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The Christmas Web – A Christmas Tradition

This is a compensated post.

We’ve all probably participated in “Christmas in July” events or sales, I know I have multiple times over. It’s fun! Christmas is one of our family’s favorite holidays. Each of us has our own Christmas family tradition passed down from one generation to the next, but have you ever started a new holiday tradition? We have started a couple and our children have really enjoyed them.

The Christmas Web

If you are looking to start a new family tradition, consider www.ChristmasWeb.com The Chirstmas Web comes in a gift set – a hard covered, unique story book titled, “The Christmas Web” and three magic wands in nice packaging that can be used as a display as well. It’s a very cute idea to have children (or adults too!) find their special Christmas gift by following a literal web.

The Christmas Web retails for $39.99, however, right now there’s a “Spring Sale” going on and they are just $29.99. A 25% discount with the code SALE. Just enter the word SALE in the promotional code box to get the 25% discount at www.ChristmasWeb.com. One these are gone the price will go back to $39.99

Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjAXh74jYZA

We received The Christmas Web and our younger children liked it and said it was a nice idea and a sweet story. A couple of them even asked when we could use the wands and I told them at Christmas. The next question was, “When is Christmas?” Then the children were trying to figure out how long they had to wait! We look forward to creating a new tradition this Christmas. Then again maybe we could try it for one of our children’s upcoming birthdays. Whether it’s Christmas or in celebration of some other event, I know our children will enjoy having fun following the Christmas web to discover a special treat or gift at the end of the line.


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5 Things to Do in Our Town During Spring Break

Spring

We do not have a lot planned while my mom is here. Our beast is out of commission. It broke down a couple of weeks ago right at the end of a farmer friend’s driveway when we were visiting to learn more about goats. Our 14 year old has been interested in goats for…oh…about five years or more I’d say. We gifted her an educational goat class through one of the local farm organizations one year for her birthday and this year we plan to give her a goat. So what we’d do, but what another family chooses to do on Spring Break will probably completely different.

Here are 5 things to do in our town during Spring Break:

1. Go to the theater. Surely there’s one family friendly one playing.
2. Visit a park. Depending on the weather you might be able to hit a few during the week of Spring Break.
3. Go to the Farmers Market.
4. Coordinate a visit to a local farm. This is for the sake of other families since we live on a farm. But even so we enjoy visiting other farms and learning from them.
5. Travel to Chicago to visit a museum or Shedd Aquarium. This is something we plan to do in the fall when the public schools are back in session and the crowds are minimal.

So what is there to do in your town during Spring Break?


Inspired by another one of Mama Kat’s writing prompts: 5 things to do in your town during Spring Break. Mama Kat’s prompts sure came in handy when it came time to do up blog posts in advance for my mom’s visit!


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My Mom Arrives Tomorrow!

My mom arrives tomorrow and we still have so much to do. Our plan to use five days to organized sort of back fired. Oh we’ve been working on things every day, but as soon as things are done they quickly become undone! That happens in a household of eight children! So we have track lighting, to put back up after some individual took it down from where it was over our rec room desk, for some unknown reason. We still have to set up mom’s bed and I have to get it made, with linens set out for her, laundry (we do laundry every day so that’s nothing new) and just general tidying; which I am sure will be undone before we can blink our eyes. Good thing mom had four children, but still it’d be nice if the house was presentable for her arrival at least.

Not to mention I am still working on March posts and will still have VA work to do while she’s here – trying to keep it to a minimum but I think it’s going to be tough. I think between contributing writers’ posts and mine we have posts every day up until March 18, which isn’t bad, but many of mine still need to be written! Here’s to hoping today and tomorrow are very productive…ha!
Flights from Halifax to Chicago

We are so excited to be able to spend time with my mom. She is excited about coming. She’s nervous about flying and getting lost, but I reassured her now that they have non-stop flights traveling from Nova Scotia to Chicago she doesn’t have to deal with Toronto or Ottawa airports. She’ll get off the plane and Robert should be waiting for her. She says she’ll be outside having a smoke after going four hours without! We are hoping her ecigarettes arrive within the week so she can try those while she’s here. She’s excited about trying them and I am impressed she has the desire to. Praying for positive results!

Here’s to three weeks of fun with my mom!

“This sponsored post was made possible by SheHeard. I have been compensated for my time and work on this campaign, however all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.”


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The Importance of Family Bonding

Amazing things happen when a family comes together to do things together. A family that can bond will be a family that is united forever. It is important to plan family bonding activities because they strengthen family relationships. Family bonding happens naturally, but it can also be enhanced with just a bit of effort. Good communication and group activities are good ways to improve your family ties.

Online Games

In today’s fast paced world, work tends to take away the time we spend with our children. It is important to take some time out of our busy schedule and make sure that we provide them with the quality time that they deserve. One particular activity that my family and I love to do is already done right in the comfort of our own home, and that is having lunch or dinner together. Eating a family meal together not only promotes healthy eating habits, but also gives family members time to catch up with the day’s activities. Another thing that my kids love to do is to watch movies together. Whether it is a new film on the cinema or an old Disney classic watched from your living room television, the warmth and presence of the whole family together certainly helps in strengthening family ties.

Another thing to do as a family is to have fun and play games together. We actually have one particular night were in we play board games like monopoly at home or play a game of bingo on weekends. My love for the game of bingo started when it was introduced to me by my grandmother when I was still a young child growing up. And in today’s world of online games and in today’s world of online games, I was lucky enough to come across Cheekybingo.com to enjoy my favorite game. Cheeky Bingo is the UK’s top online bingo site and has grown to become an iconic figure in online gaming. Playing bingo and other games at home with my family is certainly an activity that helps promote family bonding. These are just some of the many activities that a family can do together to maintain good family ties. It is important to tell your children you love them every day, but it is just as important to show it to them. Spending quality time with the family is the key.

This is a featured post by a guest writer.


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Sears Patio Furniture #GrillingisHappiness @Sears #Ad

This is the first year winter has gone by fast for me. I spend all winter looking forward to spring and summer. What about you? Warmer weather will be here soon, considering it’s only a month before it is officially spring. Warm weather brings longer days (yay!), BBQs and lots of outdoor activities. Sears believes outdoor living is a lifestyle, not just a seasonal must-have.

Remember last year when I did a post about my dream patio and included Sears patio furniture? I am still dreaming of that patio. If you are looking for a new patio set, you’ve gotta check out this new lighted patio furniture Sears has available!

lighted Patio_Sears

This exclusive patio set will extend your time outdoors with the Halley collection of patio furniture from La-Z-Boy and Bella Luna collection of patio furniture from Agio – only at Sears.

Don’t let the outdoor fun stop there though, Sears also has this new Kenmore Elite Grill for this summer of 2013. It has three burners, 692 sq. inches of cooking space and a warming rack.

Kenmore Grill_Sears

We can agree that Sears patio furniture and grills offer sophisticated outdoor furniture to match your taste and pocket book. Get ready for warmer weather by heading to Sears for all your summertime needs! http://bit.ly/Yy6TVk


“This is a sponsored post. I am a Sears blogger, though all opinions are my own.”

 

 


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When a Loved One Smokes

My mom is coming for a visit from Nova Scotia, Canada in March. We haven’t seen her in four years. Yikes! We know. Kind of sad. Usually she prefers not to come visit us in the winter because we are NON-smokers and of course there is no smoking in our home so my mom has to smoke outside. Brrrrr…..It’s not going to be the warmest in March here in Chicagoland. Nah-uh. She asked me to tell the children to figure out a way for her to stay warm when she goes outside to smoke. We have yet to come up with anything. :( It’s hard when a loved one smokes and you don’t.

No Smoking

Both my parents smoked all during my grown up years. My mom says she couldn’t tolerate smoking while she was pregnant with me because it made her sick, so even from the womb I didn’t like cigarette smoke! My mom was always more conscientious about rolling down her window etc. than my dad was when they were smoking in the car. She’s still like that today. She doesn’t like the children to stand right next to her when she’s smoking and will tell them to move away so they don’t breathe it in. It’s kind of hard for them to stay away from their grandmother for very long when they only see her every several years – she’s not tech savvy so there’s no skype-ing or Facetime going on around here to stay in touch between visits. That’s something we have to work on.

My mom and dad both tried to quit smoking numerous times when I was a child, even trying hypnosis, but to no avail they couldn’t break the nicotine habit.

When my mom comes in March I am hoping to present her with an electric cigarette in hopes that when she tries it she may feel motivated to try to quit smoking again and just maybe, just maybe, that smokers cough will improve too.

When a loved one smokes and you don’t what do you do?

This is a compensated post.
 

 

 


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Homemade Caramel Candy Recipe – Wordless Wednesday

Homemade Caramel Candy FFR

My daughter was on a baking spree last week. Remember she made the homemade chocolate chip recipe, then what does she go and do? She made a homemade caramel candy recipe. She was making homemade twix bars for our tea party and needed caramel to make them. So she did what any person does these days and turned to Google. She searched for “homemade caramels” and found a recipe for caramels…highly comparable to the brand name caramels you buy for caramel apples in the fall, only now we don’t have to buy them anymore because we have a non-GMO version. B substituted the corn syrup for honey and the regular sugar for organic sugar and the results was a soft, smooth, yummlicious caramel treat. Granted for the purpose of the this post, the caramel candy shown in the photo is more like a caramel square than caramel candy – and eating that much would be a very, very rich treat.

Yum, yum, yum!

Have a Wordless Wednesday post? Link up yours below:

http://www.faithandfamilyreviews.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=11490&action=edit


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Making Memories With Bigelow Tea #AmericaTeas #CBias

Tea parties have always been a delightful pastime in our family. I grew up having tea with my grandmother. That’s where my love of tea started. From the time my girls were little we have been having tea parties too. The tea parties continued as the years went by to include their younger brothers and sister. I think the boys enjoy tea parties as much as the girls! The food and treats might have something to do with that. ;) They remember past tea parties and look forward to future ones with huge smiles on their faces.

Baking Girls 2

Bigelow Tea

Bigelow Tea Cinnamon Stick 1

Bigelow Tea bursts with flavor and they have such a variety of tea, quite unlike other tea brands. From herbal and decaffeinated to caffeinated flavors there truly is a tea for everyone. Their foil packaging of the individual tea bags do not break open like other brands which use paper packaging. The tea bags are sealed tight making transporting them from one location to another easy and helps keep the tea bags fresh. I personally love the family owned and operated aspect of Bigleow Tea. It definitely means a lot to me as a consumer and business owner myself to support another family owned business.

Making Memories with Bigelow Tea

This past weekend we created a Bigelow Tea moment by hosting a family tea party. We had just run out of tea, so two of my daughters and I went to Walmart to select and purchase some of our favorite (and new) flavors of Bigelow Tea. We were first introduced to Bigelow tea through my mother-in-law and have loved it ever since.

Walmart had three shelves full of Bigelow Tea and I somehow managed to only get a portion of those shelves. The aisle was so busy and every time I went to take a photo someone went by so I thought I had got a shot but actually didn’t.

Bigelow Tea 14

Preparing for Tea Party 2

My children were giddy with excitement and anticipation of participating in our family tea party. So while the girls and I were at the store the rest of the crew were busy cleaning, baking and preparing for our special tea party.

Tea Party Cupboard 2

When we arrived back home everyone else had the table nearly ready and were eager to get started.

Bigelow Tea Party 2

Family Bigelow Tea Party 2

Cup of Bigelow Tea 2

We served homemade bread sticks, shortbread, lemon cake and of course Bigelow Tea. It was so nice to sit around the table together on a cold winter day to warm not only our bellies but our spirit of togetherness. The conversation was light we talked about food, what new tea flavors we liked, our home schedule and of course our farming plans. The mood was festive and most of all everyone enjoyed making memories with Bigelow Tea!

“I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Bigelow Tea #CBias #SocialFabric #AmericasTea All opinions are my own.”


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Keep Children Healthy this Season ~ Avoid RSV in Young Children

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a very scary thing for new parents…or any parents for that matter. Premature infants are at greatest risk! My first child was a month early and weighed in under 5 pounds. My sister had premature twins that were only 3 pounds each at birth. We both had our scares with RSV…but were very fortunate not to contract the virus.

The treat of RSV is one of the reasons I chose to stay home with my children and quit teaching in the traditional classroom. Daycare was very scary for many reasons to this protective mama…and RSV was one of those scary things!

When my daughter entered school she had pneumonia 3 times in kindergarten and I cannot help but think to imagine what she could have picked up had she been in a daycare setting.

We have had a few friends who have had to deal with this disease and it can be devastating to a family. But remember since almost 100% of babies will contract RSV…we may have had it and not even known it!

In fact the fact that my daughter had pneumonia 3 times in kindergarten could partially be because of the RSV virus. Luckily we were able to treat or and not have any further complications. However, sometimes if not treated or prevented RSV can be deadly.

I have 3 children and the only one who ever showed signs of RSV or its negative effects (pneumonia) was my oldest daughter. She was a preemie and I took all of the precautions of dealing with RSV and other sicknesses she could contract. I mean she had no other siblings, I did not work (so no daycare), we limited visitors to the house, we practice good hygiene and hand washing….yet somehow we still had our bout with illness.

My other 2 children were always relatively healthy and never showed signs of illness aside from the common cold. Even when having school age siblings…did I do anything different? NO, in fact I was probably more “loose” with the next two …taking them out more often, etc. But they STILL might have had the disease and been carriers and I would never know it.

PLEASE take the time to educate your self on RSV as it could have long term and devastating effects on your family or others with whom you come in contact.

RSV Infographic

Please read the information below to learn more about the threat of RSV

The Threat of RSV in Child Care and School Settings

It is estimated that 82% of U.S. children aged six weeks to six years old, spend some amount of time in child care. Whether it’s five or 50 hours a week, the risks of spending time in a daycare or pre-school setting are the same — increased exposure to contagious germs and viruses.

Children’s inborn behavioral habits such as a need for close interpersonal
contact and lack of good personal hygiene, combined with an environment that promotes and rewards sharing, make daycare settings an environment for infection spreading. Because their immune systems are not yet fully developed, this is especially worrisome for very pre-term babies in daycare, or with school-aged siblings who bring germs into the home.

Premature infants are very susceptible to infection in the early weeks of their lives, so contracting something as small as the common cold can present danger. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common, seasonal virus that affects two-thirds of all infants by age one and almost 100% of babies by age two, because it’s highly contagious. RSV can live on surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, toys, bedding) for several hours and is often spread through touching, hugging and kissing.
Daycare increases this risk of RSV spreading as children are constantly sharing toys, tables and high chairs as well as eating and napping in close quarters.
RSV typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms, but in some babies it results in a serious respiratory infection.
Those most at risk for severe RSV include premature infants, as their lungs aren’t fully developed and they have fewer infection-fighting antibodies than full-term babies.
The RSV season typically runs from November through March, so during the winter months parents should be especially
careful to watch for signs of RSV.

Below are symptoms of severe RSV infection that require immediate medical care:
· Coughing or wheezing that does not stop
· Fast or troubled breathing
· Spread-out nostrils and/or a caved-in chest when trying to breathe
· Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
· Fever (especially if it is over 100.4°F in infants under 3 months of age)

If a child has milder symptoms of RSV, the virus will likely run its course without any cause for parental alarm. It is important; however, for these parents to remember that even a mild case of RSV can be spread to other children, some of whom may be at high-risk for developing a serious infection from the virus. For this reason, it’s always best to keep a sick child home when possible, to prevent the spread of germs and viruses.
Once contracted, there is no treatment for RSV, so working together to prevent the risk of RSV is critical. All parents should take steps to prevent the spread of the virus, including always washing their hands and child’s hands, and asking others to do the same. It’s also important to remember to keep toys, clothes, blankets, and sheets clean and avoid crowds and other sick children during RSV season.
Prevention is especially important for babies at increased risk of becoming ill from RSV. Parents of preemies should be informed of the dangers of RSV, as well as the risks that certain child care settings can present. If possible, parents of highrisk babies may want to consider alternate options, such as nannies or in-home daycare centers, where exposure to dangerous germs can be minimized. Regardless of child care settings, it’s important for parents who believe their child may be at high-risk for RSV to speak with a doctor about prevention.

A few facts about RSV that all parents, caregivers and loved ones should know:
· Almost every baby will contract RSV by age 2, but only 1/3 of moms say they’ve heard of the virus.
· Serious RSV infection is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, responsible for more than 125,000
hospitalizations and up to 500 infant deaths each year.
· RSV occurs in epidemics each fall through spring. The CDC has defined “RSV season” as beginning in November
and lasting through March for most parts of North America.
· Certain babies are at an increased risk of developing serious RSV infection, so it’s important to speak with a
pediatrician to determine if a baby may be at high risk for RSV, and discuss preventive measures.
· Symptoms of serious RSV infection include: persistent coughing or wheezing; rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths;
blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails; high fever; extreme fatigue; and difficulty feeding. Parents
should contact a medical professional immediately upon signs of these symptoms.
· There is no treatment for RSV, so it’s important for parents to take preventive steps to help protect their child (wash
hands, toys, bedding frequently; avoid crowds and cigarette smoke).

Visit www.RSVProtection.com and follow #RSVProtection on Twitter for more information.

 

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

www.momcentralconsulting.com

 


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TOY DOZER Review

A CHORE NO MORE!

THE TOY DOZER MAKES TOY CLEAN UP FAST, EASY, AND FUN FOR EVERYONE!

 logo150

 

January is National Organization month so what a better way to celebrate but with a product to clean up toys! Our house is overloaded with toys…especially with Christmas just past…we are busting at the seems! This product gives an innovative way to clean up toys with a “scoop” of the wrist! More importantly this is a toy that teaches…by involving children in clean up time, children learn the importance of responsibility. I know that responsibility is a value I am trying to instill in my children…so I am very happy that a “toy” can assist in that venue!

6.2

The Toy Dozer is a great product that helps parents and kids clean up all of the toys that we can find overwhelming and exhausting to clean up…just a little more fun! Check out the product in use in the video below:

What exactly is the Toy Dozer? It is a simple yet GENIUS invention! The product is similar to a dustpan … but instead of a broom to “sweep” in messes you have a handy little scooper. The one thing I like about this is the “scooper” Velcro’s inside the dustbin portion of the dozer. This is great… since I would hate to loose part of the product. Do you know how many times I have just wanted to use a broom to sweep up the toys my children have strewn all over the floor? But really…who want s to use an icky broom to clean up messes? The Toy Dozer created a clean way to get at those big toy messes!

4.2

My children are HUGE Lego fans! My son builds legos almost everyday…and my girls just got into the Lego friends series of Legos so our house was constantly strewn with the little parts. I was constantly picking up pieces and putting them on building plates or in Baggies. WELL… with the toy dozer pick up just got easier. I have to say that this is a great invention for these little pieces. All I have to do is use the scooper and sweep them all into the receptacle container and I easily have cleaned up a huge mess and then can bag the Legos as needed in seconds! This is a time saver for moms and dads! The kids love the product too! Usually the fuss about having to pick up ALL the Legos…but now the chore is fun and fast!

I do have to say that I also think this product has worked will in our house for beading crafts! My daughters received some bead kids for Christmas and after we were all done with the craft we were able to use the Toy Dozer to effectively clean up the beads in one swoop! I think this will be a great addition to craft days in our house as well…. Since it picks up those little pieces that I am forever using a plate or piece of paper to clean up messes.

We have used this product so many different ways… I do not think you will be disappointed. I have to honestly say that at first I thought it would be a Lego picker-upper only…but we have used it for many other things, including Barbie accessory, crayon, and Doll clothes clean up. I hate to say this but my girls’ room often looks like a tornado went through it (I know I am not alone) …but the Toy Dozer has sincerely made clean up easier!

Overall, I am thrilled with this product! It has made a difference in our “Lego” world! What a blessing to have been able to review this product!

The Toy Dozer comes in a variety of colors: Blue, Red, Purple, and Yellow.

Toy Dozer is also MADE IN THE USA!

To find more out about the Toy Dozer please visit: http://www.toydozer.com/

 

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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