It's A Party In The Blogosphere! - UBP 2010!

    Welcome to The Toy Box Years!

First, I'd like to give a warm welcome to any new visitors from the Ultimate Blog Party! Second, a big thank you 5 Minutes for Mom for hosting this great way to meet new people! I love visiting new blogs and I love getting comments!  I also love new followers!And I always try to return the "Blog Love" as soon as I can! 

So, on to the fun!  This is my first Blog Party, so I'm pretty excited!

My name is Jennifer and I am a stay home mom of two beautiful girls and two fur-babies.  Nani is my 5-year old and Nudgie is my 20-month old.  They are my heart & soul and the reason I was born to be a mom!  Our fur-babies are two purebred German Shepherds - Mitzi (15 years) and Zoja (2 years)

I am also a military wife married for almost 15 years to my high school (and college) sweetheart.  We've been through some ups and downs during our years together, but I can honestly say that I am more in love with him today than I was the day we got married!

Hubby was a Marine for 6 years before going into the Army.  He is a Blackhawk crewchief and loves nothing more than to be flying high in the skies doing the job he loves.  While he was in the Marines he was part of an elite squadron known as HMX-1 or the Presidential Squadron.  There, he traveled all over the world with the President (and all I got was the dirty laundry!)  And even though he is no longer in the Marines and is now an Army soldier, he will always be My Marine!

My Marine is also a great dad, and while he probably won't admit it, his two little girls have got him wrapped around their finger! 

And Mommy?

Well, in my pre-mom life I had a job as a developer of continuing education programs/meeting planner.  It was a great job and allowed me many travel opportunities!  Although I haven't traveled worldwide, like My Marine, I've been to almost every state in the U.S.  But I always knew deep down that my calling was to be a wife and mom.  I'm incredibly blessed to have a husband with a career that allows me to live out my dream every single day.

I started blogging a little under a year ago at the encouragement of my dad who said that I should have been a writer.  (This coming from the dad who just about disowned me when I changed my major in college from Computer Science to Psychology!)  But I finally took the plunge and did it -- and I haven't looked back.  Through blogging, I have an outlet to share my day-to-day life with my girls, my family, and friends.  I have "met" some great folks out there and have read some inspiring stories.  I am always amazed at this little world that blogging is and how everyone has a story to tell.  And honestly - blogging is cheaper than therapy!

In my spare time - (Ha! Ha! Ha!  Don't make me laugh!) - I enjoy cross-stitching, scrapbooking, making cards, doing crafts with my girls, and other random crafty projects and dabble a little in photography.  I also love to read!!  You can find books stacked in just about every corner of my home!  I am always doing book reviews and try to host some book giveaways on a weekly basis.  And let's not forget blogging!

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PRIZES!

If you haven't had the chance to go see the great prizes you have the chance to win - you really should run right over and check them out!  Oh, to build my wish list!  I don't have much luck with winning stuff, but I can dream, right?

So, here are my top five prize picks:

US112 – $50 Amazon Gift card
Provided by: Robyn ~ Our Homeschool HomeFollow here: RobynOHSH or Visit Our Fan Page: Robyn Our Homeschool Home
US6 – Hand Stamped Personalized Necklace valued at $48 The Double Stacked A Lot Of Love
Provided by: Kristen’s Custom Creations
Follow here: KLA Customor Visit Our Fan Page: Kristen’s Custom Creations

US19 – Prize package of preschool toys! KOTA & PALS HATCHLINGS – (PLAYSKOOL/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99), TONKA CHUCK & FRIENDS CHUCK MY TALKING TRUCK (TONKA/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $34.99), PLAY-DOH Coco-Nutty Monkey (Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $12.99), PLAY-DOH MINI BUCKET (Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $4.99)
Provided by: Hasbro
Follow here: playskool or Visit Our Fan Page: Playskool

USC 14 – One lucky person will win one personalized music cd featuring a child’s name in the music and lyrics of every song on this full length cd.
The cd label can be personalized as well with a special message. We have 37 cds the choose from including 6 DISNEY cds featuring categories such as Lullaby, Playtime, Faith-Based, Holiday, Sports, Birthday and a Spanish series. It’s Music That Sing’s Your Child’s Name!
Provided by: Kids Personalized Music
Follow here: mykidsmusic or Visit Our Fan Page: Kids Personalized Music Cd’s

US50 – Win a $50 Gift Certificate to Froggy Girl Designs!
Provided by: Froggy Girl DesignsFollow here: froggygirletsy or Visit Our Fan Page: Froggy Girl Designs

US8 – Buds to Bloom Photo Tile Necklace ($95) – Features custom photo tile, hand stamped mom charm & bead cluster. The Ultimate Mommy Necklace!
Provided by: Lisa Laverty at Elemental MemoriesFollow here: emphotojewelry or Visit Our Fan Page: Elemental Memories

And if any of those prizes have already been won (and not by me!), then I'll be happy to win any of the following:

US15 – Win a $25 e-gift certificate to the Disney Store.
US20 – $50.00 in jewelry from Cookie Lee for 2 winners.
US22 – One winner will receive a fun Beach themed gift basket filled with an assortment of hair bows and clippies from ribbonrockstar hairbows. (Prize Value: $50)
US28 – A Guy and Eva Jewelry Necklace for one winner.
US31 – A $20 Amazon gift certificate.
US35 – Hobo International Clutch Bag worth $100
US45 – Nana Star Gift Wrapped Package includes, Doll, Book and CD. RV $52.95
US52 – A $25 GC to Amazon.com.
US55 – A $20 GC to Amazon.com.
US73 – We will give away 2 (1 for each winner) – $30 Amazon gift cards to the winner so they can buy items of their choosing.
US74 - We will give away 2 (1 for each winner) – $30 Amazon gift cards to the winner so they can buy items of their choosing.
US76 – One Sentimental Silver personalized “Silver Sweethearts” necklace. Necklace will be customized with two names or words to be selected by the winner.
US113 – $25 Walmart Gift Certificate
USC 1 – “Two Snowflakes” is the story of Phina and Bella: Identical Twin Snowflakes, who are tired of being mistaken for one another… until a chance encounter shows them just how special and unique, they really are.
USC 11 – Win a $50 gift certificate good towards any purchase in my Etsy shop or my website.
USC 25 -$25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card-online or in store, never expires!
USC 34 – Winner will receive $60.00 worth of merchandise at www.fashionsforyourlittleones.com. We carry children’s special occasion clothing from preemie to boys/girls sizes.
USC 53 – What’s New, Cupcake? A fun and easy cupcake book, full of designs for every occasion, written by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson.


Let the games begin!  I look forward to making some new blogging friends!!  Now I need to go find my party hat!