Chuggington DVD Giveaway

Honk your horns! Chuggington is back in the station with an all-new DVD, Chuggington: Chuggers To The Rescue releasing April 5!

A worldwide television hit and an exciting destination for preschoolers, “Chuggington” follows the humorous adventures of ‘traintastic’ pals, Wilson, Brewster and Koko as they ‘ride the rails’ of life on their way to becoming productive chuggers. Featuring a dynamic fleet of relatable and diverse characters, each engaging episode is filled with positive life lessons that encourage and promote early social skills. The colorful and contemporary CGI-animated TV series airs daily on Playhouse Disney, Disney Channel’s learning-focused programming block.

In “Chuggers To The Rescue,” everyone’s favorite trainee trio is set to save the day in six horn-tooting episodes that deliver action and laughter, while teaching viewers gentle lessons about emergency preparedness and responsibility.

Through their exciting adventures and daring escapades, complete with jetpacks and storm machines, Wilson, Brewster and Koko help one another out of jams, learn emergency rescue skills and take on new responsibilities, while they – and young trainees at home – learn about patience, accountability, following instructions and how to get the job done! The action-packed DVD features appearances from special “Chuggington” friends, Calley, Dunbar, Zephie and Mtambo.


Enter here for your chance to win a copy of the new Chuggington: Chuggers To The Rescue DVD!
Here's how to enter:

First entry, tell me for whom you'd love to win this DVD. This is mandatory before other entries will be counted.

For extra entries:

Subscribe to my feed (3 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

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Tweet this giveaway link (please leave a link to your tweet in your comment, 1 per day)

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Be sure to leave a 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 April 8, 2011 at 12:00 AM EST. Good Luck!!!

Where Did the Last 7 Months Go?

Seriously, wasn't I just delivering this baby? Before I know it she'll be asking for the keys. Why is it that when you're a kid being tormented in school the days last forever, but when you have precious moments to savor, they fly by like nano-seconds?

Wordless Wednesday

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

WOW WOW WUBBZY’S EGG-CELLENT EASTER DVD

EASTER ADVENTURES ABOUND IN BRAND-NEW ‘WOW! WOW! WUBBZY!’ DVD, ‘WUBBZY’S EGG-CELLENT EASTER’!

Fun-Filled Holiday-Themed Release from Anchor Bay Entertainment Hops into Stores – and Easter Baskets Nationwide – March 1, 2011

Easter has never been more “egg-citing”! Wubbzy and his friends Walden, Widget and Daizy – from the Emmy Award®-winning Nick Jr.® preschool TV series, “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!,” will give preschoolers and families even more to celebrate this Easter with a brand-new, special seasonal DVD. “Everybunny” will be chirping with laughter when “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter,” the latest release in the best-selling DVD series from Anchor Bay Entertainment, sprouts up in stores from coast-to-coast, Tuesday, March 1, 2011.

All the kooky action of Easter in Wuzzleburg comes to life in six “egg-ceptional” episodes featured on the debut DVD. In “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter,” Wubbzy and his pals celebrate the first day of spring with a game of kickity-kick ball and discover new ways to decorate eggs for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. And when the holiday is suddenly cancelled, it’s up to Wubbzy to save the day!

For even more Easter cheer, “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” includes holiday-themed coloring sheets and activity pages.

Although their world is more fanciful and imaginative than our own, Wubbzy, Widget, Walden and Daizy, deal with the same social and developmental issues faced by preschoolers. They learn how they fit into a group, how to understand their own feelings and those of others, how to get along with one another and the value of friendship and community.

Be sure to pick up the "eggciting" new DVD to share with your little bunnies just in time for Easter!

Plus, don't miss your chance to win:

Wow, wow!  We’re so egg-cited to let you know about a very cool sweepstakes happening only on Wubbzy.com that is sure to make the most EGG-CELLENT Easter basket goody! 

To help celebrate the release of the brand-new Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD, Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter, now available, one lucky Wubb fan can win a one-of-a-kind, original piece of Wubbzy-inspired artwork, from series’ creator and artist, Bob Boyle. 

For more information about the sweepstakes, and to enter, please visit: www.Wubbzy.com.  The sweeps is live March 21 – April 10, 2011.

Luscious Lemon Poppy Seed Cake Recipe

I was needing a little sunshine in my life, so I made this lemon cake. Seriously, where did Spring go??? I saw snowflakes today! If you need a little perking up, this easy cake might be just the trick. Enjoy!

Recipe:
1 pkg lemon cake mix (I used Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Supreme) but even a yellow mix would do
1 pkg instant lemon pudding mix
1 cup sour cream (I used reduced fat)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
4 eggs
1 tbsp lemon extract
2 tbsp poppy seeds

Glaze
3 tbsp butter, melted
2 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar
3 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
Stir until smooth and let stand a few minutes to thicken before drizzling over cooled cake.

To make the cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat all ingredients, except poppy seeds, on low in a large bowl until moistened, then beat on medium for 2 minutes. Stir in poppy seeds. Pour into nonstick or greased and floured 12 cup Bundt pan. Bake at 350 Degrees for 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan about 10 minutes then invert onto wire rack to cool completely. Drizzle with glaze, let set a few minutes and serve.

Quotes on Spring

Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush. ~Doug Larson

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. ~W. Earl Hall

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~Anne Bradstreet

The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His heaven -
All's right with the world!
~Robert Browning

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. ~Hal Borland

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world. ~Virgil A. Kraft

April is a promise that May is bound to keep. ~Hal Borland

Where man sees but withered leaves,
God sees sweet flowers growing.
~Albert Laighton

Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men. ~Chinese Proverb

The naked earth is warm with Spring,
And with green grass and bursting trees
Leans to the sun's kiss glorying,
And quivers in the sunny breeze.
~Julian Grenfell

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood

Aloha Friday!

Greetings friends and happy Friday!

My Aloha Friday question of the week is how would you complete this sentence:
The next problem I have to tackle is ________________.

For me it's cleaning out closets and drawers and packing up all the kids' clothes that no longer fit. Despite donating a ton to charity last summer, we still probably have enough for have a garage sale, which isn't a bad idea. The kids love hosting a lemonade/brownie stand and a few extra bucks would be great. What's your next task to tackle?

Thanks for stopping by today!! Your comments are always appreciated and I may not be quick, but I do try to respond to each of them throughout the weekend. Have a great one :)

Wordless Wednesday

If you find a long lost game in the back of the closet...you might find more than just a game...you might find a moment's peace ;)

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

Sunday Quotes

Faith is like radar that sees through the fog. ~Corrie Ten Boom, Tramp for the Lord

Reason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right. ~John Donne

Faith is reason grown courageous. ~Sherwood Eddy

Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother. ~Kahlil Gibran

Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. And lo, no one was there. ~Author Unknown

If there was no faith there would be no living in this world. We couldn't even eat hash with safety. ~Josh Billings, His Complete Works, 1888

Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening process, a sort of mental starch. ~E.M. Forster

Faith is spiritualized imagination. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens. ~J.R.R. Tolkien

Straight Out Of The Camera "SOOC" Saturday

I've decided to join a new meme this week. This one is hosted by Marvelous Mommy. Here's the skinny from her blog:
"Whether you are a professional photographer, an amateur photographer, or just someone who likes taking pictures, I encourage you to link up! This is a super simple weekend meme that doesn’t take up much time! Please join me! I’d love to see your shots."

Here's my pic of the week. My boys...always good for a laugh :)

I hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend! Did you get a load of the full moon?? Gorgeous!

Aloha Friday!

Greetings friends and happy Friday!

My Aloha Friday question of the week is: Do you correspond with anyone via snail mail? Do you send post cards, letters, etc? Or, are all your interactions online?

Watch the Sky This Weekend For a Super Full Moon

On March 19th, a full Moon of rare size will rise in the east at sunset. It's a "perigee moon" and the biggest in almost 20 years.

Full Moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the Moon's orbit. It is an ellipse with one side (perigee) about 50,000 km closer to Earth than the other (apogee). Perigee moons (closer in orbit) are about 14% bigger and 30% brighter than apogee moons (farther in orbit).

The full Moon of March 19th occurs less than one hour away from perigee--a near-perfect coincidence that happens only every 18 years or so, according to NASA.

A perigee full Moon brings with it extra-high "perigean tides," but this is nothing to worry about, according to NOAA. In most places, lunar gravity at perigee pulls tide waters only an inch or so higher than usual.

The best time to look is when the Moon is near the horizon. That is when illusion mixes with reality to produce a truly stunning view that looks almost as if you could reach out and touch it.

Don't bother trying though. Even a super perigee Moon is still 356,577 km away. But what a spectacle! :)

Credit: Science@NASA

Wordless Wednesday

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

Favorite Irish Blessings

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

May you have love that never ends,

lots of money, and lots of friends.

Health be yours, whatever you do,

and may God send many blessings to you!

May you alway walk in sunshine.

May you never want for more.

May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.

May God grant you many years to live,

For sure he must be knowing.

The earth has angels all too few.

And heaven is overflowing.

May God grant you always...

A sunbeam to warm you,

A moonbeam to charm you,

A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.

May you have warm words on a cold evening,

a full moon on a dark night,

and the road downhill all the way to your door.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light.

May good luck pursue you each morning and night.

For each petal on the shamrock.

This brings a wish your way

Good health, good luck, and happiness

For today and every day.

For some St. Paddy's fun check out these links:

Recipes

Crafts

Games

History

Unit Studies

We usually have a special Irish dinner, study about the history of Ireland and make crafts together. This year I plan on making some Irish Soda Bread with the kids and we're working on a Unit on Ireland.  We'll listen to some Irish folk music to get in the spirit of things and have a family celebration just for fun. How do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Aloha Friday!

Greetings friends. I hope that you have had a great week!

My question today is: Do you have a favorite quote/mantra/poem? Something that inspires you or gives you strength when times are tough? Words to live by?  Please share :)

My words to live by:
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.



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

Also, before you go, be sure to enter my giveaway for Purex Complete Crystals Fabric Softener!

Wordless Wednesday

This is my comedian. He's always got a smile or funny face to share. We recently visited my in laws in NC and my funny little man was so sick he had to stay indoors and missed the trip to the Natural Science Center in Greensboro (fabulous museum by the way!) Thankfully, he's feeling much better now and is all smiles again.

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

Psst...Don't miss my giveaway for a FREE Purex Complete Crystals Fabric Softener. Hurry, contest ends soon!

NOVICA $50 Gift Code Winner Selected

Congratulations to the winner of the Novica $50 Gift Code:

My4boysand1 said...

I subscribe via email to your feeds! #1

my4boysand1@yahoo.com
February 19, 2011 10:48 AM

I hope you enjoy your prize!

Many thanks to Novica for sponsoring this event and also to all who entered!

FREE Photobook Offer From Picaboo

This great deal is back for a limited time. If you missed it before, snag a beautiful book for yourself, or for a gift, now.  For 14 days, from March 8 to 22, new customers can receive a FREE Large Classic Custom book from Picaboo using code FREECC.

Daily Deals - Deep Discounts

Deal Pulp has a super deal today…. $3 for $0! All you need to do is sign up for a free account and refer friends and you’ll receive $3 credit in your account. It took me less than 5 minutes and my credit showed up right away! They don’t normally offer anything for sign ups which is why they are doing this right now as a special. So if you haven’t signed up yet the go here to sign up (yes that’s my referral link!) and then send your friends an email and ask them to sign up with your link and you’ll get $3.

Easy money! This offer is good for today only!

Deal Pulp is a great daily deal site. I also love these sites:
Groupon I've gotten great Groupons for museum memberships, restaurants, house cleaning and more!
Eversave I've used this one for magazine subscriptions, an iphone case, photo gifts, etc.
Jasmere This site offers a wide variety - I've gotten kids cookbooks, decals, footwear and more.
Totsy Love Totsy for great baby and kids items. They currently have a super deal on children's books.
Living Social - Great site for deals on local dining, attractions and travel
Mamapedia - Another favorite with sweet deals. I've used this for toys and craft kits, skin care, gifts, etc.
No More Rack - Get an instant $10 credit when you sign up. Deep discounts on clothes, accessories, housewares, etc.
Cookie - cute stuff for kids and families - great stuff for mom too!
Plum District - for magazines, jewelry, restaurant gift cards, stationary, kid stuff, skin care, loads of great deals!

I aslo use Swagbucks for searching the internet. I generally earn about $5 a month, though I know many other bloggers earn much more than that. It's so easy to install and use and I like that I don't have to spend extra time on it. You can earn more though, by watching SwagTV, searching for bonus bucks in the blog and on the site, and entering sweepstakes. 

All sites are free to sign up and most offer credits for referrals so not only do you get great deals on stuff you use, but you can earn credits and get some of them for FREE! Who doesn't love free ;)

But, one of my favorite deal sites, and the one I've been a member of the longest, is MyPoints. I earn several $50 gift cards per year by clicking on emails, using the search tool, shopping through the site links for stuff I'm buying anyway and using coupons when I shop. I have tried other pay per click email sites and it takes forever to earn rewards, but MyPoints is fun, easy and adds up quickly. Plus, they have a super collection of rewards to places I shop all the time (ie. Target, Walmart, Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Old Navy, and hundreds more, even PayPal). You can even use your earned gift cards to shop through the site and earn more! If you'd like to join, leave a comment with your email and I'll send you an invitation. Or, you can join the site directly from the homepage.

So, how do you save money? Do you use any of these sites? If so, what's the best deal you've ever gotten?

Aloha Friday!

Greetings good bloggy friends, and happy Friday!

Recently I've been reading blogs like Bakerella, The Pioneer Woman Cooks, The Simple Gourmand, and I Am Baker. I enjoy baking, though I wouldn't say I'm particularly talented in that department. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that I enjoy eating sugary confections, lol. Some of these sites blow me away with the talent and creativity these women display.


My question today is: Do you enjoy baking? If so, what's your favorite thing to bake? Feel free to leave a separate link if you have a post about it.

Link your AF Posts Here:

Thanks for sharing :) Have a wonderful Friday!


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

Also, before you go, be sure to enter my giveaway for a $50 NOVICA Gift Code!

Wordless Wednesday

Those sweet little chubby cheeks just beg for kisses!

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

Psst...Don't miss my giveaway for a $50 NOVICA gift card. Hurry, contest ends soon!

Favorite Quotes by Dr. Seuss

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
~Dr. Seuss

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. ~Dr. Seuss

My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It's the letter I use to spell yuzz-a-ma-tuzz. You'll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond 'Z' and start poking around! ~Dr. Seuss

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try! ~Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss

How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
~Dr. Seuss

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting. ~Dr. Seuss

You know you're in love when you don't want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. ~Dr. Seuss

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

“A person's a person, no matter how small.”

“If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good”

“And the turtles, of course... All the turtles are free- As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.”

“I know up on the top you are seeing great sights, but down at the bottom we, too, should have rights. "Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories"

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Read Across America Day

It's that time of year again, time to gear up for NEA's Read Across America Day. On March 2, PBS KIDS is honoring the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, more widely known as Dr. Seuss, with a two-hour marathon of THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! PBS KIDS will celebrate Dr. Seuss' 107th birthday by rhyming along with the playful Cat during two brand new episodes, "Incredible Journey/Bamboozled," where the Cat introduces Nick and Sally to two incredible creatures, Salmon Sam and Zhu Zhu the panda, and "Teeny Weeny Adventure/I See Seeds," in which the Cat takes Nick and Sally on two "tiny" adventures.

Also joining in the celebration of Dr. Seuss is Reading Rockets, a national multimedia project that offers research-based and best-practice information on teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle. On the Reading Rockets: Read Across America pages you will find a video interview with Mrs. Seuss, classroom strategies to incorporate Dr. Seuss books into literacy-building activities, and a Lorax-themed family literacy bag encouraging hands-on fun and learning.

Also check out the video-enhanced activities for teachers on the PBS Teachers website and find activities by topic for even more fun!

Or, visit Seussville for printable activities, to learn about the author, and find lesson plans as well as the downloadable 2011 NEA's Read Across America activity booklet.

So which is your favorite Dr. Seuss book? I love Fox in Socks and Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!  No wait, Horton Hears A Who. That's a fabulous tale. Or, I know, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. It's just isn't Christmas without that story. But I also love Hooray for Diffendoofer Day. With so many great classics, it's really hard to choose a favorite don't you think?  Go on, grab a book and get your Seuss on!