For Moms…

I have a few posts for mommies that I will be putting up shortly- but I want to give a little “Shout Out” to the adoptive moms out there.  We can have a tough road, adoption is not easy, and doesn’t always have a happy ending.  The road to adoption can hurt for many reasons, and it is often a long and painful road, whether you can conceive or not.  (For the record- never assume all adoptive parents can’t carry.  It’s not true, and it’s not nice to have to talk about, either way.)
We CHOSE to adopt, and we also gave birth to a baby later.  Our daughter was adopted as an older child, and we have met many people and heard all sorts of stories- sad and wonderful, gut-wrenching and just amazing.  Adoptions from birth, as teenagers, and everywhere in between. 
All of our families are “real”, and they are also “our” kids.  You may not believe the things that we have had  said to us (IE- “Does your daughter know she’s adopted?”  while she is standing right there.  What if she didn’t???  Of course she does, but still.  Why point out her different appearance?)
And while you don’t have to walk on eggshells with adoptive families- we get stared at and point blank asked a lot of personal questions, so if you are curious- ask nicely.  We will all talk to you if you are nice about it  🙂  

Kamikaze doesn’t like me to put her pictures on the site, so I don’t post her photos unless she’s cool with it.  Once in a while, she OK’s it, LOL.  But she’s here, and though we don’t have a “fairy tale” ending and she has some issues that we have to deal with that are NOT fun at all- she’s our kid too.  Please remember the adoptive moms, too, on Mother’s Day.   They had to work hard for their kids just to get them here.  We are just moms like anyone else!    I saw about 6 posts in the past few days about how moms are moms once they give birth, and I just wanted to say- YOU ARE A MOM THE MINUTE THAT YOUR CHILD IS PUT INTO YOUR ARMS- I don’t care how long it takes that child to get there.
Just my thought of the day.
And I am sorry for this rushed post- it’s been a long day.  But I just had to say it.
Love ya, mommas!!!  (and daddies, grandmas, all ya’ll!!!  Hahaha)
TGIF!
~Samantha

Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn’t grow under my heart – but in it
— Fleur Conkling Heylinger

Proflowers Contest (Just in time for Mother’s Day!)

Mothers Day is a week away!  Flowers are one of the “go to” gifts we think of when it comes time to give our mom’s a gift.  This is where Proflowers comes in.  Proflowers is best known for their wonderful bouquets.  But they also have great Mothers Day Potted Plants including gorgeous orchids and even bonsai‘s.  I recently received a wonderfully gorgeous Potted Lavender Azalea.  It was shipped packed very tightly yet gently enough to ensure the plant was cozy and safe but not squished and DOA.  Right now she is thriving on my kitchen table, waiting for the weather to be perfect for a bring the little one to her new home in the yard.

Proflowers does not only have plants and cut flowers but also have sweets, chocolates, brownies, cookies, gifts, teddy bears, bath/spa sets, and even fruit baskets for those of us who would like to stick to our diets. 😉

All these gifts look great, especially the Mrs. Fields cookies
 I really like the floral tips section of Proflowers site.  Not only are you getting flowers and plants, but you are giving your loved ones a bright sunshine sunshine into their day.  With the tips from porflowers you ccan keep that sunshine going for longer.  There is also a touch of history and fun.  What does a yellow rose mean?  How about a white rose?  Very fun.  Not to mention the great coupons page– who doesn’t love a bargain?  You can save Save 20%, Free vase, Free weekday delivery and other deals!
This is also a great way to surprise your mom at the office if she works- she will make all the other ladies green with envy, and what a thoughtful child she has to surprise her like that!  (We all like to feel special, don’t we?)
And if your mom is not close (distance wise), you can rest assured that your gift will arrive on time, and looking fabulous. 
I love my new azalea and hope you all get your loved ones a gift they will enjoy just as much.  Proflowers can help, take a look around.
One of you will win a  $50 gift code to Proflowers.  Want to win?  Here is how to enter!

Mandatory entry
You must be a public follower on Google Friend Connect.
Leave me your email so I can contact you if you win.

 Extra Entries
Leave a separate comment for each entry.

– Like Proflowers on Facebook (You also save 20% off your order if you become a fan!)

-“Like” me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Have-Sippy-Will-Travel/118293111555385
+2 entries

-Subscribe to Have Sippy Will Travel by email, and confirm subscription
+3 entries

Follow me on Twitter ( or you can use my adorable button to the side!) and tweet about this contest
#Win  Proflowers Contest (Just in time for Mother’s Day!… http://t.co/9r4jlg3  @HaveSippy

Please make sure you follow first!
+2 entries

– Email a friend about this contest, with a CC to me at  kangabunnie@gmail.com
(you get an extra entry if they enter, too!)

 -Add my button to your blog, and leave me the link so I can find it

– Follow me on “Networked Blogs”- I just added it, LOL

– blog about this giveaway, and link back to this contest (leave me the URL in comment, please)

-Add me to your blogroll, with a link back to me

– Vote for me on “We’re On The Fence!”  (Just Click the Button to the left that says “We’re On the Fence” until it confirms you voted for your’s truly!)

– enter another one of my giveaways

– comment on a non-giveaway post

OOO, so many ways to win! Good luck!

DISCLOSURE: A product sample was provided for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this post are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited by law.  Open to US shipping addresses only.  Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above.  Sponsor is responsible for providing and mailing prize. Ends May 20, 2011.

Happy Easter!!!

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate!
Peace and love, and blessings to you  🙂

The Best Mothers Day Cards Are The Ones You Make

Easter

If you plan on getting a pet rabbit for Easter- check out this post
I can’t tell you how many rabbits get turned in because people don’t know this stuff!  As someone who does rabbit and animal rescue, I hope you like what you read!  And don’t forget- ADOPTION is always a good pet option.  Petfinder.com is a great place to find a great pet! 

Fun Vidazorb Contest!

  Vidazorb is holding an egg decorating contest where they are asking people to submit photos of their eggs that are decorated in either an earth day or Vidazorb/Zorbee theme, and they will be entered to win up to $100 and four bottles of Vidazorb.  AWESOME, I am so entering!!! 

Decorate an egg in a way that relates to Zorbee, the Belly, or Earth Day and post it on Vidazorb’s Facebook or
Twitter, and we will put it in our album for your chance to win!
You can find more details on Vidazorb’s Facebook!

Promotion begins 4/15/2011. Last eligible entry must be posted by 11:59 EST 4/25/2011

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES

HOW TO ENTER – Visit Facebook.com/Vidazorb.Probiotic and post a picture of a decorated egg or post a link to the
picture at Twitter.com/BellyTweet. Each egg will be uploaded to the Vidazorb Egg Decorating Contest photo album on
Facebook and will count as one entry. Entry into the competition is only confirmed once the entrant’s picture is
displayed in the Vidazorb photo album.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS – Each entry MUST somehow be related to 1) Vidazorb®’s mascot Zorbee; 2) The
human stomach, or “belly” as we like to call it; or 3) Earth Day – which is April 22, 2011.
WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION – The entries will be randomly drawn and the three winners will be
notified no later than 5 p.m. EST on 4/27/2011. Winners will be contacted on whichever platform they submitted their
entry (Facebook or Twitter).
DISCLAIMER – No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. A purchase will not
improve chances of winning. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia. By entering
the contest, you authorize Vidazorb to use your entry photo for promotional purposes. 

Pocoyo for Easter!

 IT’S A FUN, SIMPLE, AND FREE WAY TO CELEBRATE EASTER!
PLAY “POCOYO’S 2011 EASTER EGG HUNT” TO EARN
POINTS AT POCOYOWORLD.COM
 
PLUS OTHER FREE EASTER ACTIVITIES
Throughout April 2011, visit www.pocoyoworld.com to register and play “Pocoyo’s Easter Egg Hunt” for FREE. Colorful Easter Eggs are hidden throughout the site. Locate them all and collect points to participate in a variety of games and activities on the site.
Also available online are additional FREE Easter activities, including Cut Out and Play Easter Eggs; and Pocoyo’s Easter Coloring Sheets (http://www.pocoyo.com/Pocoyo_Easter.html).
Pocoyoworld.com has been awarded a Four Star Review by Common Sense Media (http://www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/pocoyo-world) a non-profit organization which has become the nation’s leading organization of its kind, helping millions of parents, educators, and young people make better decisions about the media and entertainment in their lives.
Access to Pocoyo World is completely free of charge. After a simple registration process you will be able to enjoy lots of content in a safe environment. Just by registering you will have access to all Pocoyo World areas, games, activities, and shops, and you will also be able to exchange gifts with your friends.
Users who belong to Pocoyo World’s Premium Club will be able to access lots more content and areas, and get exclusive virtual objects (costumes, vehicles, interactive objects, etc.). In addition, they will receive a monthly report monitoring their activity on Pocoyo World and have the chance to take part in exclusive events and promotions. To celebrate Easter, we will provide you with a code to activate a FREE 30-day membership to review Pocoyoworld. We will also provide a FREE 14-day trial code to one of your followers. Please let us know if you would like to participate.
Following the adventures of Pocoyo, the animated series brings children into the bright world of this inquisitive and fun-loving boy and his animal friends, Elly (the elephant), Pato (the duck) and Loula (the dog).   The multi-award winning series is about curiosity and imagination, tolerance and respect, love and laughter. Packed with color, music and vibrant visual images, the series is both educational and entertaining; Pocoyo is about learning through laughter. This international smash hit series has been broadcast in over 120 countries worldwide.

Watch Pocoyo in the U.S. every day on Nick Jr. at 4:25 pm Eastern; on Univision’s Planeta U on Saturday mornings at 8:30 am Eastern; and on PBS stations and Discovery Familia (check local listings).

Pocoyo toys are available at Toys”R”Us stores nationwide, and at www.toysrus.com and www.amazon.com. The toys, targeting preschool children ages 18 months through three years, capture the vibrant and exuberant world of Pocoyo and his animal friends, encouraging them to “learn through laughter.” Additionally, two DVD’s from NCircle Entertainment have been recently released.  “Super Pocoyo” on January 11, 2011 and “Meet Pocoyo” in 2010.

ABOUT POCOYOWORLD
What is Pocoyo World?
An online environment where you can create your own virtual “me” and enjoy games and adventures alongside your favorite characters, forming part of a virtual community where you can make friends and share activities.

Win an Easter Basket from National Geographic Kids!

It’s almost Easter- and LUCKY YOU, I have a great Easter basket for one of you, featuring the cutest book from National Geographic Children’s Books!
Baby Animal Pop! has adorable, full size (yep- true-to-life-size) pop out pages filled with the cutest little babies.  I can’t wait to bring this to the Pre-K and show all the kids  🙂   It just got here today, and I wanted to post about it right away since Easter is just so close!  Sorry I don’t have any pictures for you- don’t worry, I will post some later!  🙂
On a side note- I love National Geographic, and we love to read their books and magazines. I am so happy to be able to offer one of you a book from this well respected, educational (and fun!) publisher- I hope you all enter!  

 
Nothing says Spring like baby animals and National Geographic Children’s Books’ new Baby Animal Pop! is — literally — BURSTING with LIFE-SIZE pop-outs of the cutest, cuddly babes on the farm.

In this show-stopper of a picture book a baby bunny, a sweet lamb, a wobbly pony, a family of piglets and a line of baby ducks all magically unfold with at the turn of the page to reveal their actual size.  This book is sure to dazzle, but it is educational as well. Additional pages with special photos and captions highlight awesome animal features and supplemental spreads include “The First Year of Life,” which gives a glimpse of a baby’s animal development.

Baby Animal Pop! is the perfect addition to any child’s Easter basket this spring and will last far longer than the candy!  I am pleased to be able to offer you a Baby Animal Pop! Easter Basket to give away on your site (US only please).  The give away contains a copy of Baby Animal Pop!, an Easter container, an adorable stuffed bunny holding HER baby, Easter eggs and, of course, jelly beans!

Mandatory entry

You must be a public follower on Google Friend Connect.
Leave me your email so I can contact you if you win. 

 Extra Entries
Leave a separate comment for each entry.

“Like” National Geographic Kids on Facebook


– Follow National Geographic Kids on Twitter
@NGKids
and tweet about this contest!   
#Win an Easter Basket from National Geographic Kids… http://t.co/ZTNBGkC @HaveSippy @NGKids  FLASH GIVEAWAY!!!

+2 entries

-Subscribe to Have Sippy Will Travel by email, and confirm subscription
+3 entries

Follow me on Twitter ( you can use my adorable button to the side!) and tweet about this contest
#Win an Easter Basket from National Geographic Kids… http://t.co/ZTNBGkC @HaveSippy @NGKids  FLASH GIVEAWAY!!!

Please make sure you follow first!
+2 entries

– Stumble this post

– Email a friend about this contest, with a CC to me at  kangabunnie@gmail.com
(you get an extra entry if they enter, too!)

 -Add my button to your blog, and leave me the link so I can find it

– Follow me on “Networked Blogs”

– blog about this giveaway, and link back to this contest (leave me the URL in comment, please)

-Add me to your blogroll, with a link back to me

– Vote for me on “We’re On The Fence!”  (Just Click the Button to the left that says “We’re On the Fence” until it confirms you voted for yours truly!)

– enter another one of my giveaways

– comment on a non-giveaway post

OOO, so many ways to win! Good luck!

DISCLOSURE: A product sample was provided for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this post are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited by law.  Open to US And Canadian shipping addresses only.  Limited to US + Canadian residents; 18 years old and above.  Sponsor is responsible for providing and mailing prize. Ends April 14,  2011.