It’s 2012 and I’m still rather pissed off that teleportation isn’t the norm. Even my laptop’s spell checker underlined that word alerting me to a possible misspelling.

What the what? This should be our main form of transportation by now. I’ve lived too long to still be driving a car to work. I fully understand why we can’t transfer matter at this point, but that’s for a different blog post (or not, how boring), and it should have been all worked out by now. Stupid scientist.

With the new year rolling in, that also brought my <insert age here> birthday. Everyone is generally too burnt out from the holidays to do anything on Jan 3rd, but my husband made dinner for me, and we made the best of it.

Speaking of burnt out, I was EXHAUSTED that day. I started my new job as a Social Media/Online Community Specialist at Tiny Prints, on the same day. This was my first day leaving the house to go to a job in three years. I’m one week in and I still don’t feel right. It hasn’t really clicked, although I love where I’m at, and the team that I work with is filled with amazingly brilliant people. I just need to find that groove and figure out where I fit in.

I hope the new year has been good to you so far and that it’s the best year ever for you, and your family. That’s all we can hope for. May the new year be better than the last.

Happy New Year – Welcome 2012

• Dangerous Foods: The following can be toxic to pets: chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, garlic, onion, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, bread dough, and sugar-free candy and gum containing the artificial sweetener xylitol.
• Regular Foods: Despite tradition, bones should never be given to pets. Even beef, ham, and other “regular” foods that are not considered toxic can cause illness in pets. If your pet is a moocher, keep a saucer of his regular treats on the table to offer when he asks. He probably won’t know the difference!
• New Treats and Toys: Even a pet-safe treat can cause stomach upset if it is new to your pet. Offer only one of these at a time (ideally, separated by a few days). If your pet becomes ill after eating a holiday treat, it will be easier to trace the source and discontinue it. Also, check new toys for sharp edges, pieces that can be chewed off, or other potential hazards.
• Plants: Hazardous plants include mistletoe, some evergreens (including some types of pine), and holly bushes and berries. Try to keep these plants away from pets, or at least supervise pets when dangerous plants are nearby.
• Decorations: Tinsel, tree ornaments, ribbons, string, and garlands are some items that can be dangerous if eaten by pets. Keep these items away from pets — especially when pets are unattended. Don’t forget to cover any electrical cords or keep them out of reach.
• Fire and Carbon Monoxide: Monitor pets near fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, candles, and portable heaters. Also, don’t forget to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning properly. Space heaters, furnaces, and idling cars (in a garage) can increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in pets and humans.
• Christmas Trees: Monitor your pets when they are around your holiday tree. Pets may eat the needles (even from artificial trees) or drink water from the base of the tree, which can be toxic (especially if there are preservatives in it). Keep electrical cords and decorative lights out of reach, too.

In many cases, if your pet has eaten something toxic, warning signs will include gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Other signs may include tiredness and lack of appetite, especially in cats that have eaten lilies. If your pet shows any of these signs, or if you think he or she has eaten something dangerous but is not showing any signs yet, please call your vet right away. Treating your pet as soon as possible is essential!

Pet Safety Tips For The Holidays

The goal: To donate $100,000 worth of new toys to Toys for Tots!

Simply click on the “Click To Give” button and donate a toy. It’s FREE!

More Prius. More Giving. Help the Online Toy Drive

This all changed about 5 years ago when we adopted a new furry cat friend. She was the runt of the liter, and has remained really tiny making it easy for her to get into things. Including climbing to the top of an 8 foot Christmas tree and taking a nap. Seriously!

Every year around this time she just knows what’s about to happen. She sees those green totes come out of storage and her little face just lights up with excitement, and mischief. Within minutes of the tree going up, she’s hard at work destroying all my hard work.

We’ve resorted to having an artificial tree, because cleaning up all the pine needles from her destruction on an hourly basis got to be too time consuming.

The decorations stay on the tree just long enough to snap a picture every year, then they are strewn all around the house. Have you ever stepped on a ball hook with bare feet? Ouch!

Every single year I say, “Never again! I’m not dealing with that hassle and the constant cleaning up.” Yet every year here I am digging the totes out of storage and getting in the holiday spirit.

Oh LOOK! Just typing that sentence out on my blog brought her up on my lap. She knows what’s happening today…she’s ready and waiting! She’s lucky she’s so cute.

I am sharing my holiday home decor and cleaning tips for the chance to win prizes from The SITS Girls and Great Cleaners.

Christmas and Cats – They Don’t Mesh Well

T-Mobile brought a little holiday cheer to the Woodfield Mall in Chicago with a surprise performance of “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays”. This is such an awesome video, and it helped me get in the holiday spirit. Enjoy!

This post is sponsored by T-Mobile.

There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays

If you’ve been a regular reader of my blog for the last 5 years you’ve obviously seen a change here. This blog use to be my “journal.” I use to write about all things happening in my life, and more often, ‘over shared’ things that I should have just kept to myself. There were several incidents that happened this year that I did share on here, and in direct result lead me to not want to share here at all. So I stopped. I changed focus and direction and now you will only see product reviews and giveaways. I know I’ve lost readers, and that makes me sad, but I’ve also gained a lot of new readers, and that makes me happy.

I’m going to stick with Twitter and Facebook for sharing personal things in my life from now on, and quite frankly it’s just easier. It takes less time, and keeps me from getting long winded.

Sooooooo…with that HAPPY NEW YEAR and may 2010 be your best year yet!

2009 Comes To An End

How is your holiday shopping going? Are you able to get something for everyone on your list? Times are tough right now so shopping at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls is the best way to stretch your budget to include everyone on your shopping list. They carry the latest brand-name toys to electronics, beauty products, gourmet food and entertaining essentials–they are one-stop shops for all your holiday needs.

Do you need a little help getting in the holiday spirit this year? How about a little Carol-oke! One lucky person will win a $5,000 shopping spree – just for singing their favorite Holiday Carol! Check out the specially created YouTube Caroling Channel. There, you can select from one of three carols, create your own “Carol-oke” video and upload for entry into the contest. Additionally, for each off-price “Carol-oke” video that is uploaded, a charity donation will be made.

I have two (2) $25.00 gift cards (one for T.J. Maxx and one for Marshalls) to giveaway on my blog. That’s two (2) winners! Just follow the instructions below to enter to win.

T.J. Maxx & Marshalls $25 Gift Card Giveaway
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

MANDATORY FOR CONTEST ENTRY

1. Sign up to receive the T.J. Maxx newsletter by email. (top right hand corner of their web site).
2. Sign up to receive the Marshalls newsletter by email. (top left hand corner of their web site).

EXTRA CONTEST ENTRY

1. Follow @T.J. Maxx on Twitter.
2. Follow @Marshalls on Twitter.
3. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter. (I follow back!)
4. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
5. Tweet: Enter to win T.J. Maxx & Marshalls $25 Gift Cards on JuliesJournal.com http://bit.ly/4UAg2L

Contest ends Sunday December 27, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose two random winner from all the entries and notify you by email. You have 48 hours to respond. First responder will get their choice between the T.J. Maxx $25 gift card or the Marshalls $25 gift card. Second responder will get the remaining one. I did not receive any compensation for this post. Special thanks to T.J. Maxx and Marshalls for sponsoring this giveaway.

T.J. Maxx & Marshalls $25 Gift Card Giveaway-CLOSED

It’s that crazy time of year again where us moms are struggling to get everything done to make it just the perfect holiday once again. Safeway understands the constant demands of motherhood, so they’ve created holiday guides that will save you both time and money this holiday season.

With Safeways budget-conscious recipes, weekly specials and email savings they’ve got you covered on everything you need to make your holiday dinner perfect. I like using the weekly specials page to check what is on sale at my local Vons before heading out to shop.

Safeway also has these helpful pages on their website, so make sure to check them out.

• Edible Gifts
• Kid-Friendly Entrees
• Leftovers Lounge
• Decorating Tips
• Gingerbread Man Game

I’d like to help out one lucky reader of my blog this year, by giving you a $50 Safeway Gift Card to help purchase your families holiday meal. Just follow the instructions below to enter to win.

WINNER – #145 Krissy

$50 Safeway Gift Card Giveaway
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

MANDATORY FOR CONTEST ENTRY

1. Visit the Safeway budget-conscious recipes page and tell me what recipe you’d like to try in my comments.

EXTRA CONTEST ENTRY

1. Become a fan of Safeway on Facebook
2. Sign up for Safeway’s email savings newsletter.
3. Become a fan of Julie’s Journal on Facebook
4. Add me as a friend on Facebook (I friend back!)
5. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter. (I follow back!)
6. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
7. Tweet: @JustJulie wants to buy your family holiday dinner! Enter to win a $50 Safeway Gift Card on JuliesJournal.com http://bit.ly/6b4pFs

Contest ends Saturday December 19, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email. You have 48 hours to respond. I did not receive any compensation for this post. Special thanks to Safeway for sponsoring this giveaway.

$50 Safeway Gift Card Giveaway-CLOSED

Follow the instructions below to win one a Glade surprise candle from the Holiday Collection, just like a surprise Christmas gift.

Glade Holiday Candle Collection Surprise Candle Giveaway
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. MANDATORY FOR CONTEST ENTRY Go to the Glade Holiday Candle Collection website and tell me what your favorite Glade home fragrance product is in my comments.
2. Become a fan of Julie’s Journal on Facebook
3. Add me as a friend on Facebook (I friend back!)
4. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter. (I follow back!)
5. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
6. Tweet: Enter to win the Glade Holiday Candle Collection Giveaway from @JustJulie http://bit.ly/12fyFk

Contest ends Tuesday December 8, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email. You have 48 hours to respond. Special thanks to Family Review Network for sending me a Glade Holiday Candle to review and for sponsoring this giveaway.

WINNER #95 Dagmara

Glade Holiday Collection Giveaway-CLOSED

Angela Moore Hand Painted Ornament Giveaway – If you are the winner you get to choose which ornament you want from the ornament collection (subject to availability)
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. MANDATORY FOR CONTEST ENTRY Go to the Angela Moore website and tell me what your favorite ornament from her collection is in my comments.
2. Follow @ArtToWear on Twitter.
3. Become a fan of Angela Moore on Facebook
4. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post.
5. Become a fan of Julie’s Journal on Facebook
6. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter. (I follow back!)
7. Add me as a friend on Facebook (I friend back!)
8. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
9. Tweet: Enter to win the Angela Moore Hand Painted Ornament Giveaway from @JustJulie http://bit.ly/12fyFk

Contest ends Monday November 30, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email. You have 48 hours to respond. Special thanks to Angela Moore for sponsoring this giveaway.

WINNER #71 – kristy

Angela Moore Hand Painted Ornament Giveaway – CLOSED