Wholly Guacamole: Review and Giveaway (4 winners)

WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN:

CONGRATULATIONS - 

FIRST PRIZE - COMMENT #71

RUNNER US - COMMENT #97, 77, 13

I will be contacting all winners shortly.

Yum.  Wow.  Mmmm.  Incredible.
Really?
Yep, it's that good! 
And you know what's more?  I can read all of the ingredients, and I could buy any of the ingredients at the store myself, most of them I could grow in my garden - well, if I lived in the right climate for growing avacado!

Wholly Guacamole generously provided enough guacamole snack packs and squichy avacados for our guests!

We had a lot of fun with our guacamole.  We set up a creation station and let the kids go wild with making "fish" during our Out to Sea with Jonah party.  Check out this spread:

Wholly Guacamole gets 18 thumbs up from our party guests.  We had a little left over, so we shared with some friends.  It gets thumbs up from them too!  These 100 calorie snack packs taste great and are so convenient.  I have NEVER had store-bought guacamole that I actually liked.  Way to go Wholly Guacamole!  Now, check out some of our fishy creations:

Elijah's Fish

My fish

Randy's Fish

These were really a lot of fun, and tasty!  Thank you Wholly Guacamole for a fun, healthy snack to share with our friends!

Check out Wholly Guacamole's Great Features on their website:
Join Our Party - Sign up to get news about contests and coupons!
Get Off The Ranch - Fun and informative site about good fats vs bad fats.


Buy it:
You can find your nearest local retailer by checking the Wholly Guacamole Website!  (Ours is less than 1/2 mile walk).  Prices will vary.

Win it:
The Guac Squak Squad (I love that title) at Wholly Guacamole, has generously offered to provide prizes for 4 readers!  First prize is an assorted prize pack from Wholly Guacamole.  The three runner ups get a set of 3 coupons each! 

Here's How to Enter:
Mandatory entry: You must do this before doing the optional entries.  "Like" Wholly Guacamole on Facebook, and tell me why you want to win.

Optional entry 1: Follow this blog, upper right column.
Optional entry 2: Visit the Wholly Guacamole website and tell me what you would like to try or something you learned.
Optional entry 3: Follow me on Twitter or "Like" Crum's This N That on Facebook.

Pocket Dots: review

Warning: I'm about to clue you in on a great new maternity/postpartum product.

Now, in case you know me, you may wonder if this means I'm pregnant.  The answer is "not as far as I know".

Pocket Dots are a wonderful addition to the maternity wardrobe!  They are designed to help women who are wearing maternity belts, they hold the belt in place so it does not slide up your back and belly.  Pocket Dots are simple to use and discreet.  In this picture, I am wearing a nursing tank with my corduroys.  As soon as I slipped my sweater on over the tank top, my dots were covered.  

Pocket Dots not only work for maternity belts, but also, as I used them, for keeping a nursing tank from sliding up and showing unwanted skin to strangers.  While wearing my Pocket Dots I feel secure in knowing that I am not "showing skin".  They grip easily to your shirt, much like mitten clips for children's winter wear.

Pocket Dots come in "black" or "nude" and are a steal at $6.95 a pair!  Buy them here.

Take a peek at Pocket Dots Blog.

"Like" Pocket Dots on Facebook.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Oscar party games: review

Do you love watching the Oscars with your friends?  Python Printable Games has a wonderful set of movie and Oscar themed games for you to print and play at your upcoming Oscar Party!

I recently had the opportunity to review 5 of the games from the Oscar Games Party Pack, and they are great!  I think my favorite was "Meet your Match" a really funny matchmaking/charades game with hilarious outcomes!  Randy thought that Lord of the Rings Trivia was pretty cool, he enjoyed trying to answer all of the questions. 

The Oscar Party Pack is a great deal, at $19.95 for 16 games.  All the games in the pack are emailed to you instantly!   Take a few minutes to check it out today!


*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Swashbuckling Pirate Party Planning E-book: Review & Giveaway

And the winner is...

Comment #15

Congratulations, Mandy! 

Thursday night this week I had the privilege of hosting 7 active young boys for my third monthly preschool party.  February's theme was "Out to Sea with Jonah".  What better activities for this party than fun pirate-themed games!  I was fortunate enough to be able to use the "Swashbuckling Pirate Party" from Touch of Home Learning.

Just look at these fierce pirates!

I had already spent a little bit of time planning our party before I got to review the planning kit, but I wish I hadn't.  It was amazing how quickly and easily everything came together once I had this in my "hands" (or on the computer monitor).  The packet has ideas for everything from invitations to snacks and decorations, even several activities that will keep kids excited, active and best of all LEARNING (without knowing it).  I think it is best suited for children of elementary age.  Most of our guests were 5 and under so I had to adapt some activities, but they had SO MUCH FUN.  Even the most hesitant children were participating by the end of the evening.

One of our VERY SIMPLE decorations

Some more fantastic things about this party planner, it is cheap!  You can buy the e-book for only $6.95 from Touch of Home Learning.  The suggested activities are really very simple and easy to make yourself cheaply.  I highly recommend a "Swashbuckling Pirate Party" for your son or daughter and their friends!  It would be great for birthdays, end of school celebrations, classroom parties, or just for the fun of it!  (It's also great to pair with a Jonah themed party).

Buy it:
You can buy the Swashbuckling Pirate Party planner at Touch of Home Learning for only $6.95.

Win it:

You can win a copy right here with up to 4 easy entries into the contest!  In order to enter the contest you must first be a follower of Crum's This N That (this blog).  You can do that on the upper right hand column on this page.  Contest will end on 3/10 at noon EST.

Mandatory Entry: 

Your first entry must be to "like" Touch of Home Learning on Facebook.  You don't have to leave them a message, but it would be kind to let them know that you entered into their giveaway at Crum's This N That.

Additional Entries:

Remember to leave a comment for EACH additional entry and leave your email in every comment.

1) Look at Touch of Home Learning's Activity Kits, tell me which one you love the most. 

2) "Like" Crum's This N That on Facebook.

3) Follow me on Twitter. 

 

itti bitti: Review and Giveaway

AND THE WINNER IS...

COMMENT #84

CONGRATULATIONS, LISA

Over the last couple of weeks,  my boys and I have had the pleasure of reviewing 2 itti bitti diapers.  Crackers did most of the work, Monkey helped a little but is starting to sleep in big boy underpants a little more often.  itti bitti is an Australian based company that is sold in several countries around the world!  They are preparing to open sales in the United States in March!  Their diapers are soft and adorable.  We had trouble with leaking at first, but it seems like that was largely due to user error, once I got the hang of them, and washed them several times, they were amazing.  The bitti d'lish is one of my go-to diapers for church nursery time (about the only time someone else is changing him).

bitti tutto
The bitti tutto is a one size diaper, meaning it grows with your baby.  If you're new to cloth diapering that probably seems a little odd so I'll explain it.  There is a series of snaps on the front of the diaper that allows you to adjust the height so it will fit your baby perfectly.  There is also a row of snaps on the closure that allow you to choose the best fit around your baby's waist.  It is even possible to overlap a couple of the snaps for a tighter fit.

The  bitti tutto has a fantastic "extra hip button" feature that allows you to snap the "wings" from drooping.  This is possibly my favorite feature.  Crackers is tall and slender, so many diapers droop on the sides when he wears them, the little wings slide down and I don't like the way that looks.

There are 3 inserts and that is kind of confusing at first.  I figured it out after reading the directions on the packaging and, as I said, have had no trouble with leaking.  There are also helpful tips on the itti bitti website.  Apparently, I need to read the tips, my sister just told me that she thinks I'm doing it wrong!

A final feature that I love from the bitti tutto is the fantastic poo guard.  This really helps prevent blow outs!

bitti d'lish

The bitti d'lish is a sized all in one diaper.  This means that it is not adjustable to fit most babies, there is a weight range that is most appropriate for each size.  It also means that you do not have to worry about inserts or covers.  An all in one is used like a disposable.  It is probably the easiest to put on and remove.  This also has a row of snaps across the front so that you can achieve the best fit around baby's waist. 

The d'lish has a sewn in insert with snaps for optional addition of extra inserts. 

As I said before, this is one of my favorites to leave with the "babysitter" at church because it is easy!

Win it:
One of my very lucky readers will win a bitti tutto AND a bitti d'lish in their choice of color and size!  Contest opens immediately and closes 3/9 at noon EST.  Open to US residents only.

Mandatory entry:
The winner must be a follower of this blog and"Like" itti bitti US on Facebook, take a moment and thank them for this giveaway (it would be polite).

For additional entries:
1) Visit itti bitti US and tell me your favorite product.
2) Follow me on Twitter.
3)"Like" Crum's This N That on Facebook.
4) Enter my sister's itti bitti giveaway on her blog: My This N That Life, leave a comment telling me you've entered.

REMEMBER: Leave a comment for EACH entry.  Leave your email address with each comment.

Go Fish: Review & Giveaway

AND THE WINNER IS....

Comment #18

CONGRATULATIONS, MANDY

Have you ever heard of Go Fish?  You need to check them out!  They've got GREAT kid's music that you'll love too.  Go Fish were one of our sponsors for  February's Preschool Party and the kids absolutely loved them.  Don't believe me?  Check out these 2 clowns.. er.. pirates... rocking to the DVD.

Do you see that picture in the background?  These 2 are totally dancing and singing with it!

Go Fish on YouTube
Go Fish Website
Do you love it?  We do.

BUY IT:
Go Fish has a SWEET deal going on at their store online right now.  Check this out: CDs/DVDs are only $5 when you purchase the first one for $15.  That is INCREDIBLE!

WIN IT:

Go Fish not only provided us with a CD and a DVD to review, they also have a CD to give away to one lucky reader (and it could be you)!  We are giving away "Christmas with a Capital C".  Read below to find out how to enter.  Remember all entries must be made by using the comment box below this blog entry.  US residents only. Ends 3/9 at Noon EST

Mandatory Entry:
You must be a follower of Crum's This N That.  If you're already a follower, great!  For new followers, look at the top right hand column of my blog page and click "follow".  Next, go to the Go Fish webpage and tell me something amazing that you learned.  Remember to leave your email address in each comment

Additional Entries:
Remember to leave a comment for EACH entry and leave your email address in your comment.
1)"Like" Go Fish on Facebook.
2)"Like" Crum's This N That on Facebook.
3) "Follow" me on Twitter.

Out to Sea with Jonah (and the pirates)

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH ye ready for a party?

The eager host

Last night was our 3rd "preschool party".  I think I need to change the name since our guests range from ages 8 months to 7 years!  Our theme was Out to See with Jonah.  We had some very generous sponsors for this party, and guess what - they're ALL hosting giveaways (these will be posted over the weekend). 

So, what'd we do????? 

The big fish

Inside the big fish

We told the story of Jonah with puppets and a BIG BIG Fish.. it ate several of us!

Walking the plank

 

  Then we walked the plank, we took turns falling into the deep blue sea like Jonah (and being eaten by that big crazy fish).  Some of the guys were a little timid about it, but by the end all but 1 had walked the plank.. and he can't walk anyway.  (he did crawl over it though)

We colored some fish

And went fishing!

Super easy craft, I couldn't find my Popsicle sticks though, so we used clothes pins.. it worked and they all enjoyed trying to catch fish.

Waiting for instructions

 

 

The boys (did I mention it ended up being all boys?) said their favorite game was the treasure hunt, they wanted to do it again and again!

Yum

Snack was an amazingly fun event, I'll share more about that when I post my Wholly Guacamole review.. AND GIVEAWAY! (4 winners!)

Where does it go?

Next was our blindfold game, some of the boys wanted to play it again and again and again (especially the oldest), others were not so sure about being blindfolded.

We had a small battle, a lily pad hop and stop game, coloring, and a movie. 

Tired

They were all pretty worn out by the end!

Monthly Onesie Picture Stickers Give Away

Hi friends,

You all know that I LOVE hosting reviews and giveaways, right?  Well I'm not writing about a review or a giveaway right now, but to tell you about this super-sweet giveaway I just found.  

Right now PrintsCharmingGraphX is giving away a set of monthly onesie stickers on their blog - oh so so cute!!!  Support this Etsy shop by visiting their blog... HERE.  Even though I really want to win these, I also want to share this site, so cute, and great prices.

Wordless Wednesday: Mama's fleece creations

Cradlejoy - Shop Review & Discount Code

Friends, I recently learned about cradlejoy.com, it is a fantastic online store that features great products for green, natural living!  They focus on products for mama and baby and have a wide variety of products from skin care, to diapers, to vitamins, and more.  This is a GREAT shop for all moms to go to for baby needs.  I would love to have some of their featured products for my next baby!  Take a look at a few of these great products:

Oh so sweet baby set!

Mambino Organics

We chose to get a Thirsties Duo Diaper Wrap and some Fuzzibunz inserts:

Blackbird is one of my favorite prints right now!

I LOVED the service I received from Cradlejoy.com!  When I had a question about the products or the gift codes, there was someone right there waiting to answer me.  Yep, They've got help waiting to talk with you on live chat!  How great is that?

There's even more - They run specials all the time!  Click HERE to see the current specials at Cradlejoy.

The products that I ordered came quickly and were in excellent condition.  I even got a few samples of other products to try, what a great surprise!  There was a small mix-up with paperwork, but that in no way effected my order, and I have been assured that they have fixed the problem.

I will definitely choose to shop Cradlejoy again!

Now, for the promised discount code... Be aware this has a limited use - it can only be used by 50 of my readers.  For 15% off of your Cradlejoy order, enter the code CRUMREADER at checkout.  Please come back here and let me know what you ordered.  I would love to hear that you have had the same wonderful shopping experience that I had.

Disclaimer: I was provided a gift code in exchange for promoting Cradlejoy.  All opinions are my own.  This in no way effects my opinions of the Cradlejoy shopping services.

Preschool Party Preview...

Go Fish Guys

 We're going to rock it out with Go Fish Guys! 

Yep... Guacamole

We'll be trying an amazing snack, compliments of Wholly Guacamole (don't think your kids will try it?  Just wait... they will)

Games by Touch of Home Learning

Amazing Pirate-y games, based on the Touch of Home Learning Swashbuckling Pirate Party Guide

Oh yeah... and also... 

Jonah

 

 

We're going to hang out in the belly of a big fish and learn about our friend Jonah... using all those above-named sponsors!

New Menu Quest

Annoying news: we have to cut our grocery budget down... We'll manage, but my new goal is to try and feed our family of 4 on $50 a week.. healthy meals even.. not noodles from a box!  So, here's my first attempt at a lower-budget menu.  PLEASE leave comments on this post if you've got some great dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to prepare!

Monday  

Breakfast - Puffed Wheat Cereal for the boys, Johnsonville Brat for mama
Lunch - Cocktail Wieners, Grapes, Puffcorn for boys, mama - cheese quesidilla in an extreme wellness tortilla
Dinner - Daddy's Rice Casserole - leftover rice, veggies, and ground beef, cooked together in cream of     celery soup, grapes

Tuesday

Breakfast - Cereal (boys), Breakfast Sausage wrap (mama)

Lunch - Chicken nuggets, banana, mixed veggies (boys), Salad for mama

Dinner - Chili with leftover meat from the freezer, oranges

Wednesday

Breakfast - Eggs (for those of us that can eat eggs) 

Lunch - Sausage with onions and peppers for the big people, pasta and sauce with veggies for the little ones, apples

Dinner - Taco salad

Thursday

Breakfast - pancakes for boys, yogurt for mama

Lunch - Salad

Dinner - Tortilla Pizzas

Party Snack - Guacamole Whales (oh yes, there will be pictures of these on several upcoming posts: preschool party, wholly guacamole review, recipes)

Friday

Breakfast - Cereal, Yogurt for mama

Lunch - Fish Sticks, Goldfish crackers, bananas for boys; salad for mama

Dinner - Quick dinner on the road to small group!

Saturday -

Birthday party for Jeremiah... who knows what we'll do for food

Dinner - Veggie Stir Fry

Sunday - 

Breakfast - Cereal

Lunch -Blueberries, Broccoli, Cheese Quesedillas

Dinner - Spaghetti (we NEVER eat spaghetti, it'll be a special treat)

Where did you come from?

This is the question I have asked Monkey several times today.  See, I look at him and I think, "you weren't this big yesterday"... or "man your skin is so much darker than mine" ... you know.. those things that strike a mama funny about her little man.

So I've asked him, "Where did you come from?"  What do you expect from a 2 year old that doesn't talk much? He's surprised me though.  Every time I ask him this he looks at me and says, "mama de-eh" (mama jennifer)... then he tells me "Na-ee name" (my name is Na-ee - that's what he calls himself).

He's puzzled by the fact that I ask him this question but.. where did this amazing child come from?  Okay, okay.. I REMEMBER well enough.. it's just that the last 2.5 years have flown by and he's turned into some alien monster that is wonderful and silly and adorable.  So much fun.

Any ideas where he came from?

Spring Cleaning

Okay, so it is not quite spring, but it sure has felt like it this week.  It has been so nice to take the boys out for some fresh air.  They love going for walks.  We walked to the store a couple of days ago and Crackers sang the whole way there and all the way back!  It was a great trip!

With spring comes spring cleaning - I don't know why this is, maybe because we can open our windows and breathe deeply while we air things out.  It just feels good to do a deep clean sometimes, and what better time to do it than while our bodies feel alive like the flowers that are starting to pop up!

So it is that I find myself in "spring cleaning" mode.  Now, I am not talking about cleaning my house (though I should).  I am talking about cleaning up my life.  I want to get things organized, get into a better, more consistent routine with my boys.  I want to figure out why our schedule makes it so difficult for Randy and I to get time with just the two of us and clean that up so it can happen. 

Ahh, the scent of the fresh air in my nostrils.  The feel of aliveness in my body.  Time to get cleaning (my home has to get cleaned for this to work too).

What is your favorite part of spring cleaning?  What is your most dreaded part? 
Are there things in your life that need to get cleaned up too?

SKOY Cloths: Review & Giveaway

And the winner is....

Comment #101

(chosen by random.org)

CONGRATULATIONS!

Okay, so I admit, I was skeptical.  It turns out, these are really nice to have around.  In fact, I think I would have loved them as a wedding present, or a baby shower present.

So, what are they?

SKOY clothes are reusable wipes.  They are somewhere between a paper towel and a thin sponge.  SKOY are great because they save a ton of paper towel, and the are easy to wash!  These cloths also do a great job cleaning messes.  I folded one up and put it in a baggie last week so I would have washing power on the road, it worked wonderfully!

We make a LOT of messes - I have a 1 year old and a 2 year old.. AND they're boys... did I mention that the 2 year old is wearing underpants most of the time --- messy!  SKOY cloths are GREAT at cleaning up.  Monkey does not look for a "napkin" everytime he spills things anymore, now he lookse for a "towel" (SKOY cloths)!  This has saved us a ton on paper products just in the last 2 weeks!

Here are a couple of pictures of a great test on the capabilities of the SKOY cloth - we had a problem with a cracked crock pot and had black bean juice crusted all over the counter, it even got a magazine wet and stuck it to the counter.  I let it sit until everything had dried out, then cleaned it up -- the crock pot burned the counter a bit so there is still a dark spot, but 1 SKOY cloth did this...

 

and then I washed the SKOY cloth out and cleaned up the high chair!

How to wash - stick it in your dishwasher or clothes washer!  You don't have to dry it because you use it wet!  You can also sanitize it in the microwave!

SKOY cloths are a fantastic product.  They are also very affordable, at $6.99 for a 4 pack.  These are great for the wallet and eco-friendly!  Think of all the money and trash you save by reusing a SKOY instead of hundreds of paper towels!

You can buy SKOY cloths on amazon.com

or

WIN IT HERE!
That's right, 1 reader will win a 4 pack of SKOY cloths!
US residents only

Mandatory Entry - Tell me something you like about SKOY cloths in the comment form at the bottom of this post.  Don't forget to leave your email address in the comment.

Additional Entries- Follow me on Twitter.
Follow this blog - uppper right hand column.
"Like" this blog on Facebook.

That is a possibility of up to 4 entries.  Please leave a separate comment including your email address for each entry.  Contest ends 3/2 at noon EST.

I received this product free for promotional purposes.  All opinions are my own.

I won!

I had a contest a couple of weeks ago for a $35 gift code to CSN stores online.  What I didn't tell everyone is that I also entered several CSN contests.  After I looked over their site, I was convinced that I wanted to win something, I looked up CSN giveaways... and I won!  I got a $50 gift code to CSN stores.  I had a super hard time deciding what to pick.. something for the kids? something for me? the dog?... anyway, I thought I'd show off what we ended up picking out.  In the end, we paid $5 for this great $90 product! (it was on sale).

Here it is!

What do you think?

My nemesis

If you recall, about a week ago, I wrote a blog about my "spoiled sleeper".  This sweet boy that has a hard time going to sleep on his own, because he's always been close to us at sleep time.

He is not my nemesis... NAPS are my nemesis right now.  I have no idea why, but in the last week, this little man has suddenly decided that he does not really like taking naps.  No, he HATES naps.  It's not that he's outgrowing them, he still sleeps for 2-3 hours (minimum) once he goes to sleep, but he does not WANT to sleep.  His behaviors, when he chooses not to sleep are ridiculous because he has a hard time focusing on activities (ie, speech therapy) when he's tired.

Rough week with naps.  Rough week for Monkey.  I'm working on a new nap time strategy.  Does anyone have a brilliant idea about how to help a 2.5 year old fall asleep when it's sleep time?  How do you teach your kids to relax?

Prayers

Taking some time today to focus prayers on a few specific people:

Paul & Erin
I'm praying for health, whole-ness and healing for you both.  Also for strength in your marriage.  Praying for sweet Ben, that he have a sense of stability and overwhelming love while things are scary and shaky.

Sarah & BJ
I'm praying for safety in travel, that you find jobs and housing quickly.  I'm also praying that God will work in you to strengthen you together.  (and I'm praying that Sarah gets pregnant and you decide to move back here quickly).

3 single women who I won't mention by name
I'm praying that you find everything you need in God, but don't give up on relationships.  I pray that you find contentment with who you are and begin to recognize your worth as an individual.  I pray that you find your value and shine like never before.

My friends at Mom Time
I pray for peace when your children make you want to pull out your hair (or theirs).  I pray for wisdom to raise your boys and girls as outstanding young men and women of faith.  I pray for growing marital relationships for each of you as we muddle through this time in life together.

Wordless Wednesday: Best Wishes Sarah & BJ

My Egg-free, Peanut-free, Gluten-free, Low Carb Life: Menu 8

Wow, 2 months of menus!  This week is odd, a couple nights of planned eating out!

Monday - Valentines Date
Tuesday - Dinner with friends
Wednesday - Chicken Fiesta Soup
Thursday - Sausage, Peppers, Onions
Friday - Green Bean Casserole
Saturday - Stuffed Meatloaf
Sunday - Sandwich rolls in extreme wellness tortillas

Gak

Today is Tuesday and Randy is off work.  I love it when he's home on week days.  I also love it when the mall hosts Toddler Tuesdays.  We went for a while in the fall, then they stopped.  Now they have started back up.  At 11:00 on Tuesdays various mall stores host a toddler party.

Today we arrived at 10, I had the times mixed up in my head.  The boys played in the food court play area for an hour, then... we made GAK. 

Simple fun craft/experiment-
1 small bottle of school glue
1/2 cup liquid fabric starch
food colorings as desired

Mix until gooey and play!
(it bounces)

Worthy of love

I've been bothered by something recently and it's on my mind in a big way.  I am not really even sure how to pour out all of my thoughts on this subject at once.  See, I know several young ladies that have a big problem.  They don't know they are worthy of love.  Maybe that's not it.  Maybe they think they are worthy of love but have to find a way to buy it somehow.  However it works out, they don't understand that they are worthy to be loved just simply because they are themselves. 

What happens when these young ladies don't understand their worth?  They search for other people to affirm that they have value and that they are loved.  All too often, these girls look for attention from boys, and not the kind of attention their mothers would approve of (you know what I mean?).  So here I am, wracking my brain, trying to figure out how to give a message to the young ladies I know, who are worthy of love.

When you're 14 or 28, or 40 - how do you know that you are worth loving?  How do you figure out what is good about you?  How do you show girls and women that they are beautiful.  I don't mean the kind of beauty that we find in magazines and movies.  I mean truly beautiful, the stuff that comes from somewhere deep inside and flows out of a person naturally. 

I know, this post is not entirely coherent.  I guess, I'm trying to figure out how to reach out to women, young and old and let them know I value them.  How do I help them understand that they are more than what the kids at school or the office say they are?  How can I reach in to the lives of these ladies that are on my mind and show them they are so worthy of being loved?

Not only are they worthy of being loved --- they ARE loved.  The love that they crave does not come from boys and men, but that's the way I see them trying to fill it.  I've been there... I can't remember what helped me through.

How have people shown you that you are worthy of love?  How do you show others that they are loved simply for being?

Book reviews moving

Hey all, in order to avoid spamming my friends and family on Facebook and Twitter, I will begin posting my book reviews on a new blog - Jen Crum Book Reviews

Valentines Day

Love, Candy, Stuffed Animals, Flowers, Cards, Hearts, Lace...

What do you think of when you hear that Valentines Day is coming?  I used to think it was dumb.  I mean, why do we need a special day to celebrate love?  Shouldn't we be doing this every day?  You know my type, or maybe you are my type. 

Now, I have toddlers, 2 of them.. well, Crackers doesn't "toddle" per say, but he's 13 months old, so I guess he qualifies in that category.  Toddlers make all the difference in my feelings about the gushy mushy love holiday.  See, I stay home all day with my 2 boys, who I love dearly.  I feel incredibly blessed to be able to stay home with them.

My husband works 12 hours a day 3-4 days a week.  Oh, and we only have 1 car, so if we're going to leave the house at all, I have to get the boys up at 4:30 in the morning.. so we don't get out of the house much on days that Randy works.. and days he's off, well.. they're filled with errands.

I'm not complaining, I love this life.  But I understand now why I need a love holiday.  I need a reason to celebrate the mushy gushy love for my husband.  And I need him to celebrate me.

What about you?  What are your feelings about Valentine's Day?

Snappi: Review & Giveaway

And the winner is... Heather I!

What is a Snappi and why should I enter?
A Snappi is a type of fastener for cloth diapers.  If you do not use cloth diapers or do not know someone that does, you should not bother with entering, as I want this to go to someone who will use it.

About the Snappi - "An EASY to use fastener that offers a PRACTICAL and RELIABLE way to fasten a cloth diaper, replacing the diaper pin."  This comes straight from the Snappi website.  The little rubbery device has claws on each of its three arms and does a wonderful job holding a diaper in place.  These are great for cloth prefolds, or homemade diapers without snaps or velcro.  They make it so my 1 and 2 year olds can both wear the same diapers that I made at home out of upcycled materials.  


We like the Snappi for our homemade diapers, but I am not fond of it on my prefolds because my boys are a little too big around to get a good fit with the prefold.  I might just not be experienced enough with it enough to do it well.

Yes, this diaper velcros, but the tabs are a bit worn, so I tried it with the Snappi!

 Buy it:  You can buy Snappis on the Snappi Baby website, or find a Snappi store near you.


Win it: One reader will win a light green Snappi.  Giveaway will end on February 23 at noon EST.

To Enter:  You MUST leave a comment in the form below this post telling me something you learned at the Snappi wetbsite.  You must also follow me via Google Friend Connect (top right column of the blog).


Additional Entries:
- Follow me on Twitter. 
- Like Crum's This N That on Facebook.

You can earn up to 3 entries per person.  Please remember to leave 1 comment for each entry and include your email address in EACH comment.  US residents only.  Good luck!

Mother of a Sale!

Check out Motherofasale.com for great mom deals!
Today: thermos lunch totes 60% off!

Beginning Bible: Week 4

We are starting a letter of the week.  This week was A for Abraham.

Abraham's Story

Monday -
Story - (part 1)
Music - Father Abraham
Math/Life Skills - Sorting/Packing clothes for the journey with Abe
Free Play - Acting like Sheep and Cows
Art - Making Binoculars

Monkey loves using tape.  He's making the binoculars he needs to journey with Abraham to a new country.

I love catching daddy in on the action.  He's testing the new binoculars.

Tuesday -
Story - (part 1)
Large movement - Stop/Go - obey game
Fine motor - Coloring page
Art - Finger Paint Stars

Wednesday
Story - (part 2)
Math - Counting Stars
Science - Observing Stars
Life Skills - Baking Bread

Thursday
Story - (Part 2)
Free Play - Baby Isaac
Life Skills - Wrapping Presents for baby Isaac
Social day - play with friends at the playground

Friday
Story - (Part 3)
Review - Days of creation counting
               Adam & Eve Flannel
               Noah's Boat play