Archive for Family Stuff

Minnie Mouse Costume Review

FFR image for posts

It’s never too early to start thinking about Halloween costumes!  Wholesale Halloween Costumes has a huge line of costumes for every budget and person in your family.

Minnie 1

We received this adorable Minnie Mouse Costume for my daughter (About Minni Mouse). The package came with the dress and ears.  The costume is mostly polyester material. The headband does not have teeth on it, making it easy on your child’s head (I wore the headband myself for about a half hour and it didn’t hurt my head, either).

minnie 2

My daughter looks delightful and ready to have fun in this Queen of Disney costume.  She said it was comfortable and it fit her well.  The costume was easy to put on and has Velcro on the back by her neck.

You can order this costume or choose from many that Wholesale Halloween Costumes offers!


signature

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Week #22 Saturday Top Five Laughs

Saturdays Top Laughs dentistmelsbbutton-11

Can’t believe another week has come and gone already! But it’s time for Saturday top Five Laughs with Mel over at The Mommyhood Chronicles for week #22 (for us) in our Saturday Top Five Laughs of the week.

5. This one happened when we went mini golfing a few weeks ago. I only remembered it when I posted the photo yesterday. Mini golfing as a large family is hilarious! Especially when half our children had never mini golfed before. They start out by hitting the ball like it’s a puck in a hockey game and you know what happens then! The children loved it and can’t wait to go back. Next time though, we want to go when the go-carts are open!

4. Lokie is fun to watch, though this week I haven’t had much time, but the children have. He even climbed the manure pile only to roll down it, lay there and wait for his mother to fawn over him!

3. I told O to plant shelling peas at the end of the rows already planted, meaning the last bed, but she planted them at the end of the tomato beds after the tomatoes. Tomatoes and peas cannot be planted together because of the negative affect one will have on the other. Another Amelia Bedilia moment in which she took me quite literally. I also think she didn’t hear part of my instructions because she was heading down the hallway to the door.

2. Jr. and JAG (our 10 year old) were running around outside. JAG was doing this super hero run and paused with his arms in a pumping motion. What does Jr. do? The same thing. Too cute!

FFR Padfoot drinking from Dixie cup

1. We went to the park yesterday afternoon after the children worked hard planting in the garden. They wanted to take Padfoot, our dog, so I let them. Well, we forgot to bring him a water dish so he got to use a Dixie cup like the rest of us!


signature

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

ZonePerfect Blog Forward Challenge #2

I am a part the 2014 ZonePerfect Blog Forward Challenge and received complimentary product and ZonePerfect promotional items. All opinions are my own.
ZonePerfect Nutrition for the New Year
Click the image above for the link to the nutritional printables!

It’s been a few months since I posted my ZonePerfect Challenge #1. I had to re-read my post to see what my 2014 resolutions were and here they are, as well as my update on how I am doing in accomplishing them:

1. Increase our income. (I *think* God is well on His way to answering this prayer…need a bit more time to be sure.) This is definitely happening, but we still have a ways to go yet. I am grateful for the improvement so far.

2. Nutrition. Eat and grow more vegetables to we can freeze and can our winter supply.  This is in the works as we have 20-30 50 foot beds tilled and ready to plant veggies in for our family and our CSA members. This makes me very happy, but I am a little anxious because I want everything to grow beautifully!

ZonePerfect Healthy Swaps

3. Take our children on more field trips. This one…..needs more work! We haven’t gone on any field trips yet this year. However, we did go mini golfing! It was hilarious and lots of fun!

FFR Gould Children Mini Golfing

4. Get more organized as a whole family – mostly the house as it is an ongoing battle, that and getting the children to stay on task. Errr….this one is ongoing, challenging and seems like a never-ending task! I think it’s also the most frustrating.

As a part of this challenge, we received a complimentary box of ZonePerfect bars, which we thoroughly enjoyed. ZonePerfect wants me to let you in on a little something:

“Become A ZonePerfect® VIP & Save up to $10*

Your first coupon will be emailed to you. Join Now <<

*$10 in savings relates to savings spread across a one year period and may vary.*”

Have you accomplished any of your 2014 goals or resolutions?


signature

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Week #21 Saturday Top Five Laughs

Saturdays Top Laughs dentistmelsbbutton-11

It’s time for Saturday top Five Laughs with Mel over at The Mommyhood Chronicles for week #21 (for us) in our Saturday Top Five Laughs of the week. Actually it’s six this week.

6. My husband doesn’t drink hot drinks but he knows how to make me a tea. This week with it being so cold we’ve been back to drinking hot chocolate so he made some. The one he made for me wasn’t bad but the one he mad for Jr. had Jr. saying, “Daddy, what did you put in my hot chocolate?” I asked hubby if he put sugar in it. He goes, “You put sugar in hot chocolate?” We use cocoa and sugar and make our own mix but this week there was no mix and he didn’t know to put sugar in with the cocoa! I told Jr. to tell hubby he makes yucky hot chocolate! ;)

5. My husband was bending over getting a bag of plastic clips for fencing and he heard our youngest daughter laughing. When he turned to see what she was laughing at she was aiming a BB gun at his butt…and no it was not loaded. Can’t tell she is smack dab in the middle of four boys?!

4. My husband had put the little boys to bed at 8-ish. Jr. wakes up a couple hours later to announce to hubby, “Your arm pits smell like poo!”

3. Someone share this on Moms.com and it cracked me up:

2. My children came to me and asked “What do normalers talk about?” I was like, “What do you mean normalers?” They said, “Mom! Normal people!?” As if I would know what they were talking about. I said, “What makes you think you are not normal?” They go, “Mom, we are abnormal. Why would we want to be normal?” I said, “You’d be surprised to know normal people talk about the things we talk about, gas, politics, religion….” They didn’t believe me and said they wanted to go some place like a museum or whatever to watch normal people. Me? I think it’s just and excuse for a day out! lol!

1. Jr. has discovered he can pee outside. Need I say more? Sigh.


signature

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

The Waiting Book & Giveaway

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing and participating in The Waiting review. We are being compensated by Tyndale Publishing and The Motherhood. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review and compensation, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

FFR The Waiting Book Cover

All I wanted to do this past Mother’s Day was relax and read The Waiting by Cathy LaGrow. My husband let me sleep in and when I woke up I read my book. What I didn’t expect to give myself was a huge headache, a pile of tissues, and red, puffy eyes!

FFR Teary eyes after The Waiting
Lighting in our bathroom is awful! Should have taken it somewhere else!

I don’t think I have ever cried as much while reading a book as I did during The Waiting. That’s why I took pictures of my pile of tissues and red, puffy eyes.

On to the review….

The Waiting Review

The Waiting is a true story of a woman’s wait to see her first born daughter again after giving her up for adoption.

I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down until I was done. I shooed my children away , mostly because I didn’t want them sitting there on the bed with me watching and staring at me while I cried buckets of tears!

As emotional as the book made me, I cannot imagine living it as Minka did. I cannot imagine giving up my child and waiting 77 years to see her again.

There are so many facets of the story that show God’s faithfulness to a young mother and her years of praying and waiting. The fact that all the letters Minka wrote to the director of the “home” (like a pregnancy crisis center where young girls were sent to hide their pregnancy) were put into Betty Jane/Ruth’s adoption file, which would eventually be proof to Betty Jane/Ruth that her birth mother loved her fiercely for 77 years and never, ever forgot about her.

I loved the reunion and family bond Minka and Ruth’s families experienced upon meeting. I loved the honor and love bestowed upon Minka and how active and involved she continues to be even at age 102 (or possibly 103 at the time of this review). There’s so much more I could say but I think you should just read the book…how often do I say that!?

I highly recommend this very inspirational book. You won’t regret it. My daughter B read it the same day I did!

The Waiting in the Press

The NBC TODAY Show interviewed the author of The Waiting, Cathy LaGrow, who is Minka’s granddaughter. The interview aired on Friday, May 9, click the NBC link to watch it.

Tyndale is Giving Away FIVE Copies of The Waiting!

Enter to win one of five copies of The Waiting below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


signature

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

VTech Phone System for Seniors & Giveaway

FFR image for posts

A year or two ago my mother-in-law was going about her usual morning, however, one normal routine proved disastrous for her. She used her dresser to pull herself up from her bed and she inadvertently caused the dresser to fall on her, trapping her. My husband worked five minutes from her home. That one day he called her before he left work instead of dropping by but the phone was busy. He thought nothing of it and decided she was talking to his aunt and left for home instead of going over to her house. My mother-in-law in the meantime tried to use her cane to get her bedside phone but only knocked it off the hook. Fast forward 24 hours later, my brother-in-law discovers her with the dresser STILL on top of her. A bit of her history: she’s a diabetic with a history of leg and foot clots. Talk about scary! After recovering, she was suppose to get an emergency bracelet but I don’t think the home nurse ever followed through and to be honest we allowed it to fall through the cracks as well. Enter the VTech Phone System for Seniors.

The VTech Phone System for Seniors

FFR VTech CareLine Home Phone

FFR VTech CareLine Home Phone_1

My mother-in-law is nearing 82 years old and still lives on her own. Yes, even after the above incident. “VTech’s new CareLine home telephone system supports independent living, featuring a wearable pendant that allows seniors to conveniently make and receive calls, listen to voicemail messages, review missed calls or receive programmed reminders for medication, appointments or other events.” This seems like the perfect phone for my mother-in-law!

We have been testing it out before taking it to my mother-in-law’s house. It has large numbers, it has a bright display and it calls out the numbers as you dial as well as announces a call. We love that it has the pendant to go around her neck so she can just push the button if she finds herself in a situation where she needs help. We are looking forward to installing this phone in her home. Hoping she likes it too!

The best part – No fees!

VTech CareLine – Want to stay socially connected? Seniors are empowered to maintain active lifestyles and close relationships with this home telephone and personal communication system. This product was designed to answer your daily communications needs and support hearing, dexterity or vision challenges. Features include large displays, photo speed dial, reminder capabilities, volume boost and a wearable pendant with one-button dialing that directly calls those pre-selected people who you communicate with most or for emergencies.

The VTech CareLine home telephone retails for $119.95 and may be purchased at VTech.

Do you have a loved one who could use a phone system like this? Enter to win below!

VTech Phone System for Seniors Giveaway

One winner of a VTech Careline home telephone. Ends 5/28.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


signature

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Meet Atlas Our Babydoll Ram Lamb

FFR Atlas_2_042814

Atlas, our Babydoll ram lamb and third lamb (we still have our loaner Oopsie), arrived on our farm on April 28 at eight weeks old, which is the recommended age of weaning and going to a new home. We brought him home in the back of our “truck”, like we did the other lambs.

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

We already got our papers for Atlas, since he is a registered Babydoll sheep. We are still waiting on Juno’s, her breeder sends all her lambs in at once.

FFR Atlas Babydoll Certificate

It has been fun watching our son and all our children fall in love with our sheep.

FFR B and Atlas.052014

FFR Gould children, sheep, atlas down


signature

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

AAOS + AA Distracted Driving

If we are honest, we all can probably say we have been distracted at one time or another while driving. Driving with a newborn crying with hunger? Driving with a toddler who wants to get out of his or her car seat? Driving by a car pulled over by 2-3 police cars leaving you curious as to why? What about cell phone users? Texting? We have a teenager on the verge of learning how to drive (she’s studying her driver’s handbook now) and it scares me to think of her out on the road. It isn’t that I think she’ll be a terrible driver, it’s the distractions, it’s the other drivers and their distractions.

Distracted Driving Vehicle

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Auto Alliance want to increase awareness about the risks of distracted driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the nearly 33,000 roadway fatalities in 2012, there were 3,328 fatalities and approximately 421,000 injuries in distracted driving-related crashes. Orthopaedic surgeons—the specialists who put bones and limbs back together after road crashes and traumas—along with our partners, the automakers, would rather help all drivers “decide to drive” each time they get in the car and to keep bones and limbs intact.

Distracted Driving

We all want to see accidents reduced so remember, the most advanced safety feature of any vehicle is the driver. The AAOS and the Auto Alliance urges all drivers to keep their most sophisticated safety features engaged at all times: eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

Decide to Drive Campaign


The Decide to Drive program aims to empower drivers and passengers to speak up about distracted driving, continue the conversation at home, work and play, and reduce distracted behaviors behind the wheel.

Do you have the best slogan or catch phrase to make the Decide to Drive campaign pop? Enter the Decide to Drive Catch Phrase Contest between May 28 – June 13. Your words could be chosen as the official Decide to Drive campaign catch phrase, and you could win one of two $500 runner-up prizes or the $1,000 grand prize! Can’t wait to see what you come up with! Enter here: http://clvr.li/1nwa6CV

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.


signature

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Mom’s Night Out Papa Murphy’s Pizza Party & Movie!

FFR image for posts59313_153232958028667_6812836_n

images (3)

 

What better way to celebrate MOM than with a party! We celebrated my fellow mommy friends with a Papa Murphy’s Pizza Party and boy did we have fun!

CAM00190

I will not lie the best part of the night was getting together with family and friends…BUT the Pizza was awesome too! Papa Murphy’s offers a great selection of Pizza to take and bake at home! We were able to order exactly what we wanted and took it home for our little party! And mmm was it good!

images (2)

We had a few children at our party because in our circle of moms some cannot ever get out without them! LOL! … the children delighted in their own “mini murph” pizza for kids! It is a child size pizza in pepperoni or cheese just for the little ones to make at home! The children thought it was awesome!

CAM00191

 Check out the Papa Murphy’s E Club for coupons or find deals in your area:

http://www.papamurphys.com/deals/

 

download

Another sweet Treat of the Mommy Party was that my sister and I were also delighted to be able to go see the new Movie “Mom’s Night Out” … we were anticipating its arrival since the pizza party …but had to wait a few days until it arrived in theaters! Well … the day finally arrived and we enjoyed it thoroughly! I can honestly say it was a laugh out loud movie with all emotions bundled into a great movie! We laughed, we cried, we had a great time!  I must say that this is a movie that everyone can enjoy! It is out in theaters right now!

Check out their website for more information on the movie!

http://www.momsnightoutmovie.com/

 


signature

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

The Original Loom Boom Review

FFR image for posts

logo

 

 

Calling all Rainbow loom lovers! There is a great new product out on the market to use to organize and display your creations! The Original LOOM BOOM!

download

This is a great product to create, collect, and store your rainbow loom creations! You  can stack your bracelets on one the handle Loom Boom and then showcase them , collect them, or bring them…anywhere you want!

 

The Original Loom Boom Review

We were elated to be able to review the loom boom! Our house is overrun with bracelets and rubber bands from the rainbow loom craze! We have 3 rainbow looms in our house so you can imagine our stock of bracelets!

We LOVE the fact that the Loom Boom is portable and big enough to store the bracelets and he collection tray at the bottom is great for storing unused rubber bands, loom rings or projects in the making!

CAM00153 CAM00154

 

The other fact I liked as a mom was that it was invented by a child! How great to be able to say to my children that a fellow rainbow loom enthusiast invented this product!

We have been looking for something similar and my daughter had even dabbled in making a holder out of duct tape but once we got a hold of this product we were sold! This is such a great invention!

 

Loom Boom can be found at your local Learning Express or Michael’s stores. I have also seen it at Amazon and Toysrus.com!

 

To find out more about the Loom Boom please visit http://theloomboom.com/

 

 

 


signature

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS