Snips Snails and Pigtails

Yes you heard me right, 26 socks.

Honest to God, cross my heart and... well never mind.

That's the number of "extra" socks I have in my lost sock sack. Whenever I run across a loner I toss it in this bag in our laundry room and every now and then I sit down, dump the bag out and become matchmaker.

Usually I have quite a few that find their partners, but today I only found 3, which left 26 socks to face another month or so all lonely and alone.

Trust me on this. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't see it with my own eyes, but there are seriously 26 different kinds of socks here!!

Where do the others go??

I didn't even know that many different kinds of socks existed.

There must have been10 variations of Hanes socks: Different sizes, colored "Hanes" logos, some with the grey toe and heel reinforcements, some without.

3 or 4 kinds of Old Navy socks: Again, different colors sizes and styles.

Nike...Addidas.... and lots of plain white socks without any brand whatsoever.

Long socks, short socks, big socks, little socks.

SOCKS. SOCKS. SOCKS. SOCKS. SOCKS!

(Gah- am I starting to remind you of a certain Dr. Seuss book?)

Where do they all come from!?!

I firmly believe they were breeding in that there bag.

I guess I better go Google 'sock breeding' and figure out how to put a stop to it before it get's out of hand.

Thank you to all that entered the Ladybug Letters contest!

Before I announce the winner, I have exciting news:

Snips Snails and Pigtails readers can take 15% off any order

So if you didn't win today, be sure and stop by Ladybug Letters and take advantage of this fabulous discount!!! These would make adorable Christmas Gifts.

Using Random.org ((DRUM ROLL PLEASE)) the winner is.... Denise

Congratulations Denise! Please email me and I will put you in contact with the designer over at Ladybug Letters.



*Before you go, if any of you are interested in entering my other contest (which ends Dec. 1) go here.

Sorry, this contest has now ended.


You've heard me rave about kajeet before and now's your chance to see for yourself what an awesome product they have to offer!!

You can win one of their Samsung Clam M300 Camera Phones for your son or daughter, just in time for the Holidays!!


Want a chance to win? All you have to do is watch the following 2 minute video and answer the question...

What Park was Kane's phone located near?





But wait!!

Don't leave your answer here on my blog.
Send me an email here


Want extra entries?

1. Subscribe to Snips Snails and Pigtails
2. Share this contest on your blog and link back to me

Contest ends Dec. 4 at 11:59 CST
_________________________________________

Don't want to wait for the contest to end??



For a limited time, all my readers can take 15% off their kajeet purchase. (Promo code: 1115)

Plus, get $10 additional airtime when you activate your phone!
(Enter: BONUS10 at activation)

Finally...
Don't forget to enter the Custom Painted Wall Letters Giveaway... It ends tonight!!

is a foundation for sharing our aliveness and building a more humane world.

~Martin Lowenthal








How do you show compassion for others? It's nearly Thanksgiving... think about how you can show compassion to those around you.

I know I whine a lot about our personal circumstances, but when it comes down to it, we really do have it pretty good. A family, a beautiful home, jobs (whether we like them or not is besides the point) food, health... You know, when it comes down to it, things could be a lot worse.

Reach out to someone in your life that's struggling right now. Especially with the Holiday season approaching us. Invite them for dinner, bake them a cake, send them a card, whatever is in your means. Show them some compassion and help to build a more humane world.

Today is Deep Thought Tuesday

... and well ya know, I'm not really in the mood.

Apparently neither was Miss South Carolina. I'm sure most of you have seen the video where the young woman in the Miss Teen USA pageant attempted to answer a question presented to her. But have you ever seen this interpretation....

I was bored this weekend and decided to play around with my camera a little.

Inspired by fellow blogger (and wonderful Photographer!) Sarcastic Mom, I decided to have some fun with Water.

Take a look....


Isn't it just BEAUTIFUL!?

What I'm about to tell you I've never told anyone before...

11 years ago today I stood nervously waiting for the moment I was to walk down the isle. Instead of excitement, I felt sick to my stomach. My sister stood in the bathroom with me as I cried. She assured me it was just pre-jitter nerves. Although she had never been married before so I'm not sure why, I believed her and pulled myself together.

11 years ago, I got married. I was just 19 years old. I was already a mother of a (nearly) 2 year old little boy. Was I doing it for him? Would I be happy? Would WE be happy?

Well, I'm proud to announce that so far, we've bead the odds!
So far, we're not a statistic.

Don't get me wrong it hasn't been easy, we've been through hell and high water. I love him and I'm not looking back.

....Here's to another 11 years!!!!!

Thanks to Random.org, we have a winner for the Cash and kajeet gift pack giveaway!




And the winner is............ #34!

Coriwestphal







To all of you that entered, don't fret. I am doing another kajeet giveaway. This time, not only will you get a kajeet gift pack, but a FREE PHONE!!!!!!!! I'm so excited that kajeet has agreed to do this. Check back for details. (I'm think on or around Black Friday. *hint, hint* )

In the meantime, my newest contest is exciting as well. Stop by for a chance to win a set of Custom Painted Wall Letters from Ladybug Letters.

Sorry, this contest has now ended.

I have another awesome giveaway!!
Custom Painted Wall Letters

I absolutely loved decorating our daughters room when we knew we'd be Adopting her. One of the very first things I found for her wall was a set of beautiful hanging letters that would display her name. If you're anything like me, the name of your child is not one that you come upon lightly. Many couples spend countless hours pouring over baby name books or the internet searching for the perfect one. Why not display it as such?

Ladybug Letters is giving away a set of her gorgeous custom hand painted wall letters.

The winner of this contest will be able to work with the creator of Ladybug Letters to come up with the perfect design for your child.
(Up to 6 letters, A $50 value!)

1. Visit Ladybug Letters

2. Leave a comment on this post answering the following 2 questions:

~What is your favorite baby name?

~What do you like best over at Ladybug Letters?

3. Want extra chances to win? Link to me for an 5 extra entries!! (RSS, Subscribe by email etc.)

4. The winner will be selected randomly and emailed directly. Be sure to leave your email address in your post or you will be disqualified! If you're afraid of spam, just change the format slightly like this: abc(at)123.com

I have stumbled across a must have in the child proofing department. It's called coverPlug.

What is cover plug you ask?

It's a one piece- paintable, physical and visual barrier between your child and electrical outlets!!

I can't even begin to tell you how may of those old style little clear/white outlet covers I've gone through over the years. They are super easy to lose. Plus, they don't exactly work wonders you know? The outlets are still visible. Sometimes actually drawing attention to the outlet!! (Dangerous, I KNOW)

These coverPlugs cover the entire outlet, plate and all.

They fit securely, no little fingers are going to pry it off. (Kid tested, and I approve!) I especially like that they are paintable. Paint them along with your nursery walls and voila you've just performed magic making that dangerous outlet all but disappear.


Visit coverPlug and see for yourself!

Don't forget, the contest ends tonight at midnight!! (12:00 EST)

Enter today and you'll have a chance to win a kajeet Gift Pack and $10 Cash!

The winner will be announced on Friday. If you didn't enter yet and would like to, please go here.

Hey, and good luck!

Today is Wise Wednesday and have I got a good one for you!

hehehe

Are you proactive in keeping up with your monthly Breast exams? These young Boys Scouts are helping to promote the early detection of Breast Cancer. How might you ask?? Well, you'll just have to see for yourself... (trust me, you wont want to miss this one!)



Yikes. I wonder what kind of patch they earn for that!?

(I especially liked the one talking about using the correct technique, waving his hands in circles and pinching his fingers together. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!)

So I missed National Adoption Day. It was on Saturday! As we approach the 1 year Anniversary of our own Princess's Adoption, it brings me great joy to tell you a little about National Adoption Day.

*Traditionally, National Adoption Day is celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Out of respect for the nation's remembrance of the 45th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, the National Adoption Day Coalition elected to move the celebration of National Adoption Day this year only to the Saturday prior.

I encourage you to revisit a post I made quite some time ago... Myth vs. Reality in Adoption Plus, here are few new ones!


Myth: There are not enough loving families available who want to adopt children from foster care.
Fact: Four in 10 American adults have considered adoption, according to a National Adoption Attitudes Survey funded by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. That translates into more than 80 million Americans.

If only one out of 500 Americans adopted out of the foster care system, the 114,000 available children in foster care would have permanent, loving families.

Research indicates that there are many families that are interested in foster care adoption but that more needs to be done to find ways to connect these families with waiting children. Through National Adoption Day, the Coalition puts a national spotlight on the waiting children in foster care in the hope that more people will take steps to adopt.


Myth: There’s too much red tape and bureaucracy involved in adopting a child from foster care.
Fact: Congress has streamlined the foster care adoption process through enactment of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. This law stipulates that children in foster care, who cannot be reunited with their birth parents, are freed for adoption and placed with permanent families as quickly as possible.


Myth: Adopting a child from Foster Care is expensive.
Fact: Actually, adopting children from foster care is virtually free! Most agencies do not charge for the services they provide to families who are adopting a child from foster care. Congress has also made federal tax credits available for Foster Care Adoptions to offset fees, court costs, legal and travel expenses. In 2003, the Adoption Tax Credit was increased to $10,000!



Myth: Adoptive parents must be a modern version of June and Ward Cleaver.
Fact: Prospective adoptive parents do not have to be rich, married, own a home, or be of a certain race or age to become an adoptive parent (One-third of adoptions from foster care are by single parents). Love, patience, a good sense of humor and the commitment to be a good parent are the most important characteristics.


Myth: All children in Foster Care have some kind of physical, mental or emotional handicap; that's why they're classified as "special needs".
Fact: The term “special needs” is somewhat misleading, because it can mean that the child is older, a minority or requires placement with his/her siblings. While some children are dealing with physical or emotional concerns, just like other children, they need the nurturing support only a permanent family can provide. Many children in foster care are in the “system” because their birth parents weren’t protective and nurturing caretakers—not because the children did anything wrong or because there is something wrong with them.


Myth: Children in Foster Care have too much baggage
Fact: This is one of the biggest myths of all. Children have enormous potential and given love, patience and a stable environment often thrive. Ask former US Senator, Ben Nighthorse Campbell or Minnesota Viking Dante Culpepper. They were both foster children who were adopted by loving, caring familes!

So spread the word! There are resources available to help potential parents take the first step towards adopting out of Foster Care. For more information log on to www.nationaladoptionday.org, www.davethomasfoundation.org, www.adoptUSkids.org, or simply call 1-800-TO-ADOPT.

I realize I rarely show pictures of my handsome boys here on my blog. They are... well, let's just say the Princess enjoys having her picture taken much more than they do! At any rate, whether they like it or not, Holiday photos are a must. Therefore, I present to you my Best Shot Monday:



Christopher (nearly 13), Trey (8) and NJ (10)

I've been awarded my very first award!! It came from Dorsey over at Searching For My Inner Skinny.
Here are the rules...

1. Put the award up on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3. Nominate at least seven other blogs
4. Add links to these blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog

So, as with so many other awards, I need to share the love. Since Adoption Day is in November and it's right around the corner, I think I'll give this award to some of my fellow Adoption bloggers...

In no particular order:

Born in our Hearts - She's adopted 2 beautiful little girls. One was through a disrupted International Russion Adoption, and the other a Domestic Adoption.

Cookie Crumbs and Bit Bits - Tamara and her husband have completed 2 Foster Care Adoptions!

From Yuppies to Parents in just 8 months- This couple is going to be adopting privately from a family member. Their story is a new one and I look forward to reading more about their journey.

Keeping afloat most days- Brenda adopted through the Foster Care system like we did, and her son is about the same age as Princess!

Through the eyes of an Adoptive family in waiting This family was JUST MATCHED for an Open Adoption! I am SO excited for them! The baby is due Dec. 28th. All my fingers and toes are crossed.

My Life A newbie on the block! They are hoping to adopt from the Foster Care system. They're currently finishing up classes and I look forward to reading about their journey as they get their feet wet. :-D

You could always adopt Dream Mommy has adopted a handsome little boy from the Foster Care system and continues to be foster in hopes that they may adopt again.

I have a trivia question for ya!

Q: What do you get when you leave a preschooler alone for 2 minutes?

....think Jeopardy theme song....

A: This!!!!
























AHEM. YEAH.

Don't be fooled by my Best Shot Monday picture, she's no angel!!
Even so, we love her just the same. *smiles*

Holding onto anger is like grasping hot coal with the intention of throwing it at someone else....



In the end,
YOU are the one getting burned!




Let it go.

This Summer gas was at an all time high. I'm sure we won't soon forget the prices climb over $4 a gallon!

If you're like me, you've noticed those prices recently begin to fall. Yay!! In fact, after coming home from dinner the other night we passed a gas station and it's listed price was just $1.79.

$1.79!!!!!!! *NO JOKE*

Of course, that brought back all sorts of memories for my husband and I.

I remember filling up at the pump in High School and it cost me less than $10 to fill the tank. I do have to consider that I now have a monster 8 cyl. Expedition compared to a sporty little 4 cyl. MX3... but still!

The economy is in the dumps. Gas prices are falling. How far will they go? Will we see $0.99 a gallon again!?!? I can't help but feel giddy just thinking about regardless of the economy. Especially considering we're taking a road trip in the next few weeks up to Chicago. We're taking the whole family this time, should be FUN right? It will certainly help our our stress levels knowing how much less we're having to shell out for fuel to get there.

Not exactly the shot I was looking for, but adorable nonetheless!

Gah, my husband needs to go through Parenting 101 again.

So I'm at the store last night looking for a few things. Princess is with me (something I try to avoid because she is a terrible shopper). She was yet again- terrible. Downright awful! We'd been in the store all of 10 seconds when the first fit started. She's throwing a fit over the fact that there was no McDonalds in the store.... Okay- not my fault!!!! I have no control over that kid. *rolleyes*

I fight to get her into the shopping cart, then another fight to get her buckled, then another fight when she starts S.C.R.E.A.M.I.N.G at the top of her lungs over- who knows what!!! We've been in the store all of 90 seconds by this point and I've already had it. I swiftly take her to bathroom, swat her rear end (which we rarely do) have a quick converstion about behaving and we're back to shopping.

*SIGH* Are you tired yet? Because I was.

Then she threw her toy cell phone on the ground. I leaned over and picked it up. She had a gleam in her eyes that I instantly recognized. I could tell, she felt in that moment she was in control and every time she threw her phone down, I was going to pick it up. Eh, wrong! I immediately told her the next time she threw that phone on the ground I would NOT be picking it back up, nor any other toy she decided to throw.

Imagine that. By the end of our shopping trip, we had lost both the cell phone and a mini barbie doll because I refused to pick them up walked right over them. It felt good. She still wasn't behaving, but at least "I" was the boss and not her.

We got in the car and I called home and asked the Hubby what they wanted me to pick up for dinner. I then told him to make Princess a PBJ sandwhich because she was not going to be getting anything. Why? Because I threatened her in the store, if she didn't start to behave I would not be getting her a Cheeseburger on the way home.

Hubby just thought I was awful for doing that!!! I don't. As hard as it is, the one thing this little girl needs the most is consistency. He still does not get it! This little girl has Daddy so wrapped around her finger he's a total pushover. He was litteraly melting on the other end of the phone because I refused to give in. In the meantime, she's screaming at the top of her lungs from the backseat.

No wonder why we're having such a hard time parenting her than we did her brothers!!!!!!!! I need to send his rear end back through Parenting 101. One of the very first and important rules for toddlers is: FOLLOW THROUGH!!

Somebody please tell me, where do I sign him up??

Yikes!! I dont' know about you, but I don't usually answer the phone unless I know who's calling. I'm not sure why I am that way, perhaps it stems from scary movies such as 'The Ring' or 'When a Stranger Calls'?

Anyway, there is a really neat website now that lets you check out unknown phone numbers that call you. What's different about this site from a typical reverse phone search is it allows you to file a report on those strange calls for others to read. Leave comments about a particular number and read comments others have already left! It gives you piece of mind (maybe *wink*) to know who is calling you and why.

www.reportphonenumbers.com

I was tagged! Kingdom of Chaos tagged me a MeMe.

(What's a MeMe anyway??) *giggle* I am a bit embarrassed to admit I had to look it up because I had no clue. So for those of you that are blog-dumb like me, here is the definition of a (blog) meme:

"For bloggers, Memes have become synonymous with internet quizzes, surveys, and novelties that people link to and pass around on their blogs, forums and via email for fun."

Ya HAD to know of course mine would be a photo of the 'Princess'!!



Here she is in a very large (on little bitty her anyway) Broncos hoodie, watching one of her brothers play football. For the record, I'd like to place all blame on the DADDY for leaving her jacket at home that chilly night!!!! lol













So anyhow, here are the rules for this Picture MeMe:
* Go to your sixth Picture Folder then pick your sixth picture.
* Hope that you remember the details and write a post about your tag/photo.
* Tag 5 others…

I tag: (In no particular order)
Momma's Musings
S2M2Show
Driving the Big Black Bus
Sanity
Rumblings and Bumblings
Keeping Afloat Most Days

Okay, okay I know I can't count and picked 6. So what! What are you gonna do about it??
:-P

If you are thinking about adding your child onto your family cell phone plan, think again... Trust me on this!! I'm talking from experience here, if you've read previous blog entries you know we've had lots of trouble with my tween and his cell phone. I finally found the perfect cell phone for kids. It's smarter and probably cheaper than adding them to your family plan.


kajeet is the answer.

S.e.r.i.o.u.s.l.y. I'm so excited about this product, I can't even begin to tell you.

Award winning kajeet offers....


•Easy parental controls:
You as the parent decide and set when the phone can and can't be used. For example, add restriction on the phone during school hours or in the middle of the night. You can even decide who can call or text your child's phone and who can't.

Okay but this is seriously the best part--> The "Wallet Manager" is an application which teaches the kids responsibility. It helps parents and kids figure out who pays for what. For instance, the parent might put 30 bucks in the child's "wallet" each month. After it's gone, it's gone. That covers extra minutes, text messages, and multimedia services. BUT even if the child’s wallet runs out of money, it can be set up so that calls too and from home or parents cell phones will still go through!

•GPS:
One of the reasons you get your kid a phone is for security right? With this added feature, you can easily find your kid's phone if it's lost.

•No contract, no activation fee, no cancellation fee:
Buy it, use it, and if you want to cancel it, do so at any time, without any penalties.
•kajeet is unique:
No other cell phone company is interested in protecting your child from harmful information on the web. kajeet does! Their phones keep your child from harmful content on the internet!









•Plans start as low as $4.99/month. Now that's what I call a sweet deal.

Now for the fun.... Thanks to kajeet, I'm doing a HUGE GIVEAWAY!!! Enter today and you'll have a chance to win a kajeet Gift Pack and $10 Cash! All you have to do it visit kajeet , then leave me a comment here telling me what you like best. For additional entries, you can blog about the contest and link back to me, and/or email your friends. Just cc'me (tnajk[at]cox[.]net) so that I can confirm that you did email someone. Finally, you can subscribe to me by email or RSS. That's up to 4 ways to enter! (Be sure and leave your email address in your comment so I know how to contact you. Without that, you will be disqualified.) Entry deadline is November 20th at midnight EST. The winner will be announced on Friday Nov. 21st here on my blog and also over at Prizey

History was made yesterday.

"Tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America"

I'm not going to sit and write about who I voted for or why. The fact of the matter is Obama, son of a black father from Kenya and white mother from Kansas, marked a milestone in U.S. history. 45 long years after the height of the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King. (If only Martin Luther King could be here today!!!!)

This is a day of History for our children. A day none of them (or us) will ever forget.

I remember 1986, sitting on the floor in the hallway at school with dozens of other children. We were gathered and placed in front of a big tv on a cart to watch the live coverage of the Space Shuttle Challenger. The room was abuzz with excitement. This was a unique mission into space. It was scheduled to be the first flight of a new program called TISP, the Teacher In Space Program. One of our very own Teachers was a finalist in the program. While she didn't make it on the Shuttle, we all somehow felt a connection to this particular flight because of it. Everyone sat and watched the shuttle take off into the air. It was something most of us had never seen before. Seventy three seconds into the mission, the Challenger exploded, killing the entire crew. Being a child, I guess I didn't really know what we were watching. I didn't understand why all of the Teachers suddenly grew quiet, turned off the TV and took us back to our classrooms. The rest of the day was somber and I didn't understand the impact that crash would have on the entire Country.



I remember on Sept. 11, 2001...
I was driving my oldest child to Kindergarten, listening on the radio as they spoke of a possible terrorist attack, a bomb or something at the World Trade Center in New York City. I honestly thought it was one of the Morning DJ's frequent jokes and didn't pay much attention to it. Imagine my surprise to arrive home, flip on the TV and within minutes watch LIVE as the 2nd airplane flew into the Twin Towers.



Do you remember?
When the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed?
When Princess Diana was killed?
The day MLK was killed?
President Kennedy was shot?

While most of these were tragedy's, I hope and pray this election will be remembered in celebration. I watched on TV last night the speeches by McCain and finally Obama. I'll admit that part of me wanted to run and wake my older children from their slumber to come and watch along with me as history was made. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to do it. This may sound crazy to you, but the entire time Obama spoke, I was cringing. Not because of Obama, but because I was so afraid someone was going to assassinate him right then and there.

I wish it wasn't so, but President Elect Obama will need all the support and protection he can get. There are already threats upon his life. In fact two white supremacists have allegedly plotted to go on a national killing spree, shooting and decapitating black people and ultimately targeting Barack Obama. Racism is still alive and well here in America, despite how far the times have come. I cringe when I hear the harsh comments being made by passerby's and neighbors now that Obama has been elected the next President of the United States of America. It's like all their "Christian" morals that they were so likely to boast theses last few months were completely thrown out the window.

Come on people. Let the color of his skin go. Let's work together in this new day, to make for a better America!! "YES WE CAN"


I don't want another tragic memory, and I don't want that for my Children.

Happy Monday!! I have a couple really cute shots from this weekend. They're not really a very good quality, but I had to share nonetheless....

The Princess 'Cinderalla'












All banged up!
NJ was 'Broken' this year.
(Kind of fitting if you ask me)







Christopher decided he was too old to dress up, but you can see him here 'Trick or Treating' with us before we dropped him off at the HS Football Game. (In the Blue Jersey)





Trey dressed up as a 'Football Player' and looks exactly like all the pictures I've already taken and posted before of him with his equipment on. *rolleyes*