The New Year’s Eve MoonPie Drop

Posted on by Mandy

New Year’s Eve was completely tame around our home.  Cracked Daddy had to work, so E.B. and I spent the whole day and evening being quite lazy because it’s been the only day since Christmas that we’ve been home with absolutely no prior commitments.  It was heaven, y’all.  Heaven!

The weather was terrible yesterday.  Severe thunderstorms danced all around us.  It was 78 degrees and I had the air conditioner running.  In December.  Some of our neighbors in Arkansas and even around the Pearl, Mississippi area were not so fortunate.  They actually did experience tornadoes. 

E.B. actually made it to midnight East Standard Time, so we were able to watch the ball drop televised from New York City.  He was amazed at the fireworks and all of the people.  One woman claimed she had been standing there in Times Square since 2 PM waiting for the big event.  I couldn’t imagine standing somewhere for hours like that!  Shortly afterwards, E.B. surrendered to sleep and left me flipping channels for the next big countdown.  It appears that once it’s New Year’s Day on the East Coast, the television stations just don’t care anymore.

However, one local station DID care enough to treat their local Central Time audience to a unique countdown experience.  I watched the Moonpie Drop live from Mobile, Alabama.

Apparently, the MoonPie is the symbol of Mardi Gras (it was first thrown from the floats in 1952), and Mardi Gras was first celebrated in Mobile, AL.   So, someone had the idea to drop a huge mechancial MoonPie from atop the RSA BankTrust building in Mobile, Alabama to ring in the new year.  Fireworks and a big Mardi Gras parade follows.

It was a unique site to behold, y’all.

So, after watching a giant MoonPie make it’s way down to the ground, I finally headed to bed, confident that I had been able to strike one New Year’s resolution off my list…the one about trying new things.

What Happens Tomorrow

Posted on by Mandy

Raise your hand if you’re still recovering from Christmas.

That would be me, too.  I’ve been an organizing fool, playing mean games of Hungry Hungry Hippos, wondering just how many Legos are too many,  trying to entertain a stir-crazy 5 year old who is thrilled beyond words at not having to go to school the past couple of weeks, and working on top of that.  I’ve also been organizing my blogs lists online because Bloglines broke my heart by changing how their feed reader now displays.  All I can say is NOT A FAN.  I’ve been trying to learn to love the Google Reader, but it’s hard to read and enjoy because it seems like the display area to read in is so little.  If you have any suggestions on feed readers to try, I am all ears.

I started this post with the intent of looking back on my blogging and life in general this year and reflecting on what it all meant, what I need/want to change, and all of that, but frankly…I’m ready to look forward.  Our family will be going through some major lifestyle changes this upcoming year.  I’m at peace with these changes, but the not knowing what’s next or when it will happen is killing me.  I do love me some control, and I have none over these upcoming things, which of course just makes me crazy with wondering.  However, I’m determined to put my best foot forward in these situations and (try to) keep an upbeat attitude.  One door closes, another opens and all that jazz.  Since I have no idea what’s next and when, I’ll share these things as they unfold.  I promise we’re ok, though.  The bottom line is we are together and we have each other and THAT is where I choose to focus this nervous energy.

With all of that said (and if anyone is still reading), I do want to thank each one of you for coming in and reading my blog.  Three years into blogging, it’s still exciting and fun, although a little different each year.  But I love this.  I really, really love this.

I hope 2011 is everything you want it to be and more.  I’ll close with the following verse that I pray for us all:

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalms 20:4 (NIV).

Happy New Year!

Gaggle of Chicks- Great Online Deals

Posted on by Mandy

Finding and enjoying products and services is that much sweeter to me when I don’t have to pay full price. Gaggle of Chicks is an online website where you can find fantastic deals for children’s clothing, gourmet food services, family outings and entertainment, and so much more.

HOW IT WORKS:
Each day a new deal is posted. Signing up is free and a new deal will be mailed to your inbox daily. Jump on these deals fast because they expire in 48 hours! If enough people sign up, the deal is then “hatched” and everyone enjoys the savings. You can also pass these deals along to your friends and family to enjoy even more savings. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t appreciate some of these great deals.

MY EXPERIENCE:
I was given a $50 gift code courtesy of Mom Central to try out Gaggle of Chicks and I chose to use this code on a deal for 40% off a gourmet delivery deal at Jenny’s Kitchen NYC. This is where I need to warn you that some of these deals are city-specific and I didn’t realize this at the time. After contacting Jenny for the menu I realized I had made a terrible mistake, because I don’t live in New York. Oops. However, Jenny has been fabulous about this and has offered to come up with a special menu of treats that can be shipped for me. That’s great service, people! I’m looking forward to contacting her after the holidays to see what we can work out.

My experience with Gaggle of Chicks has been a positive one, overall. I wish I lived nearer to some of these fabulous city-specific deals. If you do live near a major city, some of these deals just can’t be beat, so I definitely recommend you check them out.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Gaggle of Chicks and received a $50 gift code for the website to facilitate this review.