The past few weeks have been exhausting – to put it mildly. I have felt more out of control than I think I ever have. We are upon the last few days of school. Tomorrow morning, my oldest daughter will graduate from 8th grade, and that will be the end of the year. Next year, we’re off to a new school {actually 3 new schools: primary, elementary, and HIGH school – gasp!}, and off to bigger and better things.

To top that off, my husband, the amazing man that he is, has been putting in countless hours at work to prepare for their “re-grand opening.” The grocery store he works at has undergone a complete remodel, and it has been an absolute nightmare. He gets home about 7 or 8 o’clock at night, eats dinner, falls asleep on the couch, goes to bed around 10, and then he is back up at 3:15am to be at the store by 5. And this is every day for several weeks now. He is absolutely exhausted, and I can’t blame him.

BUT, with him being gone so much, it’s left me feeling like a single mom. I spent the first 5 years of Ashley’s life as a single mom. One kid was exhausting enough. Now I’ve got 6 kids. I take them into the grocery store, and by the end of it, I want to cry.

The re-grand opening happens on Thursday, then it’s Memorial Day weekend. Poor guy is going to be drained come next week.

We have our VBS kick-off on Saturday, which means I’ve got 3 days to get my hiney in gear and get my room decorated. SO thankful I picked the 2s and 3s to teach this year. The room will be so much fun to decorate… it’s just finding the spare time to do it all.

VBS starts Sunday night, and runs all week. We do our VBS in the evening, so I’m hoping to have some quiet {HA!} time during the day. I’m also hoping and praying that next week hubby will finally have a day off. He certainly deserves it.

I know I haven’t posted much about the DietBet challenge – and for that I apologize. I am still losing weight! Just not quite as much as I’d hoped. I started this challenge at 183. At the end of week one, I was down to 178.8. At the end of week 2 {this past Saturday}, I was only down to 178.4. {I told you it’s been a stressful week.} This Saturday will be the end of week 3, and I’m hoping to have lost even more weight. I want so badly to be at my goal weight, but harboring all this stress is definitely a stumbling block.

Tell me – how are YOU? What exciting things do you have going on right now? Still counting down the school days, or are you out for summer?

We’re getting more and more people to join in the fun here on the Alexa Mania Blog Hop! Please make sure you’re visiting everyone on the list. People stop by all through the week, so I don’t want anyone to get left out. {The best day to check in is Saturday, so be sure to swing back by and check out the blogs of those you may have missed.}

My Alexa rank is making me bonkers lately. One day it will be low and the next day, it’ll jump up around 3,000. So annoying. But, I’m determined to get it where I want to get it, and I KNOW we can do that together.

What about you? Is your Alexa rank getting where you want it to be?

What if you don’t know what an Alexa rank is? Well, if you’re a blogger and you want to do product reviews and giveaways, or if you’d like to sell ad space, this is a number that you’ll need to know. PR reps like to know your Alexa rank, and the lower your number, the better!

Alexa rank is based on how many people visit your site and how many pages they look at. But, Alexa only counts the people that have the Alexa Toolbar installed. (For more details, visit the Alexa website and check out this page: About the Alexa Traffic Rankings

Here’s how the hop will work:

• Install the Alexa Toolbar if you haven’t already. Don’t complete any more steps until you’ve done that first. Be sure to restart your browser if necessary.
• Leave a Link to your blog in the linky below. Family Friendly blogs only, please, and link to your main page, not an individual blog post.
• Browse around my site for as long as you’d like. If you leave a comment on any of my blog posts and tell me that you’re taking part in the Alexa Mania, I’ll be sure to return the visit to your blog and poke around. Also, if you review my site on Alexa, I’ll be sure to do the same for you as well. Just leave me a comment on this post and let me know that you left a review.
• Visit as many blogs in the linky list as you can. Be sure to let them know that you’re visiting from the Alexa Mania Hop and leave a link to your blog so they can come to your blog and return the favor.
• Please take the time to leave at least one review for one blog. It’s not hard – just go to the blog you’d like to review. Click on the Alexa toolbar icon, then click on the blog’s link in the window that pops up. Then, click on the “review” tab in the window that opens, and click on the “Write a Review” button. If you have the full toolbar for Firefox installed, just click on the graph icon in the toolbar. That will take you to the site info page for that blog. Then, click the review tab and then write a review.

If you could, help spread the word about Alexa Mania with a blog post, a tweet, on Facebook, or by sharing our button (below). The more people we get to participate, the lower each of our ranks can go!

Welcome to another fantastic week! I can’t believe how quickly this year is flying by. Memorial Day is just around the corner, and that means it will soon officially be summer! This is going to be a very busy week for me – my oldest daughter will graduate from 8th grade on Wednesday, and we have tons {and tons!} of end-of-the-year school activities planned for the week. Plus, hubby is putting in about 90 hours/week at his job, just trying to get everything ready for their re-grand opening this week. I will be SO glad when this week is over and I can have my husband – and some quiet time – back. How about you? What do you have going on this week?

Ok, let’s get to the reason for this post! Add your link to this linky for more entries in your giveaways, scroll through the linky to find lots of fabulous giveaways to enter, or just discover new blogs that you’re sure to get hooked on.

Also be sure to come back to this post throughout the week and check to see the new giveaways added to the linky. People come by all week long, so you don’t want to miss your chance to get more entries in your giveaways. And you certainly don’t want to miss your chance to win some really awesome prizes!

Just in case you’re new here, here is an example of how to post links:

Name: {4/30} BobbleBots Moshi Monsters Starter Set
Link: http://blessedbeyondwords.com/bobblebots-moshi-monsters-ends-430/
Shows up like this: {4/30} BobbleBots Moshi Monsters Starter Set

Now it’s your turn! Leave your links here:

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Whitney Farms. All opinions are 100% mine.

As most of you are aware, we moved into a new house earlier this year. One thing this house has that all of our previous houses lacked, is a large yard – and the perfect spot for planting a garden.

Here, take a look:

As you can see, we haven't done much with it… yet. Right now it needs a lot of TLC. But, I am envisioning that someday soon, I will have a beautiful garden full of fresh veggies for my family.

When I heard about Whitney Farms® and their products, I was instantly intrigued. I want to feed my family the best that I can – and if we start growing our own products, I would prefer to use both organic plant food and organic soil. I don't want to have to worry about the chemicals and additives that could be in the plant food I spread on my garden.

Whitney Farms® is 100% natural plant food and soil. There are no additives, nothing fake – just natural elements provided by the Earth to help you acheive a beautiful garden full of large plants and veggies.

 Whitney Farms® has been around for over 25 years, and offer the following positives:

• No Manure Odor {LOVE THIS!}
• Little to no dust
• It's super easy to apply.
• Their blends are specially designed and are protein-based to give your plants all the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.
• Contain microbes that are beneficial to plant growth.

I can't wait to try Whitney Farms® natural plant food and soil for my garden, and I'd encourage you to try them as well. {Be sure to visit their website for a $3 off coupon.}

You’ve seen the commercials, and you’re well aware that The Avengers are in your local theater right now. {Still hoping I actually get to see the movie in the theater!} But, as a mom with 4 boys, I’ve got my own little set of Avengers here at home. And my boys have very vivid imaginations. One thing they love to do is dress up in costumes of their favorite super heroes. Needless to say, I am always scouting websites looking for the best boys costumes I can find – at a price I can actually afford.

Costume Supercenter recently contacted me and asked if I would like to review a costume for them. After visiting their website and seeing all the cool Avengers costumes they had available, I couldn’t wait to do this review… and neither could my boys!

Captain America is our favorite Avenger. He’s super cool, and he totally kicks butt. And the Captain America costume that Costume SuperCenter sent us is absolutely awesome! I love the fake “muscles” that are built into the costume. It makes my boys feel like they really are Captain America, and they can prepare to “fight the bad guys” – and all the evil things that lurk in the woods around our house.

I am really impressed with the quality of the costume – and with the price. At less than $30, these costumes are perfect for my boys. I can purchase them as birthday or Christmas gifts, or even “just because.”

The one thing that bummed us all out a bit, though, is that the costume didn’t come with Captain America’s shield. Now, really, how can you be Captain America without a shield? Luckily, my boys are great improvisors, and Zander made up his own Captain America shield. {I will be purchasing the Captain America movie shield from Costume Supercenter for Zander’s birthday.}

I will definitely be shopping at Costume Supercenter for all our costume needs. With their super low prices and fantastic selection, I can find exactly what I need for each one of my kids. Their customer service is top-notch, and they ship very quickly.

If you have kids that love to play dress up, or if you’re already thinking about what to do for Halloween costumes this year, head on over to the  Costume Supercenter website and take a look around. You’re certain to find something you’re going to love!

Also be sure to follow Costume Supercenter on Twitter and become a fan of Costume Supercenter on Facebook.

Disclaimer: I received the costume mentioned above from Costume Supercenter in order to facilitate my review. I have not been compensated for this post in any other way.

One thing I love about my blog is that I get the opportunity to meet some fantastic people. Monday morning was definitely a highlight in my life, when I got the chance to sit down and interview Kerri Walsh – wife, mother of two, and 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist in beach volleyball.

Ok, ok. So we weren’t exactly sitting in the same room, but I did get to speak with her through the amazing power of technology – and my phone.

Kerri is amazing. She is so down to earth and just as sweet as the Tea the Southerners like to drink. I am still in awe at the fact that little old me got to talk one-on-one with her. {And I simply must mention just how jealous my daughter is. Kerri is someone that Ashley really looks up to, and after I had the opportunity to speak with Kerri, I think she’s an excellent role model for our daughters.}

I hope you’ll take a few moments and watch the video interview. {You won’t see me – just Kerri – but you’ll hear me ask all my questions and talk directly with her.}

She was so easy to talk to – I really could have talked all day!

What did you think of the interview? What questions would you have asked Kerri?

I am so thankful to Pampers for allowing me the chance to speak one-on-one with Kerri and ask her my questions. I had such a wonderful time, and I am just so honored to have been part of this.

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated for this post in any way. Pampers allowed me the opportunity to speak with Kerri Walsh. All photos in this post, as well as the video, are the copyright property of Pampers.

As a mom, I need vacation destinations that will make everyone in the family happy. Because we have such a wide range of ages, this can be quite difficult. So many places just don’t cater to families anymore. It seems the thing now is to keep kids quiet – or at home.

Recently, I had the opportunity to check out the website for Central Jersey. I was seriously impressed. There is so much to do! Theaters, parks, museums, restaurants, shopping, even a special playland just for kids. There are historical sites and tours that my husband {the history buff} would definitely have on our list of things to do. There is even an entire page dedicated to things to do with the kids! I love that they are so family-focused, and they don’t leave anyone out. My family would love to take a trip to Central Jersey and just go exploring. {And eat, and eat, and eat!} I just can’t get over how many options there are for families, couples, or anyone that visits their local area.

There are over 50 different hotels to choose from in Central Jersey, so there’s bound to be something that meets you needs – and your budget. Whether you are planning a romantic get-a-way with your significant other, or planning a family vacation, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in Central Jersey.

I encourage you to visit www.GoCentralJersey.com and start planning your next vacation. Also, check out GoCentralJersey on Facebook and stay up-to-date with all the latest happenings, events, and more!

With 6 kids, it’s hard to find vacation spots where I know everyone will be happy. I hope that someday my family and I can visit the Central Jersey area and spend some time.

*

We’re getting more and more people to join in the fun here on the Alexa Mania Blog Hop! Please make sure you’re visiting everyone on the list. People stop by all through the week, so I don’t want anyone to get left out. {The best day to check in is Saturday, so be sure to swing back by and check out the blogs of those you may have missed.}

My Alexa rank is making me bonkers lately. One day it will be low and the next day, it’ll jump up around 3,000. So annoying. But, I’m determined to get it where I want to get it, and I KNOW we can do that together.

What about you? Is your Alexa rank getting where you want it to be?

What if you don’t know what an Alexa rank is? Well, if you’re a blogger and you want to do product reviews and giveaways, or if you’d like to sell ad space, this is a number that you’ll need to know. PR reps like to know your Alexa rank, and the lower your number, the better!

Alexa rank is based on how many people visit your site and how many pages they look at. But, Alexa only counts the people that have the Alexa Toolbar installed. (For more details, visit the Alexa website and check out this page: About the Alexa Traffic Rankings

Here’s how the hop will work:

• Install the Alexa Toolbar if you haven’t already. Don’t complete any more steps until you’ve done that first. Be sure to restart your browser if necessary.
• Leave a Link to your blog in the linky below. Family Friendly blogs only, please, and link to your main page, not an individual blog post.
• Browse around my site for as long as you’d like. If you leave a comment on any of my blog posts and tell me that you’re taking part in the Alexa Mania, I’ll be sure to return the visit to your blog and poke around. Also, if you review my site on Alexa, I’ll be sure to do the same for you as well. Just leave me a comment on this post and let me know that you left a review.
• Visit as many blogs in the linky list as you can. Be sure to let them know that you’re visiting from the Alexa Mania Hop and leave a link to your blog so they can come to your blog and return the favor.
• Please take the time to leave at least one review for one blog. It’s not hard – just go to the blog you’d like to review. Click on the Alexa toolbar icon, then click on the blog’s link in the window that pops up. Then, click on the “review” tab in the window that opens, and click on the “Write a Review” button. If you have the full toolbar for Firefox installed, just click on the graph icon in the toolbar. That will take you to the site info page for that blog. Then, click the review tab and then write a review.

If you could, help spread the word about Alexa Mania with a blog post, a tweet, on Facebook, or by sharing our button (below). The more people we get to participate, the lower each of our ranks can go!

I hope you’ve been having a great week so far! I have been crazy busy, and I feel like I will never catch up on my blog. I’ll be picking winners for all my giveaways this week, so be checking the winners page to see if you are one of the lucky winners.

Ok, let’s get to the reason for this post! Add your link to this linky for more entries in your giveaways, scroll through the linky to find lots of fabulous giveaways to enter, or just discover new blogs that you’re sure to get hooked on.

Also be sure to come back to this post throughout the week and check to see the new giveaways added to the linky. People come by all week long, so you don’t want to miss your chance to get more entries in your giveaways. And you certainly don’t want to miss your chance to win some really awesome prizes!

Just in case you’re new here, here is an example of how to post links:

Name: {4/30} BobbleBots Moshi Monsters Starter Set
Link: http://blessedbeyondwords.com/bobblebots-moshi-monsters-ends-430/
Shows up like this: {4/30} BobbleBots Moshi Monsters Starter Set

Now it’s your turn! Leave your links here: