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Twin Family Vacation

Twins and Mama on Beach

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Your life changes when you have kids?”  Well DUH Sherlock! Have you ever heard the phrase, “You must (or sure do) have your hands full?” Yes, like all the time from people about my life as a mother of twins. I knew I had my hands full when I had Grant, they just happened to be able to hold two more when I had the twins.

Peace at the beachOur life changed drastically with the twins and that included family vacations of any sort. When we had Grant and Grant alone, trucking around a single child in the airport is a breeze compared to a child and two toddlers. Not to mention any public place or venue that I take all three kids. Needless to say I understand why people, or parents with multiples do not venture into public very often, because the outing is an ordeal.

But The Chad and I were presented with a unique situation where he would be on business in San Diego for half the week. With San Diego being only a six hour drive from home, we thought, let’s make this a family vacation. The kids can see the beach, we can catch up with family, what is stopping us?

Not much stopped us and can I tell you that the worst part of the vacation was the packing, unpacking, and maybe not having enough for the kids to do while in the car? Otherwise, venturing into a “vacation” with twin toddlers and a six year old was totally doable.

I will say that having enough for the twins to do and having another adult to help is a MUST! I was thankful that The Chad was able to help with the twins because they were like Thing 1 and Thing 2 at some moments where each was going in his and her own direction and I did not have enough hands. I will also say that I braved the beach with all three and I am EVER so glad I did as I set them free. Each did his or her own thing and were completely content.

But as with all good things, they must come to an end, however, we are ever so glad they didTwins and Mama on Beach come to an end. We could not be happier that we are home. In our beds, our house, our comforts of home. Now if we could just move home to San Diego we are set. No but really, we are thankful to be home and we cannot wait to share about all the fun we had! Honestly, I thought I was going to die on this trip. I prepared for the worst and at the end of the day, I got the absolute best because I was relaxed and I didn’t stress with my kids. I guided them from harm and let them just enjoy their time and their experience and we all healed our souls with this trip. Now, I must do some healing for my eyes as I get some much needed sleep to tell you all about our trip.

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Palm Pre Mobile HotSpot

Palm Pre

Palm Pre

Upon receiving the Verizon Wireless Palm Pre Plus I knew the phone had lots of features. No let me restate that, LOTS of features, seemingly unlimited capabilities in a phone. I knew of the online web surfing option, a Facebook app, and other data features I had seen with my Blackberry Curve. However, one feature that I was told about by the Verizon staff was that the Palm Pre Plus has a feature called the Mobile Hotspot. Okay, do tell, as I am not as tech savvy as my husband, I need a bit more explaining. Basically the phone turns into a wireless hub, port, connection, a wifi hotspot for up to five users or computers. You can also make this a secure or open connection just as you would with a wireless connection in your home.

EEGADS!
IT DOES?
SWEET!
Or so I thought.
Our trip to San Diego was a perfect opportunity to test out the Palm Pre Plus Mobile Hotspot. After we got out of town and the kids were entertained or fast asleep I decided to pull out my laptop to get some blog posts done. I grabbed my Palm Pre Plus and began to look through my navigation menu. The only option available was a Wifi icon. This was not the mobile hotspot option. So I began to Google on the phone to find the name of the app. Only after spending roughly two hours and nearly draining my battery I found a decent article that stated how the mobile hotspot works on the Palm Pre Plus. Here is what Verizon DID NOT tell me:
  1. You must pay a $35 activation fee for the 3G (or is it now 4G?) service capability to make the phone a mobile hotspot for the Wifi capability. This fee then notifies your account of the available hotspot app. However this option is FREE only with the Palm Pre phone, the activation fee applies to all other phones.
  2. You must then search through the THOUSANDS of apps in the app catalog for the Palm Mobile Hotpost specific app. Or as I did….update your operating system….AFTER you spent countless wasted hours searching needlessly.
  3. Only after paying the activation fee, searching endlessly for the app, you must yet again pay another fee. Yes, I did say you have to pay another fee, another $40 per month for what Verizon calls the Mifi. (Minus the former Mifi card that came with the service since your phone is now the air card per se.) However, again, what Verizon does not disclose is that this fee is waived for all Palm Pre Plus owners since this is a feature ONLY to this phone.
I was HIGHLY annoyed and frustrated at the lack of communication in part from Verizon regarding the Palm Pre mobile hotspot capability. Fantastic my phone can dial space but if I don’t pay the tolls and fees to talk to aliens then the option is fairly moot correct? More or less my annoyance was due to the fact that I was TOLD that I already had the mobile hotspot on my phone which meant I “assumed” I could use my phone for Wifi on the road and I could
post wonderful blog fodder.
All in all I am extremely happy with the phone, however, I am a bit disappointed that the Verizon Wireless staff failed to mention the fine print of fees and activation IN ORDER to make the phone a mobile hotspot at the time that I had activated the phone. Plus the mobile hotspot does have a data limit of 5MB for your usage, unless you have the unlimited data plan, so be sure to check with your provider to see what your data limit may be. In the event you are looking to game or do anything other than maybe check your email you will more than likely go OVER your data usage thus resulting in additional fees and charges and waiting until your next billing cycle to renew your data limit. But again, totally happy and satisfied with Verizon Wireless and the Palm Pre Plus, just disappointed with the communication at the store level.
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Night Owl Spawn

Unhappy Twins

My kids are absolutely great. I mean they have their moments where I seriously think I will lose my mind…which is at about 4pm everyday as they morph during the witching hour. From the day the twins were born I hammered into their little ways of life a thing called “a schedule.”

They would sleep at the same time, eat at the same time, breath, bathe, everything at the sameUnhappy Twins time. Each night, every night since they were the ripe age of roughly six months my little demons loves have gone to bed before 7:30pm each night. I really cannot bitch and complain about their sleep schedule because their sleep has rocked. Even Grant has had a great sleep schedule. Since starting school he starts heading to bed at 7:30pm each night as well to allow for a bit of goober time, a story, and last minute bathroom breaks.

When 8pm rolls around the only sound in the house is the typing on my keyboard and the rumble of the bulldog snoring into the nicest dog bed around, also known as our leather sectional. Yeah, that’s a WHOLE other blog post.

Tonight however, my kids decided that they would be cracked out little demons who refused to go to sleep. Not falling asleep at 7:30pm or 8:30pm or 9:30pm for that matter. Oh no, they decided to finally pass out around the ripe time of 10:30pm.

I mean what the hell? Anyone else experiencing or have you experienced a night where your kids just say “To hell with the schedule…PARTY ON WAYNE!!”

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Fun With Rainbow Brite

Moms and grandma’s you remember Rainbow Brite? The ponytail blond in the rainbow sweater dress who could rescue anyone, anywhere with her horses Starlite, Shimmer and Sunriser and her friends Moonglow and Tickled Pink?

Rainbow BriteI personally used to LOVE Rainbow Brite. I so wanted that cool star on my cheek just like her. I had the blond hair and cool leg-warmers just like her so I knew if I pretended hard enough…..okay, so I was like eight and totally loved Rainbow Brite. Moving on.

Well the childhood favorite has returned! Are you seeing a theme? The return of Cabbage Patch kids, Transformers are HOT again, did you hear they are even making a Thundercats movie? Did I totally cross the 80s dork threshold yet?

Seriously Rainbow Brite is back as the favorite doll is being relaunched in stores for girls to enjoy yet once again. The plush doll will be available at Target stores and Toys R’ US this month! In tandem with the release of the doll and FOUR (4) new animated mini episodes of Rainbow Brite I received a 10 (ten) pack of activity CD’s with all sorts of fun games, puzzles, the catchy Rainbow Brite theme and more for your child to enjoy. Hallmark is the proud presented of the Rainbow Brite site and they offer lots of fun online interaction with your favorite character.

Since I kept a CD for myself and I donated one to be raffled for free to a lucky mom in my twin mom’s group I now have EIGHT (8) CD’s to giveaway here on my blog. Here is how you and your child can WIN and enjoy Rainbow Brite fun at home:

Fess up, tell me you used to LOVE Rainbow Brite or one of her friends or entourage and who!

Extra Entries:

  • Follow with Google Friend Connect
  • Subscribe to my feed
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Tweet this giveaway with unlimited tweets, no double entries: Enter to win #rainbowbritemom CD with @KariewithaK Ends 3/9 http://goo.gl/dpCP
  • Fan The Fish

 

CONTEST ENDS MARCH 9TH @ 11:59PM

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Pardon my Mess

The site crashed….well really it was down for most of Saturday while I made a BIG move. I also did this ALL BY MYSELF. With the love and encouragement and support of my friends I finally did it. I made the big leap to WordPress and can I tell you I am in heaven. Despite the frustrations of a small hosting issue that was resolved, I am in heaven. Bear with me while I tweak the blog more regarding the layout and I still post during the mess. But hey, that’s how I roll. Consider this like remodeling and living through it. Thank you everyone to for all the support, encouragement, and patience during this time.

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General Mills Grains of Goodness

CLOSED

Every year the weight loss resolutions begin and you hear some odd diet tips, tricks, and suggestions. But the diet science and studies suggest that diets rich in whole grain help maintain a healthy heart, help manage weight, reduce the risk for diabetes and other health issues.

In a national survey, 91 percent of Americans said they want to incorporate more whole grain foods into their diets. In fact, nine out of 10 people in the U.S. still do not eat the minimum recommended daily amount of whole grain (at least three servings, or 48 grams). General Mills is the only leading cereal company to guarantee whole grain in every box, 8 grams of whole grain per serving to be exact. Every day, General Mills´ Big G Cereals – which include Cheerios, Fiber One, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Chex, Total and Lucky Charms – deliver 35 million servings of whole grain to Americans. Additionally General Mills is reducing the amount of sugar in all of their cereals to provide the same great taste without all the unnecessary extras.
My house is a HUGE fan of Cheerios and most recently Cinnamon Toast Crunch. We love these two because you can eat them as a breakfast cereal or you can snack on them dry which makes for great snacks for the kids anytime during the day. When our house was provided with the General Mills Grains of Goodness prize pack we went and bought a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch (since we already had LOTS of Cheerios on hand) and we wanted to try a new flavor of Total from General Mills. We got the Total Blueberry Pomegranate and can I just say, DEE LISH! Absolutely yummy.
So to promote General Mills promise to bring you whole grain in every box of cereal and reduced sugar, The Five Fish and General Mills on behalf of My Blog Spark are giving away this great prize pack for you!
TWO (2) VIP Coupons for Big G cereal products, a breakfast chiller, large cereal mug, & tote bag
Here is how you can win. Tell me how you are adding more whole grain to your diet? Do you know how much whole grain you need daily? Or tell me your favorite General Mills cereal.
(Please leave me your email address if your blogger profile is not public, no email, no winnings.)
Extra Entries:
  • Follow my blog  (3 extra entries for GFC until the contest ends!)
  • Fan The Fish (please re-fan as the previous fan page was all wonky)
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Tweet this giveaway, unlimited tweet option as long as you do not double comment on this blog for your unlimited tweets: Win General Mills cereal prize pack with @KariewithaK #giveaway http://goo.gl/zM5h Ends 3/6
  • Subscribe to my feed
  • Blog this Giveaway with a link back (Worth 5 entries)
  • Grab my button
  • Add my blog to your text blog roll
CONTEST ENDS MARCH 6TH @ 11:59PM
 
Best of Luck!
*The Five Fish received the above pictured prize pack and in no way are we making any health claims regarding whole grain, in no way was our opinion influenced by the product and we make no claims regarding the product other than the facts stated on the Nutritional Values chart on the product.
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Saved by a Palm

No not that palm.
This Palm.

The Palm Pre Plus saved my life this week. Not literally in that it is not a secret defibrillator, though I am sure there is an app for that, but for the last week I have been terribly ill. I mean I was hacking a lung, running a fever of over 100 degrees, not pretty, all I wanted to do was sleep. The last thing I really wanted to do was fire up my computer and blog, check my email, send a tweet all while sitting in front of my laptop. I had no desire. But I knew I was receiving emails in my inbox, PTO, bills, blog giveaway entries and winners, I had to be able to read these emails, respond, and or forward important information.

Had I not had the capability of email on my Palm Pre Plus, had I not had the Synergy capability that syncs my emails, my calendars, my notes, everything I use on my laptop in Outlook I would be so behind. More so than I already am, but I am glad I was able to respond to my email recipients and read important emails with ease and without having to fire up my laptop. All while laying on my couch sulking in my misery of being sick. I know….rough life huh? In all seriousness the email capability is so seamless, streamlined and easy to access in the Palm Pre Plus.

Oh I also need to add that since the hubs works from home too I use Google talk to message him during the day. “What do you want for lunch?” “Dinner?” Or a quick may-day to tell him I am drowning with the twins. So while being sick, trying to maneuver to his office to tell him I need help or need something as close to impossible as well. The Palm Pre Plus has a messenger option too through SMS text and Google talk. I just logged in my Google account and VOILA! I can message right from my phone, again without firing up my laptop thus again making my life so much easier as a mom and a business woman.

*The Five Fish, Karie Herring, received a Palm Pre Plus on behalf of Verizon Wireless to review and share my experience with the phone. In no way has the review influenced my opinion of the product, my review is my opinion about the product.

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Win and Give with Betty Crocker

If you have read my blog long enough you know how much I love to give to others. Benevolence is in my core and I enjoy giving to others not only because of karma but I enjoy seeing people’s faces when they receive a gift of kindness. Even better is seeing the face of a child when they receive a wonderfully kind gift.

My son is brutally competitive and loves to win but he is so beautifully kind and enjoys giving to others, especially when they are deserving and they are other children. When I received the email about how My Blog Spark was helping to promote the program with Betty Crocker snacks, on specially marked boxes of Fruit Roll-Ups, Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, and Stickerz & Shapes, to donate a laptop to one African child for every laptop won by a U.S. child I knew this as a more than noble post to promote. Grant was so excited when we received the prize pack not only because we received Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit by the Foot but also the opportunity to win a laptop in our home and that we had a donation made on our behalf to One Laptop per Child.

Grant was ever so sweet because he told me when we went over the Win One Give One program he told me, “Mama, if we win a laptop can we give it to some kids who don’t have one. I already have a computer…Dad has three of them in his office so he has one to spare for me.” I just about fell over laughing and I was so happy to hear that my son was willing to give to others so selflessly. He also saw that kids should have computers in their lives.
Not only do you support children in need but the products are also Box Tops participants. So everyone wins with these Betty Crocker snacks, and hey, they are pretty tasty. But here is some really powerful footage about the One Laptop per Child program.

Now you can get involved without making any purchase AND you can enter to win a Betty Crocker snacks prize pack and have $25 donated on your behalf to One Laptop per Child. To enter, tell me what you do to promote benevolence with your child? How are you teaching them to help others?

Extra Entries:

  • Follow my blog  (3 extra entries until contest ends for connecting on Google Friend Connect)
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Tweet this giveaway with unlimited tweets, no double comment tweet entries: Win and Give a laptop to a child in need with @BettyCrocker snacks and @KariewithaK
    http://goo.gl/UgIO
  • Subscribe to my feed
  • Blog this giveaway (Worth 5 entries)
  • Grab my button
  • Fan The Fish
  • Add my blog to your text blog roll (Worth 2 entries)
CONTEST ENDS MARCH 4TH @ 11:59PM
 
Best of luck!
*The Five Fish received a prize pack of Betty Crocker fruit snacks from Betty Crocker on behalf of My Blog Spark and a donation of $25 was made on our behalf to One Laptop per Child. In no way did the product influence this post, this post is to promote a wonderful cause for children around the world.

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Drowning the Demon

I love my children. I love my children. I love my children even when they are monkey carrying, germ infested, snotting, coughing, hacking little people that they share their gooey, infectious loves with me.

YES.

I should have known that they would pass the junk onto me. So for the last week I have fought to not succumb to the whining pathetic little girl that grown men usually turn into. But I did. I turned into a jaded, pissy, crawl into my cave, I am not good as someone who is ill type of person. Basically, I slept. I slept like I haven’t slept in years. Oh wait….yes, I have not slept in years.

Then came the hacking and the fever and the bitterness again of how to drown out this demonic illness. Ah yes. Fight fire with fire. What you ask? Fire with fire?

I learned while living my entire life in the southwest that the best cure to anything is Mexican food, well the best cure to the common cold and drowning the demon is Green Chile Stew. I love green chile. I could have just about every meal with green chile if I could, especially Hatch green chile. The hotter the better too!

So I sucked it up, got off my arse and made from scratch while sweating a fever, hacking a lung, and a nose that as running like a faucet my favorite Green Chile Stew recipe. Now I want to share it with you and share my poor woes of how I have missed you all and I missed a local Tweet-up with my friends on Twitter that live here in Arizona and I missed, I missed, I missed. I know right….cry me a river Linda….but seriously wanted to say I missed you all and I am glad I am feeling better so I can get back to reading blogs and writing again. Being sick sucks a goat’s ear you know!?

Green Chile Stew
4-6 4oz cans Green Chile (the hotter the better people!)
2 tomatoes (diced) or 1 can diced tomatoes
1/4 diced onion
2 garlic cloves diced
1/4 c. finely chopped cilantro
2 T. cumin
1 t. Corriander
4 potatoes cut into cubes or 1/2 bag of frozen cubed hashbrowns
3 chicken breasts shredded or 1lb shredded pork
2 T. Olive Oil
3 C beef (or chicken) stock
salt and pepper to taste

In a large stock pot heat oil adding cumin, corriander, cilantro, garlic, and onions until onions are slightly browned. Add potatoes to toss into spices, then add in meat. Coat the meat lightly with seasoning and oil then add in the tomatoes and green chile. Stir slowly and add in stock. Cover and simmer for a minimum of one hour for potatoes to soften and for the green chile flavor to infuse. Serve hot with warm tortillas

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