Beautifully Poor

It's that time of year again! I LOVE knitting, and thanks to Leisure Arts, Inc. I can easily do so. I taught myself to knit while I was pregnant with our middle child. I needed something to do with my hands to pass the time and I've always enjoyed sewing and creating things. Knitting is the perfect thing to pass time and can easily be interrupted and picked back up again. With little kids, this is necessary for projects I take on! The newest book I've received from Leisure Arts, Inc. is their Best of Knit Accessories, with 40 quick projects that include mittens, scarves, headbands, and even handbags. (+more!!) I wanted something quick and something I don't have yet so I decided to create the Lacy Headwrap on page 56 of the book. It took me less than two days to make and is super cute! My favorite part about this book is the General Instructions starting on page 120. It tells you about the abbreviations used in the book, symbols & terms, and all t...

Hosted by: MomJunky Sponsored by: Book Bears One winner will receive a Book Bears 2 Month Subscription Package for ages 2-5 Starts 6/2-6/16 18 + U.S. Check out my review HERE ! Entry -Form The winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond or forfeits the prize. This giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media. All participating blogs are not responsible for prize fulfillment. All entries are optional. Void where prohibited by law.

Eleanor by Jason Gurley (more at  http://www.jasongurley.com/ ) is a dark and intriguing novel. I love books that keep me on my toes and this is definitely one of them. It is a speculative take on the choices we make and the effects they have on our immediate families, if not for generations to come.  I loved the way Mr. Gurley brought the story to life with the Prologue. I really could feel what Eleanor felt; being trapped in what had now become her life and then the decision she makes to change that. What makes this book even more intense is the addition of science fiction and time warps. Don't we all wish we had the ability to change the past? I think if we could, most of us would.  I love how powerful it shows that the mind can be in taking us down in life or bringing us up. Life is so fragile and can be taken so quickly.  "It's all just water" page 347, line 19 If you are looking for a new read that moves your emotions like only a good story c...

The Witch of Lime Street  ~ Séance, Seduction and Houdini in the Spirit World by David Jaher is an intriguing historical journey into the 1920's. Curiosity was building into all things spiritual and magic as it was post World War I. People were searching for something bigger; something to make meaning out of our lives. It seems it started with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, none other than the author of the Sherlock Holmes books. He was searching, like most, for answers. What happened to the fallen men after the war?  Plenty of frauds existed, just as it is today and has always been and believe it or not, Houdini was all a part of this. He was a masterful genius who could see beyond the tricks of mediums and self-proclaimed phsyics. He would even call them out during their own shows and prove them wrong, humiliating them in front of their crowds. He disproved many mediums as frauds and even as he became known as one to blow their cover, they would go undercover when he wa...

As a child, I have always loved the Nutcracker. The story is magical and the different renditions potrayed in ballet are just beautiful. I have always wanted to go see the live ballet and this year I was extremely lucky to be able to, thanks to USFamilyGuide.com . My mom taught me the love of culture and the beauty in the arts, so naturally I wanted to take her along on this wonderful adventure. As we entered the beautiful Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis - which is gorgeous - there was a beautiful ballerina ready to have her picture taken with you for a fair price (she was also there at the end). Any little girls dream could come true with that! They also had a souvenir table with beautiful posters, trinkets and Russian dolls and Nutcrackers as well as things to be purchased from the show like DVD's and CD's. But this was only the  beginning. We were graciously granted seats very close to the stage with a TERRIFIC view I must say.  We were so close we...

If you are looking for beautiful, softer hair, look no further. Before I started using this, I had split ends like crazy and frizzy, yucky hair. It was hard to brush out after a shower because of all the dead hair and I really don't want to go in for a haircut because I love my long locks. I know, I know; trimming hair helps it grow faster. When I was introduced to this I was very excited, because I know the benefits of Argan Oil are amazing and include strengthening and protecting hair and repairing it from damage already done. I can attest that these two products actually do that for me AND have almost all ORGANIC ingredients! That makes me and my hair extremely happy! First, let me introduce you to the Luxurious Argan Oil Hair Treatment & Elixir. The formula is thin and only a few pumps were needed to coat my long hair. You leave it in for 10 minutes, 2 hours or can leave it in overnight, though if you do it overnight I would recommend a hair cap so your she...

This cat bed is pretty neat. My cat, like most, loves watching the birds and small animals and this suction cupped window bed is perfect for her. It is well made, the frame being made out of a PVC pipe like material that is easy to put together. The bed itself is comfortable for cats and holds up to 50lbs though my cat is only 10lbs so I really can't vouch for the weight factor. The top pad is removable and washable; fabulous since cat hair gets stuck on it all the time. I use my extension on my vaccum to get the hair off most times though. Here is my video tutorial: As you can see in the video how to put it together, it just takes a little time and arm strength to do so. The suction cups stick very well and I haven't had one issue with them falling off. My cat absolutely loves this bed and I am happy with it too! You can get your lovely pet one here:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZAL0QAS?ref_=cm_aya_orig_subj I received this cat bed at little ...

Lucky Brushes are the fun and affordable way to introduce your baby/toddler to the world of brushing! Brushing teeth is an essential habit to everyone, as we all know, so introducing it at a young age is a brilliant idea. Kids are imitators, so naturally watching those around them is how they learn. But when they can get their hands on the same item, they are in heaven! Now, these aren't just ordinary toothbrushes. They also are teethers that massage those sad, swollen, teething gums little ones get. Teething is one of the hardest "seasons" kids go through for the child and parents alike so the more we can help them get through it, the better for the both of us! The handle on the brush is an easy-to-hold horseshoe shape perfect for those chubby little hands to grasp. It is BPA free and FDA approved making it a safe choice for our sweet little angels. The bristles are soft but not too soft, actually cleaning your childs teeth whether they are chewing on it...

I have wanted a nice shower brush for awhile now and am extremely happy with this one!  Perfect for the shower and skin brushing! My favorite part about this brush is that it has soft bristles. I was really expecting something much stiffer but am very pleased with the softness. It also doubles as a massager which works great in the shower. The handle is easy for me to grip and easy to clean, unlike ones that are wooden. Not only for the shower though, it can be used as a whole body brush. Our skin reacts very well to brushing, though that sounds strange slightly. When using it for body brushing start from you feet and work towards your heart, but always be brushing towards your heart. Skin brushing is great for exfoliation, circulation and reducing cellulite. The reason it helps with cellulite is that it brings more blood flow to problem areas and eventually lessens if not eliminates it altogether ~ depending on how dedicated you are to brushing. I prefer to use it before bed or...

The Beginner's Bible Kid Sized Devotions by ZonderKidz Illustrated by Kelly Pulley is a great way to introduce your child to devotions in general. It starts off with the creation of the world in Genesis and ends in Revelations. Kid Sized Devotions takes a child through the Bible through simple language and stories right out of the Good Book to help them grasp more firmly who God is and the great people of the Bible. Each devotional starts off with a short scripture then goes on with a short description of the passage and what is being conveyed.  They also have a beautiful picture depicting the passage, which helps with the visual aspect of learning in small children. They then end in a short prayer for the child to read or repeat. At the very end of the book it goes through the ABC's of salvation, but this version is A-Z. My son loves the bright pictures and they are just long enough to grasp information regarding the Bible and just short enough to keep his attent...

Have you ever used a glass nail file? I know for me I was hooked on the metal one's for the longest time and thought they were the best way to go. I've never liked emery boards EVER because they are cheap and always fall apart. So when I came across this great invention I was thouroughly intrigued. Aveniro makes glass nail files that have a unique microstructure. Science; cool! The abrasive surface is produced by chemical etching that grinds spikes right into the glass surface so that it won't wear out or go dull. Now that's what I want from a nail file! I've even had metal one's wear out on me, but never the glass ones! Laser Engraved - Photo Courtesy of Aveniro The fun thing about Aveniro is that they don't just offer color based files. They offer printed, logo, photo-print, crytal stone (pictured above at the bottom), sandblasted, laser engraved and the list goes on! Photo Print - Photo Courtesy of Aveniro Metal Decorated - Photo ...

These labels are extremely cool! They come in a package of 48; 6 sheets of 8 labels. There are 8 different shapes as well which is really nice as they aren't just circles or squares. I love out of the ordinary! This makes them more fun! My son loves that they are different shapes and before we started school, I had him choose labels for his folders. He was very happy to be able to choose a different one for each day of the week. They are easy to peel off the paper they come on and apply to whatever you choose. I gently brushed my finger back and forth on the label as I was applying to eliminate any bubble formation.  The one super cool thing about these is that you can easily remove them, especially for glass. I did this with my gallon sized jar and it left no glue residue and re-stuck just fine. These are also dishwasher and refrigerator safe! How awesome! They are PERFECT for canning and if you are like me you reuse your glass jars every year but don't put ...

I was very impressed by how great these work! I needed new ones as the ones that came with my shower curtain were getting rusty and find these the perfect replacement. They are easy to move when openeing and closing the curtain, they don't snag each other or fall off the bar like my old ones and best of all are stainless steel so they won't rust. They are easy to attach and come in a pack of 12, which is generally how many you need for a rstandard shower curtain. I like the choices of colors as well, though I chose black because it was the closest to match my curtain and bathroom decor. They have a lifetime guarantee to which is awesome! I am a huge fan! I received this product at little to no cost for testing and review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own. Get yours here

Cocozia did it again! But this time even better! Who knew that chocolate coconut water could TASTE SO GOOD! Well it does now! It almost tastes like chocolate milk, but lighter and healthier! Our family has fallen in love with it - even my picky 4 year old! It comes in a case of 12 - 16.9 oz packages (we are already down to 6! Yikes!) The chocolate coconut water comes in Tetra Pak's for better quality and retained freshness. You can drink it right out of the box or pour into your favorite glass to enjoy. My favorite part about this is that I don't have to add anything; just shake and drink. I don't have to buy fruit or pick herbs to get the desired flavor out of it to mask the actual coconut water taste. Don't get me wrong, I do like plain coconut water, but being able to grab-n-go is much more convenient and my kid actually drinks it; score for me! The ingredients are as follows: Organic coconut water, water, organic coconut milk, organic c...

I am a huge thriller buff when it comes to books and have great ones from Stephen King and Dean Koontz in my collection. Before this, I had never read any of Samantha Hayes works and am very happy that I ran into this gem. The book starts off very fast and ends in death; yes death right off the bat. This town has experienced patterns of suicides that devestate the community and without further investigation they appear to be just that: suicides.  It then delves into the lives of  Detective Inspector Lorraine Fisher, her husband, who is also a detective, and their daughter. Lorraine and her daughter go to visit Lorraine's sister in her hometown where all these suicides have taken place. Given a background of the community and what has been going on by Jo, Lorraine's sister, the town seems like a boring kind of place that kids just can't stand hence the suicide; or is it? I couldn't help but be captivated by the depth of the book.. It takes on the point o...

I really enjoy coconut water and it is so good for you. I only buy organic coconut water because there is a big difference in flavor if you ask me. Cocozia is USDA Certified Organic and I love the real deal! Cocozia's coconut water is crisp and light and has a great mild flavor. It is a delicious way to hydrate and my favorite time to drink it is before I run a race and after to rehydrate. It is also a perfect way to cool down after being in the sun all day and to help replenish your body with necessary nutrients. It is high in magnesium which is essential to our bodies and also has calcium, iron, phosphorous and potassium. A great way to get electrolytes without added sugar. One of the great things about this coconut water is that you can use it not just for drinking but for baking as well. Use it in breads in place of warm water or in hot oatmeal in the morning. My favorite way is to muddle herbs and fruit in the bottom of a glass and add coconut water to it. Very ta...

Photo courtesy of LeliaSea I thought LeliaSea nailed it with there hand cream! There body lotion is no exception. With an AMAZING scent and non-greasy feel, it leaves skin well hydrated and oh-so-soft. It is made with a special formula of natural minerals, Vitamin E and UV filters. It also contains Dead Sea Salt which has magnesium, calcium and potassium in it which is amazing for our skin. Photo courtesy of LeliaSea I use lotion daily, so having one that works great on top of smelling great is what I look for. This lotion leaves my skin silky smooth and smelling so good. The light floral smell is just the right amount of scent and it actually reminds me of my mom, making it that much more appealing to me. A little goes a long way as well! You don't need much to cover a large area, which I think everyone appreciates since you get more bang for your buck.  LeliaSea always maintains the highest in standards for there products and it shows. None of the products have any in...

Hyaluronic Acid is a carbohydrate found naturally in our bodies. It is most prevalent in the eyes and in our joints, but is found in almost every cell in our bodies. It binds with water in our bodies to create a sort of gel to help lubricate muscles and joints for better function. So why do we use it on our skin? Well our skin is highly elastic when we our younger because it is sufficient in collagen and hyaluronic acid. As we get older, we start losing elasticity in skin because the concentration of hyaluronic acid in our skin starts depleting. Add that to collagen loss and wrinkles and significant signs of aging occur. Just think of it as a sort of lubricant. A hyaluronic acid serum will add to the depleting acid in our skin cells to help build it back up again. It works with our skin to hydrate and moisturize. With that in mind is it easy to see why it has been called "The Fountain of Youth". It helps minimize signs of the aging process on the skin by making th...