For the first time, the Harlem Globetrotters are conducting summer skills clinics to bring boys and girls ages 6-14 behind the curtain to see theGlobetrotters’ electrifying skills and tricks, while also having fun staying active.

Each participant receives:

• A free ticket voucher (valued up to $40) to see the Globetrotters during their 2013 World Tour
• Autographs and photos with the stars!
• 3-day trial pass to 24 Hour Fitness

Clinic Locations:

Phoenix       Houston     San Francisco       New Jersey

Denver        Dallas        Los Angeles         Seattle

St Louis       Miami        Las Vegas

Save $10 on registration! Enter the Coupon Code USFAMILY on the cart page after completing your registration or mention when calling 1-800-641-HOOP (4667) Click Here

This week has been really good, I think I have been eating well. The thing is, no matter how hard I try I always run into some kind of wall where I am shoved in front of a whole bunch of good snacks or food. That is the hardest thing for me! How can I resist all of these amazing sweets? I know that the Nutrisystem desserts are awesome (they truly are!) but I don’t just have them with me 24/7 or I would eat them every chance that I get, which wouldn’t work well for my plan.

I have been trying to figure out what I can do to keep myself from eating junk just because it is around me, and it’s hard! Here are a few things that I have done that are working for me personally-

• Look at the calorie content- if I look at the calories in a certain food, or the carbs! Good heavens, those carbs will get you! It will make it easier for me to say “no” to having some of it. It I know that I can have a handful of chips that will add up to 200 calories and leave me starving still, or a Nutrisystem meal with some veggies for around the same amount of calories that will fill me up… hands down, I can make the right choice most of the time.
• I talk to myself in my head- this probably doesn’t shock you, I am the type that talks to myself (in my head most of the time) all day long. I look at the food and I am convinced automatically that I NEED to eat it, that it will taste amazing and that it will make me feel all better. I have to tell myself that those things are not true! I do not NEED it, I am far from starving. It will taste good, but is it worth it? Usually no. And as far as making me feel better, it never does, it makes me feel worse because I feel like I cannot control myself.
• If I feel like I won’t be able to move on from a certain craving, or that I will feel like I missed out on something I take a bite. I remind myself that I don’t have to eat a whole cake to know that it was good; a bite or two can make me feel just as fulfilled.

I realize now that I used to eat out of boredom, and that is a really hard habit to break. I like to eat a little snack at 11 or 12 at night while I am working and stopping that has been rough. Sometimes when I am really feeling like I need a little treat I grab a snack bar and eat it, keeping myself from it just makes me angry about “dieting.”

What do you do to keep from eating things that you know you shouldn’t? Do you just give in? Do you have enough will-power to just say “no” and walk away?

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog

Disclosure: All opinions above are my own and have not been influenced in anyway. I have been provided with the Nutrisystem food and their program as part of the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program. No other compensation has been received. Results above are mine and your own results and experience may vary.

If you’ve never seen a Lacrosse game, you are missing out! As many of you know, I am not a sports fan but I do enjoy a good sporting event live. The first Lacrosse game that I attended was an indoor game, and it was really fun but the Denver Outlaws game that we attended last week was something else!

The Outlaws play at Mile High (Sports Authority Stadium, for those of you who aren’t from here) and that helps to take this game up a notch! Being in a seat at the stadium is more thrilling, in and of itself, than most other things in life. Denver people know what I mean, that stadium is legend.

We took our seats and watched the guys on the field warming up and practicing, and after a while the game started. At first Moose (7) and Tater (5) had a hard time keeping their eye on the ball, but then they started figuring it out and cheering along with their screaming maniac mom the crowd. I do not know the history of the game, but from what I saw I think that the game is like hockey on the grass, where you catch the ball in your net instead of hitting it along the ground.

From a mom’s perspective this game was pretty harsh; men were beating each other with their sticks. However, from a personal perspective this was an awesome freaking game! It was really fun to watch the little bits of fighting and rough play that went on.

The best part of the game was that the Jumbo Tron was really awesome. The camera men were zooming in on couples and children and it was perfect, so much fun to watch. It got better though! At half-time there was a proposal, a real live proposal! Other than my own (which I was too invested in to pay much attention) it is the only one I have ever been witness to. It turns out that the propose-e was an intern with the Outlaws named Anna, and the guy was her boyfriend Dustin, so congratulations to them and best wishes! 

One of the cool things about the Denver Outlaws is that they only sell the lower section seats to each game, so no matter what seat you get, it is a great one! We really did have a great time, and I would recommend seeing a game for yourself, you won’t regret it!

Disclaimer: I was provided with tickets to a Denver Outlaws game in order to do this review, however, the opinions in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way.

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Happy Mother’s day to all of you women out there; those who have kids, have had kids that are no longer with us, who have been pregnant but never given birth, who have birthed children that are being raised by someone else, women who want to be mother’s, surrogates, adoptive moms, women who have somehow mothered children around them, teachers (who are like mothers at times) and anyone else who feels like they should be acknowledged today. Happy, happy Mother’s Day to all of you!

I love my mom, and let me tell you why:

5. She makes me laugh and can always make me smile.

4. She loves my kids, more than anything. They love her the same way, and I love that!

3. She has shown me the meaning of generosity. She gives until there is nothing left to give. When we were little she would go without shoes so that we could have clothes to wear to school; she went without food so that my brother and I could eat and she never said a word about it. She is a mom, adoptive mom, foster mom and more, she is amazing!

2. She takes care of me when I am sick. I am not sick often by any means, but when I am I know that I can count on my mom to bring me soup or just take care of my boys. I love knowing that she will always be there when I need her.

1. She supports me in all things. When I told her I was going to marry the guy I had known for 6 months, she was genuinely happy for me. When I told her that I was going to have a baby for another couple, she was behind me 100%. She has my back, and I know it. If she doesn’t, then I know whatever I am about to do probably isn’t a good idea!

She was always the “cool” mom, the one that other kids’ wished that they had and I loved that! How fun to have all of your friends jealous of your mom. She let me have my way on a lot of things, but she put her foot down when it was needed too… and with me, it was necessary pretty often . She bought me dogs and cats when I wanted them, she let me have a rabbit and a ferret without batting an eye… she even cleaned up after them when I didn’t, because I never did. I am so honored to have such a great mom, she is also one of my best friends and I cannot imagine being without her.

A note to my mom-

Thank you mom, for all of the sacrifices that you have made and continue to make for us. Thank you for putting us first, even when it was really hard. Thank you for being there for me and for standing by me when my life was a bit rough. I cannot say thank you enough, I could say it all day and it wouldn’t add up to the giant amount of “thank you” that is owed to you! I love you.

I have two puppies, well, they aren’t really puppies anymore but I still like to think of them that way. They are two little wiener dogs (dachshunds) and one of them is paralyzed (the brown one, on the right). Yup, I have a little wheel chair dog. It isn’t easy by any means, but I love her so much and she is such a sweet dog. Our other puppy (white and brown, on the left) was from a bad breeder and she didn’t want him; he was bred wrong and is partially blind and deaf but he is so sweet and adorable so we took him and love him.

The problem with having a paralyzed dog is that you really have to make sure that they do not gain too much weight. We have to make sure that she exercises and doesn’t eat too much. She is hilarious running around with her little wheel chair on and some days she hates it and just stands by me crying for me to get her out of it. I love taking her out and setting her on the couch next to me and rubbing her belly… I think she loves it too!

One of the things that is really hard about dealing with Sienna (my little wheel chair pup) is finding treats for dogs that she likes that are healthy choices for her. I recently found Cesar Cookie Crunchies and we tried them out, my little pups loved them. These little cookies are the perfect treats for small dogs to show them that they have done something good without over-indulging them.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Cesar and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Join me in filling out these lovely blanks! Just head over to The Little Things We Do to link up!

1.  On a scale from 1-10 the frequency with which I get sick is, a one. I almost never get sick and when I do it usually lasts a day or so and then it’s gone.

2.  The last time I felt sick was so long ago that I can’t even remember. I had a migraine this week that made me feel woozy, if that counts. Other than that, the last time I was really sick was 4 years ago when I got the flu.

3. The worst part about being sick is not being able to rest because I am the mom, and mom’s can never be sick alone, and if we are (doesn’t happen, I know, I am just going with the “what if’s” here) we still have to take care of the kids, the house and whatever else comes up.

4. When I am sick I like to be taken care of by having someone watch the boys so I can just sleep.

5. Something I do to keep myself healthy is … nothing? I don’t know how I stay healthy, honestly.

6. A secret remedy that I use when I’m sick is to shower 10x a day or more. For some reason when I am sick the shower can always make me feel better at least for a little while, and then I just shower again.

7. One thing that always makes me feel better when I’m sick is a shower, still, I love them. They are my remedy and my cure, they are my everything. Jason is probably happy that I am healthy, because if I were a sick person our water bill would probably triple.

If you are searching for the perfect gift for your mom, a friend, your daughter, any mom (or deserving soul) in your life; look no further! This week Plum District has some of the best deals around, check them out-

For the mom who wants some family time- Carson & Barnes Circus – Family Fun 4 Pack (2 Adult Tickets, 2 Children’s Tickets, 2 Elephant Rides and $20 Carson Cash for Food or Entertainment)

The foodie mom- The Egg Shell – $10 for $20 worth of brunch, lunch and drinks at The Egg Shell of Cherry Creek (Adorable Patio, Delicious Food and Great Mimosas)

Fitness mamas- Barre3 Fitness Classes - 5 Barre3 Fitness Classes + 2 Free Childcare Credits for $40 – New Studio in Cherry Creek!  This is THE most amazing workout and child care is on site for moms!

For the wine lover in your life- Indulge Wine Tasting and Appetizers from Top Local Restaurants – $49 to $99 for wine and food and education along the way!

Does she deserve a spa treatment (of course she does)- Blue Creek Urban Health Retreat – Mini Spa Escape Package for $40 or $29 for $60 worth of any service at Blue Creek.  This is the perfect gift to treat yourself or purchase for a loved one!

Or how about a manicure? Shellac or Gel Manicure – $35 for Two Shellac or Gel Manicures in Centennial (central location to all).  $17 each – Makes a great Gift or Treat Yourself!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again “when in doubt, cupcakes” Cuppy Cakes – $9 for 12 mini cuppy cakes or $10 for 6 regular cuppy cakes.  Delicious, adorable and perfect for a treat or a gift!

I am sure you have all seen the previews for the new movie What To Expect When You’re Expecting!, right? It looks like a riot and it got me thinking about what I wasn’t expecting…

When I first got pregnant with Tater (my first pregnancy) I had no clue that I was even pregnant. I had been told at the ripe old age of 12 that I would never be able to have children, so I had always thought that it just wasn’t an option for me and that was ok. Jason and I had been together for a couple of months and we had talked about marriage, but weren’t in a hurry and planned to wait a while.

One morning I wasn’t feeling well, and because I worked with Jason I called him and asked him to let the boss know that I wouldn’t be in because I was sick. Jason said “are you sure you aren’t pregnant?” joking, of course and I informed him that I was just dizzy and tired, maybe I had the flu or something. I called my mom to let her know that I wasn’t going in, so that she wouldn’t call me at work and she said, “are you pregnant?” I dismissed the thought and let her go. Chelsea (this is another long story, but she is my daughter) came in the room to let me know that she was headed off to school. I told her I was sick and staying home, she said, “you are probably pregnant” at this point I was furious! Are you kidding me? I cannot have babies people! Stop telling me I am probably pregnant, I have the flu. Obviously.

The next day I decided to prove them all wrong, I went to the store on my lunch break and bought a test, went back to work and casually took the test in the bathroom. I already knew the result, so it wasn’t a big deal. I took that little test in the stall, peed on it and I am not kidding when I tell you that before I could even wipe there were two giant, dark pink lines. I checked the package, because I knew that I must have seen the picture wrong, two lines must mean “not pregnant” but it didn’t. I was pregnant.

I went to the doctor and I was already 10 weeks along, can you imagine? Almost in the second trimester before I even found out that I was going to have a baby.

I was thrilled, but it was the most unexpected part of expecting for me and I am beyond thankful for it…

How would you like to attend a special screening of What To Expect When You’re Expecting!? You could win tickets for you and a friend, and there is a gift bag for each of you involved too The screening is at the UA Denver Pavilions on Monday May 14th at 7pm, but you would need to arrive by 6:30pm. Please only enter if you are available to go.

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Centrum Specialist® Prenatal is on the look-out for soon-to-be or new moms! For more information on Centrum Specialist® PreNatal, visit the Centrum® – Nutrition Possible Facebook page (Facebook.com/CentrumNutritionPossible)

Disclaimer: I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by Centrum Specialist® Prenatal multivitamins. I received compensation for this post. While all opinions stated are my own, I make no claims about Centrum Specialist Prenatal as a product or its effectiveness.

Rules: No purchase or payment necessary. Purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 or older and a legal resident of the 50 United States and DC to enter. Not eligible: employees of selected bloggers posting the giveaways, Ketchum, Wyeth LLC ("sponsor"), and each of their parent, affiliate or related companites ("sweepstakes Entities"), or their immediate family or persons living in the same household. Enter by submitting the required information, specified by the host blogger. Use of automated or scripted programs to submit entries are prohibited. Five winners will be randomly selecteed by the blogger to win two advance screening tickets of the geature film What to Expect When You’re Expecting!; each winner gets two tickets (one for themselves and one for a friend.) Host blogger will choose winners from all eligible entries at random. The winner will be contacted via email by blogger. If a winner does not respond within 24 hours, the blogger will select another prize winner. All decisions are final. Winner must respond with a preferred t-shirt size for themselves and their guest (ranging from S-XL) All winners are requested to wear their t-shirts on the day of the advance screening. Odds of winning depend on the number and timing of the entries provided. Failure to respond to to prize notification or provide required information may result in forfeiture of the prize and award. Except where prohibited, winners agree that the Sweepstakes Entities have the right to use their name, city and town and likeness in any advertising and marketing material, without compensation or any right to review and approve. Sponsor: Wyeth LLC, 5 Giralda Farms, Madison, New Jersey 07940

Want to get your daughter away from the screens  this summer? Girls learn by doing! That’s a problem if most of what they’re doing is on a smart phone or in front of the TV. With opportunities such as horseback riding, hiking, zip-lines, rope courses and campfire cooking, girls learn and love the outdoors! For 100 years, Girl Scout camp has been the leader in summer fun and adventure for girls at an affordable cost. You don’t have to already be a Girl Scout or be in a Girl Scout Troop to get in on the adventure!

Take a look, all of these camps have openings remaining and I can bet that your daughter would be more than happy to fill one of those spaces!

Day Camp – GS Around the World, Oakhurst Park, Westminster (ages:  Daisy-Junior): 

Magic Sky Ranch, Global Explorers, near Red Feather Lakes (ages:  Brownie – Junior):

Magic Sky Ranch, Night Owls, near Red Feather Lakes (Juniors):

Tomahawk Ranch, Photography 4.0, near Bailey (age: Cadettes):

Meadow Mountain Ranch, Adventure 4.0, near Estes Park (age: Seniors – Ambassadors):