Saturday Confessions

I can’t live without my cable. Isn’t that sad?

We had our cable off for a bit and my husband turned it back on for my birthday last week. I’m oh so thankful…now if we only got “local” stations. Ugh! My prayers for the next few weeks shall include the network people taking pitty on the fact that we live in the boonies and giving us the west coast feed. Please network people?!

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Could Anyone Else Use a Free Cruise?

Yes, bloggers seem to be in the know when it comes to free giveaways. But, this one…you don’t want to miss!

Go visit the Metropolitan Mama blog and check out the Sail Away to a Goodnight’s Sleep Contest. Protect-a-Bed is actually giving away a FREE 3-night, 4-day cruise to the Caribbean. HELLO! Who couldn’t use that? There are a few steps to getting registered for the contest, but not enough to deter you from participating. Go check it out…if you don’t win the cruise there are opportunities to win additional items.

If you have kids, as I do, “protecting” your bed (or mattress) is something we can all appreciate!

Ooh La La Mama Giveaway

Run over to A Wrestling Addicted Mommy’s Blog to check out her Ooh La La Mama giveaway. Ooh La La Mama has super cute clothes for the kiddies– even some cute items for boys. I loved their Rock Star tees and Route 66 onsie and romper. Go see for yourself!

2008 Sisters Rodeo & Central Oregon This Weekend

Yee-haw! The 68th Annual Sisters Rodeo is this weekend! I went to this a few times as a kid and always had so much fun. I’m looking forward to taking my little boys this year…my two year old is going to love it.

Called “The Biggest Little Show in the World,” the rodeo opens with family night (kids 12 and under are free) on Friday, the 13th and ends with a 1 pm performance on Sunday, the 15th. Saturday includes a 1pm and 7pm performance and also includes a parade in downtown Sisters at 9:30 am. Go here for more information and ticket prices.

There are several other things going on in Central Oregon this weekend, as well. Here are a few other ideas for your weekend festivities.

Sisters Area:

• Sisters Art in the Park on Saturday, the 14th and Sunday, the 15th
• Spring Bazaar on Saturday, the 14th
• Metolius Preseve Plant Walk on Saturday, the 14th
• Cruise In on Saturday, the 14th
• Sisters Farmers Market on Sunday, the 15th

Sunriver:

• Wildflower Show on Friday, the 13th through Sunday, the 15th

Bend:

• Central Oregon Saturday Market on the 14th
• Saturday Creations at the Working Wonder Museum- Circle Prints!
• Walk 4 the Cause on Saturday, the 14th
• Super Science Sundays at the Working Wonder Museum- Scared Spice!
• Les Schwab Amphitheater FREE Sunday Concerts- Roots of Creation on Sunday, the 15th
• Summer Reading Program Begins on Saturday, the 14th
• Live Bluegrass at the High Desert Museum on Saturday, the 14th

Wordless Wednesday

Brotherly Love

Boys & Manners Giveaway

Raising well mannered young men is very important to us, so this giveaway at the Quiverfull Family blog caught my eye. Quiver Mamma is giving away 100 Important Things Your Boys Need to Know: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Boys & Manners- A toolkit of 8 resources for helping you raise your young men. I would also imagine that the advice would be helpful if you have girls.

Our little men are not quite school age and likely won’t be homeschooled, but I figure we can all use all of the help we can get. Go check it out here!

As an aside… I think I’m officially done with this fickle Central Oregon weather? Okay summer… anytime now!

Product Recall Tuesday

Due to the large number of product recalls, I’m going to start saving them for Tuesdays. Below is the last few I have been compiling. Please visit the links for more details.

1. Backyard Leisure Recalls Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (866) 546-7902
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Backyard Leisure Recalls Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard

Name of Product: Adventure Play Sets and Create N Adventure Wooden Play Sets

Hazard: Hangers holding the chains for the gliders can break, causing a child to fall and suffer injuries.

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08299.html

2. The Children’s Place Recalls Camouflage Pajama Sets Due to Excessive Lead

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (877) 752-2387
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Name of Product: Camouflage Pajama Sets

Hazard: The screen print on the shirt contains excess levels of lead.

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08302.html

3. Children’s Animal Tracking Explorer Kit Recalled by MindWare; Contains Chemical That Irritates Skin and Eyes

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 588-1072
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Name of Product: Animal Tracking Explorer Kit

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08298.html

4. Simmons Kids Recalls Crib Mattresses Due to Entrapment Hazard

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 810-8611
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Name of Product: Simmons Kids Crib Mattresses

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08296.html

5. eStyle Recalls Mini Chef Toy Kitchens Due to Choking and Tip-Over Hazards

Name of Product: Mini Chef Complete Toy Kitchens

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the firm at (877) 378-9537 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit www.babystyle.com
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08582.html

6. Bassettbaby Cribs Recalled Due to Entrapment Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Babies “R” Us

Name of Product: Wendy Bellissimo Hidden Hills Collection Cribs

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Bassettbaby at (866) 618-5446 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Sunday or visit the firm’s web site at www.bassettbaby.com.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08581.html.

Blogging Manners

I’m a big fan of much of lifehackers content. Though most of what they blog about is way too techie to hold my interest, every so often they blog about something that strikes my fancy. Initially I had taken a liking to the idea of doing a Chalkboard mural on my son’s wall via a recent lifehacker post, but the blog comments are actually what have me thinking. As I sit outside of my 2 year olds bedroom on my laptop (let’s not get into our dysfuncational sleep routine at the moment), I’m pondering blogging manners.

Is there such a thing as blogging manners? Are there some unwritten blogging rules out there or better yet, a bloggers code? I ask because it seems like people can get downright nasty when commenting on blog posts. And more often that not, someone doesn’t like one of the nasty responses and tries to put that person in check– only to continue the nasty cyle. And that’s exactly what it is, a cycle. No one ever really wins and people just get away with insulting each other back and forth. Is it because the interaction isn’t face to face? I wonder if the same people would be so “direct” should the discussion be happening in-person.

It reminds of email and work relationships. Ever had an email from a colleague that seemed laced with a “little something extra” only to pick up the phone and get a completely tone from them? I think its usually a mixure of not being able to accurately pick up tone in email and getting caught being rude because email is (in some ways) a less personal form of communication. Anyhow, I know what its like to be misunderstood and don’t want to judge inappropriately. I think most people have good intentions and sometimes things so just “awry.” But, I find it interesting nonetheless. This whole blogging world is like the wild wild west in many ways. Still a lot of unknown territory and lots of people trying to make their mark.

Do you have what you would consider blogging manners? And what are they?

More Father’s Day Give Aways!

I was so excited to come across the news that Christine at From Dates to Diapers is doing Father’s Day giveways ALL WEEK! Check out her blog every day this week for your chance to win some awesome gifts for the “Dad” in your life.

Father’s Day Giveaway

Kailani over at An Island Life has a VERY cool father’s day giveway to check out. Courtesy of Best Buy, Kailani will be giving away a 30GB Microsoft Zune Digital Player! Run on over and check out the details here…and good luck! I’m still stumped on gifts for my darling hubbie and father-in-law. This MP3 player would sure help me out!

What are you giving the “Daddy(s)” in your life? Ideas please!