Carol's random babble

I think my head is going to explode. I've had a headache and stiff neck for a few days. It's all on the right side of my head. I thought maybe it was from how I've been sleeping - I have a body pillow crossways on my bed and sleep on my side with my ribs on that, and with my head on a regular pillow. Anyway, now it's from a phone call. The owner of the house called. She's upset because we aren't out today (or, to be honest, nearly ready to be out). But I thought she knew that. I've been trying to do all the packing mostly by myself. (Cayla would be upset with me for saying that, but really? she's done most of her work in her room and that isn't as ready as she thinks it is.) So now I'm trying to kick it up into high gear, to get as much stuff in storage as possible. But I have to work today, so that limits how much time I can put into it today. Amanda came out of her room and said she was up till 6 a.m., so she's going to take a nap...

I am raising a couple of girl geeks - we all love computers and playing video games. My daughter Amanda (she's 18) can't go anywhere without her Nintendo DS. (She has a DS Lite.) Driving to the grocery store? The DS goes along. Going to the doctor's office? The DS goes along. Going to church? Gotta have the DS (in the car, not during church!). Now think how Amanda would love to have a Nintendo DSi XL. (Even better, think how much you would love to have it.) The Nintendo DSi XL is a high-powered handheld video-game system with an extra large, wide viewing angle screen, and a full size, easy to hold stylus. It comes with features like touch-screen control for a unique gaming experience. Snap photos with the built-in camera, edit and send them to friends, play back your music with Nintendo DSi Sound, or browse the Internet with the Nintendo DSi Browser. From playing games to just playing around, the Nintendo DSi XL does it all. Includes: Nintendo DSi XL System, 3 Pre...

Today is a great day to join The Superpoints Network if you haven't already. Today everybody gets extra clicks on the Superlucky button. If you need an invitation, please join via my referral link: http://superpoints.com/refer/caysedai. You can earn points by clicking on the Superlucky button, by taking surveys, watching videos and completing offers. You can even - get this! - earn points by printing out coupons. Yes - you can earn points by saving money. Points can be redeemed for many things. I'm looking at gift cards, but there are also gaming systems, electronics from iPods up to laptops and desktop computers, cash, and even brand-new cars!

SODASTREAM GIVEAWAY My family drinks a lot of soda and soda is expensive. I find myself buying one to three 12-packs (currently $4.98 each) a week for the girls, and 2-liters (currently $1.28 each) for me and I'm kind of concerned about the effect this is having on our bodies as well as my budget. Sodastream soda works out to about 25 cents per can of soda . You want to know if the sodas taste good. Yes, it taste just like the soda you buy in the store. There are few differences though, There are fewer calories and less sugar in Sodastream sodas. Plus, the soda flavors don't have any high-fructose corn syrup in the regular flavors, and no aspartame in the diet flavors. Sparkling Naturals doesn't have artificial flavors, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners or any preservatives. Each sodamix is enough to make 12 liters of drink, each sparkling naturals contains enough syrup to make 6 liters of drink, each bottle of MyWater Flavor Essence will flav...

And part of the reason I haven't been posting much lately. So, I looked at a couple of apartments on Friday. I prefer one for some reasons and the other for other reasons, but it boils down to the one apartment, although more expensive, is close to the high school and has a garage. In this town, they will tow you if you are parked on the street after a snowstorm. The one apartment - I looked at a below-ground apartment, but the one coming available has the same floor plan but flipped. It has 2 bedrooms, tiny bathroom, large living room, and kitchen with dining area (and dishwasher!) but no windows (I like looking out the window while doing dishes, but there is a dishwasher). That's the one close to the high school. I think there are 6 or 8 apartments, so lots of close neighbors. And coin-op washer and dryer. The other one is a two-story close to Fareway. (Kid, I'm out of (whatever), run over to Fareway, will you?) The 2-bedroom apartment is on the first floor, but th...

Diamond Candles are really hot these days and you can see the great reception they are getting from all the reviews and giveaways on the web. And why not? You can get a ring worth $10 to $5,000 with every candle! And of course, the Kindle Fire is still the leading Android tablet in the market. I have one and love it! I've got hundreds of books on it - I'm never without something to read. And dozens of apps if I get bored with reading (never gonna happen). Since Bay Area Mommy will be celebrating its 1st year anniversary on July 27, they are having a Kindle Fire and Diamond Candles giveaway with 2 winners !!! Giveaway Dates: July 25 – August 15 Signup Fee: FREE for 1st link, $3 for each additional link Open worldwide. If the winner is not from the US, he/she will get the cash equivalent. To sign up: Post about the signups on your blog (or send $5 via Paypal to alice@bayareamommy.com if you don’t want to post about the signups) Fill out the signup form . Sen...

So this group of blogs has banded together to give away $1,000 cash. You can enter at Happy Home and Family . So, please hop on over and enter this giveaway. But don't cry when you don't win. Because I'm going to win. Why am I going to win and you aren't? Because I need the money so bad. Yeah, I know, you need the money, too. We all need the money but there can only be one winner. Giveaway ends on July 20 at 12:01 EDT. (I know it says EST, but we're on Daylight Saving Time now ... ) Giveaway is open worldwide. You must be 18 to enter. Entries will be verified. I am going to win. (Kidding about that one - the winner will be random, but I can hope, can't I?) Good luck!

Nacole Jackson is the winner of the $3,000 Disney Cruise!!! Congratulations to Nacole and best of luck to those who didn't win. I'm working on getting into a couple more giveaways coming up soon.

Another opportunity to grow your blog is here! This giveaway offers a free Facebook link and paid links to other social media sites. So you have a chance to build your fan base for free or very little money. Signup is here . Event Details: - The giveaway will go live on July 15, 2012 - Open Worldwide - Prize: $200 Amazon Gift Card *1 winner* Sign Up Fee & Info : NO COST for the first link (Facebook Page only) To participate, please share this free event on your site and complete the form below. If you would like to include more links (Twitter, Pinterest, Votes, etc.) for this giveaway, then please send the fee to chicalgene@gmail.com via Paypal. Each additional link will cost $3. Interested in co-hosting? Please send Chic Algene a message with the amount that you are willing to share or provide the details on the form below. The names and links (site urls) of the co-hosts will be included in the giveaway post. They will also receive the first spot...

Does anybody remember the theme music to the show "Rawhide?" I don't remember watching it, but I do remember the music. The reason for this post title is that my car rolled over to 240,000 miles today. I think it had about 228k when I bought it, and I'm going to need it to run until at least next March, when I get my next tax refund. Here's hoping'. It was an errand-running day. Mom had called me at work last night to ask me to get her groceries - as it ended up she only wanted a prescription picked up, a salad from Fazoli's and some ice cream. Both of my girls needed prescriptions picked up (Amanda's is on order and should be in on Monday). We needed to redeem cans for cash (we got almost $18, yay!), stop at the post office and apparently drive all over town a couple of times. Unplanned: We stopped at The Key on Central to get Cayla a pair of jeans - she's got camp next week; we also stopped at a yard sale/grill out at Beacon of Hope, wher...

Not to make this sound like a complain-fest, but we're so behind. I haven't found a place to live. Amanda's birth certificate hasn't arrived. After the birth certificate arrives, we need to get her a state-issued photo ID. One she has a birth certificate and ID, we can apply for housing assistance and also apply at the rental agency (or other rental agencies). And I still have to scrounge up the money for the first month's rent and deposit. In addition, we have to find a solution for the cat situation, as it appears nobody will rent to cat owners. And I rented a roll-off trash bin, which arrived yesterday but has one lonely bag of trash in it. The plan is to do a major purging and only take what we really want to keep. I have boxes - about 4 feet wide, 6 feet long and 3 feet high stacked - that have basically been there since we moved in this house. I've gone through some of them and restacked them a couple of times in the last (nearly) four years. B...

Thanks to blogger Michelle Cheronecook of nearly-nothing.com we have a flash giveaway of a $15 iTunes gift card. The giveaway is a one-day event. You can get entries by leaving a comment, liking this post and entering to win $100 on Amazon.com. Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

I love being able to have giveaways here and this one is no exception. You can enter to win one of three Amazon gift codes for $100 each. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents. It will end on June 18. 3 Random Winners will each score a $100 Amazon Gift Code Thanks to these wonderful Blogs for Sponsoring this Giveaway: A Thrifty Diva Surviving Mommy Hood | Nearly Nothing | Meg's a Mommy! | One Sleepy Mommy | Utah Sweet Savings | Celebrate Woman Today | Lots 2 Save | Mom Does Reviews | Two Little Cavaliers | 2 Dorks in Love | Linda's Angels | Me and My SoldierMan | Never a Dull Day in Poland | Coupoon For Five | Scattered Seashells | Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life | Building Carpenters | I Crave Freebies | Read. Write. Mom! | Mom to Bed by 8 | Coupons with Q | Tatum's Family Reviews | This Girl's No Expert | Loves 2 Read | Ey to Zee | Mrs. K and Captain J | Jenns Blah Blah Blog | Simply Shawn N Jenn | M...