As a child, I remember being captivated by dollhouses of all sorts – and, it’s really no surprise that I still love them. I remember sitting on the floor, with my dolls and house and their accessories all laid out – then, “Vroooooom!” *CRASH!* *BANG*

My little brother and his army of camo-ed out Ken dolls and dump trucks had apparently heard of a bomb threat and had orders to destroy my little village. Occasionally, my dolls would make it out with more than one arm stuck to their torso. But, rarely.

Back then, there was no Mrs Goodbee Talking Dollhouse…

This dollhouse is the bomb-diggity. I don’t know if they’d actually put that term in their press-releases and commercials, but they really could…because this thing seriously rocks! This is one of those dollhouses that EVERYONE’s going to be talking about because… IT TALKS!

Mrs. Goodbee (the talking dollhouse) has these little buttons all throughout her, and when pushed they each do different things. I really have no clue what she’d say if kid brother (or sister) wrecks into her with a dump truck, but I’m sure whatever it is would be a slight scolding in a very polite way. I do know, however, that the doorbell rings and Mrs. Goodbee welcomes you inside, the toilet flushes, the refrigerator opens and Mrs. Goodbee encourages you to eat your fruits and vegetables…and she even has a turkey and a pie in the oven (Um, when can *I* move in?).

The compactly folded-up house (PERFECT for stowing away under a bed or in a closet when not in use) looks like this (from one side) when you fold it out…

And…that’s just ONE side. Seriously…You have rooms galore with tons of different activities, so there’s no shortage on things to do.

And, my favorite part (Okay, second favorite part)? It comes ASSEMBLED and WITH BATTERIES!!!!

Do you know what this means? (I’ll tell you…) It means no unwrapping and then your child realizing it’ll take YOU 5 hours to put it together AND you forgot the batteries. Nope, none of that with Caring Corners, they’ve totally got your back.

And, in case you still don’t believe me about the awesome factor for this cool little house, check out some of the other features:

• Developed in conjunction with Child Development Expert and Author Dr. Michele Borba
• 400 activities, songs, words and sounds
• Eight “hot spots” where Mrs. Goodbee’s voice gently guides children and responds to what they do
• Twelve large rooms – six on each side — perfect for two children to share
• Comes with Girl doll and Boy doll, dog, reward stickers and online games
• Extends the acts of caring, sharing and preparing for responsibilities from the pretend world into their real world
• Online games at CaringCorners.com that reinforce the dollhouse lessons of caring and sharing
• A “Parent’s Corner” at CaringCorners.com offers helpful advice and ideas for additional ways to help children learn about caring, sharing and preparing for responsibilities
• The Carton of Caring Donation Program partnership with Goodwill Industries
• For children ages 3 and up
• Can be purchased at retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R’ Us

What’s more is we’ve teamed up with Caring Corners and we’re giving one away!

To enter, simply leave a comment here with the following information:
-Who you’d be winning it for and why you MUST win and
-Where in the world are you? (State or Territory if not in the US – We’re curious about how far we’re reaching!)
-(And, as always…be sure you leave a working email in the correct field so we can reach you if you win)

For extra opportunities to win, you can do the following (please let me know in comments if you do any of these so I can award you the extra entries):

-Write a blog post about this giveaway and link back here for 5 extra entries
-Tweet this contest on twitter saying “check out #bosssanders awesome giveaway at http://www.bosssanders.com/2008/12/21/caring-corners-mrs-goodbee-talking-dollhouse/” for 2 extra entries
-Come back and leave a comment a day (one comment per day until contest closing) for 1 extra entry (per comment/per day)

Contest ENDS January 4, 2009 and a winner will be chosen.

The contest has been extended until the end of January, so be sure to sign up!!

If you can’t wait until January 4 of next year to possibly win your own dollhouse, click HERE to buy it now!

Welcome back!

This is the announcement where I announce one winner…and, then draw out another contest – mostly because I can.

So here goes:

The winner of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book is: Red Lotus Mama –You totally worked your butt off to get this (thank you!)

Congratulations! – And thanks to everyone for your support in that. Also, I’ve decided to extend the Mrs. Goodbee Caring Corners Dollhouse until the END OF THIS MONTH.

So…go, now and sign up if you haven’t already – okay?

Here’s the link (IT’S MAJOR AWESOMENESS)

This giveaway is sponsored, and unlike my other giveaways, anyone who meets the criteria for this giveaway automatically “wins” $100.

A few months ago, my husband and I had new windows put in our home by a company called Windows USA – I could tell you how awesome they are and how much I love them and what I love about them, but I won’t (unless you ask me to, of course) as I’m not in the business of selling windows.

However, Windows USA has this awesome affiliate program where their customers can refer their products to other consumers – and, instead of paying for extensive advertising, Windows USA pays both the referrer (ME) and the prospective consumer (YOU) just for listening to their one-hour window presentation.

So, get that?  $100 to simply LISTEN to a presentation about windows and with NO STRINGS ATTACHED.  Meaning after your one hour presentation, you can collect your money and simply walk away – windows or not.

To get in on this, just leave me a comment letting me know you’re interested and I’ll contact you and get you signed up – but, first you need to make sure you’re eligible:

-You MUST live in the United States
-You MUST own your own home

So, what would you do with an extra one-hundred dollars?

*picture from Amazon

Steven and I have went on some small adventures this year, stepping out of our comfort zone to try and do something more for our family, to BE something more. He began a blog shortly after www.bosssanders.com went up, and then decided the parenting blog just wasn’t his niche. So, it came down. I began writing more, and then opened up my own store: First Impressions. I recently had to close the store, as it was spending more money (even slightly) than it was making at the moment, and quite frankly, I lost the drive to keep it going. I still have a lot of goodies though, so if any of you need any maternity/baby stuff for gifts just give me a shout via email – it’s like a virtual yard sale over here or something. Then, he decided to open a new blog up, but this time about blogging to make money and he’s seriously flown. He’s now getting offers and free tickets to places and some other good things, as well as being one of the few hand chosen by a major company to be on their “team” of sorts. I finally decided to shoot a modeling application in to a pregnancy focused agency and was denied on account of my shortness – which is probably for the better since I might have been able to barely cover the travel to get there and back for assignments with what they’d pay. Oh well. I did try. I also began writing more and more, opening my heart up beyond little stories and crafts about the trivial things or about Lorelei and all the funny things she does. I decided to be real, even when it stung. And, that brought me more visitors, more friends. I also decided to begin writing a novel, something I never thought I could do – and, while it’s kind of at a standstill right now, it will get finished because I’m determined to say I DID IT. With all of the extra writing, I’ve felt this…RELEASE…I guess you could say. Besides painting, it’s one of my deepest pleasures for my soul.

Speaking of…I was just published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution book. It’s one of their latest to be published, and I’m in there. Well, one of my stories is anyhow. And, in the spirit of Christmas, I’m giving one book away. This is a personal giveaway and not backed like some of the other giveaways have been, so I’m going to make this giveaway last until the beginning of the New Year.

To sign up, simply do one or all of the following:

1 . Be a Twit and tweet a message (on twitter.com) that contains both the link for this giveaway and either @bosssanders or #bosssanders.
Example 1: @bosssanders Send me the book or I’ll die!   http://www.bosssanders.com/2008/12/17/resolutions
Example 2: Stalk #bosssanders better with this book   http://www.bosssanders.com/2008/12/17/resolutions/
…You can use those, but I didn’t want to limit your creativity or undying love for me, so I’m leaving it open. Plus, I’m looking forward to the laughs.

10 POINTS

2. Write a blog post about this giveaway with a link back to this specific post (http://www.bosssanders.com/2008/12/17/resolutions/). 15 POINTS

3. Leave a comment here. 5 POINTS

4. Whore my link in whatever way you see fit (please let me know what you do so I can give you proper points though). Ranges from 5 POINTS to 50 POINTS depending on your pimpin’ skills.

This contest is open til January 1st…um, maybe January 3rd, depending on festivities or lack thereof. You can do as much or as little as you want – which means if you want to leave 10 bonafide comments below, go for it (just make them worthy comments, no one word crap, or I’ll come post my links in all of your blog post comments…and no, you won’t get points for me doing that). At the end, I’ll count up the points and Ta DA. Winner. Like magic. Now, go my little pimps and pimpettes…

Just to recap, I had a giveaway for a couple of great Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

The winners are

Jessi L who said “I would love to win the Like Mother, Like Daughter one because my mom is going through a really hard time in her life and the only person she has to rely on is me and I think this book would bring us closer.”

herrinfamily who said “Copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Moms & Sons: Stories by Mothers and Sons, in Appreciation of Each Other by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark, because i have a son.”

Please email me by Wednesday, the 5th (November), or I’ll have to choose another winner.

*Winners were chosen randomly.

Holy smokes!  I almost missed the blog carnival!

I have 2 great books to give away from the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series:  Moms and Sons and Like Mother, Like Daughter

I love reading Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and always find their stories to be inspirational and great.  I thought it would be great to share with you two great titles, written especially for mom!

To win, simply leave a comment telling me which book you’d like and why!  It’s that easy!  (Be sure I have a way to reach you, though.  I won’t play detective if it’s not obvious and will draw a new winner).

I’ll choose a winner this weekend and post the results Monday!

For more awesome giveaways, check out the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival!

And, be sure to check out my See Kai Run giveaway over HERE too!

Don’t forget the giveaway I have going on at the other site: http://firstimpressionsbaby.blogspot.com/2008/08/giveaway-100.html

PS – please bare with me on the other giveaways I hosted here.  I swear I’ll pick someone, I’m just sending out a little at a time so I can keep on affording postage!  Ha!  But please check out the $100 giveaway – it’s real money, yo!

I’m giving away this GREAT XS Organic Hotslings Sling. It’s brand-new in the package and ready to go! To win, simply leave a comment and tell me where in the world you are (State or, if not in the US – tell me the area).

Please be sure to leave your EMAIL address too so I can contact you!!

Want to be entered TWICE more (for a total of three times)? Simply put this badge on your website and link to (www.bosssanders.com):

PS – you can drag and drop the img or copy and paste it. Be sure you link to this site (www.bosssanders.com), as that is how I will know whether you get two extra entries when it shows up in my info page.

And, for the other sling I’m giving away, go HERE!

For more giveaways, check out: the Bloggy Giveaways website!

I’m sooo excited!  I just received this super duper cool award today from Miss (whom I LOVE and she rocks and is my new BFF):

The rules that come with this award are:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award.
4. The award winner and one who has given the prize have to show the link “Arte y pico” blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. Show these rules.

So, here we go….

I am really tempted to give Maria, Huck, and Miss the award a second time, but I’m pretty sure they’ll kick my ass because that means they’d have to redo this all.  Heck, I may just do it so they’ll come kick my ass – that means you have to MEET me chicas.  I’m like pure genius. 

1.  ZoeyJane from Mommy is Moody.  She’s oh so sweet and is even sending me some butter chicken sauce all the way over the border…because I can’t find any here.  I don’t just love her for sending me food (I swear), she’s fun and sweet and I love her mucho.
2.  Hubs from Dadspeed.  He also happens to be my dear husband.  He’s witty and he’s got balls.  Do check out his latest post.

3.  Angie from A Whole Lot of Nothing.  In the past few weeks, I’ve really gotten to know Ang…and duude.  I love her!!  She’s so sweet and so incredibly funny and honest in her blog (and in life, too).

4.  Nissa from Nissa’s Niceties.  This chick is just full of sweetness and kindness.  We’ve never met, and yet I consider her as one of my real-life friends….

5.  Kim from Jogging in Circles.  Kim has some really awesome photographs, an awesome sense of humor, and has given me lots of helpful …err..tips.  lol.  (Shh)

Each and every one of these folks mean a lot to me.  I consider them all great friends and wonderful people.

Well, here’s your challenge:  Reply in my comments with a great tasty meal that’s inexpensive (as in the ingredients won’t set me back a small fortune).  You can tell me the whole recipe right here, link to it, or give me the name and promise to email me later.  It all works.  And, I’ll be eternally grateful.

Truth is, I’m tired of spaghetti.  I bought 10 HUGE cans of spaghetti sauce at Krogers a while back (their 10 for $10 deal)…and each can will last for maybe 6 meals?  Split between 2 people – that’s a lot of meals.  A lot of spaghetti.  I’m down for most foods.  Unless it’s centered around onions.  I can deal with minimal onions (or just take them out), but not if it’s say – onion rings (that’s not a meal anyways).  So, give me your best shot.  Heck, I might even get a prize involved.

Contest ends…tonight.  I have to go grocery shopping, yo.  Either that, or I’ll be eating L’s applesauce for supper.

PS – I want recipes.  Don’t tell me about Sonic’s new burger or the Lean Cuisine dinner in the frozen food aisle.  Does. not. count.