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Thursday, February 20, 2014

Crio Brü review ..Choose to feel healthy everyday!



 Welcome to My  Product Review on Crio Brü Brewed Cocoa! Choose to feel good everyday!
 (Crio looks out for the environment in insuring its cocoa is 100% responsibly grown and ethically traded. They buy organic beans whenever possible. And  always pay fair trade prices or better for all their cocoa beans, which improves the lives of our farmers and their communities.)

 We loved trying Crio Brü and here's why you will too! 

It was as easy to prepare as coffee. In fact you make it exactly like coffee. So when we finished our supper and served dessert it was ready to serve! A full coffee pot full of delicious cocoa in minutes. (Crio Brü can be made in any coffee maker or French Press. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of grounds per 6 oz. of hot water to taste.)

For the adult crowd, we sampled the Maya blend which is a fiery mix of cayenne pepper with warm vibrant cinnamon and soothing ground vanilla beans blended with premium, chocolaty cocoa grounds. Perfect for warming up with on a frosty winter day. We found children liked the Cavalla blend which is made from cocoa beans found naturally the Ivory Coast. Its chocolaty flavor hints notes of coconut as well as cinnamon.

 We first sipped the cocoas without adding anything. They have a  deep rich flavor, much like a dark chocolate bar. Many of our table guests found they enjoyed it untouched, and served black like coffee. While others found the flavors much more soothing and familiar to traditional hot chocolates when milk and sugar were added.

 

Everyone who knows me, knows I strive to serve the healthiest foods possible to my family and everyone deserves a sweet treat now and again.   I could feel good and guilt free about serving this to my family for a number of reasons:

. Did you know cocoa beans are one of nature's Super foods? They are full of antioxidants, minerals, and health promoting properties?

. The antioxidants found in cocoa boost your immune system.

. unlike others hot drinks, this product contains NO CAFFEINE, instead it increases energy naturally with a natural stimulant called Theobromine.

. It curbs your appetite in helping to lose weight.

. The natural magnesium found in cocoa supports heart, brain and bone health.

. The chromium and zinc it contains helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels!

History
For the Maya of Central America, ka’kao was the drink of the gods. Served to kings in golden cups and prepared each day by the Mayans, Aztecs, Olmecs and Incas, the ancients knew of its power to rejuvenate and restore. The original recipe was simple – ground cocoa beans and water.
This healthy and delicious drink inspired Crio Brü. Named after the rarest and finest of cocoa beans, the Criollo, Crio Brü is made with the most flavorful and aromatic cocoa beans so you, too, will find yourself enchanted by its unbelievable taste and energizing effect.


 

 https://www.facebook.com/CrioBru?fref=ts



From : http://www.criobru.com/   

(Sustainability and Social Responsibility )
Crio Inc. is committed to go green in every aspect of our business. For example, their first corporate offices housed a state-of-the-art geothermal system that helped to heat and cool the building. And as a Champion supporter of Rocky Mountain Power's BlueSky program, Crio is ensuring sustainable growth by making Crio Brü with wind power.

One of the best ways for you to join Crio in going green is to reuse the used Crio Brü grounds, such as adding 1-2 tablespoons to a smoothie or protein shake, or using them as a secret ingredient when baking brownies, cookies and other desserts.

http://www.amazon.com/Crio-Bru-Cocoa-Beans-Cavalla/dp/B004W50NFG
Crio Bru Brewed Cocao, Maya, 11 oz
4.0 out of 5 stars (3)
$13.99 Prime


Monday, February 17, 2014

24/7 frenzy Giveaway!!!

Welcome to the 24/7 frenzy Giveaway!

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3 winners will each receive a $50 Gift Code

Sponsored By: 24/7 Frenzy

Hosted By: Life With My Two Kids

Co hosted by: The Binder Ladies & To Be A Better You

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: life with my two kids nor other blogs associated with this giveaway are not responsible for prize. If you have any questions about this giveaway please send an email to lifewithmytwokids@atlanticbb.net. All entries are optional, if you do any of the tasks you can collect the entries, even if you do one entry you can get the extra 1 entries but if the winner tasks is a tasks you did not complete, a second winner will be chosen. If the winner tasks is the one you did you will be the winner.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Stacked Heart Necklace Giveaway

Hosted by: Shatterlion

Giveaway runs February 14 - February 28th, US, 18+ ONLY

Disclosure: Angelic Rage is not responsible for prize fulfillment. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media website. All entries are optional and all entries will be verified. If your entry is chosen as the winner and you didn't verify your FeedBurner Subscription, like a page, etc, a new winner will be chosen. The winner will be notified by e-mail and has 48 hours to claim the prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Angelic Rage: Ignite Your Senses Giveaway

Angelic Rage: Ignite Your Senses Giveaway: Hosted by Co-Hosted by A Lucky Ladybug, Mama C's Secrets, Monica's Rant's Rave's and Reviews, Tyrneathem, Gloriously...
Hosted by
Make Our Own Network
Co-Hosted by
A Lucky Ladybug, Mama C's Secrets, Monica's Rave's Rant's and Reviews, Tyrneathem, Gloriously Green Gal, A Ladybug on the Go, and Gone Sweeping.

Welcome to the Ignite Your Senses Giveaway!!  I have to thank each and every wonderful sponsor who helped truly make this giveaway event possible!

Please be patient with our bloggers websites and load times since this is such a large event.  The forms may take a little extra time AND it may seem like this one has a little extra work to enter.  Even though each of the packages have their own giveaway form, you will find that most of the entries are identical.  This way if you like/follow a page in one you will already have it done for the next!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

32 weeks and planning for co- sleep!!!

One day left until I am thirty two weeks pregnant!





 I feel big as a house. I've gained well over the recommended amount of weight. Well over..but I take comfort in knowing next to none of it was in empty calories. I didn't have any major junk food binges. An occasional milk and cookies craving but not very often. Matt and I finally gave up trying to share a bed other then for watching television. Its impossible for either one of us to get any good rest. I take up a huge amount of room and Matteo really enjoys kicking his daddy most of the night. So we are in twin beds for now,which I find very cute in that I Love Lucy kind of way. 

 

I am seriously thinking about sleeping arrangements when Matteo is born. I owned a crib with all of my children...I'd say more for decorative purposes because they next to never slept in it, I used it as a playpen or changing table from time to time but even then, it was never worth the cost of buying for how little we used it. Because my babies breastfed for the first year, as I intend for Matteo to also do, it was so much easier to have them not only in the same room, but yes, co-sleeping. I know..GASP! I can hear many of my readers shaking their heads in disapproval. Those who wants to educate themselves further about the benefits verses risks of co-sleeping should looking deeply into my favorite baby doctor..Dr. Sears and attachment parenting. For now I want to talk about the many products that have come out since my early days of mommy hood and co-sleeping.

I had a failed experience as a fifteen year old mommy, with my daughter. I was trying to keep the bassinet snug against my bed. I'd had a c-section and getting up to get her to nurse was very painful. Well I managed to fall asleep nursing her and she landed between the bassinet and the bed, not on the floor, just in between. I heard her make a little squeak and there she was. Epic bad mommy moment. This was in 1995. 



In 1998 when I had my first son, I again tried the bassinet and the crib because my now toddler daughter was still in the bed with me. I wasnt comfortable with him in his room far away and he fussed in the bassinet. My kids always wanted to be in my arms and then there was the getting up to nurse almost hourly. 

By 2001 when I had my second son, I had just manged to get my two older children into their own rooms to sleep. I said forget it, he had a crib but slept in my bed exclusively til around age two when he wanted to sleep with his brother or sister or in his own toddler bed. Sometimes all three kids would drag their little mattresses into my room and sleep scattered around my bed which was fine with me too.

The back lash to co-sleeping was how very little sleep I actually got. Between breast feeding on demand and the crazy positions babies like to sleep in, and the fact that NONE of my children slept through the night until age three..I was blessed that I was a mostly stay at home mom with the ability to nap when they did. 

 With Matteo, I will be returning to work and Matt is in school full time, and will be be working part time. Sleep is crucial. Yet, I want Matteo to  be just as close. I noticed a long with the huge safety campaign in regards to co-sleeping, there are a lot of new products that allow baby to be close and safe, almost in bed but not..and will most likely allow just a little better sleep for mom and dad. I love these options because they are far better than my early tries of a bassinet tucked plush against the bed. 

Right now I am surfing the web comparing reviews and safety of each co-sleeping product option. I've asked a number of moms. I am thinking this is the way we will go.

For more info on the benefits of co-sleeping and safety visit the following links:

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/sleep-problems/scientific-benefits-co-sleeping

http://cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-sleeping-guidelines/


 



 

 

 

 

 

 



Sunday, February 9, 2014

Welcome to the Love Social Amazon Gift Card Giveaway


Welcome to the Love Social Amazon Gift Card Giveaway sponsored by Social News Daily and hosted by The Parenting Patch! One lucky reader of The Parenting Patch and Social News Daily will win one (1) $50 Amazon gift card. To enter for your chance to win the Love Social Amazon Gift Card Giveaway, simply use the following Rafflecopter form. Good luck! Happy Valentine's Day! a Rafflecopter giveaway The Love Social Amazon Gift Card Giveaway is open worldwide. An international winner will receive $50 via PayPal in lieu of the specified prize. The Love Social Amazon Gift Card Giveaway ends at midnight CST on February 24, 2014. The winner will be sent an email and will have forty-eight hours to respond. If no response is received within forty-eight hours, another winner will be chosen. The Parenting Patch and other participating blogs are not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Purex Laundry Detergent Giveaway! Enter here !

h1 style="text-align: center;">Purex Coupons Giveaway

Brought to you by RayMichelle


purex couponsPurex is a great brand doing great things. Currently they are supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation and donating money per product sold. That great isn't it? I think it is. You can read all about it in my review. I have been blessed with some purex coupons for free Purex detergent valued at $6.00 for being a Purex Insider. To learn more about the Purex Make-A-Wish campaign click here.

purex coupons

Enter in the Giveaway below to have a chance at one of two free purex coupons.

Remember, you cant win if you don't play.

Like this post? Have more info? Leave  comment and tell me what you think.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: Purex Laundry Detergent provided me with coupons in exchange for sharing the Purex Make-A-Wish Campaign. However, all the opinions expressed here are my own.
                                                                                                                                                                                                      
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Thursday, February 6, 2014

Blogger opp. giveaway signup



Prize Packages TBA (by 2/7):
Prizes will all focus on the five senses (Taste, Touch, Sight, Smell, and Hearing)!!!
Hosted by:
Make Our Own Network
Sign-ups close 2/7
Click HERE to sign up and for more html info.
M.O.O.N. has now added several perks/discounts for frequent participation in our events but you must be a member of our Facebook group to be eligible.  Please visit the M.O.O.N. group if you are a blogger and would like more information regarding these perks and other group events.

**If you are a company and would like to see your brand advertised in a M.O.O.N. event similar to this or a Blogger interested in working with M.O.O.N. please contact MakeOurOwnNetwork@gmail.com
________________________Finish Line__________________

Bloggers invited!!

Welcome Bloggers!


Sponsored by: Allergy Buyers Club

Prizes:
White Mountain Textile Bedding Gift Cards
First Prize-$250
Second-Prize-$200
Third Prize-$100

This is a World Wide event; everyone is welcome to enter!!

Details:
  1. Each blogger MUST have at least 1000 Facebook fans to participate.
  2. Put this announcement post on your Blog inviting others to join this event (HTML HERE). 
  3. HTML for the event will be sent 1-2 days before the Giveaway starts on 3/1
  4. To participate you MUST promote 3x a week for the duration of the event or your links will be removed.

Links:
  • 1 Link free (Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin/)
  • Additional links $2 ea (Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin/Facebook/Subscribe)
  • Comment Links $5 (May choose 1 post or a comment on anything option-1 per Blog please)
  • Co-host $10 (includes 5 additional social media links that will appear near the top of the Giveaway Tools form and back-link on all participating blogs-mention in HTML)
To sign up: Go HERE!



Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Diaper duty

With Matteo due to be born in two short months...I've been thinking a lot about diapers. Odd thing to think about I guess but since i haven't had a baby in thirteen years..standing in the diaper aisle of the department store sent me into a full blown tale spin with so many choices. I stopped the first well put together mother I saw..dragging two small boys behind her which diapers she preferred. She told me Pampers for boys worked best. Hmmm...I wondered...is there a difference between Pampers verses Huggies verses Luvs? ..just to mention some of the top name brands.
I am head over heels in love with idea of cloth. Ecstatic to see them making a come back.Thrilled with how easy they appear to fasten now.  The idea, yes, I love the idea...the reality is I am going back to work and do I really want to place the burden of cloth diapers on another unsuspecting party to agrees to care for my baby while work at 12 hour shift? I ran into a woman by chance at my job who has business washing and folding and delivering cloth diapers..just $25 a week. Sadly not in my area but she does have my thinker thinking.

 And then my head starts going over the safety and cleanliness issues. And I start to panic about toxins. I google and see organic diapers..organic is always good. Next clock I find chlorine free diapers. I didnt know chlorine was in diapers and what is the issue chlorine in diapers? Well come to find out its in the gel of disposable diapers and is linked to cancer. 


I found some really cool corn based material diapers filled with only plant based absorbers. Totally earth friendly that way too. Eighteen dollars a box but you cant just stop at the store and buy them so with five dollars shipping...and about 35 diapers in a box..well what's a broke mommy to do? 
So I want to know..What diapers did you choose for your baby? What were your reasons for doing choosing a specific brand or type?

 

A lot can change in a year!

My poor blog went neglected as I took a huge leap into a new adventure for my life. Now that I have landed with my feet somewhat on the ground..I am ready to slowly share with the world again. Explore all the lessons I've learned and how each journey pertains to parenting.

In big news..I left my marriage of fourteen years ..and began life with my true soul mate and  best friend.

 

 My daughter DeAna turned eighteen...moved out with her fiance and made me a grandmother at 34 years old. My precious grand daughter Brooklynn was born on Christmas. 

My son Giovani turned sixteen years old and my son Anthony turns thirteen next month. So I have become the mother of all teenagers.

BUT IN EVEN BIGGER NEWS....

I am expecting!!! So not only am I a grandmother now..a mother of three teens...engaged with five future step children.. but I am currently 31 weeks pregnant with a little boy we will name Matteo. I look forward to sharing where my life as a mom is going. Having a new baby after thirteen years feels like the first time all over again. 

I cant wait to share our welcome to the world adventures of baby Matteo with all of you. 



 





Tuesday, May 8, 2012

the more good I did, the more doors God opened for me.

Sometimes I think I knew more at eighteen then at any other point of my life.
When I started leaning on God, I suddenly knew exactly who I was and what I wanted out of life.

When i turned to God, I didn't care that I didn't have a boyfriend in life like I was so fixated on before. My relationship with God, my children, my family and friends made my life so full. Within a few months of me not seeking, I met a great guy who became a life long friend right there in the parking lot of the complex. Within a year of that I met my husband.

God had shown me my purpose finally. Once word got out that I took in children, there wasn't a day that my house wasn't full with little feet running around, I wasn't bouncing babies off my hip or rocking little ones in the rocker. Parents from our playgroups who knew what kind of mother I was and am, brought me their children, and parents in our complex knocked at my door asking if I could possibly take a few more.

I didn't have time to be lonely and I knew in my heart that God was making this possible. These moms needed a safe place for their children to be, and I gave them that. I ran everything like a daycare. We had outside time, arts and crafts time, singing and dancing time. My children photograph albums are filled with the happy memories of growing up with our house filled with many children and love and happiness.

Many mothers became life long friends, some of the children I cared for are parents themselves now. A small few of these children came from really bad situations and really thrived in the time I had the opportunity to care for them. A small number of them got lost in the foster care system and were adopted out. A lot of them I have the blessing of still talking to, even if only on face book level. Most are still friends with my children.

If I knew a parent couldn't pay, I took their children anyway with a promise of being able to call on them for a favor. I am trying as I write this to come up with an approximate number of the children God allowed me to be there for , I want to say its somewhere near fifty, if not more in a period of five years. They each have a special place in my hearts as their families do too.

I learned fast that the more good I did with my life, the more doors God opened for me. I started doing good deeds every chance I got. I don't want to list all my good deeds because it makes me seem like I am trying to run for saintly hood, of which I am not. As you will later read, I fell off track a number of times in my life. But I want people to realise, that when you do good, good really comes back. When my children or I outgrew our clothes, I bagged them up and put them on the doorstep of people I knew might want them. When I learned some lost their job or was having a hard time, I would clean my pantry and leave a box of what food I could. For every bag of clothes I gave, three more came my way. For every box of food, God filled my cabinets. We no longer struggled a single day somehow, and the how was God.

I see on TV, when I watch the religious channels, the preachers talk a lot about sowing seeds "send a thousand dollars to us and God with bless you with then thousand" That type of thing. I don't know if that really works but I do know, that when you give of yourself, from your heart and truly make everyday a day God will be proud of, when you show kindness to others just because... God really does reach down and return the favor. My life is a testimony to that. Because when I have done good, good has come back..when I stopped.. I lost all I lost all I gained.

Prayer conquered post partum depression

The post partum depression was hard but then I began talking about turning my life over to God. I did, I prayed, I spent a lot of time in prayer and I hung some religious sayings around the house. I got my first Sylvia Browne book and found my own truth in that book that brought me great comfort and peace. I started talking to God more and more. I told God, " God, I am here in this apartment complex, I have to kids, and no way to make money. God if you can help me, I will help someone else..as many as you send me."

God took me up on my promise within a day. I went into pay my rent and the women in the office asked if I might take in an extra child during the day, she had a single mom needing child care. I happily agreed to take the little girl in the day. This little girl was the daughter of a drug addicted mother and father. She needed someone more then the average child, Deana had a playmate and the little girl had a safe place to be. I had a way to make money. The mother drove me crazy but I loved the child and took care of her for many months, until her family moved away.

At the mail box that week I met my next door neighbor, she was married and had a young son and was pregnant. I started going to church with her and her family. It was the same church I'd been baptised at as a child.. 14 years later she is still in my life everyday, we talk on the phone every night, and there has never been a major life event in either of each other's lives that we haven't been there for each other during.

The more I gave of my self to others, the more the blessings started flowing.


I