We have a winner!!!

using my super duper technological number drawing system....ok, a bowl with all the numbers written on pieces of paper, I have chosen a winner for the GeoSafari SeaScope!

And the winner is Jen of Jen's Uncharted Territory -Congrats Jen!!

Thanks to all who entered the Giveaway and thank you again to CSN Stores.

It's Summertime...........

and the living is easy!

Well, most of the time easy, we've had our first summertime injury and some first summertime loving sisterly quarrels......but, most of the time, oh yeah, the living is easy!!!!

Time to play in the sprinkler with the sun shining........

lazy mornings to read on the porch swing.......

fun stomps through puddles......

no need to use cups.....yes, I found him on the kitchen floor drinking out of the orange juice carton........
just playing outside........having fun.......

aaahhhhhh!! Summertime!!!!

Summer Giveaway Update

Sorry I'm late with the Summer Giveaway Winner.......we're experiencing technical difficulties here at 7 All Together.......our telephone and internet has been down since late Monday night.....so thankful it's not our electricity too!! We're suppose to have it back up and running by late Thursday night so I'll get to the Contest on Friday-I apologize for the delay and thanks to all who entered!! If you haven't entered yet, go ahead and I'll count you in!

Wordful Wednesday

Just sharing a last few birthday party pictures!

Lots of balloons! The girls picked pink balloons and bright pink, green and blue streamers.

Two of the three birthday girls celebrating outside. We had set up tables and chairs for everyone to eat outside but it was a bit too windy. All outside decorating was moved indoors where it wasn't blowing down the minute you taped it up. It was a beautiful day though-sunny and warm.

Love, love, love this picture!! I didn't really post about the vanilla cake with pink frosting that my soon to be 5 year old finally decided on but she knew right from the start, she wanted High School Musical-my mom bought her a bunch of stuff and she decorated her cake herself! As you can see............she likes to decorate..........

and does not appreciate good singing!

Fun day with friends and family!

Yummiest Chocolate Cake

mmm, yum, if you're looking for a delicious chocolate cake recipe, Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake is it!

Topped with "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting......delicious

.....and, of course,

Quick and easy......

the perfect combination!

My soon to be 10 year old knew exactly what she wanted for her birthday cake-no waffling on her part!! Lots of happy party guests enjoyed if with her!

I've made this cake lots of time and it always comes out yummy-I've also used the same recipe to make cupcakes....just as yummy!

Fruit Pizza Yummy Yummy

Three of my girls have birthdays in June-one at the beginning of the month and two at the end. This past weekend was party central for us as we celebrated all three birthdays.

Last year, we had a beach theme party and they all loved it. This year, they couldn't decide on the same theme with my soon to be 5 year old the biggest waffler-she was changing her mind daily, if not twice a day! So, they all went with what they really wanted and were really happy and that's what matters!

My soon to be 10 year old (yikes, double digits!) wanted chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (more about that cake in another post), my soon to be 5 year old wanted vanilla cake and finally decided on pink frosting-although, she wouldn't have a piece of hers at the party, but had a piece of the chocolate cake and wolfed it down like she hadn't eaten all day! My soon to be 7 year old just couldn't decide what she wanted but knew it had to be something special. I suggested a few things that just didn't fly and then remembering her love of blueberries and strawberries, suggested a fruit pizza-oh yes, score, one for mommy.......she loved the idea.

I've never made one before so we searched online and found a recipe-oh boy, couldn't have been easier, didn't take much time and was delicious! You know how that all rates in my book!

I have to admit...... I used the refrigerated cookie dough.......but I do want to try to make the crust myself soon. The combination of the crust, frosting and fruit was delicious. We even used the extra frosting as a dip with the extra fruit. My daughter arranged all the fruit herself and you can't see it, but the blueberries make a smily face in the middle of the pizza.

Great dessert for any summer parties you might be having or attending!

I love me some coupons!

yes, I do!

I love clipping them, organizing them......I know, call me weird, but it's relaxing, easy to do and when I'm done, I know I've accomplished something.

Best of all, though, is using them!! I love to check and see how much I've saved and what I would have paid if I had no coupons. Even if it's not a lot...... better in my pocket than someone else's!!!

I used to have a coupon holder but in all the craziness and unorganization in my house, I lost it. I held out hope that I would find it, but no such luck. After I got over the shock of losing some good coupons I knew I had, I pulled out a trusty white envelope and used it for my coupons. Not such a good idea, though, I was just shoving coupons in, no rhyme or reason because I had no categories to go by. I also left it in the car a few times and brilliantly thought, I'll just get another trusty white envelope and then ended up having two very unorganized envelopes. I know I missed a lot of coupons that could have saved me money-bummer!

Since I'm trying to save money by using coupons, I didn't want to go out and buy another holder, so I searched online for coupon holders and found just what I was looking for on A Happy Little Family. Oh yeah, a great coupon holder - good size, great directions and free printable dividers to go along with it-perfect! It took no time to make - I think it took me longer to print off the dividers because I can only put one piece of paper in my printer at a time or it sucks them all in and makes a mess!

Here's my new holder looking all pretty and just waiting for coupons.......

and here it is with coupons, ready to shop.......

I'm in business again and in my never ending quest for organization, a bit more organized!

**Celebrating June with a Giveaway**

Happy First Day of June!!!

I'm celebrating with a giveaway from CSN Stores. Oh boy, there's nothing like shopping in the comfort of your own home - it's heaven for me..........
no getting dressed.....no loading all the kids into the car...no making sure everyone has gone to the bathroom...no rounding up shoes and drinks and snacks....no keeping track of everyone while I try to remember why I was going shopping in the first place! CSN Stores have just about everything you could want or need from toys to lights for your house to bathroom vanities.

CSN Stores has sponsored a giveaway for my blog before and I was very happy with both their customer and delivery service. The giveaway item was delivered very quickly.

Now.......on to the giveaway! To celebrate the first day of June and the quickly approaching summer season, one lucky reader will have a chance to win a Educational Insights GeoSafari SeaScope. I've never tried one but it looks real cool and I think my kids would love it. Great toy to put in the camper or take on hikes. I just saw it in Parents Magazine in an article for cool summer toys and decided to check it out.

You can use this 4x telescope to view distant objects on land or attach it to the water-resistant SeaScope to magnify life in streams, ponds, lakes or tide pools-sounds cook! The Aqualite™ flashlight attaches to the SeaScope for viewing in dark or murky underwater conditions.

Features:
~Built-in ruler allows on-the-spot measurement of specimens
~Thermometer strip determines the temperature in or out of the water
~Requires two AA batteries
~Grades 1+ / Ages 6+
~Dimensions: 3.3" H x 9.2" W x 17.3" D

If you would like to enter this giveaway, leave a comment below. I will pick a winner from the comments on June 15th.

I would like to thank CSN Stores for providing the GeoSafari SeaScope for one of my readers. I did not receive anything from CSN Stores for this giveaway and provided my honest opinion of their customer service and delivery.