Ok, So I have been a gamer since the beginning...well, not quite pong - but close. Our first system was Nintendo. The very first one. Kinda makes me feel old. The first games we had...Mario and Duck Hunt, I actually think it came with the system...remember the gun that you could just about shoot in any direction and still hit the targets?

Well my gaming addiction filtered on to my younger brother, who is nine years younger than me, and took it to a whole new level. He had everything. Literally. Every time a new system came out, he had it. Every new game, he got. And now that he's 20 - it's grown even further - to online gaming. But he's still into the old school games too.

Now, that I have kids of my own, the gaming addiction has filtered down through, and Ben is now a huge gamer. Though he's learning old school! You need to know the older stuff to appreciate all the new advances right. His system of choice right now...Super Nintendo - Yup, we still have a working one (It's my brothers...shhhh he doesn't know I borrowed it) . And his favorite game? Super Mario All Stars. He could spend every waking hour playing Mario, so much that for his 5th birthday this coming May - We're throwing him a Mario Party, and we're actually going to try to replicate this cake.




Well, some how, some way, a rewards club escaped my radar! Club Nintendo. While I was checking out the Nintendo Website a bright red Mario Hat caught my attention. Well, being the Gamer/Rewards Club freak that I am, I had to check it out.

Did you know that you can earn 'coins' for Nintendo products that you register? You can then trade them in for cool rewards! I joined today, registered Ben's DS, and 2 of his games and did one little survey and I already have 90 coins! Super Excited! (If he had a DSi it would have been a lot more points) So I may have boost his Wii Savings (NO we don't have a Wii yet, See this post to find out why) So we can get one sooner, register it and earn some awesome rewards! As an added bonus, when you register your products, you extend the warranty for an extra 90 days!




Now, I have my eyes set on earning this Game Rack. It's only 600pts so a very reachable goal! Especially if you open a family account. (You can earn even greater rewards when you collect enough points...having a family account will definitely help this happen)

I'm was so excited to find this, that I just had to share it with all of you! Happy Gaming!







Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for this post. I found the club on my own and just wanted to share it with all of you. Read the full story »

That is what I gave up when I decided it to become a Mom.5 Minutes

5 Minutes to chat on the phone...
5 Minutes to do my hair...
5 Minutes alone...
5 Minutes to clean up...
5 Minutes to shower...
5 Minutes to use the bathroom alone...
5 Minutes to play...
5 Minutes for a coffee...
5 Minutes for me...

Sometimes, not having 5 Minutes to myself is frustrating. So frustrating I just want to scream! As I sit here still in my bathrobe, at 1:45 pm - haven't made lunch yet, showered yet, cleaned up yet...taking the 5 Minutes that I've just found to write this instead of doing those things. I didn't want to loose the thought.

Sometimes, when frustration is at it's peak, and I'm ready to just run away, a little boy comes up to me, and out of the blue says; "Mom....MO-OM..." I yell "WHAT!" then he says "I Love You" and for 5 Minutes the frustration goes away... the stress is gone, and I get an ever so needed hug.

So, When I decided to become a Mom, I gained...
An eternity of Hugs
An eternity of Kisses
An eternity of I Love You's
An eternity of Snuggles

And all I had to do was trade in 5 Minutes... Read the full story »

In one week I'll be driving my little boy to his "Big School" that he will be attending in the Fall. In one week I have to register him, show him around, and watch the excitement on his face. In one week I have to sign the papers that say "yes, he can spend the majority of his waking hours here, with you...not home with me."

I'm not ready to let him go. Read the full story »

Recently I joined a program that allows us bloggers to have more prizes for you, the readers that we all love. Since I am always searching for companies who want to share their products with you and I, I was thrilled to come across this program.

The program I am speaking of is Uprinting. Uprinting is an online printing site where you can create posters, business cards, post cards, and more.

I have to say I'm just a little bit jealous, because what I get to giveaway here, is something that I would just love to have. One of you lucky readers are going to be winning 500 Business Cards!

Now, let me tell you why I want these so bad. The Business Cards that I use right now are ones that I made myself. I bought the punch out cards from the dollar store, threw together a little design and printed them off. Now, those can work for a little while, but now that I have established myself in the blogoverse I would love to have a more professional looking card to call my own. I've looked at buying my Business Cards Online, just haven't taken the dive yet.

Another great use for Business Cards are Mommy Cards. Just design them with your contact info and you can give them to the parents of your childrens friends, teachers and anyone else you need to share your info with.

Win Them!

So, as you already know, UPrinting has offered one of my lucky US readers the chance at 500 business cards. Here are the details:

500 Business Cards for One (1) Winner

Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)

Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock

Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

Main Entry: Head over to UPrinting and check it out! Come back here and let me know in a comment what products, besides business cards you would like to try out!

Extra Entries:

~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link in a comment
~Follow @abusymommy and @uprinting and tweet about this giveaway - it can be done daily
~Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect (sidebar)
~Subscribe via email (sidebar)
~Add my button to your blog (sidebar)
~Stumble, Digg, Technorati ect the A Busy Mommy Blog

Giveaway will end on February 18th at 11:59 atlantic time. Winner will be chosen using random.org and will be contacted via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or they forfeit their prize and a new winner will be chosen. This Giveaway is US only.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post, just given the opportunity to give the product away. Read the full story »

It is SO soft!

That is what my nieces Mom said when she picked up the girls top I was sent to review from Green Sproutlets. And I would have to agree. Last week I received a package in the mail from Green Sproutlets, a Pink Top in size 4T and a Blue Top in size 0-3months. They were packaged beautifully and when I opened them I was amazed by just how soft they were. And Cute!


These tops are from Green Sproutlets Retro-Polka Collection. They are made from high quality eco-friendly Viscose from Bamboo and organic cotton, and retail for $30.

I love the layered look of the tops. The polka dot sleeves make the rest of the shirt POP, and the lettering "Be Respectful" is such a great message. And something that I find so many kids forgetting these days.

I adore the top that William gets to wear. It fits him to a T, which is a shame because that means he wont be able to wear it very long. It looks absolutely adorable on him!

I will definitely be ordering one of these in a 9-12 month size in the very near future, just so he can show it off for a little while longer - he's such a big boy, he'll be in it by 6 months, tops!


Green Sproutlets also carries quite a few other products in their Retro Polka line, including Onsies, Tops, Baby Beanies, Girls Ruffled Hem Pants and Boy's Cargo Pants. They also carry Reversible Burpie & Bib sets in both the girl and boy lines, as well as Reversible Hooded Blankets.

Buy It!

You can find Green Sproutlets on their site, or at these online stores;

www.DragonfliesandLadybugs.com

www.JillyBeanGreen.com

www.FunkyGreenMachine.com

www.MyLilLamb.com

www.NaturesOrganicMarket.com

www.ShopEggy.com

Win It!

Green Sproutlets have offered you lucky readers the chance to win a Burpie & Bib set of your own. Winner gets to chose from either the girls or boys line.

Main Entry: Go to the Green Sproutlets website and shop around. Come back here and tell me in a comment what your favorite design is!


Extra Entries
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link in a comment
~ Become a fan of Green Sproutlets on Facebook
~ Follow @abusymommy and @greensproutlets and tweet about this giveaway. Come up with your own tweet or just copy and paste the following : Green Sproutlets #Giveaway!! @abusymommy @greensproutlets http://tinyurl.com/yeljqxo US and Canada
~Add the Our New Baby Celebration button to your sidebar

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~Follow A Busy Mommy through Google Friend Connect ( on sidebar)
~Subscribe through Feedburner (on sidebar)


The Fine Print
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian Residents. A valid email must be left in your comments so that I may contact you if you win. Contest will end on February 15, 2010. Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 Hours to reply. In the event that the winner fails to reply and new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: The products from Green Sproutlets were provided to me at no charge for the purpose of the previous review. The opinions expressed here are mine. Individual results may vary. Read the full story »