear from you!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

PlasmaCar Mega Review (The Classy Closet Review Panel)



Finding a toy that the whole family can enjoy isn't always easy. I think most of my frustration comes from my almost 2 year old, because she is too small for any toys with wheels. Her legs are also too small to reach the pedals. This has caused many melt downs in our home and during outside play. She loves shadowing her big brother and doing what ever he can do. Although cute, it can be a pain.

I was super excited when The Classy Closet Review Panel and I were asked to review the PlasmaCar from PlaSmarttoys.com. I had seen PlasmaCar's at local fairs and gift shows. I knew if they could really work how they were suppose to, the PlasmaCar would become a huge hit at our home. To give you a little background on the PlasmaCar, it runs fully on pure energy. There is no need for batteries or fuel. You just sit on the car and natural forces take control. You can find more information regarding how it works at the PlaSmart website


The Review:
It was all fairly easy to put together, although I did put the back wheels on wrong at first. That was caused by readers error. My husband is still giving me a hard time for messing up with such easy directions. Everything was very easy to follow and even had pictures to guide you as you went. There really wasn't much to attach other then the the wheels and steering.


My kids love the PlasmaCar. it is great because my youngest can even get in on the fun. She may not understand that you don't need your feet to move it, but she loves it anyways. My son on the other hand thinks the PlasmaCar is the coolest thing since bikes. He loves riding it down on our sidewalk, which has no slope. He thinks it is a race car or something. It is so simple to use and so kid friendly. All of his friends like to take turns on the PlasmaCar as well. The crazy thing is even I can ride it. For adults it works best on a smooth surface, but it still works. Now our only problem is there is only one PlasmaCar, two kids and two adults. You can see what that leads to ;0)

Buy It:
You can Purchase a PlasmaCar at PlaSmarttoys.com.

Follow PlasmaCar:
To stay up to date with PlasmaCar's and current giveaways you can follow them on Twitter, Facebook or on their blog PlaSmart Inc.

*I would like to thank PlaSmart for having The Classy Closet panel review such a fun product. If you are interested in reading other reviews you can do so at these links.

The Classy Closet
A Busy Mom
A Psych Mommy

No, I am not Angela!!!

So one of my followers just contacted me to inform me someone contacted them using my site as where they found their email. Let's just say I am a bit P.O.'ed that someone is using me and my viewers for their form of contact.

First off I want to inform you that this is not information passed on through me or my feed. My feed is secured through Google and from what I know there has not been any security breeches. Also I DO NOT pass on any of my viewers information. I am very appreciative of my viewers and their support, I would never want to do anything to lose their trust.

How did this happen?:
Just by leaving a comment using your google account. This can happen on any site or network. When you are logged in to your account and if it is linked to your site or email, your email and information is opened to the publics access. Also when entering contest you are asked to leave your email. Yes, that makes your email an easy target, but I cannot contact the winner unless otherwise.

Here is my advice for all you contest/giveaway lovers:
* Have a separate email used ONLY for subscriptions and contest. This is what I do and I know unless it regards a feed I signed up for or a contest I entered, that it is spam.

* If you choose to do the above and get a new email for family and friends only, make it very clear to those people that you do not want to receive any email forwards on your new address, as these forwards often end up in the hands of spammers, who harvest hundreds of email addresses from the email headers.

* Disguise your email using no symbols. Ex. Hail2thesnowqueen at gmail dot com\

* Update your e-mail junk mail program and e-mail filters. Spammers continually try new tricks, trying to bypass anti-spam technologies.

* NEVER answer spam mail. Don't open it if you suspect it is spam and if you do and are unsure of who it is from, Do NOT reply. My follower this perfectly as she contacted me first before replying to the email. Two thumbs up for you ;0)

If anyone has received an email from Angela (angela.buba at yahoo.com) I apologize. This is not me and not my work. It may be spam and I just wouldn't answer it. If Amanda is reading this, "Leave mine and other bloggers followers alone". If you want followers, friends or whatever, make a blog and do your own work. Stop benefiting from others hard work. I have worked hard to build this blog into what it is and try to give my followers the best post and service.

Be very careful in the Bloggersphere!!!