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Even though much ado has been made about “metrosexuals” and the rise of male plastic surgery, when it comes to an everyday skin care regimen, for the most part, “men are from Mars and women are from Venus.” The average man does not want or need a pile of products to reap the benefits of a properly maintained masculine face. FaceLube‘s high performance 3 step system includes a Cleaner, Treatment and Protectant. It’s simple and precise – bing, bam, boom, am/pm …

Your bestie, your baby sister, Grams, and the neighbor who’s known you since you were six, are all out searching for the perfect baby gift for the new arrival. Babies are to be celebrated, smiled upon, and spoiled a bit before they even know it. So what are the best shower gifts for 2011? We’ve found some phenomenal gifts for a wide array of budgets. Check out some popular presents that we think you should know about:
The jogging stroller: Moms …

Okay, we have had all of these great articles on important subjects but the next one I read is bringing out my ~~SOAPBOX!!!
And I quote…”Multiple Jobs & “Me-First” Culture Leave Less Time for Puppy House Training

FORT MYERS, FLA. – (February 22, 2010) – Are more people adopting an older dog because they don’t have the time, nor patience, to train a puppy – let alone have children? Flexcin International, which operates the FlexPet Shelter Program to assist the adoption of older dogs, believes this trend …

Tabletop Shuffleboard is a fun and easy version of the full size version. All hands on deck for this modern take on a classic boat game: A lacquered, four-foot board shuffles indoors to let up to four players take aim with 16 multi-colored sliders made from tumbled stone. Includes table accelerator powder and eight self-adhesive balancing cushions for creating a level playing surface. Made in Canada and China.  Ages 8 and up. Up to 4 players or teams.
The accelerator powder makes a bit of a …

We just started our Advent calender and we are doing it in a unique way this year.  Since it has been a tough year and I feel we need to be showing the girls extra love but also the girls need to be practicing showing extra love to one another and those around them, each day of our advent calender gives that days girl the chance to do something  sweet for someone else in our family.  Most of it is as simple as a hug and a kiss or telling …

Welcome to this week’s edition of the 3Ps in a Pod Goody Roundup!!

In case this is your first visit to the Goody Round Up, it is posted each week.  If you would like your giveaways listed here, just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, by all means, list it again! Also, if you wish to send in your contest listing, feel …

GORDONSVILLE, VA., December  2 , 2009—PBM Products, LLC, a leading infant formula company that supplies store-brand infant formulas to Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Kroger, Walgreens, and other retailers, has received a favorable jury verdict and a $13.5 million damages award in its false advertising lawsuit against Mead Johnson & Co., the operating subsidiary of   Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (NYSE: MJN) (“Mead Johnson”), the makers of the national-brand Enfamil® LIPIL® Infant Formula.  Mead Johnson is 83 percent-owned by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
PBM’s lawsuit claimed that Mead Johnson engaged in false and misleading campaigns …

As you likely know by now, I love Build a Bear.  Not only do they make adorable plush of top quality but they also are incredibly generous, most especially to those in need.
Each year for the past seven years, Build-A-Bear Workshop, through their yearly Huggable Heroes searches, Build a Bear has honored and rewarded 58 kids for doing amazing things to make a difference and help others.  This year, ten Huggable Heroes, between the ages of eight and 18, from the United States and Canada, will be selected …

One of the coolest things under our tree this year is some Melissa & Doug play food.  It’s the Slice and Bake Cookie Set and my 3 year old will love it!  This thirty piece wooden set includes twelve cookies, twelve cookie toppings, an oven mitt, spatula, knife, cookie tray, and cookie tube.

The Melissa & Doug toys are incredibly sturdy and well made.  The  Bake Cookie Set even has a durable dough tube for storing the serviceable velcro cookies (cool, huh?).  Its paint is non-toxic, tested safe, and lead free. I just wish …

If you are you a fan of Dancing With The Stars like my Mom and I, you know that getting taught to dance by one of the Pros would be both a dream and a nightmare, all rolled into one.  They really put their Stars through major workouts, day after grueling day and before the Stars know what’s happening, they are out there on the floor shimmying with the best of them.  I have also seen how fit and trim they become too.  Who wouldn’t with that kind of daily workout …

Truly…I really do have THE Smartest Readers! Why do I say that? Well, on one of my recent giveaways, I asked y’all to leave me comments of either the strangest ENGLISH word you know AND IT’s MEANING or a piece of good random trivia. Boy, oh boy, did you come through!!
I had such fun reading them all that I just could not keep it to myself. Take a peek!
Human fingers contain no muscles except small muscles attached to each hair follicle which contracts to make …

As you remember, in Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that folks take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So following Kailani’s lead, I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link over on An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy …

As you remember, in Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that folks take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So following Kailani’s lead, I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link over on An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy …

You should see my house after school (maybe you shouldn’t!). It starts the minute I pick them up – “Mom, what’s for snack!”. Then we go through the usual litany of options ranging from pretzels with peanut butter to cheese sticks to granola bars. About this time, my 7 year old pipes up with, “Mom, those are all HEALTHY snacks. I want junk food!” And then we have that conversation for the umpteenth time.

Recently I was sent some of the R.W. Knudsen Family’s Sensible Sippers …

Okay all you Mommies , Grammies and Aunties who love to shop for cute kids clothes… Have I found a fun new store for you! Hartstrings is an adorable line of children’s clothing that has been around since 1979. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, they are sold both online and in upscale boutiques and department stores around the world. Their clothing is created in lines similar to Gymboree with everything being marvelously garanimal – something I just LOVE! And their prices? while I would not be …

As you remember, in Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that folks take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So following Kailani’s lead, I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link over on An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy …

Yup. That’s me…a Frosted Cupcake…hehehe. This was Nestle’s assertion upon my filling out a little survey for them. Frosted Cupcake, huh? Hehehe….

Make sure you check out my great new Review and Giveaway Blog, 3 P’s Mama Says… where somethin’ is ALWAYS happening!

You are likely familiar with Marshall’s, one of the top off-price retailers in the US. What you are likely not familiar with is their latest in-store shoe boutique called Marshalls Shoe Mega Shop.
As parents, I know you are probably always looking for deals on your family’s shoes. I mean, kids feet seem to grow exponentially overnight, don’t they? Well Marshall’s new concept is 5,000 square feet of shoe-lovers heaven, featuring top brands and the latest styles found in department and specialty stores, but for up to 60 percent …

more cat pictures

lol+cats

I saw this on The Girl Indie Blog and had to laugh. This actually touches on one of my pet peeves. See, I have many friends who Homeschool their kiddos and while it is not something we do, I can see a lot of merit to it. My pet peeve though is the folks who do it but do their kids a huge injustice by not socializing them, not keeping up with their studies and basically raising illiterate children. (I’ll now step away from that soapbox:).
This …

Hey, check me out! I am posting the Monday Meme on Monday. Go me, Go me….:) And a happy Monday morning it is too. Hope you all had a great weekend. No sunburns, right? And if you had something you needed to do in June, well, THERE IS STILL TIME…if you really hurry.:)
So anywho, on to the Meme. The idea for this week’s version was ‘borrowed’ from KCee at Barefooted Me. Remember, I’d really love to know if you play along so …

Craziness abounds around here since school got out! Last week was wild enough with camp and this week has ramped it up about 10 times more, thus my unanticipated absence these past few days. So sorry about that! All is well though and will simmer down in a day or two. I will fill you in on all of the details but I’ll give ya a hint…I am actually doing something to help myself feel better overall finally…guess it is about time.:)
I’ll be back asap…stay tuned! …

As Latter-day Saint women, we are practically obsessed with anxiously engaging ourselves in good causes. Maybe it’s subliminal.
Glancing through the hymnal last Sunday I noted that as sisters in Zion, we who are called to serve are all enlisted to go marching, marching forward because the world has need of willing men to all press on scattering sunshine.
We wonder if we have done any good in the world today because we have been given much and want to do what is right, keep the commandments, press forward with the Saints, …

Meme Monday is something new I want to try as I find I am really enjoying Meme’s these days. They make me think about how I really feel and think plus they are a fun way for people to get to know each other. If you want to play along, we would love to have you!! Just copy these questions onto your blog and answer them as you see fit then head over to Melanie’s at Livin With Me and sign the Mr. Linky so we can …

P2 LOVED this and had me playing it over and over and over. In her honor I have shared it with you!

Cats

With the current state of affairs where gas prices are concerned, I have letting cost-saving ideas roll over me like waves, trying to find the best ones to ride out. I have scoured several of my favorite money-saving sites for tips or glimmers of some area I had not thought of.
One thing we have done is install solar screens on our windows, hopefully decreasing our cooling and heating bills. I’ll let you know how it helps.:)
I have also joined a coupon swap group in an effort to …

HowManyOfMe.com

There are0people with my namein the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

This is totally cool!

There are 13,688 people in the U.S. with the first name Alyson.
Statistically the 1580th most popular first name.
More than 99.9 percent of people with the first name Alyson are female
There are 3,133 people in the U.S. with my last name.
Statistically the 10395th most popular last name.
While both my first and last names were found in this database, neither was common enough to make it likely that someone in the U.S. has that name therefore …

Ever wondered exactly why Men and Women look at EVERYTHING so differently? Motivational speaker and pastor Mark Gungor explains it oh so well here. Enjoy!

When I first heard about writing 100 Things about myself, I thought 2 things -
1) I wasn’t sure I could come up with 100 things to say about myself to the public at largeand2) I really wasn’t sure who would care!
But then I remembered that I really write for me and since I am trying to go back to being my ‘old self’, I could be open and have more than enough to say. After seeing so many people who had posted their 100 Things on …

Okay, I know these are all over the web but I just learned where to find them, LOL Cats or I Can Has Cheezburger, and they are cracking me up. See if you can keep from laughing…betcha can’t!

see more crazy cat picssee more crazy cat picssee more crazy cat picssee more crazy cat picssee more crazy cat picssee more crazy cat pics
see more crazy cat picssee more crazy cat picssee more crazy cat picssee more crazy cat picssee more crazy cat picssee more crazy cat pics

…commercial in Europe. Have not laughed this hard in a good while…Enjoy!

18

How about you???

Don’t you just have days where you wonder this?? Now you know.

I got these from my friend Kim – our favorite OB nurse and soon-to-be CRNA and woman with the quickest wit I know. Thanks Kim!
1. Ever wonder why we consider spending $2.00 a piece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backwards:
NAIVE
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
2. Isn’t making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
3. OK…. so if the Jacksonville Jaguars are known as the ‘Jags’ and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are known as the ‘Bucs,’ what does …

Okay, when I find a good deal, I just have to share it and this is way too cute to boot!!
Most all of you know about Gymboree and all of their adorable clothes for the wee ones. Many of you know about Janie and Jack, Gymboree’s upscale offshoot. But do you know about Crazy 8? Well, by all means let me share!
I just recently discovered them and have very quickly fallen in love. See, they are Gymboree Adorable and Alyson Affordable — a vertiable match made in heaven!! Take a …

If you are like me, I am overwhelmed with the enormous blessings I have in my life, most especially my 3 P’s. Each one of them came into our family in a very special and different way for which I will be forever grateful.
P1 was via the Gift of Domestic adoption through our wonderful agency,LDS Family Services. We will be forever grateful to our case worker and most especially to P1′s Birthmom for making those oh so difficult decisions .
P2 joined our family via the talents and efforts of our …

Oh my goodness…. this is DIVINE!!!!

Brown Sugar and Fig.(~**Think of this as Alyson’s Favorite Things**~)
IF you have not yet experienced it, RUN, do not walk, to your nearest Bath and Bodyworks and GET YOU SOME!!!!!

Ever noticed how when husbands are sick or hurt, no one in the history of the universe has ever been this sick or hurt this much? Huhh, yeah I know I am not alone here.;)

Hubby has somehow pulled a muscle and now can barely walk. Now, I am not mocking his pain. I have had sciatica and can truly appreciate that it can affect everything. However, the man does not hurt in silence…. no, he has an extremely low vocal pain threshold and you …

I came across this new blog, The Fat Lady Sings and the blogger seems to have my very warped sense of humor. It is not all clean and will not appeal to everyone but for those who are just warped enough, enjoy!

Deep Thoughts For Those Who Take Life Way Too Seriously:

1. Save the whales. Collect the whole set.

2. A day without sunshine is like night.

3. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

4. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

5. 99 percent of lawyers give …

All I can do is smile.

I am blessed with the most wonderful friends! Thank you to all who have sent and left me such kind and supportive messages. While that was not my design in writing my post on PADS, I truly appreciate it!

WE HAVE TA!!!!!!

More news to follow!

WE HAVE TA!!!!!!

More news to follow!

Remember these? Uh, yeah, I learned a VERY BAD THING recently….we have a Gymboree outlet store in Allen, very near home! Even worse, they do not carry just what’s left over…oh no, they care complete lines!!! Lines I LOVE!!! Like the Ladybug line, the Fiesta line, the Sweet Pea line….. oh, I am in such trouble…….;)

Soooo, what’s new around here, you ask? Well, let’s see…
P2 went to the dentist for the first time and it went well. P1 has loose teeth and is ecstatic about it. P2 has a sinus infection but is on antibiotics now so on the mend.

We have been busy, busy, busy! Most things have been checked off the”To Buy Before China” list. This bear is one of the few things left on my list. It is one of those WombBears… one that you can turn on and it plays …

Mornin! No adoption news so just muddling along, chasing the girls around and trying to actually accomplish something other than hitting refresh on RQ.
As this is all a bit stressful, I thought I would share some humor I was recently sent by another Mom. Thanks Erin!
The Mommy Test (with apologies to all the great Daddys)I was out walking with my 4-year-old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her …

Oh Mr Stork, where a-r-e you?!?!?!?!?! Okay I have been patient (well, some days more than others) but since I know that RIGHT NOT, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD, OUR PAPERWORK AND OUR BABY’S PAPERWORK ARE BEING HANDLED AND MATCHED, well, I am getting impatient!! It has been a full month since Chinese New Year, 31 days into our countdown. Any guesses on how far we will get???You may not have noticed but I have a new poll up on the right regarding when …

Woo hoo!! Another day and another step under our belt! Our I 171h (the new one) arrived safely! For those of you who are not up on all of that governmental alphabet and numerical soup, an I 171h is a “Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition”, aka The Golden Ticket… permission from Uncle Sam to adopt P3 so far. WooHoo!!! You may recall that we already had one but it expires in a day or two and had to apply for and …

Fine. Not good, not great but fine. Ready for some good rumors. Ready to see that stork get his feathery butt in the air. But since I am not quite ready packing and travel wise, I guess it is good I have a few more days, eh?
Sunday was good… VERY fun being able to tell people that yes, we do know that we will get our picture of P3 and info on her in about 2 WEEKS!! WOW, does that feel good! Vast improvement over the great unknown, right?
I …