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Azure Standard

Posted by html404 on May 29, 2013
in All Natural Products, Family Stuff, Food and Treats, Health, Health and Nutrition, Uncategorized

Our family eats a lot, as you can imagine since we are a family of ten. We eat as much organic products as we can but to buy them in the grocery store or at Whole Foods is really expensive. Co-ops like Azure Standard or Country Life Natural Foods enable us to purchase organic products in bulk and save money at the same time.

We have been using Azure Standard for a year and a half. We place a monthly order on our Azure account. Our drop site is in our town at our local Farm and Fleet parking lot. The drop site is where we help unload the truck for our group’s order and pick up our individual orders. We have a drop site manager who reminds us of order deadlines, pick up times and any changes Azure Standard announces.

Azure has many different products from personal care to bulk rolled oats or quick oats to bulk produce items like a 25 lb bag of organic carrots we like to buy. We have come to love the creamy ice cream they carry – Alden’s – which has no propylene glycol (antifreeze basically) or other harmful chemicals in it.

I love that I can add to or change my order throughout the month right up until the order deadline, since the shopping cart will save my order until I click “submit order”. I appreciate that Azure accepts C.O.D orders so we don’t have to use a credit card but pay with cash or check on pick up day. I love that we do not have to order every month.

There is a minimum order of $50 but our family does not have any trouble meeting it.

There are no member fees, though there are freight charges based on the weight of your total order. To become a member, all you have to do is contact Azure Standard to see if there is a drop site in or near you and they will put you in touch with the drop site manager. Azure even offers a free catalog upon request.

Country Life operates similarly but different. Anyone can place an order, no membership is required, but the minimum is $500 or $600 so more often than not groups of families place an order together and get the order delivered to one family’s home. We really like Azure because of the many different items they carry so we rarely order from Country Life anymore. For the most part, prices are pretty comparable between the two.

Are you a part of any food co-ops? Feel free to share to give readers more resources and choices.

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The Last Time We Were Sick…

Posted by html404 on May 27, 2013
in Articles, Family Stuff, Health, Health and Nutrition, Home, Uncategorized, Writing Prompts

We are pretty protective of exposing our children to illness if we can help it. With as many children as we have, it takes us a very long time to get over any sort of flu bug, cold or illness when it goes through all of them or us. You will probably be surprised to learn that the last time we were sick was probably 18-24 months ago. My husband was sick last fall but only because our landlord’s handyman discovered mold in the wall where the washer had leaked. Once that was taken care of my husband was well again. It’s weird to say but his body really is a mold detector. He’s the first one to experience any adverse affects of mold.

I am usually the most healthy and I chock that up to being a mom. Mom’s cannot get sick because we have to take care of everyone else! My last bout was with my tooth but it’s been behaving itself, thankfully.

Here are the reasons I believe we have gone so long since the last time we were sick:

1. We have managed to avoid large crowds during the winter by just staying at home. We live simply and most of our children are content just to be home bodies. Thus, we avoid any flu bugs going around.

2. We try really hard to eat healthy. We are not fanatics by any means but a healthy diet is a huge part in having a strong immune system. This means we try not to eat prepared foods or anything in the center of the grocery stores. We try to shop the perimeter of the store. We also cook and bake from scratch avoiding harmful sweeteners, artificial flavors and colorings and preservatives.

3. We avoid chemicals and pharmaceuticals as much as we can. We use natural cleaners and fertilizers.

4. We use essential oils on our bodies and even ingest them if we feel a cold or sore throat is beginning. We diffuse them in the air to purify it of germs and impurities.

5. We try to get enough rest. Sometimes that is harder to do during different seasons, but we are pretty adamant about our children getting to bed on time and getting enough sleep.

6. Our children spend the majority of their time outside since we have moved to the country. They are not cooped up in the house all the time and they are much more active than they were when we lived in the townhouse.

I don’t know for sure what has kept us healthy but these are the things I think have helped us. I am extremely grateful for this long run of good health. In the past we have been sick for weeks on end as it went through the whole family, so this has been a blessing to say the least.

What do you do to keep your family healthy?

P.S. This post was inspired by Mama Kat’s Writing Prompts.

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What You May Not Know About Newspaper Delivery

Posted by html404 on May 22, 2013
in Articles, Business, Family Stuff, News Worthy, Uncategorized

You may or may not remember I took on a newspaper route in late December 2012. It’s been interesting, but I am grateful for the weekly paycheck that helps out while waiting to be paid for my other “solo gigs”. I discovered a lot of things about people who deliver newspapers in the last five months and thought it made an interesting enough blog topic and a way to share a little more about my day between 2:30 and 5:30AM…..plus some of my winter frustrations.

What You May Not Know About Newspaper Delivery

We have to hand bag the papers.

We have to stuff the papers with the flyers and often a second insert.

We have to travel in all kinds of weather – winter is the worst.

We have to walk over icy areas with little or no ice melt.

We often get complaints from people who say they didn’t receive their paper, but the wind may have blown it a little to the left/right or in the street. So look a little harder before you file a complaint against your newspaper delivery person.

We do not get paid enough for having to drive hours in the snow, sleet and ice to deliver your paper. We are risking life and limb for a bundle of paper. Think about it.

We get up in the wee hours of the morning to deliver your paper on time.

During high gas prices, our pay is probably used for a quarter to a third for gas, as gas allowance only covers barely an extra tank of gas for the month.

We are independent contractors and not employees of the paper – at least I am.

We have to double bag the newspapers on rainy days, which takes us longer to bag.

We do get use to the odd hours, sort of. At least I think I have, but I still take a nap! The joys of having three teen daughters in the house!

When I started I suffered from sore shoulders and hands from throwing and folding newspapers. That has since subsided except on days when the paper is really thick.

Rural routes can often be 100 miles and take a newspaper delivery person 3-4 hours to complete! That amazed me when one of my co-workers told me that.

In town routes are usually heavy on newspapers but shorter in miles. Like mine. I have 18-25 miles to travel and 80-275 papers to deliver on any given day. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday are my heaviest day. I have to admit Monday, Tuesday and Saturday are my favorite days to deliver on my own since I get home by 4:30pm. On Wednesdays and Sundays my older daughters are my helpers and I enjoy those days only because I have their company…and help!

Overall, I am thankful for my little newspaper route and the fact that I have one in my town so my drive time is not as long as those with rural newspaper routes.

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My Perfect Spring Day

Posted by html404 on May 20, 2013
in Articles, Family Stuff, Home, Seasonal Stuff, Uncategorized, Writing Prompts

I love all the seasons and the fact that we live in an area where we get to experience all four season to their fullest. However, I must admit that I get tired of winter and the other three seasons never seem long enough.

My Perfect Spring Day

My perfect spring day would be sunshine and weather in the 65-70 degree range, with a slight breeze. I would be able to smell the cherry blossoms or lilacs (if in bloom). There would be lots of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in bloom; an the irises would be budding. It would be a day without any rushing around. All of our family would be home and we would be working together, with minimal fighting or disagreements. But hey, this is my perfect day so let’s just eliminate any fighting among the children and all disagreements!

We would also take a leisurely walk, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. We would be thankful and enjoy being together for the day. We would eat dinner out and the house would remain neat and tidy – for once!

That’s what my perfect spring day would look like….I have to say that I have experienced all of this, just not always all in the same day.

What would your perfect spring day entail?

P.S. This post was inspired by Mama Kat’s Writing Prompts.

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Mother’s Day 2013 Charity Gifts

Posted by html404 on May 17, 2013
in Family Stuff, Giving Back/Charity, Holidays, Parenting, Uncategorized

This is a paid post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Our family enjoys giving when we can, which isn’t as often as we use to give. We feel it is an important aspect of our parenting and beliefs to give back. That is why giving charity gifts during the holidays has appealed to us. It helps us take the focus off ourselves and what we get onto others and what we can give. Usually the season of giving is Christmas for us. We never really thought about too many other holidays to be honest. Have you?

I know I wrote a little Mother’s Day 2013 Wordless Wednesday post the other day, but motherhood is a wonderful enough blessing (and challenge, I might add) that’s worth mentioning again. Most of us in North America are not as challenged as mothers in third world countries. We haven’t had to see our child struggle to survive because there isn’t enough food. Nor have we had to see our child battle health issues because there is no doctor available to help diagnose what is wrong with our child. We have access to health care, food, clean water and educational resources. Does that mean other mothers don’t care? No. It’s because these things are not readily available to them for their families. That’s why I wanted to share an idea I never even thought about – giving charity gifts in celebration of Mother’s Day 2013 to help other mothers provide these things to their families.

Unicef offers a variety of charity gifts to give back. Perhaps you have yet to send your mom a gift – you could send her your gift and tell her you also gave a gift in her honor for Mother’s Day. Or maybe you would like to send a gift of your own in celebration of your own motherhood to help other mothers in need.

For a glimpse of the charity gifts offered, here’s a list:

– Mother’s Day Measles Vaccine to protect 100 or 200 kids
– Mother’s Day Family Water Pack
– Maternal Health Kit
– School-in-a-box
– Therapeutic Food
– Pencils
– Story Books
– First Aid Kits
– Footballs
– Bicycle
and more…

You can check out all the Mothers Day 2013 giving opportunities at this link provided.

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Mombo Nursing Pillow Review and Giveaway

Posted by html404 on May 15, 2013
in Uncategorized

This post brought to you by Comfort and Harmony. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've nursed all eight of my children but have never had a nursing pillow, even though I've always wanted to try one. Amazing, eh? Since I am still currently nursing my two year old, I decided to accept the offer of reviewing and writing about the Mombo nursing pillow. The mombo nursing pillow is made with a two-sided design called Firm2Soft, which my son and I can attest to its softness. We used the soft side and while we were in our nursing session my two year old's little hand could be seen stroking the fabric. It was so sweet. However, the soft side could be used for tummy time with infants. The firm side is recommended for nursing time. The Mombo also has a vibration feature which we did not make use of, though the little round plastic device did capture my younger boys' attention. Mombo has an assortment of styles and slipcover fashions. You can choose from Standard, Deluxe or Nude™. We got the Deluxe. We got the Lion King design and my little guy loved it. Even at two he was tugging on the little flaps, lion and monkey and exploring it with pleasure. The Mombo is very easy to use, it's attractive and comfortable for both mom and baby. I like the zippered slipcover because it will help keep the Mombo clean. I also like that both my hands can be free to do work on my laptop or hold a book….when I'm not playing with my son that is. A word of caution, I am a plus sized woman and could squeeze the Mombo securely around me, but it did fit snuggly. At least it didn't shift around as my bed pillows use to when I used those for nursing! Mombo can be found as Comfort & Harmony on Twitter and Comfort & Harmony on Facebook. Mombo™ products are available at Toys R Us. Be sure to check out other mombo™ products available and get something for yourself or an upcoming shower gift! Don't forget to enter our giveaway below! Mombo Giveaway All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog post telling me why you want a mombo™ (is it for you? A friend? A loved one?). All other entries are optional. Have fun! Rafflecopter giveaway

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Mother’s Day 2013 – Wordless Wednesday

Posted by html404 on May 15, 2013
in Family Stuff, Food and Treats, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Home, Seasonal Stuff, Uncategorized, Wordless Wednesday

Mother’s Day 2013 saw me served with a delicious homemade breakfast in bed. (I was also served with a yummy meatloaf dinner the night before and a strawberry dessert Yahoo featured!)

The whipped cream is homemade from our own cream – yummylicious!

And I bought these for the purpose of having a Mother’s Day flowers photo….we ended up giving them to Grandma on her special day too….

How was your Mother’s Day? Were you given the royal treatment too?

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Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurt

Posted by html404 on May 14, 2013
in All Natural Products, Family Stuff, Food and Treats, Health, Health and Nutrition, Organic, Reviews, Uncategorized

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

Our family loves yogurt. We’ve even made it ourselves and plan to do it again once our garden is planted. So when a Wallaby Yogurt review opportunity presented itself I agreed to do it. We had tried Wallaby Yogurt before but had not tried their new Greek Yogurt.

Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurt is smooth, silky, creamy and yummy. If you don’t know the difference between regular yogurt and Greek yogurt it’s the thickness and texture, in my opinion. It stays on the spoon better for kids (and adults too!) Sometimes, but not always Greek yogurt has less sugar in it. It depends on the brand and of course the fruit flavor.

My hubby brought home blueberry because it’s one of my personal favorites. The yogurt and blueberries were in separate sections like so:

Then I mixed them together like this:

The only thing I didn’t like was the curve of the container made it hard to get all the blueberries out of the bottom. I actually used the end of my spoon to get as much as I could out and added to my yogurt. The more blueberries the better in my book. Spoken like a true Bluenoser (person from Nova Scotia ) I think one of those new inventions shown on the show Shark Tank called Spatty (and the larger one Spatty Daddy) would have come in handy to get all the blueberries out.

Otherwise the yogurt was delicious and definitely one we’d buy again.

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Wal-Mart White Cloud Sleep Pants

Posted by html404 on May 13, 2013
in Uncategorized

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Sleep Pants. All opinions are my own.

Do you have a child who has bedwetting issues? It is a very common experience, but one we are often loath to discuss. In part because maybe we are embarrassed and also because we do not want to cause our child any unnecessary shame that may be imposed upon them if others know. We have had 2-3 children who have struggled with bedwetting. As parents it concerns us when our child has a problem and we want to do everything we can to help them. One of the ways we help our children is by providing an overnight sleep pant. It makes clean up easier and less embarrassing for the bedwetting child.

When you have a child in diapers and a child in sleep pants, like we do, it can get pretty expensive buying these products every month. We recently tried White Cloud Sleep Pants, which offers a budget friendly solution for parents of bedwetters. Each package retails for just $7.75. That’s a price most families will smile at as they head to the checkout lane. White Cloud Sleep Pants come in either S/M (15 count) or L/XL (12 count).

So far we’ve experienced no leakage at night, which makes all of us happy!

We really like Wal-mart White Cloud Sleep Pants. The sleep pants fit our child nicely and our child says they are comfortable. Our child who is wearing them says they are softer than the others we were previously buying. That was their first comment after wearing them only one night! This child also is not ashamed to wear them. Then again we’ve worked hard not to give them cause to be embarrassed but have determined this is a part of the growing up experience for them and us. We act like this is normal and they will eventually outgrow it, just as other children have. This child also liked the colors and design of the sleep pants. Other than smile, they really didn’t have much of a reaction to them. They were just glad we had a fresh supply of them again, as we had run out!

Our overall experience with White Cloud Sleep Pants has been very positive.

Did you know that over 5 million kids a year experience bedwetting and it is one of the most common experiences during childhood development?

White Cloud Sleep Pants have been developed to provide exceptional comfort and leakage protection while looking like underwear. White Cloud Sleep Pants offer thin, discrete absorbent protection for your child. They have soft, stretchy sides that fit like real underwear, plus leak guards to help protect against leaks. The soft inner liner is hypoallergenic and treated with vitamin E and aloe for skin protection.

Each bag contains two unisex graphic designs and at $7.75, White Cloud offers exceptional value.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Sleep Pants.

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When a Secret Kills

Posted by html404 on May 12, 2013
in Books, Reviews, Uncategorized

This is another book that I read last month during the rain storms. When a Secret Kills is a part of the Deadly Reunions by Lynette Eason and is the last book of the series. Sniff, sniff.

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters in this series. It’s sad when a series comes to an end after you’ve made the characters your friends, so to speak.

When a Secret Kills kept me reading on the edge of my seat…right to the end. It was suspenseful and the plot riveting. I loved the thread of trust some of the minor characters had to have in order to have faith that God would eventually reveal the truth the characters knew in their hearts. Ten years is a very long time to pray and trust for a wrong to be made right. This is so often the case in real life – God reveals His truth in His time and way, not ours. That fact is sometimes hard for us humans to swallow, especially when we want to be in control ourselves, but His time is always perfect.

I loved the captivating plot and the sweet reunion of a family long torn apart by a secret and a crime.

Two thumbs up and I can’t wait for Ms. Eason’s next series!

“Available May 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”