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Bickering

Ah, my lovely children. Pretty cute, don’t ya think?

They are driving me bonkers lately!

First let me say that there is little I love more than seeing them play together or hearing them laugh together.

I just wish those moments came more often, and lasted more than three minutes.

Because they are driving me bonkers with the bickering!

Sam is not blameless in all of this, but at the moment at least, the biggest issue is Kate picking on him. He can’t do anything right! Last night I actually heard her tell him how to swallow his spit in a way she doesn’t find offensive. I have lost count of how many times I have said “Stop terrorizing your brother!” I truly do not know what is so appealing to her about upsetting him.

She might be a sociopath.

Ok that is taking it a little far, but I am seriously at a loss. Is this normal sibling behavior? How can I make it stop? Are they going to get along?

I just want them to love each other, dammit!

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Giveaway: Overnight Stay at Kalahari Resorts!

This weekend, our families spent an amazing weekend at a blogger event at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. I thought it was going to be fun. Everything our families do together is fun – add in a water park? Good times.

I was not prepared to be blown away by the resort itself.

Here’s a little secret about me – I am a hotel snob. I’ve spent years perfecting my skills on Priceline, making sure my family stays in top-notch hotels for affordable prices. And I compare everything to Disney.

Let me reiterate – I was blown away by this place.

Jenny’s going to delve deeper into the accommodations later in the week (which will include another overnight giveaway!), but I’m here to tell you about the heart of Kalahari – the water park! Check this out:

Kalahari Resort is America’s LARGEST indoor waterpark. It’s huge! Here’s a pic Jenny took while we were there:

Kate and I particularly loved the Zip Coaster – 500 feet of freefalls, dips and turns. All of our kids loved the 12,000 square foot wave pool – I think we all spent more time in there than on anything else! Jenny left Jonah with her parents for the weekend, but we did check out the Kids Safari, which would have been the perfect place for him to hang out all weekend.

Kate and Bobby were the only daredevils in our group who had the nerve to try out the FlowRider – a five-foot ocean-like wave that shoots out 50,000 gallons of water each minute. It looked so fun!

After such a daring feat, Kate needed to rejuvenate, so she took a minute to hang out in the cabana.

To me, the cabana was one of the best parts of the water park – it gave us our own little “home base” where we could all meet, eat, and relax. Comfortable chairs and a television made it the perfect place for downtime or a nap – for the kids or grown ups! Jenny and I chilled in there while we hosted a Kalahari Twitter party that afternoon. Did I mention there’s free wifi throughout the entire resort??

Needless to say, the kids all had a blast.

But this? Might have been my favorite moment.

The best Santa I’ve ever seen was there to greet the kids in the evening. Sam is positive that he was the real one.

Want to experience this for yourself?? We’re giving away a one-night stay!

Here’s the small print:
The voucher will include:
– A one-night stay in a Hut or Desert Style room
– Complimentary Safari Outdoor Adventure Park Passes
– NOT VALID: Friday and Saturdays. Blackout dates include November 21-22, 2012, December 21-January 5, 2013, January 20, 2013, February 17, 2013, March 17-31, 2013, April 1-4, 2013, May 26, 2013, June 23 – August 18, 2013, September 1, 2013, and October 13, 2013. Please call (877) 525-2427 for availability. No cash value, expires 2 years from date of issue.

Here’s how to enter:
1) Leave a comment on this post.
2) Like Kalahari Resorts on Facebook and leave a separate comment here saying you did so.
3) Like Mommin’ It Up on Facebook and leave a separate comment here saying you did so.

One winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, December 11th at 6pm EST.

Even if you don’t win – we’ve got a special deal just for our readers. Click here to learn more!

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Lands’ End Holiday Looks

It’s the last day of November and we’re gearing up for the most crazy time of year. I’m sure all of your calendars look as nuts as mine does for the next four weeks – baking, shopping, wrapping, and – of course – partying! We’ve got at least three Christmas parties on our agenda, and that doesn’t even include Christmas itself. Normally I would stress out about what to wear to all of them, but this year I went to LandsEnd.com and found their Holiday Style Guide – and voila. Perfect outfits already put together for me!

Lands’ End seriously has everything you need for holiday parties, whether it’s a get-together with colleagues, church, or dinner with friends, they’ve got you covered. Here are a few of my favorites!

First, the dresses. I looooove dresses, and I think these are just gorgeous.

I was looking for something a little more casual (but still dressy!) for a work party (and to meet Nick Lachey!), and the lovely folks at Lands End sent me this:

I clicked on “Shop the Look, and it showed me every piece that went into making this outfit just right. I really love this feature!

I also looooove the outfit. The Dolman Sleeve Velvet V-Neck Top come in four different jewel-toned colors. It is so pretty and ridiculously comfortable. The draping on the sides is really flattering. Did I mention it’s comfortable? Speaking of comfortable – the pants that go with this outfit are amazing. I could live in them. And they look so nice – I absolutely love the leg. It’s straight without being skinny. Know what I mean? It’s perfect. Also, I like that the zipper is on the side, which makes for a sleeker look.

Don’t forget the accessories! “Shop the Look” also includes jewelry, shoes, and a clutch. The clutch – oh my goodness. I love this thing. It’s made of beautiful leather and has hand-finished edges that make it super classy. It’s the perfect size for a phone, keys, and credit cards, and there are zippered pockets inside so nothing gets lost. Also – the shoes. I freaking love the shoes that go with this outfit. They’re the Women’s Ashby Essential High Heels, and I loved them so much I got two pairs. They are very comfortable and look SO great. And, of course, since they’re Lands’ End, I am confident I’ll be wearing them for years!

The second holiday look I picked is this:

The Long Sleeve Georgette Bow Shirt is professional and festive both. It’s made of a delicate, light material that drapes like silk. The Ponte Trousers are fantastic as well – I love everything I have from the Ponte collection. It’s a knit material that’s dressy enough for work. It looks great and is really comfortable. They come in four different colors – I might have to order the other three! The Pearl Drop earrings are lovely and they’re quickly becoming a staple in my wardrobe.

Lands’ End has everything you need for holiday looks for the whole family! Today’s a great day to check out Lands’ End – use promo code JINGLE and get 40% off any one item and free shipping on $50 orders.

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