Wordless Wednesday

Weight Loss Goals: Motivation & Snags

            Hey folks! It's been awhile since an update on this and to be honest, I haven't lost any more weight. :( So, instead of dwelling on the negative, let me pick up where I left off: what really kicked my butt into gear and some snags that I've already hit along the way.
            You might remember that I went to my brother's basic training graduation in early April. There were lots of pictures taken, of course, and that's what usually really kicks my behind in gear to want to get/stay motivated to lose weight: seeing pictures of myself. I absolutely hate seeing pictures of myself most of the time, especially if you can see ALL of me in it.
            I went through this same thing last May when my brother in-law graduated from nursing school. There was a picture of all of us and wow. "I am really that fat?!" I thought. That prompted me to get into hiking more, which is now one of my new favorite past-times! (I used to love hiking as a kid, too, but I've only recently been getting over the severity of my snake phobia.)
            So, after seeing some of the pictures of my brother and I together, that was motivation enough to really do something about being overweight. I've had enough. I don't like the way I look. I'm tired of having bad self-esteem because of it. Other than that, though, we're ready to have another baby and I'll be damned if I get pregnant being this overweight! (Although wouldn't it be the luck after taking so long to finally have Myka?)
            As far as "snags" go, the first ones started pretty much the week after I started trying to watch what I eat and "exercise" more. My inlaws were visiting all week from out of state AND our nieces' birthday party was that weekend as well. Hello, birthday cake. Although, they didn't stay with us this time, my in-laws also have a bad habit of bringing over dessert when we do make dinner. I should probably be appreciative, but I don't really eat all that much sweet stuff, but I certainly don't like having it laying around to tempt me either.
            Second, my husband had to run to Sam's Club for something the day after Easter. (Probably meat because that's about all we buy there regularly besides gas. lol) While I guess it was thoughtful and well meaning since he knows I love Reese's, he bought 2 big ole bags of the Reese's Easter eggs because they were on sale. -_-
            How are your fitness and weight loss goals going? What are your biggest temptations?

Boba 4G Carrier Giveaway-MCO's Birthday Bash

It's that time of year again and we're celebrating MCO's 2nd blog-birthday! Mommys Craft Obsession started in May 2012 and their birthday bash has become their most anticipated event of the year! We are so glad that you could join us for this event! We highly recommend that you bookmark the open giveaway page by clicking on the image below then adding it to your bookmarks bar! During the next week you will have the chance to enter to win some amazing prizes from items for YOU and things for your little one!

Click on the link to be redirected to a list of open giveaways.

MCO's Birthday Bash is continuing our celebration with an amazing giveaway for a Boba 4G Carrier! 

Photo Credits: Boba

Boba began when two parents decided to leave their hometown of Bolder, CO, and travel the world with their two kids in tow. They took off with only a few personal belongings, a few thousand dollars, two backpacks, two kids, and a dream. They wanted to live their lives and experience freedom together. With an amazing idea and determination, the first Boba Wrap was sold out of rural Slovenia and before long the company had taken off. Starting the business was no easy task as the adventurous couple behind Boba traveled the world, but they made it happen and before long Boba turned into a well known and extremely popular brand of baby carriers.

Boba carries many types of carriers from wraps to soft structured carriers and are designed for infants and toddlers! I (Alex at Mommys Craft Obsession) am a Boba Ambassador had the opportunity to review one of Boba's Organic 4G carriers, which is similar to their previous model, the Boba 3G, and I absolutely  love it! I've always been big on babywearing and Boba quickly became my favorite and go to carrier that I recommend to everyone.

To see a full review of the Boba 4G, use this link! 

To Purchase: Visit Boba's website and grab a 4G carrier in your favorite print, or check out their selection of other baby wearing options!

To Win: Boba and Mommys Craft Obsession are giving one lucky winner a Boba 4G carrier in their choice of print! Enter the giveaway form below for your chance to win!

Entry-Form

The Giveaway will close late on the evening of June 4th. The winner will be chosen at random through  Giveaway Tools.  The winner will be announced both on Giveaway Tools form as well as notified by email and announced on MCO’s Facebook. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize otherwise a new winner will be chosen. The winner will have their prize sent to them by Boba, Mommys Craft Obsession and other participating bloggers are not responsible for prize shipment. Must be 18 years and older. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google are in no way affiliated with this giveaway. No Purchase Necessary. Void where prohibited by law. US Only. 

pediped Shoes Giveaway-MCO's Birthday Bash

It's that time of year again and we're celebrating MCO's 2nd blog-birthday! Mommys Craft Obsession started in May 2012 and their birthday bash has become their most anticipated event of the year! We are so glad that you could join us for this event! We highly recommend that you bookmark the open giveaway page by clicking on the image below then adding it to your bookmarks bar! During the next week you will have the chance to enter to win some amazing prizes from items for YOU and things for your little one!

Click on the link to be redirected to a list of open giveaways.

MCO's Birthday Bash is continuing our celebration with an amazing giveaway for a pair of pediped shoes for your child! Winners choice of boy or girl! 

Photo Credits: pediped

pediped was created in 2004 by a husband and wife after their first daughter was born. They wanted a to create a shoe that would be both stylish and comfortable, could be worn inside and out,  and that were healthy for their daughters feet. After extensive research they began the company which has become one of the fastest growing footwear brands in the US and has quickly expanded to all over the world. pediped is commonly pronounced as ped-ie-ped, but is actually pronounced pe[e]-di-ped. Imagine yourself saying the word pedi (as in Pediatrician) - pediped is pronounced the same way!   

pediped is a high quality, stylish footwear brand that moms and dads can feel great about putting their children's feet into. pediped offers shoes in three different phases of your child's growth - their Original line is perfect for infants and toddlers who are just learning to walk because they offer a soft non slip sole, their Grip & Go are designed for toddlers who are transitioning from early walking to a more confident stride, and the Flex are for the little ones who have confidently developed into a natural stride!

Photo Credits: pediped

What I love most about pediped is that they offer stylish footwear throughout each stage for both little girls and little boys! Whether you're looking for something sporty, trendy, casual, or formal, pediped has you covered in all aspects! 

Photo Credits: pediped

To Purchase: pediped shoes range from $35-$59+ in price range and are available from sizes 0-6 months up to kids 4.5! Visit the pediped website and grab your little one some stylish new shoes in time for summer!

To Win: pediped and Mommys Craft Obsession want to give one lucky winner a pair of pediped shoes for their own little one! Winner has the choice of size and gender!

Entry-Form

The Giveaway will close late on the evening of June 3rd. The winner will be chosen at random through  Giveaway Tools. The winner will be announced both on Giveaway Tools form as well as notified by email and announced on MCO’s Facebook. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to their winning email otherwise they forfeit their prize and a new winner will be chosen. The winner will have their prize sent to them by pediped, Mommys Craft Obsession and other participating bloggers are not responsible for prize shipment. Must be 18 years and older. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google are in no way affiliated with this giveaway. No Purchase Necessary. Void where prohibited by law. US Only. For questions or concerns please contact mommyscraftobsession@gmail.com

"GG and Mamela" Blog Tour-Review & Giveaway

 

About the Book

 

Title: GG and Mamela | Author: Belinda Brock | Illustrator: Avi Katz | 

Publication Date: April 15, 2014 | Publisher: Lamb Press | Pages: 32 | 

Recommended Ages: 4 to 10  

Summary: This picture book celebrates the loving relationship between Lily and her great-grandmother (GG) as her life starts to slow and wind down in hospice. GG and Mamela illustrates how strength and comfort can be found through love, family and tradition. This book offers a gentle and open-ended way to start a conversation about death and dying, as well as introduce the concept of hospice care. The talented, award-winning artist, Avi Katz, provides beautifully-rendered illustrations that perfectly complement this heartwarming story. The book concludes with GG's recipe for chicken soup and an afterword by clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Brock.  

Purchase

Amazon | Author Website

 

 Mixed Bag Mama's Review

            Let's face it: Talking to young children about death is probably one of the hardest subjects to tackle, not to mention one of the last things you yourself want to attempt to explain in a manner your child will comprehend. This is where GG and Mamela comes in. It may not have all the answers your or your child are looking for, but it's definitely a great starting off point for a discussion about death.

            The story starts off by showing what a strong, loving, and caring relationship Lily (Mamela is her petname from her great-grandma) and her GG have. Not long after GG comes over for dinner one night, Lily's father has to explain to her that GG is sick and dying and will be moving into a hospice so that she can be taken care of and comfortable for her remaining days. Lily continues to visit her beloved GG at the hospice until she passes away. 

            I really do believe this would be a great book to start off a discussion about death. It's written in a simple and straightforward manner, which I think works well with young kids, especially when it comes to subjects they're not familiar with. While it made me a bit sad, of course, because it reminded me of my own grandma passing away last year, I liked that the author showed kids through the story that it is ok to be sad. (And have a whole array of emotions, which is mentioned in the "A Note for Parents & Caregivers" page at the end of the book.)

             I think the age range for this book is spot on too. I have two nieces who just turned 4 and 5 and think it would have been a great book for my sister in-law to read to them. Unfortunately, they have lost several pets over the last year or so on top of my sister in-law's mother and brother being gone for several years now. Even at such a young age, they are accustomed to death and I think this book would have helped my sister in-law explain everything to them.

 

The Early Buzz

"...simple but emotionally resonant illustrations...a nice, true-to-life touch...The book pairs an ethereal illustration with lyrical text, which truly captures the healing, transporting power of music in this setting. A welcome addition to children's literature about death and dying." ~ Kirkus Reviews

"This book is beautifully written and illustrated. The author takes a difficult subject and weaves a story full of life lessons. The universal themes of life, death, family, loss,and chicken soup are shared through a child's eyes and remind us that even after one dies, love remains." ~ Jamie O'Malley, President and CEO, Midwest Palliative and Hospice CareCenter

"GG and Mamela is a large helping of Chicken Soup for the heart and soul. It helps children cope with the death of a loved one in gentle and understanding terms. Belinda Brock has done a great service for children and parents alike." ~ Rabbi Evan Moffic, Spiritual Leader of Congregation Solel and Author

"This is a WONDERFUL story for families who are grappling with loss, death and dying. This is a wonderful story about a special relationship between a girl and her great grandmother at the end of her beautiful life. Very moving story, perfect for children!!" ~ 5 Star Review, Laura, Goodreads

 

About the Author: Belinda Brock

 

Currently a writing coach and free-lance editor, Belinda Brock's background is in teaching and educational publishing. She loves the intersection of literature and art found in picture books and believes their appeal and benefit extend beyond childhood. She also enjoys farmers' markets, dreaming up soup recipes and Meatless Mondays. Although she didn't become a librarian as she once considered, she is the sponsor and steward of the Little Free Library in her city. She has been known to stay up past her bedtime reading. Belinda writes about literacy, children and books on her blog--grandbooking--at http://belindabrock.com and also at Highland Park Sun-Times where you can check out this great interview with Belinda.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

* Blog Tour Giveaway *

 

Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)  

Contest ends: June 6, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally  

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.  

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Belinda Brock and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Goodbye Baby Steps, Hello Todller Time!

            As some of you may have read in the past, I enjoy taking Myka to the Baby Steps program at the library because 1) It can be hard finding fun things to do for really young kids and 2) It's good for BOTH of us to get out and socialize. Even though we usually have fun, I have been anxiously awaiting the day she would be old enough for the Toddler Time program because, well, it sounds like more fun to me. lol
            I could have signed her up for the most recent session, but Myka and I finally made friends with another mom and her little boy in the Baby Steps "class", so I decided we'd stick around one more time. April 30th was the last day for this session and, as it turns out, they won't be starting it up again until the fall (lots of special summer programs), so Myka's little friend will be old enough to go to Toddler Time with us too by then! Yay!

They give out special little certificates on the last day, which I think is cute. :)

 

 You also get to pick out a free book from the cart o' free books, which is my favorite part. ;) Have I ever mentioned I LOVE free books? Yes, even (if not more so) if they are children's books! 

 

            I found out yesterday there will be a Music & Movement class in July for 18-36 month olds, so my friend and I were pretty excited about that. Does your library offer any special programs for younger kids? 

DIY Chicken Waterer

            As I'm sure you're aware by now, we like doing and making a lot of things around the house ourselves to save money. Other than my husband building our chicken coop himself from mostly scrap wood, he also made the chicken waterers. These are so easy to make it's stupid.

What You'll Need:
-empty 2 liter bottle
-water nipples (I'll include a link below)
-something to hold the bottle in place inside the coop

It's kind of like a giant gerbil/hamster waterer, huh?

1) Take a clean 2 liter bottle and drill a hole in the cap just large enough to fit the water nipple in.
2) Poke a few small holes in the bottom of the bottle. This will prevent the bottle from getting suction as the water level drops and keep the water from dripping.
3) Make a holder for your waterer. I suggest cutting out a hole in a small piece of would large enough for your bottle to sit in, but your chickens being able to reach the nipple too, of course, underneath. Then just nail/screw that piece wherever you would like in your coop.
4) Fill it, place it, and you're ready to go. That's it! Stupid easy, right?!

You can find the water nipples on Amazon. They're super cheap. I'm sure you can probably find them at tractor supply type stores too.

You can find this post on:

 

ECR4Kids 4 Tier Storage Organizer Giveaway

Welcome to the ECR4Kids 4 Tier Plastic Storage Organizer hosted 

by Housewife on a Mission and sponsored by ECR4Kids!

Let's face it: Kids "stuff" can accumulate quickly. I think we can all agree on how important it is to have a good organization system so as caregivers we can try to stay sane! I would love to have one of these organizers myself! Good luck to all Mixed Bag Mama readers!

If you are a parent or grandparent, you know how easy it is for kids to make a mess of their toys. With the ECR4Kids 4 Tier Plastic Storage Organizer, you can keep your child's playroom or bedroom easily organized. This storage rack comes with 12 assorted bins, 8 small and 4 large in 4 different colors: red, blue, yellow and green. It also features metal support bars for durability! Its assembled weight is 26 lbs and its dimensions are 37.50" x 14.00" x 33.00".

Housewife on a Mission had the opportunity to review this organizer, you can read her review here.

One lucky person is going to win a 4 Tier Plastic Storage Organizer by ECR4Kids! 

Open to US residents only, ages 18+ and ends on 5/30/14 at 11:59 PM EST. 

 Enter below & good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Housewife on a Mission and the blogs participating are not responsible for prize fulfillment/shipment. Housewife on a Mission received a 4 Tier Storage Organizer to review at no cost and was not compensated for hosting this giveaway, nor were we compensated in any way for the promotion of this giveaway. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and any other social media are not affiliated with this giveaway. If you have any questions please contact the host of this giveaway at info(at)housewifeonamission.com

Friendliest Chicken Breeds

Buff Orpington Hen

Please click HERE for original picture source under THIS license. I am not the owner of this picture nor make any claims to such. This picture has not been altered.

            Howdy! Today I want to introduce you to some of the friendlier breeds of chickens...Because who wants to deal with a difficult one their first time around?! Plus, I assume a lot of you reading this post have children or grandchildren and are taking how docile a chicken is into consideration. :)

            As you can read, pictured above is a Buff Orpington chicken. When my husband first started doing research into different breeds, their personalities, etc., this is the first one we considered getting for our first backyard chicken venture. Buff Orpintons are said to be one of the most docile breeds of chickens. (Note: "Buff" is a color descriptor. "Orpington" is the actual breed.) The only reason we didn't personally choose these is that they can weigh up to 11 pounds full grown. So, if you're wanting to raise chickens to get a hefty amount of meat from them eventually as well, this is the bird for you. However, compared to the Barred Rock chickens we ended up getting (which are smaller), for us bigger bird=more feed=more money. For more first-hand info on Orpingtons, check out Backyard Chickens' page on them HERE.

 Barred Rock Hens

Image Source HERE under THIS license. This photo has not been altered.

            As I mentioned, we ended up going with Barred Rock (or Plymouth Rock) chickens. They are also regarded as one of the friendlier chicken breeds. These little ladies can weigh up to 7.5 pounds, according to their Wiki page HERE. As I've mentioned in previous posts, our 1 1/2 year old daughter can walk right up to them without them causing much fuss. I'm told that they will become even more docile as they get older. They are also good "cold hardy" chickens, but will do well in warmer climates as well.

 Silky Bantam

Image source HERE under THIS license. This photo has not been altered.

            I have also read that "Easter Eggers", Silkies, and more are good, docile breeds to start off with. It really just depends on you and the environment the chickens will be living in as well as to what breed will be "perfect" for your family. Easter Eggers lay varying colors of eggs, depending on the coloration of the chicken itself. Silkies, in my opinion, are kind of like the poodles of the chicken world. They look very "fanciful", but are said to be very lovable chickens and enjoy being held. Here are some sites that can give you more information on individual chicken breeds (in no particular order of importance):

Backyard Chickens

Fresh Eggs Daily
The Chicken Chick

The Chicken Whisperer

            Some of these sites have giveaways occasionally for chicken-related items (If I remember right, it was The Chicken Whisperer who had huge coop and more giveaway packages recently on his Facebook page), so be sure to check back every now and then if you're looking to score some freebies to help you in your chicken venture!

This post is linked up at the Homestead Barn Hop. Check out the other great homesteading posts HERE.

 You can also find it here:

 

Taking "Green" Time for Myself-Natural Living Blog Carnival

Welcome to the May 2014 Natural Living Blog Carnival: Green Moms.

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Natural Living Blog Carnival hosted by Happy Mothering and Crunchy Farm Baby through the Green Moms Network. This month, our members are talking about how they take time to care for themselves. Stop by all of the posts to get green ideas on how you can take better care of yourself .
 
            Hey folks! I'm excited to be participating in this month's Natural Living Blog Carnival for the first time! This month's theme is "Green Moms" and you will find lots of different blog posts in the linky below on how other naturally minded moms make "green" time for themselves.
            The first thing that popped in my head for this month's theme was our bath and body products. My husband and I have made DRASTIC changes to what personal hygiene products we use since our daughter was born, including making our own!
            While there are some amazing products for sale out there that really are true to their natural/organic labeling, we quickly became disgruntled by how many products that claim to be made with all natural ingredients really aren't. So, we began making our own! And let me tell you, you might be surprised by how easy and cost effective it can be! Many of our products contain ingredients that we A) already had on hand, such as baking soda and essential oils or B) were relatively cheap to buy.
            All of our hand soaps, cleaning sprays, body wash, and even shampoo bars and fizzy bath bombs we make ourselves. There's nothing quite like knowing exactly what we're putting on our bodies and where it came from! Talk about peace of mind. I love that we're no longer exposing ourselves to toxic chemicals.

Left: Shampoo Bars

Right: Fizzy Bath Bombs

You can also find our items for sale in our Etsy shop HERE.

            Another natural change I've made to my daily hygiene regimen is using honey as a "face wash". I SO wish I would have done this sooner! It originally started out as an experiment of sorts on my blog at the beginning of this year. I wanted to find out for myself if honey was really as magical as everyone claimed it was. I've had bad skin since high school and I will admit I still have some trouble spots, but using raw honey has definitely helped my face clear up! If you ever decide to try this for yourself, be sure you use the raw, unpasteurized honey, otherwise it won't contain all of the "good stuff", such as antioxidants.

Visit Happy Mothering and Crunchy Farm Baby to learn more about participating in next month’s Natural Living Blog Carnival! Please take some time to enjoy the posts our other carnival participants have contributed: