KAM-Snaps Giveaway Marathon!

For all of you KAMsnaps lovers! Check out KAMsnaps blog, they are doing a give away marathon, with several chances to win gift certs to their site!!

KAMsnaps Giveaway

From their site:

Now until Sept 28, 2010, we will be holding a series of giveaways to benefit animal rescue. Read the instructions carefully because this is going to be a doozy.

First, a little background:
As some of you know, my passion (aside from snaps of course!) is rescuing dogs. For the past 6 years, our family has rescued and rehomed over 100 homeless pets. I've been fortunate enough to have been selected as one of the finalists in Petfinder's World's Best Pet Parent Contest. The winners don't win anything for themselves (other than bragging rights) but will get to choose which animal rescue/shelter receives a grant, ranging from $1,000 - $10,000. Winners are determined by who gets the most votes from now through Sept 28, 2010.

The Going to the Dogs Giveaway Marathon:
From now through Sept 28, KAMsnaps will be running back-to-back giveaways that will help to generate votes to the Petfinder Contest. Giveaways are open to everyone, no matter where you live. There will be a KAMsnaps gift certificate prize for each giveaway that anybody can win, regardless of what country you live in. However, jewelry and other physical prizes cannot be sent outside of the US.

What's for dinner?

Two days into our "eat everything in the pantry" challenge. I've had lots of tuna, and lots of mac and cheese. My diet does not thank me. I really want to just go and eat everything so that I can be finished with this challenge and buy new food. But, I also understand that somehow this will bring about a new creativity when it comes to preparing family meals, and perhaps a new sense of appreciation for the ramen noodles my husband just had to have. I have a fear of what is to come when we run out of Cohen's precious "go-go's" aka, Goldfish. I am also wondering how long this whole thing will last. I have new recipes to try out. It is all an attempt to be a different kind of Mother. You know, one that cares more about the earth than the convenience of little packaged things. Once that cares more about her children's health in 20 years than just getting them to shut up by stuffing them with McDonald's. It is hard though, I have to admit. I was raised on quick fixes, do whatever makes you feel better right now, and do it fast. I want this generation to be different. Mine is filled with all of these new adults running around unable to function because their parents lost everything in the recession, and they don't know what to do without their money. They now have to find ways to make it themselves, and God forbid they buy and make their own food. I want my children to be able to survive in a world that will never be consistent. What would you do if suddenly tomorrow, fast food disappeared, or little debbie? Would you be able to whip up a batch of brownies? And I don't mean the kind from the box. How sustainable are we?

Full Pantry?

Recently my husband and I saw a segment discussing how so many families were left in poverty during the recent recession. The piece discussed how many of these families had to wonder where each meal would come from, and if they'd have enough food to not go hungry tomorrow. After watching this we felt a deep sense of gratitude in knowing how well provided for we are. We also felt that we have been some what irresponsible with our food. We often go to the store at what I like to call "prime time". You know, when you are hungry, and everything on the shelves looks good. We end up dreaming up these dishes and salivating down each isle, in hopes to purchase, then return home and cook them all. (at once if my husband had his way) We get home, we put up, then we order pizza. Wait a second...weren't we supposed to be crafting up homemade delights from all of the fresh goodness we just bought? We usually say something like this "the boys are tired, we're tired, we'll put up the groceries, and start fresh tomorrow". Which turns into next week, and next month. We're left with a pantry full of food that we haven't eaten, and the process continues, we buy more food. We've decided that we are going to change this. We are challenging ourselves to eat everything in our pantry before buying anything new. I've asked several of you to do this with us! Some are asking questions. Here is what the plan is... we are going to use up everything in our pantry and freezer and fridge before we buy new. How this will work  for us: we plan to continue purchasing milk, butter, eggs, condiments, beverages, and fresh fruits and vegetables as we run out. That is it though. We will not buy more meat, frozen items, snacks, or anything that is in the pantry. We will finish this project once our entire pantry is empty. Throughout this time I will post blogs about how it is going. I encourage all of you to come on here and leave you crafty meal ideas. I'll be updating the fun things we come up with! I believe we should all do this challenge, lets eat what we've bought, and be grateful to have full pantries! Are you in?