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Sep
29
We have been trying to have a family movie night every weekend, and so far, it has been a success. The only problem we have is choosing movies, or choosing a movie that all four of us agree on.
My kids, especially my 12 year old, think that I am trying to keep them from great classic movies, such as anything from the Scream series or “305″… How did they figure out that I want to keep those timeless treasures all to myself!
It is hard to find movies that we all like, because I veto anything with sexual content or nudity. Language is hard to avoid, to a certain extent, so I will consider movies with minor bad language and minimal violence. That rules out most comedies, because those are usually full of inappropriate content. So every week is kind of a struggle.
Last weekend we rented The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, based on the book by John Boyne. I do like to read the books first, but this was the only movie we all wanted to see. Excellent movie, although its been awhile since a movie had me sobbing out loud. Very heavy for family movie night, but it opened up a great discussion. I highly recommend it.
My kids prefer action or scary movies, and they think Friday the 13th would be the ultimate scary movie - if their mom would let them watch it 
. Why do so many scary movies have to throw in a sex scene?
I love movies, and I want to share that with my kids, but our options are so limited. They don’t want to watch movies that are rated G, but I draw the line at so many even PG-13 movies. This is where you guys come in!
I need movie ideas for our family movie night. My boys are 12 and 14. Like I said, no sexual content, but I’ll consider just about anything else. It doesn’t have to be a recent movie, old movies are fine. Scary, funny, action, drama, anything goes. I’d love to hear about movies that you or your family love. What would you recommend for my family?
And because I sooo appreciate you suggestions, a giveaway! I am giving away (2) $100 Amazon gift cards. Two lucky winners! And there are a lot of ways to enter.
Here’s how to enter:
Leave a comment here with movie recommendations. One comment per person, but there are other ways to enter.
More ways to enter:
- Subscribe to Unexpected Bliss.
- Mention this giveaway on your blog. (include direct link in your comment)
- Follow me on Twitter (@UnexpectedBliss)
- For an extra entry, sent a tweet on Twitter about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter name in your comment. This may be done as often as you want, leave a comment for each tweet.
- Stumble this post
For each of the above that you do, leave 1 comment on this giveaway post, ie 1 comment if you subscribe, 1 comment if you follow me on Twitter, 1 comment for each tweet, 1 comment for a Stumble, 1 comment for mentioning this on your blog)
You can also earn additional entries by commenting on any of my blog posts from September 1 through October 5. Relevant comments puleeze, not just I want to win! or Here’s my entry! If you already commented on those posts, go ahead and comment again to be counted for this giveaway, I’ll be keeping track by date.
That is a lot of chances to win!
Open to US addresses only. Please make sure you leave a valid email address with each entry. The winners will have 72 hours to respond to my email notification, if I do not hear back within that time I will pick another winner.
This giveaway will end at midnight CST on Monday October 5.
The giveaway has ended. Thank you for all your great movie recommendations! Winners will be emailed later today and will be posted here once I hear back from them. Thanks for entering!
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Sep
28
I got to review Febreze NOTICEables in a compensated review from Blogher – no, it is NOT because I have a smelly house! Well I did, but I don’t anymore, oh never mind. Anyway, visit my review blog to read the review and enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card and Febreze gift basket.
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Sep
14
There is still time to enter to win a $100 Visa gift card, visit my review blog for details and good luck!
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Aug
28
I was one of the lucky ones to get to check out the new FamilyMap from AT&T in a compensated review from Blogher. You can read my review and enter to WIN a $100 gift card. Go on, giveaways are good for you.
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Aug
3
August. Back to school time, school supply shopping time, school clothes shopping time. All great fun. No one here is ready for school to start. Really, not even me. But it needs to start, and soon.
Why does it need to start? Because we are entering what I call the Dead Zone of Summer. Surely you know about this. It’s when the kids are so bored, having long conversations with the dog is exciting. Even if the dog is asleep.
Yes, I know what to do with bored children. I give them chores. Lots of chores. I keep them busy. But they are still bored, and there are only so many chores I can give them. They tried, but they just were not able to remodel our house for me. oh just kidding. But seriously, I’m trying to keep them busy, and I have made a standing offer to provide transportation for them to go to a friends house or to bring their friends here. But they are still bored. Which can only mean one thing – they are ready to go back to school.
I wish we could take a last minute vacation or weekend trip. But those things take money, which in this house is going to be spent on braces very soon. We spent yesterday exploring the Oklahoma countryside in all its glory,and that was fun. But we need some help, some suggestions to beat the August Boredom Dead Zone. What does your family do when the children are totally, completely, unequivocally bored to tears?
And because August can be tough for all of us, a Giveaway! Leave me your comments with suggestions to beat the end of summer boredom, and enter to win a $50 Target gift card. A little shopping is always good when you’re bored, right?
Here’s how to enter:
- Leave a comment here telling me what you do to deal with bored kids. One comment per person, but there are other ways to enter.
More ways to enter:
- Subscribe to Unexpected Bliss.
- Mention this giveaway on your blog. (include direct link in your comment)
- Follow me on Twitter (@UnexpectedBliss)
- For an extra entry, sent a tweet on Twitter about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter name in your comment. This may be done as often as you want, leave a comment for each tweet.
- Stumble this post
For each of the above that you do, leave 1 comment on this giveaway post, ie 1 comment if you subscribe, 1 comment if you follow me on Twitter, 1 comment for each tweet, 1 comment for a Stumble, 1 comment for mentioning this on your blog)
Open to US addresses only.
This giveaway will end next Monday August 10 at midnight CST.
The giveaway has ended, thank you everyone who entered. I will notify the lucky winner via email. Please respond within five days or I will notify an alternate. Thanks again!
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May
19
I wanted to announce the winners of my Blogiversary giveaway. In addition to the Superhero necklace I gave away two bonus prizes. Here are the winners:
- Grand prize starburst pendant ~ Katherine
- Bonus prize $25 Target gift card ~ Cindy
- Bonus prize $25 Target gift card ~ Jenn Bo
Congratulations to the winners and thank you everyone who entered! I’m planning to have another giveaway very soon, so keep watching for that.
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Apr
16
Last week was my 1 year blogging anniversary. I can’t believe it’s been a year already, I’ve loved every minute of it. The blogging community is incredibly kind and welcoming, and I hope to celebrate many more blogiversarys!
To kick off my blogiversary celebration, I’m giving away an awesome necklace from Superhero Designs. I’m so excited about this giveaway, it’s just a wonderful prize! If you haven’t checked out Andrea’s beautiful jewelry, you are missing out. She has lovely colorful bead necklaces and some very cool pendants, as well as beaded bracelets.
They are all so pretty its hard to pick, but my favorite is the bulls eye pendant. On the back of it is the word “superhero”, which I love. Thestarburst pendant says “joy” on the back. Both are beautiful, so I’m not going to choose which one I give away. The winner gets to choose either the starburst pendant or the bulls eye pendant. You are so lucky!
Here’s how to enter:
In order to do this blogging anniversary right, I want to give you as many chances to enter as possible.
- Visit Superhero Designs then come back here and tell me 2 things. 1-which pendant you would choose and 2-which beaded necklace is your favorite. Leave 1 comment for each answer, so that gives you 2 entries.
- Any comment you leave on any upcoming post, from now until the giveaway ends, will count towards the giveaway. So any comment on any post dated 4/16 until 4/30 will count as an entry! Please leave relevant comments, not just “enter me in the giveaway”, and one comment per post. I will keep track of all comments on posts between now and 4/30.
I will post at least daily so you’ll have many chances to enter this one, come back often!
And there are even more ways to enter:
- Subscribe to Unexpected Bliss.
- Mention this giveaway on your blog. (include direct link in your comment)
- Follow me on Twitter (@UnexpectedBliss)
- For an extra entry, sent a tweet on Twitter about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter name in your comment. This may be done as often as you want, leave a comment for each tweet.
- Stumble this post
For each of the above that you do, leave 1 comment on THIS giveaway post, ie 1 comment if you subscribe, 1 comment if you follow me on Twitter, 1 comment for each tweet, 1 comment for a Stumble, 1 comment for mentioning this on your blog)
Open to US addresses only.
This giveaway will end Thursday April 30 at midnight CST. I will notify the lucky winner via email and once the winner responds with choice of pendant I will post the winner here. Please make sure to put a valid email address in every comment that you leave.
The giveaway has ended, I will email the winner and post here once I hear back from them. Thank you everyone who entered!
This giveaway is sponsored by me, to celebrate my year of blogging. Enjoy!
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Jan
26
It’s that time again! I love this giveaway carnival from Bloggy Giveaways. I was planning on doing a giveaway this week, because my birthday is coming up, but this is even better, because there will be many bloggers having giveaways. You can enter here to win a $100 Visa gift card.
To Enter to Win a $100 Visa gift card: Leave a comment here telling me what was the favorite birthday gift you ever got. (I know, I’m beating this birthday theme to death. Humor me please!)
Open to US addresses only. One entry per person, but you can earn additional entries.
For additional entries:
- Subscribe to Unexpected Bliss.
- Mention this giveaway on your blog.
- Follow me on Twitter.
- For an extra entry, sent a tweet on Twitter about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter name in your comment. This may be done as often as you want, leave a comment for each tweet.
- Stumble this post
For each thing you do leave 1 comment ( 1 comment telling me your favorite birthday gift, 1 comment if you subscribe, 1 comment if you follow me on Twitter, 1 comment for each tweet, 1 comment for a Stumble, 1 comment for mentioning this on your blog)
This giveaway will end Tuesday February 3 at midnight CST. This giveaway has ended. Thank you everyone who entered! I will notify the winner by email and will post once I hear back.
Be sure to check out my review blog for another giveaway. Good luck!
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Dec
14
You really wish you were at my house right now. Because I have this guy:
Making these yummies:
These are my favorite holiday treats. Nolan started making them a couple of years ago, and it’s become his tradition. He makes some for us and some to take to my in laws house when we visit after Christmas. He takes his job very seriously.
And I agree, I don’t think there are too many things that are more important than making covered pretzels at Christmas time. He’s very good at it too.
But then he kicked me out of the kitchen. All because of this:
I thought I was the official taste tester, but apparently the chef had other ideas.
What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? I’d love to hear what your family does to celebrate the season. And, I’d love to give someone a prize!
To Enter to Win a $50 Visa gift card:
Open to US addresses only. One entry per person, but you can earn additional entries.
- Leave a comment here telling me your favorite holiday tradition.
- Mention this giveaway on your blog.
- For an extra entry, sent a tweet on Twitter about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter name in your comment.
- Stumble this post
For each thing you do leave 1 comment ( 1 comment telling me your favorite holiday tradition, 1 comment for a tweet, 1 comment for a Stumble, 1 comment for mentioning this on your blog)
This giveaway will end Monday December 22 at midnight CST I have notified the winner and will announce here as soon as I hear back. Thank you everyone who entered.
Good luck!
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Dec
6
When you have busy kids, Saturday mornings are not what they should be, at least not in my house. We ‘re usually up and running way too early.
For some reason, we don’t have anything going on this morning. My husband still likes to get up and get work done, something about a work ethic, which I don’t seem to be affected with. At least not when it comes to cleaning the house.
But this morning, he didn’t wake me when he got up. I slept in til 8, and I could hear some rattling in the kitchen. I was afraid my son was trying to burn the house down, which is a very real risk when he cooks. But it was my husband, making my most favorite breakfast – french toast. If it involves more than pouring stuff in a bowl with milk, we usually don’t have it for breakfast. No time for that. So this was a real treat.
Nice way to start my Saturday.
I feel like I’ve completely ignored this blog this week, not intentionally of course. I’ve been busy with my Holiday Shopping Guide giveaways on my review blog, which is fun. And the downside of taking off work for the Thanksgiving weekend is that there is a ton of work to do when you get back. Hopefully that will settle down soon.
To celebrate the fact that I got to sleep in and have french toast, I think I need to have a giveaway here. Saturdays like this don’t come around too often.
To Enter to Win a $50 Target gift card:
Open to US addresses only. One entry per person, but you can earn additional entries.
- Leave a comment here telling me how you’re spending your Saturday. Or your weekend. Even if you’re cleaning house all day, tell me about it.
- Mention this giveaway on your blog.
- For an extra entry, sent a tweet on Twitter about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter name in your comment.
For each thing you do leave 1 comment ( 1 comment telling me what you’re doing today, 1 comment for a tweet, 1 comment for mentioning this on your blog)
This giveaway will end Friday December 12 at midnight CST.
Good luck! And happy Saturday.
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