My Christmas Gift List: Sisterhood Magazine

This is actually one of the things that I am most excited to share with you. If you have a tween girl on your list then you will want to pay close attention to this one. This is your chance to put something truly inspiring into the hands of a girl that is at such an impressionable age. Just listen to what their description is:

"Welcome to SisterhoodMag.com, the home of Sisterhood Magazine and the Sisterhood online community. Our purpose is to lead teen girls into intimacy with Christ, guide them in developing healthy relationships, showcase positive entertainment choices, provide healthy role models and teach positive self-image. "

What more could we want for our daughters, granddaughters, nieces and friends.  The magazine does not hit them over the head with sermons or speeches about life and morals, instead it gently whispers the message to them in a natural manner helping the reader to use their own sense of reason to come to the correct decision. This gentle path leads the girls to a stronger conviction of the reasons behind what they believe.  I was reading one of the articles and it said "Are you ready for Sex, take the quiz." I nearly choked on the swallow of diet pepsi I had in my mouth. Say what?? Yep, that's what it said. Then at the bottom it had one question "Are you married?". Simple, poignant and pretty darn funny. I am excited to share this magazine with my daughter. I am looking forward to curling up on the couch with her and discussing the articles.  The wonderful thing about this magazine, other than its strong Christian foundation, is that with a subscription you also have access to their online community that is a safe place for girls to interact. Visit their website and see for yourself the value of introducing this magazine to the tween girls on your Christmas list.

As incredible as this magazine is, they just keep giving. They are offering a discount to all My Grandma's Teacups fans!
A coupon code for $2 off print subscriptions (regularly $26 U.S. and $28 Canada) enter code SAVE2 and it's good now through December 20.  Sisterhood Magazine








As though that's not enough. How would you like to receive Sisterhood Magazine FREE for a year! Just enter the draw below to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Its time to start thinking about homemade Christmas Cards

Once the kids are all settled in school I will start buckling down on my pre-Christmas planning. I always think that I still have lots of time to get things done and inevitably end up running around at the last minute trying to make something or pick something up. Not this year my friends. I am going to get organized. This will be the first time in 13 years that I have not had a wee one home every day. I am going to make my lists and check them twice. I have already purchased the Frosted card making workshop from Close to My Heart and I can't wait to get to started. The kit is absolutely lovely and jam packed with everything I will need. I will post some pictures when the cards are done. I have to run now though. Today is meet the teacher in my son's jk room. He is so excited he hardly slept last night. Check out this great video from Close to My Heart and let it inspire you to get a jumpstart on your Christmas To-Do.

Purex plus Oxi - The laundry is done

Hello Ladies;

I brought all the laundry home from the trailer so that I would have an ample supply to give Purex with Oxi a fair trial.  My children's contribution to the project included multiple beach towels, swimsuits, s'more encrusted t shirts and muddy shorts.  It was good that my husband decided to show his support as well contributing piles of socks, sweaty shirts and jean shorts.  My family is always happy to pitch in with my projects. Let's see if they are so helpful when the socks need to be paired up.

Personally I was raised with the big orange box of laundry detergent. My Mom used it, my Grandma used it and when I setup my own house guess what I automatically stocked it with.  Even when laundry detergents changed and everything seemed to come in liquid form I still reached for the orange bottle.  That was until I noticed that my foster children were having reactions to the laundry detergent.  We had to switch to an all natural cleaner which became increasingly difficult to afford on one income.  One of the first things that I checked when I opened the bottle was to see if it had a strong perfumey smell.  I knew if it did my review would have to stop right there as both my youngest son and I have asthma and can't handle the strong heavy scents.  Purex with Oxi actually had a lovely light scent that reminds me more of a body wash or shampoo then a detergent.  I poured the blue syrupy detergent into the soap dispenser only to realize in horror that I had not checked to make sure it was HE. I grabbed the bottle and was overjoyed to see the little disclaimer in the corner of the bottle stating that it was safe for all machines including HE. I found my son's orange shorts determined to use them as the test of the detergents effectiveness at removing stains. Then the phone rang.  After hanging up the phone I rushed to the basement to get the load started....oh yah and threw in the shorts.....great.....so much for my before and after shots.  Well I guess at this point it is a matter of trust. I assure you they were thoroughly disgusting.
When the timer went off on the dryer I flew down the stairs to retrieve the results.  I have to say I was impressed.  The shorts actually look really good.  There are three small spots that you can barely see that my son has identified for me as grease from a bicycle chain so the fact that it came 95% out really pleases me.  There was no heavy soap smell left on the clothes and the entire load seemed free of spots (except as I said the 3 spots on kidlet's shorts).
I think that I will switch detergents.  I will give it a three month screening to see if anyone has any skin reactions and if there are any issues and I will do a follow up post. Purex plus Oxi liquid detergent is supposed to be hypoallergenic so I am hopeful.  If you would like to try Purex plus Oxi liquid detergent for yourself please feel free to enter my giveaway for one of four free bottles . Hurry the giveaway is over next week!

* Purex provided me with a sample of Purex plus Oxi detergent in exchange for a product review. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

Are you interested in free stuff?

I have been chosen to test a new product being released called Purex plus Oxi.  I have had great success using products with Oxi in the past and I am looking forward to seeing how this one will measure up. My ten year old son has presented me with the perfect opportunity.  He has worn his new bright orange shorts all over the camp this summer and they are so stained I have little hope of restoring them to their former state. He has dark mud stains from crawling across the yard looking for worms just after the rain. He has green grass stain from tumbling around in the  park. He has a few large patches that I can't quite identify but I am leaning towards drips from random freezies, icecreams and hot dogs that he has consumed. If this product can clean these babies then I am going to be a fan for life.  I am watching my mailbox for the kit to arrive so I can put it to the test.  If you are interested in trying this product for free then please stay tuned.  The company is sending vouchers for free bottles.  I will have to figure out how to distribute them fairly once I know how many I will get.  I am thinking rafflecopter might do the trick.  They are also  having a  giveaway on their site to launch the product and the buzz is that the grand prize is $500 with 50 second place winners receiving free product. That package better arrive soon....those shorts are not getting any easier to clean!

Enjoy the sunshine.

Tracy

Something in the air

Well usually when I hear that saying it is reference to Christmas or someone falling in love. If you were around here lately it would have a totally different meaning.  I can never remember a year when the trees produced so much fluff.  It started early last week and my little one was miserable. His nose started running then his asthma kicked in high gear and by the time Sunday night rolled around his eyes were leaching as much green mucous as his nose.  One by one we were struck down with sore throats, migraines, itchy eyes and a hacking cough. We are all in misery. That my friends is my excuse for not posting sooner.  We have a reprieve from the fluff today so everyone seems to be feeling a bit better. I thought I would just pop on quickly to share my new haul of trinkets.  I am not sure what I am going to use them for but they are pretty just to look at for now.

Also, as summer is here and everyone seems to be partaking of canned beverages I have sent the word out around the camp that i want them to save pop tabs for me.  If you have a chance check out these two youtube videos for great ideas for crafting with pop tabs.

I love all this chickie makes.These girls are so talented!

Family Treasures Rediscovered

Do you remember as a kid how your older relatives...in my case my Great Grandma's and Grandmas always had that really cool jar filled with miscellaneous buttons.  Do you remember spending hours sorting them into colours and sizes and textures.  There is just something about other peoples button collection that always grabs my imagination.  Who wore the coat that the military buttons came off.. What did the blouse look like that had this pretty floral button.  Well, a few weeks ago I had mentioned to both my Mom and my Hubby's Mom that I would be interested in any old ribbons, buttons or broken jewelry they had laying around as I wanted to use it to do some hot glue crafts with the kiddies.  Well both Momma's delivered! My Mom provided me with a bundle of old trinkets and gems that she no longer wears and Mama in Law gave us at least 300 buttons.  Tiger and I spent a good hour going through the buttons today.  Its funny how something like buttons can still captivate a child's attention in this fast paced electronic world.  It was so fun.  I can't wait to get crafting.  I encourage you to send the word out to relatives as they are likely more than happy to unload some no longer needed treasure.

Whoo hoo it finally feels like SUMMER

Happy Victoria Day Everyone! My gardens are sitting out there devoid of the new plants that should be in there today but I am ok about that. I feel so blessed to have been able to spend a carefree long weekend with my hubby and kidlets and extended family. We could not have asked for better weather as it was just the right mix of sunshine and breeziness. Here are a few pictures of our official start to camping season. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and that your family had a chance to make some new memories!




 

Happy Belated Mother's Day

Well if you are like me there was no opportunity for blogging yesterday. The children started off the day by presenting me with some lovely macaroon cookies that were prepared at school. I was so happy to hear that every student in the class had an opportunity to mix and handle the food. Mmmm mmm good. Blessed as I am to have two kidlets in the same grade I received not one but two bags of these tasty treats. Then after delivering flowers and a handmade card to my Mommy we headed off to Napanee Home Hardware...you know the one....the one where Avril Lavigne used to sport the red tee from. Anyway, Hubby bought me a super cute pink toolbox which I am going to glam up with some vintage graphics from Karen Watson "The Graphics Fairy" and a pile of Modge podge. He also bought me a kitchen scale so that I can weigh my paper treasures before attempting to guesstimate the right postage. The children are also buying me flowers for my flower beds but since it was actually snowing yesterday we decided it may be wise to wait a few weeks before purchasing them. What did you do for Mother's Day? Leave a comment or a link so we can see how your day went!

So simple a child could do it!

Hello all.  I just had to share some cute pictures of Monkey making Mrs. MacRae's Marevelous Muffins yesterday.  They turned out just perfect.  I did notice that there were far fewer chocolate chips in the actual muffins than in the cup I had measured with. Go figure.  In case you missed the recipe you can find it right here
Mrs. MacRae's Marvelous Muffins

Grandma Hick's Creamy Maple Candy

It makes me feel very connected to my grandmother when I make this recipe every Christmas.  She used to make it and give it out to neighbours and friends over the holidays as well.  My Grandma passed away when I was only 3 but I still have such vivid memories of her.  The way her cold cream smelled and her thick lipstick.  I like knowing that I am keeping her tradition alive.  What traditions are you passing on?  Who did they come from? Challenge yourself to dig up an old family recipe this week and enjoy the trip down memory lane.


Grandma Hick's Creamy Maple Candy
4 Cups Brown Sugar
1 Cup Cereal Cream
3 tbs butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of baking soda

Cook sugar, cream and butter to a soft ball.  Do not scrape the sides of your pot during cooking.  Once heated add a pinch of baking soda and the vanilla.  Beat on high speed until spoon leaves a mark in the mixture.  Pour into lined baking pan. Try to resist sampling until it is cooled...just kidding it is so yummy when it is warm why wait.

Whizzpoppers?

I just finished tucking my munchkins in for the night and I am still puzzled by the allure of body humour to boys.  My children are on a Roald Dahl kick right now.  I know its a bit foolish but if it keeps them interested then I am going to keep running with it.  We are currently reading The BFG and we just completed the chapter with the WHIZZPOPPERS! Only upon reading this story can you truly  appreciate the masterful use of imagery for this particular subject.  Monkey was literally snorting with glee each time I said the word.  Princess, trying hard to pretend that the subject was beneath her dignity could barely contain herself as the chapter progressed.  What is it about body humour that boys find so absolutely hilarious.  The infectious laughter of my son could coax even the most prudish of Moms into a guilty bout of giggles. If you want a truly heartwarming silly adventure with your children, though it is a bit of a tongue twister with all the gibberish words, I highly advise reading the BFG.  We just finished Witches last week and we read the The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (which admittedly I did not like at all).  The children were begging me each night to read just one more chapter (which I did) but I had to limit it to two or they would have eagerly stayed awake all night hearing the story.  Chapter books are such a great way to wind down the day and also to build anticipation for hearing how the story progresses.  What are your family's favourite chapter books?

Mrs McRae's Marvelous Muffins

Here is a link to my friends amazing banana muffin recipe.  It is so easy and so good you just have to try it.

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