Cyber Face Lift

I am sooo excited!!! My blog should be getting a new look over the next few days. I also bought my name so you can now find me at http://www.whatmommiesneed.com/

Blog Candy Designs made me an awesome custom blog. Check out her site if you are looking for a face lift too.

Pardon the progress, I am getting pretty. WooHoo!!

Operation Organization: Rubber Stamp Press CLOSED

Operation Organization is back and in full force. We had a little interruption called Mardi
Gras, sorry about that.


This next item is one that I absolutely love for so many reasons. The etsy store Rubber Stamp Press has offered one lucky reader their choice of a personalized stamp.


That's right, no more looking for those pesky return address labels! These stamps are not only adorable, but they are eco-friendly. They also make it easy to mark your child's items.

These stamps are made of high quality red rubber, with the traditional wood handle and a synthetic (looks just like wood) base. The price is reasonable, and these stamps would make a great gift. I love the return address stamp for children, which would be great to use for birthday invitations and thank you cards. If you are shopping early, they have some great Christmas stamps!

Now you can see why I absolutely adore these stamps. Ready to win one for your very own? Follow the rules below.

How to Win:

1) Visit Rubber Stamp Press and tell me which stamp design you would choose.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)

1) Follow my blog.

2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.

3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!

4) Favorite me in Technorati.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on March 4th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Guest Review of New Native Sling

Please check out my review of the New Native Sling over at The Not So Blog.

Mardi Gras Mambo Winners

Renee and I want to thank all of the incredible sponsors for participating in our Mardi Gras Mambo! We enjoyed sharing a little about our hometown and hope you enjoyed learning about the Mardi Gras Krewes!

Let's get down to business!

Day 1: King Cake: Deborah
Day 2: Got Beads Shirt from Jake and Lucy: The Halton Mom
Day 3: Little MissMatched PJ's: Mom2anutball
Day 4: Parasol Diaper Cover Outfit from Sweet Smiles Baby: Think About It
Day 5: $25 gift card to Deb Dutch Designs: Heather
Day 6: Two coffee cozies by Mimi and Reese: Colleen
Day 7: $25 gift card to Funny Fur: Jackie and Ricki
Day 8: Wine Bottle Tray by d'Pholk Designs: Kathy Pease
Day 9: Chicbuds: Amber and JanetFaye

We are still waiting for Day 10 and 11 to close, but we will announce those winners soon! Renee will be emailing everyone to get your shipping address. Please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize.

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Wordless Wednesday: Did I get a Rooster?

Do you see any resemblence in these two pictures?


















For some reason my 6 month old, Blake, has decide 5 am is a good wake-up time. WHY????
This is a picture of him at his first parade last weekend.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Fat Tuesday is Here

Today signifies the end of Carnival Season, and therefore the end to our Mardi Gras Mambo Giveaway. But, before we go we have one last special throw for you all. The winner of this giveaway will walk away with a bag of goodies.

First, we start off with some yummy King Cake soap from the etsy store Soapalaya Soaps. King Cake is a favorite treat during the Mardi Gras season, and we wait for it each year. Despite the fact you can't eat them, this soap smell kinda like the freshly baked, over-iced, insanely sweet indulgence they are intended to replicate. Sweet and rich....just like a king cake! Yum!

So, "Laissez les bons temps rouler" - Let the good times roll!

Each king cake is made to order and weighs approx. 6 oz. each.

Second, no Mardi Gras day would be complete without a costume. So the etsy store Sweetie Pie Tutus had offered to help us decorate your day with a Mardi Gras Mambo Tutu. This tutu is made with over 100 yards of soft gold,green and purple tulle. It is 8' in length and adorned with coordinating mardi gras beads. All tutus are available in all sizes ranging from newborn to 6 years.

Last but not least, April of at Just Typical Life has offered a Mardi Gras Indian Print to show the true spirit of our city. The Black Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans are a unique sub-culture of a highly diverse and complex group of the local population . The tradition of these masking Indians, dates back to the 1700's. As a result of this lack of a solid path in the knowledge of Indian history, many theories abound, but this much is for certain, the Indians have preserved some of their culture and history in the guise of tradition, and that tradition at the time of Mardi Gras, is now an integral part of New Orleans. In the heart of New Orleans since the 1780's and perhaps earlier, this ancient colorful and artistic culture has been practiced. A culture, that be it known, exhibits all of that tradition, with some of the positive heritage, and is quite a unique history. April Allen Photo has this 5x7 matted and signed print of the Mardi Gras Indian.

So now put your arms up, wave them around, and yell "Throw me Something Mister"!! Okay, that won't get you all these wonderful prizes, but wasn't it fun? Now, to win the prizes, just follow the rules below.

Don't forget, we are giving you a chance to DOUBLE your entries by registering here and at The Not So Blog.

How to Win:
1) Visit Soapalaya Soaps, Sweetie Pie Tutus, and April Allen Photo, and tell us your favorite item from each store.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on March 2nd. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Winner: Graphically Inclined

Congrats to:

Angie

Here are your random numbers:

15
Timestamp: 2009-02-23 01:59:36 UTC

Please contact me within 72 hours to claim your prize.

whatmommiesneed@gmail.com

Mardi Gras Mambo: Krewe of Rex CLOSED

Rex is known as the King of Carnival.

Since the founding of the Rex Organization in 1872, its traditions have helped define Mardi Gras. Rex's Proclamation invites his subjects to the grand celebration of Carnival. His royal colors of purple, green, and gold are to this day the colors of Mardi Gras, and the song played in the first Rex parade, "If Ever I Cease to Love," has become Carnival's anthem. Rex and his Queen preside over the Rex Ball, Carnival's glittering conclusion.
Rex is an all male Krewe, and currently has around 600 members.
From atop his float, Rex greets his subjects on Mardi Gras day. At Gallier Hall he will exchange greetings with the city's leaders, and at the official reviewing stand at the Hotel Intercontinental he will pause to toast the Queen of Carnival and the Rex Court.
"Spirits of Spring"The theme for the 2009 Rex Procession is "Spirits of Spring." Ancient cultures looked forward to and celebrated the arrival of Spring after the dark days of winter, and this magical time inspired the creation of beautiful symbols of renewal and rebirth.From Persephone to Poseidon to Eostre, ancient cultures created legends, myths, and festivals celebrating the arrival of Spring after the harsh winter. This theme is also meant to symbolize the renewal and rebirth of the City of New Orleans.

Rex means king and therefore their symbol is the crown. In celebration of Rex, the etsy store Tiff Nifty Thrifty has offered to something to make your little one feel like royalty.

This store offers high quality items for a reasonable price. They have every hair product imaginable for your little one, and they have offered to sponsor this giveaway with a Personalized Princess Hairbow for one lucky reader.

This is a sweet personalized princess hair bow for your little princess! This boutique style bow is handsewn and all cut ends are sealed to prevent fraying. The bow is approximately 4 1/2 inches wide by 3 inches tall and is on a 2 inch wide french barrette hair clip. There is a little bling added to the crown to make your princess sparkle.

These are also great party favors for PRINCESS PARTIES!!

So if are you ready to make your little one feel special, just enter below!!

If you would like to enter the Krewe of Zulu giveaway, head on over to The Not So Blog.

How to Enter:

1) Visit Tiff Nifty Thrifty and tell us which item your little girl would love!

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)

1) Follow my blog.

2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.

3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!

4) Favorite me in Technorati.

5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 26th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Krewe of Orpheus CLOSED

The Krewe of Orpheus derives its name from the mortal Orpheus, son of the god Apollo and the muse Calliope. The story of Orpheus illustrates the power of music in both this world and the next. Legend is that Apollo presented Orpheus with a lyre, which he played with perfection. His music was celebrated and cherished by all who heard it.
This Super Krewe was founded in 1993 by Harry Connick, Jr. and quickly became a "must-see" parade in New Orleans. Traditionally parading on Lundi Gras (the day before Mardi Gras), one of the staples of this parade is Leviathan, the first float ever to use fiber optic lighting.
When the parade ends, Orpheuscapade begins. This black tie event features several celebrity musical performances and ends with the parade entering the Convention Center to shower the crowd with beads, cups and doubloons.

Sticking with the musical theme, today's Mardi Gras Mambo sponsor is ChicBuds, a sweet treat for your ears! These Swarovski adorned retractable earphones were introduced in 2006. The initial line included 5 standard "flavors" but has since expanded to various casing colors, an iPod-Inspired Designer Series and Limited Edition Designs (including Breast Cancer, AIDS, ChicBlvd Fitness in partnership with American Heart Association).

ChicBuds are compatible with the iPod, iPhone, MP3 players, CD players and just about any listening device! The great thing about these earphones is that you can adjust the cord to 5 different lengths in order to accommodate any activity. No more tangled cords!

Gotta have it? ChicBuds generously offered us not one, but TWO pairs of ChicBuds! We will select one winner here and one winner from The Not So Blog, so make sure you enter in BOTH places!

How to Enter:
1) Visit ChicBuds and tell us which item you have to catch!

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 22th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Krewe of Bacchus CLOSED

The Krewe of Bacchus parade was founded in 1968 by some New Orleans business leaders whose wished to revitalize Carnival season.

The original Krewe of Bacchus was thought of by Owen Brennan, Sr.. In the late 1940’s, he realized that a a lot of his tourist crowd was unhappy with Mardi Gras. At that time, Carnival balls at Mardi Gras were predominately closed to anyone outside of New Orleans’ society circles. So, In 1949, he decided to spend an enormous amount of money, and revolutionize the Mardi Gras. Brennan did this by creating the brand new Krewe Bacchus, which was open to tourists. Brennan was able to stage two Bacchus Carnival balls, one in 1949 and the other in 1950 before he passed in 1955. Regrettably, he did not live to see Bacchus form into what it would become.

In 1968, Carnival in New Orleans had been losing its luster slowly but surely. People were talking around town about what should be done to give a spark to the celebration.

Early in 1968, Owen Brennan, Jr., held a meeting to address this problem. What emerged was a rebirth of the vision his father conceived almost 20 years earlier: The Krewe of Bacchus.

It was decided that the Krewe of Bacchus would break with Carnival tradition by staging a Sunday night parade that would be the highlight of the Carnival season. Its floats would be bigger and more spectacular than anything previously seen in Carnival. Furthermore, Bacchus decided to have a national celebrity king lead its parade, breaking ranks with 113 years of Carnival tradition.

On Sunday, February 16, 1969, the Krewe of Bacchus staged its first Mardi Gras parade. The theme was "The Best Things In Life", and the procession was led by celebrity king Danny Kaye. The 250 member, 15 float entourage took to the streets of New Orleans showering thousands of spectators with over a million strings of beads and 300,000 doubloons. The new parade was a smashing success.

The Krewe of Bacchus had left a lasting mark on the City of New Orleans and had proven to be the boost that the Carnival season so desperately needed. Now, with more than 1,350 members and 33 animated super-floats, the Krewe of Bacchus is revered as one of the most spectacular Krewes in Carnival history.

This year's theme is "Creatures of the Imagination" and King Bacchus is Val Kilmer.

Bacchus, in Greek mythology, was the god of wine and vegetation. He showed mortals how to cultivate grapevines and make wine. So to show our love of wine and Bacchus, the folks over at d'Pholk designs has offered to sponsor this giveaway.

They are generously offering one lucky reader a Wine Bottle Serving Tray.

Their eco friendly serving trays are made from recycled wine bottles. They carefully clean each bottle and remove the label before placing them into a kiln. Once flattened, each tray is individually decorated and comes with its own cheese knife which is tied on with raffia. Perfect for use in your home or as a gift.

This tray is made using a green glass wine bottle and is decorated with a lovely round focal bead. It comes with a white cork cheese spreader. They follow strict fusing and slumping techniques to give you an original, one of a kind functional and decorative art.

If you would love to have one of these to use at your next party, just enter below.

Don't forget, you can DOUBLE your chances by visiting The Not So Blog.

How to Enter:

1. Head on over to d'Pholk Designs and tell me one other item you would love to have!

Additional Entries (please leave each entry separate):
1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 21st. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Krewe of Barkus CLOSED

Woof Woof!!

The Mystic Krewe of Barkus was envisioned and created in November 1992. This is an all dog parade that walks through the French Quater each year. The Queen is selected by secret ballot and announced only weeks before the parade, and is always a rescued/adopted female dog. The King ascends through the ranks, usually after being a Duke or Grand Marshall.

Every year the Krewe of Barkus donates the proceeds of the parade registration fees, merchandise sales, and ball profits to worthy animal welfare groups.

This year's theme is BatMutt:The Bark Night

To show our love of dogs and honor their parade, the great folks over at FunnyFur.com have offered to be our sponsors. They are giving TWO lucky winners a gift card valued at $25.00.

Funny Fur is the one stop pet shop online. They have everything you need from designer dog clothes, pet carriers, and collars, to furniture and spa products. Funny Fur even has a gift idea section, just in case you get invited to a dog shower. And, if you are a cat owner, don't feel left out, they even have a feline section.

They definitely have what it takes to make your pet feel like royalty. Now that you are ready to make your dog's day, just enter below.

We are going to select one winner from here and one from The Not So Blog, so be sure to register at both.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Funny Fur and tell us which item your dog would want most.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Subscribe to my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.
6) If your dog was rescued from the pound, tell us his/her name.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 20th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Krewe du Monde CLOSED

Today's featured Mardi Gras parade is Krewe du Monde which parades in LaPlace, LA (not too far from New Orleans). One of the most famous New Orleans "landmarks" is Cafe du Monde. You have not lived until you have sat outdoors eating beignets and sipping cafe au lait!

What is the deal with the leaf in this picture? LOL!

We have got a great accessory for your morning coffee to giveaway! Mimi and Reese has generously offered one lucky reader TWO coffee cozies! Their new Coffee Bling is the new accessory for those gals who cannot leave the house without being perfectly matchy, matchy.

The Cozies are 3" high and fit nicely around the center of most commercial coffee cups. The insulation keeps your hands nice and safe. It is made with high quality fabric, rick rack, large white button, and a lovely felt flower.

If you would like some flair for your morning beverage, just follow the easy rules below.

Don't forget, you can DOUBLE your chances by visiting The Not So Blog.

How to Enter:
1. Head on over to Mimi and Reese and tell me one other item you would love to have!

Additional Entries (please leave each entry separate):

1) Follow my blog.

2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.

3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!

4) Favorite me in Technorati.

5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 20th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Krewe of Muses CLOSED

In Greek Mythology the nine Muses were the daughters of Zeus. They are the Greek goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences. But in New Orleans, they are the all female Krewe that has over 1100 members and was formed in 2000. Their vision is to tap into and recognize the local artistic and cultural resources of the community.


Muses defining throw is shoes that have been decorated by their Krewe members. If you are really lucky, or know someone, you may walk away with one of these:

In honoring the Krewe of Muses and their love of shoes, we have found something special. The etsy shop of Deb Dutch, has offered one lucky winner a gift card for $25.00 to her store. She has the most adorable shoes that I have ever seen.

She hand paints all of her shoes and will even do monogramming. Her shoes are extremely well detailed and the color combinations are just awesome. She has designs for all ages, from mary janes to hightops.

Here are some samples of Deb Dutch's work:

Isn't she impressive!!

If you would love to win this gift card, just enter below.

Remember we are generously offering you an opportunity to DOUBLE your chances by registering here and at The Not So Blog.

How to Enter:

1) Visit Deb Dutch's etsy store and tell us which shoe design is your favorite.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)

1) Subscribe to my blog.

2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.

3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!

4) Favorite me in Technorati.

5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 19th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Krewe of Thor CLOSED

The Krewe of Thor was formed in 1974 and consisted of 500 riders. It is the first Krewe in Jefferson Parish to consist of both male and female members. This Krewe is named for the Norse god of thunder and rain (but they always hope that it doesn't rain on their parade!).

Today's sponsor of the Mardi Gras Mambo is Sweet Smiles Baby! This Etsy shop designs and creates Sweet Bottoms which are adorable diaper covers paired with embroidered white tanks or long sleeved bodysuits.
Sweet Smiles Baby has generously donated this Kimono Sweet Bottoms Diaper Cover Outfit in Parasol! The irresistible large parasol print bow on these Kimono Sweet Bottoms is inspired by the traditional obi and butterfly bow of the Japanese Kimono. What a GREAT baby shower gift!

If you would love to have this outfit for your little one, just follow the rules below.

Remember we are generously offering you an opportunity to DOUBLE your chances by registering here and at The Not So Blog.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Sweet Smiles Baby and tell us which item you would love to have.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Subscribe to my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 18th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Krewe of Diana CLOSED

The Krewe of Diana was the first women's organization to parade at night in Jefferson Parish.

Their namesake, Diana, is the goddess of the moon in Roman mythology. This Krewe was founded in 1949 and has approximately 200 members.

To celebrate the Krewe of Diana and honor the moon, we have some colorful pjs for your little one, sponsored by Little Miss Matched!

These zany pjs come in three color combinations: white, pink, and black. They are super soft and made from 100% cotton.

The folks over at Little Miss Matched have just about everything you could dream of in awesome color combinations. They have solved the problem of the missing sock with their three pack of coordinating colored socks. I am so in love with their messenger bag , which has a reversible front panel!! From furniture to flip flops, they have it all. They even sell pjs for mom and socks for dad!

So if you are ready to get a little color kooky, head on over and check out what they have for you and your family at Little Miss Matched.

Now that you see how cute it all is and want some, just enter below to win a pair of zany pjs for your little one.

Remember we are generously offering you an opportunity to DOUBLE your chances by registering here as well as at The Not So Blog.

How to enter:
1) Visit Little Miss Matched and tell us which item you would love to have.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)

1) Subscribe to my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 18th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Wordless Wednesday: Swinging Monkeys

The weather got so nice this past weekend that my boys finally got to use their Christmas present!!

Review: Itza Bitza

Whenever the opportunity arises to review computer games, I get so excited. This is mostly because my 4 year old, Wyatt, LOVES to play them. So when Itza Bitza came along we were ready to go.




But, Itza Bitza was different than anything else we had played before.


Wyatt got to start out by choosing which character, Sketchy, he wanted to be and then we started level one. In this game, the Sketchy tells you what he needs and you must draw this item to continue. The best part is that if you scroll over the words, the ones which tell you what Sketchy wants, the game sounds them out for you. What an awesome way to teach reading skills!!


After you draw what the Sketchy needs, you get stars. But you must do what the stars tell you to fully earn them. For example, if you draw the sun, flowers will grow, and you must pick 5 of a certain color to earn your star. If you earn enough stars, the next level will open. This game allows children to explore the world of cause and effect.


My son could play with minimal help and fully enjoyed the game. He has asks to play again quite often. His favorite part so far was feeding the frog flies to make him burp.

Interested in trying ItzaBitza out with your little ones? You can purchase it online for only $19.99 at ItzaBitza . The best part is you can download it immediately, so there is no waiting for it to ship!!

I hope your children will enjoy this game as much as mine has.

Winner: Brella Baby Book

Congrats to :

Sandy

Here are your random numbers:

54
Timestamp: 2009-02-10 03:37:45 UTC

Please contact me within 72 hrs to claim your prize.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Little Rascals CLOSED

The first parade to roll in Metairie is usually the Krewe of Little Rascals. Founded in 1983, this childrens Krewe patterns itself after the adult Carnival clubs. Parading down a 4 mile route, this year's theme was "Sights and Sounds of America."

My little one loves dressing up for Mardi Gras. This is him at his school parade last year.

To Infinity and Beyond!!

Today's sponsor is Jake and Lucy, an adorable Etsy shop that carries fun and fantastic baby clothing, bedding and accessories. They have generously donated this "Got Beads?" shirt for your Little Rascal!

The 100% cotton T-shirt features a bold applique reading, "got beads?" The emboidered sleeve reads "laissez les bon temps rouler" which means "Let the good times roll!" The T-shirt is available in the following sizes: 2T, 3T, 4T or as a onesie in 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 12 months and 18 months.
Want to get your kids in the Mardi Gras spirit? Win this shirt!

Remember we are generously offering you an opportunity to DOUBLE your chances by registering here as well as at The Not So Blog.

How to enter:
1. Visit Jake and Lucy and tell me one other item you would love to own!

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Grab our giveaway graphic (on my left sidebar) and place it on your blog.
2) Follow my blog.
3) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
4) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
5) Favorite me in Technorati.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 17th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Money Savvy Monday: Grocery Store Traps

Last week I shared with you all why I do my grocery shopping alone whenever possible. This week I found this great article on yahoo finance titled "Seven cash traps to avoid at the grocery store".

Here is what they had to say:

1. Bagged salad. These bags can be a time-saver, but they can cost three times as much as an ordinary head of lettuce. And "salad kits" -- including some greens, a small bag of dressing, and a small bag of croutons -- are even more expensive.

2. Energy or protein bars. They're often stacked at the checkout counter for impulse buyers who grab them for a quick health fix. But they are often high in sugar and fat and about as wholesome as a candy bar. They're also two to three times more expensive.

3. Spice mixes. Things like grill seasoning and rib rubs might seem like a good buy because they contain spices that you would have to buy individually. But once again, it pays to read labels. Usually the first ingredient you see is salt, followed by a few herbs and spices. Look in your own pantry; you'll be surprised to discover just how many herbs you already have on hand.

4. Bottled water. This is a bad investment for many reasons. It's expensive compared to what's coming out of the tap, its cost to the environment is high, and it's often no better for your health than what's running down your drain.

5. Boxed rice entree or side-dish mixes. These consist basically of rice, salt, and spices, yet they're priced way beyond the ingredients sold individually. Yes, there are a few flavorings included, but again, you probably have them in your pantry. Buy a bag of brown rice, measure out what you need, add your own herbs and other seasonings, and voila! You've just saved some money, and prepared something that probably tastes better than what you were going to buy.

6. Pre-formed meat patties. These are handy, but they're more expensive than buying the ground meat in bulk and making patties yourself. You can even freeze them if you must.

7. Tomato-based pasta sauces. These may run $2 to $6 a jar, while the equivalent amount of canned tomatoes is often under $1. Try making your own sauces from canned tomatoes or fresh tomatoes. Put the tomatoes into a skillet, stir in some wine or wine vinegar, your favorite herbs, and whatever chopped vegetables you like in your sauce -- garlic, peppers, onions, mushrooms, even carrots -- and let simmer for an hour. Easy!

I hope this helps you save a few extra bucks!!

Let me know your money saving grocery tips.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery

On January 6th, King's Day, Carnival Season officially starts and every New Orleanian knows what that means.......

It's King Cake Time!!!!

So, it is only fitting that we start our "Mardi Gras Mambo" giveaway series off with a King Cake Package from Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery!

Bridgette from The Not So Blog and I just love the sweet smell of King Cake! We knew that we must share this totally yummy tradition (and calories!) with our readers.

As a child, my favorite part of king cake season was always Friday afternoons, because this was when we would always get some KING CAKE. They made sure to do this on Friday afternoon so that they would not deal with all the children on their sugar highs. LOL

King's Day is celebrated as the date the gift-bearing Magi visited the baby Jesus. The King Cake is baked in honor of the three kings and the baby (plastic, porcelain or gold) placed inside the cake symbolizes the baby Jesus. Originally, these oval cakes were a simple ring of dough with a small amount of decoration. Today's King Cakes are much more festive! After the rich Danish dough is braided and baked, the "baby" is inserted. The top of the ring or oval cake is then covered with delicious sugar toppings in the traditional Mardi Gras colors: purple, green and gold.

In New Orleans, King Cake parties are held throughout the Carnival Season. The person who receives the slice of cake with the baby is asked to continue the festivities by hosting the next King Cake party. So always be careful which piece you take!!

The nice folks over at Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery have graciously offered one lucky reader

a medium traditional king cake package (including baby) baked to perfection! This package includes a unique Randazzo's Mardi Gras theme bag, stuffed with beads, doubloons,the history of Mardi Gras and the king cake, a 2009 commemorative 11x 16 color poster, and a beautiful feather mask.

Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery continues a long family tradition of handmade and braided king cakes and say with heartfelt sincerity that everything at Randazzo's is "made with love from beginning to end."

Randazzo's was even featured on the Food Network's popular program Unwrapped!

I see you drooling! You must want to win a King Cake! Lucky for you, we have one to give away!

Remember we are generously offering you an opportunity to DOUBLE your chances by registering here as well as at The Not So Blog.

How to enter:

1) Visit Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery and tell us which filling you would love to try.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)

1) Subscribe to my blog.

2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.

3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!

4) Favorite me in Technorati.

5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 16th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Operation Organization 2009: Graphically Inclined

Amy Butler Inspired Recipe Cards

If you are anything like me, you print out recipes off the Internet. I will make the recipe, and if we like it, for some reason it goes into the black hole of recipes in the cabinet with my cook books. It takes me forever to find it when I want to cook it again.

In comes Graphically Inclined to save the day. They have the cutest recipe cards, which will be easier to store and keep track of, and the best part is, you will not be embarrassed to share your recipes with friends anymore!!!

These fun polka dot recipe cards with the trendy orange and pink color combination are perfect for any of your girliest girlfriends or to make organizing your recipes fun.

Each set includes 10 cards.

The cards are 4" x 6" and printed on Classic Crest, Solar White 80 lb. cardstock.

Want a set to use for your favorite recipes? Just follow the directions below.

How to enter:
1. Visit Graphically Inclined and tell me one other item you must have!

Additional entries (please leave each entry in a separate comment):
1. Subscribe to my blog.
2. Blog about my giveaway and leave the link here.
3. Follow me on Twitter at whatmommiesneed.
4. Favor me on technorati.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on February 13th. Prizes must be claimed in 72 hours on they will be forfeited. Contest open to U.S. residents only.
You must leave valid email to be eligible!!

Mardi Gras Mambo is Coming Soon!!!

Mardi Gras is a special time here in New Orleans, and here at what mommies need along with the not so blog, we have lined up an awesome giveaway just for our readers.

We love the Mardi Gras season and want to share some of the excitement with everyone!!

The earliest reference to Mardi Gras "Carnival" appears in a 1781 and by the late 1830s, New Orleans held street processions of maskers with carriages and horseback to celebrate Mardi Gras. The newspapers even began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance.

1872 was the year that a group of businessmen invented a King of Carnival -- Rex -- to parade in the first daytime parade. They introduced the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold; the Mardi Gras song, and the Mardi Gras flag. Rex still rolls even today!!

In 1873, the first floats were constructed entirely in New Orleans instead of France. And in 1875, Governor Warmoth of Louisiana signs the "Mardi Gras Act" making it a legal holiday in Louisiana, which is still is.

So grab our Mardi Gras Mambo button, which was designed by Cat over at 3 kids and us, and tune in starting Monday Feb. 9th to see what we have in store. Each day will represent a different Krewe and will include a brief description about them and a related giveaway to coincide.



Since this giveaway will be dual hosted, you will be able to register here and at the not so blog, which will double your chances!!! That is almost as exciting as catching a pair of long beads.

For a sneak peek of what is in store, check out our sponsors!

Wordless Wednesday: Take Me Away to.....

It has been a super stressful week. I want to go here, now!!!!

Money Savvy Monday: Brave the Grocery Store ALONE

This means exactly what it says. I spend at least 25% more at the store if my husband and/or kids accompany me.

For some reason they feel the need to throw extra things into the basket. I'm sorry, but one type of fruit snacks is plenty.LOL

Leave the kids home with hubby and stay on budget for your groceries.

Bloggers Give

For those of you who have not heard yet about Bloggers Give, I am here to fill you in!

The kind folks over at momdot had this wonderful vision to share these great products we find with others.

So, they did some serious work!! They found a worthy cause to support in Courageous Kids and set about finding a way to help with their mission.

The idea is simple. When you run a giveaway ask the sponser to also support Bloggers Give. And while the idea was simple, putting it all together took tons of time and work.

Bloggers Give was launched earlier this year and has gotten off to a running start. Check them out and support them in any way you can.

In these hard economic times, it is nice to know that people still care!

Fun With Mom Blogs

I am still new to mom blogging, but am enjoying it so much. I never realized how much of a stress relief it would be to share my problems, ideas, and life with others.

I hope you are enjoying my blog as much as I am.

Take the time to visit one of my favorite mom blogs :

momdot

This blog offers great content and giveaways! She has an awesome team!!