Little Boys

Having had two girls first and then the "surprise" arrival of our son, we didn't really know what we were getting into with this whole "boy" thing.  You'd think my husband would have clued me in but other than being a "man" which means he communicates nothing that he's not specifically asked about, there's the "selective amnesia" thing. He only remembers being good. Yeah, right.

I love my son and am thankful that God chose to bless us with this addition to our family.  I love that I get to experience the joys of parenting both girls and a boy.  Some days though, I'm ready to trade him in for another girl.

Christmas with Hallmark – Review & Giveaway

It’s that time of year again.  When our thoughts turn to picking out the perfect presents, finding the right hostess gifts and finishing off that annual holiday letter.  It’s also when I find out what’s new and fabulous at Hallmark.


Dreading the annual Christmas photo? Why not make it fun with
Pics ‘n’ Props.  Show off your family’s Christmas spirit with this Pics ‘n’ Props Christmas Fun Kit. Use the winter props to stage a fun photo shoot in front of the holiday-themed backdrop. Then add your favorite snapshots to the coordinating album or use them to personalize your party invites or holiday cards.

Beauty that Won’t Break the Bank

Recently, I was sent a care package with beauty tips and it was so creative and fantastic, I just had to share these tips with you. Especially since it’s that time of year again.  You know, the spending season? 

With all the money we fork out on food, gifts and decorations it’s no wonder we’re stressed and left with very little over for ourselves.  It’s so easy to find some of these things around the home and it’s comforting to know how much money I’m saving.

Dry Skin	Moisturize and repair damaged skin with coconut oil. Costs less than $1.00 per ounce.	Department store moisturizer $50+
Teeth Whitening	Whitening toothpaste like Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening Stain Defence less than $4.00	Whitening strips or dentist whitening $30 – $300
Puffy Eyes	Steep 2 black or green tea bags for a couple of minutes in hot water, let cool and place bags over closed eyes $0.20	Fancy eye cream $25-$80
Nails and Cuticles	Rub a dollop of petroleum jelly on each nail and cuticle.  A little goes a long way so a small tub can last several months. $2.50	Upscale hand and nail cream.  $15-$50
Rough Skin	Mix Arm & Hammer Baking Soda with water to make a paste and lightly rub on skin to gently exfoliate: $1.99	Department store exfoliator:  $15-$50

These are just a few tips, I’m sure there are many more affordable tips out there.  I liked these ones because none of it requires fussing around making up mixtures with ingredients I probably don’t have on hand already.

What’s your beauty regime at this time of year?  Do you have any “easy” remedies to share?   

Zeemaid

*disclosure – this post is sponsored in part by Arm & Hammer in that I was sent a care package containing Arm & Hammer products. Be sure to check our their website for more tips and tricks on their teeth whitening  products and uses for Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. *

Technorati Tags: beauty,tips,economy,whitening,teeth,dry skin,nails,eyes,home remedies,women,seasonal changes,zeemaid

Saying Thanks with Style

I have to admit when it comes to sending out "Thank You" notes, I'm a bit of a slacker.  If it weren't for my mother nagging gently reminding me, my wedding gift thank you's would never have been sent.  In fact, my youngest child is 6 1/2 and I have yet to send out thank you's for my shower gifts. As it was all family, I pretty much figured I had thanked them in person and gushed over their gift enough that I didn't need to send out extra thanks.  Plus I had my hands full with three small children. 

There are times; however, when a Thank You note is expected and even when it's not expected, that extra little step really shows your appreciation.  Of course, to avoid procrastination, it's always handy to have a few blank cards on hand. 

I recently received a sample of Hallmark Canada's new stationary line "That Sky Blue".  Made in Montreal, Quebec, these lovely letter pressed note cards are elegant and modern (made out of 100% recyclable materials) and evoke a beautiful vintage look and feel.  They retail at about $9.00 for a pack of 10.   There are many styles and designs available.  

When is it appropriate to send a "Thank You" note? 

• When you receive a gift.
• When you’ve been a houseguest in someone’s home.
• When someone has done a special or particular favor for you.
• After attending a job interview (this depends on the job industry you're applying in).
• After receiving a promotion or payrise. 
• After a business lunch, dinner or party.

How about you?  Do you send out Thank You cards?

Zeemaid

In the Mommy Trenches

The Goody Bag

Everybody knows that kids only go to each other’s parties for the goody bags.  Drop a kid off at a party and you can bet they are eyeing up the table holding the Goody Bags.   

Depending on the party and how “together” the hosting mom is, Goody Bags can hold some serious swag.  Which, of course, makes the rest of us "last minute" moms envious.  However, most parties we end up going to hold a lot of junk from the dollar store.

Don’t get me wrong.  I fill my Goody Bags at the dollar store too.  After all when you’re hosting 10 plus kids you’re lucky to keep the cost under $10.00.  OMG.  That’s $100.00.  No way I spend that much.  At least I hope not.  Crap.  Seriously, parties can get out of hand even when you’re poor. 

This last party my daughter went to the good bag contained zero toys, just candy.  The bag was so full the paper ripped a little when they went to close it.  At first I was like, seriously?  A whole bag of candy?  Then I did a complete 360.  This mom is sooooo lucky her kid has an October birthday party.  So easy to take advantage of all those Halloween candy specials. 

Not only that, the bag was so full it seemed endless to my daughter and she had no problem doling out treats to her sister and brother.  She even was happy to share a treat with mom.  By the next day all the candy was gone and I had no crappy little toys kicking around the house.

So I’m thinking next party, candy, candy and more candy is the way to go.  How about you?

Zeemaid

It Starts With a Wheel

It starts with a wheel

It may not be pretty.  It certainly isn’t new but it’s mine.  Color me ecstatic!

Two years ago I threw my first pot and alas the clay bug got it’s teeth in me.  I say alas for I had no financial means of carrying on.  For two years I have yearned to get my hands back into that glorious wet clay. 

After what seems to me as a very long wait, I finally have my first pottery wheel.  Nay, I have my first pottery studio.  Courtesy of my dad.   It was while on a trip together a couple of weeks ago that I had mentioned to him of my dream of getting a pottery wheel.   A quiet man he didn’t say much at the time but began looking out for one for me and he decided that there was no point in getting a wheel without getting a kiln too.

When he first brought it up to me, I sort of brushed him off.  After all that’s not why I mentioned it to him.  He certainly has his hands full coping with the loss of my mother and getting his financial situation straightened out. 

A proud man, my father, he does not let go easily.  When you have a strong, quiet and proud man for a father, it is very difficult to argue with him.  To refuse him on the basis of money would be to wound his pride and give offence. 

My brother helped my dad find a lady who was selling off her equipment.  She’s retired and no longer fully able to sit at a wheel.  The day before my birthday my dad lures me down for a visit because he wants to show me something.  Of course, I had an inkling of what he was up to but I went along with it anyway. After all, I really did want a wheel and part of me was urging my practical part of me to accept the gift. 

 When I met with  she told me that I reminded her a bit of herself.  That when her father died her mother had given her the money to buy a wheel and get started.  Of course, her story resonated with me but I couldn’t tell her a word of my own particular story as my dad was right there and I knew he’d rather not talk about my mother’s death to these strangers.

That is until the day we picked up the equipment.  The lady told me that she was so glad I was getting her stuff.  She was giving it up with a pang but felt that it was going to the right home and hoped that the story of how she came to acquire her pottery stuff meant something to me.  In a quick moment as my dad left for his own vehicle, I was able to share with her just how much her story did mean to me. 

With tears in her eyes she pulled me into a quick hug. My last vision of her as we pulled out of the driveway was of her waving us off through the rain.  

Nothing was more satisfying when I finally got my own little home in order long enough to slip out to the garage to sit at my wheel.  

Now I simply have to wait for the clay to arrive so I can begin. 

Digital Magazine Giveaway - Extension

So my Zinio digital magazine contest had very low entries.  Okay 1.  Not sure why that is but I have 8 subscriptions left to giveaway.

Just so you know www.Zinio.com is a great with over a thousand magazines to choose from.  I got my free subscription to Shape magazine and I'm loving it.  Each month I'm sent a link by email where I can choose to access it on my PC, smartphone, iphone or Android tablet and voila I have a magazine in vivid bold colours ready to read.  Best of all, didn't have time to read last month's?  Well it's still there in your library.

Like I said, I still have 8 subscriptions to giveaway.  I'm going to make this easy.   The first 8 people who leave a comment will receive a subscription of their choice.  It's completely risk free, you do NOT have to provide credit card information or anything.

I'll close the giveaway this Friday so don't delay, enter now.

Zeemaid

I HATE Mornings!

Why oh why do mornings have to be so difficult?

I get up early so I can get them up so that we're not rush, rush, rush.

From them I get grunts and moans and groans.  Nice cheerful way to start the day.

From then until we're out the door, it's get dressed, eat your breakfast, comb your hair, brush your teeth, pack your backpack interspersed with - stop bugging your sister, don't take your brother's socks, don't hog the bathroom, and a million other weird things that kids do to get out of doing what they are supposed to.

By the time they are out the door, I'm wiped and some days have been known to sit down and cry.  It can be that bad.

Reassessing after a loss

When someone close to you dies, it really makes you step back and re-assess your life. One of the things that my husband and I realized was that we are not in a very good position should one of us die.  While we do have a Will and excellent life insurance at the moment, the very fact that we are living so close to the edge would make it very, very difficult for us to get by financially until things can get sorted out. 

Like covering funeral costs.  My mother’s cremation cost $2,900.00.  That’s without a service or an urn or anything fancy whatsoever.  If one of us died at this moment, neither of us would have the funds to pay the funeral home.  My father was blessed in that my mother’s employer paid for all the food at the Celebration of Life and her co-workers all volunteered to serve. 

Neither my husband or I would be so blessed. 

5 Tips for New Bloggers by Blogelina

So you know you want to start a blog but you’re not sure how to go about it. Here are five easy steps, and a few good tips, to make the process quick and easy.

#1  Choose your niche. What’s your blog going to be about?  You may want to do a bit of keyword research here. If you already have a business, then your blog will be related to your online business and those keywords, however, you can still narrow your blog niche.

For example, if you have an online business on dog training, your blog could be about positive reinforcement training, about housebreaking, or even about a tangent topic like feeding your dog – because health is important to training.

#2 Choose your platform. WordPress, Blogger, Typepad and Moveable type are only a few of the options. You can also explore the blogging platform your website host offers. Analyze and compare each platform to find the one that best meets your needs. Many people choose WordPress because of its easy to use nature and the ability to customize your blog.

#3 Create your blog site. Depending on the platform you’re using you will either be working with the template and customizations offered or you can have your blog site designed by a professional. There are thousands of templates, some paid and some free, available by WordPress developers and they’re easily customizable – you can get an original WordPress blog.

#4 Choose your blogging schedule and blog. How often are you going to blog?  Create a realistic schedule and stick to it. Remember that even if you decide you’re going to blog once a week, you can always blog more. Blogging less than that isn’t recommended. Blogs are active sites and people expect frequent content updates.

#5 Drive traffic. Once you feel comfortable with the number of posts you have on your blog and you’re happy with the way it looks, it’s time to drive traffic to your blog. Social networking, PPC, registering your blog with relevant directories and commenting on other related blogs helps drive traffic.

Starting a blog isn’t the difficult part, the tough part is deciding to actually start! Visit Blogelina's Blogging Video Tutorials to learn more about what a blog can do for you.

*content provided by Blogelina*

Digital Magazine Subscriptions and Giveaway

Have you heard about Zinio?  They are "The World's Largest Newstand" with over 5500 publications that can be read on any mobile and desktop device.  You can browse and purchase subscriptions or single issues instantly from your computer or mobile device to read whenever and wherever you like.  Not sure if it's what you're looking for?  There is an explore section which lets you read thousands of articles and even share them with friends.

While I'm a big reader and generally prefer novels, magazines are just the right size to satisfy that craving to read something (if you're a reader you know what I'm talking about) but don't have the time to really get into a story line.  Not only that I just can't seem to get into those fat self-help books on nutrition and diet but if you hand me a magazine such as Shape: I'll read it from cover to cover to glean some use worthy tips. It's just the right size.

Right now Zinio is offering a complimentary 1-year digitial subscription to Shape Magazine.  This offers ends September 9th so don't delay in claiming your digital copy now.  All you have to do is:

Handling Back to School Anxiety

With only one week until school starts again (at least here in Canada), I thought it was timely to post this article on handling back to school anxiety.  As we all know, being in the school system is tough and if last year didn't end on the right note, your child could be stressing about how this school year is going to go. 

As much as we'd like to put our children in a bubble we can't and it's our job to help them learn the tools they need to navigate these waters.  Here are some suggestions in helping make the transition back to school easier. 

HANDLING YOUR CHILD’S BACK TO SCHOOL ANXIETY

How to ensure a smooth transition back to class

Toronto, ON, August 27, 2013 – After a long summer break, it’s not uncommon for children of all ages to feel anxiety about going back to school.  Whether it’s general back to school jitters or the prospect of grappling with previous stressors like bullying or academic challenges, there are many reasons why a child might be apprehensive about the return to school. 

Halloween with Hallmark–Review & Giveaway

The countdown is on for back to school and would you believe #Halloween items are already in stores?  So it should have been no surprise that my fall shipment of Hallmark goodies included some awesome Halloween decorations. 

From scary pumpkins to ghostly mirrors the Hallmark team has dreamed up some super spooky fun sure to delight your trick-or-treaters.

Who’s Watching me? This singing plush owl’s eyes move side to side as he sings a parody of “Somebody’s Watching Me.”  $15.95 each with the purchase of 1 Hallmark Card. Adorable!  Check out this cute video

Popular 4 Week Blogging Class - Just $5.00

Sign Up For The Popular 4-Week Online Blogging Class – Just $5 For A Limited Time Only!

Don't Delay: This offer ends August 31st! 

 Blogelina is once again offering her very popular 4-week blogging class — right now for just $5 (normally $25)! This online class will be held in October 2013.

If you sign up for this class, here’s what you’ll get:

• A class manual – packed with 60 pages of information that will help take the overwhelming out of starting your own blog
• 4 weekly online class sessions where you can ask your questions and get personalized feedback
• A FREE year of web hosting.
• Blueprints, step-by-step tutorials, networking with other bloggers - Everything you need to grow your blog.

Save yourself a lot of time, trouble, and money – learn from Tanya's own experiences what to do and not to do. Go Here to Reserve Your Seat In The 4-week Blogging Class!

Zeemaid

The Broken Circle–Book Review & Giveaway

The Broken Circle:  Yarns of the Knitting Witches  Book One of the Potluck Yarn Trilogy by Cheryl Potter.

Synopsis: “Twenty Years have passed since the fire beneath the great dye pot was lit and the circle was complete. Now, the folk of the Middlelands face a danger worse than any can remember. Darkness and chaos threaten to destroy the delicate balance of the natural world, and the magic of the dye crystals that have always been a way of life and a great source of power for the people has been outlawed. Readers age 11 and up will find themselves engrossed by this fanciful cross-over tale of magic and mayhem.

 The Broken Circle is the first book in the Potluck Yarn trilogy by Cheryl Potter. Combining Fantasy with fiber, and including patterns to guide young readers in making the magical garments worn by the characters, Potter spins a tale redolent with magic and layered with themes of friendship, loyalty, good vs. evil, the value of natural resources, the meaning and texture of courage, and even mortality. Follow the twelve knitting witches through adventures fraught with mayhem and mischief and knit your way through 21 patterns as the Potluck witches seek to save their world.”

Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin–Review & Giveaway

When you love a product you want to stick with it but as we all know price is a huge factor as to whether we continue to buy the brand we love or go elsewhere.  Fortunately, Arm & Hammer’s affordability makes it easy for me to keep my cupboard well stocked with the Arm & Hammer products I love.  Not only is Arm & Hammer either the same price or sometimes a wee bit cheaper than other leading brands, I often get great discount deals like 2 for 1 sales at my local grocery store. 


I’ve recently had an opportunity to try out the NEW ARM & HAMMER™Sensitive Skin and Sensitive scents™ laundry detergents.  This couldn’t have come at a better time for me since we’ve discovered a chemical sensitivity in my youngest daughter.  Eliminating harmful products in laundry detergent is a huge first step in helping her.

Life is Too Short

I wouldn't even be writing this except that I don't have the energy to reply to every email I get about potential advertising or articles for my blog etc.  If you read my blog then I appreciate you taking the time to and if you have just stumbled across my blog, please come back in a couple of weeks.  It won't always be silent around here.

But you see, I lost my mom on Tuesday. It was sudden and it was unexpected.  She was only 60.  It has devastated our lives at the moment.  I have a giveaway ending tomorrow afternoon and I will make sure the winner gets chosen etc.

Thoughts and prayers would be appreciated at this time.

Zeemaid

OxiClean MaxForce – Review and Giveaway

 Anyone who knows me knows that I am a big fan of OxiClean for it’s stain fighting power.  From hair dye to grass stained jeans, it’s been my best laundry friend.  It’s a relationship not so easily understood by my husband who likes to buy whatever happens to be cheapest.  Not that OxiClean is expensive.  It’s not.  It’s just sometimes those no-name brands are sneaky with the price cuts and then I’m stuck with a full bottle of crap that doesn’t do a darn thing.  Arg!!

New to the Oxiclean line is their MaxForce® Pure Whites Laundry Stain Fighter & Booster available both in a liquid and a powder.  Gentle on whites and gets clothes up to 50% whiter.

Again, a great product.  I’ve enjoyed adding it to my whites, especially my light colored towels. Not sure exactly why but I find I tend to prefer the powder form over the liquid form.  It may be all psychological because with the powder spread on the stain and then when I rub it in, the slight grittiness makes you feel like you’re accomplishing something.  Like I said, it’s probably psychological.  :)

GIVEAWAY – WIN YOUR OWN SUMMER STAIN REMOVAL PACKAGE.

* OxiClean Soccer Ball
* 2 NEW OxiClean® MaxForce® Pure Whites Laundry Stain Fighter & Booster Liquid
* 2 NEW OxiClean® MaxForce® Pure Whites Laundry Stain Fighter & Booster Powder
* 2 OxiClean® MaxForce® Spray
* Approximate retail value: $45.00

Contest ends July 12, 2013 at 12:00 am PST.  Contest open to US/Can.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
*disclosure – I received the above products in order to conduct this review.  No other compensation was received*

Downy Unstoppables - Review

Laundry, Laundry, Laundry.  The bane of our existence, right?  The only thing I love about doing laundry is the smell of all those fresh clean clothes. 

I was recently mailed a bottle of Downy UNSTOPABLES™ Spring In Wash Scent Booster to try out.  I decided that our regular clothes didn’t need the extra scent, we get enough of that clean fresh smell from our regular laundry detergent.  What does need a boost; however, are our sheets and towels.  No matter what I try, they just don’t seem to stay very fresh in the cupboard.

The scent beads are very easy to use.  No waiting for that special wash cycle, you can simply add the fresh scent beads directly to your wash prior to turning it on. It works in any type of machine, even HE machines.  The Spring scent is lightly floral and pleasing.  I noticed that even while the wash was running, I would get wisps of the fresh scent every time I ventured near the laundry room.  Taking out the sheets and towels from the dryer was a pleasure and my linen cupboard even days later still carries the light fresh scent of clean laundry.

Now if you are scent sensitive (as so many are these days) this might not be the product for you.  I did notice; however, that the scent was not overly strong when I snuggled under the covers that night so it definitely wasn’t an issue for us.  My husband does react sometimes to overly strong scents and musks but had no problem with this.

Now available wherever P&G products are sold. 

If you would like the opportunity to receive your own bottle of Downy UNSTOPABLES™ please let me know in the comments below.  The first ten people will be emailed an exclusive invitation to receive their own full size bottle of Downy UNSTOPABLES™ .  Remember, this offer is available only while quantities last. 

Zeemaid

***disclosure, I received a both of Downy UNSTOPABLES™ Spring in Wash Scent in order to conduct this review. No other compensation was received.***

The Runaway

For the record, I was one of those people really looking forward to the lazy days of summer at home with my children.  I was even a little irked to read several posts criticizing us moms who actually looked forward to staying at home with our kids this summer.  After all, why shouldn’t I be looking forward to sleeping in, easy care free lunches, peaceful afternoons sitting on the deck watching my children swim in the pool, reading blogs, gardening, planning day trips to the beach etc. 

Then reality sets in.  As our special needs daughter gets older, so do the challenges.  It’s easier to take her behaviour in smaller doses during the week and as ashamed as I am to admit it, medication has helped her be more manageable on the weekends when she’s not in school.

The only problem is we’re not happy using medication.  She is who she is and we need to learn how to parent this child without it.  While she was in school we felt more okay with medication if it assisted her in being more focused to learn and the calming down of some of her quirks helped her a little bit socially.  Now that school is out, we’re nixing the medication and turning to a Naturopath to help assist us in finding some kind of balance.

Day 1 had me trying to get her to clean her room for a showing the next morning.  She object so strongly that we ended up having to help her clean which then resulted in her actually running away.