Febreeze?

i recently tried Febreze Set & Refresh kits in exotic and linen and sky.

well they had a pleasant scent to them (especially when you set them in front of a fan) but i didn't notice them too much as far as being in the room and noticing a scent ,kwim?



The Febreze Set & Refresh kits were provided by Febreze through MyBlogSpark.)

Outlast Review

i was so blessed to receive this product (plus a few samples to give to friends)! i really liked it. i didn't think this hand sanitizer would be any different than the others out there but it was. :)

first off it was much more moisturizing than most. creamier and yet not a cream. make any sense? try it for yourself and you;ll know what i mean!

outlast also lasts longer than other hand sanitizers- instead of a 2 minute window you get six hours of protection. that's great when you have kids running in every direction all the time!

3rd of all i really liked how it didn't leave a clammy film on your hands. just nice soft protection!
i can wholeheartedly recommend this product! check it out yourself- get a free sample at outlast germs

an oldie but a goodie

i found this old post of mine, written right after my dd then 19 had open heart surgery and i thought i'd share it here again, years later!


WE ARE HOME!

February 1, 2006
we are home after only a few days! isn't that great?! sarah was fast tracked cuz she did so well. all her tubes were pulled by the day after her surgery- some the nite before!. the morning after her operation i went to see she was sitting up in a chair eating and watching tv!! she started walking and went so fast they told her to slow down lol.

the dr says he's amazed at how fast she recovered and she isn't in any pain. :) that's right- no pain meds needed!! UNBELIEVABLE!!

the dr said she is a text book perfect recovery.

thank you thank you thank you for your prayers!

meals and more

mon- chicken spaghetti

tues- chili

wed-chicken noodle soup

thur-chicken tacos

fri-spaghetti


oh and i have a giveaway to announce. no not mine- you'll find that HERE!

THIS IS A GREAT GIVEAWAY TOO!! A new MP3 disc of The Baby Conference Audio Collection - simply go to raising homemakers and enter!

Tropical Time!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! THRIFTY BLOGGER WON!












I was blessed to receive a bottle of Tropical Traditions Red Palm Oil to try out and review. I'll be truthful - I had to look it up on the website to figure out what to do with it! Turns out you use it for baking and frying! So with that in mind, I made vanilla cupcakes. This was a new recipe for me but it tasted quite like the other vanilla cupcakes I've ever made so it seems that it does not add any funky taste to baked goods. It does, however, turn the batter orange! Don't worry, the color fades with baking.

The next thing I used the red palm oil for was frying corn shells for tacos. Though this oil is a bit thicker then the coconut oil I love to use for frying these shells it did the job nicely, not leaving behind any detectable flavor. And yes, it turned the first few shells bright orange but the color faded on the other shells once the oil had been in the pan a little longer.

I like this product because it is organic so I don't have to worry about chemicals, it is bought in conjunction with small scale family farmers (of which I am a big believer in) and because it is rich in carotene which is a much needed source mineral for our bodies.
So would you like to try some?! Tropical Traditions has offered one of you a bottle of your own Red Palm Oil. So you can turn your baked goods orange,too :) Like I said, don't worry the color bakes out LOL

All you have to do is tell me what baked good you would use the Red Palm Oil in. I suggest my vanilla cupcakes!
A second way to win is to sign up for the Tropical Traditions newsletter and let me know that you did.

Third way is to follow Tropical Traditions twitter. again- tell me about it.

And the fourth way is to sign up for my twitter. see the right sidebar of my blog.

You can do all four or just whichever ones you want but you must tell me what baked goods you're gonna make!

this giveaway ends on friday!

EASY VANILLA CUPCAKES

This recipe is so easy, even my ten year old son makes it by himself!
It makes twenty four cupcakes.

2 2/3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tps baking powder
1/2 tps salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup oil - I used red palm oil which made the cupcakes a bit orange rather then yellow but they still tasted great!
1 tbs vanilla
2 eggs

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes


there ya have it! every homemaker should know how to bake a yellow cake!

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be

What can i say about this small in size but great in content book? This book reflects Max Lucado's beloved style- one I thoroughly enjoy-and as usual brings us straight back to the Word.
Max points out that we are here to magnify our Maker and shares insights on that.How in what we do in our every day life is important and should be done for Him. Nothing is too big or too small.

He goes on to elaborate in his own special Max way how no matter how we are wired it is all for the glory of God.

And so on.

Each section is only a few pages long so you can work your way easily thru this book and gain valuable knowledge in short snippets of time.

I highly recommend this book!!

Blogsneeze blessed me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

No Girls Allowed Devotions for Boys

From Tyndale:

No Girls Allowed Devotions for Boys is the companion devotion to the popular For Girls Only! Devotions (2009).
The devotion books follow the same format: a story related to a scripture theme, a game/activity, a list of things to do, and quotes from people and the Bible that reinforce the theme. Each of the 60 devotions is 4 pages long (2 complete spreads) and includes original single-color art that will attract and engage boys ages 8-12.

The illustrations are more like cartoons—each has a caption that relates to the theme. Some of the themes addressed include bullying, being a good winner, generosity, church participation, worship, and creation. The devotions use a wide range of examples. The author uses original stories, but he also uses things familiar to boys (G.I. Joe, Transformers, sports figures, superheroes, comics, video games, etc.) to illustrate his point.

From Parker (my 10 yr old son who reviewed it with me)

It's easy to understand, I liked it,and it has fun games at the end of each section. My favorite part was about working hard to earn things.
I didn't have a part that I did not like tho I would like the artwork to be more colorful. (it's done in black and white only)

All in all I would give this as a gift.







In exchange for my honest review Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this boo

Wordless Wednesday!

monday meal planning

mon-chicken and noodles

tues- steak sandwiches and corn on the cob

wed- tacos

thurs-spinach chicken salad

fri-bbq chicken sandwiches and salad

sat- homemade pizza

mon lunch- oatmeal
tues lunch-burritos
wed lunch-pb and j
thurs lunch- leftover tacos
fri lunch- turkey and potatos

Children's Books

i love children's books! much to my children's happiness i collect children's books.
here are a few of my fav. maybe you'll like some too!

the story of ping

make way for ducklings
caps for sale
corduroy
the borrowers
harriet the spy (the older version!)
the secret garden
a little princess
and of course little house on the prairie
there are a million more (i swear!) that i could recommend but i'll stop there and let you start adding to your collection mentally. :)

Let Go and Let God.

so many times lately i have wanted to throw in the towel. i have wanted to say "enough God" i'm done! i'm through with all this"

i have a husband who walked away from the Lord a few years ago and that is a struggle all on it's own.

a strong-willed rebellious child who zaps all my strength.

a house that is falling down around me and neither my hubby nor my landlord care.

money problems (duh, like everyone else in the world)

homeschooling to do with 6 children who would rather be elsewhere and tell me many times during each lesson. sometimes loudly!

i have no gumption to cook any meals- praise God my dd does!

i am drinking way to much coffee.

the air conditioner broke again! for the 4th time this summer! thank God for fans! it has been up near 100 almost daily still. inside and out lol )

my dog was killed. we have 2 kittens now. they are not a replacement but they are someone to hug.

gas prices have gone up so even tho i now have a car i can't go very far! :(

oh and the list could go on. !

BUT
be still and know i am God.

i will be a husband to the husbandless

i will be a Father to the fatherless.

he will be won over by my actions, without me saying a word.

i will never leave nor forsake you.

I am your Strength.

i have sent a comforter His name is Holy Spirit.

seek me for guidance and wisdom.

you can't do it- BUT I can so lean on me.

throw away anything that doesn't point to Me.

you get the gist. paraphrasing and all, you get it. let go and let God.

Book Review Time

This is the description Tyndale publishers gives for this book

This bright Bible storybook highlights the adventurous stories in the Bible and points its readers to God’s mighty power. The language is action-packed and kid-friendly, which makes it a great book to read out loud. The short stories, easy-to-read bold words sprinkled throughout each story, and the bright, cartoon-styled art will keep kids engaged. Each story is paired with a “Mighty Thought”—a simple statement that summarizes the Bible story. (Examples include God made the world; God is always in charge; God is a mighty leader; God rescues his people; God makes his power known). At the end of the story, the Power Words section gives a short scripture that can be used as a memory verse. The story ends with an activity designed for the active child (measure yourself with books and measure Goliath’s height with books; make a megaphone from a milk jug—to have a loud voice like Jonah needed).

this is the description i give for this book

This is a book that kids of all ages can enjoy . My 5 yr old loved being read to from it, my 7 yr old loved practicing her reading from it, my 8 1/2 yr old loved reading it aloud (crazy voices included) to her younger siblings and my 10 yr old even got in the act of listening and explaining to everyone .
The activities were simple and fun and it made for a good time for everyone.
I especially like the mighty thought- it made for a simple way for children to jog their memories and go to explain the stories more fully.

A great way to instill the Word in your children. Fun speaks loudly :)

i WAS BLESSED TO RECEIVE THIS BOOK FREE IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

The Holy Spirit

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

the Spirit lives inside of you. He applies these fruits to you. this verse isn't just describing the fruits we are to cultivate and show to others, but it shows us how the Spirit "looks" at us also.

He loves us, is joyful that we His, is patient and gentle with us (anyone who has ever had a toddler knows about this!). He is good to us,is faithful that we will turn out all right, He is mild and self controlled towards us (how precious that is becuz i can only imagine how frustrating i am!)

next time you are tempted to feel lowly and unworthy remember how the Spirit really feels about you. then remember who sent the Spirit as our comforter!! rejoice!

Blessings

i have been so blessed in my finances so many times! i thought i would share a few recent blessings with you.
i was contacted again by csn (hence the dining table post!) and with the gift card they are sending this time i can get a red mini coupe- the kind he rides in- for my son's christmas gift!! i couldn't get it any other way but God knew that!!

i was able to get some great freebies- cascade, downy, bragg's sauces, vitamins, and more. a little goes a long way !

my parents bought each one of my children- all 7- a pair of shoes :)

i won some giveaways. soap, schoolbooks,household cleaner and a few others. i love love love giveaways!

i received 2 books to review and i plan to give them as gifts.

i got another Tropical Traditions giveaway coming up so that means a new product for me! i chose red palm oil.

i got more free business cards. i pass these out to "announce" my blog.

i keep finding change on the roads. it's funny how quick it adds up! especially when you find $1.20 at a time lol

with coupons and sale prices combined i was able to get several cans of soup and several packs of nitrite free hot dogs put away in my emergency cabinet/freezer. it makes me feel good to store up!

i have received 3 packs of diapers to try and comment on! hallelujah!


well that's just a few ways God has blessed me recently. comment and share some of yours!

Christmas is Right Around the Corner!

yes Christmas! it's never too early to think of Christmas. i keep a gift cabinet all year round and i help stock it by entering giveaways! i have found a few that you might like and want to enter also. lest you think this is a waste of time- i have won 205 giveaways so far and last year i spent only $40 on Christmas for 7 children- the rest of it was giveaway winnings or gift cards i earned.


Thomas the Tank Engine dvd

Playskool Alphie Robot


Playskool Weebles Musical Treehouse Playset

Play-Doh Sesame Street Shape & Spin Elmo

Belletaré Beauty Products

Susi D. Jewelry ~ $80 Gift Certificate

Alexandra Beth Designs Jewelry ~ $100 Gift Card


there ya go- just a few to get you started . think of this as a way of bringing in income without leaving your home :)

Dining Tables Review

ok i am dreaming again lol--- of a new dining table
while i have a nice dining table i dream of a nicer one. one with matching chairs. :)
one i am proud to show off.
here are a few i found at dining rooms direct - another fantastic csn store.
seriously- i could spend all day at csn and dream the whole time!



this is the Wildon Home Derby 7 Piece Counter Height Dining Set in Rich Cappuccino- i LOVE IT!!!



this is the Better Homes & Gardens Present Tense 7 Piece Dining Set with Bleeker Chairs in Leland Cherry
it reminds me of seaside for some reason- casual elegance.




i also like this . thinking breakfast nook it's called Coastal Living™ by Stanley Furniture Coastal Living™

well those are a few of my favs. go to dining rooms direct and find a dining table you like!