An Iowa Mom

A Week Of Giveaways - Day #5

Here we are ... the last day of the giveaways and all the winners will be announced tonight and notified by email.  After trick or treating, of course.

So, that leaves time to enter one last giveaway and I saved it for last because it's my kids absolute favorite.

Leave me a comment below to be entered to win the ...

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 CD. 

We've had it for a week now and I even find myself singing along to some of these songs.  By far, the best of the three HSM CD's.  In my opinion.

If you haven't already ... be sure to check out the other four giveaways I'm offering.  And then, head back to Bloggy Giveaways to check out some other last minute additions.

Ask And You Shall Receive

Yesterday afternoon I finally was able to take a breath and sit down to check my email.  Oh, shush, I AM that busy, okay?

As I open my inbox, I immediately notice an email from Big Daddy.  Because he's my favorite, I opened it first.  Ya never know when one will be sent saying, "Drop everything and don't bother cooking ... I'm taking the family out to eat tonight!", and no one would want to miss an email like that, right?

Well, that's not what this one said.  The email from Big Daddy read, "Enough with the <insert inappropriate word here> giveaways and get back to writing funny stories about your family on your blog."

And because I always do everything my husband tells me to do, I got right on it this morning to do what I've been told.

Excuse me while I get myself together, because I crack myself up.  That statement right there was hilarious as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway ... on with the story about my family.

See this?:

That is my husband, Big Daddy, on a motorcycle that he purchased for FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS!  It's older than I am, I think (hee hee) and while it runs ... it's doesn't start ... unless you run with it.

I was going to take a video, but I'm not THAT mean ...

That's not entirely true ... I just wasn't quick enough to capture the moment. 

So, I'll try to paint a visual for you ...

Picture Big Daddy.  Picture his motorcycle above.  Picture Big Daddy running down the street, pushing his motorcycle.  Faster and faster.  Picture a school bus rounding the corner.  Then go back to picturing Big Daddy ... jumping on the bike.  And low and behold it starts.  Back to the bus ... it stops right next to Big Daddy, happily situated with his new toy.  The doors to the big yellow bus open, and the driver hollers, "MID LIFE CRISIS?" ... shut the doors and drives on.

Maybe you had to be there ... but it was hilarious.  I promise ... the next time this happens ... I'll get it on video and you all will be the first to see it.

There ya go Big Daddy ... a story about our family. 

I am here to please ... just ask and you shall receive.

I Need Help In ... Apple Time

Okay. I normally rely on Google or Yahoo to solve all my problems. Well, maybe not my problems, but to answer questions that I should know the answer to ... but don't.

Well, today ... I went to good ol' Google for a quick answer. And the search results took me to Yahoo. But ... that's beside the point.

Anyway, I asked how to keep cut apples from turning brown. Simple, right?

I'm sure this is a question that every mother in America can answer ... except me.

The answer that I got over and over was to use water with a bit of lemon juice (I used 1 qt. of water with 4 tablespoons of lemon juice) and dip the cut apple section into the mixture ... and wa-la ... I'd avoid the nasty brown color that apples tend to turn when exposed to the ... air.

Well, I am smarter than you think, because I tested this theory ... ONE DAY before I needed it to work. 14 hours to be exact.

And guess what?

My apple sections are BROWN.

BROWN, I tell you.

So, here I sit. With 20 apples and 20 cups of caramel to bring to Emily's Halloween party tomorrow ... and without your help ... I'm sure not ONE CHILD will eat one of my apples.

Ya see, I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I do know that.

HOW DO YOU KEEP APPLES FROM TURNING BROWN?

HELP ME!

PLEASE!

A Week Of Giveaways - Day #4

I'm running a little late today with the giveaway, but it's being put up for grabs none-the-less.  Now, everyone who reads me regularly knows that I used to suffer from a huge addiction, right?

Actually two of them.  Do you remember what they were? 

If you don't, well, shame on you.

I was totally obsession with fast food and McDonalds Monopoly.  So ... in honor of that ... I would like to share a $20 McDonalds Gift Card with one lucky winner.  This should be enough to take your family out for a little treat ... and you won't have to cook.

Sounds like a win win to me.

Leave me a comment below to enter, the winner will be chosen randomly on Friday, October 31 and will be notified by email.

Good luck.

If you haven't already, go check out my other giveaways.  And then head over to the top dog site ... and get lost in all the wonderful things you can win.

TA-DA!

And I'll leave out the part about what a master manipulator I am!

A Week Of Giveaways - Day #3

Do you love a good mystery?

And I'm not talking about a book.  Who the hell needs a damn book to read when you've got almost 1,200 giveaways to get through?  HELLO!

I'm talking like a grab bag mystery.  A little bit of surprise to spice up your life. 

I hope so, because that is the #3 giveaway here on An Iowa Mom.

If you need, or just want, to spruce up your house a little the fall ... then leave a comment below to win a grab bag of AUTUMN HOME DECOR.  You don't know what all is in it, but I will guarantee it's all great stuff.  (No, it's not the bag and items pictured.)

With a value of over $50 to boot.

Winner will be chosen on Friday, October 31 and notified by email.

Be sure to check out my other giveaways ... and then head on back to Bloggy Giveaways to keep workin' your way through the list.

Wait And See

Year after year we end up spending an ungodly insane amount of money on Halloween costumes.  After vowing to go "simple", we let ourselves down and run out the day before Halloween to grab some leftover costume that no one else wanted and end up paying double the price ... it seems. 

I know people, save your comments ... we aren't paying double.  IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE ARE.  I don't know ... maybe we just had too many kids. 

YA THINK?

Well, this year we surprisingly held true to our word. 

Kinda.

Jake is going to be a nerd, since it went over so well last year.  Plus, since he is too "old" and "mature" for Halloween costumes ... it's kinda like he doesn't even have to dress up.  (ooohhh, I know, that was mean!)

Drew is going to be a baseball player ... and wear Jake's baseball uniform.  EASY!

Emily is going to be a cheerleader ... and use an outfit she already has in their dress up bin.  SCORE!

And Molly, well, she agreed to be a ghost.

And since Molly so graciously agreed to just throw a pillow case over her head, I went out this weekend and purchased a "FANCY NANCY" costume and I'm not going to tell her about it until tomorrow, when she has to dress up for her little party.  You should have seen how giddy I was skipping out of Target with that sucker.  I wish they had it in my size.

Anyway, since my children are difficult pains in the ass most of the time and ruin all my fun on the rare instances I try to be nice, I figured I needed to somewhat prepare her ... without her knowing.  So, on the way home from school, in an attempt to escape the High School Musical tunes that we've been listening to every single freakin' day in the car for the last year, I actually attempted to have a conversation with my sweet, loving three year old.

"So, did you like the Fancy Nancy book Daddy read to you last night before bed?"  I asked sounding enthusiastic.

"No."  she replied.  "Turn it on "BET ON IT", please."

"Don't you think Fancy Nancy is FANCY?  I think she is awesome.  Don't you wish you could dress like her?" I kept trying.

"No."  she answered again.  "Number 8, please!"

"I think Fancy Nancy is the coolest girl in the whole world."

Nothing from Molly.

"Really!"  I was growing impatient, in my head seeing Big Daddy's veins popping out of his temples as he opens the bill from this costume I purchased, "Don't you want to wear Fancy Nancy's clothes?"

"Aaaahhh, nnnnoooooo."  she hollered in a tone that implied she thought I was a total and complete imbecile.  "If I wore her clothes SHE'D BE COMPLETELY NAKED!  High School Musical, please!"

Tune in tomorrow to see if I can transform Miss Molly from a complete brat into Fancy Nancy. 

I say ... there's a 30-70 shot.

Wanna place your bets?