"My mom is named Melanie" and a plug for popularity....oh, and school pictures too.

Roberto took G-McBabe and Little Red to their school open house the other day.  He came home with a tale of G-McBabe's "funny MOM poster" but I had forgotten all about it until G brought it home from school the other day.

I had a good laugh all over again.  See for yourselves....

 Here's what it says:

My mom is named Melanie.  She has dark red hair.  She has blue eyes.  Her favorite color is pink.  She likes orange!  She likes to jump on the trampoline and read novel's.  I love her because she makes me do only one page off homework. at a time.  She also is in the top mommy blogs.  (She likes blogging.)

Isn't that awesome.  And check out this portrait, up close and personal.

 Sweet.....I had no idea I was that good looking.

Anyhow.  I have to say a few things about this.

I DO have red hair and I DO have blue eyes.  Pink IS (one of) my favorite color(s)  but I ONLY wear orange because of Owen (and G-Mcbabe has his opinion of me wearing Orange too).  I do LOVE to jump on the trampoline (although I can't do it right now with the blasted SI joint injury), I DO love my novels and  I'm grateful, I only make him do one page of homework at a time (since he seems to love me so much for it).

But this is the part I REALLY want to focus on here.

"She is also in the top mommy blogs.  (she likes blogging.)"

I promise...I did not put him up to this.  In fact, I had no idea he knew about it.   But, I thought I would use it as a plug to get some votes.  :)

So here is my plug.  VOTE FOR ME ON TOP MOMMY BLOGS! I need you, my friends, to vote for me so that I can climb the charts.  :)  (I joined TMB to try and spread the word about depression/anxiety with my other blog MMUW (totally not a popularity thing) but with this blog I joined to just feel "cool".)

So...if you like me, even a little bit, please click on this banner today....and any other day you come here to visit (you can vote 1 time in a 24 hour period).  THANK YOU!

Oh...and here are our "first day of school" pictures.  Yeah...I'm that slow....

Here's G-McBabe's 3rd Grade self.... in all his glory

 This picture is a "hurry-mom-the-whistle-just-blew-the-sun-is-in-my-eyes-my-glasses-are falling-down-do-I-HAVE-to-smile?-look-at-my-snaggle-teeth" kinda pictures.  

That, and he's a goofball...we hardly EVER get a "normal" picture our of him.  Ha ha ha ha.....

and

Little Red aka

Mr. Kindergarten

This photo was shot by our sweet neighbor's sweet mom, who insisted I be in the photos as well.  Fortunately for me I have editing software and although I don't know how to do a lot of things, I DO know how to crop.  Ha ha ha....

Isn't he adorable, though?

So...don't forget to vote....one click per day.....and  also...don't forget to enter into the HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY TESTOSTERONE OVERLOAD GIVEAWAYS!
Just one easy click!

GIVEAWAY BASH---HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY TESTOSTERONE OVERLOAD

HAPPY HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY TO

TESTOSTERONE OVERLOAD!!!!

HOLY COW!  I can't believe it has been so long.  And I want to CELEBRATE!

Four years ago, today, I posted my very first post here on Testosterone Overload.  I was a lonely, sad mama who had just given birth to her third ...yep, you guessed it...boy, and wanted a place to post pictures and write stories about my boys so that my family, whom I had just moved away from, would have the opportunity to "see them grow up".

It was right about that same time that I began diving into the pits of Postpartum Depression (you can read all about that on my "other" blog Methodical Musings of an Unbalanced Woman).

Let's just say that we have had a lot of ups and downs since this blog was created....including the addition of, yet another, bouncing bundle of baby testosterone.....#4, Mr. Golden Locks.

I've blogged about the good, the bad and the ugly...about boogers and battles, stinky bodies (mine, not theirs), and poop (oh...and keys in toilets too)...about our very first head injury, a growth discovered in my abdomen, and falling off of pedestals.....of twin girl prediction, ingenious parenting moments, and amazing couponing skills and steals.

It really has been an amazing/hard/exciting/excruciating 4 years.  And I could not have gotten through it without you.  I have been comforted and supported more than you can imagine.  Now it's time to give back.

Here's to another 4 years of Testosterone Overload....cheers!  

NOW....LET'S PARTY!  AND, WHAT IS A PARTY WITHOUT FAVORS?!?


Here's what's up for grabs:

A chance to win 2 (count them)  2- $10 Amazon.com gift cards (out of my very own pocket) and a 
$10 gift certificate to be used at Dancing Princess Designs godigitalscrapbooking store (donated by Jennifer at Dancing Princess Designs.)


How do I win?


$10 Amazon Gift Card #1
This giveaway has actually been going on for a week now....head on over to this post, Amazon Gift Card Giveaway [#1], to get the entry specifics.  If you already have entered...no further action needs be taken.  Good luck to you.  (be sure to leave all comments relating to this specific giveaway on the corresponding posts....DO NOT LEAVE THEM HERE!)


$10 Amazon Gift Card #2

#1 "Like" Testosterone Overload on Facebook (or use the Facebook Gadget on the sidebar)
#2 Follow melanie_gill on Twitter
#3 Subscribe to e-mails by inputting your email address in the "T.O. in your inbox" box (on the side bar)
#4 Subscribe to RSS feeds---posts and/or comments (on the sidebar)
#5 Head on over to Dancing Princess Designs and click to "follow" Jennifer's blog (sidebar---bottom right)
#6 Come on over to Methodical Musings of an Unbalanced Woman (my "other" blog) and click to "Join [my] site" (side bar--bottom right)

That's 6 different ways you can enter into the $10 Amazon Gift Card #2 Giveaway.  Just remember that YOU MUST LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ACTION TAKEN ABOVE!  THIS IS IMPORTANT! (only one entry per comment, that's why you want to separate them...more comments...more entries)

$10 Gift Certificate to Dancing Princess Designs GoDigitalScrapbooking Store
#1 Go to Dancing Princess Designs GoDigitalScrapbooking Store and browse around.  Then come back HERE and leave a comment listing a product that caught your eye.
#2 "Like" Dancing Princess Designs on Facebook 
#3  Follow JennCamargo on Twitter
#4 Subscribe to e-mails on DPD (right sidebar)
#5 Subscribe to RSS feeds on DPD (left sidebar)

That's 5 different ways you can enter into the $10 Gift Certificate to DPD's GDS store.
(AGAIN...LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH)

Are you as excited as I am?  He he he....I doubt it....but try, will ya?

REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBER....YOU MUST LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT, HERE AT T.O., FOR EACH OF THE "ACTIONS" TAKEN ABOVE.  (IF YOU ALREADY "FOLLOW", "SUBSCRIBE", "TWEET WITH", or have "JOINED" etc JENNIFER OR I, ON TESTOSTERONE OVERLOAD OR DANCING PRINCESS DESIGNS, YOU STILL MUST LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ACTION YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN)!
(for questions you can e-mail me at testosteroneoverloadXY at gmail dot com).

Random winners (for all three giveaways) will be chosen and announced on October 21, 2011 (next Friday).

So...have FUN!

Happy COMMENTING! 

P.S. Want some commenting examples (I always need things spelled out for me)?

For Amazon giftcard #2
I "like" T.O. on facebook
I now "tweet" with Melanie_gill 
I subscribed to e-mails on T.O.
I subscribe to RSS feeds on T.O.
I follow DPD
I "joined" MMUW

For $10 Dancing Princess Designs Gift Certificate

I browsed on GDS and liked _________________
I "like" DPD on facebook
I now "tweet" with JennCamargo
I subscribed to e-mail on DPD
I subscribed to RSS feeds on DPD

Worlds Best Caramel Popcorn--Recipies Tried and True

I mean it when I say that this Carmel Popcorn is indeed the World's Best.  It is SO incredibly chewy and gooey and lip smacking yummy. I love it....(a little too much perhaps)

I made a double recipe yesterday (that's 6+ cups of popcorn people) to feed to my family, the 3 19-20 year old missionaries that came for dinner and for my "BBC chicks" movie night. 

This is all that is left.

Yeah....it's that good.

Makes great Halloween Popcorn Balls.  I also like to make it to give away to neighbors at Christmas time.

Now....the original recipe (published in a ward (congregational) cook book) didn't state the amount of popcorn to use (odd, I know), so I have experimented over the years.  Here's my adaptation of the recipe.

World's Best Caramel Popcorn

1 cube (8 TBSP) margarine or butter
1 cup light Karo syrup
2 cups brown sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Popcorn 
You are looking for the equivalent of about 12 cups popped popcorn (that makes it really gooey.  If you want a dryer popcorn add 1-3 more cups.)  Honestly, we usually use microwave popcorn (the "healthy" stuff with just a bit of butter and salt...yum) but you can used regular air popped as well.  For microwave, use about 3 bags...for air pop you are looking at about 9 TBSP (just over 1/2 cup).  It's really not an exact science...just a good jumping off point.  :)  Try to weed out as many of the un-popped kernel's as possible (no one likes to chomp into a hard kernel after all).  You can do this by collecting the popcorn into a large brown paper sack (or a large bowl) and shaking lightly to "settle" the un-popped kernel's in the bottom.  Then lightly hand spoon the popped corn into a (another) LARGE bowl.  Set aside.

 Caramel
After popping and making ready the corn, pour all ingredients into a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Once it reaches a boil, cook it for another 3 minutes (no candy thermometer needed...yeay!).  Pour over popcorn and stir until well coated.  Lay out on wax or parchment paper to cool.  Store in an airtight container or bag.

SUPER EASY!  and SUPER YUMMY!

ENJOY!

Just one easy click!

"BBC chicks" movie club---Under the Greenwood Tree

Tonight, I had the privilege of attending our first ever "BBC chicks" movie club movie night.

It was a blast.   

Good food, good company.....good (doesn't even to begin to describe it) movie.

Tonight.....Under The Greenwood Tree....

Oh. My. Lanta.......

I'd never seen it before but went in good faith, trusting our "leader" and her choice.  And....let me tell you, she did a bang up job.  It was FANTASTIC!

My heart pitter-pattered the ENTIRE time.

In fact....Whew!....there it goes again just thinking about it.

There were a few good "Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett" moments....and some super "savory" smooches too (all in clean fun, of course).

But my oh my.....

There's nothin' like a good romance.......

Anyhow....I would HIGHLY recommend this one.  HIGHLY!

Maybe Rob will buy it for me for Christmas (oh...and if you have a BBC/romance lover in your house, think......CHRISTMAS!)

At any rate....I can't wait for next month.








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$10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway---9 more days to enter

Alright...so I think there was a lot of confusion concerning the $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway.

The confusion being that I linked this giveaway to a blogging challenge and only left teeny tiny instructions on how to enter this giveaway without actually doing the blogging challenge (that part is just for those of us who LOVE to write).

No fear, I am here to diffuse the confusion.

You DO NOT have to enter the blogging challenge to be entered into the giveaway (the blogging challenge is just a really fun way to earn even more entries).

So....do you want to know the easiest way to get entered into the giveaway?

You just have to sign up to "follow" Testosterone Overload.

Here's how: 

#1 Click on the gadget on the sidebar that says "Join this site".

#2 THEN....leave a comment telling me you did it (something like this "I now follow T.O., or whatever) or, if you already "follow" T.O. leave a comment that says something like this (I already "follow" T.O.)  Simple as that.

REMEMBER.......YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO THE GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

***The winner is picked at random FROM THE COMMENTS THAT ARE LEFT on this post (or the original blogging challenge/giveaway post).  If you do not leave a comment you will not be entered into the giveaway. ***

So don't skip that crucial step.

And now because I am so generous (wink, wink) I am going to give you a way to receive additional entries without entering the blogging challenge as well.  You ready?............

Ta Da....Refer a friend to Testosterone Overload.

That's right.  I will give you additional entries into the giveaway for EVERY friends and/or reader, you refer to my blog, that chooses to "follow" T.O. as well.

Here's your instructions (I work by example...I need everything spelled out for me...hehehe)

#1 You post a link to this giveaway/blogging challenge on your blog.

#2  Go ahead and tell your readers that for every one of them that comes here and "follows" T.O., YOU will get another entry into this giveaway.
#3  Don't forget to tell YOUR readers that they need to mention who "referred" them to T.O.
(for example their post would look something like.  "Hi Melanie, I now follow T.O.   I was referred to this giveaway by ___________.")
So...that comment will count as their "personal" entry as well as a "referral" entry for you.  Does that make sense?  (if not you can e-mail me at testosteroneoverloadXY at gmail dot com)

The possibilities are endless.

Just remember that your "referrals" have to "Join [my] site" in order for the entry to count for either of you.

The winner will be announced Friday, October 21, 2011.

Now....if you actually LIKE to write (like I do) you can earn EVEN MORE entries into the giveaway by
#1 entering "Melanie's Blogging Challenge"
#2 encouraging your friends/readers to enter as well (yes...more "referrals).

See below for details.

There....I hope that cleared up some confusion.  I was really surprised to see so little entries.   I mean, it's a SUPER easy way to win $10 to use at Amazon.com (Christmas is coming)

So DON'T delay.

"Join" me at T.O.  Be prepared from some pretty funny upcoming stories and, hopefully, some useful frugal tips as well.

Original Posted Rules:

Melanie's Blogging Challenge/Giveaway! 

(this giveaway is part of the Happy 4th Birthday T.O. Birthday Bash/Giveaways--which will be announced NEXT Friday (Oct 14th) where you will have a chance to win even MORE stuff).

Choose one of the following topics....FALL, FOOTBALL, DATE NIGHT, THE GOOD OL' DAYS or 30 YEAR OLD WOMAN PARADING AROUND PRETENDING TO BE A TEENAGER (or any other story of you as a "not so acting your age" person)...which ever one tickles your writing fancy... (read MY story entitled:  Date Night brings out the "best" in Melanie)

...and BLOG ABOUT IT.

(story can be a previously posted, yet related, post as long as you re-post it a. with the current date (so it comes up the first post on your blog page) b. with the challenge rules and c. with proper links to this post). 

What can I win?  

The winner of this blog challenge/giveaway will randomly be chosen to win a $10 Amazon.com gift card (provided from my very own pocket lining).  

How can I win?

One entry will be counted for every "valid" comment/entries left on T.O. (Remember to leave a separate comment for each of the "valid" entries).

"Valid" comments include:

#1 a personal story entry (see below)

#2 a referral story entry (see below)

#3 by signing up to "follow" T.O. and leaving a comment to tell me that you did (if you already "follow", just leave a comment stating that you already do.)

What is a "personal" entry?

A personal entry is a single comment left on T.O. by you consisting of a link to your Melanie's Blogging challenge/giveaway entry (aka your posted story).

What is a "referral" entry?

A "referral" entry is a single comment left by one of YOUR READERS listing YOU as their "referral" to Melanie's Blog Challenge/Giveaway.  The more of YOUR readers you can engage in this challenge, the more entries/chance YOU will have to win.

Things to remember:

 

#1  BE SURE to link back to this post (any submitted story NOT linking back to this post will be disqualified from the giveaway) and post the challenge/giveaway rules for your readers (copy and paste from the pink text down).

#2 BE SURE to leave a comment linking me to YOUR challenge/giveaway entry (again, your story) as well as your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win. (your "personal" entry)

#3 BE SURE to tell your readers to A. come back here and post a comment linking me to THEIR story (which will be their "personal" entry) but also leave ANOTHER comment telling me who referred THEM (which would be one of YOUR "referral" entries).

Do you need an example.?  I know I would (if I hadn't thought it up myself...and even that confused me).

"Personal" entry comment example:

Hi, Melanie, that was a great story.  :)

My name is ____________ and here is a link to my Melanie's Blog Challenge/ Giveaway Entry http://_________________. 

I hope I win.

"Referral" entry comment example:

Hi Melanie....I was referred to your Blog Challenge/Giveaway by (insert Name) at (blog name or address you came from).  OR just leave the blog name if you don't know their name personally.

Does that make sense?  If you have any questions please contact me at testosteroneoverloadXY at gmail dot com.

Just one easy click!