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I hope to see you soon!

Couples Stay Connected with the free Twyxt App!

Is your family crazy busy like ours? With two teenagers running here and there and a husband who travels, I feel like I am always running. We occasionally have a schedule upset, too. My husband tells me I’m busy blogging when he says, “Oh, by the way, I’m in Atlanta next week Monday through Wednesday. I have worship team practice Thursday night and I’m playing all four services this weekend at church.” He tells me I mumble “okay” and then later ask why I haven’t seen him in days. My question is always the same, “Was it on the calendar?”

We have a big calendar on our laundry room wall which is used for the whole family. We are pretty good about putting everything on it, but some things slip through the cracks. When you’re busy, and have kids running in different directions, one slip up can mean trouble. I can't get them both where they need to go if they have to be in two different cities at the same time!  My husband is great about using Outlook, and I use my Google calendar. He wants me to switch, and I want him to switch!

I think maybe I’ve found a happy medium! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Life of Two, Inc., has released Twyxt, an app just for couples to share their schedules, as well as have fun and capture all those memories. Twyxt features direct messaging for two, shared calendars and lists, and gives couples a private venue for sharing moods (think emoticons!) and photos. Best of all is that it’s FREE at iTunes for the iPhone and coming soon to the Android!

I love the playful aspect of this app. There’s special messaging for “Buy me flowers” where you can choose the occasion, like Valentine’s Day or just as a surprise. There’s a list area where you can keep your favorite restaurants,  movies you want to see (what was that movie we talked about?), things we need for the party, even important info (sizes for rings or clothing!) There’s also a feature for Urgent Texts. This is really important as my husband might be in a meeting and not answer my text right away, but if it comes in Urgent, he would know I’m not just checking in.

Learn more about this awesome tool to keep you and yours connected! 

Ready to grab this free app and message your Valentine to join you? Download it at the iTunes app store now, and let me know how you like it in the comments below!

This post is sponsored by Twyxt. As always, all opinions are my own, and in my opinion, you will love this app!

Valentine's Sweet Treat! Quick!

Looking to make a last minute treat for your child's class tomorrow? These adorable little mice were my go-to every year when my kids were going to a Valentine's Day party. So easy, too!

Chocolate Covered Cherry Mice
Printable version

Ingredients

Makes 24

24  Maraschino cherries WITH STEMS 

1/2 small bag of chocolate for melting ( I used milk chocolate chips)

24 Hershey Kisses 

48 Sliced almonds

1   Tube of frosting for eyes (I used white, but you can use any light color)

Directions

1. Get your cherries out of the jar and onto a few paper towels. The drier they are, the better. If you have ever melted chocolate, you know that the slightest bit of liquid can ruin the consistency of the chocolate. Place on wax paper.
2. Unwrap Hershey Kisses.
3. Melt the chocolate chips. This can be done using the microwave at 30% power and in 1 minute intervals, stirring in between, or placing a glass bowl in a couple of inches of boiling water. Stir frequently.
4. Once chocolate is melted, you can either dip cherries or pour a spoonful of chocolate over them until covered. I did the latter as my cherries were not dry enough to dip.
5. Once cherries are covered, stick them to the bottom of a Hershey Kiss. Place on wax paper to dry. After about 2-3 minutes, stick the sliced almonds just behind the Hershey Kiss. These are the mice ears.
6. Using the tube of frosting and a toothpick, place eyes on the Hershey Kiss. 
7. Place in refrigerator until served or pack up in a cooler for travel if weather is warm.

Even big kids like to help!

Don't worry, she didn't get close enough to eat!

Still under construction!

Still under construction!

Not too much longer!

Thanks to thisgirlislosingit.blogspot.com for this great visual!

Contests for Kids # 5

Sorry I missed last week, but we have a few really fun contests for you this week. My blog is under construction, so you won't see this on Monday, but hopefully by Tuesday or Wednesday!

Doodle for Google

Love the amazing Google art you see on the Google search page? Some of them are actually Doodles from kids who entered the Doodle for Google contest! The contest runs now through March 22, 2013. The theme this year is “My Best Day Ever…” Students from Kindergarten through 12^th grade may enter. You can view past winners and download a template to help with your drawing. Entries are judged on creativity, artistic merit, communication and appropriateness.  The grand prize winner will get a college scholarship for $30,000,  a Chromebook, a Wacom tablet and other prizes, as well as a trip to New York City for the awards ceremony. Of course, seeing your doodle on Google for 24 hours is not too shabby a prize, either. Oh, and did I mention the school they attend would get a $50,000. technology grant? Teachers, you can do a bulk upload on the site. Download an entry form. http://www.google.com/doodle4google/entry.html

National Endangered Species Day Youth Art contest

This is another one kids will love to do as most love animals! It’s a great educational program, too. Kids can learn about the birds, fish, and other wildlife, as well as plants in the United States that are on the brink of extinction. It’s a great activity leading up to Endangered Species Day on May 17^th, 2013. Lesson plans are available at www.EndangeredSpeciesDay.org, and you can view previous winners. Students in K-12 can enter, and will be grouped by age. Prizes include a round trip ticket to Washington DC for the awards ceremony as well as $50 worth of art supplies and a skype art lesson with Wyland, one of the most famous wild-life artists of our time. My older daughter is entering this one!

Cyber Security Awareness Poster Contest

This is another art contest open to K-12 kids in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The prize is not as big as the others, but it’s not all about the prize, right? Winner will have their artwork in a calendar promoting online safety that will be distributed nationwide. They will also receive a Certificate of Accomplishment.” See all rules before entering!

Good luck!

Virtually Yours is Under Construction!

If things look a little out of sorts here, it's because 

I'm moving to WordPress this week! 

I'm a little nervous, so please be patient with me! 

I hope to be bringing you a lot of new features, 

but it may take a while until it is all in place. 

Thanks for your patience!

5 Valentines Gifts that will Rock His World

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Have you thought about what to do for your husband? This post is really for married women. If you are not married, this is not meant for you. Sorry! Maybe I should write that post next...

But for now, let's talk about what makes your husband happy. Are all men happy to get the same thing? Well, that depends on what you are giving. If you are giving them a gift that fits their favorite hobby, then, of course not. My husband golfs, and I have an extra gift for him that I know he will love, but he would rather have number one on this list over anything else. My bet is that your husband feels the same way. So, ready for number 1?

Bath & Body lotion from the Sensuality fragrance and Andrea Bocelli on CD

1. I am betting you know what it is. Dare I say it? Here goes: All men want to have sex on Valentine's Day.  To quote my pastor, men only want to have sex on days that begin with a "T": Tuesday, Thursday, Today, Tomorrow, Taterday & Tunday! On Valentine's Day, it is a must.
2. Enjoy #1. Your husband wants you to enjoy it, too. My friend, if you are not enjoying it, there is a problem. Find out what you need to do to make that happen. Talk it over with your husband. Maybe he doesn't even know! I heard Beth Moore, one of the best Christian teachers out there, speak on this subject once. She said, and this is paraphrased as I didn't write it down word for word, You may not feel like it. Do what you need to do to get in the mood. Take a bath, put on some nice perfume, put on something sexy. You can do this. It is so important for your marriage.
3. Buy yourself something sexy. Believe it or not, this will help #2. You don't need to go to Soma (my fav!) or Victoria's Secret. Most lower priced stores have an intimates section. Feel too out of shape to do this? Don't let that stop you. Your husband loves you! He will be thrilled that you did this for him.
4. Food. The way to a man's heart, so they say. My husband is a real foodie, but nothing makes him happier than #1, 2 & 3. That being said, you will have to eat! If your husband likes to grill, I would suggest steaks seared in a cast iron skillet. The Lodge Logic L10SK3 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet is a nice one, and the price is great. Seared steak is my husband's specialty. Lightly oil the skillet, getting it very hot. Sear steaks on both sides and cook to your liking. If you don't have a fan above your stove, it is best to do this outside. A nice Cabernet goes well with steak, too. You prepare the baked potatoes and a salad (or your favorite side dishes) and let him prepare the steaks. Clean up together. It is Valentine's Day for you, too. If you have young kids, go out, or ask grandma to take them overnight. This is an evening when you need to be able to focus on each other. If you don't have relatives close by, switch off with a friend. Take her kids overnight and let her take yours the next. You can celebrate on the 13th or the 15th, instead. Let your husband know you have something special planned.   
5. Tell him how much you appreciate him. Our husbands don't hear this enough. I am a stay-at-home mom, and my husband has worked so hard for us to be able to do that. It's so important to tell your husband what a great man he is. Tell him how much you appreciate him being the father he is. Have you seen Fireprooof? I love that movie so much. It's a perfect example of how we can get off track with our thinking, and that thinking can destroy our marriage. (I've included a link below where you can buy it on Amazon for $5!) Whether you buy a card, make a card, or just tell your husband what he means to you, do it.

Pick out a sweet card and light some candles.

If this is not what you had planned, please consider it. Valentine's Day is about letting your husband know how much you love him. Nothing will show him like these steps. Marriage is hard. Celebrate it and see what happens.

I'd love for you to come back here and tell me what your husband thought about the special evening you planned! No details, please! This is a family friendly blog :) Happy Valentine's Day!