I’m in some serious blogging funk and trying to wiggle my way out!  Maybe it’s the summer heat, lack of caffeine, or slowwwwwwww opportunities, but whatever it is—–is killing my mojo!  I’ll snap myself out of it and get things back to normal around here!  Please bare with me while I get things going again!  Sorry for the scary picture!

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Blogging FUNK! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Anyone who runs a website knows there is the hassle of filtering out hundreds of spam comments daily.  Thank goodness for Akismet which does most the work sorting which comments are junk and needed to be placed in the round file (trash can).   However, I still go through all the comments to make sure no one’s legit remarks are accidentally marked as spam.  I would hate for something like that to happen, because I value anyone who takes the time to actually read my articles and appreciate every single comment left here at my humble little corner of the blogosphere.  Well call it boredom or insanity, but I’m finding humor out of some of the comments I found in the spam file and wanted to share with you how creative these individuals can be.

Check this out!

This comment is from Frederick Hancock(if that is actually his real name)…

“Knock knock, who is there? Your Monopoly Electric company with another ass ripping bill so the CEO can get a new Mansion- Go Solar and screw your local Electric Company and their Monopoly”

Hmmm it looks like Fredrick might be a disgruntled over having to pay inflated energy bills during the cold winter season.  I don’t blame him!  However, I’m not sure what this has to do with Purex Softener where he decided to leave his angry comment.

Another interesting (cough) comment comes from Topless Waiters Melbourne and the topic of choice to leave his opinion was on my Free John Frieda Sample post.

“Never thought blogging could be soo fun and interesting. Man you know how to do it brother.”

Now this is a definite clue this guy does not read my blog, because he would realize I’m not a brother…I’m a SISTER!  Delete delete delete!

The next entertainment comes from spam commenter Keo260 from Diet Meals.

“Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same time as you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a weblog web site? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I were a little bit familiar of this your broadcast provided vibrant clear idea”

WHAT?  Is this person speaking English?  I read it three times over and STILL can’t understand what is being said!  The diet meals this person is eating need to be recalled!  HELLOOO…super delete!

I think Ellena Dage (the person who left this comment) and Frederick Hancock should get together and wrestle it out!  The loser gets to pay the bill!

“Is your electric bill too high? Well suck it because we make big money on you maggots when there is no choices, now pay your Monopoly electeric company so the CEO can buy his son a sports car.”

The final spam pleasure comes from SEO Services who maintains to leave tons of comments per day pertaining to absolutely nothing.  This really makes me want to trust them…NOT

“Whats hattnin, yeuh dis blog right heur is ill, big ups PAAAATNAAAA.”

UHH…I’m speechless on this one!

Well that concludes the –dumb and could be a lot funnier— entertainment for tonight.  Thank you spammers for the extra laugh and I’m glad to see your putting your time to good use!  NIGHT!

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Entertaining Spam Comments! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I was reading through the Hickory Farms Giveaway comments (yes, I read every one of them) and was impressed by all the great holiday traditions plus fabulous ideas shared.  Then I come across a comment from a reader who wrote “One year I was stunned to see that there were as many adult presents as kid presents. And this is all for people who don’t want or need anything, complain about having to do Christmas shopping, nag me for ideas about what to get everyone else, and one particular person who thinks quantity is more important that quality, so she buys out the Dollar Store and gives us all of that.” Hmmm…this sounds very familiar.  I think I might know the gift giving offender!  The problem is some people become overwhelmed and  lose sight of what is truly important during the holidays and just want to get the task out of the way .  Have you ever heard the ever popular saying ” it’s the thought that counts?”

I’ve compiled a list of what I believe is proper gift giving etiquette to live by.  I follow these rules to try and stay off the holiday schmuck list and wish other friends plus family members would too.  It might just seem like a gift, but the action of “giving” leaves a lasting impression to set the upcoming year.  The list is simple common sense, yet  there is always one special person who commits the ultimate gift giving crime and  becomes the talk for years to come. PLEASE don’t be that person!

1. Quantity Is NOT Quality. I would rather receive one quality gift worth remembering than 20 thoughtless Dollar Store items. NOTHING is wrong with stuff from the Dollar Store, BUT over doing it just looks junkie.

2. Regifting -THE ULTIMATE OFFENDER! So you want to get rid of the nasty tie or scarf your slightly deranged relative gave you and decide to regift it.  If you don’t like it what makes you think someone else is going too?  Your better off donating it to a thrift store.  The biggest problem with regifting is people tend to hold onto items for too long and then forget who gave it to them.  Then they end up regifting to the same person who originally gave the present in the first place and become the ULTIMATE GIFT OFFENDER.

If you do decide to regift make sure it’s outside your circle of friends and family.  You don’t want to have your Auntie Betsy seeing the scarf she gave you wrapped around your cousin’s neck.  Hurt feelings are sure to follow.

3. Don’t Buy Cubic Zirconia And Try Passing It As Real Diamonds. Men…. I beg you NOT to do this!  You will always be found out and it can be a catastrophic embarrassment for you and  possible relationship wrecker.  Women are smart and we can tell the difference of genuine diamonds compared to cubic zirconia. A simple transparency test will tell us if your trying to pass off a phony baloney. Stay within your means and dazzle us with your thoughtfulness instead of your make believe checkbook.

4. Remove The Clearance Sticker! I love being frugal and will shop for good deals.  Who doesn’t?  Although, it’s smart to remove the clearance sticker from the bottom of the gift you found on the bargain rack.  Being thrifty is clever, but looking cheap is tacky!

5. It’s A Gift Not A Gold Bar.  Wrapping a gift with packing tape like its a gold bar from Fort Knox is nonsense.  There is no reason to go overboard with tape and make the person opening the gift sweat bullets!  A few pieces go a long way. OH…and if you use tissue paper…please don’t use the whole package on one gift with a box of tape. YUCK!

6. Leave The Edibles To the Professionals.  I LOVE receiving yummy Christmas cookies as a gift.  HOWEVER, if your cookies come out of the oven resembling hockey pucks they are better left for the ice.  If you can’t bake please leave the edibles to the professional cookie makers.  Stomachaches are not on most peoples holiday wish lists!

7. Don’t Be A Downer. I really want to stress this rule, because there is someone I know that finds the holiday season the perfect opportunity to include a major downer note with EVER gift they give.  If you have had a hard year and life has given you a dozen lemons don’t pass on the sourness to your loved ones.  Leave it for another day and lets be thankful for what we do have this season.

8. Gifts Better Left In The Bedroom.  Ummm…I’ll try to keep this rated PG as possible.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave the sexual gifts ONLY for your significant other.  Grandma might be frisky, but its very inappropriate to surprise her with something from the porn store.  Don’t go down in history for being the freaky relative who shocked Grandma in 2010 and gave her a heart attack.

9. Give Gender Appropriate Gifts.  I think this rule is pretty self explanatory.  Most likely your nephew Jimmy doesn’t want a doll for Christmas.  A nice new Hot Wheels car or Mattel truck would be a better fit for him.

10. Toys For Children. Clothes Are Better Left In The Closet.  Avoid the disappointing looks from children on your shopping list by giving them a toy instead of clothes.  A child would much rather unwrap a shiny new toy to play with than a hand knitted sweater.  It might have taken you days to knit it with lots of love intended, but kids look forward to Christmas all year long to get that one hot toy they have seen advertised on TV for months.

Remember this fun quick poem written by my daughter to keep you off the holiday gift giving schmuck list for 2010.

Gift Giving Poem

Through out the Christmas season

We give without reason

Some gifts rise to the top

And others fall with a flop

Quality over quantity is the proper way to gift

Not to go to the dollar store and buying what ever you can lift

Make a gift special by giving it from your heart

Not giving one that requires an extra part

Wrapping paper that’s fun and bright

Is always nice but don’t wrap too tight

Its oh so sweet when your love gives jewelry

But please make sure its real and not just tomfoolery

Cookies and succulent treats are full love

But if you can’t cook don’t go over the above

If given a gift from long ago, not knowing from were it came

Make sure not to gift it to the person that gave you the same

Those that give the present are giving

Those that receive it aren’t forgiving

To stay safe from Christmas troubles and family duels

Simply follow these gift giving rules

by Kylie J

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Gift Giving Etiquette 101 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

After some consideration and realization of all the fantastic deals and freebies that are lurking online, I’ve expanded ahappyhippymom.com and added a subdomain called The Daily Find.  I’ve decided to take this recourse to help cut down on the offers plus unrelated content being posted  and relieve my email subscribers from all unwanted subject matter not relating to eco-friendly living.   If your interested in keeping up to date with non organic samples, freebies, discounts, and saving money, please subscribe to The Daily Find to get them directly delivered to your inbox.  All other news, recipes, reviews, giveaways, rants, back to school  sales, and bizarre stuff will still remain to be the same here.

I know most of you come here for the giveaways and I appreciate your support.  Please feel free to drop me suggestions on how to improve ahappyhippymom.com or products you would like to see featured.  I will do my best to accommodate all requests!

The Daily Find is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I love this ad and wanted to share it!  The words are inspiring  and gives us girls with rounder posteriors a positive voice.  Not everyone can be a size 0 and we shouldn’t be made to feel less for it.   “My butt is big and thats just  fine!”  Thank you Nike for coming up with such an ingenious advertisement!

My Butt Is Big! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I usually don’t post too much personal stuff on my website, but I’m so proud of my daughter that I had to share! This is her report card for the 7th Grade. She had a rough attendance year from having the flu and strep throat. I was so worried it was going to affect her grades and she would fall behind. However, she picked herself up and worked hard to maintain her grade point average. I LOVE you Kylie! You are the ultimate best kid any parent could ask for!

Report Card! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I have heard that actors die in threes, but always thought it was some weird superstition.  However, I’m starting to wonder if there isn’t some truth to this myth.  Gary Coleman (1970s TV sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes)  died yesterday at age 42 from an intercranial hemorrhage.  TODAY there is breaking news actor Dennis Hopper dies at age 74!  He was battling prostate cancer which unfortunately took his life.  Extremely sad!  My question is who is next?  VERY SCARY!

Do Actors Die In Threes? is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I will be changing the look of ahappyhippymom.com… AGAIN.  I believe the current theme might be causing some lag and load issues for some readers? I’ve received a few comments that the site was not displaying correctly in a couple of browsers so I’m on a hunt for a premium theme or might try to even design one. Be on the look out in the next couple of days for the site being down during the construction for a few hours.

Under Construction – New Theme Soon! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

During the exciting holiday season it becomes harder to get  kiddos to go to bed on time and to actually stay in bed.  It can become a nightmare for parents and a huge challenge to deal with the overtired cranky child the next day who fought to stay awake beyond their sack time. With a few simple tricks and positive coaching the bedtime battles can be alleviated.

Tips & tricks for getting your kids to bed on time and getting them to stay in bed.

1. Try and stick to a bedtime routine.   Give your child a good 30 to 45 minutes to settle down and get all the night time requests satisfied.  If its having a sip of water, hugs and kisses,  or a trip to the potty make sure its done before he/she is expected to fall asleep.
   
2. I always include a bath or shower in my kids routine to help them settle down.  It helps calm the nighttime nerves and it is a reminder the day has ended and been washed away.
3. Read a bedtime story to your child or allow 10 minutes of magazine time before turning out the lights.
4. Have the room a nice cool temperature of no more than 70 degrees to help get your child snuggled in and cozy.  If the room is too hot it can cause them discomfort and keep them awake.
5. The dark can be frightening to some children,  but the room should be dark enough to discourage extra added stimuli.   All video games, televisions, or radios should be out of reach when the lights are turned off.
6. A reward system can be a great motivator to get your child to go to bed on time.  Have a chart visible with the times he/she fell asleep without giving you trouble and at the week’s end reward with some extra game time or possibly a night time pass for an extra hour on the weekends.
7. Most importantly be consistent.  Children have a built in manipulative nature and can sway the best of us.  Don’t give in to the demands of extra fiddlings or nighttime romps.
   

These are my suggestions and they seem to work for my family.  Do you have a routine to get your kids to bed and to stay asleep till morning?

Twittermoms and Drama U Contest

Do you have your own tips and tricks to getting your child to bed and staying there?  Twittermoms and Drama U would like to hear about your routine and will reward the first 100 bloggers who share their stories a pink Cozy!  Additionally they will give you a pink Cozy to giveaway to one of your lucky blog readers!  Go here to read how to enter. (The St. Eve Kids Cozys are one size fits most girls sizes between 6-9)

Tips and Tricks For Getting Your Kids To Bed On Time is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Happy Thanksgiving to all you wonderful peeps out there!  I hope your having an exceptionally great turkey day and you are building new traditions to be passed down to your kiddos!

More Than A Day

As Thanksgiving Day rolls around,
It brings up some facts, quite profound.
We may think that we’re poor,
Feel like bums, insecure,
But in truth, our riches astound.We have friends and family we love;
We have guidance from heaven above.
We have so much more
Than they sell in a store,
We’re wealthy, when push comes to shove.So add up your blessings, I say;
Make Thanksgiving last more than a day.
Enjoy what you’ve got;
Realize it’s a lot,
And you’ll make all your cares go away.

By Karl Fuchs

Happy Thanksgiving To All Of You! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I’m sure most of you know I review products and like to share my candid opinion about items here on my website.  When I first started  writing my  blog my sincere intentions were focused  on sharing my personal parenting experiences and connecting with other stay at home blogging moms.  My motives still remain the same, but I also realized there was a need for unbiased product evaluations!  Being a mom is rewarding in so many different levels but lets face it—it can also be frustrating, stressful, and emotional draining.  The last thing I want to have to worry about is if a product lives up to its description.  Is it truly green or is it a greenwashed product?  Does it perform as it promises? How about- is it actually a good value compared to similar items on the market?  Who can benefit by using the product? All these questions can be answered by moms who have tried and tested a wide array of products.  In return,  their hard work to  bring you the truth  saves you money plus time.  Don’t be fooled, it is not always easy to write up reviews.  It takes research, putting yourself out there to be criticized, and then after all your efforts you wonder if anyone actually read the review.

Compensation

Yes, sometimes (not always)  mom reviewers are compensated with a free sample for their reviews.  Why shouldn’t we be?  It takes time out of our schedules to assess and write opinions about a product.  In return a company receives attention and gets their product noticed via social media marketing.  They recognize how influential a mom’s opinion can be and the spending power behind us motivated moms.  The mom and PR partnership can be a beautiful beneficial relationship for everyone  IF  honesty is portrayed on both sides.

Expect Rejection

When I first began taking an interest in reviewing products I was a lost lamb in a jungle. I did not have a CLUE on how to contact companies to request a product for evaluation. To be honest, I am still ignorant in this procedure and usually let  companies approach me first.   I have made a few pitches in the past and never heard back from the companies.  I know this is all part of the review process, but rejection is never fun!

Join a mom blogger club.

I have learned an abundance of information on how to connect with PR and request products by joining several mom blogger clubs.  My favorite of these clubs is Momdot, since Trisha brings a professional but relaxed personal atmosphere to the table.  I have been a VIP member there for quite a few months and would highly recommend the Momdot forum to anyone who is interested in starting a blog or wanting to hang out with a terrific group of knowledgeable ladies.

Blog Sponsorship Programs and Networks

Get involved with authentic blog sponsorship programs.  This is an important step in maintaining to keep your review possibilities steady and offer your readers exciting giveaways.  If you happen to enjoy toys (I LOVE toys), GrowingTreeToys.com has a wonderful blog sponsorship program.  The educational toy company has a list of several QUALITY toys you can request for a review.  For example,  I will be reviewing a cute Dress Up Pirate Toy in a couple of weeks.  If you are interested in reviewing toys you can apply for the GrowingTreeToys.com blog sponsorship here.

Check out the pirate…

Uprinting.com is another great company who sponsors blogs.  The  online printing company consistently provides my readers with free product giveaways and happens to be an  eco-friendly business.  Would you like to be sponsored by Uprinting.com?  Click  here.

MyBlogSpark  supplies you with exciting new products for review and innovative ways to share the info with your readers.   The network was developed by General Mills (an outstanding company) and is made up of hundreds of bloggers.  MyBlogSpark is  supreme for offering bloggers opportunities that match their interest.  Products may include food and beverage, beauty,  home, electronics, and more.  If you would like to join the network go here.

Search around!  There are several more programs out there in the blogosphere that will match your interests.

Be Sensible

If your just starting off  writing your blog traffic might not be adequate enough to request prime expensive products.  It takes time to build a reader base.  Be prepared to give companies your blog statistics and please be honest with the numbers.  Lying is unethical and only hurts you in the long run.

Blogging Skills

If you would like to learn how to increase your traffic and broaden your blogging skills try listening to ProBlogger Darren Rowse.  He is a full time blogger who makes a remarkable living by blogging.    In my opinion he is a blogging genius and has tons to offer.

Competition

Competition can be healthy, but it can also negatively consume you.  There is nothing wrong with trying to better yourself, but don’t do it on the expense of others.  If all your energy is geared towards competing with other blogs, you have lost focus on why you started writing and need to reevaluate yourself. Most importantly, remember to keep your content original!

Reviewing Products and Blog Sponsorship Programs is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

The Clear Remedy Giveaway will be ending in a few days so please make sure to get your entries in!  You can tweet daily on Twitter for an extra chance at winning the whole system valued at $165!

Don’t forget,  there is also a discount coupon for 30% off your order (no minimum)  and free shipping!  To get your discount use  GETCLEAR30 upon checkout.

If you have any questions on how to enter please email me at michelle@ahappyhippymom.com,  and I will help you.

Clear Remedy Giveaway Reminder. is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Kylie my almost teen daughter went to school acting fine, but when she came home-WOW she was freaken miserable! The backpack went whipping across the kitchen and she stamped upstairs to her room without a single hello.  I gently knocked on her bedroom door asking her if everything was ok and received a stern FINE for a response. Hormones right? They have kicked in on the same day Aiden decides to flip out.

Even the pets were acting oddly.  My cat was biting my dogs back.  The poor dog was running around the house with him attached to her side.  They usually play nice together but something ruffled their fur.  AWFUL!

Hubby was actually the only sane individual residing in my house yesterday. He was calm, sweet, and helpful. Hmmm…something is definitely off balance here.  Who snatched my husband and replaced him with this guy?

I’m only human and I was about to crack.  I could not wait to jump into my pajamas and pull the covers over my head!

Hopefully everyone will be back to their normal selves today and yesterday was just a passing moment!

Yesterday- Only human is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

HAPPY EASTER! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

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Thank You!

Feedburner Dropped You…? is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Added March 22 2009

I just wanted to tell everyone who was nice to leave a comment that I plan on stopping over to your blogs and getting to know you more! I want to visit each and every 1193 currently listed family blog! I am getting busy accomplishing this starting NOW! I’m sure it is going to take me ALL week so if your blog is listed on the bottom…I will see you Friday! Thanks again and Happy UBC!

Added March 23 2009

Ok…This might take a lot longer than I expected. I’m only at 101 on the list and think I may have missed a few blogs in between! I’m having a blast!

Plus, I forgot to add the prizes to my post! I guess I better check them out too! Woo Hooo!

Prizes
#7 , 89, 19 , 102 , 58 (for my mom)

Ultimate Blog Party 2009! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

ROSES A Poem by Kylie is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

A February Picnic is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom