Dance Moves - Crouching Tiger, Pointing Dragon (otherwise known as crouch and point)

Parent Bloggers Network and Baby Loves Disco are giving away 4 pairs of Stride Right shoes. Contest ends tonight at midnight. Check out Baby Loves Disco, they are having a contest right now to find the best dancing baby in several cities. Find out if they are visiting your city and sign your baby up.

Here is my niece dancing it up last summer. She had just turned 2. The appearance of her signature dance move is found in the first video at 35 seconds. I have dubbed it the Crouching Tiger, Pointing Dragon. (watch out for the head bang into the table)

The second video is 2 months later. She has perfected this move and it shows up several times in the video. Let's count 1, 2, 3, ......10. 10 times she does that move. She is now 3 and the move has fazed out of her dancing. Although I did spy it the other day.

*Well apparently I can't upload the second video so I guess you can just enjoy the first. Let me tell you though that you are really missing out. The second video is so fun! I might still be able to get it up. I'll try.

**FINALLY! I got it to load.

edit: Videos taken off

Tessy and Tab Reading Club

Tessy and Tab is a reading club that comes in the mail 2x's a month. The books are for ages 2-6. My niece loves to get mail of her own. She receives books in the mail now but I'm sure she would love to receive more. If you would love a chance to receive a free subscription visit Mom ReviewsPetite Mommy. This contest ends Sept. 12 and

Need Some Cover?

Have you seen the Bebe au Lait Nursing Covers? They have the most gorgeous fabrics. The strap would prevent the cover from falling down. There is also an opening so you can see the baby and the baby can see you. Need some cover? Visit Mom Views before September 2. The yoko is my favorite print.

Where Are All The Photos?

If you are any thing like me, your photos are still on your memory card. I have not printed any of the pictures I have taken since Christmas and I'm not sure if it was this past Christmas or the one before. I have many great pictures in my camera and on my computer but what good are they doing there? I think I might need this HP Photosmart A626 Compact Photo Printer that 5 Minutes for Mom is giving away. Then my pictures can be printed right at home. To find out how you can win and all of the specifications on the printer, visit 5 Minutes for Mom before September 10.

Tote Bag Love

I have just found the perfect tote. It is pretty and I love it. My current purse is a tote and I have been thinking of replacing it. I think this one is it. I guess I will give you all the details. Musings of a Housewife is hosting the giveaway for a tote from Elizagrace. Check out both sites to see the fabulous work and how to win. This contest ends on Friday, Aug. 31.

Does Your Baby Love the Tag More Than The Toy?

If your baby has a thing for tags on any object, your in luck! Fina'Drea is hosting a giveaway for a Snug Tug blanket from Poppy Dot Designs. I have always wanted a taggie blanket or book for the babies at my house but never wanted to buy one. I had crafting visions of myself making one but never got around to it. I think the Snug Tugs from Poppy Dot Designs are much better than I could have made. Her Snug Tugs are made from a super soft material called Minky. Have you ever felt this stuff. It is heaven in your hands. To find out how you can win, visit Fina'Drea

I think If I won, this would be the Snug Tug I would choose.

Summer Soap Celebration

I Need a New Bag

I love purses. I used to hate them and refused to carry one. I don't know why or how or even when my opinions of purses changed. But is sure has changed I have several but all of them are old and are showing their age. Some are wrinkled and dirty, others are torn. Some I just never really liked. The purse I am using right now is a couple of years old. I love it but it has seen better days. I think it is time to find a new one. and I think I have found it at Scribblescratch. She is giving away a Rebecca Weis handbag. To find out more visit Scribblescratch's Handbag love post. This contest will end on Aug. 31.

Are You a SuperMomz?

SuperMomz blog is having a giveaway to celebrate their August Featured SuperMom. The featured mom for this month is KaTasidy. KaTasidy is an affordable web hosting and design company in Denver, CO. The giveaway is for a $30.00 gift certificate to SuperMomz.com. There are many great items to buy. This contest ends at 10 pm on September 29. These are some of the things I have my eye on.

TykeLight Buddy Portable Night Light

Boon Frog Pod

Babylegs

Innocence

“A babe in the house is a well-spring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love, a resting place for innocence on earth, a link between angels and men” - Martin Fraquhar Tupper.

Ode To Umbrella Moments' daughter is turning 1. She is having a party! She will be giving away a $40 (CDN) gift card to her favorite store, Gymboree. She would love if you would post something for her birthday book about courage or innocence. This contest ends August 30.

CHOCOLATE!

Chocolate Bytes is having a giveaway for a Theobromine Molecule T-shirt, which is the molecular structure of chocolate. All you have to do is post on your blog about the contest and also send her a link to the most obscure and/or bizarre chocolate item you can find online. I found a patisserie that sells a chocolate bar with pink peppercorns and grapefruit in it. This contest ends August 31.

mommyknows

mommyknows is a great blog. She is an extremely generous person and is giving away something everyday in August. I also heard a rumor that she might giveaway prizes in September. WOOOOHOOO! Did I tell you she has been giving away prizes almost everyday since May! Have you ever met anyone as giving as mommyknows?

I recently won a gorgeous jean skirt from deux par deux for my niece. It is a great skirt that has paisleys on it. I love paisley. If you want a chance to win visit mommyknows. Stop at her shop thebabymarketplace. She has great items for sale. Let her know you are thankful for her generosity by making a purchase. I just bought a puzzle that my niece mastered in about 5 minutes. Now she knows where every piece goes and has to put them in in a certain order. I guess I better see what other puzzles I can buy from thebabymarketplace. I also have my eye on the dark rye Babylegs.

My Agenda

Life From My Laptop is having her first giveaway. She is giving away a Kitchen Folio and a Daily Planner from MomAgenda. Head on over to find out how you can win. Contest ends August 31.

How I get into a school routine is going to bed a little earlier and trying not to watch tv in bed before I go to sleep. This is a very bad habit that I have. During the summer, no problem but during school it is a big problem. I will turn the tv on to 'just see what's on' then I will get sucked into a program and before I know it I have been watching tv for 2 hours when I should have been sleeping.

I Try To Be A Scrapbooker

I have tried. I want to be one. I really do. I love the results and the memories. I love watching other people do it. I want to be just as creative as they are. I think I sometimes can't decide what layouts to use. I don't want to spend tons of money on paper and glue. I really love taking photos. I love pretty papers.

Those are my thoughts on scrapbooking. I love it, I just don't want to spend money on it. I have several books, some started, some empty, another one completed (thanks to my generous friend who actually took all my pictures and spent her time and money making me one) I love you friend!

Why am I mentioning all of this? Well Three Wild Monkeys is having a Scrapmonkeys contest. She will be giving away tons of fabulous scrapbooking materials. I think this is the boost I actually need. I have books. I have pictures. I just don't have the stuff to make the pages lovely. I am going to enter this giveaway to get me started. You can visit Three Wild Monkeys to find out how you can win. But hurry the contest ends September 1.

*If you are my wonderful friend who I just gave my blog url to and are checking it out for the first time. "HI, Go enter so I can thank you for making me a wonderful scrapbook of your daughter and me"

Another Birthday Bash

This birthday celebration is from Mommin' It Up! She is giving away her 20s. To keep her mind off the loss of her 20s, she will be giving away some great gifts. Head on over to Mommin' It Up to help her celebrate. Wish her a Happy Beginning of her 30s. The contest ends on her birthday, September 5th.

Growing a Life's Baby is Turning 1

Happy Birthday, Flybaby! Growing a Life is celebrating her baby turning 1 by giving away gifts he enjoys to us. Celebrate with him by visiting Growing a Life and wishing him a happy birthday. He will be giving away a gift everyday. Take a look, there are some very cute and useful things.

Vacuum Your Floors for Breast Cancer

Mod*Mom and Dyson are giving away a Pink Dyson DC07 Vacuum. This vacuum is more than just a pretty shade of pink, it is tool for advancing the research on Breast Cancer. Every DCO7 Pink that Dyson and Target sells equals $40 donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You can only get this vacuum at Target. You can also visit Mod*Mom and let her know how cancer has touched your life and give her a tip on ways you can detect cancer early. This contest ends October 1.

Walk, Walk, Walk

This is something I need to start doing on a daily basis. I begin a walking routine and then stop. I don't know why. Well, I have a chance to start up again and so do you. Multi-Tasking Moms is giving away Leslie Sansone's Walk Slim System. You can walk your way to a slimmer and healthier you. Find out how you can win by heading over to Multi-Tasking Moms before Friday, Aug. 24. Check out all of Leslie Sansone's products. Maybe you will find something you like.

Here is a weight loss tip that helps me: Drink lots of water. Feel hungry? Drink a glass of water first. You might have just been thirsty and not hungry.

No Slippy Hair Clippy

Have you seen these hair clips from No Slippy Hair Clippy? They are too cute for words. My youngest niece has very silky hair and clips do not stay in. I have not tried these clips but I have read many reviews on them. They stay in place on even the finest hair. Visit Mom Views and you could have a chance to win some. $50.00 worth to be exact. Contest ends Aug. 26. Here are my favorites:

Lauren

Birthday

Cookie

Shocking Pink Cherries

Tallulah

Need to Keep Track of Everyone?

Visit A Mommy Story and enter to win a BusyBodyBook. What a great way to keep track of everyones schedule. Contest ends on Friday, Aug. 24 at 11:59 pm est.

Olive Kids Giveaway

An Island Review and Olive Kids are giving away a $50 gift certificate to Olive Kids. The contest will last from Aug 21 - Aug 27. Here are some great items from Olive Kids:

Wild Animal Bedding

Personalized Placemats

75% off at Baby Dagny and Win a Prize

Baby Dagny is having a Huge Sale right now. Everything is 75% off. But you better hurry because things are going fast.

Adventures in Babywearing is giving away a Baby Dagny exclusive a multi striped Peekaboo Pouch! If you would like to win head on over and find out how. The pouch is a size small. Too small for me but would be perfect for my friend. This contest ends Wed. Aug. 22 at 9pm cst.

Meerkats

Have you seen Meerkat Manor? I usually only catch this show after I have went to bed and am flipping channels just before going to sleep. And then I get hooked. I can't turn the tv off. I have to find out what is going on with Flower and her gang. Then the next morning I am totally tired because them crazy meerkats kept me up all night long.

Crazy Hip Blog Mamas are giving away a prize pack from Animal Planet. You can win all kinds of Animal Planet goodies. The new season of Meerkat Manor started on August 10 but don't let that stop you from watching. Turn the tv on and watch it. But be warned that if you turn it on at night you might be tired the next day.

Playskool

Fina'Drea and Playskool through CVS Pharmacy have teamed up to give away a gift pack of Playskool items worth $75.00. I have never tried any of the diapers or wipes, only some of the toys and feeding items. Fina'Drea did a great job reviewing some of the great products Playskool offers. I think I might have to give those diapers a try (not me silly, my 10 month old niece) Visit Fina'Drea and Playskool to see what they have to offer. This contest ends Friday, Aug. 24.

Here are some of the Playskool items I like from the CVS website:

Playskool Easy Grip Bowel

Playskool Teething Keys

Playskool Insulated Flip Top Cup

Apples'n'Oranges

Apples'n'Oranges has launched. They have the some of the cutest clothes I have seen. The clothing I have seen is unique. You don't find it anywhere else.

Right now they are hosting a contest to win a 12-18 month longsleeve belly onesie from Babes in Black.

Find out how you can win by visiting Apples'n'Oranges.

Not Made in China

If you are having trouble finding toys and products not made in China, Head on over to Not China Made. This is a blog that lists products made in the USA. They are having a giveaway right now for $50 gift certificate to American Apparel.

Blog-Abration

Lessons from the Scrapbook Page is having a Blog-Abration where you can win several great prizes. Head on over there to find out how to enter and the great prizes you could win.

Slurp and Burp

Mom4Life is giving away this awesomely named nursing cover. Don't you just love that name. To find out more information about the Slurp and Burp, visit Mom4Life. You can also enter to win one. They will draw the winner next Friday.

I was just talking to a friend about this product this week. What great timing! Hey Friend, go enter.

Have you Joined Sharing Point?

Just wanted to remind you that you still have time to join Sharing Point. Here is what Sharing Point is all about in their own words.

Sharing Point is a focused marketing effort by a Mom-run company to get Bloggers and companies together on the same team. By using the powerful testimony of parents and families, Sharing Point gives the makers of family-friendly products and services a way to reach out and "share" their message.

If you decide to join please tell them Keeping Your Fingers Crossed sent you.

Mom4Life and Adventures in Babywearing

Mom4Life and Adventures in Babywearing are giving away a $25 gift certificate to Mom4Life. You can choose great products for you and your family. This contest ends Friday, Aug. 17 at 11 pm cst.

Here are some of the great products I love:

Kipiis Bib Clips

BabyLegs

Boon's Flo

Tee Pee for Me

Have Dad Carry All The Gear

Mom Views and DadGear are giving away a Diaper Vest. It is a wearable diaper bag with many pockets to hold all that stuff that multiplies when you have a baby. Stop by DadGear or Mom Views to see a video of the vest in action. This contest runs from Aug. 14- 19. Winner will be announced on the 20th.

Create a Spark on Your Next Stroll

Mod*Mom and Sparkability is giving away the new micralite toro newborn transportation system $789 rtv. To find out how you can enter to win visit Mod*Mom. Contest ends midnight Sept. 15.

Carry Me Please

I am new to babywearing but have quickly come to love it. I take care of my 2 nieces, ages 3 and 10 months, almost everyday and use my slings around the house, in the store, at church or wherever. They both love to ride in the slings. The 3 year old asks to be worn and says "Let's take a walk." or she makes me put her on my back and gallop around the house like a horse. The 10 month old just loves to take naps in it. I just love to be able to hold them close.

My collection is growing. I own 2 homemade pouch slings, a ring sling from Posh Papoose and a mei tai from Bloo Kangaroo. I love different things about each one. I also enjoy sharing my excitement about babywearing to friends and relatives. My mom has become a babywearer and loves carrying around her granddaughters.

If you would like to give babywearing a try, visit When 2 became 3. She is giving away a homemade wrap on August 22 at 9 am.

Need A New Friend?

The Domestic Diva and Lindie & Friends are giving away a Lindie & Friends doll of your choice. These dolls are the cutest things. They have names and personalities. Their outfits are very cute. My nieces favorite doll is the worm. She has a thing for worms. She loves them alive or stuffed. My favorite is the Martha. Find out how you can enter by visiting The Domestic Diva. The contest ends on Friday, August 17, 2007 at midnight EST.

Worm

Martha

Pay It Forward Winner

Congratulations to the winner of my Pay It Forward Book Giveaway!

The winner is.... To Know Him

You have just won the gently read book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I don't have your email address so make sure to send me your mailing address so I can ship the book out to you soon. And remember when you are finished with it Pay It Forward. You can find my email address on my profile page. Just click email me.

Coverage, If you Want It

PediaScribe and BumbleBaby Mommy are giving away a nursing cover made by BumbleBaby Mommy. Visit PediaScribe to find out how you can win. The fabrics are very lovely. Contest lasts until August 15 at noon.

Blessed Nest Giveaway

Blessed Nest is giving away a $100.oo gift certificate to their store Blessed Nest Store. Find out how to enter the giveaway by visiting their blog. The giveaway will be ending at Midnight August, 31st.

My favorite item is Wren Nesting pillow.

Family Time

Parent Blogger Networks and Wii-Boogie want to know how you spend quality family time together. To find out more information please visit Parent Blogger Networks. You will also be able to find out how you can win a Wii gaming system. You must publish your post on Friday, Aug. 10 before midnight pst.

What are your favorite family activities and how do you find the quality family time?
And if you don’t have quality family time, how do you make up for it? What challenges do you face?

My family has several favorite activities we love to do together. We love to play croquet and bocce ball in the yard. This is one of my nieces favorite activities. It is a little difficult to play croquet with a 3 year old but we improvise rules and just spend some time together enjoying the activity. When it is the older members of our family, it can get quite competitive.

Another activity that we enjoy is our impromptu dance parties. These are always great fun and everyone joins in. We just pop in a CD and boogie down. The 3 year old is always the center of attention during this activity. I have never seen a 3 year old dance the way she dances. She has some great moves. The 10 month old is beginning to join in these dance sessions also.

We try and make sure there is family time whenever possible, even if it is doing the grocery shopping. It might not be as exciting and fun as dance parties and playing in the yard but it is family time. Time that we can be together and share our lives and express our love for each other.

This post is brought to you in conjunction with Parent Bloggers Network & EA’s Wii-Boogie, a family gaming experience. Shake it. Sing it. Create it.







*Don't forget to check out Sharing Point and make sure to tell them Keeping Your Fingers Crossed Sent You

Sharing Point

Are you a blogger who likes to spread the word about a great new product that you have tried? Then why not join Sharing Point. Sharing Point is a Mom-run company that connects bloggers and companies with family-friendly products. You will have a chance to participate in giveaways and try out new products. Need more information? Take a look at Sharing Points FAQ. Want to join?

*Please tell them Keeping Your Fingers Crossed sent you.*

Need a Vacation?

Go Visit Hawaii is having a great contest. If you subscribe to their newsletter or RSS feed you are eligible to win a prize pack that includes.

• a battery operated hula dancer
• macadamia nut pancake and waffle mix
• dry roasted macadamia nuts with sea salt
• milk chocolate covered macadamia nuts
• milk chocolate toffee covered macadamia nuts
• dark chocolate macadamia covered nuts
• tropical fruit scented candle
• vintage art Hawaii post cards
• a kukui nut lei

You can sit outside in the sweltering heat eating Macadamias and day dreaming that you are in Hawaii. By the way, I absolutely love Macadamias, especially the toffee and chocolate covered ones.

Four Peas

Fina'Drea and Four Peas are giving away a toddler sized backpack. These backpacks look like they would be a great size for a toddler just starting preschool or bag to pack for grandma's house. They have the cutest pictures on them. Find out how you can win a backpack from Four Peas by visiting Fina'Drea

These are my favorite backpacks:

chocolate piggy

Funky Monkey

My Pay it Forward Book Exchange

It is Pay it Forward Book Exchange time. Head on over to Overwhelmed with Joy! to see all the blogs participating in this months Pay it Forward. Here are the rules to Pay it Forward straight from the creator of this great book exchange.

Most all of us love to read and get “new-to-us” books, right? And if you’re anything like me, you love winning things (what a rush), not to mention getting fun stuff in the mail! So here’s what this book exchange is all about:

1) Once a month I'll pick a book to give away to one lucky reader (you don’t have to have a blog to enter). It may be a book that I’ve purchased new or used, or it may be a book that someone has shared with me that I really like. It’ll probably be a paperback, just to make things easier, but no guarantees.

2) Details on how you can enter to win will be listed below.

3) If you’re the lucky winner of the book giveaway I ask that you, in turn, host a drawing to give that book away for free to one of your readers, after you’ve had a chance to read it (let’s say, within a month after you’ve received the book). If you mail the book out using the media/book rate that the post office offers it’s pretty inexpensive.

I won a book last month from At Home with Heather. The book I won was Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. This was a great book! I had read it before but didn't remember reading it until I was part way through the book. I enjoyed the second reading more than the first. This book showed me how much you are really loved by God and his forgiving spirit. From the back cover:

California's gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.
Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.
Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father's heart in everything, Michael obeys God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw.
But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband's pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does... the One who will never let her go.
A powerful retelling of the book of Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God's unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

To win this (gently read) book:

• Leave a comment on this post. Make sure I have a way to contact you, either through your blog or by leaving an email (myemail [at] myemailplace [dot]com) using this form helps keep the spammers at bay.
  
• You must be willing to host your own Pay It Forward Book Exchange on your blog in about a month.
  
• If you don't have a blog you must pass the book onto someone else. You can't keep it. This is a way to share a great book with many people.
• The contest will end Friday, August 10. I will announce the winner on Saturday.
  

I Scream for Ice Cream

Blue Thistle Books is giving away a Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2qt frozen confection maker. Visit this blog to find out how you can win. Contest ends Aug. 31



For all your homeschool needs visit Blue Thistle Books during the month of August for their Back to Homeschool Sale. If you need curriculum, books or learning games, they have what you need.

Shoes Glorious Shoes!

I adore shoes of all kinds. When I visited Mom Views and saw they were having a contest where you can win a pair of UMI Shoes, I was excited! Mom Views and UMI Shoes are choosing one person to win their choice of shoe. Mom Views is a new review site that will feature children, parents, family products that are fashionable, hip, and innovative. Head on over there to find out how you can enter to win. Contest runs from Aug. 6 - 12. Winner will be announced on the 13th.

Ok, I just visited UMI Shoes and I am in love! Here are some of my favorite shoes.

Gingersnap



Floret

Festival

Razzle