A few to get you started this morning...

Burt's Bees natural Acne Solutions.

Go here to request a free sample.

I requested one back in August when it first came out. I received my sample a couple of weeks ago and have already started using it. It definitely does NOT dry out your skin - it is about as natural as you can get!



Kerasol is offering a free sample of their Exfoliating Foot Ointment.



Fill out the form here.








SoyButter - click here to request your free sample!

"...the entire manufacturing process is completed in one facility starting from raw non-GMO soybeans directly from local fields, right to the finished product filled into a jar or cup, ready for your enjoyment."

100% Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Gluten Free and Dairy Free!

I can't wait to try this! Let me know what you think!







Teachers Only!!!


Register here for your FREE Anniversary Hand Pointer from Learning Resources.

Students Only - Free 2010 Calendar!!!

Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute is giving away a free calendar to students!

Request a FREE autographed photo of your favorite Disney Character from Walt Disney Co.


By writing to the address below, your child (or you!) will receive a free autographed glossy photo of your child's favorite Disney character:

Walt Disney Company
Attn: Fan Mail Department
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

Personalization (your child's name) is not available. No SASE required (just the postage on your request). Be sure to specify the name of the Disney character in your request letter.

Monday, Monday.

Lots of fun ones for a Monday...



Become a Fan of Walgreens on Facebook and they’ll give you a code valid for a FREE Photo Book on October 2nd!

(You’ll only have to pay a small shipping fee.)

This will make a wonderful Christmas gift!!!

Eukanuba is giving away a free bag of puppy food!

Go here to request your bag!

You deserve one!!!

Nominate a friend who deserves a Starbucks Frappuccino. Perhaps they will nominate you for one in return?

Free Frappuccino here.





Request a FREE purple ribbon from the Drug Policy Alliance Network.

Please, please, please show your support for overdose prevention. This is a HUGE crisis in our country.

Do your part.






For Teachers Only:

Free Earth/Mars Comparison Poster!

Complete the form on this page and you will be sent a FREE poster.





One million CUPCAKES!!!

Little Debbie is giving away one million cupcakes plus other prizes!

Enter here for your chance to win!






Free envelope opener from Aspex Corp! Click here and scroll down a little to find the form. Quick and free!


Jerry Parker's Printing is giving away a free post-it pad!



Go here to complete the form.









A free hand towel!


Weavefield Mills is offering a free sample of their hand towel.

Go to this page to fill out the request form!

Limit 1 sample per household.

Fun Friday!

Just some things to start your day...more to come.


Take an opportunity to thank our troops!

Go to Let's Say Thanks and (quickly) send a thank you card to a soldier. These adorable postcards were made by children from all over - you simply choose the one you like, select a message or write your own, and hit send. It's so simple, but it means so much!

Also, while you're on the site, click on Photo Gallery to see some pretty amazing photographs of the program. It will melt your heart.


Tomorrow, September 26, is National Public Lands Day.


This means entrance to all 391 national parks is FREE!

Every park will have a volunteer event, as well!

If nothing else, pack a lunch for your family and enjoy some great quality time! Find the playground and let the kids go wild!




Well, I fully intend to catch this next freebie!

Disney is celebrating "A Christmas Carol" with Jim Carey by bringing an interactive 40-city train tour, including a 3-D sneak peek at the movie! All for FREE!!!

The train is making its way across the country - go here for a cool look at the map! Go to "Schedule" on the website to see all the stops. I'm so excited because it hasn't made its way to Atlanta yet, but it will in October! And I plan to be there! Sorry, Louisvillians, it was there earlier this month :( If you caught it, let me know! Be sure to click on the tiny arrows on the right of the schedule to go all the way to the bottom of the list.

The train is in Boston this weekend! Don't miss it!

If you live in the Atlanta area, you won't want to miss this. Bistro in a Box is celebrating their Open House Tasting by giving away free food!

Go and enjoy complimentary mini burgers, grilled pesto chicken, antipasto platters, homemade desserts, cupcakes, cookies, brownies and more!

They are located at 307 E. College Ave. Suite B, Decatur. 404-941-7799

Ice Cream, Ice Cream, (you know the rest...)

It's a long list today...but WAY overdue.


Visit Cold Stone Creamery today! If you visit and make a $1 donation or more to the Make a Wish Foundation, you will receive a free ” Jack’s Creation” Ice Cream Sundae (ice cream mixed with brownies, rainbow sprinkles, topped with caramel).

Yummy!!!

(This freebie brought to you by my sister-in-law, Katy.)





Today is Customer Appreciation Day at Carvel.

Stop in between 3-7 p.m. to get a FREE Oreo Rounder.

I'm sorry, but 2 oreos and some ice cream - I could go for that!






Did someone say a free calendar? I love free calendars!!!

The New Yorker is giving away a poster-size calendar.

From the site: "Hurry! Sign up now and we'll send you a free 2010 New Yorker calendar poster as a thank you for continuing to read The New Yorker. No strings. Nothing to buy. Measuring 18" x 26," the calendar is printed on heavy, high-gloss paper that is perfect for display. Offer expires October 31, 2009. Quantities are limited."





To the first 500 to sign up, Elle is offering Bioloage Rejuvenating Shampoo, an Intensive Masque, and comb!


Go here to sign up.

Win Ugg Boots!!! Go here to find out how you can win them!

I am SUPER excited about this freebie from Mario Badescu!

You will answer a few questions and they will match the right skin samples to you by your answers. Once you hit "submit" they will let you know which products they matched you with, and then you just wait for them to arrive. (Rumor has it that they are extremely generous and have been known to send multiple samples to you instead of just one...let me know what you get!!!)



If you have kids, this one is a MUST!

Geoffrey's Birthday Party at Toys R Us is this Saturday, 9/26/09, from 12-3 pm. It is free to attend and there will be fun Birthday parades, great activities and FREE giveaways!


Find a store here.



When we lived in Louisville, we always enjoyed the free Toys R Us events. Be sure to sign up for the Birthday Club - your child will get a phone call from Geoffrey on his/her birthday, and you will also be able to take them to the store for a "Birthday Celebration" complete with balloons, a hat and other goodies!

This Saturday, 9/26, is the Build and Grow Clinic at Lowe's.

Project: a firetruck! The first 50 participants to arrive will receive a free apron, eye goggles and more!

It's a great hands-on activity you can do with your children or grandchildren.

Have fun!


Bear Naked is giving away a sample of one of their bars!


Go here to sign up and choose the one you want.

(They are already out of 3 of them!)

Let me know how you like them...



Go see Conan O'Brien!!!


Boy do I wish I lived in L.A....

Go to this page to enter for free tickets to a live taping!

I would love to hear if you win!





Get a free denim hat!
Mary's Tailor Shop is offering a free denim hat a demonstration of her work.

Click here and fill out the form. It's that easy!




Try a FREE sample of CleanWell Natural Hand Sanitizer.


I'm excited to try this!

Cleanwell is the only hand sanitizer that is all natural and alcohol-free. The ingredients are safe for kids, non-toxic, and come from rapidly renewable resources that grow abundantly worldwide.





L’essence D’eau is offering a free sample of their Skin Repair Essence.


I am definitely going to try this - I need all the help I can get these days.

Go here and fill out the very short form.

Let me know if you like it!





Well, I'm going to pause for now and come back with some more! I'm making up for lost time :)

Enjoy!!!

So...

...let me just say this and then I will move forward to a happier place (and get some more freebies back on here!!!).

I know many of you probably watched as a real meltdown occurred on my FB page after simply posting that I was home with a sick child. (Who would have thought?)

Just because I have elected to take the high road in this absurd situation, don't think for a minute that some serious annihilation could not have occurred. It has been in everyone's best interest that I have not said just what I think about this issue. You really don't want me to go there.

I take very seriously my responsibility as a mother. It is no longer of interest to me whether or not someone's feelings are hurt or if someone has been inconvenienced in some way. I know all about hurt feelings and inconvenience. Liam is, and will always be, my priority. He is human. He is my son.

Whatever issues someone has that sends them into an all-out defensiveness (you know, rather than actually showing a real concern for Liam), they need to take care of those. It will not happen at the expense of our child ever again.

To all of our amazing friends who took the time to ask me how Liam was feeling and how he was doing over the last couple of days, we thank you. To my incredible friends who were there when I didn't even know they were, it means more than you know.

And to Zeke, my dear friend: xoxoxo.

Just mom stuff...

Moms, do you ever just have one of those days? (I know, ridiculous question. Answer is always emphatically - YES!) Well, today is definitely one for me.

Let me preface this blog entry with 3 important truths:

1. I love my husband and son.
2. Of course I know I am blessed.
3. I wouldn't trade them for anything.

This is where I would insert a HUGE "however"...followed by…

I have lost Heather.

Have you seen her? Would you even recognize her if you did see her? I know I certainly wouldn't. That's probably why I can't begin to locate her. She is missing. She is, I'm afraid, gone. Vanished. In hiding, permanently.

Before these "grown up" years, I was free, spunky, laughed (correction: cackled) A LOT, smiled A LOT, hugged A LOT. I sang at the top of my lungs. I performed very random dance acts that were probably hideous but always entertaining. I went to concerts. I went to the theater. I never missed a newly released movie. I could go to Target any time I wanted.

I don't think I realized just how happy I was. If I could just find a slice of that I think I could figure out the rest. But right now, it's hard to even visualize that freedom.

My whole being is centered around the schedule of my child and husband. Seriously. How did I ever allow that to happen? I thought I had more selfishness in me, but apparently not. I need a dose right now because I find myself becoming more and more resentful of what I cannot do, and it would be in my best interest to nip that in the bud. I know that, yet, it's a real struggle to fix the situation. There’s just no room for me in the picture.

Being a stay-at-home mom is wonderful in so many ways. And I adore the time I have with Liam. I know he needs that right now. I think if I had set out originally to BE one, I wouldn't feel so frustrated at this moment. It was not really in the plan, but with Liam being so sick all the time, it made more sense for me to not keep trying to start new jobs and quickly lose them. But now he's reaching an age where I know that if I don't "find myself" soon, he will be in school before I know it and I won't have a clue what to do. And believe me, there is PLENTY that I would love to do right now, but it seems everything I try to do, everything I want to get involved in, no matter how big or small, ends up being inconvenient because of someone's schedule. So even "finding myself" has become an impossible task because there's no room left for Heather at the end of the day.

Fall is coming and soccer referee season is upon us. Let me tell you, as much extra money as William makes doing it, it becomes so not worth it emotionally. This is what it represents to me: every Saturday and Sunday sitting in Flovilla (have you BEEN to Flovilla?), doing basically what I do Monday through Friday of every week. Sure, there are plenty of things we do outdoors, and we do them. But we've already covered it all week long in the afternoons. And going to the soccer field playground just because Daddy is working on the field and might get a break while we are there does NOT constitute fun. Sometimes, you just want to go somewhere with your family. Go see an afternoon movie. Go to Atlanta. In the year I’ve lived here, I’ve not even BEEN into Atlanta. Not for dinner. Not for a show. Not for an afternoon. If it were up to me, that’s where I’d be every weekend. But clearly, it’s not about me at all.

I know that single parents do this everyday. I have such admiration for them. What is difficult is the fact that I am not a single parent, yet I feel like I am much of the time. What's the point in moving your family somewhere for a "better opportunity" when it feels like anything BUT that?

We are in a very small town where opportunities are extremely limited, new friends are few and far between, and things are just slow in general. I'm a city slicker. Even when Liam was smaller and I was home with him, I could drive right down the road to the Louisville YMCA where both mommy and baby could have a little social interaction with their own age group. That opportunity does NOT exist in this county. We’ve made some very nice friends, but coordinating child care on the rare occasions when I feel like sharing my few weekend hours with other people is not so easy. It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with these great friends because they really are amazing, it’s that I haven’t even spent quality time with my own husband…or managed to paint my nails in the last 3 months…or plucked my eyebrows. Do you feel me?

I was originally very excited about doing activities at the church and volunteering my time. I can't even sign up for things anymore because I know that unless William is there to take care of Liam, I can't do them. I can't help with events with Liam under my feet, and that's right where he is. And I can't just trust that "someone else" is watching him when they aren't. And most activities are on the weekends. I've gotten to where I don't even sign us up to be at ANYTHING because I know, chances are, it won't work out. And I’m becoming very bitter about our family now “squeezing” church into our routine. What is that about? I used to gravitate to those activities because I thought it would help our family unit to make a better effort to do things together. Now, I don’t even read about them. It’s a complete disconnect from the inevitable disappointment of not getting to participate. And it’s not that we don’t WANT to, it’s that it just isn’t working out.

The other side of this is...I could get a full-time job and totally shift gears. Fine. I am happy to do that, until the first time Liam gets sick at school and has to miss a couple of days. (He's been sick most every week since school has started, by the way.) I'm not going down that road again. It ends up costing us more money than if I just didn't work at all.

I've been wanting to go to an open house for a program at a college in Atlanta. I have had my eye on this for some time and never even gave myself the time to consider it. (You can see why.) Just as I decided I would go, I realized it's next Saturday, the first weekend of soccer. Well, of course it is! That's how things DON'T work out for me. William insisted that we go anyway, so I sent off the postcard. Deep down, I know it's not going to pan out. Whatever. I should be used to it by now.

Cake decorating class. One of the first things I decided to do for myself back in February. I was able to make it to one class only. Classic. And the first class I was in...I was a complete emotional wreck because we were having Liam tested for Cystic Fibrosis that week. I never was able to work it out with my schedule to go back the next 3 weeks to complete the class.

I am desperately trying to find my way out of this depressing hole, but honestly, we've been here for a year and I'm just not seeing it. It actually feels a bit like quicksand. It’s either this town, it’s me, it’s us. I don’t know WHAT it is, but it is not working.

So, it's Labor Day weekend. William refereed a tournament all day yesterday and all day today. He did it for the extra money for us and for no other reason. Of course I am grateful. Yet, after being home with Liam, day in/day out, with no adult conversation, I could have listed 100 other things I would have rather done the last 48 hours than sit in this house and do what we do all other days of the week. And frankly, I am tired of my social opportunities consisting of whatever activity gets crammed into the few hours after he gets home. With such limited time to choose what I would like to do (trust me, it's very limited), it's really frustrating when it's something I really DON'T want to do with those precious hours I have. Maybe all I want to do is sit outside with my family while the sun is still shining (rare occasion). Or take a walk with said family. Or go get ice cream. And I usually end up offending someone if I end up not at their dinner or whatever is going on because I’d rather do one of these other things, but it’s truly not personal against that person. It’s just that, by then, I am exhausted from entertaining. I’d rather not go than to sit and appear miserable and anxious.

Some days, all I want to do is get in the car and drive back home. I know, big baby. This is still very foreign to me down here. I don't know how long that takes to settle or if it ever really does. The truth is, at this point, I don't think I want it to.

I love my son. I love my husband. I love the blessings we have.

But I need to find myself again.

P.S. This is just an emotional outlet. I will be fine in a few hours. You know, until the next thing comes along…

It's Friday!

This might have been one of the longest weeks in history. Friday just couldn't get here soon enough.

Okay, first freebie...

At 9:00 a.m., it's free chocolate from Mars! I'm still registering for these, just in case they decide to be generous with the number of coupons they send to each family.

Go here to get yours.

Next up...

The first 10,000 people who sign up on the Right@Home web site will get a Free Scrubbing Bubbles Fall Cleanup Gift Pack. The gift pack includes one free Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel.

Gift packs will be mailed by November 15, 2009.



And then...

Borders has a printable coupon for a FREE small cup of flavored brewed coffee. (Try their Vanilla Creme, Cinnamon Swirl, or Hazelnut!)

Oh how I could use this right now.


Just an FYI...


Cosmopolitan has a daily giveaway.

You don't have to wait around for a certain day to enter. Just go here each day and register.



And...I can't say enough about my excitement over Woman's Day giveaways. What I love about these is the fact that, at the end of each month, they dedicate a page listing each and every winner of the giveaways (and there are quite a few!). These include very nice trips, gift baskets, clothing, etc. I see lots of people from Georgia on their list of winners, so I'm encouraged.


<-- The photo here is of Casa Velas Hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Just one of the trips they are giving away. Go to this page to see them all. Scroll down to the very bottom because those at the end of the list will expire first. So, make sure to register for those first. Good luck!!!




Finally...

Allure has a giveaway today at 12 noon. Today it's Victoria Secret's Velvet Amber Blackberry Fragrance.

While you're there, go ahead and register for the Lancome giveaway (pictures above)!

You know the routine by now.

Have a fantastic Labor Day weekend!!!

Happy Face (Liam's first this week, whew!)

We've had a rough couple of weeks with Liam.

He was an angel the first week of school. He would enter the classroom each day and go right to the table for story time. He needed very little redirection to stay on task. (We worked really hard over the summer to catch him up on some things he lost during his first two years of illnesses.) I guess you could say it was the "Honeymoon Phase." He got "happy faces" on his progress sheet each day.

Then, almost overnight, he started hitting, throwing, kicking - pretty much anything he had his hands on got punched or kicked before he was done with it. Even our lab, Annie, became a victim of his aggression. I was not having it. This child was never aggressive. Never a biter. He was always the one bitten. Never a hitter or a fighter in any way. We always described him as passive (and loved that he was gentle, but always hoped he would learn to defend himself when necessary). Suddenly, I did not recognize my son.

I knew there were factors that could have been contributing to the change, but I didn't want to make excuses:

1. We went on vacation with my mom to the land of magic (Disney World) during his second week of school...where every little wish of his came true. Then we returned to very sudden reality...that is, home and back to school.

2. He came back from Disney World with an ear infection and a very asthmatic cough.

3. He was now back on steroid breathing treatments (which usually requires a grace period of several days to get over the "wild child" phase).

4. Gagi (my mom) went back to Kentucky, thus stripping him of ridiculous spoiledness (I know, it's not even a word!).

After all of this had time to wear off, we still had our aggressive child.

I am kicking myself now for not thinking of it sooner. Two nights ago, it hit me that maybe, just maybe, he is demonstrating behavior that he has been shown. I said to William, "It's almost like someone has been hitting him."

I turn to Liam and ask, "Liam, who hits you?"

Liam: "C_____."

Me: "C_____ at school?"

Liam: "C_____ hits me on the head...it hurts."

Oh.no.she.didn't.

William looks at me. I look at William.

It's on.

(Delete dramatic energy.)

No, really, it all made sense now. (Why did it take me so long to ask that very simple question? Insert Mom Guilt.)

We talked to all the right people at his school, and they are addressing the issue. We are all HOPING to correct this behavior quickly. Per his speech therapist, we are going all out with positive reinforcement of all the things he does right, instead of constantly saying, "No, we don't hit." I would be loaded right now if I had been paid for every time I said that in the last 14 days.

And...I would be a rich woman today for all the times I have congratulated him for every little thing he has done right. (But it puts BOTH of us in a very good mood!) Lots of hugging, stickers, rewards...and the improvement has already begun.

It was suggested that we create a box where we put all of the objects/toys he uses to hit and let him know that that's not what the toy is for.

As of 2:05 p.m., the box is empty :)

Liam's "Happy Face"

I should be at the gym...

Now I know I've crossed over to the "commitment" side of working out. I'm a little under the weather today and not really able to bounce around like I need to in p90x cardio, and I feel SO GUILTY FOR MISSING!!!! (This is a good thing.)

This is the only one for this morning. I'll try to get more later today.

A free $10 mall gift card!!!

My advice...when you type in your zip code, select the mileage at "100" just so you can see all the malls in your vicinity. It's automatically set at 10...and if you live in a place like I do...10 miles isn't going to get you anywhere.

Just click here and follow the instructions below.

-Type in your zip code, then select your mall.
-Then click #2 in the main box on that page and enter your email.
-You have to go to the mall between 9/17-19 to get it.
-Some malls are already out of them!

FYI - If you live in Louisville, St. Matthews Mall is already out of them, but Oxmoor has 60-something left right now.

It's a terrific Tuesday for freebies!

Week of Hope - September 1-7

You can go to cardstore.com, choose and create a photo card from their "Hope" collection, and they will ship it to anyone in the world you choose for FREE!



Kashi is giving away a free sample! You can choose between 3 different kinds...or you can let them choose one for you!


Hurry up - not sure how long this will last!




Betty Crocker: Free Sample of Boxed Potoates


Go here to request your free sample of either Au Gratin or Roasted Garlic potatoes.

Quick and easy to register!