No, I didn’t transpose the numbers, she really is 97 years young. She’s already planning her 100th birthday party, and my parents have moved said party from their back yard to a local reception hall. Because pretty much, if you’ve met her, you are cordially invited.

This past weekend the Indiana portion of her family gathered to celebrate, because, well, she’s 97. Before the party started, we were talking and I once again, realized what an amazing, kind and caring person my grandmother really is. My grandma is still mobile and independent. She still beats me at Scrabble, enjoys playing bridge and is hip to the assisted living center’s dining room politics. She loves fresh flowers, songs she can sing along to, and Everybody Loves Raymond.

She worries though, about her friends at the assisted living center who are becoming, as she puts it “very forgetful”. The friends who sometimes forget when to come to dinner, or forget her name, or don’t remember what day it is.

Last week, when she noticed her friend (who never has visitors and never leaves the center, she tells me) wasn’t at BINGO, Grandma went up to the front desk and asked them to call her friend Mary down for BINGO. The receptionist told her that they couldn’t do that, or else they’d have to call everybody for every activity. My grandma then proceeded to walk back to her own room to call Mary and remind her that it was BINGO day. Mary was surprised and thrilled, because she had, in fact, forgotten it was BINGO day. (according to Grandma, Mary kind of lives for BINGO)

The next morning, my grandma stopped by the manager’s office and complained about the receptionist’s response. After all, isn’t that the point of being in the assisted living center? To get assistance? She gave the manager a short list of her friends who are, in her opinion, becoming a bit “forgetful” and needed a phone call now and then as a reminder.

She then told me that her conversation must have gotten them to thinking, because now that staff is knocking on doors at activity time when the regulars aren’t around.

And I thought to myself, I can only hope to be so thoughtful when I am 97. I mean really, who does that?  (Walking back to her room to call her friend probably took her 10 minutes. She’s mobile, but she moves slowly.)

My grandmother, that’s who!!

So when 1-800 Flowers offered me the chance to send flowers this month as part of their Deliver Birthday Smiles Campaign, I had them sent to her. She was tickled pink, and marveled how they were in the shape of a birthday cake.  She brought them to the dining room to show to all her friends. Then she put them on the shelf outside her room, which typically holds holiday decorations.

Happy 97th Birthday, Grandma!

Want to win a $40 savings pass to 1-800 Flowers to send  a treat to someone you love?? Just leave a comment below — to whom would you send flowers and why? The comments are open through Tuesday, October 26th. Good luck!

Need to send some flowers RIGHT NOW (they have same day delivery!)? Save 15% on Birthday Flowers & Gifts at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. Promo Code: BIRTHDAY15

(Disclosure: I wrote two posts this month for 1-800-Flowers.com in exchange for these flowers being sent to Grandma. My grandma’s awesomeness? Is all her own.)

P.S. I had a totally different post ready to go, all about how things have changed since 1913. Then I had such a nice conversation with her on Sunday, I couldn’t not write about that. I’ll have to run the 1913 post next year for her birthday. You know, when she turns 98!

No related posts.

For reals, today’s post is just a link….did you know that The Adoption Writers at Grown in My Heart has a review/giveaway site? Sometimes I forget myself. Then I take on a post to write, and it’s all, hey! there’s this secondary blog with some fun things on it!

SO.

My first post over there is about the Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest and a battery giveaway that goes with it.

**In my defense, I’m coming off of the four-day business trip of BgK, which was sort of out of the blue. My tactic for coping is to keep the children as busy as possible. So I’m kinda tired…..

Day 10 DOWN.

No related posts.

Their favorite number is 4 today as well!

So…..Mami2jcn, you are the winner of the Wendy’s gift card! Congrats–look for an email from me. Thanks for playing, and there are a few more giveaways on the horizon…

Don’t forget to recommend a high school senior for the Wendy’s High School Heisman–the deadline is October 1! www.WendysHeisman.com

No related posts.

So, anyway, since then, I’ve thought of those products. Partially because I couldn’t say a word about them. And that alone is enough to kill a chatty girl like me, so I am so relieved to finally type these words:

Hallmark has a new line of cards out just for moms! They are funny, funny, funny….and edgy. “You can write that on a card?” was asked more than once as we were looking at them.

And now you can look at them too. On the Edge of Motherhood is a new line that will have all moms laughing, because the sentiments ring true. Check out a few on Hallmark.com (remember, you can actually personalize and have these babies mailed for you, to your bff, right from your computer), and soon they may be in a store near you.

What? You want to see the actual cards??? Leave me a comment….because it’s giveaway time!! I will use random.org to pick a lucky winner sometime on Tuesday, August 4. Just leave me a comment on this post, telling me….telling me something. Anything. You choose. Good luck!!

For extra entries, after you’ve posted one comment for your first entry, you may:

Tweet about this giveaway using this :  RT @gotchababy Sassy new Hallmark cards available! Enter for a chance to win some! http://tinyurl.com/mptdko  (once you tweet, leave me a comment telling me you did so)

Post about this giveaway on your blog (leave me a comment telling me you did so)

Post this giveaway on Facebook (leave me a comment telling me you did so)

Related posts:

1. Fun at Kelsay Farms- A Giveaway
2. Indiana State Fair: A Good Way to Wrap Up Summer {and a Giveaway}
3. Take Me Out to the Ball Game: A Giveaway

What I am giving away:

Little Brown would like to provide three lucky winners with both a copy of The Castaways, and A Summer Affair.

All you have to do is a leave comment here by noon on Saturday, July 11th, telling me a favorite read of yours. Make sure you leave me a way to contact you!

Once you’ve entered once by telling me your favorite read, you can earn extra entries by:

Tweeting this giveaway, and telling me that you did so in a seperate comment.

Blog about this giveaway, and telling me that you did so in a seperate comment.

Facebook this giveaway, and telling me that you did so in a seperate comment.

Good luck and happy summer reading!

Related posts:

1. Indiana State Fair: A Good Way to Wrap Up Summer {and a Giveaway}
2. Fun at Kelsay Farms- A Giveaway
3. First Day of School! First Day of School! (Almost. And a Giveaway)

Junior has just celebrated his first birthday, and his palate is *slowly* expanding. I don’t remember introducing solids as being a big deal with MAM, but for Junior, it’s becoming a tedious process. He’s particular about texture (he prefers no texture really), he’s particular about taste, and he makes fantastic faces to let me know how he feels about a menu item.

When Stonyfield Farms contacted me about reviewing Yo Baby yogurt, I was happy to, for YoBaby was already on Junior’s daily approved menu. He’s a big fan of the YoBaby yogurt with fruit and cereal, and when I can’t find that, YoBaby yogurt with just fruit will do. We took the free coupons they sent and went right to the store!

This yogurt, I must say, is probably on his short list of self-approved foods–he is happy to eat spoonful after spoonful. After this pictured feeding, he actually picked up the yogurt cup and started licking it.

I am happy to feed him spoonful after spoonful because of how good it is for him (yes, he is one, and content to be spoon fed for the most part). For starters, it’s organic, whole-milk yogurt (My word, have you tasted whole-milk yogurt? So smooth, so creamy, it’s almost like dessert!). Secondly, when I read the label, I can actually read the label. I am able to identify the ingredients, and find many in my own pantry.

If you already serve YoBaby to your little ones, you may have noticed the new packaging. The new look goes together with their new BIG campaign– to promote Brain development by making the yogurt with whole milk, Immune system support by including zinc, and Growth by including vitamin D. The new packaging is also more environmentally friendly, saving tons of packaging from land fills each year.

**THE GIVEAWAY**
Stonyfield Farm has put together a fun prize pack for one lucky reader. It includes 5 coupons for free YoBaby yogurt, a bowl with lid, and an organic bib for the YoBaby in your life. Isn’t it cute??

**TO ENTER**
Simply leave me a comment–this time, tell me your favorite food of summer. Is it strawberries? Blueberries? Corn on the cob?? Do tell!

For extra entries, tweet about this giveaway, and tell me in a separate comment.

For another entry, subscribe to my blog (button to do so is on the right), and tell me you’ve done so in a separate comment.

Winner will be chosen on Saturday, June 27, sometime in the afternoon. Good luck!

Related posts:

1. Fun at Kelsay Farms- A Giveaway