Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Christmas Fairy and A confession...

I helped The Christmas Fairy last year round up sponsors, through your generosity and that of others we were able to help over 150 kids and it was their first year!


A little about the process:
You can find her blog here http://thechristmasfairyfb.com/
and her facebook page here www.facebook.com/thechristmasfairy

Applications are taken in groups of 10 families at a time. The Christmas Fairy goes over each application, checks references, situations and then matches the children up with sponsors. To fully sponsor a child you would commit to doing 10 gifts. Most of the families ask for clothing, shoes, underwear etc. that the kids are in need of. They always include some toy or something that their kids may enjoy. Clothing and shoes are accepted in new or like new condition. You ship directly to the children in need and send photos of what you sent along with shipping receipt and they get marked off the list as done. While you are doing your shopping and shipping she collects another group of kids and sponsors. Your word is what is counted on, and following through is super important.

You can fully sponsor a child, a whole family, partially sponsor or even just donate funds, coupons, freebies etc. There are currently children waiting, and there will be more waiting shortly.



So, I said I had  a confession right?

We are struggling, big time actually. Brian was out of work quite a bit this summer and we still struggle with bills and being able to pay them, clothe our kids, make sure they have all they need for school, food on the table, a roof over our heads. With all of that, we will not be able to afford to do anything for Christmas for the kids. I know it's not about buying stuff for them but as a parent I wish we could give them all the things they are dying to have. They are really great kids and do deserve a reward for all the great things they do and have accomplished this year.

I have applied for assistance for them and they got accepted.
I am so grateful for the people who give of their time and hearts to make a child's christmas memorable. I am especially grateful for who ever helps me make my children's christmas memorable.  I am grateful there are programs out there to help when you are in a situation of struggle.

For me I struggle and worry that they will have warm clothes, winter uniforms, shoes, underwear, socks etc. I would love for them to have their dream toy or what ever it is they wanted because again they are great kids who do not think only of themselves.

They asked me if they could do the Christmas phantom that I used to do when I was a child. We will try to get one or two families and spread that love. Christmas phantom is a basket of homemade goodies, poetry, artwork etc. Then with the message to pass on the season of thanks, love, and celebrating our Christs birth. 

Madilyne and James are cleaning out their old un-played with toys to donate for kids who do not have toys at all. They want to donate clothing that doesn't fit etc. To them they have no idea that we don't have any money, they are always looking for other people to help.

So I'm not writing this to beg for anything, well maybe I am... but not to beg for personal help. If you could give  just a few dollars to The Christmas Fairy or a program like that, it could change someones life and bring joy and laughter to a family who is in need.


If you have even a little extra please consider helping The Christmas Fairy or some other organization to help underprivileged families. My kids and many others will be helped by your generosity this year. The holiday season is to recognize and share love, hope, peace, and joy.
Many blessings to you and yours...

Monday, November 14, 2011

Working on some more give aways...

I am always working on rounding up give aways, as well as looking for new things to share with you. I"m hoping to find a happy medium. I want to be informative as well as give you guys fun things to do!

I'll be looking around for what I want to do. I want to be more then just free stuff.

I of course still want to bring you fabulous items to review and fabulous items to win. But what else would you like to see?

The Silli Squeeze WInner

Boogie Wipes Winner

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Boogie Wipes

Have you heard of em? Where have you been living if snot? LOVE these wipes.
About how they started:

Mindee Doney and Julie Pickens, often referred to as The Boogie Moms®, developed Boogie Wipes in 2007 as a solution for their kids’ runny, red noses. Months of market research led to the invention of the Boogie Wipe: a saline-infused wipe that soothes chapped, rough noses while dissolving mucus. After a six-month development and manufacturing process, Doney and Pickens shipped their first orders of Boogie Wipes in December, 2007. By the end of 2008, Boogie Wipes were available in 30,000 U.S. stores

You can totaly save the sleeve too!

Their on-going promotion is called Save The Sleeve!  It’s a fun, interactive way for kids to learn to put their boogies in a Boogie Wipe and not on their sleeves!  You can learn more at SaveTheSleeve.com .  They have a Teacher’s Kit available for classrooms!

fun contests too:
GO AHEAD AND BRAG!  We are looking for 3 Extraordinary Kids to be featured on our Fresh, Grape and Unscented canisters, during the 2012 cough and cold season.  We will begin taking Extraordinary Kid contest submissions, beginning August 1, 2011.  For more information, please visit: http://www.boogiewipes.com , or SaveTheSleeve.com.   (Official rules will be available August 1, 2011.)



They make wiping noses so much easier. Ansel likes to wipe his own nose, but he doesn't like tissues. He likes to wipe everyone elses nose too. Now something I didn't know about was their new line for older kids and adults called Saline Soothers.

I got samples of these along with our boogie wipes in grape. LOVE the product I am so excited.
So in our house we have boogie wipes now every where. I love that they come in different scents,


They come in, Fresh Scent, Magic Menthol, Great Grape, and unscented.  When there is congestion I like the magic menthol. It's not super over powering but it helps break the crud up.  Great Grape is perfect for the days that the nose runs like a faucet and you need just a little enticement for wiping authority.  Unscented is perfect for even the tiniest of noses. Fresh Scent is for the sniffers... I have sniffers...




He likes to sniff the wipes ALL the time.  SO here is what happens in my house, Ansel grabs the wipes, brings them to me and asks for one, or like this picture. Turkey just opens them himself.


He will wipe his own nose, sometimes he sniffs them, sometimes he eats them..




The best thing about that is I dont' have to freak. It's all natural saline.  Other times he not only wipes his nose, but he wipes other peoples noses too.



We love our boogie wipes. They come in the 30ct packages, travel packages and the new canisters!



They are super great! Soothing, and cleans up the crud with little to no whining.

A very lucky fan will win their own boogie wipes prize! Contest ends Nov. 11, 2011 12:01 am est.



Willow House with Kerry Traveria





Kerry is just a fabulous person to work with.  Amazing products can only take you so far. She is personable, kind, and does exactly what she says she's going to do. She let me choose my item, ordered it very promptly and the shipping was super fast.

Kerry even suggested I choose a higher priced item. I would have normally gone for something a little less expensive. I LOVED her suggestion though. This cinnabar baker is just fabulous.



I will be using it much this holiday season. It's a great piece of glazed stoneware. I am a stoneware-aholic. I love to use it. It not only bakes everything well, but it keeps it toasty warm for ever! Daddy Digs It works from home, and his hours are kinda wonky. Sometimes he's eating dinner up to an hour or more after we eat. I made this oh so yummy chicken veggie casserole in it, and it stayed toasty warm for like an hour.
There are so many different products to love. Like this oh so cute reindeer cheese plate
These personalized stockings are adorable too.





Willow House has this amazing deal, when a customer spends $39.96 or more, they qualify to purchase anything in the catalog that costs $39.96 or less at half price! (They qualify for this customer special even when shopping in the outlet or weekly deal sections of her business website, but the half price item must be chosen from the catalog).

Holy cow half price just for shopping... LOOOOOVE IT!

So what kinds of things can you get for $39.96?
 This really cool 3 pc trivet set
 How bout this 4pc set of cinnabar tid bit bowls?
 LOVE this message board.
Cute pedistal.

SOO much more. The products are very nice, and they have several different styles so you can pick something that is just you.

One super duper lucky person is going to get their very own $39.96 credit. You can choose anything for your prize but it needs to be at least $39.96. Then if you choose you can get your half price item as well! Contest ends November 10, 2011 12:01 am est.  Kerry is going out of town so you will have to respond like right away or you will have to wait until after the 20th of the month for your prize.


The Sili Squeeze, It's not a bottle. It's a Squeeze



The Sili Squeeze...can we say ingenious? I had a whole slew of things I wanted to give Ansel, it just wasn't happening.  I wasn't up for the mess, and he wasn't up for the confinement of the high chair.  There were things that he'd eat only if he could help himself to them, apple sauce, yogurt;  you know the messy stuff that mom's want to spoon feed ever so carefully?

I am so happy to found this! Ansel not only can have the things he really likes, but I can let him wander and roam with them like he wants. It doesn't spill, it doesn't leak, and he can't squeeze it out! The spout requires compression along with sucking in order to get anything out. It only took Ansel a minute or two before he had it down perfectly.

Sili Components:
  • Detachable, clear, plastic cap keeps the nipple protected while storing your Sili Squeeze™
  • Silicone nipple with built-in plastic base attaches smoothly to the Sili Squeeze™ 'home' ring, locking in place, completing the squeeze-controlled/spill-proof, patent pending design
  • Silicone body is soft, easy-to-squeeze and easy-to-clean due to the naturally non-stick quality of the silicone. The wide opening makes it easy to fill with your homemade purees and smoothies.
It comes apart for cleaning like so:




I just take it apart like that and put it on the top shelf of the dishwasher, put the two lid parts in with the sippy cup stoppers and bottle rings and nipples and all is clean.
There are two sizes, a 6oz and 4oz size. I will say the 4oz one has the two jars of pictured baby food in it. There is just a touch left in one of the jars.
They do not have to be completely full to work either. Feel free to put in as little or as much as you want and it all works the same!



So the nipple gets a little discolored with use. I put carrots in it, Ansel ate them up and it is not a touch orange. But that's to be expected! He is prefectly happy with them, loves them infact. He walks around saying SQEEEEZE...

I give this product two thumbs up, it's easy to use, easy to clean, and is a super easy and clean way to get the fruits and veggies into my little guy that other wise he might not get.
I will definitely recommend it to my friends, and will for SURE give it as a gift.

One very lucky person is going to win a sili squeeze gift pack! Contest ends November 11, 2011 12 am est.