When I say "Yanni" what comes to mind?

This?

Or, perhaps...this?

And, we laugh. But, what do we really know about this Greek mustache man? As a professed lover of music, I must confess I know very little. Other than..that stuff's not for me.

A smidge of background...Yanni's been at it for almost 30 years. Largely instrumental work. And, quite acclaimed. Read more over at wiki's page on him for a quick overview.

The good folks over at One2One Network shipped Blondes, Poop & Mascara a copy of Yanni's latest album Yanni Voices for review.



(Look who tamed the lochs and shaved the stache)

After the first couple songs I realized Yanni was going to trash my preconceived notions. This album was a theatrical adventure for me. Beautiful melody and gorgeous voice. Lyrically, I don't gain much from it. Half of it is in language other than English. The words not requiring translation to my American ear didn't impress me much. I'm not sure they needed to. From an Italian starlit balcony to American Broadway to world beat to a sensual Latin beach - these tracks laid down a rich journey of melody for the taking.

I think what I like the most about this project is that Yanni teamed up with a solid (Grammy winning) producer in Ric Wake and just carried out a dream to put lyrics to his melodies. He took a major risk bringing four relative unknown singers (Nathan Pacheco, Ender Thomas, Leslie Mills and Chloe) to the studio with him. AND, told them to write the lyrics! 25+ years experience, played to 20+ million folks live, that's still a risk not often taken in the music industry.

There is some REALLY amazing music on this album. Preview most of them over on Yanni's website. Sure some of the lyrics are cheesy. And, I'm likely not going to load this on the iPod and jam out on my commute. BUT, as a live show, I bet this is truly outstanding stuff! Pick it up for around $13 or less most anywhere including a DVD. Heck of a deal there too.

Boatboy's first black eye

There comes a time in every man's life where gravity proves too complex a phenomenon. In a recent crawling attempt Boatboy tipped face down on our front room rug.



Cue the close up...



Sorry LA, your little bro's first shiner is better than yours was.

Giveaway: NEW HANDBAG!

The season is changing and I know you want a new handbag! Handbag Heaven offers designer-inspired purses and handbags online. Their handbags start at just $10.

Customer service is #1 to Handbag Heaven.

They have an 800 number and email that allows you to communicate with someone immediately. Imagine that?! A real person on the phone!

Shipping is the sameday if your order is placed before 2Pm. I received my awesome new handbag the next day. It was great!

I think so often we buy in a store because we can immediately take our product home. But here is a company that does not have a physical storefront with tons of overhead. Therefore they can offer the widest selection of quality, fashionable handbags at prices that you can afford. Whether you are looking for a special occasion clutch, a neutral everyday shoulder bag or a bold statement piece.

Check out my new handbag...

It is great as a diaper bag as well! I can still be a hip mommy! You would never know by looking how many diapers, wipes, toys and extra underwear are in this bag, now would you?

Buy a bag: Head over to Handbag Heaven and select your new Spring/Summer Bag. Every Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader gets to take 10% of your order. Use the code: SUNGLASSES

Win a bag: Hand Bag Heaven has graciously agreed to give away a Handbag of choice to one Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader. Leave me a comment telling me which handbag you have to have if you win.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow my blog through Google's easy reader tool.
2. Subscribe to my blog via email (and except the confirmation email).
3. Grab my button and post it to your cyber space.
4. Blog about this contest on your blog.
5. Email this giveaway to 4 friends and copy me.

I will select a winner on April 16th. Thanks for entering!

Giveaway closed. Little Miss Lexie Designs won a new handbag! Congrats!

Spring photo shoot

As any proud parents we want family photos on our walls, brag books full and iPods stuffed with studio quality portraits of our handsome little men. Despite our pre-conceived notions, for the past three years JCPenny Portraits has done just that for us. Being quite frank, we have had a couple visits that didn't go so well. But, in large part (guestimating 8 of 10 visits) they have been fantastic!

Thanks in large part go out to the photographers they hire. When you're quality of service hinges on 1) trying to please parents who all think their kids are angels and 2) ensuring that babies and toddlers produce enough photogenic moments to validify a financial spend it's no easy task.

Check out our selects from our visit a couple weeks ago with LA and Boatboy...

Price points are great! There are almost always coupons available in the mail, online or in parenting magazines. And, we're members of the Portrait Studio Club which includes free photo sheets, no sitting fees, free online viewing and more for only $40 a year.

JCPenny Portraits has the BPM stamp of approval. We won't say they can replace a personal photographer, but they're a fiscally sound 2nd place any day.

Boon: the perfect Easter basket idea

Bath time just became a little more fun in our tub! We have been scrubbing away together! Boon is my new favorite company for safe and innovative kids products. And they give back 10% of their proceeds to children in need. Everything Boon makes is PVC, phthalate and BPA-free. So, if any of these bright colored pieces of plastic ends up in your child's mouth you won’t have to worry about any of the health risks that have been linked to other not-so-safe plastic baby toys on the market. As you can see my little 10-month Boatboy loved putting every piece in his mouth.


These super fun Scrubble bath toys have interchangeable parts so your kids can mix and match in the tub. Scrubble comes in a set of 3 bulbs and textured attachments. Not only do they feel great on the skin, they fill up with water and sqeeze out. The parts are easy enough for my youngest to play with and endless fun for 2-year-old LA.

Buy Scrubble: A set of Scrubble only costs 9.99. These would make such a great Easter basket gift, since they look like eggs! I am sure your kids will love Boon products as much as mine do. Be sure to check out all of their other products as well.

I couldn't be more thrilled to promote such a great product line that cares about our enviroment and gives back to those in need! Check out their blog too. Thanks, Boon!

New Music Monday

Mat Kearney's new single Closer to Love...

A much more produced departure from Nothing Left to Lose (of my favorites in 2006), but not necessarily a bad thing...yet. I need to hear more of the album before I bring down a full judgement. Enjoy!

-Mr Blonde

1st stop on 5th Annvrsy Scavenger Hunt

...was the site of our first kiss



Early summer 2003



Yesterday

To my amazing husband!

Happy 5 years to you! What a fun and exciting ride it has been since we were in that race car together on our wedding day. Thank you so much for always putting God first in our marriage. Thank you for being my best friend, a hubby who continues to romance me, and such an incredible father to our children.


I love the way you love me! You are an incredible man to be on this life long journey with. I can't wait for the scavenger hunt tonight!

Giveaway: Hot Momma workout DVD!

Thinking about summer and wearing a tank top or swim suit? I know I am. I need to get these last stubborn 10lbs of baby weight off before the pool opens. Or, before I get prego again. It has been 10 months since Boatboy came along! Come on! The only time I can work out is when the boys are napping. I needed a new workout DVD and new motivation. I found a great one!


Fit Yummy Mummy! There are some days when I don't want to do an hour workout and don't have time. So, this DVD is GREAT! There are 15 and 30 minute workouts. They are short and sweet. Lots of other moms love it too. Want to know Holly's secret...click here.

Holly Rigsby is the hot momma behind this workout plan. And wow, does she have one hot bod. She gained 50 pounds while she was pregnant with her son, and tried everything. Nothing would get the weight off. So she developed the Fit Yummy Mommy Fat Loss System. Check it out for yourself.

I hope to do another post to let you know that I have lost 10 pounds. Not I hope...I WILL!

Buy it: Fit Yummy Mommy Fat Loss System

Win it: Holly has graciously agreed to give away one workout DVD to a Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader. Who wants to shed those pounds and work it this summer? Leave me a comment along with your email address telling why you need this DVD.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow my blog through Google's easy reader tool.
2. Subscribe to my blog via email (and except the confirmation email).
3. Grab my button and post it to your cyber space.
4. Blog about this contest on your blog.
5. Email this giveaway to 4 friends and copy me.

Holly also has free workout tips on her blog.

Thanks for entering and lets get in shape together! I will pick a winner next Tuesday, April 7.

This giveaway is now closed!
Congrats to-

random number

56

Timestamp: 2009-04-13 00:17:40 UTC

surprise somersault

The other day LA and Mr Blonde took a quick break from wrestling to watch some airplanes on television. After LA was done he decided to just roll backwards off Dadda's back. The video below is what happened...

Wordless Wednesday

My sweet friend Lily and baby Matthew. They are such a blessing in my life!!

Living in the balance

It's a quiet cool drizzly Sunday afternoon. The boys are safely tucked away for naps as a warm lunch digests in their full bellies. Mrs. Blonde is at the grocery store. I grab a couple minutes to read some news and check email. MSN's homepage invites me to consider one of the many beaches in the world I could head off to visit...



And, my inbox reminds me that the world is filled with pain, starvation, disease and death. Just a few thousand miles and an ocean away. A world apart really. From comfort and abundance to lacking and loss.



So, I sit here. With no extra change to donate to the Save Darfur campaign that I adore. For today...right now...I raise my voice to you because my heart is reminded of its eternal perspective. These people deserve no more to be in their situation than I deserve to be in mine. We never chose to be born where we were born. Yet we both have a responsibility based on our geography. They're both heavy. For these brothers and sisters in Africa, the responsibility is to survive. For me. For you. For us...it's to give of the extreme amount that we have to those that lack.

We pray.

We give.

We advocate.

We visit.

All these things not only help them, but they help us. They teach us that the world is full of beating hearts. Crocodile tears. Babies without parents. Relationships. Realness. Not just statistics and headlines.

How do you do it?

How do you keep reminded of the greater perspective?

How do you live an awareness that works around the paralysis of thinking you can't make a difference?

Do you even care?

I often wonder if I do enough.

As I scroll back up and check out the beach scene again, I wonder how often a raised hand is right there and we never notice. Right now, I notice. Two hours from now, I might not. How do we live our lives in a state of notice?

-Mr Blonde

Giveaway: Bugaboo shoes!

Do you ever get tired of plain ol' gym shoes? I have found an alternative. Bugaboo offers a traction grip sole made for any playground. But your kiddo will be one hip kid with a shoe that help supports the natural development of growing feet. Made with cowhide leather for breath-ability. All of their shoes have a pliable rubber sole so the shoe moves with the natural foot motion. You won't ever have to worry about blisters because of the additional cushion around the heal. I was so impressed with how light weight the shoes are. Every shoes in the boys and girls line have Velcro closer to properly secure each individual child's foot.

Thanks to Bugaboo; LA was able to experience his first Chase shoe. He loved them! The great thing about the Chase shoe is it really can go casual or dress it up. Great traction like I mentioned and so very easy to get on and off.

And, I have to mention if I had a girl these would for sure be my pick!...

Buy a pair: Head over to Bugaboo and buy a new pair of Spring/Summer for shoes. Blondes Poop and Mascara Readers get free shipping right now. Enter the word "Bugaboo" in the coupon code at check out!

Win a pair: Bugaboo has graciously agreed to give any pair of shoes away to one Blondes Poop & Mascara reader. Head over to Bugaboo and pick your favorite style and color and leave me a comment.

Extra Entries:
1. Become a Follower
2. Subscribe to my blog (and except the confirmation email)
3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog
4. Send an email to 4 friends about this giveaway and copy me (crystal@beautybycrystal.net)
5. Grab my button

I will select a winner April 3. Which just happens to be my 5-year anniversary with my amazing husband!

Thanks to everyone who entered! Ruby won a pair of Max shoes! Congrats!

Giveaway: $25 for prego/ nursing lingerie

If you are a nursing Momma, or a prego to-be Momma I have found the best website for you! Passion Spice is an online store with the best nursing bras and maternity lingerie. And the prices are totally affordable!

I am a nursing Momma. I am still nursing my little 10-month-old Boatboy. Let me tell you how excited I was to receive a new nursing bra and matching undies. After using the same four nursing bras for my LA (nursed for his first year) and going on almost a full year with my second...this girl needed some new support! I have never loved any of my previous nursing bras. Just went to the store and grabbed one. So I was on a hunt to find a supportive, comfortable yet stylish nursing bra. I felt like a new woman in my new gear! You know when you get a new hair cut and you just feel good? That's how I felt in my new orchid digs!

If you are a nursing Momma, head over to Passion Spice and treat yourself to a new bra and undies! It is well worth it! I don't know what I was thinking wearing all white, training bra like nursing bras for 3 years.

If you're reading this and not yet nursing but pregnant, love that bump - put on some Passion Spice lingerie and go love your man!

Buy it: Head over to Passion Spice and get something new for you or a friend! Passion Spice is offering a 10% discount to Blondes, Poop & Mascara readers for 30 days only. Type in "BPM" to get your discount.

Win it: I have a $25 gift card for one Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader. Leave a comment and let me know how you would spend your gift at Passion Spice.

Extra Entries:
1. Blog about this giveaway on your site
2. Follow me
3. Subscribe to my site
4. Add my button

This giveaway is now closed! Thanks for entering my giveaway. The winner is...

Kristin said...I would pick some of the cute maternity bikini undies, although a certain someone is voting for the lingerie or garter belt (he's going to kill me for saying that!).

Wordless Wednesday

Giveaway: Go Belly Go custom necklace

If you are pregnant..When are you due? Say it in style with a Go Belly Go necklace. I found this very fashionable everyday necklace. It is such a great way to let everyone know when your baby is coming into the world.

If you are carrying a child, I know you want to tell everyone you talk too. I sure did! Especially during the I-just-feel-fat-and-not-yet-pregnant stages. So tell the world with your own "Due in ____" maternity necklace. It is a beautiful and simple piece of jewelry that makes an awesome keepsake for the baby book when you are done wearing it!

Hannah (The Mom/Owner) of Go Belly Go could not resist designing a necklace for woman to show off their blooming bellies and announce their due date in style.

This Go Belly Go necklace makes such an awesome gift for the famous question: "When are you due?" It comes in a beautiful silver box. The pendant is made from zinc and hangs on a 18"sterling silver spring clasp closure. And it is handmade in good ol' USA!

I love this necklace and I can't even wait to be pregnant again to wear one myself!

Buy it: Head over to Go Belly Go and support a stay at home Mommy that has created a unique product! Get 10% of your order by sending an email to hannah@gobellygo.com and letting her know you're a Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader!

Win it: Hannah has graciously agreed to give away one necklace of choice to a Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader. Head over to Go Belly Go and let me know which one you would choose and why you should win this pendant. If it's for you, tell me about your expectant bundle of joy. If it's for a loved one, let's her about her story.

For extra entries:

1. Become a follower

2. Become a subscriber

3. Grab my button

4. Blog about this giveaway on your site

Thanks for entering! I will select a winner March 28, 2009.

Giveaway is now closed!

Congrats to

Doll House said... I would choose September as that is when our little one is due! (but I am ok if this buddle is an August baby!)

Have you ever seen...

...a front tooth this big on an infant? I mean seriously. Click on this photo and have a look at the magnified version. That thing if huge!

fun in the sun

LA kicking around the prestine soccor ball Dadda found in the creek last weekend. Pretty sure we have creek flooding near the soccor field upstream to thank for this new pastime.



He's almost too big for this swing anymore! Wow. This will probably be the only summer both boys can use it. Then, we'll need to upgrade to an old Firestone racing slick or something.



Throwing walnuts in the creek.



And, busting up sticks for the firepit. We're not certain if LA or Mr Blonde enjoy this more. One thing's for certain...fire is always fun for boys.

Giveaway: Sunglasses for Spring!

EDITOR'S NOTE: As of Sunday, July 1, 2012, we have been asked to remove all links to Sunglass Warehouse dot com by their communications staff. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Who doesn't want a new pair of sunglasses when the seasons or trends change? I know I do but I can never afford a new pair. Sunglass Warehouse offers the newest hottest sunglasses for Men and Woman. Sunglasses for any budget.


The prices are so affordable! All of the glasses are under $20 and they start at 7.99! They are quality. They fit and feel great. I am picky when it comes to my sunglasses and so is my husband. We both have sensitive eyes and have to wear sunglasses all the time! You would be crazy not to head over to Sunglass Warehouse and pick out a new pair of quality High Fashion oversized sunglasses.


Buy a pair: Go get a new pair of sunglasses at the Sunglass Warehouse

Win a pair: Sunglass Warehouse is graciously giving away 2 pairs of sunglasses of your choice to 2 Blondes, Poop & Mascara readers. Just leave a comment letting me know which pair you would choose.

Extra entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog
2. Become a follower of my blog
3. Grab my button
4. Blog about this giveaway on your blog

I will choose 2 winners on Tuesday, March 24. Thanks for entering!

This giveaway is now closed!
Here are your random numbers:

21 9 

Timestamp: 2009-03-25 17:20:43 UT

handmade perfection

I would like to introduce you to Nicole of Little Miss Lexie Designs. Perfection and quality met with a true eye for design. Little Miss Lexie designs was started out of Nicole's love for color, design and sewing. Her first creative love came in the form of faux painting and putting together draperies for her own home. She has now moved to designing clothing and bedding for toddlers and babies.

Nicole says, "I feel so blessed to have a God given passion and talent for placing different textures and colors together and watching them take shape!"


I have seen her baby bumper pads, quilts, shams, pillows, dresses, pants and boys t-shirts. You would be crazy not to purchase a piece of Little Miss Lexie clothing. Her items scream perfectionist! She is so easy to work with and keeps customer service top of mind. Tell me you haven't you ever envisioned having your very own custom bedding made just to your liking? Or super adorable little girls clothing handmade or very cool boys t-shirt?

I know I have. When I was looking for the perfect nursery bedding, I just couldn't find anything that I absolutely loved. It would have been great to pick out my own fabric and have it handmade to my liking!

She is even open to making an item that is not listed on her website. Just recently I wanted a guitar on a boys t-shirt. So, I picked out the t-shirt and she suggested fabric for the guitar and wallah! Believe me when I say Nicole is very easy to work with.

I love supporting a Mom who puts work into her passion into her talents. Head over to Nicole's Etsy shop Little Miss Lexie Designs!

As mentioned, she does custom made-to-order work too!