Randomness

Have you heard about Pizza Hut’s new pastas? We tried them out last night and guess what? They’re really good! I was totally prepared to be disappointed. I was all ready for watery sauce and rubbery pasta, but nope – they were yummy and delicious. Lookie, I even took a picture:

The pasta comes in two varieties, Meaty Marinara and Creamy Chicken Alfredo. We ordered one of each, because I wasn’t sure how much we would need to feed seven of us. I was pleased to see that both pastas were full of meat, and both had a generous layer of melted cheese on top. The marinara actually had sort of a lasagna taste to it, because of all the meat and cheese. It was super! The crowd favorite, though, was the chicken alfredo. The sauce was really good, and there was lots and lots of chicken. Kayley said the chicken was a little dry, but don’t listen to her. She doesn’t even like chicken. It was fine. And! Each order of pasta comes with an order of five breadsticks. They were really good, too – everyone was fighting over them.

And I’m really surprised by the price – it’s just $11.99 per order, which includes the breadsticks. We needed two orders, but only because we’re a bunch of pigs and there are just so dang many of us around the table. A normal family could easily order just one tray. Pretty reasonably priced meal that mama doesn’t have to cook. My twin club delivers meals to new moms after they have their babies, and the next time I’m scheduled to bring a meal to someone, I’m going to save myself a whole bunch of time and driving and send over some pasta.

You want some, don’t you? I know you do! I’m giving away a coupon for a free pasta dinner for four. Want a free dinner from Pizza Hut and LaLaGirl? Leave a comment on this entry and I’ll randomly pick someone in a few days.

Good Monday Morning to ya! I had a splendid weekend – hung out with my husband and the kids, went to a birthday party for a friend, went to Target for groceries all by myself…it was all good.

I wanted to remind you to enter the bracelet contest if you haven’t already! Lots of people have entered already, and that makes me so happy. Every time somebody tells me they knew nothing about autism until they met me or my son, it just makes my heart swell. I love that we’re educating people and raising awareness and hopefully putting the notion out there into the world that raising an autistic child isn’t any more of a burden than, say… being married to a completely anal engineer. It is what it is, y’know? You work with it and find things to appreciate about it and just move on with life.

Anyway! There are more fun contests coming up soon – the next one will be a copy of The Wonderpets Save The Beetles on DVD. It is SUCH a cute movie, especially if you’re a Beatles fan. So, stay tuned for that.

Have a super Monday!

Awhile back, (as in, uh, LAST SUMMER) someone contacted me from Beacon Street Girls, which is a series of books created to provide positive role models for preteen girls.

The Beacon Street Girls brand was specifically created to empower “tweens,” those girls between the ages of 8 and 13, who are “between toys and boys ™.” Shaped by leading experts in adolescent development and current research on how to positively impact girls’ self-esteem, the Beacon Street Girls offer a fresh media alternative to today’s MTV-style world. Super fans in 75 countries and their parents have embraced the Beacon Street Girls as role models who are “just like me.” The company provides great books, cool gifts, and a safe and interactive online world designed to celebrate the potential in every preteen girl.

They were kind enough to send a couple of books for Kayley to review: Lake Rescue, and Maeve On The Red Carpet. I happily passed them along to Kayley, and she promptly lost them in her black hole of a bedroom. And I forgot about them altogether. Out of sight, out of mind, and all that.

Recently, though, we went through a massive purge of Kayley’s closet and found the books! She was pretty excited by this discovery and read both of them within about a month. I’m pleased to report that she found both books to be engaging and entertaining. She is a pretty picky book reader and if she doesn’t like a book, she won’t even attempt to finish it on principle – she’ll just toss it aside and find something new to read.

If you have a middle school-aged daughter, check out this series of books, and check out the website too. Every book in the series has its own page on the site where you can read the first chapter, post your own book review, and print out a poster of the book’s cover. The website also has games, neat little printable flipbooks and locker posters, and fun contests and giveaways. I just noticed pictures of The World’s Messiest Room Contest! I’m pretty sure Kayley could have won this, hands down!

Anybody scrapbook? Need pictures of the kiddos for Mother’s Day presents? Have a brand new camera you’re dying to print photos from?? I just found out about this brand new site for printing your digital pictures called ArtsCow. They’re offering 400 free prints credits and 1 free 8×8 custom cover photo book for signing up! Check it out!

And you can also get coupon codes for these offers when you sign up:

• $15 off a $25 purchase for all non prints items.
• 50% off for all non prints items.
• Custom Mousepad $2.88/ea, free shipping.
• Custom Watch $6.88/ea, free shipping.
• $4.99 for 10pcs 8×10 prints, free shipping.
• $7.99 for 20pcs 8×10 prints, free shipping.
• $14.99 for 10pcs 12×18 prints, free shipping.
• $5.88 for a deck of photo playing card, free shipping.

FOUR HUNDRED free prints! Dude!