The Deadline is TODAY!

Hello mommas,

Just want to remind everyone- today is the deadline to enter the Mother's Day Giveaway Event on Hip Mama's Place.

If you live in the US or Canada and you are a mom, then you are eligible to enter this contest. Look at the fabulous prizes!

Amy Butler design Purse from LooseCabooseDesigns, valued @ $37

Noodle & Boo Glowology Sugar Mama Honey Scrub from Mother Earth and Baby, valued @ $26

All Day Moisture Body Lotion by Belli Skin Care, valued @ $25


Chloe Retro Blue Cherry Apron from Boojiboo, valued @ $28.75

Frankincense Toning Body Cream by Neal's Yard Remedies, valued @ $60


Vitamin E & Avocado Night Cream by Neal's Yard Remedies, valued @ $29


Spring Fling Earrings from Ten Digit Creations, valued @ $12

Carney Silver Necklace from Style Patch, valued @ $15

Sara Moulton Cooks At Home Cookbook, valued @ $20

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Luminous Shadow in Copper Feel and Lip Gloss in My Cherry Amour, with a Vintage Wall Paper Pocket Mirror from PaperHill, total value @ $18

So what are you waiting on? Ten lucky mom winners will be picked for this random giveaway so you got a lot of chances to win! :)

Go enter now at: Hip Mama's Place!

Jason Castro Eliminated On American Idol!

My boyfriend Jason Castro, who happens to be from my very own Dallas, Texas, got booted off last night at American Idol's elimination round. I'll be honest though. He was good in past performances, but I wasn't crazy about his "I Shot the Sheriff" version. That's one of the classic songs by Bob Marley that I like by the way, but his own rendition didn't really do justice to the classic-ness of this song. Oh well... I do love the guy for his cuteness and laid-backness. I saw him on my local Fox TV news this morning and he's so like, "Yeah, whatever", when asked if he was okay being eliminated. He's just so adorable! :)

Alright now, here's a YouTube video of his elimination last night.



Bye, bye Jason! Hope to see you around even after Idol. :)

Looking To Create Your Own Website?

Most businesses today, whether operating a storefront or just an online store or business, need a website to have a successful business. Having a business website also increases a business' reach- when buyers can't really shop a store physically they can just go to the store's website and buy whatever they need. Not only businesses benefit from having a website. People create personal websites also to have a quicker, cheaper way to communicate with families and friends who may be in a different part of the country or in a foreign country and talking long-distance on the phone is an expensive option to communicate.

Well, most people think that creating websites can be a lot of work and are too expensive to begin and maintain. Vista Print, known as an online store that offers all types of products for your printing needs, now offers a service to help you create your websites as easy as 1-2-3. They even offer a one month free trial.

How does it work?

Build and customize your own professional website in 3 easy steps:

1. Begin Your FREE Trial- test drive it first. T start, check out their professional designs or match your website to your business card. Cancel at any time if you don't want it, there's no obligation.

2. Customize Your Website- You can add text, images, forms, change your design, and much more! No technical or programming skills are needed.

3. Go Live- Let your customers find you easily on the internet. Publish your website and get the online exposure you need to grow your business.

For more details, just go to: www.vistaprint.com

Blog Design Makeover

Hello dear blogging friends, how are you all this beautiful Monday morning?
It seems like the weekend just went by fast, didn't it?

Anyways, I'm playing around with my blog design right now- backgrounds and such, so if you see it look a little crazy here and there it's because I'm still trying to find what I'm looking for. Making it a little more fun and reflecting more of my style and something that will go with the current season.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to leave a comment here.

Happy blogging y'all! :)

Sugary Sweet Facts

I came across an article recently about sugar production and I thought it was interesting to share.

Do you know that Brazil is currently the largest sugar producing nation in the world?

Here are some facts about Sugar from Brazil: In 2006 it produced thirty million tonnes of sugar, which made up 20% of the world’s total sugar production. Of that 30 million tonnes of sugar, Brazil exported 17.7 million tonnes of sugar to other nations, which comprised almost 40% of the sugar traded in the world that year.

So if Brazil experiences fluctuations of sugar production, it can affect world sugar prices substantially. In 2002, Brazil’s bumper sugar crop sent world prices plummeting to below five cents per pound.

Not Nice

I'm sick as a dog today. Ugh. I woke up with a big, mean headache, took some aspirin and it still won't go away. My daily planner is screaming for attention (for errands to do, tons of reviews to write, etc) but it's got to be put on hold for today.

I'm glad my hubby's coming home early tonight. I told him when he gets home, I will need my 'time out'- go to the spare room upstairs and sleep with no interruption from him and the boys. I think I'll feel better after a good long, uninterrupted sleep. Hopefully in the morning I'll be back to being the supermom and wife again! :)

Have You Joined Social Spark Yet?

A new offering from IZEA called Social Spark is now live. I actually just registered today and it looks like a great place for bloggers to hang out and earn extra cash.

So how does SocialSpark work?

Basically works the same as Payperpost, it's a social media marketing network and marketplace for bloggers and advertisers alike- the only significant difference is that it also works as a place to advertise your own blog by having other bloggers write a post about your own blog. Sounds great to me. This site connects advertisers and bloggers through an online advertising marketplace and based on converstional topics, advertisers are able to target blogs where they offer cash sponsorship to the bloggers who publish them. Bloggers then make money by either placing display advertisements on their blog or by writing sponsored content for advertisers. The sponsorships offered through the SocialSpark marketplace allow advertisers to build buzz, generate traffic and maximize social media exposure.

So I was browsing through the opportunities and profiles of other bloggers today. It seems like a friendly site to be part of. And right now I am still trying to update my own profile. (I'm jocelynd there, by the way). Hmm, I got to read more about this site. I want to know more!

Haven't joined yet? It's easy and takes a few minutes. Just go to the www.socialspark.com, register, confirm your email, create your profile and start interacting with other bloggers. Who knows you might even 'spark' an interest in some advertisers and they will sponsor your blog. That means cash for you!

My Little Jaden Is Walking Now!

*At four months old

It seems only yesterday when I had my baby Jaden. He was born March 2nd, 2007. Now he's 14 months old and has just started taking his first steps a week ago! I can't help feeling so excited looking at him stand up and struggle to walk and then fall, only to try again. He's so adorable right now that this morning I asked dear hubby to show me how to use our video camera again. I totally forgot how to use it! Must have been a year since I haven't used it myself. I've just been so pre-occupied with a lot of things lately that I almost ignored the fact that my kids will appreciate the video library of their childhood when they grow up. So yes, I am going to start taking videos of my kids again. :)

*At twelve months old

Anyways, here are a few cute shots of when Jaden is still a baby up to the present. :)

*What a pout! LOL. (Taken recently at a friend's party. Thanks again, Liza- for this beautiful picture).

NYC Castings For Talents

My hubby's niece from Los Angeles, California is into showbiz, mostly dancing for big stars and modelling for cosmetic ads. Now she is into trying to get a few acting assignments. She must have used a talent service agency like www.NYCastings.com to get a real paying work acting or modelling for various on-camera, print, voice-over & live projects that she said she has made good money at.

Mocobabies Signing With Baby Set Winner!

Last week, Hip Mama Blog participated in the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival and gave away a set of Mocobabies Signing With Baby Flashcards and Placemat Set to one lucky winner.

I just wanted to post it here that the winner is Julie D, from the blog Mom Two Ways.

Congratulations, Julie!

Re-decorating Our Master Bedroom

I really want to re-decorate our master bedroom right now. The only problem is that we might be moving again soon, so it might not be a very good idea. I was looking online at BEDROOM SETS lately and drooling over them. I could really use a new one right now. Hmmm, might be a great idea for a gift to ask my dear hubs. :)

Great News For Moms This Mother's Day!

I have made it easier for you all to enter the Mother's Day Giveaway Event over at Hip Mama's Place so all of you moms can join in the fun!

I hope to see all of you join- just post a comment with your three choices of prizes, add your name to Mr Linky's and walah, you're done!

Prizes include: a beautiful handmade Spring purse, a pair of Spring earrings, designer skin care, Vicroria's Secret beauty products, Sara Moulton cookbook, and many more!

Contest open to all moms from the US and Canada and will close May 9th, 12MN, CST.

So what are you waiting on? Hurry and join in the fun!

Have a great weekend, hip mamas!