Everyday Baby Steps

I enjoy cooking. I truly do. It's fun to plan, shop for and prepare a special meal for my family. It's also time-consuming, and we moms just don't always have that kind of time. That's why it's so great when I come across a great time saver product like Bertolli Meal Soup. These soups are found in the frozen food aisle and can be prepared in minutes. What I love is that they taste homemade. That's quite a compliment coming from me, as I love my soup and am rather picky!

Bertolli Meal Soup comes in three varieties - Chicken Minestrone, Tuscan-Style Beef & Vegetables and Tomato Florentine & Tortellini With Chicken. I chose the Tomato Florentine & Tortellini With Chicken because it sounded so different from most soups I've purchased at the store. I was not disappointed!

I decided to make this soup last weekend on the day we got our new kitty. It was an exciting day, and I didn't want to spend much time on dinner. I wanted to play with our new friend. Bertolli Meal Soup was just fabulous for a hearty meal in a hurry. It comes in a bag that's easy to open. Just pour the contents in a pan and add a cup of water, then heat. So easy. Take a look at all those zesty ingredients! After cooking, the soup comes together and looks like this.

Yum! There are pieces of tomato in a smooth, creamy tomato soup. There's lots of spinach, and the cheesy tortellini is the perfect texture. It was SO good. So good, in fact, I picked up two more this week at the grocery store! I knew my husband and son would want a little more to sink their teeth into, so I prepared grilled cheese while the soup was cooking, and we had a tasty, fast meal.

I absolutely recommend Bertolli Meal Soup and can't wait to try the other varieties. You can catch up with Bertolli:

On their Facebook page

On Twitter

And at the Bertolli website.

I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge. All opinions are my own.

We just got a new cat this past weekend. A lot of people may not have chosen this particular cat. You see, she's 7 years old with long fur that sheds everywhere. She's also very shy. I, however, just knew she was meant to be our cat. Here's the backstory.

The kids and I fought a hard battle with my husband a couple years ago to get a cat. He didn't necessarily want the added responsibility or cost of a pet. But we wanted a furry friend we could hold and love. Ultimately, we won. I got in touch with an old friend who runs an animal rescue, and we were able to bring a very nice cat home for only a $25 donation to the rescue. Her name was Minnie. I've written about my writing buddy here before.

Unfortunatley, we didn't have her in our lives for very long. After about a year and a half, she stopped eating and lost a great deal of weight. I took her to the vet and learned that she had a pretty advanced kidney problem. We chose to put her to sleep, rather than deal with the possibility of putting her through various treatments on a regular basis. The kids were devastated. I promised them we'd get another kitty someday.

Bill and I decided not to get a cat right away. We wanted to give the kids some time to grieve. We also knew we'd need to wait until we had a bit of a financial cushion put away in case of another pet health issue. It can cost quite a bit of money to care for a sick animal even for a short while, as we learned. So we made the decision to wait.

It's been about six months since we lost Minnie, and the kids and I started to become antsy. We miss watching our kitty's antics and enjoying her company, when she chose to give it to us. So I started looking at the shelter websites and talking to friends. Long story short, I ended up inquiring about a "sweet, long haired kitty" for adoption through a private owner. Something told me it couldn't hurt to ask about this sweet kitty.

So after some preliminary online back and forth, I asked for a photo of the kitty in question. This is the text I received.

The screen shot is a little small. It says, "Meet Minnie." I almost fell over. What are the chances that we would be looking at adopting another cat named Minnie? After taking a closer look, I realized this cat was a tortoiseshell. Another unbelievable coincidence. When I was in college, my first husband and I had a tortoiseshell kitty that we loved very much. In fact, I had just been admiring my online friend Cindi's tortoiseshell kitty on Facebook and telling her that I'd like to look into getting one myself!

Long story short, Minnie came home with us on Saturday. I surprised the kids, and they're completely in love with her. She's adapting quite well. Initially, she came out to visit us only in the morning and at night. Today, she's been out and about all day long. In fact, she's made herself at home in my office chair, which is where predecessor used to love to sit. So far, she hasn't made any attempt to balance on the back of the chair!

I wrote a couple weeks ago about starting the Special K Challenge. Even if you didn't read my post, I'm sure you've all heard of the challenge, right? This year, Special K wants to take the negative connotations away from the idea of approaching weight loss by asking women to consider what they will gain by losing weight. I think that is the best way to look at things ever! Simply reframing the question and putting a positive spin on things can really change a person's mindset. I'd say it definitely did for me.

I had lost weight through the hCG diet last spring, but I gained a good bit of it back. I took some time to reflect on how I felt when I lost those nearly 25 pounds. According to a study by Special K, the top three emotional benefits women hope to achieve by reaching their weight loss goal are happiness, confidece and a sense of achievement. I would definitely say that I felt all of those with my weight loss, and I wanted to feel those things again. So I jumped right on board with the two-week Special K Challenge.

Program Overview

Have you visited the Special K website? If not, you'll want to go take a look. Special K has so much more than cereal now. Their line of products is extensive. They have salty snacks like cracker chips, protein meal replacement bars and shakes, just to name a few. I recommend taking a look. They have all their products listed on the site, and you can even browse by craving. The website is where you'll want to start if you decide to take the challenge or would like inspiration on beginning a long-term weight loss plan.

This is one of the most thorough websites i've encountered from a brand, I must say. There is a social component where you can connect with others looking for a healthy way of life. I have to confess that I didn't use this part much, as I had my fellow challenge blog participants to lean on, as well as my other online networks. But it's so cool to offer a place for people who are specifically interested in the Special K Challenge. When you've decided to take the challenge or look into a longer-term plan, you can choose your goals and find a daily meal plan tailored specifically for your choice. You'll find sample meals and recipes to try based on your plan. So helpful for busy women on the go! Seriosly, there's just too much to list here. Check out the website for recipe ideas, tips for success, Special K yummy ideas and even a mobile app with shopping lists.

My Experience

Yeah, I know - you just want to know how much weight I lost. I'll get to that. I will. First, i want to talk about how YUMMY these Special K products are. Before starting the plan, I was a self-proclaimed Special K Chocolately Delight addict. Have you ever tried that stuff? Let me just warn you, once you do, you may never stop. It's that good. So I had high expectations for their other products, though I had never tried any of them.

Let me just tell you that I was not disappointed. They were all so good, that I truly didn't have much trouble staying with the program. I followed the meal plan and ate Special K products for breakfast, lunch and snacks, along with a sensible dinner. The website offered a recipe each day for the dinner meal. While I didn't follow each one to the letter, I've added some fabulous new items to my regular meal planning!

Back to the breakfasts and snacks. My very favorite was the Chocolatey Pretzel cereal bar. I am a sucker for anything sweet and salty, and the crunchy texture of this bar just made it even better. What a great snack to just grab and go. I always had one in my purse for those moments I was out and just had to have something quick. I also loved the Multi-Grain Oats and Honey ceral. I am a cereal person. It's one of my favorite breakfasts. This one was crunchy with just the right hint of sweetness. Loved it. Even the shakes were good. I was a bit apprehensive about those and will say that the French vanilla was not my favorite. I found a suggestion on the website, though, for a French vanilla espresso shake and enjoyed that quite a bit. I also made smoothies with them, adding frozen strawberries, bananas, yogurt and orange juice. Yum! And my 13-year old son stole the chocolate shakes - they're that good.

My Results

Drumroll please...But first a little claim language from Special K: Consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program. Average weight loss when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 4.8 pounds. Weight loss may vary. Average waist circumference when replacing two meals with cereal meals is 1.3 inches. Weight loss may vary.

Okay, here goes. I must first apologize and let you know that I forgot to take my waist measurements. Sorry. However, I did notice that my jeans fit a bit looser, so I'm confident there was definitely a loss. As far as pounds lost, I lost about 3 pounds in two weeks. That's not too darn bad. Especially considering that I cheated a bit on the weekends. I'm a notorious cheater when it comes to diet plans, however, keeping my baby steps philosophy in mind, I usually allow myself a few slips. Even my husband noticed a change and asked just the other day, "Have you lost weight?" Woo hoo! For Bill to notice, there definitely had to be a change.

What have I noticed? What did I gain by losing? I feel so much more in control when I know I'm making choices that are good for me. That's important to me. Making proactive choices is empowering. And, truthfully, the changes weren't that difficult. The products taste good, and they're convenient. It wasn't hard to incorporate them into my lifestyle. I know I will continue to be a Special K lover. Do you think you'll consider taking the Special K Challenge? I highly recommend it. The changes are gradual, and the results go beyond weight loss. Baby steps. Give it a try!

I participated in this program through a partnership with TheMotherhood on behalf of Special K. I received product and supplies to complete the plan. All opinions and statements are based on my own opinion and experience.

I've found myself feeling some pretty negative emotions lately in response to actions by people close to me. Feelings like hurt, anger, sadness, frustration, contempt and even hate. These are all normal emotions. Part of life. I know. What I also know is that you can't change other people, only how you react to them. Let me repeat that. You can only change the way you react to others.

You've probably heard this before. It makes sense, theoretically, but how do you stop yourself in the middle of negative feelings and turn your emotions around? It takes conscious effort, but it is possible. You can take your life back, get control of your emotions and move past the destructive path we often allow ourselves to go down when dealing with toxic people in our lives.

Understand That Their Issues Are Their Own

When people lash out at you, say things that are hurtful or push your buttons, consider the reasons behind their behavior. In my personal situation, I had a recent online, public dispute with someone close to me. Immediately, I let old instincts kick in. I felt furious that this person couldn't just leave well enough alone and had to push her ideas and opinions on me. After some time, I put things into perspective. Yes, these are old patterns, I realized. It's not likely that this person's views and actions will change, so I took some time to consider why she took the steps she did. I can see that she felt the issue was an important one to push. I decided to appreciate her passion for her stance, but not to let it affect me. If anything, I've decided to look more into why I took the position that I did.

Take the High Road

It's so tempting to let your emotions get the better of you when dealing with negative people. However, the consequences of doing so can be steep. If your instigator is a co-worker, you could lose your job. If you allow a loved one to bait you on a regular basis, you could lose your sanity or your sense of self. It's just not worth it. Take a moment to consider the worst case scenario of walking away from the situation or simply relenting and allowing the person to believe their behavior is right. I'm not saying it's good to constantly give in, but it can be the best decision to make until you can get some distance to think. Sometimes, however, you have to take a stand.

Stand Up for Yourself

Taking a stand for your position and letting the other person know the reasons for your actions can be very empowering. Sometimes we get in a pattern of allowing others to tell us who we are or have their say simply to avoid confrontation. We may let our wants and desires to take a back burner to those of someone else for any variety of reasons. If you're starting to feel that you've given too much, take a moment to contemplate what might happen if you stop giving in and start standing up for what you want and for your own rights. It's okay to do so, as long as you're not infringing on the rights of others or letting yourself feel out of control. No one likes to get to the point where they snap and say things out of frustration or anger. That's not helpful for you or for the other person involved. But it's more than okay to tell someone why you feel the way you do. It's good to set limits and inform them of what you'll tolerate and what you won't. Put some of the power back in your hands, and you'll feel worlds better. And stronger.

Live Your Life

If you've tried everything, and your interactions with the negative person haven't changed, try just living your life despite their influence. At least to the best of your ability. If the person causing you strife is your boss or someone else of heavy influence in your life, it's probably not feasible to just do what you want. However, you can move forward with your life in many ways and make proactive decisions that work for you and make you feel good. Let the other person have their feelings, do what they want. For lack of a better phrase, you just do you. Give it a try. I bet it'll feel great!

Know When to Let Them Go

All the self-help experts say get rid of toxic people. Purge them from your life. Sometimes that's just not very realistic. It's unlikely you can just quit your job on a whim, get a divorce without a thought about it or just cut a familly member out of your life for good. I get it. That's why I always try to implement the above strategies. But if you're hurting, really hurting. Or if your health is suffering or you just can't take anymore...You know what that last straw may be. Only you know. If you've determined that it's time, let that person go or at least take a break. Sometimes we have to do it for our own good. Sometimes we have to do it for those we love most.

I hope these tips have been helpful. I've learned some the hard way through personal experience. Others I've learned through my professional counseling background. Please feel free to share your best strategies for dealing with toxic, negative people in your life. Let's share, so we can live less stressful lives.

I love all things beauty related. Ever since I started wearing makeup in sixth grade, I've been a cosmetics addict. I write a lot about beauty here at Everyday Baby Steps. I've written beauty articles for other sites around the web. And one of my best gigs is blogging for a local salon where I receive salon services in exchange for my writing and social media management. Great trade, right?

I've often thought about going to beauty school. When I was younger, though, it wouldn't have been seen as a wise decision by my family. Not to mention the fact that I just don't think I'd be very gifted with a pair of shears. What I didn't know back then is there are so many different options in the cosmetology industry.

Nail artistry is a big one that really catches my interest. I love the creativity involved in choosing length, shape, colors and styles. The possibilities are endless. An option I was actually considering recently is becoming an esthetician. These beauty professionals do things like skin care, hair removal and massage. What an amazing job it would be to make people feel good for a living!

One day, when my kids are older and I have fewer responsibilities, I think my next career move may be in the field of beauty. Someday, I may even look into escuelas de cosmetologia en Miami. Did you know I was a Spanish major in college? I'd love to live in the warm, vibrant culture of Miami. Have you ever considered a career like cosmetology? What's your dream job, and where would you live?

Over the summer, I wrote a post about wanting a camera. Actually, the post was about a loved one who shot down my dream of owning a nice camera one day. It's been six months, and I still don't have that camera. But, truly, this has been a rough year financially. It doesn't mean I won't get that camera or that I'll give up on the idea of having that nice camera. What I realized is that I don't have to sacrifice my dreams, sacrifice living simply because something isn't attainable for me right now.

This realization hit me while scrolling the internet and seeing all the photographs my online friends were posting. I started seeing various hashtags and buzzwords that I was only vaguely familiar with. So I took some time to do a little research, ask around and lose myself in some fabulous blogs. I saw that people all over the world are participating in various online photo projects to share and document their lives, and I knew I wanted to get involved. Except I don't have that nice camera. Yeah, so what? I just upgraded my old iPhone to the iPhone 4, which has a pretty damn nice camera on it. Why shouldn't I be using that handy, convenient camera every chance I get? By the way, the phone cost me $20.51. Yep. I traded in my old phone at Target. If you're due for a new phone, I suggest checking their program out; they offer all the major carriers.

Back to my story, I have this awesome phone, and there are apps out there that will help transform your photos into works of art. There are also a number of blogs who have set up fun photo sharing projects for the year or by the month. I figured why not get involved? I did a bit more resarch and discovered some great tutorials and a free class that can help me use that iPhone camera to its fullest potential. For time's sake, I'm just going to list out the resources I've found so that you can get started on your photo journal project as well. By the way, here's my first picture of the year. They're cute when they're sleeping, aren't they?

Photo Journaling Projects

Photo a Day Challenge - I noticed on Instagram that many people were using the hashtag #JANphotoaday. So I had to check it out. What I found was the blog Fat Mum Slim, where Chantelle was issuing the challenge to photograph a different subject each day in January. I joined in a couple days late, but I'm loving the sharing that's going on. It's so fun to see what others are having for breakfast or what they adore in their lives.

Project 365 - This is the daily photo journaling and sharing project that, I believe, started it all. The site, in conjunction with the iPhone app, allow you to go back and see just what you did each day of the year. I'm not sure if I'll have the dedication to take part each and every day, but I sure intend to try!

Photo Apps

Instagram - This app makes taking photos fun and easy. You can transform your pictures by adding various filters and edits. Then share them with other Instagram users. I love it!

Project 365 - This app goes along with the daily photo journaling project of the same name. I just bought the pro version for .99. What's really cool about it is that it places your daily photos on a calendar that you can then print out or add to a website or blog. You can also send your photos instantly to flickr or other sharing site.

My January Project 365 so far

Classes/Tutorials

iPhone Photography Workshop through CreativeLIVE - Sign up here and sign up now because this class is tomorrow. So sorry for the short notice. This is a two-day workshop that's free to attend. They'll be discussing and demonstrating the best apps for iPhonoegraphy and teaching techniques to help you make the very most of your iPhone camera.Video will be available for purchase. It's $59 dollars pre-purchase, $79 after tomorrow.

How Did I Do That? Step by Step Solutions for Creative iPhone Photography - This PDF document by Cynthia Louden is so in-depth, but she gives screen shots and how to's that make it all doable. She really does show you step by step! I am amazed by the amount of information provided in this tutorial for free. I haven't read it all yet, but I will!

How to Organize Project 365 by Angry Julie Monday - Apparently, Julie tackled Project 365 last year and almost let her perfectionism take her over the edge. She gives great tips in this blog post on how to handle the daily task of documenting, storing and sharing photos without losing your mind. Thanks, Julie!

Top 7 Must-Have iPhoneography Apps - Zina of the blog, Develop, offers this fantastic post of what other apps will help to make your iPhone photography outstanding.

So what do you think? Have you taken part in any of these projects or used the tools mentioned here? Do you plan to jump on board this year? I'd love to hear your thoughts and tips. Happy photo taking!

It's a new year. Can you believe it? Where has the time gone? Seems like just yesterday that I was telling you all about the weight I lost - 23 pounds. However, it's been about 8 months, and I'm embarrassed to say that I put a great deal of that weight right back on. So when I was asked to participate in a project with Special K to get healthy for the new year, I didn't hesitate.

Weighing In

Special K has designated today National Weigh-In Day, a day to jump start positive conversation about weight loss for the coming year. Special K asks the question, "What will you gain when you lose?" I love that! What an amazing way to view the prospect of losing weight. While it true that losing weight is hard and takes a great deal of will power, I can tell you from experience that you gain a great deal from all the sacrifices. I gained a sense of accomplishment and pride, self-confidence, energy and the knowledge that I was modeling positive behavior for my kids. I hope to take this opportunity to start the year off right and gain back some of those things.

Special K Chocolatey Chip Cereal Bar - My morning snack today!

The Special K Challenge

While I hope to make 2012 the year I make healthy eating a priority and a way of life, I plan to use my "babysteps" philosophy by starting off small. I am going to take the Special K Challenge to jumpstart healthy eating habits and get the year started right. The Special K Challenge is a two-week program that can help you lose up to 6 pounds in two weeks.Consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program.  Average weight loss when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 4.8 pounds.  Weight loss may vary. Average waist circumference reduction when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 1.3 inches. Weight loss may vary.

Special K has set up a special community on their website called My Special K where women can connect and encourage each other toward their goals. You can go here to get recipes and suggestions for your daily meals on the plan as well. There is a suggested meal plan each day, but easy swap suggestions are also given, so there's always variety and choice on the plan. The majority of the plan consists of Special K products with a sensible dinner suggested. This is great for me, as I have been a long-time Special K fan. Their Chocolatey Delight cereal is my very favorite. I love the idea of being able to eat healthy on the go with bars, shakes and snacks. I'm really looking forward to the next two weeks!

Looking Ahead

What are your goals for 2012? So many of us want to get healthy and lose weight. Let's work together to make it happen and to gain so many good things in our lives! I encourage you to join me or just feel free to check in with me and help keep me on track. Feel free to follow Special K on Facebook or Twitter if you'd like to follow the conversation.

I participated in this program through a partnership with TheMotherhood on behalf of Special K. I received product and supplies to complete the plan. All opinions and statements are based on my own opinion and experience.

Whew! Christmas is over. What takes such a big toll on your budget, you sanity and your time is blown away in a matter of minutes while the kids rip open their presents, scurry around searching madly for batteries and try to figure out their new toys without bothering to look at the damn book. All this with barely a "Thanks, Santa." But you know what? It's worth it. We had a very nice, small Christmas at home. The kids got what they wanted (Thank you, Grandma!), and I loved watching their faces light up and spending the morning just watching their excitement as they played with their new stuff.

That being said, I must confess that for the last couple months that I've been trying to work from home without the help of part-time daycare, I've nearly pulled my hair out on a daily basis. I gave up my two day a week sitter in an attempt to save money, and I'm beginning to wonder if I gave up my sanity with that decision. Playing blocks, watching endless pre-school TV and BEGGING Brady to, "Please, go potty." have just about sent me over the edge. Add that that the chaos that comes when the 10 and 13-year olds come home, and I'm usually ready for a drink by the time they're in bed. Except I'm too tired to get up and open the bottle. You see, Bil's started a new job. The pay is actually a bit less, but the benefits are better. The hours keep him away from afternoon until late. So this change in routine has taken a bit of a toll on mama.

But just the other day, I saw a post on Facebook that led me to a blog I had never visited before, Girl on Saturday. The post was about how poor Karen is now known as "Penis Mom" by the parents and teachers at her kids' school, but that it's okay because she took a stand against ridiculous gender stereotypes and was a role model for her kids. Karen is pretty cool. So cool, in fact, that I took a look at her other posts. Each one spoke to me and conveyed a lesson that I needed to learn or to be reminded of. I was especially moved by this post that gave life-changing advice on surviving the first few years of raising kids. Karen reminded me that, though parenting can certainly be mind-numbing, it can also be some of the best moments of your life. She emphasized what's important, and I intend to keep those things in mind when I'm thisclose to having my next breakdown. If you feel like you just can't take one more second of the mind-numbing routine that has become your life, please head over to read Karen's advice. I guarantee it will help you out.

As a blogger, I am sometimes lucky enough to be able to try out some of the newest, coolest things on the market. I know, I am SO lucky! When those products happen to be games or toys, my kids think I have the coolest job on earth. Over the last few months I've tried out a few new Wii games, and the kids have been thrilled. Here are the games we're loving at our house right now.

Skylanders Spyro's Adventure

Image from Skylanders website

This game is just so cool. Every time the commercial comes on TV, my three-year old just goes nuts, saying, "It's Spyro Skylanders! We have that!" The reason he's so gaga over this game is that it is so different than any other game on the market. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure is an interactive game. It comes with a "portal of power" and figures that kids can use to customize their game. The player can choose which character to play as simply by sitting that particular guy on the portal. Each character has different strengths and abilities, so players will need to be strategic in their choice of character to play. Isn't that awesome? My kids just love this game.

* product provided

Just Dance 3

This game is just FUN! I bought the kids Just Dance 2 at the beginning of the year, and I have to say that I enjoy it just as much as they do. But Just Dance 3 is one that they seem to like even more. This one seems to have newer, more modern tracks that the kids really like. They hate it when I pick an '80's song to dance to. They call my music "ancient tribal music." Nice, huh? Some of their favorite songs to move to are:

• Black Eyed Peas - Pump It
• Cee Lo Green - Forget You
• Jessie J Featuring B.O.B. - Price Tag
• Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
• LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
• Taio Cruz - Dynamite

But don't worry, parents, they are still tons of songs for us old folks, too. There is a total of 51 songs! You definitely get your money's worth for this game. Just Dance 3 offers the traditional dance mode, as well as the Just Sweat feature, which I like. There are new features for the Just Sweat mode. that allow you to monitor your progress on the dashboard and choose your program. There's also a new 4 player dance crew mode where each person can have a chance to shine. If you don't want to choose each song individually, it's easy to just choose one of 13 available playlists and go from there. You can even get competitive by racking up stars to unlock up to 30 special song modes. I love the convenience. It's fun! Did I mention that? If you want to get Just Dance, you can head to retailers such as Toys R Us or order online from Amazon.

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

ABBA You Can Dance

This game is hysterical for the kids. For those of us who are old enough to remember when ABBA songs were cool, it's so much fun. If you love disco and ABBA, you'll love this game. Even if ABBA isn't your thing, you'll have fun. Trust me, even my cynical children had fun dancing to songs like Dancing Queen, Take a Chance on Me and Mama Mia. What I really like about this game is that the dance moves are fairly easy to follow. In case you don't know me, I'm not exactly graceful, and I really don't have much rhythm. But even I can do this game. It's rather aptly titled You Can Dance, I'd say!

What is most cool for a former choir geek such as myself is that there's a karaoke mode. That's right, not only can you dance - you can sing, too! Up to two friends can join in the song. I believe you will need microphones meant to plug into the Wii, and these don't come with the game. We just happen to have one from our Glee karaoke game. See, I told you I'm a choir geek at heart. If you are a true ABBA fan or are just nostalgic, you'll love this game because it uses actual footage from concerts, videos and photos. Takes you back.

Truthfully, I'm kind of cheating on this review. I was supposed to have an ABBA dance party in my home with my friends. I tried, I really did. My pals on Facebook all sent their regrets. Everyone was up for it, but this time of year just isn't good for this type of get together. Everyone was headed to family or work holiday events. But I will have that party after the New Year, and I'll be sure to post about it here. I have to do it - Clever Girls and UbiSoft sent me a disco ball! Can't wait to get together with my pals and hang out just being goofy. There will be pictures. Maybe. I have a feeling these pictures could be a bit embarrassing! Stay tuned for my party post in January. In the meantime, head out to Toys R Us or go online to Amazon and order this game. You deserve some Wii dance fun, too!

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

A sorority sister of mine recently brought this young boy's story to my attention, and I just had to pass it along. Max is a 13-year old boy who is currently in the hospital fighting leukemia. When asked by a nurse what he wanted for Christmas, Max told her "I want to get 1 million Christmas cards." One million cards is an awful lot, but it's not a lot when you consider that it only takes a moment to drop a card in the mail.

My kids' grandparents lost a daughter to leukemia at the age of 5. She also wished to receive cards. Of course, there was no internet then. An aritcle was published in the local paper, and Valerie soon received an outpouring of cards. This kind of outreach means so much to a child who is ill and is separated from the outside world in the confines of a hospital. I know it made Valerie very happy.

So let's all pitch in and help Max get his Christmas wish. Just send your card to:

Mighty Max Low

c/o Greg and Bambi Low

P.O. Box 111

Neola, IA 51559

Visit the Facebook page set up for Max and send a wish as well. Happy holidays to you and yours!