The Changing Colors Of The Trees Behind Our Home

Woods Behind My House

I really like the Fall season and this is a picture taken behind our house of the woods.  I think Fall and Spring are my favorite seasons.  The leaves are already starting to change in color.  I really hate to see them all fall off and have everything brown, but that is a part of the seasonal change here in Michigan.  The sky is such a beautiful blue also!  My husband built that fence in the background (that's just half of it).  The wood  is from old fence posts from my grandfather's farm so they are very old.  We had a drought this year and the grass has died and is patchy in spots, as you can see in the picture.  We might have to reseed the lawn because it doesn't look like it will come back.

Winner of Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent

The NEW Winner for the Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent Giveaway is.........................Audra W.

Congrats to Audra W.   I have emailed Audra and she has already responded with her info.

The first winner didn't respond so I had to pick a new winner.

Madelaine Chocolates Review and Giveaway

I love good quality chocolate and found a great company called The Madelaine Chocolate Company.  The Madelaine Chocolate Company is located in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York.  This awesome company was established in 1949, and has been dedicated to perfecting the superior taste and quality of their chocolate.   Madelaine Chocolates uses the finest quality chocolate, innovative shapes and unique Italian foils.  They have chocolates for all holidays, birthdays, and graduations too!

Holiday Edition Assorted Chocolate Truffles Mini Duets

I was extremely excited to get to sample some of Madelaine Chocolates to review which are shown above.   Since Halloween is coming soon I was delighted to try some of their Halloween products.  When I opened the box I received,  my mouth was watering already.   I looked at the assortment and didn't know what to try first!   I started with the Fall Mix-Milk & Dark Chocolate Malt Balls which were out of this world.  The chocolate coating was thick and luscious with a crunchy malt center.  The Peanut Butter Pumpkin Balls were my second to try and were the best peanut butter with chocolate candy I have ever tasted.  The peanut butter was so creamy and yummy!  My kids tried the Caramel Filled Apples and Halloween Crisp Balls, along with the Holiday Edition Assorted Truffles Mini Duets and they didn't want to stop eating them.  They loved everything!  The Caramel Filled Apples had delicious chocolate filled with gooey caramel and were so pretty in their foil wrappers that looked like little apples.  The Halloween Crisp Balls were excellent also and were so cute with the pumpkin foil wrappers.  Lastly, the Holiday Edition Assorted Chocolate Truffles Mini Duets were wonderful and had three different flavors:  Caramel & Peanut Butter, Milk Truffle & White Truffle, and Raspberry & White Truffle. These truffles just melted in your mouth!  I had to try a couple of these also.  We all enjoyed every product we received to try and highly recommend this fantastic company!

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Balls, Halloween Crisp Balls, Caramel Filled Apples and Fall Mix-Milk & Dark Chocolate Malt Balls

The Madelaine Chocolate Company  uses new technologies and state of the art manufacturing and packaging equipment to ensure that only the best quality is given to their clients. Check The Madelaine Chocolate Company out on Facebook and Twitter.  I highly recommend this company and am sure you will be delighted at their assortment and quality of chocolates!

GIVEAWAY:  To enter for a chance to win some chocolates for yourself please enter the Rafflecopter Form below.  Please note that the first two entries are required before the rest can be entered.  Age 18 years and older living in the U.S. only.  Giveaway ends Oct. 13, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC Compliant Review Policy: The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. 

I am not responsible for delivery of prize.  Prize will be sent by sponsor.

RW Garcia Review and Giveaway

When I received a box of RW Garcia tortilla chips to review it was so awesome because I love trying new products that are good for the body and taste wonderful too.  Well, I am so excited to tell you I found out they are great!  I received these bags to review: Dippers 3 Seed Veggie Dipping Chips, 3 Seed Blue Corn Dipping Chips, 3 Seed Savory Dipping Chips, 3 Seed Curry & Mango Dipping Chips, MixtBag of Yellow & Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, and MixtBag of Red & Yellow Tortilla Chips.

Let me tell you these are by far the best tortilla chips and dippers I have ever tasted!  They are so hearty and have such a variety of flavors that it's hard to choose a favorite.  My family and I really liked them all and they have such unique flavors.  They are great for dipping and are very sturdy that you don't worry about them breaking off when you dip.   All of their products are All Natural and Gluten Free which is wonderful for staying healthy also.  RW Garcia take great pains in finding the perfect corn, oil and spices for their tortilla chips.

Me Enjoying the 3 Seed Veggie Dipping Chips

Here's a little information from their website:

At RW Garcia, we're changing the way people snack with a simple philosophy: great tasting can be good for you. We pride ourselves on producing surprising, delicious combinations of corn and other natural ingredients to create fun, healthy foods. We make our tortilla chips from the finest, all-natural ingredients including organic and stone ground non-GMO corn and seasonings that contain no additives or preservatives. All our chips are wheat free, and most are also gluten free. So you can snack guilt free.

I'm sure you can tell my family and I loved these chips and will be looking for them in a store near where we live.  To find a retailer that sells RW Garcia products click here.
They also sell their delicious products on-line on the following websites:


Amazon.com
CarbSmart.com
GlutenSmart.com
Netrition.com
Kehedirect.com

Find RW Garcia on Facebook and Twitter to keep up on their latest news and information about their products!  I'm very appreciative of the RW Garcia products I got to sample!  They are the best I have ever tried!

GIVEAWAY:  If you would like a chance to win a box of RW Garcia Dippers (1 ea of 4 varieties) please enter the Rafflecopter form below.  Please note the first two entries are mandatory. Giveaway ends Oct. 11, 2012.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I received samples to review.  No monetary compensation was received.   Opinions are 100% my own.

  

A Unique Antique Hall Teapot With A Cover

Hall Teapot With A Cover

Did you ever see a teapot like this before?  Maybe some of you have but I never did before I received this one.  My sister, brother-in-law, and my husband and I prepare and do estate sales for people.  We've been working on an estate sale for a woman whose parents have passed away.  My sister told the lady I collect teapots and she surprised me by giving me this awesome teapot.  It's a vintage Hall teapot with a silver cover that you can take off.  It must have been used to keep the tea warm.  It's in excellent condition and looks like it was never used. 

I  was so excited when she gave it to me because it's a teapot I never saw before.  My sister said she has seen blue ones like this also.  She has a booth at an antique mall so she knows more about antiques.  I have quite a collection of teapots and must have about 40 of them or more.  This beautiful teapot will go nicely displayed with them. 

This Old Pear Tree Produced Some Nice Fruit

Recently I did a post about this old pear tree at my home where I grew up.  My sister, brother, and I used to play around the tree and climb it.  My mom still lives there and said the tree has been there longer than she has.  She's lived there 67 years so I don't have any idea how old the tree would be.  Last night I picked these pears which the tree is still producing.  There weren't very many this year due to the lack of rain but I think it's pretty good for an old tree!  The pears are tasty too!

Petunias Still Blooming and The End of Summer

These petunias are still looking pretty good for the first day of Fall.  I love flowers and hate to see the end of summer is here.  Fall is very beautiful though, with colors changing on the trees and the cool crisp chill in the air here in Michigan.  Seasons are nice but it always seems like the winter lasts forever and summer just flies by. 

This year was very strange with 80 degree weather in March and then we got frost after that in April.  The plants and trees were affected by the drastic change in temperature.  We have a peach tree and always have it loaded with peaches.  This year we had an ice cream pail full of peaches.  I've heard the apple crop was affected by the weather also and they're aren't as many apples this year in Michigan.  The drought didn't help crops either but thankfully the ten acres of navy beans we have by our house look very good.  I don't think our state was affected as much as other states either.  I'm not a farmer but we're very thankful for how good the crops look in our farming community.

Kids Contributing/Doing Household Tasks Around The House

It's kind of hard to get kids to do household tasks or contributing around the house sometimes.  If you don't instill these responsibilities when they are younger it might be tougher as they get older.  Making a list for each child and what they have to do makes it simpler when they see it on paper.  As they do their chore they can cross it off the list.  I'm not saying it always works but it's worked in our house fairly well.  My kids are older so they can wash dishes, dry dishes, take out trash, fold laundry, hang up clothes, vacuum, dust furniture, clean the car out, and wash windows. 

My daughter likes to make spaghetti with homemade sauce and she has a couple different recipes she got off the internet.  It's a nice break for me not to have to cook occasionally, so that's something that she can contribute to the family.  I think it's good to instill children with a sense of responsibility.  What do you do to motivate your kids to help out with the household tasks?  

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I received this information and coupon offers from Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

Crunchmaster Crackers Review and Giveaway

If you want to try a delicious cracker that's good for you too I highly recommend Crunchmaster Crackers!  I had the pleasure of sampling a variety of Crunchmaster's awesome crackers recently and am so happy to tell you about them!  I got to try five varieties of Crunchmaster Crackers as shown below:

Multi-Seed Crackers in Original
Multi-Seed Crackers in Roaster Garlic
Multi-Seed Crackers in Rosemary & Olive Oil
Multi-Grain Crackers in Roasted Vegetable
Multi-Grain Crackers in White Cheddar

I loved all of these crackers and it was hard to pick any favorites but I especially liked the Multi-Seed Roasted Garlic,  Multi-Grain White Cheddar, and Multi-Grain in Roasted Vegetable flavors.  They are so light and crispy with such great flavor!  I ate them right out of the bag but you could use them with your favorite toppings.  My husband and kids couldn't get enough of them so you know they liked them a lot.  The bags come in resealable bags that keep the crackers fresh which is awesome too!  I know we have a new favorite cracker in our family and that is Crunchmaster.  I know my family is getting something that is a gluten free and much more healthy for them which is great to know also.

Here's some facts taken from the Crunchmaster
website about their Crackers:

• Certified Gluten Free
• All Natural
• 100% Whole Grain
• Low Saturated Fat
• Cholesterol Free
• 0g Trans Fat

They are also made in the U.S.A. at their state of the art baking facility in Loves Park, IL.  I'm all for anything made in the U.S.A. so this is a big plus in my book too!

If you would like to enter for a chance to win a variety of Crunchmaster Crackers yourself, please enter the Rafflecopter Form below.  Please note the first 3 entries are mandatory before you can complete the rest.  Giveaway ends October 4, 2012. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure:  I received samples for review and opinions are my own. 

Mediterranean Snacks Giveaway Winner!!

The Winner is..............Entry #306 Jamie T.  

Congrats Jamie!  I have contacted the winner and they have 48 hours to get back with me or a new winner will be chosen.  

Thanks to all who entered!  Look for more giveaways in the near future!!

NEW GIVEAWAYS ARE COMING SOON!

I am very excited about some upcoming reviews and giveaways I will be having in the near future!  Here is a list of them so be on the  lookout for them sometime soon!

Crunchmaster Crackers
Candle Warmers
RW Garcia Tortilla Chips

New Pillsbury® Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain.

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You can visit  My Blog Spark to download a printable coupon for $1.25 off one package of New Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain.  Grab a coupon and let the good times un-roll with Pillsbury! 


I received this information and the coupon offer from Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark.

Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent Review & Giveaway

Any time I find  new eco-friendly cleaning products I am anxious to try them out, so I was thrilled to try Rockin' Green.  If you haven't heard of this wonderful company you will soon!  Rockin' Green is an award-winning company which has eco-friendly cleaning products.   Rockin' Green has some awesome and unique scents  as Mighty Mighty Marshmallow, Earth Wind & Orchids, Rage Against the Raspberry, and Bare Naked Babies (which is unscented).  Rockin' Green was founded by Kim Webb, who wanted a better way to clean cloth diapers for her child's sensitive skin.  Rockin' Green is dye free and has no fillers, no enzymes or optical brighteners and is 100% phosphate free and vegan.  It only takes 2-3 tablespoons or less for those with soft water or HE machines.

I chose the Classic Rock Earth, Wind & Orchids scent and was delighted with how fresh and clean my laundry came out with a wonderful scent which was not too strong but just enough to notice.  It really got my laundry thoroughly cleaned also!  I have twin sons who sometimes get their shirts a little smelly.  Rockin' Green got all the yucky and dingy odors out and they smelled awesome!  There are other ways you can use Rockin' Green besides clothing, such as cleaning sinks and toilets, shower curtain liners, carpets, walls, floors and so much more!

Rockin’ Green produces detergents for hard, soft and normal water conditions (known as Hard, Soft and Classic Rock varieties). They even have a map to choose which Rockin' Green Formula is right for you according to where you live in the U.S.  I live in Michigan and that's why I chose the Classic Rock according to the area where I live.

GIVEAWAY:   Enter the Rafflecopter below to enter to win a 45/90 load bag of Rockin' Green detergent in the winner's choice of scent/formula below!  Giveaway ends 9/30.  Please note the first 3 entries are mandatory before you can do the others.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure:  I received samples of product for review purposes and no monetary compensation was received.  Opinions are my own.   I am not responsible for delivery of prize.

Time To Get A Few Halloween Decorations Out

Last year I received this cute Halloween arrangement on the top from a friend and I just got it out today because it's so fall like outside.  I don't really decorate much but it's fun to look at some decorations.  The little decorations on the bottom are so cute also with a haunted house, pumpkins, leaves, and trick or treat bag and pail.  They're  the right size to put on this shelf.  Excuse my picture in the pic.  That's a mirror on the shelf.  My kids are older but I think they still like to look at some decorations!  Do you decorate for Halloween?

Enter to win Purex $1000 Back to School Shopping Spree!

Click On This Link to Check out Purex Back to School Website

There are tips on getting back into the swing of school routines, downloadable lists of back to school essentials and enter for your chance to win a $1,000 Back to School Shopping Spree.

Pleasant Fall Family Festivities At Octagon Barn

It's great to have your family get together and go some place relaxing and enjoyable.  Today my family all went to a quaint little town where there is a festival called Fall Family Days in Gagetown, Michigan. It is always held on the second weekend in September.  Actually the festival is in the country surrounded by fields of crops.  There must have been eight thousand people there when we went today. There is an octagon shaped barn which the festival is all about, which was built in the 1920's.    There is also a huge old farm house which is decorated in the 1920's era which you can tour. 

It was nice to sit on bales of hay and listen to people playing music from days of old. There also were all sorts of animals such as the alpacas shown in the picture, a parade with antique farm machinery, a  flea market, homemade donuts and kettle popcorn which were made while you watched.  They had many craft and antique vendors also and much more which I didn't even get a chance to look at.  Other buildings from the 1920's which you could look at was an old school house and saw mill which had people dressed of the era.  It was a beautiful fall day with great weather.  Days like this make wonderful memories for the family. 

SpongeBob and Patrick Are In Our Home

My kids always liked SpongeBob Squarepants since it started on television.  They are now in their 20's and still watch it occasionally.  These two guys in the picture (SpongeBob and Patrick) are in my daughter's room and she's had them for quite a few years.  She doesn't want to get rid of them and probably will keep them forever. 

Your kids probably have special toys or stuffed animals that they could never part with.  I've kept a lot of special toys from when the kids were little and have them stored away.  Some day they will probably like to see the old toys and reminisce about their childhood.  I remember when I was little  I had a Chatty Cathy doll and I do not know where it went to.  I loved pulling the string and hearing her talk.  Maybe she broke and got thrown away.  I do have a few games and a Give A Show Projector where you could view slides of cartoons.  That was a lot of fun!  We also had Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs.  My boys had Legos and I've kept them also for them.  Do you keep your child's favorite toys and store them away for when they get older? 

Did You Ever Have One Of Those Friendly People Days?

Did you ever have a day that everyone was friendly that you met?  It's nice to get a day like that and today was the day for me!  First I went to get gas and the cashier was very friendly.  Later in the morning I went grocery shopping and the cashier there was talking to another worker beside her.  When I came to check out she smiled and started to talk to me about their conversation they were having.  In the parking lot the grocery cart guy reminded me not to forget my bag of potatoes on the bottom of the cart.  Then he added "have a nice day".  These days you don't always have many friendly people waiting on you.  I think being friendly is contagious.  There are too many rude people and I can't see how people can be like that.  I like to treat everyone the way I like to be treated.  Yes, we all have some bad days occasionally but be nice to someone and it will make you feel good.  Try to make this world a better place to live in!

Kind Of A Spooky Old House

My daughter is going to school for Graphic Art Design and took a picture of this house in our town one day for one of her art projects. It's a very old house and has been like this for years.  When I was little it looked the same, but it is getting more run down.  There was a bachelor living in it but sadly he passed away last year.  I would love to see what it looks like inside just for curiosity sake.  When my kids were little they were scared to go past it.  It is kind of spooky looking, especially to little kids I imagine.  It kind of reminds me of the old days like Little House on the Prairie.

Mediterranean Snacks Review and Giveaway

When I received a box with a variety of Mediterranean Snacks to review my taste buds started to tingle with excitement!  If you have never heard of Mediterranean Snacks you are missing out!   This awesome company was founded in 2005 and their  mission is innovation to produce great tasting, nutritionally superior snacks.

Information from Mediterannean Snacks Website:

Using the superfood benefits of lentils in combination with whole grains and legumes, we create unique healthy and delicious snacks.
We use only the highest quality, non-GMO, and gluten-free ingredients, creating snacks to satisfy even the most health-conscious food enthusiast.

Mediterranean Snacks offer Hummuz Crispz, Baked Lentil Chips, Lentil Crackers, All Natural Popcorn and Buffalo Nickel Wingers just to name a few of their delicious snacks!  I received Sea Salt Baked Lentil Chips, Cucumber Dill Baked Lentil Chips, Original Veggie Medley Chips, Parmesan Garlic Baked Lentil Chips, and Original Veggie Medley Straws to sample for my review. 

My whole family couldn't wait to try them and was so delighted in each of the products we received.  We loved them alone but you could use them for dipping, with cheese, or whatever your prefer.  My favorites were the Cucumber Dill Baked Lentil Chips and Parmesan Garlic Baked Lentil Chips.  They had so much flavor and I couldn't stop eating them!  My kids especially loved the Original Veggie Medley Straws and Sea Salt Baked Lentil Chips.  They loved the crunchy great flavors and the shapes of the Veggie Medley Straws.  The whole family really enjoyed each and every product we received from Mediterranean Snacks!

Check out Mediterranean Snacks on Facebook and Twitter also!  This is a company who you'll really love I'm sure!

GIVEAWAY:  To win some Mediterranean Snacks for yourself please enter the Rafflecopter form below.  Please note the first two entries are mandatory before you can continue to do the rest. I verify entries to make sure they are done.  Contest ends Sept. 17.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure:  I received samples for my review and was not monetarily compensated.  All opinions are my own.