WINNERS of the KY Intimacy Experiment Giveaway!

(Psst...If you don't want to read all of my babbling and need to know who won NOW, the winners are posted at the bottom, under the little snail picture!)

HO-LY COW, you guys! I can't believe how many entries there were to this giveaway. All told, there were 700 when you include the extra entries.

THANK YOU!!!

With that many entries, I hate only having two prizes to give out. The good news? You can do this on your own, without the box of goodies. The booklet that I used can be downloaded in .pdf form from KY's Facebook Page, Couples Place. In fact, here's the direct link to the .pdf (not sure if it'll work - you might need to like them first?) That Facebook page also has a Contest section (nothing going on right now, but the prizes are amazing so keep checking back), Special Offers (right now you can get $5 off either a printable or to use online - and free shipping!), and Intimate Insights Articles (including quizzes, advice, and special occasions ideas!)

I cannot tell you how much fun I had doing this. Hubby and I are actually back to enjoying our relationship - looking forward to seeing each other, talking about any number of things, and making more time for our marriage (the parenting thing always comes first, but now we know that it's not our only 'thing'!) Oh, and I loved some of your responses. Once I get back in the groove of writing about more than sex, I want to re-open the comments and reply to some of you. Oh, and did I mention that I think I've finally found my writing "voice" while doing all of these posts? About time! If you go back and read some of my posts, you'd think a schizophrenic was writing this blog. 

So, here's how I chose the winners. First, I got out a piece of paper and a pen (yeah, I'm bold enough to do math with a pen - not pencil!) Then I took about 10 minutes trying to locate the built-in calculator in my Windows programs, probably would have been faster to Google "online calculator", right? With these amazingly technologically advanced tools, O proceeded to add up all of the entries. I added the entries from Day 1 to the original entries, then tagged on the Day 2 entries, so on and so on... You can check out my amazing computing skills in the scan below:

Tech-savvy way of doing it!

Then, I added the numbers to the little random.org widget at the bottom of the page and hit the little button twice. Voila! Here are the two winning numbers:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

#239 -

Dionna @ Code Name: Mama said... 239

#4 I follow you on Twitter!

July 11, 2011 8:34 PM

#540 -

Martha said... 9

talking about how my body feels...like when I'm cramping. I never would have talked to him about it in the beginning but after 14 yrs together, I do. LOL - (mavans@_________)

July 26, 2011 10:56 AM

If this is you up there, and you don't have an email from me in your inbox, please check your spam folder (lots of my emails have been labeled as spam lately (?!) or get in touch with me here, on Twitter, on Facebook...

Oh, and if anyone missed the whole giveaway, here are links to the posts:

I Can't Believe I'm Doing This!!!

You Want Me to WHAT?! (Day 1)

Reviving Old Connections (Day 2)

 Don't I Know You From Somewhere? (Day 3)

What Are YOU Looking At? (Day 4)

A Whole New Twist on an Old Game (Day 5)

You Rub Me the *Right* Way! (Day 6)

 Now That's Just Weird (Day 7)

 Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah (Day 8)

Well, THAT Was Thrilling! (Day 9)

Are We There Yet? (Day 10)

Are We There Yet?! +FIVE EXTRA ENTRIES in this post!!! { Day 10 - KY Intimacy Experiment & GIVEAWAY}

To all the little kiddies under 18 out there:

This is not a post for you. Please hit the back button, close the page, or anything else that will get you away from this page!

Sincerely,
ME!

OK, so as you can see, I got WAY behind on my posts and am barely finishing them up before this giveaway ends. So, rather than do Day 10 and a Conclusion post, I've decided to put them together. Day 10 of the KY Intimacy Experiment is a reflection, anyway, so it goes with the final post I had planned.

Our KY Intimacy Experiment booklet asks us to use this final day to look over our journal, discuss what we liked doing the most and which were just OK. We really have come a long way in our relationship since before we started this whole thing. As I said before, we were like roommates. And not even roommates who were friends. I was angry at him most of the time for not helping out more with the kids and even seeming to hide himself in front of the TV so he wouldn't have to talk to me. He was confused at my anger (his head was saying, "Why's she mad at me? She didn't ask me to do anything!") We learned how to communicate with each other in many different ways. We've been more honest with each other about both our everyday lives and sex. We learned that, even when there isn't time to talk right now, we can use a journal to write back and forth to each other. I think that is one of my favorites. It's more personal that a phone call or and email, plus we can look back at it later and reminisce.

Our nighttime exercise was to choose one of the nighttime exercises from days 1-9 and do it all over again. I was secretly hoping for Day 9 again - and so was he. This time, we started out with a very sensual massage AND I WAS THE RECIPIENT! It was a great night and I know we'll be doing more of it.

I highly recommend trying this. Even if you're not one of the two winners of this giveaway, go try to enter other giveaways. Here's a Google search I did that will get you started: Searched Google for "KY Intimacy Experiment Giveaway" (Yeah, that's ME on top! Just page waaay down and there will be other blog giveaways.) You can also check out Couples Place on Facebook, it's KY's Facebook page and it has a tab on the left for the Intimacy Experiment where you can download the booklet (No box of goodies, though. Sorry.)

Speaking of that "Box of Goodies", there were a few KY Brand items in there that I'd like to tell you a little more about. If you're like me, you really don't want to plunk down money on something that you just don't like.

First, we tried the KY Brands Yours+Mine Couples Lubricant. The idea here was to add a little stimulating tingle to the foreplay on those certain very-important-for-intercourse body parts. Then, when it came time to come together, those two lubricants mixed together and really enhanced each other! This is something I'd buy. A little goes a LONG way! So, if you do get some, make sure you start out with a little bit. You can always add more!

Next was the KY Brands Yours+Mine Kissable Sensations. This is the one we tried out for "dessert" on the night we cooked up the aphrodisiac foods and drinks. Now, this one is for anywhere on the body and it heats up nicely. It's NOT a lubricant, so you don't have to worry about using too much. It actually tastes good - like the flavors it is supposed to (strawberry in one, chocolate in the other.) I wouldn't buy it, myself, because it's not what we're really into. If you're one for lots of oral... um, pleasuring (?!) this is the one you want!

Finally, we tried my favorite: KY Brand Intense. Whew! I LIKE THIS - A LOT! And, because I liked it so much, hubby's arousal was piqued, too. The one drawback is the price. We won't use it every time - it's more for super-secret-special-birthday sex, you know? But, since the little bottle holds 20 applications and we're not using it all of the time, I think we can save up to replace it when it runs out. (Plus, now hubby knows what to get me for Christmas! No, not an ironing board! Well, maybe... we are getting more adventurous...)

I hope you enjoyed reading my posts. It was tricky writing about this stuff without using some pretty repulsive slang to describe certain things! Now I think I can finish having that sex talk with the oldest! Come back again to check out some of my tamer "Mommy" posts! I'd like to give KY a special thanks. Without this little experiment, I don't see how our relationship would have gotten this close again!

Here is the final EXTRA ENTRY question!!!
For FIVE MORE ENTRIES, answer this question below in a comment on this post: Have you tried any of the things I've written about (day or night) in your relationship? OR - Do you plan on checking out the KY Intimacy Experiment page if you don't win to try to build a closer relationship?

Answer the question in your first comment, then just type "Entry 2", "Entry 3", etc. in your other comments up to five entries. Don't forget to leave your email in one of your comments.

You must have done the Mandatory entry on my original giveaway post HERE

This is open to US residents. YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER TO ENTER! Giveaway will end on July 30, 2011, at 11:59 pm EST

*I received no monetary compensation for this giveaway, this blog post, or the blog posts that will follow. I did receive a K-Y Brands Intimacy Experiment package in order to fully participate in the program and tell you about it.

Well, THAT was Thrilling!!! {Day 9 - KY Intimacy Experiment & GIVEAWAY!}

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To all the little kiddies under 18 out there:

This is not a post for you. Please hit the back button, close the page, or anything else that will get you away from this page!

Sincerely,
ME!

 

Whew! Almost done with the KY Intimacy Experiment and I can tell you that it's been a rather interesting, invigorating, exciting, hot, and even relaxing experience. Now Day 9 has us being thrilled! This was a really tough daytime exercise for us - it took a LOT of planning and we ended up having to take the kids with us (making the "thrill" part a little less.) We were supposed to choose an experience that would get our adrenaline pumping. Suggestions in the Intimacy Experiment booklet included: skydiving, kayaking, white water rafting, and things like that. Those all cost a pretty penny and weren't something we could do with a toddler and surly teenager who had to spend the entire day with his family (GAG! - psst, do they still say that?) We chose the only thing we could think of...

In spring of 2010, our community had just completed a 2 1/2-mile trail that started in our town and ended at the nearest state park on Lake Erie. We really wanted to try it out but, alas, the bridge over the river that we needed to cross was closed ALL summer for repairs. We'd have had to add an extra mile and a half each way to our trip. With an 18 mo. old, this just wasn't going to happen. There was no way he'd have stayed in the stroller that long and his little legs and curiosity would have added so much time to the trip that we'd have gotten there and had to leave again to get home before the mosquitoes came out in droves. But this year, it was a little different. We put the stroller away early this spring - Little Guy is a champion walker and, really, runs everywhere. The bridge is now open, too. We had no excuses!

We packed a light lunch, towels (not planning on going to the beach - I'll explain why someday - but you just never know!), a change of clothes for everyone, and LOTS of water. FORGOT the camera!!! Now, beside the cost and kids issues, there was another reason why we chose this for our "thrilling" adventure was twofold:

1. Taking kids anywhere like this, especially a little guy who could go into full-on tantrum mode for any or no reason, was going to keep us on our toes. There is water everywhere, water with very strong currents. Water that is very easy to fall into. We were going to have to keep a close rein on them while simultaneously letting them explore. And that brings me to...
2. SNAKES! We live in an area that was formerly all wetlands before the darned French and English (and a few Germans) moved in and "tamed" it into farmland. Where did all of these snakes go when we humans pushed them out? To the only wild place left - the state park. They're everywhere. Black ones, grey ones, green ones, striped ones, ones that climb trees, ones that swim under the water, ones that sun themselves (looking EXACTLY like sticks) across a hiking trail... yeah.

 Now, I don't hate them. I know why there here and that they have just as much right as I do to use that trail. But these guys bits. Some are poisonous. Some will literally chase you instead of slithering away like they're supposed to do (whoever said, "They're more afraid of you than you are of them" was telling a bald-faced lie!) So, every little twig, every time I saw something move out of the corner of my eye, I was rushing to the kids' sides - just in case. I didn't want to frighten them, but what the heck was I supposed to do if one of them got bit? We were in the middle of a trail with no one around. I know very little snake bite emergency procedures - just the ones from old westerns and Indiana Jones movies! Plus, I really wanted the kids to embrace all nature. My oldest has a lot of friends with the "kill it then find out what it was" mentality that I am finding many people in this area have. I don't want these two thinking that animals are a few rungs below people - they're equal if not above us! (Hey, I don't see snakes creating nuclear bombs or tossing Slurpee cups into the woods!)

And, yes, we did see a few snakes. Thankfully, they were ones I could recognize and not any aggressive ones in the bunch. At one point, I even got past my own feelings (and planned to have nightmares later) and picked up a couple of small Garter Snakes for the kids to hold. Little Guy, my naturalist, was in heaven. My oldest did it because he was not going to be out-shined by a toddler, though his face clearly showed his distaste for the whole thing (man, I wish I'd have brought the camera!) Hubby was in refusal-mode. He grew up hating snakes, a long line of family had bred it into his genes to hate them. He finally relented after we all teased him. And you know what? He played with the poor confused snake the longest, talking about how cool it was!



After we had all showered, eaten dinner, the oldest (who missed an entire day standing around with his friends) begged us to let him sleep over at his friend's. "Wellllll, I guess so..." was all he needed to zip out the door with a pair of PJ pants and his PS2. Little Guy fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow. He didn't even wake up when hubby, who thought he was still awake, yelled to me from the other room about something. Now it was time to take our "thrilling" day and turn it into a "thrilling" night.

Now, the KY Intimacy Experiment booklet had quite a few ideas for us. Most of which, a-hem, we've done before. So we chose to do one that we used to do a lot and had forgotten about. Let's just say it involved a blindfold, a few pieces of soft rope, and the KY Intense gel (more on that on the conclusion post!) It was fun and, really was thrilling!

Here are more EXTRA ENTRIES!!!
For TWO MORE ENTRIES, answer this question in a comment on this post: Can you think of another "thrilling" experience that we might be able to do together that won't cost us an arm and a leg? It can be something that we do with or without the kids. OR - name something thrilling that you've done with your partner.
Answer the question in your first comment, then just type "Entry 2" in your second comment for two entries. Don't forget to leave your email in one of your comments.

You must have done the Mandatory entry on my original giveaway post HERE, in order to receive the extra entries on this post. I will add these entries to the original entries when I choose a winner.

This is open to US residents. YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER TO ENTER! Giveaway will end on July 30, 2011, at 11:59 pm EST

*I received no monetary compensation for this giveaway, this blog post, or the blog posts that will follow. I did receive a K-Y Brands Intimacy Experiment package in order to fully participate in the program and tell you about it.

Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah {Day 8 - Ky Intimacy Experiment and GIVEAWAY!}

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To all the little kiddies under 18 out there:

This is not a post for you. Please hit the back button, close the page, or anything else that will get you away from this page!

Sincerely,
ME!

If you read the title, I'm sure you've guessed what at least one of our Day 8 exercises is supposed to be. (No, not getting it on in the kitchen!) We were to cook together. Not just any meal, but one loaded with aphrodisiacs. Sigh. If you read the Day 5 post, you know that having hubby in the kitchen with me is anything but a relaxing time! But, for the sake of all of you, I conceded. I let a man with shaky hands who does not follow directions well at all (I swear, he hears half a sentence and just knows what's coming next and stops listening!) Little Guy, at just over 2 1/2 years old, shakes his head when he watches Daddy make a bowl of cereal - no kidding!

The first step was to find some foods that are believed to have an aphrodisiac effect. Everything suggested in the KY Intimacy Experiment booklet was either out of our price range, icky (yeah, I'm talking about slimy oysters - yuck!), or had the added "benefit" of upping fertility (Noooooo!!!!!) SO, I searched for herbs and spices with aphrodisiac effects and found a really cool site, Eat Something Sexy. Jackpot! There is an entire page devoted to the erotic power of herbs and spices, including some of the sex-enhancing history and beliefs of each. We settled on a salad (no fire involved!) and planned our evening of cooking to land on a Saturday so we could hit the farmer's market in the morning.

Our salad was to include as many of the things that were listed on the site as possible and still be tasty: fennel, fresh basil, arugula, and parsley. I made a vinegar and oil dressing with garlic, rosemary, oregano, a little bit of saffron (that stuff is more expensive than gold!), black pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper. We added some of the ingredients we like in our salads, too: carrots, hard-boiled eggs (I finally have a great way to make them and get the shells to come off easily every time!), cheese, etc. While hubby busily chopped the veggies and herbs for our salad (how badly could he mess that up?!), I made a loaf of quick bread that was heavy on the cinnamon, vanilla (seeds), nutmeg, and cloves. When everything was nearly ready, I heated some water for an Indian tea recipe found on the site that included cinnamon sticks, cardamon, ginger, black pepper (weird, I know!), cloves, sugar, milk, and black tea leaves. That's when I turned and saw it - our "salad" was going to be a slaw! He had so very carefully chopped and diced our food that it was shredded! Deep breath... OK, we could live with it, right? Just one meal out of how many we have eaten and will eat in our lives?

So, we gave the kids some leftover pizza from the night before and let them watch Finding Nemo in the front room while we sat down to a meal together (they were thrilled and so were we!) I must say, I think the salad turned out pretty well. First, by shredding everything, hubby managed to mix a little bit of each flavor into every bite. And the dressing saturated it nicely. The bread was a good accompaniment and, since I kept the sweetness low, it didn't overpower the salad. The tea was AMAZING! You have to go get that recipe if you do this or just because (erotic power of herbs and spices)!

Oh, and the one thing that had the greatest aphrodisiac effect on me the whole evening? Hubby did the dishes while I gave Little Guy a bath, then he did something he's NEVER done before - he put Little Guy to bed! YEAH, I KNOW!!!! Oh man, you should have heard that kid outsmart his daddy over and over. He "hat to go potty" every 30 seconds or so and hubby was so afraid that he'd wet the bed that he kept letting him get up, make the pilgrimage to the bathroom, sit on the toilet for a few minutes, wash hands, get a sip of water, go back to bed, read another story.... I just kept my giggles to myself and made coffee. It is regular coffee (we make ours really strong) boiled with cardamom seeds, milk, honey. (It was a variation on a couple of the mixtures mentioned on Eat Something Sexy.) YUM! 


By the time both kids were in bed, it was time for the nighttime exercise of the Intimacy Experiment. The first part was something that we used to do but, as the newness of our relationship wore off, kind of faded away: kiss each other all over. It was really nice to go back to that and, as the aphrodisiac effect of our meal and beverages started to become strong, we were ready for the next part.


Now, let me tell you all something. I could never understand why anyone would want to bring food into their sex. Whipped cream, chocolate sauce, caramel... oh, man! That stuff is sticky! It stains or otherwise ingrains itself into the sheets (trust me - I know the old milk smell of whipped cream will be there forevermore!) We opted for one of the items that came in our Intimacy Experiment box - KY Kissable Sensations. It comes in a "yours" and "mine" formula (one for him and one for me.) One was chocolate flavored and the other strawberry - and I was surprised that they both actually tasted good! (I'll tell you a little more about this and the other products in my wrap-up post.) All I'm going to tell you is that we made the right choice and I didn't feel sticky (in a bad way, ha ha) all night! Oh, and in case you were wondering, I really believe that our food had an effect on our sexual desires. We'll certainly be making the tea and/or coffee whenever we'd like to spend an evening together. It inivgorated us while, at the same time ...uh, put us in the 'mood'.

Here is today's EXTRA ENTRY question!!!
For TWO MORE ENTRIES, answer this question below in a comment on this post: Do you or have you spent time together in the kitchen? This was literally our first time and it was productive and fun. (I really had been dreading it!)

Answer the question in your first comment, then just type "Entry 2" in your second comment for two entries. Don't forget to leave your email in one of your comments.

You must have done the Mandatory entry on my original giveaway post HERE, in order to receive the extra entries on this post. I will add these entries to the original entries when I choose a winner.

This is open to US residents. YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER TO ENTER! Giveaway will end on July 30, 2011, at 11:59 pm EST

*I received no monetary compensation for this giveaway, this blog post, or the blog posts that will follow. I did receive a K-Y Brands Intimacy Experiment package in order to fully participate in the program and tell you about it.

Now, That's Just Weird! {Day 7 - KY Intimacy Experiment and GIVEAWAY!}

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To all the little kiddies under 18 out there:

This is not a post for you. Please hit the back button, close the page, or anything else that will get you away from this page!

Sincerely,
ME!

Boy, I've been putting off writing this post and now I have no choice - time is running out! You see, Day 7's subject can be a sticky one to write about, especially when your blog is family-centered. The subject is about fantasies. No, not like going to Disneyland (unless you dream of 'doing it' in Cinderella's Castle!)

Hubby and I have already had out talks in this department. Way back before Little Guy came along, we had plenty of time for some afternoon delight when the Oldest was in school. But that was a while ago. I mean, I know that my fantasies have changed over the years. Yeah, like now my fantasy is to have an entire hour of QUIET during the daytime, where no one asks me a single question, whines at me, or wants me to do something for them. Oh, and I don't want to hear them doing any of these things to each other, too. Isn't that the perfect fantasy?! OK, we're not talking about that kind, either. Anyway, I started thinking... "Maybe hubby's fantasies have changed, too?"

The KY Intimacy Experiment booklet has us doing a lot of school work for the daytime exercise. We had four assignments to write in our journal:

• Describe your most erotically memorable experience
• Describe your favorite or most recurring fantasy
• Make a list of 10 things that turn you on
• Make a list of 10 things that turn you off

After we were done, this was to become each of our sexual maps. What the heck is a "sexual map"? Well, according to the booklet, Dr. John Money, of Johns Hopkins University, created this term way back in 1980 to describe, "the sexual template expressed in every individual's erotic fantasies and practices." Pay special attention to the part about "individual" here. Creating an honest sexual map means that you must forget about all of those things that society or culture says are the right fantasies and turn-ons/-offs. This can be an incredibly hard thing for many people to do.

Without giving anything away, I can tell you that I have been with a group of women more than once when the subject has turned to fantasies. It usually starts off with a cute guy walking past us. After a couple of drinks, we'd all lost some inhibitions and cat-called, whistled, or something else to let him know we admired a certain body part. (Hey, I was in my early 20's and was using my new, "not underage to drink" ID!) Anyway, I clearly remember one conversation where we ended talking very frankly about fantasies. Or, I should say, the rest of the group was talking. I was trying very hard to sink into the booth. A particular fantasy of mine had come up. Every single one of the ladies I was with had nothing good to say about it. "Why would anyone like THAT?!" "Anyone who thinks about that while having sex needs to be locked up in a padded room!" I just kept sinking lower, hoping to disappear so no one would ask me my opinion. Now that I'm older and a little more... experienced, I know that my silly little fantasy wasn't all that out there. In fact, you see weirder stuff in Disney movies! (Not really, but the stuff is just as tame.) So, the moral of the story is: Society shouldn't rule your desires, dreams, fantasies, etc. Most of the time, what society says in the open isn't what they do at home, or in their heads!

So, hubby and I went through the four assignments separately, being completely honest, and then shared our "work". We were both surprised to see the lists. "I thought you liked that!" was his mantra. Thinking back, I guess I did - past tense - did. And some of the things on his list were things that I'd like to try - I thought that during those long afternoons way back when, he had shared all with me. Guess not. Hmm... It was very revealing and we really felt as if we knew each other better after this exercise. And we were really, really looking forward to our nighttime exercise. New material!

Our nighttime exercise was to start off with another game similar to "Two Truths and a Lie". In the twist on the old game, we were to take turns sharing one real fantasy and two that we had never even considered or really cared for. The one not sharing was to guess which was the real fantasy. Now, I'm not all that great at lying, so hubby was able to guess right pretty often. But he, on the other hand, can make up the most outrageous lie ever and make it sound like the truth and he can also tell the truth and make you believe he's lying. I was hit and miss with his fantasies the whole time. I thought I knew this man!

The good part of the whole thing was that, as we were playing this game, we were getting quite hot and bothered! It was pretty steamy by the time we finished the last round. And, without gagging you guys, I can only say that we had a lot of fun after the lights went down. <Insert Evil Grin Here>

Here is today's EXTRA ENTRY question!!!
For TWO MORE ENTRIES, answer this question below in a comment on this post: Have you shared a rather taboo or embarrassing fantasy of yours with your partner? (PLEASE don't tell it to me! LOL)
Answer the question in your first comment, then just type "Entry 2" in your second comment for two entries. Don't forget to leave your email in one of your comments.

You must have done the Mandatory entry on my original giveaway post HERE, in order to receive the extra entries on this post. I will add these entries to the original entries when I choose a winner.

This is open to US residents. YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER TO ENTER! Giveaway will end on July 30, 2011, at 11:59 pm EST

*I received no monetary compensation for this giveaway, this blog post, or the blog posts that will follow. I did receive a K-Y Brands Intimacy Experiment package in order to fully participate in the program and tell you about it.

Ready to Make Seed Bombs Again? Now is the Time! {Re-Post and UPDATE}

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Over the past few weeks, I've noticed that many plants are beginning to seed. I'm a collector and seeds are one of my favorite things to hunt for. If I see a plant with flowers that I have been admiring go to seed, I'll grab a few. I always carry a few empty spice jars with me whenever we go for neighborhood walks* or to the park - you just never know! I usually just transfer the seeds to envelopes and either write the name of the plant on it if I know it, or draw a picture of the flower and a leaf if I don't. I try to write down where I found it, too  it makes knowing where to plant it (full sun, shade) easier, too.
This year, though, we're going to make seed bombs. I plan to make three varieties: wildflowers that can be planted anywhere in our area, mixed flowers that thrive in similar habitats and have similar watering needs, and single varieties (mainly herbs and large plants that may overshadow and kill smaller ones.)

*If you are collecting seeds from someone's yard, always ask if it's OK. I've never been turned down. Most people are going to tear out the plants at the end of the season and buy new ones in the spring anyway.

So, I am re-posting my "Make Seed Bombs" post from way back in March in case you are interested in trying your own hand at making these. I've made a few changes to the original post. You will notice that the changes are in red type-face, if you saw the original post. I'm sorry I don't have any photos of us actually making them. I have just one 4 1/2 year-old digital camera and the thing has taken a beating. Making seed bombs is a messy and involved business and there is no way I could imagine having the camera that Little Guy so badly wants to use out while I'm elbow-deep in mud and seeds!

From: justseeds.org

Now, you may be aware of these sweet little gems but, if not, here's a quick explanation. Seed bombs are small balls of clay, compost/soil, and seeds that you can easily plant (or even toss) into your yard for some pretty flowers. These are great gifts for spring - Easter, Mother's Day, birthdays, or "just because." They're also a wonderful two-fold activity for kids. First, you can make the bombs and then, later, your children can have their own little patch of yard or even a pot to grow them. At this time of year, there's another activity you can throw in - hunting for the seeds! Heck, if you have older kids, they might even be interested in trying to find out just what kind of plant the seeds you've found have come from - trip to the library and some research, too! Another use for these, and this is what they were actually created for in the first place, is to create pretty and natural spaces in vacant lots. Just carry a few with you wherever you walk and toss one or two into that abandoned yard.

One point to remember is that you should choose seeds that are native to your area, or if mailing to a friend or relative for a gift, native to their area. First, they will grow better with little or no care. Second, they will be appropriate for the birds and insects in your area. Introducing new plant species can be hazardous to the ecosystem in the long run, so make sure you check online or with your local parks service to make sure the plants you choose won't do any harm. Many times, park systems even have native plant seeds available for free or a nominal fee.

You will need:
1/2 c. mixed seeds
3/4 c. compost or garden soil
1 1/4 c. powdered clay (red or brown)**
Water

Directions:
1. Either cover your work surface and the floor with lots of newspaper, or work outdoors. Wear old clothes and be ready to get a little lot dirty. Don't worry - it'll ALL wash off!
2. Mix the seeds with the compost. Gently stir in the powdered clay. Be careful not to mix the powdered clay to quickly because, while it's just clay, you don't want to breathe it in. (The clay isn't toxic, but your lungs don't need all that dirt in there!)
3. Add the water so the mixture is just moist enough to form into balls about 1" in diameter, or the size of a walnut. Little Guy, who helps me bake bread, loves his job of "kneading" the "dough"!
       **Don't use too much water. You run the risk of soaking the seeds too much and either starting them growing or rotting them. Using too little water, on the other hand, can lead to the balls crumbling apart. Try to get a consistency like play dough.
4. Set the balls about 1/2" apart on newspaper-lined baking sheets to dry. Depending on the humidity, it should take about 24 to 48 hours. You want to make sure they're completely dry all the way through before storing or giving. Don't dry them in the sun - they'll start to grow. Trust me - I've done this! You can cover them with newspaper and hide them in a shady spot outside. Drying in the oven, even on the lowest setting could be too hot and kill the seeds - Been there, done that, too!

If you're storing the seeds for your own garden, put them in a paper bag in a dry, cool, dark place. If you plan to give them away, there are tons of ways to make the gift look great. Here are a few ideas:

• Recycle some old shirts by sewing simple cloth bags and tying with a pretty ribbon. 
• cotta pots, a bag of soil, homemade garden markers and seed bombs into a basket. 
• Have your kids decorate a small box with paint, stickers, or cut paper of the flowers that the seed bombs will grow into. 
•  Put the bombs into an old candy box!
•  Try adding some pretty recycled paper into the muddy mixture for some color.
• Press the seeded clay into silicone candy molds for heart-, flower-, etc. shaped bombs 
• I have experimented with using just paper to make seed bombs. The best paper is handmade because it dissolves well and molds better. A friend of mine was tickled pink to receive purple seed bombs for her birthday - it's her favorite color!
• Let your kids go nuts and sculpt the seed bombs into whatever shape they want! We made truck bombs and car bombs the last time we did this. To make sure you're not making them too thick to dry properly, make sure that the thickest part of the bombs doesn't go over the 1" diameter mark.

The possibilities are endless! Don't forget to include a list of the seeds included in the bombs and instructions.


**If you do not have access to the clay powder, try using air-dry clay. I have seen quite a few instances where people have used it successfully. I looked up Crayola Terra Cotta Air Dry Clay 2.5 lb Bucket. According to the Art and Creative Materials Institute, the people who check this stuff for toxicity, it is not toxic in any way - toy you, your kids, or the environment. Use this link to read the report for yourself. This stuff is readily available at nearly any store that sells children's art supplies and isn't really expensive. Just make sure to NOT add water unless you need to!

ANY IDEAS???

Please share any ideas you may have for this great project. If you do make these, let me know how they turned out and add any tips you come up with. I love hearing new ideas and brainstorming. Even if you have an "I wonder if I did ____ what would happen" floating around in your head, please share it. Maybe someone knows the answer or is willing to try it out and will report back with the results.

You Rub Me The *Right* Way! {Day 6 - KY Intimacy Experiment}

To all the little kiddies under 18 out there:

This is not a post for you. Please hit the back button, close the page, or anything else that will get you away from this page!

Sincerely,
ME!

 This is going to be a short one because remember, back on Day 2, how hubby and I tried to work on touching, hugging, and kissing a little more often? Well, Day 6 of the KY Intimacy Experiment is kind of a replay of that, with a little more "naughty" added to those passing touches. Now that we'd had time to get back into the habit of actually touching each other when we didn't have to (that sounds bad - like maybe someone's got cooties!), it was time to re-learn how to get each other a little hot and bothered with some of those touches.

Our daytime exercise was something for the journal again. We had to list 10 ideas of different ways we could touch. We chose to write ones that had a little spice in them. At the top of hubby's list was "Play grab-ass." Mine said, "Pinch your butt while passing each other." Same concept, waaaaay different way of putting it! Anyway, we made out lists, compared, and found that we'd both came up with a few more little things to do throughout the day that would add a little more "umph" to our relationship and made each day worth looking forward to.

The nighttime exercise was one I always love - full body massages! Though, we had to change the plans in the KY Intimacy Experiment booklet to fit us a little better. Their plan was for each of us to give the other a full body massage, adding a few little sexy rubs in once in a while to heat things up. But I can't get a massage like that and then turn around and give one back. So, on the first night, hubby got his massage because I tend to get my massage and be ready to move on. He'd never have gotten his if I went first. The next day, all I could think was ,"Tonight it's my turn!" I love just relaxing and feeling good. Knowing that he's completely focused on me and I don't have to do anything in return is a wonderful feeling!

And, of course, we capped of both massages with the lights turned low (wink, wink... nod, nod!)

Get Your Extra Entries!!!
For TWO MORE ENTRIES, tell me if you enjoy giving or getting massages more, or is it equal? In the beginning of our relationship, it didn't matter to me who was getting the massage - I was just happy that we were together and touching. Now, I would jump at the chance to be the recipient every time ans often have to force myself to actually give poor hubby one.
Answer the question in your first comment, then just type "Entry 2" in your second comment for two entries. Don't forget to leave your email in one of your comments.

You must have done the Mandatory entry on my original giveaway post HERE, in order to receive the extra entries on this post. I will add these entries to the original entries when I choose a winner.

This is open to US residents. YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER TO ENTER! Giveaway will end on July 30, 2011, at 11:59 pm EST

*I received no monetary compensation for this giveaway, this blog post, or the blog posts that will follow. I did receive a K-Y Brands Intimacy Experiment package in order to fully participate in the program and tell you about it.

A Whole New Twist on an Old Game {Day 5 - KY Intimacy Experiment and GIVEAWAY!}

To all the little kiddies under 18 out there:

This is not a post for you. Please hit the back button, close the page, or anything else that will get you away from this page!

Sincerely,
ME!

Day 5 of the KY Intimacy Experiment is all about having fun together. This is something that has been long lost in our relationship. There are just too many responsibilities that we never make time to just have fun anymore. Even going to the park or taking walks as a family, Hubby and I are continuously on alert. With a headstrong toddler, you can't ever let your guard down! So, after reading what today's day- and nighttime exercises were supposed to be, I was excited. We need to be able to just let our hair down and have a good time!

Today's daytime exercise was great to plan and even better to actually do. We were to choose an activity that we've never done together before and then do it. So many possibilities! There were the usual things - we've never had a picnic with just the two of us. There were also the extreme ones - hubby suggested cooking a meal together. Extreme? Yes. I could only envision him not following directions and me ending up frustrated and angry. Not really something that makes you want to get smoochy, you know?

We settled on one of my favorite activities - Fishing. I haven't been fishing since before I was pregnant with Little Guy. I've always loved just sitting by the water, alone with my thoughts, with a pole in the river. I never keep anything - even if I wanted to, the water here is so bad that they tell you not to even feed your pets the fish from this river! Hubby used to go fishing with his dad when he was a kid, but his part mostly consisted of being quiet so he wouldn't scare the fish and handing his dad another beer. (It wasn't a bad experience for him, but he just never got to actually fish.) So, we planned an afternoon of fishing.

Photo credit: Livestrong.com

We quickly learned that he can't bait a hook. I laughed so hard to see him pull up his pole and show me a hook with a worm dangling down - it was hooked ONE time. We decided it would be my job to put the worms on. Then, he caught a tree - the one behind us - as he attempted to cast. Twenty minutes later, I had untangled his pole, got all the knots from his line, re-baited his hook (I have NO idea where the worm ended up!), and cast his line for him. I finally had gotten myself situated when he got a bite. He yanked the pole so hard that the poor fish was probably left thinking maybe he had just imagined the worm was there. After a short lesson on how to set the hook and reel in a fish, he was on his own again. Neither of us caught more than a single baby large-mouth bass, but I was having a great time. Hubby's unintentional antics had lightened the mood and, by the time we headed home, we were holding hands and making silly jokes with each other. We really had a lot of fun and didn't let ourselves worry or get frustrated with one another. He let me teach him how to fish and I didn't get angry about having to fix his mistakes (repeatedly! LOL)

That night, we tried the nighttime exercise. It was a twist on poker. (I really, really wanted to title this post: "Hit Me!"  "I'll Pass" I tried it out on Triberr's headline voting thingy and it was shot down - 14 dislikes and 0 likes! I thought it was funny! My other idea was "A Royal Blush" and it was just as unpopular.)
Now, this was a lot of fun for us because we really got to know each other over playing cards. I loved playing Rumy with him (I always won) and he had a great time showing me the zillions of different poker games he knew (he always won!) For the Intimacy Experiment version, we were supposed to take a pile of index cards and divide them into four equal piles. We each got two piles. On one pile, we were to write different body parts. On the other, different actions, such as "kiss", "blow", etc. By the time we were finished writing on all of the cards (we shouldn't have gotten the 100-card pack!), we were giggling at our ideas.

We shuffled our "body parts" cards together and our "touch" cards together and set them between us. Then, we played Five-Card Draw. Whoever won each hand got to choose one index card from each pile and the loser had to perform the touch on the corresponding body part. Now, this ended up being the most hilarious game of poker I had ever played. You see, since we each had to think of 25 body parts and 25 touches, we were running out of ideas toward the end. At one point, I received an ear massage. And hubby got to have his knee licked. Yeah. But, there were some pretty hot combos, too! After our agreed-upon twenty-hand game of poker, we were hot and bothered enough to not notice how late it had gotten. I'll leave off here by saying we had an amazing time and are saving the cards for another round of poker!

Here is today's EXTRA ENTRY question!!!
For TWO MORE ENTRIES, I'm going to give you a choice. Answer one of the questions below in a comment on this post:

1. Can you think of a fun activity that you and your partner have never done before? I'd love some ideas!
2. What weird body part/touch combos can you come up with? (Kind of like the ear massage I got!)
   

Answer the question in your first comment, then just type "Entry 2" in your second comment for two entries. Don't forget to leave your email in one of your comments.

You must have done the Mandatory entry on my original giveaway post HERE, in order to receive the extra entries on this post. I will add these entries to the original entries when I choose a winner.

This is open to US residents. YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER TO ENTER! Giveaway will end on July 30, 2011, at 11:59 pm EST

*I received no monetary compensation for this giveaway, this blog post, or the blog posts that will follow. I did receive a K-Y Brands Intimacy Experiment package in order to fully participate in the program and tell you about it.

Don't Forget About The Green Parenting Giveaway Linky!

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Just a little reminder to my readers about my Green Parenting Giveaway Linky. It's an ongoing linky, so I don't regularly post about it. Head on over to see what great giveaways have been linked up and add your own, too. As long as your giveaway is "green" or has to do with parenting (even stuff for mom or dad), you're in! As the giveaways expire, I'll delete them, constantly moving the newer giveaways up on the list.

 

Grab the button if you'd  like!

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 And there's also the Tuesday's Giveaway Linkup hosted by Classified: Mom, Tots and Me, and myself! Even more great chances to WIN!

Keeping A Busy Guy Happy When It's HOT Out

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Yep, it's hot outside! Even with the sauna-like heat and humidity, I'm still going to say that I like summer best and this type of heat wave is to be expected at least once a year. I can live with it, but I'm not sure Little Guy can. We've had to keep him inside during the day, as the heat index has regularly been hitting the upper 90's and has gotten over 110 degrees F a few times in the last week and a half. Add 75% or higher humidity and you've got a catastrophe waiting to happen with this kid. He's like Forrest Gump - he MUST run everywhere. It's hard to wrangle him up for a drink of water. He just loves being free. I swear, the kid giggles the entire time we go for walks or to the park, only stopping when he wants to tell us something. You could pick him up off the ground and his feet would still be going.

When he doesn't get his daily outings, he can become a handful of trouble. He's got so much pent up energy that he needs to release that it can turn into fury. He just doesn't know what to do with himself. He'll end up hitting, throwing things, having tantrums over the simplest things... it's a nightmare. So, hubby and I decided to alter the whole family's timetable. We've been putting Little Guy to bed around midnight rather than 9:30pm. We stay up until 1 or 2am to get some alone time. Little Guy usually doesn't wake up until 9-9:30 in the morning now, instead of his usual 7am. Strangely, nap time has only moved back a little bit, but it's lasting longer (YES!)

What do we do while we're up so much later? We go for walks and head to the park! On our walks, we encounter lots of interesting creatures that you just don't see during the day. Little Guy and I have been looking for moths and other insects (and arachnids!) in trees, on lampposts, in bushes, and on our own porch. Check out some of what we found in just one night (the first three pics are of a moth that was about 3 inches long!):

My husband says he said his name is "Irving"

These guys remind me of Murano glass beads.

I've seen this type moth in some amazing colors - from brown like a leaf to fluorescent purple. They all are the same size with the same shape. Someday, I'll find out what they are.

In addition to our walks (or Little Guy's "runs"), we've been hitting the park. I've been having a ton of fun taking pictures blind - it's so dark there that it's really hard to see anything, especially through the lens of my camera. As you can see, the flash can be a blinding surprise!

Sometimes I caught some pretty cool photos by just pointing and hitting the button!

There are some drawbacks to taking a little one to a very dark park - if he's running faster than you, he can disappear into the night. I shot the above pic in hopes that the flash would show us where he went. Oh, and there are wild animals at the park. Little Guy was running toward the shelter, where people picnic. It has a nice trash can filled with all kids of leftover goodies that attract animals. Just as he got to the shelter, I saw the shadow of a small animal scurrying away. Then we noticed something... n odor. It was a skunk and Little Guy had surprised him. I took off like a bat out of hell toward the shelter, screaming, "STOP!!!" at the top of my lungs at 11:30 at night. I grabbed up Little Guy, praying that he'd still smell like citronella oil and NOT Eau d' Pepe La Pew. He was fine. That's when I noticed that every house across the street from the park had its lights on and people were mulling around on their porches and front yards. Oops - guess the screaming must've woke a few people up. After this incident, we kept Little Guy in MUCH closer range! 

Looking at the stars.

 We also took advantage of the lack of players on the tennis courts. Now here was a place that was partially lit and fenced in - our little freebird couldn't get too far away from us! He loved throwing his ball and chasing after it. Plus, we didn't have to run after him. We managed to sit down, drink our ice water, and talk! Oh, and I want to mention that, when we got home on the night these photos were taken, we checked the Weather Channel - the heat index, at 11:45pm, was 90 degrees!

So, what do you do when it's too hot for your little ones to get outside and burn off some energy??? 

***I just want to add here that the really cool bug shirt little guy is wearing is from Tea Collection - it's a prize I won from a giveaway on Abby Approved! Isn't it awesome?!

Enter to WIN Some Great Prizes {Tuesday's Giveaway Linkup 7/26}

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Welcome to the NEW and improved Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up with your hosts Aimee @ Classified: Mom & Karen @ Tots and Me & Alicia @ McCrenshaw's Newest Thoughts!

This link up will be posted Monday at 8 PM est. and run all week long! Make sure you stop in as often as you can to list your latest giveaways.

Here is how to use the Giveaway Link Up

1. Post your reviews and/or giveaways, as many as you have, be sure to add the end date (family friendly please)

2. Help spread the word about the giveaway link up by grabbing our button, Tweeting or posting on Facebook. (Not mandatory- but it helps get more exposure to your giveaways as well!)

3. Take a moment to enter any giveaway that strikes an interest to you!

If you would like to follow the two hostesses, we will gladly follow you back! Simply leave us a message to do so.

Thank you for linking up with  Aimee @ Classified: Mom & Karen @ Tots and Me & Alicia @ McCrenshaw's Newest Thoughts!

What Are YOU Looking At? {Day 4 - KY Intimacy Experiment & GIVEAWAY!}

To all the little kiddies under 18 out there:

This is not a post for you. Please hit the back button, close the page, or anything else that will get you away from this page!

Sincerely,
ME!

We all have certain parts of our body that, when we look at ourselves in a mirror, stand out like a giant zit at the end of our nose. You can't help but miss seeing them. Maybe it's cottage cheese thighs. Or possibly that extra roll on your tummy, courtesy of your last pregnancy. Whatever it is, you know it's there, you're conscious of it every time you get into the shower. You wish it would just go away. In my case, I wish it would become more noticeable. I have mosquito bites where there should be boobs. I mean, I loved breastfeeding for a number of reasons, but the larger bra size was one of the perks that I miss the most. I swear, after I weaned each kid, my boobs shrunk to smaller than before! Is it even possible to have a negative cup size?! I think I have one! When Bernie from One Mixed Bag wrote about her missing bra, I have to admit I was SO JEALOUS! (You have to go read this. It's your instant laugh for the day - I promise!)

I'm sure that my husband has the same hang up about something on his body, but if he does I'm not too sure what it would be. Maybe it's just a guy thing - he'll parade around naked every chance he gets. And he's never mentioned my lack of boobs. Not once. He seems to like me just as I am. What's this all leading to? Well, Day 4 of the KY Intimacy Experiment, of course! Today's exercises are focusing on our comfort levels around each other and changing some habits that may be getting in the way of a "smokin' hot sex life", as the booklet calls it.

The daytime exercise asks us to think over some of the things that may have helped lead us to a place in our relationship that may be "too comfortable." Now, at first, I was thinking that I was reading the booklet wrong. How could being comfortable with your partner be a bad thing? It sure makes life easier to be able to run into our only bathroom to go pee while hubby is brushing his teeth rather than dancing around outside the door until he's finished, right? What about those days when you're just feeling lazy? It's good to be able to leave your PJ's on all day, not comb your hair, not shower or even bother with deodorant, right? Well, according to the KY Intimacy Experiment booklet, this isn't always the case.

We were to write down all of those things that we do around each other that would equate to being comfortable with one another, things that could possibly become obstacles to a rockin' sex life. It was hard to envision any of these things as being an obstacle, so we decided to just write down the things that we do around each other that shows how uninhibited we are. Then, we went over the lists together and discussed whether we'd have done any of these things when we first got together. Boy, we had some pretty good laughs! There is NO WAY I'd take care of my "girl stuff" while he was in the bathroom way back then. Now, it's not a big deal - ya gotta do what ya gotta do! And he said that he'd always take a really good shower and slap on cologne whenever he knew we'd be seeing each other. Nowadays, he still takes showers, but I don't think I've smelled cologne or anything but soap on him for years. We went over some of those things and decided to try to be more discreet in them just to see if it adds a little more zip to our relationship. Not sure if it will or not, but this is an experiment, right?

The night time part of Day 4 was pretty interesting. We were to get rid of the kids due to the possibility of them going blind. Check - Oldest is still at Grandpa's and Little Guy was tuckered out from the very long evening at the park and only getting half of a nap that afternoon. Then, we were to turn off all the lights, strip down, pour some wine, then cuddle and watch a movie together. Well, it was late and we were tuckered out from the park, too. So, the beverage was coffee with  little Bailey's in it and the "movie" was an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus. While watching TV, we were to try to be aware of how we felt next to each other, let our hands wander, and feel the air hit our bodies when we got up to walk around. Then, after the show was over, we were to massage each other from head to toe and take a shower together. We veered away from the plan a little, but still managed to do the things on the list.



Thanks to the coffee, we were both still pretty wakeful. We decided to use the bubble bath that KY provided in the Intimacy Experiment kit to take a bath together. HA! You know, it always sounds good, but you can never fit two grown people into a standard-sized bathtub comfortably. We ended up in the shower together (still not the romantic scene you expect it to be), where hubby got a partial back rub. By the time the shower was over, the alcohol had made its way to our heads. We were like two kids goofing around when Mom and Dad were away for the weekend. We raided the snack cupboard and, giggling, made our way (still naked) to the bedroom to eat like gluttons. We were cracking jokes and laughing uncontrollably for half the night. It was just like old times - times that I thought were gone forever.

I have to admit that, as the evening wore on, I was less and less aware of my imperfections. All-in-all, this was a great experiment and we are already planning on another "Jay Bird Party" in the near future (I'm trying to talk him into an evening of Strip Scrabble!) As for our experiment with limiting some of those things that we're comfortable doing around each other that we'd never have done early in our relationship... I'm not sure yet. I think that it will take a while for the old habits to be broken and to lose some of the familiarity. We'll see how it goes!

TWO More Chances to WIN!!!
For TWO MORE ENTRIES, tell me in a comment below one of the things that you or your partner do now that you're comfortable with each other that you'd NEVER have done at the start of your relationship.  Answer the question in your first comment, then just type "Entry 2" in your second comment for two entries. Don't forget to leave your email in one of your comments.

You must have done the Mandatory entry on my original giveaway post HERE, in order to receive the extra entries on this post. I will add these entries to the original entries when I choose a winner.

This is open to US residents. YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER TO ENTER! Giveaway will end on July 30, 2011, at 11:59 pm EST

*I received no monetary compensation for this giveaway, this blog post, or the blog posts that will follow. I did receive a K-Y Brands Intimacy Experiment package in order to fully participate in the program and tell you about it.