Music Monday, Christmas Eve!

Can you believe it's Christmas Eve?! It seems like it was Thanksgiving just yesterday! Wow the month has flown by! One good thing for me is I don't have to go out and brave those crazy crowds today! I finished the last of my shopping yesterday morning before things got crowded. Today, I just have to do a little wrapping, and then it's baking and watching holiday movies with the family. Tonight, we'll eat dinner at our new table; Chinese food. Yum!

Whatever you're doing today, whether it's running around town for that last minute gift, or prepping for tomorrow's big meal, or maybe Christmas isn't your things, and it's just like any other day, whatever you're doing... Enjoy the day, and fill it with happiness and MUSIC! It's MUSIC MONDAY!!

Before we get to Christmas songs for the day, here's a great new song from Dropkick Murphy's from their upcoming new album. For many of us with tattoos, each one tells a story. My husband just got his rose tattoo finished with a crown above it for our daughters. The pocket watches show their birth times and the crown and rose symbolize their names. Here's "Rose Tattoo".


Now, onto some songs for the holiday.

This is one from Rod Stewart, "Let it Snow."

There are many great remakes to "Santa Baby" but I still like the Eartha Kitt one the best.

Ave Maria has to be my favorite Christmas songs because it is just so beautiful. Here's a different take on it by Chris Cornell...and in english.

And finally, something fun! ♪Swiss Colony Beef Log baby, it's what Christmas is all about♪

Warning there is a t least 1 F Bomb in this so be careful around children!

Have a fabulous and musical Christmas Eve!



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Free shipping with coupon plus cash back on Yummy Pears

I think everyone has someone that is difficult to shop for because they tend to buy themselves whatever they want. For me, that person is my Gramma. I used to really struggle with what to get her until I realized it truly is more about the thought of the gift. I no longer struggle with trying to out do myself from the year before. I just always order her fruit. She loves it, and it makes it simple for me. I just have to find the best fruit deal of the year, and that's what I go with.

This year it's this great deal on pears at Harry and David.

5lbs of Royal Riviera Pears is normally $29.95 but it is 40% off for $17.96  use code SHIPJOY for Free shipping and use ebates to get 10% cash back!

Now Gramma will be happy and so will my wallet!

Hurry, today is the last day to order to guarantee Christmas Delivery!

Music Monday, Songs from Christmas Cartoons

Happy Music Monday! It's the first Music Monday of December, and what better way to kick off the month than with Holiday music?! This week is some of my favorite music from animated Christmas shows.









Have a happy and music filled week!


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21 Days of Haribo Sweepstakes

Here's a sweet new sweepstakes. Starting today through 12/21, Haribo will be giving away all of our favorite little candies including those yummy little gummi bears!  There will be multiple winners daily with almost 250 prizes total.

Enter to win on Haribo's Facebook

Good luck!


Let me know if you win, because that's something to sing about!

Free Hand Cream from MinuteClinic

Here's a great freebie from CVS MinuteClinic. Free hand lotion! The freebie goes live to the public tomorrow at 9:00 am, but until then, you can access it through this exclusive link: Click here  Just submit your e-mail and they'll send you a coupon to take to CVS for your free hand cream.

It's an app on Facebook, so unfortunately it won't let you use a phone, but use a computer, and the free gift is yours!

Here's some great tips from MinuteClinic on how to use your hand cream this Winter:

Really?! A Book Remake?! Why?!

I think every child has a favorite book. For me, it was The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas. It didn't matter if it was the middle of Summer, I loved that book. It was a story of a mommy dog and her little puppies. The puppies escape under a fence to go explore the forest, but the littlest one (the Poky Little Puppy,) gets caught going under the fence, and gets left behind. He eventually catches up and just in time to get the Christmas tree decorated with his siblings and the help of some other animals. It is a very sweet book. Unfortunately, I haven't found it anywhere!

Today, I was in Barnes & Nobles, and I saw this:

I picked it up and nearly knocked my daughter over with excitement! Then I started reading it...

Wait a minute! This isn't it! That's the Poky Little Puppy on the cover...and it says "First Christmas" but it's not the same story! This one has people in it! And, there's no tree decorated with berries! What is this?! 

I've heard of remaking movies, but a book?! What was wrong with the original?! Why change it? It was a perfect story. I'm so disappointed. It was like someone gave me a box of chocolate caramels that ended up really being filled with fruit creams! Yuck! What a rip off!

So, the hunt continues for The ORIGINAL Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas!

♪I don't want to have to look very much further♪ (Whitney Houston, yes the lyrics are wrong, that's how they played out in my head)

Music Monday, What Inspires You?

Not only is it Cyber Monday, but it's also Music Monday. Today's theme is inspirational songs.

The great thing about music is that it inspires in so many ways. Music can be your shoulder to cry on, or the boost you need to keep going. No matter what you need you can find it in music. That's why this theme is so hard. There are just so many songs and artists out there that inspire me in so many ways.


We are all beautiful!

"Lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it, you better never let it go, you only get one shot..."


How can you have inspirational songs without this?! What a reminder that we are all special. And, by the way, if you haven't seen Katy Perry's movie, it is so worth the watch!


Have a musical week.... ♪cause baby you're a firework, go on show 'em what you're worth♪



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Instagram what matters to you and enter to win a trip to New York

You know I love a good sweepstakes, and this one definitely looks like a good one! Not only is it a great prize, but if you like taking pictures, you could have fun entering.  Along with a trip to NYC, look at what else you could win.
  • Trip for 2 including airfare to New York City.
  • Two nights accommodations at an Affinia Hotel. The top of the line boutique hotel chain in NYC.
  • One (1) $400 Gift Certificate for SD26, one of New York’s hottest Italian restaurants.
  • One (1) $250 Gift Certificate for Bloomingdale’s.
  • One (1) $150 Gift Certificate for City Lobster, home of New York’s Best Lobster.
  • Two (2) tickets to see The Blue Man Group, one of Broadway’s longest running and most popular shows.
  • Two (2) tickets to see the New Museum of Contemporary Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
All you have to do is take a picture of what matters to you and post it on Instagram with the hashtag #CityBuzzNYC. Watch the video below to find out more.


NY Matters Photo Contest is sponsored by Vidicom and Citybuzz.


disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, all opinions expressed are my own. The post does enter me into a contest.

Music Monday, Something a Little Slower

It's Monday, and time for some music. I haven't been feeling well lately. Between pain, and dizzy spells, I've spent a lot of time in bed so this week's music choices are a little on the down side. I just wasn't feeling any dance hits. the good news is I have an MRI scheduled today, so we should hopefully find out what's wrong, and get it fixed.

Sit back relax, and enjoy the music, or just lay down, that's how I'm listening.

This video is just physically amazing! Absolutely beautiful!


This song is just so pretty. (if it sounds familiar,you may have heard it in a commercial.)


So, I'm not a fan of the Twilight movies, (the books were amazing!) but this song is just beautiful! If you're not a Breaking Dawn fan, just shut your eyes, the song is worth hearing!

Have a great week!

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Aloha Friday, What was your most boring job?


Happy Friday! I was recently talking to someone about being bored at work. Which, by the way I'm not. So please don't send extra work! I don't need any! I have had jobs in the past that were just...BORING. Nothing you could do to make it better, it just was the way it was.

One of these jobs was a temp position at a middle school in Maine. I was filling in for the receptionist that was on maternity leave. My job consisted of marking attendance in the system, and then just sitting waiting for someone to come to the front desk with a question. There was no surfing the internet. No projects, nothing. I stared at the front door, hoping that I could use the power of thought to will someone to walk in with a question. My brain must not be strong enough because this rarely worked.

It was BORING!!
So todays question:  What was your most boring job?


An Island Life

Starbucks, Get One Free Deal

Starbucks holiday drinks are here! I love so many of these flavors, I may just be using this BOGO deal to keep myself from having to decide! Starting Thursday and running through the weekend, it's buy one get one free at your local Starbucks.

There's many lattes to choose from, and if you don't like coffee, you can get a hot chocolate, or one of my faves, an iced salted caramel hot chocolate. YUM!

Is it too early to start singing? ♪it's beginning to look a lot like ...♪

Music Monday, Not just for Kids

Happy Music Monday! This week we're celebrating Kids' Show Theme Songs. For this one, I called in help from my "little" girl, my 18 year old Rose to remind me of some her favorite shows from her childhood. We talked about quite a few, and here's some that made the cut.

This was a huge fave of my girls!



This one's for me. I just loved this show on Saturday mornings.


This show had a better end song than opening song. and, with that I say good bye. Have a great week!



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Friends Prize Pack Giveaway

Warner Bros. is pleased to announce the release of Friends, the Complete Series Blu-Ray Box Set on 11/15/12. To celebrate, one reader will win a Limited Edition Friends Prize Pack!!

Friends is just one of those shows that I can sit down anytime and watch, and I laugh just as much now, as a I did the first time around. And, I still can't help but dance to that catchy theme song ♪I'll be there for you♪

The prize pack includes 2 over sized cappuccino mugs, and a cool frame just like the one on Monica's door!


So, here's the deal: check out all the cool activities to celebrate Friends including a new clip released every week. Enter to win in the form below, and come back each day for more fun and chances to win!

A Rare discussion of Politics because Women's Issues are Important!

I don't usually discuss politics outside of my home. I don't engage in political discussion on someone else's Facebook page, and in fact I try not to write about it on my own page because it's too easy for people to say things on Facebook that they wouldn't say in person.

Politics, like religion, are just too controversial. No one will change their viewpoints until life forces them to do so. We all have different life experiences that guide us towards what we feel is right, and it's just not worth trying to change someone's values. And, with some people, it's just not worth the argument, so I usually just let it go and avoid the controversy.

But, sometimes, our very worth can be lost by not standing up for what we believe.

Wordless Wednesday, Flowers in the Sun

It's Wednesday, and time to be wordless. I've been so busy with work and school that there's not much story to tell, so just some pretty flowers still blooming in the Florida sun. Have a great day!


♪Cellophane flowers of yellow and green towering over your head. Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes...♪ (Beatles)

Free Bracelet at Starbucks, today!

Everyone knows it's election day, but did you know Starbucks is celebrating the day by giving away free bracelets?


Last year on Election Day, Starbucks kicked off it's partnership with createjobsforUSA.org and this year they're thanking you with a free red white and blue Indivisible bracelet.

If you go to Starbucks today and they don't offer you a bracelet, just ask, they may have forgotten about it like mine did.

Have a great day, and remember to vote!

Music Monday, Fight for your Rights

It's Music Monday, and thanks to hubby, I've got this song stuck in my head!!



With election day tomorrow, make sure you get out and vote to protect your rights. Remember there's more than just the president to decide. Before you go make sure to check out the amendments and local politicians for your area.

I don't care how you vote, just vote! Because you have to fight for your rights!






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No More Little Notes on My Door!

A couple weeks ago, my computer gave me a dreaded error; the failure of my hard drive is imminent. What?! No! I can't live without my computer!! I have online classes to take, homework to do, and of course, blogging and sweeping! I'd be lost without it!

So, I decided to order a new computer, (with the monthly payment option of QVC, this worked out better than fixing my old one, right now, and I needed a second one.) I should have had the computer a week ago, but it was shipped late. So, of course, after waiting an extra week, we returned home on Friday to a nice note from UPS. We had just missed them, and would now have to wait until Monday for delivery.

I could have avoided this if I had signed up for UPS My Choice, months ago when my friends did. Well, I'm signed up now. UPS will now alert me when a package will be delivered, and if I'm not going to be home, I can arrange another delivery time. And, it's FREE!

No more little notes for me!




This post contains sponsored content, but all opinions are my own.

Music Monday, Twins of Evil

It's Halloween week and what better way to celebrate than with the Twins of Evil?!

I saw Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson over the weekend. Both men put on a great theatrical production, but Zombie definitely stole the show! This was my third timing seeing Zombie, and he always puts on an amazing show with lights, pyro, and creepy monsters all tied together with hard hitting beats. It was a blast!

And, when Zombie walked through the crowd, he was only 3 feet from my daughter and I!! AWESOME!!

Get up out of your seat and enjoy some music from the Twins of Evil. Have a great week and a happy Halloween!










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Music Monday, International

Happy Music Monday! Today's theme is International, a chance to appreciate some of the great artists from around the world.

Up first, from Iceland; Of Monsters and Men


The Rolling Stones have a new song, you know I had to include them!


From my Favorite New Zealand Artist, Gin Wigmore, another good one.


Have a great and musical week!

check out 4M for more international picks

Aloha Friday, What would you do?

Happy Aloha Friday! The day where I take it easy and ask you to answer a question. Today's question; What would you do?

Imagine this:

You're standing at the door. The wind is howling all around you, and voices are yelling at you to go. You look down and see the green grass, only... it's so. far. away.  What do you do? Do you jump? or Do you turn around and take your seat for the slow plane ride back to earth?

♪You say you don't know, you won't know until you begin...might as well jump♪ (Van Halen)

Wordless Wednesday, New England

A few more photos from our trip to New England. Happy Wordless Wednesday!






♪When whoever's in New England's through with you...♪ (Reba McEntire)

Music Monday, Mellow Out

Happy Music Monday!

It was a very mellow weekend. I spent the evenings watching movies with hubby, Saturday hanging with my sister at Oktoberfest, and visiting with some great friends on Sunday.

So let's keep the mellow going with some great music to chill to.










Hope you have a peaceful mellow week!



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Dark Shadows DVD Giveaway

Dark Shadows starring Johnny Depp is available on DVD, and I'm giving one away! Check out the Dark Shadows quiz and trivia fun, then enter to win the DVD in the easy entry form below.



Make sure to enter to win before 10/16. This giveaway will end fast!!


Wordless Wednesday, Fall Captive

Fall is here! Well, maybe not here in Florida, but I was in New England last week, and Fall is definitely there...and boy was I sad to have to leave it to come home!







I have to admit, all this fall beauty has me wondering why I'm not living where there are 4 seasons. Hmm... maybe in a couple years...

♪I let it fall, my heart, and as it fell you rose to claim it♪ (Adele)

Music Monday, Turn It Up!!

It's Music Monday and we are going to rock it! This week's theme? Music that you have to turn up loud!

Lynryd Skynyrd opens the song by telling you to "turn it up" so I had to include it!



This next one is Country Song by Seether



The bass line on this just screams "turn me up!" Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson



Ladies and Gentlemen, the Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band of all time.....



Have a great and musical Week!! And TURN IT UP!!!!!



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UNREAL Candy, now that's something to party about!

I had an UNREAL party last weekend. What made it UnReal? The great candy of course! UNREAL is a candy company that has unjunked some of our favorite candies. They want you to feel good about eating candy so they've taken out all the unnatural junk stuff, and just made it simple, you know like candy used to be.

I just love everything about this company, their mission, and of course their yummy candy. I couldn't wait to share it with friends and family.


There were plenty of treats for everyone. The favorites seem to be the candy coated peanuts, and the peanut caramel nougat, but everyone was surprised at how much like the other brand they all are.

 Thanks to UNREAL everyone took a home a bag of UNREAL treats, because what's a party without swag, right?!



Want to know more about UNREAL candy? Check out this cool video!
And, if you already like UNREAL, why not tweet them @GETUNREAL or like them on Facebook



disclosure: I was compensated for this post. All words and opinions are my own.

Disney's FrankenWeenie Review, A Heart Warming Film

Disney's FrankenWeenie opens today, and it is a delightful movie! I had the pleasure of seeing it at the advanced screening, and I found it to be truly heartwarming.


When little Victor Frankenstein's dog dies, he is so sad that all he wants is to bring him back. Inspired by his science teacher, he does just that. Of course this leaves all the other kids wanting to do the same.

This is a very sweet story that plays homage to the great old classic movies. Frankenstein enthusiasts will love the many references to the old film, and families will like the fun and laughs.

I will caution you that some scenes may be too intense for very young children, but it is not gory or violent. One parent expressed concerns to me based on the commercials that referenced a Oijia board. I kept my eyes open for this type of scene but it must have landed on the cutting room floor because it was nowhere to be found. So, if this was going to keep you away, don't let it. Only you can be the judge of what's right for your children, but a theater full of children age 6 and up really seemed to enjoy it. Disney has done a great job with this film.

I think FrankenWeenie will be an instant Halloween classic.



disclosure: I received free admittance to this film for the purposes of review. All words and opinions are my own.

Music Monday, 1994

Another Monday, and some more great music! This week's theme is songs from the year your child was born. We're going to go with songs from the year my youngest child was born, 1994. It was a pretty good year for music. Remember these?



A little bit of country. I had to turn this one up whenever it came on back then.


Since, I'm not doing songs from my oldest daughter's birth year 1992, I'm picking a 1994 song by her favorite group.


Have a great Week!!



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Wordless Wednesday, Jewelry Girl

It's Wordless Wednesday, so I'll just say a few things.

First, Happy Talk like a Pirate Day, Arrrgh!

Second, this is my new jewelry display, for my work area, and I just love her squeeeeee!!!


♪Only boys who save their pennies, make my rainy day♪ (Madonna)

Arr ye Ready for a Treasure Hunt?!

Tomorrow, Sept 19, is International Talk like a Pirate Day. What better way to celebrate than with a pirate treasure hunt!

Swagbucks is having a treasure hunt for plenty of swag, if you're not yet using Swagbucks, yet, make sure you get signed up so you can play along. It's a great way to earn free gift cards and other prizes!



  • The treasure map for this swashbuckling extravaganza will be posted on the Swagbucks blog on Tuesday afternoon. Check this link on Tuesday to download the map, which will help you with clues to find all the Swag Codes. Pay close attention for clues on the website, blog, social media pages and more to find the treasure chest.
  • The Swag Code Treasure Hunt starts Wednesday the 19th at 4 AM Pacific Time and give you the chance to win 60 SB.
  • Check out the SB Originals channel on SBTV Wednesday for a pirate's guide to plundering on the site - and earn more towards your Swagbucks video earning meter at the same time.
  • Miss the Treasure Hunt? Don't ye worry mate because Wednesday is also Mega Swag Booty Day so there are even more chances to haul in some loot.


Arrr ye ready, mate?!


Music Monday, Let's Hear From the Guys

It's Monday!! Holy Crap! How did Monday get here so fast?! It seems like it was just Friday a couple of blinks ago! Well alright then, it's Monday so let's get some music going in here!

No theme today, just some good tunes, old and new! Enjoy!




Aloha Friday, You Can't Do it All!


I knew going to school, working, and trying to keep up with my blogs would be difficult, but wow! I was doing pretty well with my time management right up until our Labor Day weekend vacation. Then came all the homework I had to catch up on that I didn't do while on vacation, studying for my first Algebra test, (by the way I got a 95% on!! Yippee!!) bringing my daughter items that she forgot when moving back into the dorm, trying to keep up at work, and finalizing the details on the next vacation at the end of September for another cousins wedding! Phew! It's been crazy around here! In fact, I never even saw the finale for Hell's Kitchen because TV was the first thing to go from my busy schedule.

When life gets you too busy, what's the first thing you give up?



Put your hands in the air if you hear me out there, I've been looking for you day and night♪ (Shinedown)

Link up any old post at Tuesdays Gone!

Welcome to Life Music Laughter, home of Tuesdays Gone with Amethyst Moon!


With so many blog posts going up everyday, I'm sure there's some great stuff out there that has just been forgotten, or maybe some stuff that just didn't get much attention the first time around.  So, Tuesdays Gone is a way to bring your old post back into the light. I can't wait to see what you have that I might have missed the first time around.  Let's support each other by bringing new attention to these old posts with this blog hop.

It's great looking at old posts and remembering those moments when you first wrote it.  What will you be reminded of when you look through your old posts?!

Music Monday, New Songs from Mumford and Sons, and Heineken.

Happy Music Monday! I missed last Monday because I was on the road back from a nice trip to North Carolina, but I was definitely groovin' to some great tunes!

Today, I'm excited to share the newest song from Mumford & Sons. I Will Wait is from their newest album Babel to be released on September 24.



Here's another new one, this one is from Clairy Browne and the Bangin' Rackettes. Once again, I have to give thanks to Heineken for finding yet another, awesome song for their commercials! I don't know how they do it, but I hope they keep finding all these great new sounds because I love 'em! Thanks Heineken, for music, and, for beer that mixes well with Sprite. (If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it!)






There you have it! 2 great new songs to start off your Monday!

I didn't play along with the 4M's them today, but I know lots of other cool people did, so head on over there and check out their music selections.


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Then, have yourself a rockin' good day!!

Cool Way to Find New Products

I love finding out about new products, and cool finds. That's why I just signed up for Daily Grommet. Daily Grommet is a free service that sends you 1 e-mail a day featuring a cool new product. They have everything from fashion to gadgets.

Today's feature is an automatic grill light! When you open the grill lid, the LED lights turn on, when you close it, it shuts off. How cool is that?!


     I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Aloha Friday, Roadtrip


Aloha Friday! I'm on my way to North Carolina for my cousin's wedding. I'm looking forward to a nice weekend with hubby and family. The drive will take us about 11 hours from Tampa to Raleigh, but we've packed a cooler, and we'll have plenty of music to make the trip go by quick.

What are your favorite road trip tunes and/or snacks?


Make sure to head over to An Island Life for more Aloha Friday fun!


Love With Food Flash Giveaway! Only 36 hours to enter!

Last week, I told you about my first box from Love With Food.  Today, I'm giving 1 away!

Love With Food is a gourmet food box subscription. For $10 each month, you get a box full of gourmet food samples. Each month is a different theme, and for each box purchased, Love With Food donates a meal.

Love With Food is giving 1 reader a free box for September. The catch is, you only have 36 hours to enter, and the winner will only have 1 day to order!

If you don't want to wait to see if you win, (or you want to buy one for a friend) you can use the code LMLVIP to save $2 off the September box.

Wordless Wednesday, Girls Just Wanna

♪Girls just wanna have fun, oh girls just wanna...♪ (Cyndi Lauper)







♪So tell me what you want what you really really want♪ (Spice Girls)




Link up a great old post at Tuesdays Gone

Welcome to Life Music Laughter, home of Tuesdays Gone with Amethyst Moon (that's me!)


With so many blog posts going up everyday, I'm sure there's some great stuff out there that has just been forgotten, or maybe some stuff that just didn't get much attention the first time around.  So, Tuesdays Gone is a way to bring your old post back into the light. I can't wait to see what you have that I might have missed the first time around.  Let's support each other by bringing new attention to these old posts with this blog hop.

It's great looking at old posts and remembering those moments when you first wrote it.  What will you be reminded of when you look through your old posts?!

Music Monday, Songs from 1992

It's Monday and that means music!! This week we're jumping into the time machine and rolling back to 1992 for Billboard hits in the year I graduated.

First up, let's kick it off with the sexiness of Right Said Fred




Let's keep this energy going with the little boys that made us all want to wear our clothes backwards and, jump jump!




And, finally who doesn't love this classic?! I know you'll be shaking your booty to this one!



That's it for this week and the class of '92. Have a great week and keep on dancin'!




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