Tuesday, July 26, 2011

A Thank You, and Luau Party Games Review




First of all, I wanted to extend my deepest thanks and well wishes to all of my awesome readers. I am so blessed and think its AWESOME that this blog has 45 Readers! What a great thing!

Thank you all for going on this journey with me! Thank you for sticking with me!

Now onto the business of this post. Just a few days ago, I posted this review of the Luau Party Ideas Ebook.  Just a reminder that this ebook is free (!) to anyone, all you have to do is sign up to the Python Printable Games Newsletter  and it's yours to keep!

"The eBook contains the Moo-Luau Mad Libs, FREE Luau Invitations, and a coupon for 10 percent off the Luau game pack, plus lots of Luau party planning tips and recipes." 

Check out the book!


I was lucky enough to receive a link to review the various luau games available for purchase the other day, and you yourself can get this game pack with the coupon mentioned above!

The first game I viewed, was the "Hawaiian Moo-Lau Mad Libs". This game is the game provided for free in the Party Idea book already.  It is colorful, fun, and I like it because you really choose how the game goes.  Just like the Mad Libs from when we were kids, you fill in a word list and then enter your words with in a story. This can really be as funny as you want it to be, depending on what words you enter. It can be catered for a kid or adult party!

The second thing I viewed was the luau party doll set. This again, is very like the paper dolls from when we were kids.  The set is provided blank, which I think could be fun because you could color it on your own. The second set is in color and only needs to be cut out and placed on the paper dolls provided.  I think this would mostly be fun for a kids party, and only if you had several copies of the set, already cut out. Younger kids wouldn't have the fine motor control to cut them out, but would enjoy the activity. Older kids and adults I think may find it a tad boring or pointless. I also think it could slow the pace of a good luau.  One idea/thought I had, for those of us that are DIYers, it would be fun to back these paper dolls on popsicle sticks and use them as food labels or just decorations in and around the party.

The third game I viewed was the Luau Newlywed Game, and this is very similar to the original Newlywed game. You answer questions about your spouses, and see who matches the most to determine a winner. I think it would be fun to use this in like a luau themed bridal/couples shower or even if you have a couples night with some friends. See which couples know the most about each other and break the ice over some fruity/tropical drinks with this fun game!

Finally, the last game I viewed was called "Lei it On Me"  It would be a great ice breaker for any Luau themed party. Everyone starts out with a lei on, draws a card and fills in the blank. Then, you place all the filled in cards back into the stack.  Once someone pulls a card, they have to guess who filled it out. If they are right, they earn another flower lei, if they are wrong, the owner of the answer wins the flower lei. At the end, the person with the most flower lei's wins. From a young adult perspective (I'll be 26 in like a week), this would be fun to play as a drinking game as well, lol!  **Disclaimer- I do not condone underage drinking, or drinking and driving! If you are underage, please do not drink!  If you are of age, and do drink , please make sure you have a designated driver!!**

All in all, I think if you have a good crew of people and the makings of a good party, these games would be a fun addition. After all, you and your imagination are what make the games work!



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Who needs an excuse to Party??



Hello Readers! I was recently given the opportunity to review an AWESOME ebook of Hawaiian Luau Party Ideas.

Like anybody, I absolutely LOVE a good party. From the planning to the decorations to the food, it is all so much fun! Many of you know I recently moved. I had thought about having some sort of house warming party. Well, now that I've received this ebook, I actually wonder if having a Luau might be fun. Plus, Luaus are all the rage right now! I can't tell you the wealth of decorations I've found in simple places like the dollar store and Walmart. Of course, there is also a ton of available stuff at our local party store!

Before I get started here, let me tell you the most awesome part. This entire book of awesome luau ideas is FREE to anyone who signs upto the Python Printable Games Newsletter, which is also free! All you have to do is go to http://www.python-printable-games.com/fun-printable-games-ezine.html 
and enter in your name, email address and click subscribe.  I'm actually thinking of subscribing myself, because their website has tons of party ideas from camping parties, to birthday parties, and even a spot where you can check out all of their printable games!

Upon dowloading the book to my computer (as a pdf file) I couldn't help but first think that it would actually be fun to print out and have at hand and not have to be scrolling on the computer. It would also make it really easy to show off where you got all the fun ideas from. Unfortunately, our printer is not currently hooked up and I'm not sure I'm comfortable using that amount of ink anyway.

I liked several things about the book. I liked first that it included lots of color and real luau pictures. It catches your attention but also gives your eye a break from all the text. In fact the entire, "table of contents", is nothing but pictures.

The idea book includes several different types of invitations that would be appropriate for a luau. If I end up doing a luau party once we get moved in and all, I will probably print several pages of one type rather than using all the different versions.

I LOVED that the book came with decoration ideas from Amazon.com complete with clickable links!!!! This makes the OCD part of my brain very happy, lol. And if you're like me, you know that some of the decorations are totally able to be made yourself and the pictures will only serve as inspiration! ;)

The next few pages of the book are cake, costume, recipe and drink ideas. I love baking a good cake and this book totally has me craving Pineapple Upside Down Cake now.  Now, I know what you're thinking, costumes? But here's the awesome part...you can definitely get away with just a simple lei and sunglasses at a luau if you don't want to go the grass skirt and coconut bra route! I also don't think any of us need an excuse to have a fruity drink :P

The last few pages of the book are a list of different games that can be downloaded at their site for a cost. Not to worry though, if you sign up for the newsletter and get the book, a coupon code for 10% off any game is also included, not to mention a FREE copy of their mad lib game.

All in all I think this would be a great resource for anyone planning a luau type party!  And heck if you can get the reader for free just by signing up for a newsletter, why not? I do think that if the reader was not free, I would not pay for it. That's totally me though, I'm a cheap skate and with the wealth of internet info available I doubt I'd pay for anything like that.


P.S. Stay tuned to the blog for another review AND give away, this time of a Luau Party games pack!!!






I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Step One...Remove Foot from Mouth

Unfortunately, I am one of THOSE people.

I tend to say stupid things sometimes, most of the time without ever meaning to.

I don't know why but for whatever reason, there are days, times and moments where I lack a filter. I say really stupid stuff without thinking first about what I'm saying, who it could hurt or how it could be interpreted.

The crazy part is, is that whenever I do say something, I always realize it afterwards. Most of the time, I just worded it wrong.

I have this incessant need to fill silence. Sometimes, in trying to do that, I say stupid things.

I also get nervous when I am put on the spot. So sometimes, when a conversation turns to me, I verbal vomit and later, realize I probably sounded one fry short of a happy meal.

I also tend to say things when I'm frustrated that I don't mean. Most of that is normal though, I think?

When my emotions are high, I either lack words or have a ton of them (see this blog post), the moral of the story is, I'm sorry that sometimes, I lack common sense.

For ANYONE I could have ever hurt with ANYTHING I have ever said, I am truly and deeply sorry. I am working on this whole foot in mouth/common sense thing. I really am.

Please accept my apologies, and know that I try to be the best person I know how. I don't need more enemies in my life. I have very few friends as it is.

To my friends, I love you all. Thank you for being there, when I'm at my best, but even more so when I'm at my worst.

To my husband- I love you more than I ever thought possible. You are my world. Thank you for putting up with me and helping me, but most of all for being patient with me when I get hit with a dose of foot in mouth disease. Thank you for loving me.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

And the Winner Is...

First of All....I am SO SORRY for posting this give away late! We had a slight flood the other night when our washing machine got backed up, and then blogger was down! Goodness! 

But anyway......

Thank you to everyone who participated in my first official giveaway!!! I had fun posting it and look forward to hopefully doing many more in the coming months! :)

There were 24 entries total. According to random.org, the winner is:





Commenter #7- Kimberly!
"gfc follower
Kkrasowski at comcast dot net"


I will be emailing you  Kimberly, right now to let you know you have won! Any give away winner has 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response is received, I will choose another winner.

Thanks again everyone!

Our Journey towards Making a Family

Long Version : Our Journey Blog Post
Go here to learn about how we got our start..and where we are now!

Short Version:
11-28-2008- Started Dating

2-14-2010- Got Engaged :)

4-3-2010- First Positive Test- Baby 1 due 12/10/10

5-1-2010- Miscarriage at 8wks2days

12-10-2010- Estimated Due Date for Baby 1

5-5-2011- Second Positive Test- Baby 2 due 1-12-12
5-7-2011- We are Married!! :)
5-14-2011- Miscarriage at 5wks2days

6-16-2011- Repeated Pregnancy Loss blood work
6-23-2011- HSG looks good!
6-23-2011- dx positive ANA- Anti Nuclear Antibodies

07-05-2011- Rheumatologist Appointment
7-11-2011- dx Low Vitamin D levels. Start Prescription Vitamin D and baby aspirin

09/2011- Officially No Longer Preventing

10/5/11-First cycle Actively Trying. AF shows up

11/21/11-Celiac Bloodwork Negative, Vit D still lower than normal, start another prescription. Continue prenatals with Vit. D as well

01-12-12-Estimated Due Date for Baby 2
01/12-Vit D in normal range, start over the counter Daily Calcium with Vit D supplement per Rhuematologist.

2/15/12-Appt with new Ob who is more proactive with Progesterone Testing-suspects progesterone issues.

2/15/12- 5/9/12-Stop trying and start new charting method (Creighton) to watch for hormone imbalance.