My children are in that crazy countdown mode, where every hour on the hour they remind me that Halloween is inching a little bit closer. Early in the month, I was all gung ho about it, but now that my oven has decided to go on strike, well that's kind of made me a little nutso. I was SO ready to bake up all kinds of goodies to add to our sugar drenched Trick-Or-Treat candy, but the cards just weren't in line for me. Now that I think about it, I'm a little relieved because I can spend more time with the kids AND our teeth aren't infused with quite the overload they could have had.

Did you know that 600 million pounds of candy is purchased in the US in the month of October alone? Parents, including myself, are left to deal with the tooth decay that inevitably appears when sugar and bacteria from our mouths collide. Thanks to Colgate Kids, I'm taking the time to talk to my children about the importance of good oral health care and having fun while doing it.

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Olivia! Olivia! Oliviahhhhhhhhh! That song plays over and over in my head anytime I see that sweet little pig, Olivia. My daughter has taken to Olivia books, when she discovered the show on Nick Jr. She's 7-yrs-old now, so reading has become quite the hobby for her. Of course, I'm thrilled, but every time she goes to the bookstore or library, she always heads to Olivia. I, secretly, think it's because, when she was a baby all the way up to age 4ish, she carried a stuffed pink piggie with her everywhere.

This piggie was a family member and if she was lost, everyone's heart would break. We found her each and every time, but over the years, she slowly inched a little further and further from my daughter's tight grip to make room for Barbie, puzzles, and now books. She's a hit among children these days, with her hit show on Nick Jr., through books in stores across the country, and now in the fun and creative line of toys introduced my Spin Master.

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Yeah. I couldn't help, but snap a picture of the Bug that's spooking the streets of Baytown. Everyone have a safe and happy Halloween!

For more Wordless Wednesdays head over to A Daily Dose of Toni, 5 Minutes for Mom, Keeper of the Cheerios, Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go.

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The other night, my husband and I got to talking about boobs. Yeah, what an opening liner for a Tuesday morning. Nevertheless, the conversation went from a pain I was having to the seriousness of Breast Cancer. Why? Because I haven't had a breast exam in the last 4 years or so. I got to listen to the lecture for about 5 minutes, before the crude and then the predictable smirky "guy joke" came out Well, I can give you an exam. Ummm..... How about no?

I joke this morning, because I'm lacking in brain cells due to only having one cup of coffee, but breast exams are becoming more and more important as I grow older. Probably because I fill more than a C cup after having kids, but that's for another day, another post. That being said, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Just in the last year, both my Aunt and a dear friend of mine were diagnosed with Breast Cancer and they kicked it's ass. Now, that's no joking matter, but a sign that we should all do our part in raising awareness in our community, family, and online social circle. Together there will be a cure and thanks to programs like Hanes Design and Buy and it's Pink Collection, the financial support can grow extensively.

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This morning, I've been reflecting. Praying. Thinking. Reading. Then I realized it's Music Monday and thought I'd take my time of reflection to my laptop with my earbuds. Gosh, I can't explain how therapeutic Mondays are for me. It's a whole new start. Kids are off to school. Little one is sleeping. I'm quietly laughing with my Savior and holding a warm cup of coffee, asking Him the "Whys" the "Hows" and hearing Him whisper sweet answers that explain absolutely everything, but still I understand nothing. It's short times like this where I feel so close to Him. His love completely surrounds me. Over. Underneath. In Between. Inside of me.

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Lately, the discussion in our home has turned from Summertime fun, to How the heck do we change our eating habits? Yeah, we we were a little too relaxed over the sunny season and when school started, this year, we realized, not only did our routine need to change, but our eating habits did too. No more late night snacking. No more sun-soaked gorging. No more week day dinners out. I saw a change in my children after the Summer ended and realized healthy eating habits needs to be our top priority.

As a family farmer owned company that is proud to grow and nurture grapes, Welch's values the importance of healthy eating too. Now in their second year partnership with Scholastic and the National Gardening Association, Welch's is supporting school garden programs through Welch's Harvest Grants.

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You know? Every time I throw a Holiday Party, here at Momma Findings, I grow a little sad on the last day. I love hanging out with all of you guys, and ya'll always have awesome ideas for parties, recipes, and tips to make any Holiday memorable.

That being said, today is our very last day of the Nestle Halloween Party and if you haven't guessed already, we're talking about favorite Trick-Or-Treat memories. I started digging out favorite photos of my babies and wouldn't you know? I couldn't find very many. Then I remember the crash of '08. It swallowed most, if not all, my favorite pictures. I did, however, find a few that brought me to tears. Halloween is definitely a time of great fun with the kids and, by looking at all our pictures, it's kind of making me want to REALLY go all out this year. I want to enjoy every single second, because 5 years from now I'll be looking at THIS year's pictures thinking Wasn't that JUST yesterday?

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About 5 years ago, my husband sent me to the store to buy an air filter. At this point in my adult life, I had never bought air filters before. Yeah. Can you imagine a grown woman never having bought air filters? I never had to, because my husband always took care of that. So, there I go perusing the aisle at Target wondering which one I was supposed to get. I came home with an Allergen Reduction filter that cost twice as much as the regular one I was SUPPOSED to get. My husband laughed at me, when I returned, and immediately took it back stating, "Honey, we don't NEED these expensive filters unless we suffer from really bad allergies."

Having moved from Memphis back to the Houston Area, I've found my allergies to be worse than they have EVER been. I keep thinking to myself, I don't remember it being this bad when I lived here as a teenager. Either way, I've been thinking about taking that trip BACK to Target as I did 5 years ago, to purchase a Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Filter from 3M. Only THIS time, we really need it.

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The weeks leading up to Halloween Night are, by far, a chaotic and busy time for parents. There are so many preparations like: costume hunting, candy buying, craft making, class parties, and even meal decisions.

Yesterday, we talked about how to make easy Halloween costumes. You guys had great homemade costume ideas for, both, children and adults. Today, however, I want to talk about homemade in a WHOLE other light.... the Halloween Meal. I know. I know. I cringe at the thought of cooking too, but the fact of the matter is, everyone still has to eat and you definitely don't want them to be fueled by nothing but sugar. Talk about a candy hangover in the morning. So, what do you guys cook for those hungry ghosts and goblins?

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Everybody put your hands in the air! You guys having fun yet? Today is Day 3 of our Halloween Party with Nestle Family. So far, all of you  have floored me with your Halloween baking ideas and creepy crawly party tips. Seriously. I'm beginning to think I'll never be able to host a party without, first, consulting all of you amazing Mommas (and Dads).

Today, we're talking easy homemade Halloween costumes. What are your kids going to be? We picked out ours last weekend and I cringed when I saw the total. At least, Toys R Us is giving free Trick-or-Treat Buckets with every costume purchase to make up for the fact that I just went broke. As I mourn the loss of the funds in my bank account all in the name of Super Mario Bros., I'm bringing you ways to save with homemade costume ideas.

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Stupid Target for putting those boxes right at the check-out register and isn't it funny that each of my children sort of resemble the character of the box their holding? Spooky.

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Over the next weeks we're celebrating Halloween. I mean, we're REALLY celebrating with all kinds of baked goodies, mouth-watering cookies, and all types of candies. Secretly, I'm really concerned about my children's teeth. My oldest two children have permanent teeth this year and cavities are my main concern as I try to limit their Halloween candy consumption.

So, what can you do over the next few weeks, to ensure your children are brushing the recommended time and doing it independently? I, for one, don't want to sit in the bathroom and watch EACH of my three children brush their teeth every morning and every night. There just has to be a better way. Firefly Toothbrushes, by Dr. Fresh, provide in easy way for children to know exactly how long they are brushing and feel confident they are doing so.

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Welcome to Day 2 of our Halloween Party, sponsored by Nestle Family. Yesterday, we talked about fun Halloween baking ideas for all those hungry Ghosts and Goblins. Today, we're talking all things party. If you've been around Momma Findings you know that I used to live miles and miles away from this Texas town. In fact, I lived in both North Carolina and Tennessee. While living there, away from family, we attended quite a few Halloween themed playdates with some of the COOLEST decorations, activities, food, and take-home favors.

This year, we're not having a real LIVE party, but that doesn't mean we don't make extras for all our favorite neighborhood trick-or-treaters. So, whether or not your throwing a Halloween party or just making treats for the kids in your child's class, these friendly ghost treat bags are sure to fly out the door.

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I'm hosting a Halloween Party, right here on Momma Findings, all week long with spooky giveaways and tips on how to better your Halloween with the family. What better way to get in the haunted spirit than to check out fun TV shows related in theme? I mean, C'mon who doesn't watch Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin this time every year?

My husband and I have been having Vintage Scary Movie Night the last few weeks. I grew up watching all those horror flicks, but he didn't. So, we're catching up on all those classics and laughing at how someone can be dumb enough to run INTO a dark alley, half dressed, all by themselves and still manage to stumble over every trashcan they pass. To quench our Halloween themed fun with the kids, however, we opt for family friendly shows that give us a reason to trick and treat. Lucky for us, PBS Kids has quite a few lined up this month.

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This morning, I grumble at the noise coming from my congested brain. I'm, literally, going on three hours of sleep or so, yet, I'm here. My 8-yr-old son woke up vomiting, which turned into crying, and fever. I had no ability to make it go away, although, I feel like my Momma Superpowers SHOULD be able. So, instead I rubbed his back all night, ran to him when he called out, and I still feel so helpless and now energyless (Yeah I make up words whenever I want.. don't judge me) .

With my endless night, comes the morning...... this morning. The caffeine boost is helping a bit, but the fight with my better judgement, of going BACK to bed, is winning. I just know that if I surrender to it, my day will be gone, with no room to catch up on all I need to do today. Realizing it's Music Monday, I turned to the second thing that gets me through days like this. Music. Switchfoot to be more exact and so far? I've been keeping my eyes wide open.

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In about 2 weeks, my family will be walking down the street, knocking on doors, and shouting out, "Trick or Treat!" Halloween is one my favorite times with the kids, as we step into a world of make-believe, gather up candy filled goodness, and create all kinds of yummy treats in the kitchen together. We have so many activities planned for this Spooky Holiday like visiting the Pumpkin Patch and kicking back at the School Carnival, but, by far, the most I'm looking forward to is all the baking.

To kick off and count down to Halloween, I've partnered with Nestle Family for a Halloween Party right here on Momma Findings. Starting today, October 18th - 22nd, I'll bring you fun ways and time-saving tips to celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year. Along with those ideas, will come a daily giveaway of a Nestle Prize Pack. The week-long excitement wraps up on Friday where I'll be giving away a Grand Prize Party Package full of all kinds of goodies and a $100 Walmart Gift Card.

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There is something about going to the carnival that makes me downright giddy. I love the games, the rides, the cotton candy. I love it all. Unfortunately, my husband isn't a fan. He likes the fun of it all, but doesn't like the high cost. To enjoy games like this, we usually go to arcades such as Incredible Pizza, but ever since we discovered Carnival Games for Nintendo Wii, we've practiced our skills in the comfort of our own home.

Actually the kids and I have played this game to death and I was beginning to wonder if there would ever be a Wii game that we'll like as much as we do Carnival Games. Then, 2K Play showed me otherwise when they debuted the NEW Carnival Games for the Wii. There's NEW Carnival-Themed Games, NEW Functions, NEW Prizes, and NEW fun to be had with the family... all over again. Sweet.

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Original Title for a Series. Huh? No, seriously, I announced a few weeks ago that I'm starting a new blog. This blog will have nothing to do with products, parenting, recipes, or what you've come to love here at Momma Findings. In fact, it might be totally off base of what you're actually looking for in a blog, but that's okay. You can nestle here at Momma Findings in a comfort zone I've grown to provide easily. Every Friday, while the development of this blog is being worked on, I'll bring you bits and pieces of things you might find over there. You know, life stuff, Sara stuff, struggle stuff, marriage stuff, personal stuff, grilled shrimp, shrimp scampi, shrimp kabobs. Okay. Okay. I just had a Forest Gump kinda moment there.

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A few weeks ago, I highlighted Matthew West's newest song, My Own Little World, on one of my Music Mondays. I, merely, mentioned listening to the song, not necessarily the whole album, but it spoke to me.

So, I listened to the whole album, The Story of Your Life, and I'm going to say something I rarely say about ANY album. It's just plain amazing. I can relate to every single song, on a certain level, especially the song To Me that talks about a mother's heartbreak with her child when he enters Middle School, or the song Two Houses. It talks about how a girl feels after her parents divorced. We were almost there, at that irreconcilable point, of divorce, but God saved this marriage... this family. Matthew captures all those feelings, I've felt into each story, each song and today, I want to share this remarkable album, filled with real stories, real hope, and real life with you guys.

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There is one little thing my children look forward to once they get off the bus. No, it's not seeing me, but the fact that I usually have a nice after-school snack waiting for them. Sometimes, it's in the form of sugary goodness that no High-Fructose-Corn-Syrup-Opposing-Nazi-Mom is going to make me feel bad about giving to them and sometimes it's in the form of crunchy vegetables satisfied in creamy dips. It's all in the mood that strikes me on any given day.

That being said, there are some days they don't want any of the above. There are SOME days they want something that mirrors actual hot food that will fill there bellies up enough to knock out some homework BEFORE dinner. Heck, there are SOME days they bring along the whole neighborhood to partake. What's a Momma to do? Well, thanks to Tyson Foods, I got to experiment with a new snack in the form of chicken with their NEW Any'tizers Dippin' Twists.

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This Halloween, I'm actually thinking of dressing up. Yeah, the last few years I've simply donned a Halloween Shirt or wore cat ears on my head. Okay, Okay, I even threw on a tail, but that's neither here, nor there. THIS year, I'm a little more socially addicted than previous years, so I'm looking for the perfect Halloween costume that SCREAMS Sara. I want a costume that when people see me, they think Typical Sara. It's priceless.

If you're looking to get creative, save money and time, H-E-B has fun ideas for costumes made from items you can find at home and at your nearest H-E-B. So, what am I going to be? Well, that's a secret until Halloween night, but I will tell you that dressing up as the white iPhone 4 is right up there.

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Recently, I took part in The Wisk Project, where I experimented with laundry detergent. We fought all kinds of stains including grass and ketchup. In the coming weeks, I'm putting two more laundry detergents to the test in my Science Lab, but today I want to talk about bringing that awesome laundry fresh scent into your kitchen while doing dishes.

Now, everything you love about Gain is available for your dishes. With three refreshing scents, your washing machine MIGHT get a little jealous. I got to try the Gain original scent dish soap, which came wrapped up in a "Sniff Sniff Hurray" package from My Blog Spark. How did it fair? Will I be adding it to my new kitchen regimen? Or should you stick with the laundry room?

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Yesterday, my baby girl turned 7-yrs-old. How did that happen?!

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Last year, I gained criticism for celebrating Halloween so openly online. As a Christian mother, it just doesn't sit well with other Christian mothers who believe Halloween is a satanic holiday, unworthy of being celebrated with the family. But you know what? I think differently and look forward to this night every year. My children pick costumes, we Trick-Or-Treat, bake lots of fun goodies, and spend time with friends and family. That's what it's all about to me.

So, this year I will not be backing down on my Halloween coverage, no matter what kind of criticism comes my way. Of course I keep it clean. I keep it fun. Hey. I keep it family friendly here at Momma Findings. So, first on the docket to get your kids pumped and entertained is Madeline's Halloween & Other Spooky Tales, now on DVD.

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Sponsored By:

Cheerios® is giving you the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, your ultimate family vacation. As part of a paid promotion for their “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, Cheerios® is sponsoring my post today about what my ultimate family vacation would be. Read mine, Enter the Sweepstakes for a chance to actually win your own fantasy family trip or one of a bunch of other great prizes.

It's not often, we get to go on a family vacation. In fact, my husband's job, for years, never provided a good opportunity for him to take vacation at all. So, we were stuck in a rut of simply visiting family in Texas when we had a few days off. Now, that we LIVE in Texas we don't have to spend what little vacation we have on visiting family. We can, instead, discover new places WITH them. I've been thinking about where we would go for the Ultimate Family Vacation. I would choose a place the kids can have fun, but the adults don't feel left out either. The magical deck of a Disney Cruise comes to mind.

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We've gone pink for all those brave survivors, those women who have been crushed and created by breast cancer

Lately, I've been reminiscent of the last ten years of my life. In those years, I experienced great happiness, but along with it came great sorrow, big heart break, and a healing I never fathomed could cover me. Ever.

Today, I sit here, with ear buds in my ears with a feeling of heartbreak over circumstances I wish were never given life - places I'd never choose I wish would disappear. I have healed. Greatly. But the memories, often, sneak up behind me, place their hands on my shoulders, and breathe gently on my neck. They bring both a healing and haunting all at the same time and to be honest? It scares the crap out of me.

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Last night, I relaxed in front of the television to watch a movie with my daughter. We picked American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong. This movie shows girls, first hand, about school bullying and how to stand up against it. It also depicts how to build and keep friendships. A trait that, more often than none, I've found more and more adults still lack.

Although we enjoyed movie time together, there was one person who just wasn't interested. My 3-yr-old son just isn't interested in movies, unless they are animated. Feeling a little guilty this morning, I introduced him to a new DVD Series I knew he would like, Adventures in Booga Booga Land. It follows 2 best friends Marty and Gerard as they develop THEIR friendship and learning what God has in store for their lives.

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This is my very last week, to take part in The Wisk Project. I've been learning so much about the science behind the New Wisk® with Stain Spectrum™ Technology and all the types of stains it can fight. They know stains, so this Momma doesn't have to. Besides, I have more important things to do with my time, like play outside with my kids.

From grass stains to ketchup stains, my family seems to drag them all into my laundry room. It shouldn't be a surprise to me because they love to play outside and, second to that, they love to eat. So, this week, Wisk encouraged us to enjoy this AWESOME Fall weather by having a good old-fashioned tailgate party and a food fight like no other. I'm answering that infamous question most Mommas have How do you get ketchup out of clothes?

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There's nothing better than jammin' out to your favorite tunes and dancing it up in the comfort of your own home. I mean, some of my moves are meant to be private to prevent an over abundance of embarrassment, but that's for another post, another day.

Over the Summer, we told you guys how much we were lovin' the KIDZ BOP Dance Party album and even showed you guys one of our dance videos, brought to you by both my sons. Today, we've got, not only the dancing itch, but the excitement of all those dance moves rolled up together in a Wii game. Yes, Just Dance has some competition among families since D3 Publisher released KIDZ BOP Dance Party! The Video Game in September. We've had a few weeks with this game and bringing our first hand take on this new dance craze in the gaming world for kids.

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Last December I was introduced to Klutz, creator of fun activity books for kids. Heck. Who am I kidding, they've taught me how never to grow up with the The Encyclopedia of Immaturity. If you've been here long enough, you might remember I featured their Bristle Bots and Paper Fashions Fancy in my 2009 Holiday Gift Guide. Klutz also made an appearance during our Rainy Day Fun month long series with Fancy Friendship Bracelets. If you were a bettin' Momma you might bet on the fact that I love me some Klutz and I, secretly, think they love me back.

Their latest book release, the Klutz Book Of Animation, shows kids how-to create stop-motion magic, from practical instruction to ready-to-shoot scripts! To celebrate the release of this book, Klutz is touring the Blogosphere on an exclusive 17-stop Blog Tour and I'm lucky number 13. Each stop will feature a tutorial video and exclusive content from the co-author & creator Nick Berger. Oh, and and fun giveaways along the way too!

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Meet Dallas. He's the newest member of our family and ALREADY spoiled rotten.

For more Wordless Wednesdays head over to A Daily Dose of Toni, 5 Minutes for Mom, Keeper of the Cheerios, and Jolly Mom.

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Today, I've been little Miss Martha Stewart. Yeah, I'm gonna pat myself on the back for today's accomplishments that included all the laundry, blogging, conference calls, and I EVEN baked a Lemon Supreme Cake for after dinner. Hey, I know it's not everyone's favorite, but every now and again I like to make something I know I will enjoy.

As I baked away in the kitchen, I thought about how amazing it would be to have new kitchen appliances. My oven isn't too old, but there's nothing special about it. The dishwasher, well it's new, but again... simple is far as it gets. Even as I mixed together the cake ingredients I cursed under my breath as my arm tired. Yeah, my kitchen doesn't even have a mixer to help this girl out. If you're like me, daydreaming of your perfect kitchen, you might want to enter the KitchenAid Rescue My Appliance Sweepstakes.

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Now that the weather has cooled off for Fall, the kids and I have been spending a LOT of time outside. It's just too nice not to. When we're outside we love playing sports together, especially baseball. My little man loves him some baseball, but he's just now learning how to hold a bat, hit, and catch a ball, etc.

Some skills and sports can take longer to learn than others and this proves true when trying to emphasize the patience in baseball to a 3-yr-old. He grows so frustrated with himself that he yells out, "You're not pitching it right, Mom!" So, imagine my excitement when I was asked to review the NEW E-Z Bat by Monkey Business Sports. The E-Z Bat holds the ball, and kids fling it off. The better the swing, the farther the ball sails! It seems like just the thing to help my son learn how to swing a bat, but would it work?

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A few weeks ago, I joined some of my favorite Houston bloggers at Galleria Mall for some fun chatting, great food, and a sneak peek at the NEW Fall line of Naturalizer Shoes. The Feel Good Tour, a shoe preview event by Naturalizer Shoes, made it's way through Houston as a pop-store in Tower 1, catching the eye of, not only, the invitees, but professionals passing by, looking for a way to feel good in their shoes.

It made for a good day as I walked in with, both my husband and my 3-yr-old son who couldn't get enough of the catered chocolate chip cookies on hand. I love me some shoes. Moreover, I love me some boots... the taller the better. I'm, seriously, just barely 5'0 so anything that gives me height AND comforts my feet is a winner in my book.

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Do you remember the first time you fell in love? Your heart beats faster. Your stomach turns upside down. You can't help, but smile when you see that certain someone. Then it ends. Your heart is broken, but you do it all over again. Why? Because there's something about love.

I've been married for 10 years this Spring, but I still remember how he made me feel the first time I met him because he still makes me feel that way. When he's telling spooky stories with the kids by the chiminea, or when he's playing with our new puppy, and even when the stress of life is falling down all around us. There's just something 'bout love.

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I've gone to many a blogging conference, where I find myself drooling over the funniest things. These bloggers have awesome gadgets, business cards, and laptops that I think I need to step up my game. It's fun to look, but I don't necessarily feel the need to run out and buy everything I discover, until the day I found THE camera strap. Oh. My. Fashion. Goodness.

There hasn't been something I wanted THIS bad since my need to find a fun laptop bag. A unique camera strap is the icing on the cake for me and my new Nikon camera. I wanted to find one that was, not only, comfortable to wear, but stylish too. Well I found it at Capturing Couture, your one stop place where camera gear collides with fashion.

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