The Allison Show

Today was incredibly busy but tons of fun.  We started the day with my hubby's sister's daughter's birthday party.  Paige turned 7 and had her party at a park up by their house.  The kids had so much fun!  They did Egg Races (the game came with giant plastic spoons and easter eggs!  LOL), Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Potato Sack races, Princess Bingo, and broke a pinata!  The old kids won prizes from the games, and everyone got a goody bag and filled it with Pinata candy.  All the kids' candy combined filled a Ziplock freezer bag!! Then my sis-in-law babysat and we went and got tattoos!!  My husband and I got matching tattoos on our ring fingers of our left hand.  They say Live Laugh Love.  Then I got my star tatoo on my right calf finished.  I started it right after I had Jacob back in 2006.  I got a star for each of the kids.  Blake's is red, Kayla's is purple (her favorite color is pink but I did not...

Wow.  I am suprised bu how much fun the kids had at Chuck E Cheese tonight!!  They all behaved and were helpful to each other and the older kids helped keep an eye on the younger kids.  We were supposed to meet my Dad and Sister at 5 pm.  Well Hubby was going to go mountain biking and couldn't decide where and when the other gys and him were supposed to meet up so after dropping him off, we were an hour late.  GREAT!!  I love hate being late to things.  Plus I was alone so I had to corall  the kids from the car, through the parking lot, into Chuck E Cheese, and find the otthers by myself.  Not a great start.  But like I said the kids were helpful and it was awesome. We found my sister and Dad sitting at a table with an almost gone pizza and no kids.  So I sent my kids to find the others and sat down and grabbed a slice cause I was starving.  We decided to let the kids play for a while before ordering more pizza so that way t...

This morning Hubby and I took the boys to La Jolla shores to walk around and take pictures.  Mom-in-law and Sis-in-law took Kayla with them to run errands.  We were on our way to the beach when they text me asking if Kayla can cut her hair.  She has super long hair that is almost to her waist.  She had her hair trimmed once but that was it.  She wanted to donate 10" of her hair to Locks of Love.  We said ok as long as the 10" wasn't higher than her shoulder blades.  It wasn't and she looks so cute with short hair!! She is so excited!!  She keeps walking around with a goofy smile on her face!  LOL While she was doing that, we were having a great time at the beach.  San Diego has been having some really weird weather this year and even though it is July they are still having June gloom.  It was 68' and overcast and nasty looking at the beach.  We walked out on the pier and saw some seals swimming and playing in the surf....

Wow!!  We have been to Legoland back in 2006 or so and I didn't realize at the time how fun it is.  I think the problem last time was tha kids under 48" (sometimes 42") have to ride every ride with an adult.  Last time we went it was me, Hubby, 3 oldest kids, my friend Shay and her 2 kids.  So adults were out numbered 3 to 5.  We had to ride the rides multiple times and leave some of the kids waiting (which they LOVED- NOT!!). But this time was a lot better. It was me, hubby, 4 oldest kids, Nana and Papa, Sis-In-Law and future Bro-In-Law, and their daughter.  So it was 6 adults to 5 kids.  Plus they were all older.  Last time B was 5, Kay was 3 and Jake was a baby.  Cody was the youngest at almost 3.  the weather was perfect for a trip to the amusement park.  It was about 68' and a little overcast.  Not hot, not cold, and not raining!!  Legoland opens at 10 am.  So I left at 9 am ish to bring Mason to my sister, who...

is #18 Karasceviour!!  She said,  "I signed up for their newsletter entry #3." She has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond or I will pick another winner.  Thanks to everyone who entered!!

 #34 Eco-Friendly and Frugal!!  She said, "I follow you on Twitter as EFandFrugal."  I have emailed her and she has 48 hours to respond or random.org will choose a new winner.  Thanks!

#35 MelissaStuff!!  She said, "Twitter follower."  She has been emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to everyone for entering!! Lets try this again.  My new winner is #47 Jess (and the boys).  She said, "Your button is on my blog!  (left side) #2." I have emailed her and she has 48 hours to repond or we will pick another winner.  Thanks again!

San Diego has some great museums, most of which are located in Balboa Park, and one of the greatest thing about them is that they are free on Tuesdays!!  I really miss going to free museum Tuesdays now that we are in TN.   Today's free museums were the History of Man and the Art Museums.  (Wish we were here last week when the Photographic Art museum was free!)  Hubby's mom took this whole week off so she is came with us.  My dad, sister & her fiance, and their 2 kids met us down there as well.  WOW!!!  I forgot why we don't do free stuff in the summer.  No one is in school and there is way too many tourists.  (Yes I get the irony that I am technically a tourist but never mind that).  We had the hardest time finding parking.  But since I didn't used to be a tourist, we know the secret parking spots and went down there to park.  It has been about a year maybe a year 1/2 since I have been to ...

We decided that instead of waiting for Saturday to leave, that we are leaving at 2 am today!!  We are going to try and make it to Amarillo, TX today and then to San Diego, CA tomorrow.  We think it will be possible because we will gain an hour today.  And then tomorrow we gain 2 hours!  We are hoping that by leaving at 2 am, we can drive until 8 or 9 pm and we won't be tired and it will be almost dark.  The other 3 times we have driven cross country, we left at 6 am and drove until 10 pm or later.  But that is harder because you are driving in the dark, at the end of the day, when you are tired.  Plus this should be the easiest trip yet because we are making it in our van!! The first trip out here we were in our truck pulling a U-Haul trailer.  I was squished because of all the crap behind my seat.  Then on the way back to CA, we were in the U-Haul truck.  This last time in July 2009, hubby was in the U-Haul truck, towing our van and I w...

Title: Lucy Springer Gets Even Author: Lisa Heidke Publisher: Allen & Unwin Published: January 1, 2009 ISBN: 978-1741755831 Summary: "Lucy Springer thinks she's got it tough. She's living through renovation hell, her two kids seem more challenging than ever, and her once successful acting career has been reduced to the odd commercial. Then Max, her husband, absconds to Bali with an unknown companion and things go from bad to disastrous. But Lucy doesn't give up easily. Juggling increasingly chaotic building dramas, bewildered children, her crazy best friend/agent Gloria, and her ever helpful mother with chasing after Max, Lucy Springer is determined to get her life onto an even keel and more. This delightful new novel is an often hilarious account of triumphing over adversity, following your dreams and listening to your heart." This is a really good book.  The characters relly come to life: such as Patch- the building supervisor who wears an eye patch ...

 The winner of my Patriotic Pup from Pillow Pets is #4 Naila!!She said, "My brother Aaron is currently serving in the Army. He has gone to Iraq 3 times and has to go to Afghanistan sometime in the near future. I am also honoring (on FB) my other 2 brothers, Jason & Marcus who served. As well as my 4 uncles, my Dad, & my grandpa. I am also honoring my husbands family who served including an aunt and his dad." She has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.  Thanks to all who entered! And all who serve our country!!!!

Title: The Nobodies Album Author: Carolyn Parkhurst Publisher: Doubleday Published: June 15th, 2010 ISBN: 978-0385527699 Summary: "Parkhurst returns with the story of Octavia Frost: widow, successful novelist, and estranged mother of Milo, lead singer of an up-and-coming band. Milo and Octavia haven't spoken in almost four years, but their separation ends when Octavia learns (from the Times Square news crawl) that Milo has been arrested for the murder of his girlfriend. In short order, Octavia travels to the West Coast, determined to find out who really killed Bettina Moffett." This is a very good book!  I read a few of the reviews and a lot of them talk about the excerpts from Octavia's books that are scattered through out the novel.  I love the little book snippets.  I think they really go along with the main story plau give us a deeper view into Octavia's life and her story.  And actually I would love to read each of those novels. I really feel...

We have decided to take the kids on vacation.  We have also decided to leave Saturday 7/17.  But wait Allison...Thats is in 5 days!!!  I know, I know.  Lots of things to do and very little time to do it in.  But the kids are packed, DJ is packing and I will pack tonight.  We are going on a road trip so we will just have to throw all the bags in thevan and we will be off.  We will be gone for a little over 2 weeks, about 2 1/2 weeks.  I am trying to get all my book reviews and giveaways listed, before we go so that  I won't have that much to do while we are gone.  Have no fear, I will be blogging but it will mostly be about our trip and the activities we do.  I am taking my laptop so I don't go through withdrawls.  So let the countdown begin!! 

Congrats to #20 Jayda!!!  She said "I follow on GFC."  She has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.  Thanks to everybody who entered!!

And the winner of my Fandangling Giveaway is.....#12 Lydia!!! She said, "Liked Fandangling on FB and posted to their wall #2."  She will be emailed and have 48 hours to respond or random.org will pick a new winner.  Thanks to everyone who entered!!

I haven't done a Blog Hop for a while and this one has a really cute button so I decided to join in.  It is hosted by Boutique on Feet Shopgirls Blog We are doing something a little different this week in place of our "Follow Fridays", a little "blog hop". A blog hop is a way to exchanging links among multiple blogs. If you are a blogger, leave your link and grab the link code to add to your site. The same list will appear on every blog that puts the code on their blog. Readers, hop away to different blogs and learn what great ones are out there! Now, please make the most out of this blog hop. Follow These steps: 1. Enter your link and add it 2. Grab the link code and create a blog hop on your blog 3. Follow the blogs listed {Make sure to leave a comment so I can send some LOVE back to your page!!} 4. If the blogs have a FB and Twitter account . . . "LIKE" and "FOLLOW" them, too! and I am adding the most important rule HAVE FUN!!!...

So excited!!!  I have just hit 300 followers on GFC!!!!  Thanks everybody!

I had the great opportunity to interview Julia London author of the new book One Season of Sunshine .  Here it is.  Enjoy!! Thanks so much for having me here today! Where are you from? Austin, Texas When did you first consider yourself a writer? When I quit my day job to write full time in 2002. What inspired you to write your first book? What inspired me was fear of being a bureaucrat for the rest of my life, LOL. Seriously, I was a county manager, and I couldn’t imagine doing that sort of job for much longer. I thought I could write and decided to try it and see if I had any talent for it. Lucky for me, I had enough that an agent and a publisher were interested in me. Do you have a specific writing style? I think that I write very character-driven books. I think that’s what you mean by writing style. If you mean what do I wear to write, you really don’t want to know. It’s kind of pathetic. How did you come up with the title, ONE SEASON OF SUNSHINE? It was ...

Title: One Season of Summer Author: Julia London Publisher: Pocket  Published: June 29, 2010 ISBN: 978-1416547099 Summary: "Should some questions be left unanswered?  Adopted as an infant, Jane Aaron longs to know the identity of her birth mother and why she gave her up. Her only clue is the name of the small Texas town where she was born, so she’s come to Cedar Springs for answers. Handsome ad executive Asher Price lost his wife, the beautiful, mysterious Susanna, in a terrible car crash eighteen months ago. When he hires Jane as the nanny for his two children, sparks fly. Jane finds herself falling in love with both Asher and his children, but begins to suspect that Susanna was not the perfect mother and wife the family portrays her to have been. As Jane gets closer and closer to finding out the truth about both her own and Susanna’s past, devastating secrets begin to emerge that may be more than anyone can bear. Will the truth bring Jane and Asher closer together ...

Congrats to #10 Rebecca!!  She said "Twitter follower: rhoneygee" to win my $40 CSN E-Gift Card!!!  They have everything from  dining room tables to cookware to home décor accessories! Thanks to everyone who entered and keep entering my giveaways!!

One of my FAV bog designers, April Showers, is doing a giveaway!!!  All you have to do is leave a comment on her blog with a link to a blog post telling about the giveaway.  The giveaway is only lasting from today 7/8 until 7/11 at midnight!!  The winner gets an entire Blogger or Wordpress design!!!  That is an offer worth $160-$300!! WOW!!   Go enter!  http://www.aprilshowersblogdesign.com/

Title: When a Woman Takes an Axe to a Wall Author: Allegra Bennett Publish: A Writer's Lair Books Published:  May 13, 2006 ISBN:  978-0975440247 Summary: "Warning!!!! Women in this book are not afraid. They’ll snatch off their sling-backs, shimmy out of their couture, slip into overalls and strap on tool belts in the making of their perfect space and, in that, the renovation of their state of mind. When A Woman Takes An Axe To A Wall explores the synergy between a woman and the four walls she calls her own. Through anecdotes and incidents, it shows us that a woman, or indeed all women who take on their own home repairs embark on more than just superficial fix-it-jobs, they dip into the renovation of their own spirits." I really liked this book as it helps us to questions gender roles and the way we view traditional men and women jobs.  Most people would think home repairs and remodel are things men do but the women in this book beg to differ.  They are single...

The winner is #12 Kelly D.!!  She said "I like the Letter Plaque - Country D (Deaton). Thanks for the chance!"  Thanks to everyone who entered and to everyone who reads my blog thus making these giveaways possible!!!

First I want to send a big Thank You to Amy for giving me this awesome review and giveaway opportunity. She let me pick a shirt from both NachoMama Tees and CrazyDog Tees (They are sister companies). So I decided to do a His and Hers Tee Shirt Review and Giveaway! (Although both sites sell Mens and Womens Shirts). This is my His Giveaway. I decided to let me hubby pick a shirt from NachoMama Tees  (I like to try and share the review work love with the whole family!).  As we were looking through all the tees we saw the perfect one...BACON It's That Good.  My hubby has a weird obsession with bacon.  I even made him Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies.  He wants to make a dessert that incorporates Chocolate, Bacon, and Avocado.  I told you it was a weird obsssion.  You didn't believe me huh? He loves his Bacon Tee shirt.  He says that it is perfect for summer because it is light weight and soft.  It fits well (not too tight or super baggie e...

First I want to send a big Thank You to Amy for giving me this awesome review and giveaway opportunity.  She let me pick a shirt from both NachoMama Tees and CrazyDog Tees.  So I decided to do a His and Hers Tee Shirt Review and Giveaway! (Although both sites sell Mens and Womens Shirts).  This is my Hers Giveaway. After much deliberation, I decided that I wanted The Dinosaurs Are Cool Tee from Crazy Dog Tees .  I LOVE it!!  It is a super soft cotton shirt that gets softer with each washing.  It is a fitted tee but still really comfy.  All my kids love the cute blue dinosaur on it.  The only thing is that the writing is on the underside of my boobs so it is a little hard for people to read.  So when I see people staring at my shirt I usually say it sayd Dinos are cool.  And they usually respond Oh ok. I like that it is a long tee so it doesn't creep up when I am chasing the kids around. They have some HILARIOUS! tees.  I re...

It seems like everytime time I turn on the TV or pick up the newspaper, I hear or read about food poisioning, hormones, BPA, and tons of other things that are in food that I don't want my kids to be eating. I try to buy all natural products and organic meats and produce.  But what about baby food?  You might remember back in April, I did a review and giveaway of EcoMom's BPA free feeding set.  (Here is the link if you want to read that post.  BPA Free Feeding Set  )  While I was checking out her blog I saw all the different foods she offered and really wanted to try some of them for Mason.    But then a few weeks after that, Mason decided that he was a big kid and wanted to feed himself and refused to eat baby food.  So when Jody at EcoMom , gave me the chance to review some of the Plum Organics food for all the kids, I was super excited.  She sent me 3 kids of Plum Organics fruits: Pears, Mangos, and Peaches.  For toddle...

Congrats to #7 Gigi! She is the winner of my Glee Gum Make Your Own Gum Kit!!  She said "I'm following you on Twitter @agape4gigi." I will email her and she will 48 hours to respond or random.org will choose a new winner.  Thanks for entering my giveaway!!

This is the new Patriotic Puppy from Pillow Pets !! He is a red pup with a blue belly with white stars.  But my favorite thing about this pup is that $5 from every sale is donated to Scholarships for Military Children !! What a great cause!!  If you are going to buy toys for your kids, at least this way you are giving back to those who protect our country!!  Only 3000 of the Patriotic Pups are available.  I am especially thankful this year for the men and women who serve our country because I know a few families who are celebrating the birthday of our country without their loved ones!!  I think we should make sure to really thank those service men and women and remember why we are celebrate the 4th of July. THANK YOU OLIVER, TRAVIS, & KEVIN and EVERY else who is or has served our country!!!!! Thanks to Kathy, 1 lucky reader will win their own Patriotic Puppy!! HOW TO ENTER : You can do one or all three to enter this giveaway. *Entry #1: ...

Wow first off thanks to everyone who entered this giveaway from Pillow Pets!!  This was the biggest turnout, any of my giveaways have had yet!!  Congrats to #55 Natalie A.  She said "I follow your blog!"  She has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond or random.org will choose a new winner.

Title: Shiva'sArms Author: Cheryl Snell Publisher: The Writer's Lair Books  Published: March 27, 2010 ISBN: 978-0615340814 Summary: "Is there a happy medium between Hindu tradition and American style, or does the battle of wills between a mother and daughter-in law for the love of the man caught in the middle trump all else? When Alice marries Ramesh, she is plunged into a battle of wills with her mother-in-law. Amma wreaks havoc over Alice's household until a family secret is revealed that costs the old woman everything. Now it is up to Alice to heal the rift. Shiva's Arms evolves into an exploration of cultural identity, the power of reconciliation, and the meaning of home." This was a very good book.  I feel bad for Alice.  I think after the birth of her chld she had PPD and instead of trying to be helpful, Amma, her mother-in-law takes the baby back to India with her.  I think that would not only be horrible but also more depressing.  I can't im...

Here are some questions I asked Cheryl Snell author of Shiva's Arms Where are you from?   Alberta, Canada, eh. When did you first consider yourself a writer? When I published a poem in an excellent journal whose rep dwarfed my previous publications What inspired you to write your first book? Inspiration didn’t enter in. I had published about 65 poems and a few stories in lit journals and the logical next step was to put together a collection of poetry. Do you have a specific writing style? I write in a lyric narrative style. A critic/professor recently said I was an American surrealist. I like that. How did you come up with the title, Shiva’s Arms? It came to me when I was at McDonald’s with my Mom one day. It had all the elements I needed, incorporating the Hindu god of creation AND destruction, comparing that entity to Amma (who did plenty of C&D herself). All the god’s arms reminded me of Amma’s push-pull with Alice. Is there a message in Shiva’s Arms that y...