A Movie, some Winners, and a TON of Thanks!!

Hi guys.

So Sorry for the delays this week on the fun fun fun movie and the equally fun announcement of the gift card winners.

What happened, you ask?

Life.  It gets in the way all the time.

movingontootherfuntopics......

A Movie!!
Thank you Thank you THANK YOU from the bottom of my  heart for always supporting my crazy movie ideas.  I asked for vacation pictures and you guys came through!!  I have never seen so many smiles and fun and cool places all put together.  So, here is my little homage to all the fun everyone had traveling in 2011:

Some Winners!!
Again, thank you for your support in R We There Yet Mom and Darling Memories.  I gained so many new fans and followers thanks to all your tweets and posts for me!!  So in appreciation of all that you have done to help get the word out, I am giving away 5 Gift Cards to your choice (Target, Starbucks, or Sonic)- one per winner.

Out of 133 entries, the 5 winners are (thanks to handy dandy random.org):

Liz at Sugarplum Creations (68)

Yadra Wyatt (112)

Carl Franzon (119)

Rebecca Kelly (128)

MiMi from Living in France (28)

Winners, please email me at darling729@mac.com with your address and what gift card you would like.

Thank you again friends for all of your support!  Please continue to visit R We There Yet Mom, submit your vacation stories, add your pictures on Friday Daydreamin', etc.

And if ever you have an occasion that a Photo DVD movie would be perfect for (think birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, reunions, etc.), I would be honored to make one for you over at Darling Memories!

Shameless Plug?? Nah!! Just Promoting Myself!

Hi friends.  Did you all know I was in sales?  And no matter how I try to quiet that saleswoman inside me with dinner menus, homework, laundry, and countless repeats of Twinkle, Twinkle, it simply won't disappear.

Which is why I juggle and can't stop.

Seriously. I can't.

Currently, I have a few balls in the air.........

I am a momma of three. (that carries a dozen balls in itself).

I am the PTA President of my children's school.

I started a DVD Photo Slideshow business called Darling Memories 2 years ago.  I make awesome movies out of your pictures for all events like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, vacations, etc.

I created a Family Travel blog called R We There Yet Mom? that features travel stories and travel tips submitted by family travel experts....you.

And I am a Thirty-One Consultant.  Thirty-One has awesome totes, purses, and organizational ideas that are adorable.  I just saw our spring catalog this past weekend and it's so CUTE.  Never heard of Thirty-One?  Take a moment and look......

So, am I looking for a pat on the back?  A "how do you do it?? You are awesome!"

Sounds like it huh??

no.

I am renewing my energy into these endeavors in a effort to make them successful (and provide a little income for our family.) and would LOVE your help.  I simply can't sit still.  I get a great deal of enjoyment working on and promoting the various brands I have created.

Shameless promotion?  You may think so, but I see it as a fun lady (me) sharing all these unique and great ideas with her girlfriends (you).  I mean, if you found the recipe for an amazing chocolate cake or a great deal on shoes, you wouldn't hesitate to share it, right?

So, I would love to share my stuff with you.......

Darling Memories
As I mentioned, I create DVD movies out of your photos.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE making fun memories out of photos and have really enjoyed helping create them for the past few years.  You can find out more by visiting my website at www.darlingmemoriesdvd.com and by liking our Darling Memories Facebook Fan page.

R We There Yet Mom?
This past summer, I created a family travel blog to highlight one of the things I enjoy most....family travel.  It features family travel stories and tips from my readers.  I really enjoy sharing other families travel with everyone and am always looking for YOUR travel stories.  If you have posted a great travel story in the past or want to share a fun adventure from your area (think museums, state parks, etc.), please let me know!  We are always looking for new content.

I also host a Friday meme called "Friday Daydreamin'" where you post a picture of a place you are daydreaming about - a past vacation, a dream vacation, the best cup of coffee you ever had, a local spot you love to go to with the kids - tell us a little about it and link up.  It is the easiest post you can do on a Friday!!  And so fun to see all the different locations everyone daydreams about!

You can check out this amazing website by clicking www.rwethereyetmom.com.  Go ahead a bookmark it and visit often.  Or even easier, like our Facebook fan page to see when new content is added and visit when you see something you like - I promise NOT to fill up your facebook wall!!

Why should you do any of this?
You don't have to.  I'm not twisting your arm. But as any good salesman would try........  I would love to have your support of either of my businesses.  As a stay at home mom, these 2 ventures allow me to not only make a little supplemental income, but keeps my mind busy.  Don't get me wrong...I love being home with my kids AND working on, writing, and promoting my 2 businesses.  Keeps me incredibly happy.  And your support of them keep me happy.

As a thank you for your support, I am giving away 5 gift cards (Starbucks, Sonic, or Target - your choice!) to 5 lucky winners. 


Interested?  How can YOU win? 


Easy!  Enter a comment for each of the below.  You will get one entry for each one.

1. Become a Follower of R We There Yet Mom. (if you already are, let me know!)
2. Like R We There Yet Mom's Facebook Page. (If you already are, let me know!)
3. Follow RWeThereYetMom on the Twitter. (If you already are, let me know!)
4. Link up a picture of this Friday's Friday Daydreamin' for 5 entries!!  (I'll keep track!)
5. Submit a travel story for R We There Yet Mom for 10 entries!! Email me!
6. Email me your favorite travel picture(s) from 2011 (for a fun movie I am making for the website) for 5 entires!! Click here for more details on this fun opportunity!

7. Become a Follower of Darling Memories. (if you already are, let me know!)

8. Like Darling Memories's Facebook Page. (If you already are, let me know!)

9. Follow Darlin_Memories on the Twitter. (If you already are, let me know!)

10. Post on your blog of Facebook wall or Tweet about this giveaway for 5 entries!

Many easy ways to get multiple entries!!!

Contest ends Sunday, January 15, 2012 at midnight (CST).  I will announce the winners on Monday morning.

Is it a bribe?  Call it what you want - I just appreciate you & your support!! XOXO

An Amazing Memorial

Did you guys know that I write a Family Travel blog over at R We There Yet Mom?  It's filled with family trips and tips and I love to host your vacations...check it out if you haven't yet.

Now, typically, I don't like to "cross-contaminate", however, this post and the experience left a profound impact on me, so I wanted to share it over here as well.

On 8 small acres in Lower Manhattan, sits the site of the Nation September 11 Memorial. It is an amazing tribute to those 3000 who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, a field near Shanksville, PA, and the 6 who perished in the World Trade Center bombing in 1993.

 The Memorial features twin reflecting pools that sit in the footprints of where the Twin Towers once stood.

 The names of each person who perished in the attacks are etched into the bronze panels that define the reflecting pools.

 It's a powerful reminder of how much life was lost in these attacks and it puts a name to these lives....especially those that rushed into save others.....

 The pools are nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in North America.

There is a plaza that sits adjacent to the pools.  400 trees are planned for this area, to create a contemplative area of reflection.

 There is a general hush.  As if the hustle and bustle of the city that surrounds it doesn't exist.

Everyone is reflective and somber.  How can you not be?

  The names are the heart of the Memorial.  They are stencil-cut, allowing you to look through them to see the water, or for paper rubbings, and to see the light at night shine through.   Honestly, it hurts your heart to read the names.  But I can't help but feel we need to have that feeling - to remember and never forget.

 Towering over Pool 2, is the building of One World Trade Center, planned to be the tallest building in the United States.  It's an awesome site to see the "rebirth" of this complex.

 Memorials like these bring it all home. Where as I may not personally know someone who perished that day, they are someone's father, sister, daughter.......

 And this is a place for those families to remember, to grieve.....

And a place for everyone else to never forget this horrific event.

I was lucky enough to visit the National September 11 Memorial the week after it opened.  If you will be visiting New York City, I highly recommend a trip.  Tickets are required at no fee, but you will need to reserve them in advance.  There is additional information on the website, including an interactive map and mobile app to find any names.  

Friday Daydreamin' at R We There Yet Mom?

I love vacations - many of you know that - and I take a gazillion pictures while I am on vacation.  Looking back at all the fun I had keeps me going until the next vacation!!

So over at my other blog, R We There Yet Mom?, I started a fun blog hop called "Friday Daydreamin'", where you can post your fav vacation photo and daydream about that fun trip every Friday!!

Link up with us on Fridays and take a hop around to other vacation photos to see what everyone's daydreams are all about!

I have been reading all about everyone's summer adventures - there's a lot of letterboxing, beach trips, lake camping, and more going on that I personally want to see pictures of.  Show us some pics of your fav vacation ever - your fav day trip - best food you ate on vacation - the sky is the limit!  I just want to daydream and hear from you!!!

Please join us this Friday - our first ever Friday Daydreamin' - it's an easy Friday post to get you to the weekend!!

<a href="http://www.rwethereyetmom.com"><br /> <img src="http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/xx131/Darling729/FridayDayreamin-1.jpg"></a>

Thanks guys!  Looking forward to it!

R We There Yet Mom? dot com

I had a little idea a few months ago.

I was spending a ton of time researching ideas on what to do this summer with the family.  While there is a lot of great stuff out there, it all seemed a little dry.  I wanted to hear personal experiences, see pictures, and hear great ideas from people who had actually been there - and experienced it all first-hand.

I never quite found what I was looking for.

so....

I created it.

R We There Yet Mom? features YOUR experiences, YOUR pictures, YOUR trips.  The majority of our content will be by our readers, so we can share the travel love throughout the blog-o-sphere.

When you are looking for your next travel destination, come to us.

When you need a new game to play in the car, come to us.

Or if you love travel as much as I do, come often and pick up on some awesome traveling ideas, products, and fun!!  Once we get going, I hope to feature fun contests and give-aways.

Be one of your first Followers: www.rwethereyetmom.com

Become our Facebook Friend

Catch all our Tweets

Submit your stories and we will feature YOU!!