#TheHobbit The Battle of The Five Armies Blu-ray #Giveaway!

Mica's a Hobbit fan. Guess what? If you are a Hobbit fan, you'll be happy to know that the Blu-ray release of The Hobbit The Battle of The Five Armies is now here!

About:

From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world.

Special Features on the Blu-Ray combo pack include: 

 
• New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth Part 3
• Recruiting the Five Armies
• Completing Middle-earth: A Six-Part Saga
• Completing Middle-earth: A Seventeen-Year Journey
• The Last Goodbye: Behind the Scenes
• Music Video
• Trailers

Are you Brave like Bilbo? 

Take the quiz below to find out if you have the bravery it takes to journey through Middle Earth!

Mouse over the Interactive Map to learn fun facts about Middle-Earth.

Watch the official trailer & click the box art to bring the film home today!

Win it! 

One of my readers is going to get the chance to win The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

Each household is only eligible to win One (1) Digital Download Coupon for The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. You will have 48 hours to claim your prize. This giveaway is open to US and Canada. The prize will be sent via FedEx or USPS. No P.O. Boxes please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I was not compensated for this giveaway. 

Teacher Talk

When Mica was running around outside without his shirt on Dad noticed something. Mica had an odd bruise on his arm. Travis asked him, "What is that mark from Mica?" Mica was all hesitant to tell him. 

Remember how I told you that my kids are horrible liers? They are horrible about hiding things to.

Mica said, "A bunch of people were playing hug tag. I went to tag a girl named Mallory, and she bit me."

Hug Tag is odd. A third grader that bites is even odder. 

It was Sunday when Dad noticed his bruise. On Friday mid day is when it happened. I thought about letting it go. Seriously this is the only problem I've had all year. The more I thought about it, and after talking to a few people I decided it was best to let someone at their school know what had happened. I knew they probably couldn't do anything since Mica didn't turn it in, nor did anyone see what had happened that we know of. It's however best to report it just so teachers can be on the look out. 

I emailed his teacher. I told her about what happened, and how Mica felt humiliated about the situation. I also mentioned that I had a talk with him that hug tag is not appropriate for him to play. Friends are not family. Adults know when an appropriate time is to hug someone, and when it's not appropriate. Kids don't think of such things. 

His teacher fully understood, and did talk to the other teacher that has the biter in her class. I don't think anything is going to be done to this child. I didn't really expect her to get in trouble. I just feel better about reporting it. If another kid gets bit; they'll know it wasn't the first time. The teachers had already talked about how they need to establish rules for tag. She apparently knew that was already an issue.

After that I sent another email about a book. It's getting closeish to the end of the year. Every year I have the kid's teachers sign this book:

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The teacher signs anywhere in it, and a message of some sort. I'll give it to the boys when they A) Leave elementary school. or B) Graduate high school. 

I can't take full ownership of the idea. I found it on Pinterest. Dad thought the idea was cheesy, but after he read the messages I think he likes the idea. I am glad I decided to do it. Mica's Kindergarten teacher is retiring this year. It will be good to look back on. I don't know about you, but I remember all my elementary teacher's names because they had me all year long. In upper grades you have gobs of teachers. Not as many stand out when you get older.
 
Mica's teacher did send a note home. She wants us to write our kid a encouraging note. Each child gets to read their note before they take their important standardized test. That's a good idea to.

Crazy Pancake Bunnies

I decided to try and make Crazy Pancake Bunnies for breakfast. You can use your imagination with the ingredients.

The boys helped sort of. ;) 


I Used:

• 1 Large Pancake for the Face
• 2 Baby Pancakes for the Cheeks
• 1/2 a Strawberry for the Nose
• 1/4 Banana for Each Ear
• Dark Chocolate Chips for the Eyes
• Cut Up Dried Apricots for the Whiskers
• Cut Up Mini Marshmallows for the Teeth

• Steamed Collard Greens for the Background
• 1 Hard Boiled Egg for the Background

Usually Dad says, "What the..." when I make crazy food things. This morning he said, "This is cute." 

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

Things are a little different this week. I learned something on Friday that I didn't know. I think everyone knows who Shel Silverstein was. I say "was" because he sadly passed away in 1999.

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If you don't know who he is here's a clue - he wrote and illustrated all the books below and more: 

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Every time I read The Giving Tree I want to cry. His other books make me laugh.

What I didn't know about Shel Silverstein was that he wrote A Boy Named Sue that Johnny Cash sang.

Here's Shel's version:

He also wrote The Unicorn that The Irish Rovers sang.

Here's Shel's version: 

Anyhow I really think Shel Silverstein deserved way more credit for these songs. He's wrote others, but these are more well known.

Random Tid Bits

1. Isaak was caught in a lie. I've mentioned that my kids are horrible  liars. He was playing with his head lamp in bed, long after he was supposed to be in bed. Dad asked him, "What are you doing? What do you have in your hands?" Isaak said, "Nothing." Hello a light was shining in his room. I own his headlamp now - for awhile anyhow. 


2. We got recall letter from Honda about our Pilot. Both airbags are dangerous. I acted on it right away. It's been over a month now, and they still do not have the parts in. On the letter it says, "Please act now." If I get in an accident I hope the airbags don't kill me. 


3. Remember when we got Influenza back on the 1st of January? We submitted the claim to the insurance company after we got our cards a month late. They denied our claim because we didn't have the dosage on the claim. The claim form never asked for the dosage. a
   
   We got a hand signed note from the doctor, filled out the claim again, and got the dosage written on the form. It came back again unclaimed. Dad talked to the insurance company, and I guess the $600 went towards our deductible.
   
   Randomly out of the blue we got 2 checks in the mail for Mica and Isaak. Each were $40 checks from Walgreens. I didn't ask questions. I had to cash them with DOM written on the back, which means Dependent of Minor.


4. Mica's been leaving a trail of books around the house. We get fed up with it. At times when we ask him to put them away, and he doesn't we hide his books. This week that scenario happened. Dad hid his book that he was reading, along with his fake glasses. I could tell the next morning Mica was on a mission to find his book, but he never asked me if I had seen his book.


5. I'm addicted to the Showtime series Weeds. I know it was on 2005-2012, but we've been checking it out at the library. Have you watched it?
   
   The show is so wrong, but things fall into place. We watch it after the kids go to bed. It's not for kids at all. Nancy - Mary Louis-Parker lost her husband, and sells weed to make money. I always liked the actress Mary Louis-Parker. I love the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. She makes a lot of bad choices in this show, but as a viewer you can understand why she does what she does.
   
   I love the music in the show to.





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Ultra BRIGHT LED Headlamp Review + #Giveaway

Ultra BRIGHT LED Headlamp is so handy to have. The boys and I play with headlamps, but I also find a lot of practical uses for them.

I like how comfortable this headlamp is. It adjusts on your head easily to. The XE Series Headlamp offers a lightweight headlamp with adjustable elastic strap for a snug and customized fit every time.

Are you looking for an alternative to the bulky, hand-held flashlights we traditionally rely on for spot illumination? 

Are you tired of beams of light that that are either too strong, too weak or just can’t quite reach what you need to see? 

If your answer to either of those questions is yes, then you need the XE Series Headlamp.

It needs 3 AAA batteries. There are 3 Energizer batteries that come with the headlamp.

 

The headlamp has 2 ways of lighting up. Not as many options as another headlamp I have, but certainly enough to get a job done. A dimmer and multiple modes allow you to adjust the light strength to suit your task-at-hand. 

And speaking of hands, both are free for use when you rely on XE Series Headlamp. This automatically results in 50% greater efficiency when compared to performing the same task using a standard flashlight. Made from military-grade materials, this headlamp is guaranteed to work as hard as you do!

The cost for this headlamp was $67.99, and on sale for $27.97. You can afford to have one in your car, in the basement, on the boat, in the RV… everywhere you currently have a bulky handheld flashlight. 

The XE Series Headlamp is great for camping, hiking, biking, running, boating, home improvement, reading… and much, much more. 
 
I know we'll take our headlamps camping. I just can't wait to go camping this year. It sucked before to carry a flashlight, a washcloth, a soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Now I can skip caring a flashlight. It will be attached to my head.

This headlamp will make a great gift for Dad, Grad, and even that person who is impossible to shop for.

Giveaway: One US reading gets a chance to win this Ultra BRIGHT LED Headlamp.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Isaak Doodles

A little Irish girl with a pot of gold.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Once upon a time my husband - Dad to the boys had 2 sculptures selected for a jury show in Boston area. He made the trip there because: 

A) It was an honor

B) He loves the place

C) His aunt and uncle lived there, so he could stay with them

D) That area seemed to like his work

After that he became a part of the New England Sculptors Association. They don't care if you don't live there. They just want the work to fit into their association. He's been apart of them for years now.

Fast forward to about 4 months ago: He applied for another Juried Show in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He applied before he lost his job of 12 years.  

He thought, "I'll more than likely not get it. If I do though it would be a super fun vacation."

He just found out that his sculpture was selected. This particular part of the US likes his work a lot. Yep Nebraska sucks for selling his art. They like modern art here that is so out there that it doesn't make much sense.

Orion from the constellation was the sculpture that was selected. (Source of his work, and other sculptures can be found here.)

It sounds like an honor. It is, BUT there are many things to consider: 

A) He just started a job, where he doesn't have vacation time yet

B) It costs a whole lot of money to travel from Omaha, Nebraska to Portsmouth, New Hamphshire

We also don't have family there anymore. We had some friends that said, "You can stay with us!" :) It's still expensive. Especially when he wasn't working for 3 weeks, has been training for 2 weeks, so the time he is working isn't a lot yet. Then he had a pay cut from his last job. To compensate that he has Fridays off, and great benefits.

We have child care to worry about cost wise in the summer. I'm trying to get the boys into camps, many are cheaper than child care, but they are still are expensive. As a Mom I worry about this stuff.

I said, "Congrats!" to my husband. Then he was busy trying to figure out how he could go. People on FB were saying, "Just go. You'll regret it otherwise!" I promise I wasn't trying to be negative. I was just being realistic. I tend to be a worrier by nature. I said, "It doesn't look like it's going to happen." He said, "You are so unsupportive!"

I just don't like to feel like I'm drowning.

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He called the head person that sent him the letter. They are going to help him ship his piece down, and they'll have a pedestal there for his work. That was something else he was going to have to have.

I think it's all going to work out. I can breathe now - a little. He still has to fork over some change to ship the expensive sculpture there, but they are helping. 

I told him that maybe we'll have to move to that area some day, so he can sell his work easier. I thought about the snow, cold, and said, "Crap!" There is much more to see there then here. But family is here. There's always ifs, ands, and buts isn't there? 

We Took My Dad - AKA Grandpa Out For a Birthday Breakfast

I don't know how people can skip breakfast. It's my favorite meal of the day. 

Over the weekend my sister's and I took my Dad AKA Grandpa Spiehs for breakfast at First Watch. I love their food because they do have healthier options, or you can splurge and get a traditional breakfast. We're taking our parent's out more and more over getting gifts. Once people hit a certain point in their life they don't need a whole lot. I'm at that point. We did get him a book he wanted.

After our morning out we went back to my parent's house, and asked our Mom to take pictures. We had a good laugh because every shot she jerked the camera, she cut off my Dad's head in a good shot where he was smiling. Then my oldest short sister said, "If she goes too much higher I'll barely be in the picture." :)

My mom sits on one side of the couch only, so the couch is really worn down on that side. Everyone looks taller than my Dad, who is super tall. Look at me, I'm a giant. 

My Dad always takes the photos. I don't think I've ever seen a camera in my Mom's hands.
 
I post these shots on FB per my sister's request. My Mom wrote in a comment, "Why is everyone's faces stretched?" I didn't do anything to anyone's faces. I did not know what she was talking about.
 
I did what any punk of a daughter would do and stretched our faces big time, and tagged my Mom. Then I asked my sister Terra, "What in the heck was she talking about?" Terra didn't know. She was laughing at the on purpose stretched photos. Her high tech Kindle that she sometimes knows how to use must have been stretching our faces.
 

I feel pretty with an egg shaped head. LOL
 
Seriously I love my parents though. They love me - even when I'm goofy. I know I'll have my pay back moments. Mica and Isaak have my crazy sense of humor as well.

WW: Baby Swing {Linky}

My sister just posted about how it's tacky when boys, and men run around with no shirt on outside. We were outside and my husband (Dad) had his shirt off. The next thing I knew the boys had their shirts off to. I said, "Should I take my shirt off as well?" They both laughed and Mica said, "No! You have bras and stuff."

I continued on with my yard work. I looked over, and Mica (a tall 9 year old) is perched in a baby swing reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with his fake glasses on. 

I told Mica he looked both relaxed and ridiculous. Isaak my almost 7 year old said, "What I'm not ridiculous?" Isaak got mad I didn't call him ridiculous, and kept trying to push Mica in the baby swing. Here's Mica saying, "STOP it Isaak!" Isaak wasn't ridiculous, he was a punk.