I’ve been struck recently by the way people choose to “spin” the things that happen to them.  Perhaps it’s all the political news that’s buzzing around because of elections.  Or maybe the social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter giving me more of an insight into differing opinions of the same event.

Whatever it is, . . . → Read More: Random Thoughts: Choosing Happiness?

Most people have experiences so far removed from their daily life that the people around them, even if friends for years, might not know about.  For stay-at-home moms, that could be something you did before starting a family.  For most of us, “children change everything” and become the center of our lives.   For men or . . . → Read More: What’s Something Most People Don’t Know About You? #behindthisbrand

The story is about kindergartener Roger Nix, an ordinary boy: Roger loves kindergarten, playing make-believe, and hanging out with his imaginary friends (a baby donkey named Jack and a baby elephant named Abe). But when he learns about the plans of Old Man Plee, a perennial presidential candidate, to shut down schools and send kids to . . . → Read More: Campaign to Publish New Children’s Book: Roger Nix, President at Six

Do you have a recent family portrait?  It’s something that we all put off doing, but treasure when we do!  We were reminded of the value recently when a family friend passed away.  It is my daughter’s best friend’s grandfather.  The family had a family portrait taken about six months before the grandfather passed away…  especially . . . → Read More: Tips and Tricks for Getting the Best Family Portraits – Great Gift for Mother’s Day!

Me:  Rosie, what’s your favorite thing about Peppa Pig?

Rosie:  It’s a tie, Mommy, two things… when they giggle and when they snort!

Peppa Pig is an award-winning animated series for preschool-aged children (ie a great cartoon!) that has been a favorite in Great Britain for years.  There is even a Peppa Pig Theme Park in Britain!  In . . . → Read More: *Giggle* Peppa Pig! *Snort*

The emotion experts at Hallmark have come through again with perfect, perfect, perfect Mother’s Day ideas!

My favorite is the  Recordable Artwork: Canvas Art Kit.  

For mothers, grandmothers, aunts… anyone, this makes a wonderful gift.  It was very fun to make it and wonderful to know that I will be able to enjoy this for years to come.  Not only do I have a beautiful piece of art, created by my six year old daughter Rosie, but I have her voice – recorded to tell my about the painting – recorded to create a forever keepsake.  There is a piece of great quality canvas that slides into an attractive black frame.  Crayola washable paints are included.  The frame has a built in recorder to capture a 40-second message from your little artist.  It’s available at Hallmark Gold Crown stores and anywhere Hallmark products are sold for $14.95.

We extended the art to include Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa.  We each had a part in creating this garden.

Because we are not the best artists… okay, we are true amateurs!  We practiced on paper first.  Once we got our layout and practiced a little, we started painting the canvas.

Practice on Paper

Sketch main elements with pencil

Making the grass

Even though a brush was included in the set, we used fingers and finger prints to create our garden.

My daughter inherited her mother’s control issues, hehehe, and wrote a script for the recording…

Writing a "script"

Here’s the final product with part of the recording… sorry it’s sideways!

Another great idea from Hallmark…  I can’t wait to sit down with my daughter on Mother’s Day and create, Conversations to Keep: Recordable Book.  

·         Filled with open-ended questions that spark imaginative answers, “Mom and Me” and “Grandma and Me” Recordable Books capture the answers only a kid can give.

·         Within the book, kids record themselves answering a variety of questions, such as “If you and mom were aliens, what would you look like and what would you name your planet?” Or, “What does Mom do to show she loves you?”

·         Conversations to Keep: Recordable Books give Mom or Grandma a fun and easy way to capture the true personalities of her (grand) children so she can always remember that little voice and their time together.

·         Available at Hallmark Gold Crown stores for $24.95.

You have to see these cards!!  They were too cute to just take pictures, gotta be a video!

Mother’s Day Greetings (A variety of 3 Mother’s Day cards)

• Hallmark is taking Mother’s Day cards to a new level with a variety of innovations, including light and animation, as well as pop-ups with mechanics so complex that a card designer works with a Hallmark paper engineer to design and construct it. Did you even know there was such a thing as a paper engineer?!
• We’ve attached a photo so you can check out some of these features. With these innovations, you can give a Mother’s Day card that has a thoughtful sentiment and an element of surprise – a card mom will want to hold onto for years to come.

Enter to your own Gift Set from Hallmark with the Recordable Artwork:  Canvas Art Kit; Mom and Me Recordable Book; and cards, in the Rafflecopter form below.
Continue reading Giveaway: Mother’s Day Gift Ideas from Hallmark (US, Ends 5/5) I Love This!!

Spring has just sprung and if you’re like me, you can’t wait to break out all of your fabulous dresses, tank tops and other signature pieces for this time of year.  But no great outfit is complete without the most important piece of the equation – your shoes!

And don't forget the kids!

Ross Dress for Less is having a fabulous shoe event that goes until April 30th.  One week to go, so head over to your nearest Ross store.  Need to find one?  Go to www. rossdressforless.com and click on “Store Locator”.  Ross is adding new stores all the time – you might be surprised to find one in your neighborhood.

And don’t forget to enter the Ross Dress for Less Facebook contest!  Two randomly selected Ross fans will receive one $250 Ross Dress for Less gift card each, valid at any Ross Dress for Less location in the United States!  The Facebook contest ends May 4, 2012.

One lucky Kelly’s Lucky You reader is going to  win a $25 Ross gift card!  Enter in the Rafflecopter form below!
Continue reading Giveaway: $25 Gift Card – One Week Left in the Ross Dress For Less Shoe Event! (US, Ends 5/13)

This is one of those little products that have a BIG impact!  So smart, yet simple.  Have you ever tried to sort out a spaghetti mess of cords, trying to find the one you need?  Dotz Cord Identifiers solve that problem and they pass the KLY “cute test”, as well!

We’re getting ready for Disney and I’m packing headphones for Rosie and her friend.  But how to tell them apart?  Ah, Dotz!  And did I mention, they’re cute?

Are you like me with a drawer full of chargers and accessories?  Can’t tell what they go to?  Ah, DOTZ to the rescue!

Win six Dotz Cord Identifiers!  Enter in the Rafflecopter form below!

Continue reading Giveaway: Dotz – Cord Identifiers (US, Ends 5/6)