Blessings of Love

I have 2 toothbrushes to give away!! How fun is that???
A GREEN toothbrush!
A toothbrush made from recycled yogurt cups.

And you can find them at my favorite place, TARGET. For a great price.
And HERE is a coupon.

They will even send you a mailer to mail used products back to be recycled AGAIN.
I love this company.
I really like doing my best to preserve more.
It feels so good=)

Wanna WIN??
Leave a comment and you will be entered
One per person please, OH & spread the word for me!
You can pick your color too, I have one each of Purple, Red, green, Blue.
I get to keep two and give two away!!

I will pick 2 winners on Friday July 4th

A busy weekend for sure.

Saturday was Merci's Luau birthday party. We had her friend party and then later in the evening we had our family party. It was a LONG day for sure. Josh worked in the AM so I had to prepare and set up all by myself (E was at my aunts and my brothers girlfriend came for the kids party, both a great help.) I was nice to have a few hours to clean up and sit for a bit. The parties went very good and Merci had much FUN!!



Each girl got to have a PINK coconut cup
(Thank You Target dollar section!!)



I served fruit kabobs as a snack, and luckily my day lilies were in bloom for accents, how PERFECT!!



Cupcakes served at the kid party



Cupcakes served at family party

Onto SUNDAY.
Sunday was one of our weeks to do Sunday school. And after than I was excited to have nothing to do, and then Josh's friend Pete called to invite us over for a party for his girlfriends daughter, and then my brother called and wanted to meet us at the beach to ride the jet ski's. UGH, forget relaxing. The jet ski date didn't work out so we napped for a few hours and went to Pete's. I was nervous I have never met him and wouldn't know anyone there. It ended up being a great time. There were tons of kids and ones that were age compatible with mine, BONUS.
We played with Rosco the toad and road dirt bikes of all sizes, swam and just really enjoyed the company of the strangers.




AND

I actually kinda had an extended weekend because I got to go out for a girls night with a few friends on MONDAY. We went to The Melting Pot (a fondue restaurant) YUMMY!! It was ladies night so we also got a spa treatment, we all picked the hand paraffin! The we wandered a few stores and then decided to do goofy photo shoots in a public area. We had to keep reminding ourselves how old we were!! Fun times. Oh and while wandering the outdoor shopping we were blessed with a beautiful view of a FULL rainbow (even thought I couldn't capture the whole thing in a picture)

Strawberries that is.
I don't think I have ever met anyone who doesn't like them.
So sweet and juicy, MMM.

I wish I could grow them, actually some wild ones grow in our yard, yet those little creatures get to them before we do.


Thanks to that beautiful state of California we have yummy strawberries to eat all over the world.
(They grow over 88% of the worlds strawberries).

Strawberry recipes are great for summertime entertaining, a summery snack or to dress up almost ANY dessert.



Did you know there are over 200 seed on the outside of a strawberry??
I always wondered=)
Check out www.strawberryville.com for some more fun strawberry facts and game for your kids.

That reminds me I left some cut strawberries with a bit of sugar in the fridge, sounds pretty good right about now!

I like to read, but don't do so very often.
I don't like romance novels, I am actually not sure what I like.
I usually look at the new release shelves at the library and if one catches my attention I grab it. I start reading and if I don't get into it I take it back.

I have just read my 4th book by Sheryl Anderson and I can't wait for another.
So far there are 4 int he series: Killer Heels, Killer Cocktail, Killer Deal, and Killer Riff.

These books are mystery, but modern, fast paced, fun, and CLEAN (I like this part), there is a tiny bit of romance, but like I said clean and not overpowering.

I really have fallen in love with Molly Forrester (the main character, a journalist).

So if you like to read check out her books. Killer Heels is the first.

Party tomorrow ::excited:: 60 % chance of rain=(
Here is hoping!

The last day of 3 hours of no kids. VBS ends today and I am sad. I have enjoyed my mornings doing uninterrupted stuff! Even if most of it was cleaning. I love my kids but us moms need a few hours to ourselves. I have been so much less antsy with them and a bit more tolerant when 6 rolls around. I still have my moments though.

Short post, gotta not waste my time.

Merci's Luau party is tomorrow, I am excited and prepared...yep prepared!!!
I would have been ready today=)

Next week, pack for vacation...at a cabin so we have to bring so much stuff...ugg.

Maybe I will find another VBS...LOL.

Do you remember that song???
HAHA the good old days.

Anyway, Summer is in full swing and I cannot believe the 4th of July is in one week.
I love the 4th, it is my favorite, and the day my husband proposed 9 years ago.

With all the kids home and many outings planned to help us mommy's out
safety tips are a must.

Here are a few from Chlorox and:



Five Simple Summer Safety Tips from the MommyDocs
•
Have a Sun Protection Strategy: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15. Look for products that provide "broad spectrum" coverage to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Use this sunscreen routine with your child--daily application 30 minutes before going outside and reapplication every 2 hours (or sooner if swimming, toweling off, or sweating). Creating a routine will establish good habits for the future. In addition, don't forget a wide brim hat, sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection, and sun protective clothing.
•
Keep Pests off Your Little One: In the summer, many insects can bite or sting your child. For pesky mosquitoes and ticks, consider a DEET containing insect repellant. Apply sparingly to exposed skin (avoid backs of hands and around the eyes and mouth) and/or to clothing once a day. As the percentage of DEET goes up, the duration of action increases. To prevent unnecessary exposure, always use the lowest percentage that will last for the planned length of time spent outdoors. Never go above 30% or use on children under 2 months old.
•
Keep the Pool Cool and Clean: Small yard pools provide a great way for kids to have fun and cool down when the temperature rises, but they can also harbor germs, such as bacteria. To keep the pool free from unwanted "swimmers," after each use disinfect it with bleach by cleaning with a solution of ¾ cup regular bleach to one gallon of water, then rinse well and dry thoroughly. Safety must: Always supervise children regardless of age when they are around any water; whether it's a bucket, a small backyard plastic pool, or the local community pool.
•
High Heat Means Hydrate: Excessive heat exposure may cause your child to experience a heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. How to prevent this: take breaks in the shade, avoid playing outside during peak sun exposure hours, and drink, drink, drink! Make sure your child is taking in plenty of fluids before he become thirsty.
•
Rid Rashes and Relieve Itchies: Running through the yard in bare feet, taking a nature walk on a trail, and picnicing in the park are some of the joys of warmer weather. But all of this outdoor activity can expose your child to a host of plants including those which cause poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. If an allergic reaction occurs, ask the pediatrician about an oral antihistamine and/or a topical skin care product such as a steroid cream or calamine. If the rash is extensive, looks infected, or is not getting better, call your doctor right away

If you are a mom you will understand my refreshment. I am home ALONE.
No kids, no husband, no noise=pure delight.

Mon & Tues while the kids were at VBS I shopped the whole time.
Today I decided to come home do a bit of cleaning, do a bit of computer time, and a bit of relaxing, so with a large Lite White Berry from Caribou (YUM) in hand off I go!

M's party is Saturday and I feel like I have been cleaning FOREVER. The house was a mess and so out of order as well as the yard so I had to catch up and now I am just doing regular maintenance to keep things in order for guest on Saturday.

The one thing I was dreading cleaning was the bathroom.
Our tub is an old porcelain tub that has lost it's top coat of clear protectant.
It is so hard to get clean.

I received my trial Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber in the mail just in time!!
I am a huge fan of scrubbing bubble to clean my tub, but even more excited that it would be even easier.

Statistics say that 19% of women have confessed to peaking behind others shower curtains while visiting.
And that my friends is EXACTLY why I clean my shower/tub thoroughly before we have company.

It is an excuse really, because otherwise I put off cleaning the shower/tub as long as I can!
The surround is brand new tile we just put in before Christmas, so it looks nice, but the soap scum builds up quick and the shiny new tiles look so dingy.

So anyway, on to the Action Scrubber.
It was so easy to take with me into the shower
(yep, I just get in clean the shower and then clean myself up!)
I didn't have to worry about getting the spray in my eyes or anything, just picked up the scrubber attached a cleaning cloth and went to work.
And it worked great!

I did have to use like 3 cloths, maybe because I have put it off so long, and probably because of the tub situation, dirt soaks in so much more.
Other than that, it was perfect!

I would recommend trying it out.



I love when companies make life, and cleaning so much easier on us!!

I am so excited, and probably have mentioned to most of you already, but the kids are in VBS.
Even Ethan. That means about 3 hours to myself!! During the day...what am I going to do??
I am sure to find something to occupy myself!

Today I didn't do anything too fun, I actually stayed with E for 45 minutes, went to Panera for some breakfast and computer time. (I felt so worldly, at Panera, cafe Mocha in had, sitting there at the table all by my lonesome with my laptop!)
And then I went grocery shopping, to the bank and a quick return at Target.
It was an enjoyable time, alone.

Tomorrow I think I will go to breakfast alone again and to the mall as soon as it opens!

Off to tend to REALLY whiny son, he cried for a hour and a half before nap, finally fell asleep, and is now up 30 minutes later crying his head off again.
Too bad those 3 hours weren't enough today.

I am refreshed and have barely yelled, it is all HIM.

Tuesday:




I asked the kids to turn off the TV and find something else to do. They listened and found out that the magnets stick to the rim around my counter tops (yes, I know they are ugly, as the rest of the kitchen, we rent, what am I supposed to do!)
They had much fun, so who am I to complain.

After:




I even did the other side to match!

I received this award from Melissa at Life With Two.

Thanks so much Melissa!
Melissa was my first Pay it Forward winner, go here to check out 1 of the 2 things I made for her!
Her other is on it's way.

This award was created by Memoirs Of A Mommy to honor the donor who saved her
son Noah's life with a heart transplant.
Her hopes are that in passing this award, we are creating more awareness of the importance of organ donation.

So, now it is my turn to pass on the award and Share The Love and spread the word about Organ Donation.

I will pass it on to Wendy, Lisa, Victoria, Jenna, An Iowa Mom

Today I was detail cleaning this bureau of drawers that I have in my dining room (old hand me down from my great grandmother).
I sprayed some pledge all over it to shine it up and it must have got on the kitchen floor so E has slipped on it twice and I have almost fell a few times myself, kinda funny!
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E is sleeping quite long, I am very impressed and Merci hasn't left her room
(usually she leave to tell me stupid stuff at lest 100 times)
I think I will give them each 1 marble in the jar!
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My laptop won't connect to the wireless network, I have no idea why.
Annoying.
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My husband was reading my blog the other day, when there were a lot of paid posts in a row, he was making fun of me. He thought my posts were cheesy=(
I made $40 on those posts, so cheesy or not, Target here I come=)
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Got a call from a friend/pastor we know.
We sent them an encouragement letter and a monetary gift.
God used it in a big way for them.
They will keep and cherish the letter forever.
Thanks Lord for using us in YOUR plan.