Aloha Friday!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Happy Black Friday to all! My email box is overflowing with sales and deals and hype. I'm tempted to just hit "delete all!" But, there's a part of me that is afraid I'll miss that super deal that will make my kids' Christmas that much more memorable. I've been reminding myself that it's not the gifts that make Christmas memorable, but the shared experiences. And after all the turkey and festivities, I just don't have the energy to go fight the crowds even though I'm only about 50% done with my shopping.

My question this week: How much shopping do have left to do?

Be sure to stop by An Island Life for more Aloha Friday fun.

Gobble 'Til You Wobble!

Thursday, November 25, 2010



More Than A Day
As Thanksgiving Day rolls around,
It brings up some facts, quite profound.
We may think that we're poor,
Feel like bums, insecure,
But in truth, our riches astound.
We have friends and family we love;
We have guidance from heaven above.
We have so much more
Than they sell in a store,
We're wealthy, when push comes to shove.
So add up your blessings, I say;
Make Thanksgiving last more than a day.
Enjoy what you've got;
Realize it's a lot,
And you'll make all your cares go away.
By Karl Fuchs

Thanksgiving Friends


Thanksgiving is a time
For reviewing what we treasure,
The people we hold dear,
Who give us so much pleasure.


Without you as my friend,
Life would be a bore;
Having you in my life
Is what I’m thankful for.


By Joanna Fuchs


Wishing you a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving celebration!

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Someone has a birthday coming up...

"Do I smell cake?!"

For more Wednesday fun, be sure to visit these fabulous blogs:
5 Minutes for Mom
Wordless Wednesday HQ

And don't miss my current giveaway: $65 CSN Gift Code. Hurry contest ends tonight!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Aloha! Wow, one week until Black Friday. Have you started your holiday shopping? I'm more of a cyber Monday gal myself. I've never been one to get up at 3 AM and brave the madness for a deal. Not my idea of fun. I'd rather sit by my mac in my fuzzy socks with a cup of Starbucks Christmas Blend and let my fingers do the shopping ;)

My question this week is: What's your number one wish for the holidays this year?

Be sure to stop by An Island Life for more Aloha Friday fun. And don't forget to enter my $65 CSN Gift code giveaway!

Hey Mom - How About Having the Kids Make Presents This Year? - A Guest Post By Lynn Banis

Thursday, November 18, 2010

If you are like most people the budget is tight this year. The holidays are coming up and that means extra expenses. Are you looking for ways to cut down a bit on your spending? A great way to do that is to have your kids, or better yet, you and your kids make gifts for people this year. People always say that the thought and effort put into a homemade gift means more to them than a purchased gift so why not give it a try? It can be great fun and you will be teaching your children a valuable lesson about giving of themselves.

There are lots of ideas out there but let's start with a list of some things you and your kids can do together:

1. Baking is a great together activity. You can even work on math and reading while you do it. Think of what you want to bake. Loaves of sweet bread make great gifts. You can find recipies online or you can get box mixes for things like pumpkin bread, lemon poppy seed bread, date bread, etc. An easy way to wrap the loaves is to first put them in Saran wrap and then in foil. Tie with a pretty ribbon or, you can let the kids get creative and come up with their own special wrap.
2. Make wrapping paper. Start with some inexpensive white butcher paper (you can get it at Michaels). Get some holiday shaped sponges, create shapes for tracing or cut shapes out of potatoes. You could even let the kids finger paint. With the sponges and potatoes you can stamp the paper various colors. If you trace you may want to use either paint or magic markers. Cut the paper into large sheets, fold in one foot squares and wrap up a package of them to give as a gift. You can even make matching gift cards.
3. Use old holiday cards to make stationery. You can get card stock at an office supply store and then cut and paste pictures and words to create holiday stationary. Box them up, decorate the box and presto! you have a great gift.
4. Of course you can always make extra cookies or canned goods to give as gifts. If you can in Mason jars you can cut a piece of colorful fabric a little bigger that the mouth of the jar, put it over the top of the jar and then put the ring on. All you need to do then is to put a label on the jar to let the recipient know what you have made for them. The same goes for jars where you put the ingredients for making soup, brownies, cake or hot chocolate. Just be sure to add the recipe so someone knows how to cook the ingredients.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Make gift giving a fun activity for the whole family.

Lynn Banis PhD, MCC is known as America's High Performance Coach. Lynn specializes in helping women in leadership positions or wanting to be in leadership positions make the most of their opportunities and potential. She enjoys helping executives and entrepreneurs create their ultimate impact. Her years of working with small and large businesses has given her a depth of knowledge that is invaluable to her clients both as a business and a life coach.

Lynn is the author of two books "The Discovery Journal" and "Discovery Points: A Coaching Guide to Getting Unstuck." Both can be obtained under Lynn's name at http://www.lulu.com. You can reach her at http://www.discoverypointcoaching.com. Also check out Lynn's other businesses: Coach Academy Texas, a cutting edge coach training company; and Turnkey Coaching Solutions, a coaching program management and contract coach staffing company.



Read more posts from the Hey Mom Series here, here and here, or click on the "Parenting" tab under Labels in my side bar. Moms work hard and deserve encouragement! Please share this post with other Moms you know.

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

So, I had to go with baby pictures again. Sorry, but this is seriously cute.

For more Wednesday fun, be sure to visit these fabulous blogs:

Don't miss my current giveaway for a  $65 CSN Gift Code! Enter today ;)


Giveaway Winners!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Congrats to the winners of my recent giveways:

The Intelligender Prize Pack goes to entrant #9
Lisa Moore Gee said...
"http://twitter.com/BriansWifey05/status/992082541940736 lilcherygirl at hotmail dot com
November 6, 2010 3:26 PM"

And the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy DVD goes to entrant #3
Diana D said...
"I am also a GFC follower. Thanks
dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com
November 3, 2010 10:03 AM "

Thanks to all who participated! Be sure to enter my Opposite Day DVD giveaway if you have not already. Contest ends 11/16! If you didn't win this time stay tuned for more giveaways!

Opposite Day DVD Quickie Giveaway ~ Ends 11/16

Saturday, November 13, 2010

If you thought Friday was freaky, get ready for…Opposite Day! When a child’s wish collides with a strange science experiment, adults and kids unwittingly swap places, resulting in a chaotic and comical world with no bedtimes, bullies or rules! The hysterical hi-jinks come to life in Opposite Day, a brand-new feature-length film directed by R. Michael Givens and produced by Steven Paul’s Crystal Sky Pictures, starring funnyman Pauly Shore and a top team of talent. Opposite Day (SRP: $26.98) “zaps” into retail stores nationwide from Anchor Bay Entertainment on November 16.

“We’re very excited to release Opposite Day on DVD and to treat kids and families to all of its zany, high-energy fun,” said Erin Carter, Executive Director of Brand Marketing for Anchor Bay Entertainment. “The film’s terrific cast along with its laugh-out-loud storyline and imaginative adventures make this the perfect release for entertaining ‘kids’ of all ages.”

In the side-splitting new comedy, 9-year-old Sammy (Billy Unger) and his 8-year-old sister Carla (Ariel Winter) go on vacation with their grandparents when their overworked parents are unable to take them. Feeling bitter about his mom and dad (Colleen Crabtree and Pauly Shore) not being around, Sammy wishes kids ruled the world – but he soon learns to be careful what you wish for…! When a kooky experiment goes wildly wrong, making Sammy's dream a reality, the kids quickly learn that being in charge is not all child’s play!

Featuring a standout cast, including Dick Van Patten (“Eight Is Enough,” The Santa Trap), Dylan Cash (“General Hospital”), Rico Rodriguez (“Modern Family”), Emily Everhard (Jack and the Beanstalk), with Renee Taylor (“The Nanny”), and French Stewart (“3rd Rock From the Sun”), Opposite Day is a feel-good film that will have kids and parents alike appreciating their respective roles – and each other!

One lucky Serendipity is Sweet reader will win a copy of this brand new DVD!
Here's how to enter:

MANDATORY ENTRY: You must be a Serendipity is Sweet subscriber to win. Let me know how you subscribe and your email address.

Extra entries:
Add my button to your blog or add me to your blog roll (3 entries)
Follow me publicly in google
Become a Fan of Serendipity is Sweet on Facebook
Share this post on any social network (Facebook, twitter, stumble, etc.)
Follow me on twitter
Fave me on technorati
Comment on any of my other blog posts


Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and a valid email address. Open to U.S. and Canada only. Winner will be chosen by random integer selection. The winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize or a new winner will be chosen. Contest will close on November 16, 2010 at 12:00 AM EST. Good Luck!!!


I received no compensation or products for writing this post. I was simply offered an opportunity to host a giveaway for my readers and accepted.

Aloha Friday!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Hello friends! I've got a busy day ahead. Hubs was off work yesterday and we spent the day in one of our favorite places. Yup, Colonial Williamsburg again. We love it there anyway, but I think Autumn is the best time to go. The leaves are gorgeous, and the hot cider and ginger cakes can't be beat. It was a fun trip. But, I now have a lot of catching up to do with laundry, cleaning, dog bathing and a trip to the commissary...oh and some blog hopping too ;)

My question this week: What is your take on the whole skinny jeans fashion trend? Do you love 'em? Hate 'em? Should there be an age limit imposed? Should they be outlawed all together?

At first I thought they were awful, but my kids wanted to keep up with the times and talked me into getting some for them. After seeing them on my kids, I don't think they're so bad after all. Of course I'm a little biased, but I think my kids look pretty cute in them. These aren't the ones that fit like latex though, they are fitted, but not skin tight. They have some give and don't make them look like they are wearing wet suits. Still, I've seen some horrendous fashion don't with this trend and I think skinny jeans can be dangerous on the wrong bums, lol. What about you?

Be sure to stop by An Island Life for more Aloha Friday fun. And don't forget to enter my $65 CSN Gift code giveaway!

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Baseball season is over.

Time to gear up for basketball!

For more Wednesday fun, be sure to visit these fabulous blogs:
5 Minutes for Mom
Wordless Wednesday HQ

And don't miss my current giveaways: $65 CSN Gift Code and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy DVD!

Hey Mom - Are You Ready For The Colder Weather?

Fall is here and the kids are playing outside in the cooler weather. It is delightful and exhilarating. They come in rosy cheeked and smelling of leaves and crisp air. You have already settled into the schedules of the new school year and are probably anticipating the coming holidays. Are you ready for the cold weather and all that that entails? Most kids don't play outside as much in the cold winter so what are you doing to get ready for the long hours indoors? Is there something you could be doing now to help you keep your sanity later?

I can remember stocking up on craft supplies - colored paper, markers, crayons, paste, play doh - all of the things that make a cold afternoon busy fun. What are your kid's favorite crafts? Do they like to draw, paint, sculpt, sew, build airplanes - what keeps their attention longest? Now is the time to gather the right supplies so you will have them when you need them.

What about cooking? Do your kids love to cook? Do you have hot chocolate, marshmallows, brownie mix, popcorn, etc., etc., etc. on hand? My own kids loved to have an after school snack and often wanted to make it themselves (with a little supervision of course.) Being in the kitchen together is fun if you have the right supplies stocked away. It can be disastrous if you don't and they are all set to make something. I can just hear the wails of disappointment now!

How about your game supply? Do you have all the parts and pieces of their favorite board games? Are the DVD's in their right covers? Put your kids to work sorting all of the game parts so that they are ready on the first cold day. You may have to do a little shopping to get everything back in working order but it will be worth it when the cries of "I'm bored!" begin. There is nothing worse than trying to play a game with pieces and parts missing. No fun.

Some mom's I know keep some of their winter supplies packed away so that they can rotate them from time to time. That way kids don't become bored with the same old stuff. They also don't become overwhelmed with a mountain of choices about what they want to do with their time.

What will work for you?

Lynn Banis PhD, MCC is known as America's High Performance Coach. Lynn specializes in helping women in leadership positions or wanting to be in leadership positions make the most of their opportunities and potential. She enjoys helping executives and entrepreneurs create their ultimate impact. Her years of working with small and large businesses has given her a depth of knowledge that is invaluable to her clients both as a business and a life coach.

Lynn is the autor of two books "The Discovery Journal" and "Discovery Points: A Coaching Guide to Getting Unstuck." Both can be obtained under Lynn's name at http://www.lulu.com. You can reach her at http://www.discoverypointcoaching.com. Also check out Lynn's other businesses: Coach Academy Texas, a cutting edge coach training company; and Turnkey Coaching Solutions, a coaching program management and contract coach staffing company.



Read more posts from the Hey Mom Series here, here and here, or click on the "Parenting" tab under Labels in my side bar. Moms work hard and deserve encouragement! Please share this post with other Moms you know.

CSN Giveaway - $65!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Hooray! The moment has come for me to announce another fabulous giveaway! And just in time for you to do some holiday shopping, those fab folks at CSN have offered a $65 gift code for me to giveaway. Cha-ching!

As I've said before, I love the CSN family of stores for easy shopping, great prices and a fabulous selection! with over 200 stores and millions of items from which to choose, I'm guess you could spend days trying to decide how to spend the $65 gift code if you win. They have something for everyone.

Seriously, you could do all your holiday shopping here! So, what are you waiting for??? Enter to win already!

Here's how to enter:
MANDATORY ENTRY: You must be a Serendipity is Sweet subscriber to win. Let me know how you subscribe and your email address.

Add my button to your blog or add me to your blog roll (3 entries)
Follow me publicly in google
Become a Fan of Serendipity is Sweet on Facebook
Share this post on any social network (Facebook, twitter, stumble, etc.)
Follow me on twitter
Fave me on technorati
Comment on any of my other blog posts


Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and a valid email address. Open to U.S. and Canada only. Winner will be chosen by random integer selection. The winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize or a new winner will be chosen. Contest will close on November 24, 2010 at 12:00 AM EST. Good Luck!!!


Aloha Friday!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Yipes! Friday again already?! I'm stuck in Thursday mode. I need more hours in the day...more sleep! The days are a blur.

Anyway, I'm an enjoying the Fall weather now that it's finally here. Loving the crisp breezes, the brightly colored leaves, the Thanksgiving planning, the warm spicy smells (I may or may not have devoured a pumpkin spice pie with ginger cookie crust this week...OMG...yum!) So, what's all this babbling leading to?

My question this week~ How would you finish this sentence?: Lately I'm hooked on...

My answer would have to be Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Mommy likes. So good.

Be sure to stop by An Island Life for more Aloha Friday fun. And don't forget to enter my Intelligender Prize Pack Giveaway for Expectant Moms! It's a great prize for any pregnant mom or gift for a friend or relative who's expecting and I don't have many entries so you have a great shot at winning :)  And if you have a Wubbzy fan at your house, don't miss my Wow! Wow! Wubbzy DVD giveaway.

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy Fly Us To The Moon DVD Release Giveaway

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Preschoolers and Families Will Blast Off on Exciting Adventures With A Brand-New DVD Set to Send Imaginations Soaring!

One small step for Wubbzy…one giant leap for Wuzzleburg! The countdown to fun for preschoolers begins with Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, and the launch of the brand-new DVD, “Fly Us To The Moon.” Alongside Wubbzy, Widget, Walden and Daizy, young viewers will skyrocket into outer space to help wake The Man in the Moon, prepare for a special encounter with “alien” visitors and embark on many kooky space-age adventures! “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Fly Us To The Moon” from Anchor Bay Entertainment lands on shelves across the nation, Tuesday, November 16, 2010.

“Fly Us To The Moon” (SRP $16.98) is an action-packed collection of episodes featuring out-of-this-world special guests, including the Tooth Fairy, and larger-than-life superheroes like Captain Wonderpants and The Super Fixers. In “Warp Speed Wubbzy!,” Walden thinks he sees an approaching spaceship through his telescope and enthusiastically spreads the word that space visitors are coming! But, when Wubbzy and Widget discover that the “spaceship” is just a firefly on the lens, they fear Walden will be disappointed and decide to create their own “spaceship landing.” In the title episode, “Fly Us To The Moon,” it’s up to Wubbzy and his pals to wake up The Man in the Moon, who has fallen asleep and left Wuzzleburg in the dark. Preschoolers will embark on an unforgettable ride on Widget’s Rocket Racer, as Wubbzy tangles with space monsters, takes a journey on a runaway comet and falls into a spiral galaxy!

In addition, the new release includes episodes “Tooth or Dare,” “Wonder Wubbzy” and “The Super Fixers.” A bonus episode, “All Bottled Up,” as well as special extras such as coloring and activity sheets, music videos and special “sneak peeks” also are featured.

n celebration of the upcoming release of the brand-new DVD “Fly Us To The Moon,” Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! invites fans to enter a super special sweepstakes on www.Wubbzy.com to win an original, one-of-a-kind piece of Wubbzy artwork from series’ creator Bob Boyle!

Fans should visit www.wubbzy.com for more information, official rules and to enter! No purchase necessary. Also, please visit Bob’s very cool blog: http://bobboyle.blogspot.com/!

Plus, one lucky Serendipity is Sweet reader will win a copy of this brand new DVD!


Here's how to enter:

MANDATORY ENTRY: You must be a Serendipity is Sweet subscriber to win. Let me know how you subscribe and your email address.

Add my button to your blog or add me to your blog roll (3 entries)
Follow me publicly in google
Become a Fan of Serendipity is Sweet on Facebook
Share this post on any social network (Facebook, twitter, stumble, etc.)
Follow me on twitter
Fave me on technorati
Comment on any of my other blog posts


Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and a valid email address. Open to U.S. and Canada only. Winner will be chosen by random integer selection. The winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize or a new winner will be chosen. Contest will close on November 12, 2010 at 12:00 AM EST. Good Luck!!!

Halloween Recap

Monday, November 1, 2010

Yesterday was a great day! We ventured to Colonial Williamsburg to take our annual Christmas card photos by our favorite tree. The weather was beautiful, although a bit warmer than we expected. We managed to get a few decent shots (I'll share more on that later). We had a yummy lunch at The Cheese Shop in Merchant Square then headed back just in time to get decked out for Trick-or-Treating.

The kids had a blast. We were able to meet up with our neighborhood friends and they were all happy to be together. My 5 year old daughter was crazy running from house to house collecting her loot, lol. We kept having to tell her to slow down and wait for everyone else. She did have the fullest bag when we returned so I guess her enthusiasm paid off!

Funny though, you know you live in a neighborhood with some older folks when the Halloween loot includes apples, raisins and travel tissue packs!

Hey Mom – How About Some Fall Crafts For Kids? - A Guest Post By Lynn Banis

Fall is a busy time for kids. They have just started school and are working to get back into that routine. Lots of sports are in full gear. Its time for music lessons, art classes - you name it. Kids today are into all sorts of activities. They are programmed to be busy all of the time. Many parents like their kids to take a break from all of that and to have some real old fashioned play time. They want their kids to get outside and enjoy playing in the nice fall weather before they are cooped up in the house during the cold and inclement winter months. Here are a couple of art ideas that combine play with creativity.

Fall is a great time to collect leaves. In the cooler climates they come in vibrant colors. In more moderate climates they are in beautiful muted colors. They are like little gems that call to our attention. Let your kids collect as many colors and shapes as they can find and then display them in a glass covered box or glued onto a piece of poster board. They can create pictures made of leaves, a collage of colors and shapes or identify them by the trees they came from. Let them use their creativity and do whatever comes into their minds. This is intended to be fun.

You can also challenge you kids to create as many things as they can think of with a leaf or a bunch of leaves. I have seen kids make angels, people, tents, houses, villages, etchings - there is no end to their imaginations once they get started. It is great fun and it challenges both sides of their brains as they create and build.

Another great natural art supply is pine cones, seeds and nuts from the trees in your yard or in the park. Have the kids gather all they can find. You can even take a nature walk with them to give them a chance to get a good variety. Some of their collection can be made into great fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations. We have all seen turkeys made of pine cones and kissing balls made of gum tree balls. Some of these decorations can even be spray painted. Encourage your kids to make animals, people, 3-D pictures, toys, etc. Again they are only limited by their imagination.

Get their creativity going and have a great time crafting!

Lynn Banis PhD, MCC is known as America's High Performance Coach. Lynn specializes in helping women in leadership positions or wanting to be in leadership positions make the most of their opportunities and potential. She enjoys helping executives and entrepreneurs create their ultimate impact. Her years of working with small and large businesses has given her a depth of knowledge that is invaluable to her clients both as a business and a life coach.

Lynn is the autor of two books "The Discovery Journal" and "Discovery Points: A Coaching Guide to Getting Unstuck." Both can be obtained under Lynn's name at http://www.lulu.com. You can reach her at http://www.discoverypointcoaching.com. Also check out Lynn's other businesses: Coach Academy Texas, a cutting edge coach training company; and Turnkey Coaching Solutions, a coaching program management and contract coach staffing company.



Read more posts from the Hey Mom Series here, here and here, or click on the "Parenting" tab under Labels in my side bar. Moms work hard and deserve encouragement! Please share this post with other Moms you know.

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