Wine and Cheese, please! #WineDown Giveaway Hop - ends 1/21

Hey McKinney Mommas favorite readers!  Welcome to the Wine Down Giveaway Hop hosted by The Review Wire and McKinney Mommas! This event will run from Jan 7 through Jan 21, that gives you enough time to settle back, pour a glass of wine and hop on down the list and enter all the Giveaways! 

Each blogger is giving away prizes valued $25 or more. The Review Wire is hosting the GRAND PRIZE, a Wine Prize Pack valued at $81, which includes Wine Charms, Bottle Covers and Must.Have.Wine Book!

McKinney Mommas has teamed up for the second time with Formaticum, to offer you an awesome Cheese Paper Gift Set for you or your favorite foodie. 

Including: 

• One pack of Cheese Paper containing fifteen 11" x 14" sheets and thirty labels. 
• One 'Eat More Cheese' tote bag. 
• One Cheese Log with space for 55 cheeses.

Cheese Paper Gift Set

Formaticum is known for it's gourmet cheese papers, which help extend the life of your favorite cheeses (gourmet or not) by allowing the cheese to breathe, thereby preventing mold and spoiling. 

I can tell you that since hosting a giveaway for their cheese papers early last year, I have not wrapped a single block of cheese in anything BUT their papers since!

I love cheese so much, that I often have multiple blocks....let's say 4-5 different types minimum in my fridge at any given time (so sue me). I used to not be able to finish each cheese, before they started having a little green mold on the surface that I'd have to cut off, or some slime beginning to form. 

Since using Formaticum's cheese papers, I can't remember the last time I saw mold (the bad kind) on my cheese. 

Enter to Win Formaticum's Cheese Paper Gift Set by completing the Rafflecopter Form, and don't forget to scroll all the way down to find the links to the other blogs participating in the "Wine Down Giveaway Hop"

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Remembering Sandy Hook Victim: Olivia Engel, 6 #26acts

Whenever I see posts about people doing random acts of kindness, I'm touched, inspired to do more myself.....and then often forget about it the next day.

I want this time to be different.

Photo by: Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

After the tragedy at Sandy Hook/Newtown, CT, Ann Curry of NBC News proposed #26acts (of kindness), to honor the lives lost on December 14, 2012.

What if everyone reading this post, committed to do 26 acts of kindness this year?

In the midst of such negativity in the world right now, that sounds like a whole lot of good to me! 

Are you in?

In conjunction with #26actsofkindness, a handful of the bloggers at #GlobalTeamof200 and Mom Bloggers for Social Good, decided to get together and each create a blog post about each of the 26 victims of Sandy Hook, to honor their lives and memory. 

I chose to honor, Olivia Engel. 

Maybe it's because her name is so similar to my youngest daughter's name.  Or maybe it's because of her beaming smile seen below.

Photo courtesy of: thedailybeast.com

Her favorite color was purple, just like the scarf she was wearing in this family photo session.  She loved to laugh the loudest at the jokes she'd tell herself, to parents Brian, Shannon and 3yr old brother, Brayden.  A lover of the water, she was a great swimmer and "first mate" on her daddy and grandpa's boats.  

Olivia liked to play with American Girl dolls, something my daughter has not yet discovered. I hope that if and when my little girl asks for her first American Girl doll, I will be reminded of Olivia's joyful life and be inspired to do good for someone that day - when it comes.

She was known to carry around a stuffed lamb (also my daughter's favorite security blankie), and excelled in math and reading. Never a moment to be still, Olivia participated in dance class, church group, tennis and soccer as well as Daisy Girl Scouts. She was a girl on the move, bringing joy and laughter to all who surrounded her.

This precious angel was practicing to be an angel in a Christmas Eve pageant at her church, before her life was cut short just days before the production. I'm sure her practice on earth, prepared her for a starring role in heaven. 

Photo courtsey of: FriendsOfTheEngelFamilyFund

There is nothing I can say to make things better, nothing I can do to begin to ease the overwhelming grief that her parents and brother must be feeling. 

I am brought to my own tears by just writing about Olivia's story today, but it's a grain of sand compared to the immense beach of feelings her family and friends will have to tread through over the next weeks, months, and for the rest of their lives.

The only thing I can do is attempt to give kindness in unexpected places when and where I can. Maybe I can touch a life that will somehow prevent a tragedy like this from taking place again. 

I pledge this year to participate in #26actsofkindness.

Starting this week.

#1. McKinney Mommas' first of #26acts was to donate a bunch of clothes, shoes, and household items to Captain Hope's Kids, a program that benefits homeless children in North Texas. 

Photo courtesy of: captainhopeskids

I included my toddler, asking if she wanted to "keep" or give "away" some of her belongings to children who didn't have enough clothes. By the end of the day, she was saying "away, away" to even some of her favorite toys and would help put them on the porch for pick-up. 

I know it's not a lot, but it's something that might help give a child warmth this winter and give them a taste of hope. 

It's easy to give back in honor of the lives lost at Sandy Hook. 

You can start by:

• Donating blood through the Red Cross
• Donate your hair to Locks of Love (http://www.locksoflove.org/)
• Support Project Eagle (started by the principal at Sandy Hook who lost her life) 
• Leaving a note for your postman/woman telling them they are valued
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen in your town (http://www.dosomething.org)
• Finding a local program that you can volunteer at (http://www.volunteermatch.org/)
• Leave a note with some cash or a gift card at the grocery store or on someone's car.
• Send a note of support or donate to Friends of the Engel Family Fund

The possibilities are endless, and your chance to do good are also!

I encourage you today, go..................do good.

Please, come back and tell me all about it! 

 

You Deserve Something Nice! How Does $103 at Amazon.com Sound?

Did the hubby forget to buy you that pair of earrings you wanted for Christmas?

Do they sell them on Amazon.com?

It's time you spent some money on YOURSELF for once! McKinney Mommas gives you the permission :-)

We're teaming up with Frugal Follies to offer you the chance to win $103 to Amazon.com!

Welcome to the Frugal Follies 3rd Anniversary Giveaway

Frugal Follies, home of easy and cheap recipes, money-saving tips, online coupons, freebies, and hot deals, is celebrating its 3rd anniversary this month. 

To celebrate, Frugal Follies is sponsoring a $103 Amazon.com gift certificate for one lucky winner! These gift codes were earned on Swagbucks.com, where you can earn points by searching online, watching videos, answering surveys, playing online games, and much more! The points can then be redeemed for free prizes like $5 Amazon gift codes. Learn more about Swagbucks here. 

 A big thank you to all of my blogging friends who are helping celebrate this anniversary!  Please "like" all of them - fans of their pages are entitled to additional entries in the giveaway.

And please bookmark this site and return every day to earn additional entries into the giveaway! 

To enter the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter below! 

• Giveaway is open entrants 18 and older worldwide.  
• Giveaway ends on Thursday, January 31, 2013, at 11:59 pm EST. 
• If you are the winner, Frugal Follies will contact you via the Rafflecopter email you have provided.  If you do not respond within 48 hours, you will be ruled ineligible to win the prize, and another winner will be chosen.  

Good luck! 

Wine and Cheese Giveaway? Plus FREE Blogger Opp, Yes Please!

Now, this McKinney Momma is totally excited for this one.

Countdown....T-minus...................3 more days until the Wine Down Giveaway Hop begins!

 

The Review Wire will be hosting a “Wine Down Giveaway Hop“, which will run from January 7-21, 2013. 

This giveaway is for all those wine lovers out there! "Ahem"....{raises hand}!!

All giveaways must be at least $25 and can be related to wine, chocolates, cheese or related books and gift baskets. 

For more details or to sign up visit The Review Wire.

* Not a blogger? Don't fret, just come back on January 7th and YOU can Enter to Win all the fabulous wine and cheese related prizes!  

$103 Amazon Gift Card? Count me in!

McKinney Mommas' Readers feel like winning $103 bucks to Amazon.com?

If so, check back on Monday to enter to WIN!

Bloggers...feel like getting some great traffic to your blog?

If so, sign up below!

Frugal Follies 3rd Anniversary Giveaway

Frugal Follies, home of easy and cheap recipes and money-saving tips, is celebrating its third anniversary in January.  We will be celebrating by giving away a $103 Amazon.com gift certificate! The giveaway will start on 1/7/2013 and will end on 1/31/2013.  The giveaway will be open to entrants 18 and older worldwide. Free blog event - bloggers, please click here to take part in this event!

SELF! A Toddler's Struggle With Independence

My toddler will be 2 years old in 1 month and has already hit the "SELF" phase, meaning she wants to do EVERYTHING by herself!

I had a hard time figuring out how much to step in and help and how much to just let her struggle to do these new tasks on her own. 

Earlier this week, she wanted to put on her shirt without any help, but then struggled and got very frustrated when she got stuck.

 

The first time I stepped in, despite her displeasure and tried to help. To my surprise, it just seemed to make the situation worse. 

The more I tried to help, the more she'd yell "SELF" and tear away from my "helping hands" eventually giving up. 

I noticed throughout the week, that if I gently coached her with my words, but still held back and didn't step in to physically assist - even though she struggled and got frustrated, she fared much better. 

I started waiting for her to actually say, "help" and then assist as minimally as possible. Maybe just point to where the arm hole in the T-shirt was, instead of put her arm there myself. Or just widen the shoe opening and pull out the tongue, instead of wiggle her heal in myself.

Yes, this whole process shaved down any extra time we had in the day, but by the end of the week, I noticed that she actually learned a few new skills much faster than when I was stepping in to help anytime she struggled. 

Helping a little person learn new skills is challenging, time consuming, and heart wrenching at times, but seriously rewarding when you see your little peanut finally put on their socks and shoes ALL BY THEMSELVES after struggling with it for days!

I'm finding, that sometimes, our job as a parent isn't to make everything all better instantly......rather, sometimes it calls for us to take a back seat, offer a supportive environment, and remember failed attempts and frustration are just stepping stones to success in our child's process of learning. 

DO you have any stories to share about your child's quest for independence? 

FREE Blogger Opportunity - Disney Princess $99 Giveaway!

Happy New Year to all my readers!!!

Check out this FREE blogger opportunity.

And, if you're not a blogger....just stay tuned to enter the giveaway yourself on January 8th, 2013

Blogger Opportunity

This giveaway will be from 

1/08/2013  to  2/7/2013

Come and be part of this awesome giveaway!

Disney Princess 20 inch Singing & Storytelling Doll - Belle Value $99.99

Options to join

**FREE FACEBOOK OR TWITTER with announcement (If no announcement pay $5.00)

*Additional links $1.00 each (optional)

* Host a page $5 fee (Optional)

*Be one of the Host $10.00 (Optional) -Host does not pay any other fee As I host you will get: -Will be part of the giveaway without the $2.00 charge -Name with link of your blog as a host on the post -Mandatory entry links on the rafflecopter (up tp 4 links) -Host a page

*The blog that refers more bloggers will get FREE host :) Here is the promotional post!

* Agree to post the giveaway html on the date the event begins and promote at least 3x a week

Please send any Payments:

Paypal melisurveys1978@gmail.com

Any payment received will go to pay for prize that I already purchased , shipping charges and futures giveaways with no sponsors.

Sign Up HERE