Serenity's Giveaways!

Weight Loss

2011-11-17T08:33:00.000-06:00

It has been such a long time since I've written on here. I'm so sorry. I would like to take a second to talk to you about something that has truly affected our family. Health, Weight, Diet, and Exercise. At 34 years young my husband had a heart attack. What an eye-opening, horrific experience that was. We have tried to exercise, we have tried to eat healthy, and we've tried to lose weight. I'm telling you I went off the deep end and was doing things to the extreme. It didn't last. Almost two years later and we are right back to where we were. Sad.

4 Days ago I received a sample of a natural supplement called V3. Click to learn more about this product. I have since been blown away. I went from being an unmotivated person to wanting to live again, energized, losing weight effortlessly, and it has curbed my sweet and carb addiction to the point where I actually turned down chocolate and caramel yesterday. Which is completely insane. Everyone just looked at me like I had fallen off the deep end! It was GREAT!!! I felt in control to say NO! Still super excited about that one. Anyway, I just really wanted to share with you guys that in 4 days I've lost 9.5 lbs with the only modification being that I drink more water. This has been a lifelong battle for me and one that I need to conquer for my family's health reasons. My husband wants to see how it goes for a month with me before he starts taking his own life changing V3 pill! I can't wait! With heart disease and obesity being such an epidemic in this nation I strongly suggest this product. It is a natural supplement with amazing results! If you would like more information and like to try it yourself please stop by my website. I'm also documenting my journey here! Do stop by and tell me what you think! I cannot explain to you how much I think this product is going to help our family and maybe it just might help yours.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Winner of the Yoplait Greek “Nourish Your Inner Goddess” Gift Pack Giveaway Is.....

2010-05-04T09:47:00.003-05:00

Congratulations!!!!

Anthy

I have sent you an email and you will have 48 hours to respond.

11:00 am Central Time 5/06/10

Thank you to all of you who entered!

Jes

P.S. Sara has an awesome giveaway if you are into hooping!!! A great way to have fun and firm up!!! There is also a Catina Jane Arts Giveaway! She has such amazing mixed media prints...LOVE the colors!

Yoplait Greek “Nourish Your Inner Goddess” Gift Pack Giveaway (Ends 5/3/10)

2010-04-28T10:25:00.003-05:00

With 12 grams of protein -- twice that found in leading yogurts-- new Yoplait Greek nourishes you from the inside out. The thick and creamy yogurt is available in four amazing flavors...Strawberry, Blueberry, Honey Vanilla and Plain. The children and I are torn on our personal favorites...strawberry and blueberry, but honey vanilla is darn close too! :)

To celebrate its new Greek yogurt and to encourage women to nourish their inner goddess, Yoplait has teamed up with actress Izabella Miko, who plays Greek Goddess Athena in the epic adventure new Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ film “Clash of the Titans,” in theatres April 2 in 3D.

Giveaway time!!!

If you are as excited as I was to get a chance to feel like a Goddess...this giveaway is for you!!! You will receive a Yoplait Greek “Nourish Your Inner Goddess” gift pack, which includes some great items that will help you relax AND two VIP* coupons to try some Yoplait Greek Yogurt!!! Remember...if you do not have a blog id, please enter your email address in the comments section so that I can contact you if you are the lucky winner!

*This coupon offer for a free cup of Yoplait Greek yogurt is not valid in some states including: California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee. Sorry folks.

Here's how to enter:

1. Leave a comment answering the following question:

How do you tap into your inner Goddess?

This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options. Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.

Deadline to enter: Midnight on Monday, May 3, 2010 (US Residents Only)

Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:

~*~Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog giveaway! It doesn't have to be anything fancy, a line or two is just fine! 1 Entry, leave 1 comment with a link back to your post! ; )

~*~Follow my blog (on the right sidebar): 1 Entry

~*~Subscribe to my blog via Reader or Email (on the right sidebar): 1 Entry

So there you have it! Four easy ways to enter this amazing giveaway! : )

Contest ends Midnight on May 3rd and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Serenity's Giveaways is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. I will contact the winner on May 4th and they will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The winner's name and address will be forwarded. US ONLY. Thank you MyBlogSpark and Yoplait Greek Yogurt for providing me with these amazing products and the opportunity to share them with my amazing readers!

Goodluck and Thank You so very much for visiting!

Jes

P.S. Head over to Recipes for Moms for a great Skoy Cloth Giveaway!!! (Ends 4/30)

And...

If you think you need help slowing down and enjoying life...check out WalkSlowlyLiveWildly's "Not So Fast" Giveaway!

Winner of the Seventh Generation Disinfecting Kit...

2010-04-27T22:17:00.000-05:00

Congratulations!!!!

Tree

I have sent you an email and you will have 48 hours to respond.

11:00 pm Central Time 4/29/10

Thank you to all of you who entered!

Jes

Seventh Generation Disinfecting Cleaning Kit (Ends April 26, 2010)

2010-04-06T21:51:00.004-05:00

With this amazing weather we've been having here in Northern Illinois it has kicked off the yearly tradition of Spring Cleaning! Now, with spring cleaning, many households would pull out harmful chemical laiden cleaning sprays, wipes, and liquids. Blah. Many of you know that I do not care for these types of cleaners and gave them up years ago! Now, when given the opportunity to try Seventh Generation's new botanical disinfecting cleaning kit I was thrilled! The house is now clean and I feel good knowing that my kids aren't breathing in harmful fumes. But be forwarned...the lemongrass and thyme scent is what I would consider strong and potent. Seventh Generation has tapped into the disinfecting power of the herb thyme, to introduce an EPA registered line of disinfecting sprays and wipes that kill germs naturally! The new line of botanical disinfectant cleaners includes a multi-surface cleaning spray, bathroom cleaning spray and wipes.

Among the cleaning supplies I also recieved The Conscious Kitchen: The New Way to Buy and Cook Food - to Protect the Earth, Improve Your Health, and Eat Deliciously Let me tell you, this was a great book and the author has similar concerns that I do. I'm always open to learning more about how to buy and cook good food, different ways to protect mother Earth, how to improve my families health, and to eat some delicious food! We can't wait to try the pizza recipe! : )

Now, I received a Seventh Generation “Disinfecting Cleaning Kit” that included a disinfecting multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, wipes , a copy of The Conscious Kitchen, a cleaning caddy made from recycled plastic, and two rolls of 100% recycled, unbleached paper towels. I was also allotted another package to give away to one of my lucky readers! Yeah!!! Remember...if you do not have a blog id, please enter your email address in the comments section so that I can contact you if you are the lucky winner!

Here's how to enter:

1. Leave a comment answering one of the two following questions:
A. How do you keep your family safe from chemicals?
-Or-
B. What is the best thing you've done for the environment this year?
This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options. Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.

Deadline to enter: Midnight on Monday, April 26, 2010 (US Residents Only)

Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:

~*~Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog giveaway! It doesn't have to be anything fancy, a line or two is just fine! 1 Entry, leave 1 comment with a link back to your post! ; )

~*~Follow my blog (on the right sidebar): 1 Entry

~*~Subscribe to my blog via Reader or Email (on the right sidebar): 1 Entry

So there you have it! Four easy ways to enter this amazing giveaway! : )

Contest ends Midnight on April 26th and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Serenity's Giveaways is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. I will contact the winner on April 27th and they will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The winner's name and address will be forwarded. US ONLY. Thank you MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation for providing me with these amazing products and the opportunity to share them with my amazing readers!

Goodluck and Thank You so very much for visiting!

Jes

P.S. Don't forget to head on over to Make-Ahead Meals for busy Moms for an amazing LeCreuset Giveaway!!! Ends April 21, 2010!

Drive 55 mph...

2010-03-03T20:11:00.002-06:00

Hehehe...okay...I have to confess that I generally don't drive the speedlimit...but usually atleast 5-10 mph over.

While completing my recent defensive driving course that was mandated if I wanted to keep a uh hum...speeding ticket private, the instructor spoke about fuel economy and safety if driving at slower speeds how little time is sacrificed doing so.

Use this handy table to see how much time it will cost you to slow down and conserve fuel, reduce pollution, save lives and disarm the petroleum giants!

Research shows that most people commute about 30 miles to work each day. Can you spare 5 minutes to conserve fuel, reduce pollution, save lives and safe yourself from a nasty little speeding ticket??? ;) I think we can!!!

Jes

Peaceful Parenting

2010-03-01T22:44:00.000-06:00

Lets get one thing straight. I am not a perfect parent and no longer wish to be. :) I expect certain things to be done. I lose my temper more than I'd like to admit. We eat WAY too much Taco Bell (sorry honey, but it's true). And I have no clue what I truly want out of this life.

I was reading this article about molding our children by The Organic Sister and it really hit a chord with me. I have concerns about how I've been raising my children, especially my oldest. I rely on what I'm familiar with because it is all that I've ever known... That being said, it is time for a change.

Day One:
Today was such a beautiful day. I'm trying really hard to practice more peaceful parenting...and boy...what a difference just one day made! Thank you Organic Sister for opening my eyes...I didn't realize it but I was unintentionally ignoring their opinions so everything would go smoothly...my way....

On our next library trip, I'm going to try and get a copy of Playful Parenting and practice these 12 Exercises for Mindful Parenting! Thanks Sara for referring me to Sandra Dodd! Love, love, LOVE her site!

Goodnight!

Jes

Hallmark Valentine's Day Disapproval ;) and My Secret to Staying Calm!

2010-02-15T14:14:00.002-06:00

I truly despise feeling like I need to do something because someone else thinks it should be done. That being said, Valentine's is just another holiday that we love to do the "untraditional"! (*uncontrollable snickering*)

Don't get me wrong, I love to be loved...but not just for one day. I'm selfish like that. I hope that our family and friends will always be surrounded by love! We are truly blessed for the ones who have come and gone and the ones who choose to stick around.

Here is what we chose to share together this year for Valentine's:

To begin with, the children are so much like their mother...after we get past January we get our green thumb and spring fever...we can't wait to be surrounded by life! While on an outing to pick up parts, the kids and I browsed happily through the plant section of a local hardware store...I instantly asked them to pick out one that they would love dearly and remember to love it as much as we loved them. Here is what they picked...

Polka Dot Plant

Cyclamen Plant

Aren't they just stunning! Oh they are as beautiful as my children! Well, not quite...see...they are pretty darn adorable if I may say so myself!

Daddy works nights and he didn't get home until 6:30 am on Valentine's so I woke up extra early to make him some homemade whole grain pancakes (we doubled the recipe and used half old fashioned oats and half millet) in our blender. Once cooked I used a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut out these adorable little pancakes...

Since the kids were still asleep we were able to share a little candlelit dinner/breakfast before he went to bed. I sure am lucky to have such a wonderful man.

Okay, then I got back to work and made a few more batches for when the kids woke up....we also added some of these cute cutouts...that were left from the circle of hearts!

I can't even begin to tell you how good these were drizzled with vegan butter and agave...YUMM! Needless to say breakfast was a hit!

As a surprise for daddy, we cleaned out his truck while he was sleeping, shoveled the driveway and front porch,

...then after warming up to some hot cocoa, we made a Valentine's sign,

Soon grandma and grandpa would be over for lunch. The kids helped me cut potatoes for cheesy potatoes that we ate together with steak, and brussel sprouts...and for dessert soy milk tapioca pudding...sorry...no photo...it was too good. It all disappeared rather quickly!

After lunch we all visited while the guys watched the Daytona 500. Boy, talk about a long race and alot of red flags! We had some friends that went down to Florida to go see that race...I felt bad for them...50 degree weather and the longest race on record. But, it had to be better than a white snowy Valentine's! :)

Then, daddy got out his toy...and lets just say it brings out the best in us! Go get it Killer (our 5lb dog). hehehhee!

and then I heard a crash...and here is what was left...*sigh*

A beautiful pot that was given to my by my mother on Mother's day and what was left of my Jade plant...the plant was salvaged.

Daddy felt pretty horrible about that one. He later stated how amazed he was that through the years I've always been able to "keep my cool" (HA! Boy do I have him fooled!)...If I can handle him backing my truck up over a fire hydrant after only dating a few weeks I can handle anything! :) I love my familly and all our imperfections! Honey, to answer your question about how I "keep my cool" it usually involves chanting the following....

Grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.

I love you honey, with all my heart, and to all our dear friends and family who have touched our lives throughout the years...we love you and you are forever weaved into our hearts!

(Happily married 5 years this Feb. 18)

Jes

Breakfast

2010-01-19T09:00:00.002-06:00

I can't stress enough about the importance of breakfast...it is your body's jumpstart for the day! More importantly, you should have a sit down breakfast at the table with your family! This is a priority for us. I try to always have our meals around the table...add some candles and good company and you just can't go wrong. :) Talk with your family during these times to find out what is going on in their lives while trying to provide them the most nutrition you can.

Several weeks ago General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain. We received four free coupons to try some of their cereal and here is what was chosen:

Caramel Delight, Honey Clusters, Raisin Bran Clusters, Frosted Shredded Wheat

I have to be honest here...they do add more fiber and nutrients and they are mighty tastey! I'm sorry general mills, I do wish our local store carried your Organic Cereals *sigh*...those would have been my first pick. Although for many children this is a HUGE step in nutrition compared to other cereals. If you would like to see how your breakfast compares, check out the calorie chart here!

Remember...breakfast is one of the most important things you can do together as a family! Studies show that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, and have fewer reported discipline problems!

Right now if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals to help your family come together at the breakfast table every morning.

Now go fix some breakfast! :)

Jes

PS...Thank you General Mills and MyBlogSpark for giving us a chance to try them ..and for providing us with many meals together as a family!

PSS...Head over to LeslieLovesVeggies for an awesome GIELLA custom blend cosmetics giveaway! Ends February 8th, 2010.

Monave Makeup Giveaway Ends 1/30

2010-01-15T17:57:00.000-06:00

Leslie is doing a giveaway of some amazing Monave lip and cheek makeup! Check out both their websites!

Deborah Bilezikian, President of Monavé understands wonderful wholesome cosmetics, skin and haircare and makes it simple and convenient to purchase their products. "You shouldn't have to jump through hoops, or pay oodles of money just to try something new."

For the cheeks you have your choice of illuminizers:

Radiant - Radiant brings the bronzed warmth of summer to cheeks and eyes. Fine copper pigments flecked with gold....smooth, and silky.
Glisten - Glisten is the palest of tender pinks. It adds a faint rosy glow, subtle, with a delicate, smooth sheen.
Glow - Glow kisses morning sun on cheeks to luminize and brighten. This finely milled product adds a subtle sheen for the most discerning taste.

For the lips you have the following tough choices to pick from:

Lip Gloss

Lipstick

Lip Liners

Lip Glaze

Liquid Gloss

Lip Tints

Lip Crayons (vegan)

Talk about ALOT of lip variety!! Hurry and head over to Leslie Loves Veggies giveaway...it ends 1/30!!!

Goodluck!

Jes

Flippin Waffle Maker Giveaway!!! (Ends 1/31)

2010-01-07T18:57:00.000-06:00

Jen at 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven, 365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time, and Mega-Family Blogs is giving away a flippin' waffle maker...

To enter, go HERE!!

2009 Holiday Wrap Up

2010-01-04T10:44:00.002-06:00

The holidays and birthdays are literally the busiest times of year for our family. It seems we average between 6-8 get togethers for each occassion...excessive...we know! This year for the holidays we really focused on just spending quality time with our families and our children. And the gifts were no exception. We wanted the kids to get something unique and handmade instead of something from Wal-mart that you literally spend more time getting out of the box then them actually playing with it! *Sigh*

To begin with, we made homemade ornaments...

All Done....

We enjoyed our first snow...

And of course you need to warm up with some homemade chocolate chip cookies and vegan hot cocoa (from this cookbook...AMAZING!!!)

Then there was the Gingerbread house...

And what holiday season would be complete without lots of cooking...

Adapted Basic Cookie Recipe from More Vegetables, Please!

The Best Ever Banana Bread from The Complete Guide to Country Cooking

(We also wrapped these up to pass out for Christmas! What a yummy gift!)

We rode the train to...

...to see the Kris Kringle Festival with some dear friends!

Where they had ornaments from around the world...

and lots of sweet treats:

And some of the most beautiful star lanterns I've ever seen...

Now, no trip would be complete if we didn't see the Macy's displays...

And yes...it was so cold out even the birds had their own campfires! ;)

And finally...some of the kids favorite gifts under the Christmas tree...

Two handmade wooden daggers from salvaged Red Oak with leather sheaths...

Wendy's (Birch Leaf Designs) craftsmanship was amazing!!! (Thank you girl! The kids both love them dearly and have been protecting the house since! :) ) She also offers whimisical, natural wood and fabric playthings (or toys if you will) and some housewares as well! Check her store out!!! I highly recommend her products! Very well made indeed! :)

Then there is the wooden catapult! Oh My Goodness!!!

Mark (The Wood Toy Shop)...Ha! I'm under attack right now! hehehe! Let me just say that this is very well made out of hard wood and finished with a non-toxic mineral oil. He is very skilled in his creations and has some amazing toys...I think the decoder would be a hit with our son!!! Perhaps a future birthday gift!!! Seriously though...he's got a talent and the toys are so well made that these will last for years! Be sure to check out his shop!!! Again...highly recommended!!!

Last but not least...they also dearly love their Amish made Marble Run!

All of these gifts were finely crafted wooden heirloom toys. If you are honestly looking for a gift of lasting value, a wooden toy is the only way to go!!! The love that went into building them shines through the woodgrains and our family truly loves them!

But above all...I'm so greatful we were able to share these times together...our children grow up so quickly and I hope to savor each and every moment of their sweet innocence...It's truly a beautiful life...

Before I sign off, head over to WalkSlowlyLiveWildly for an amazing giveaway of the talented Lisa Leonard Designs $50 Gift Certificate!!! Hurry, it ends this Friday! Goodluck and have a beautiful day!

Jes

Waste Less, Give More...Enjoy Your Local Library!!!!

2009-12-18T10:03:00.010-06:00

These past couple of years our family has really tried to be more frugal and waste less resources when we can. Obviously we're not perfect and yes we still blow money on things we deem "important," but we have drastically cut back in other areas so we feel good about it! :) We have also tried to donate items we no longer use, recycle, and buy in bulk in order to keep our trash going into the landfill to a minimum. If you would like to read about how we've removed our disposables, please go here!

One trip we make every week is to our local library. This is such a fun time for our family! They have a variety of classes/programs for our children to attend, tons of books, magazines, movies, music, and so much more....and guess what!!! It's all free, let me repeat that again...FREE. All you have to do is get a beautiful little card, (your kids can get one, too--makes them feel very independant) and then you can check out all of these lovely little goodies to take to your own home to enjoy! I LOVE the library! And if we have a late fee to pay, I feel even better, because it is supporting such an amazing community resource!!! Check out what we found this time!

Here's the list if you want to check them out for more info:

Building Green

The Conscious Cook

More Vegetables, Please!

Raising FreeThinkers

Mommy Loves Her Bunny

Cheaper By The Dozen

The Sandlot

Race to Witch Mountain

P.s....although the hot cocoa wasn't something I got from the library, I do highly recommend it while cozying up to a good book! :)

Not only do we borrow items from the library, we also frequently donate books, games, and puzzles as well. It feels so good to know that our house is less cluttered and not only do we, but the whole community, will have access to it. The kids really enjoy feeling like we're not just getting rid of stuff...it really is bettering the community by allowing the library to share it with others. Makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside! And not only is it teaching our children generousity and clutter control, it is also teaching them frugality. *LOVE*LOVE*LOVE* this!

I can't wait to dig into my books...especailly the two cookbooks...we love food and after watching Julie and Julia I'm seriously thinking about incorporating more veggies into our daily meals and sharing it with you! What do you think?

Well, I've got to finish wrapping a gift for an adorable little nephew that lives in Alabama so that he will hopefully get it by Christmas!

Hope everyone has a beautiful day!

Jes

I am pleased to share this with:
Frugal Fridays
Thrifty Thursday
Penny Pinching Party Wednesdays
Coupon Teacher's Thrifty Thursday

Comfort Food and Homemade Sled

2009-12-10T22:25:00.010-06:00

Well, here in Northern Illinois it has gotten quite chilly rather quickly! Whenever the weather drops like this my body just naturally craves warming foods. Check out some of the lovely dishes we've shared together...

Hot Green Tea with Gingered Oatmeal topped with Oranges...Heavenely!

Homemade Vegan Split Pea Soup with Herbed Cream Cheese Crackers--Yeah, my food choices are totally mixed...just go with what sounds good and try to make it from good ingredients!

And of course vegan hot cocoa...

What is it about winter that makes me cry for hot chocolate? Do any of you have that problem? I love chocolate, but boy hot chocolate is the bomb when it is freezing outside!

Last year when it snowed we found ourselves in a bit of a dilema...the kids wanted to go sledding, but all the good ones seemed to have been sold out. And since I'm a penny pinching fool :) and couldn't see spending so much money on a rinky dink plastic sled that wasn't going to hold up one season....we found a frugal alternative... I bring you...the new and improved pull behind sled!!!

Review: It worked great until Daddy got high centered on a snow drift within the first few seconds of them on it and then they went bottoms up! hehehhhe! Yes, that is a wheel barrel body with a U Bolt screwed on with some rope attached! :) Total spent was probably $15. Okay...so it was more a stretch of the imagination, but it is something that will last for years...and can be reused for other purposes! :) And when us bigger kids got to playing with it, it was just down right fun! I hadn't had that much fun since we were kids! Loved it!

So I tend to think outside the box! hehehe Don't mind me! And no, it doesn't take much to entertain us! :) But I think that is a wonderful thing!

Oh and before I forget, if you are like me and have untamed hair...head over to Ohana Mama's website for a chance to win a Hana Ceramic Flat Iron from Misikko.com. Hurry, giveaway ends December 25th at 11:59 p.m. Hawaii time... Oh, wouldn't that be nice for Christmas! :)

Sara over at Walk Slowly Live Wildly is having an amazing giveaway of organic hemp clothing from two very talented mommas: Indigo Inspired and One Love Creations! Check it out! I've never wore hemp but it sounds like a wonderful fabric to work with! :)

Have a beautiful day!

Jes

I'm pleased to share this post on:

Frugal Friday

Thrifty Thursday

Homemaker Mondays

Pure2Raw Vatiety Pack Bakery Giveaway (12/15)

2009-12-09T20:04:00.001-06:00

Michelle & Lori over at Pure2Raw are doing their first giveaway!!! In honor of the Holidays and Twin Cakes Bakery coming up on it’s 2nd year anniversary they are offering a variety pack of some of their top sellers. Everything is gluten free, vegan, soy free, corn free, peanut free, and a few items will be raw.

So what is in the variety pack? One lucky person will be getting a sample of the following items:

Raw brownie bites
Raw rosemary cracker
Raw pumpkin kale cracker
Raw collard green fiesta flatbread
Raw spinach flatbread
Chocolate chips cookies
Cranberry orange scone
Lemon blueberry scone
Pumpkin chocolate chip muffin
And their holiday raw gingerbread macaroon

This giveaway will go till December 15th!!!!

Goodluck! This will be a tastey treat!!!

Jes

Unconditional Love: Set Aside Your Differences

2009-12-08T12:10:00.001-06:00

It never ceases to amaze me how much my dear animals understand me. I haven't been feeling well this week, but they were certain to make sure that every second of ever day I was surrounded by Love. So sweet.... Keep in mind, that these two pets actually don't care for each other. That's the ironic part! They really put their differences aside to be by my side!

Soup...nourishes the soul....

Feeling a little bit better...my nose was running away from me though, hence the half gone tissues in the backdrop! :)

My husband grabbed this shot when he got home from work at 6:30 am...apparently they insisted they both needed to be there! :) Sorry for the sleepy eyes...

So if the cat and dog can play nice for almost a week, we should have no problems setting aside our differences and showing more unconditional love!

Happy Holidays!

Jes

RAW Natural Beauty, RAWMinerals 7-Piece Discovery Kit {$180 Value} Giveaway (12/20)

2009-12-08T10:02:00.001-06:00

Leslie Loves Veggies is giving away a RAW Natural Beauty RAWMinerals 7-Piece Discovery Kit {$180 Value} to one of her lucky readers!

The Discovery Kit includes:

2 Mineral Foundations
Mineral Glow
Active Veil SPF 18
Maximum Coverage Foundation Brush
Concealer Brush
Multi-Tasking Retractable Brush

This skin-perfecting kit includes everything you'll need to perfectly cover skin imperfections and achieve a flawless, luminous and even complexion.

If you don't win, Leslie Loves Veggies Readers can take advantage of Promotion code "DISCOVERY50" for 50% off at Checkout. Free ground shipping on orders over $50.00!!!!

Hurry, this giveaway ends Sunday, 12/20/09!!! Goodluck!

Jes

Chocolate and Coconuts = YUM!!!

2009-12-04T21:29:00.003-06:00

Can you really get anything better? The kids and I had been meaning to try a particular recipe and when we found these lovelies for only only $3.99 for a 16 oz bag we knew it was time to pull out the recipe card! I honestly have to say this was one of the easiest desserts to make! Our family has issues with sweets, but it felt good knowing that we were consuming something that was healthy! :) And alot of fun to roll out for these two little helpers!!!!!

Who wouldn't love to work in the kitchen with these two around? Here is a close up of their amazing work...I love all the different sizes! Great job guys!!!

We tried the Fudge Babies, but so far have liked it better with these additions to the original: We used 3 T. Cocoa Powder, then we added 1 T. Coconut Oil, 1 T. Chia Seeds, and after processing and rolling in coconut flakes, we threw it in the fridge to set up better. These were sooo good and sooo energizing! The Chia Seeds really gave it a nice crunch! Love it!!! Thanks Katie for inspiring us!

If you run over to Chocolate-Covered Katie's you can enter to win a lovely Artisana Nut Butter Giveaway! :) Hurry, her giveaway will end soon! Goodluck!

Jes

Winner of the Chia Seeds Giveaway

2009-12-01T20:49:00.001-06:00

Congratulations!!!!

Phyllis

I have sent you an email and you will have 48 hours to respond.

10:00 pm Central Time 12/03/09

Thank you to all of you who entered!

Jes

From our Family to Yours

2009-11-25T19:14:00.001-06:00

May you be surrounded by Loved ones this Thanksgiving!

Extreme Chocolate Giveaway and Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness! (11/21)

2009-11-20T11:17:00.000-06:00

Chocolate Covered Katie is such a sweet gal that is hosting an awesome giveaway...CHOCOLATE!!!

The Vivapura people are offering one of Katie's lucky readers a triple threat of raw cacao products:
1. raw, organic Cacao Butter

2. raw, organic Cacao Paste

3. raw, organic Cacao Powder

To enter this giveaway, please click here! Hurry, it ends tomorrow!!! Before you leave, be sure to check out her Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness!!! I'm telling ya...this girl is a doll! :)

Jes

Winner of the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Gift Pack

2009-11-10T22:45:00.000-06:00

Congratulations Comment #63

Jennai

I have sent you an email and you will have 48 hours to respond.

11:00 pm Central Time 11/12/09

Thank you to all of you who entered!

Jes

Winner of the Simple Traditions Giveaway!

2009-11-03T08:48:00.001-06:00

Congratulations Comment #20

Jennifer B

I have sent you an email and you will have 48 hours to respond.

9:00 am Central Time 11/5/09

Thank you to all of you who entered!

Jes

Organic Chia Seeds Review and Giveaway! ~Nov. 30~

2009-11-02T20:23:00.007-06:00

This Giveaway has Ended! Thank you to all who entered!

A while back I won a chia seed giveaway hosted by the lovely Kristen over at Kristen's Raw (Thank you so very much Kristen and ChiaSeedsDirect.com!!!) and have been thoroughly enjoying them since in everything I can imagine!!!

I know, when you think Chia Seeds you picture this...

Often referred to as a superfood now, chia seeds have been researched extensively over the past decade, and modern science has confirmed that ancient civilizations like the Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs were correct for their high regard for them.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Chia seeds are one of the richest vegetable sources of brain food: Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, and they offer these nutrients without cholesterol.

Mineral, Protein, and Antioxidants
Chia seeds are also a rich source of a wide variety of antioxidants, such as myrecetin, quercetin, kaemferol, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and vitamin C. Essential minerals are present in chia seeds in very high quantities including potassium, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, zinc, and calcium. Chia seeds are 20 percent (complete) protein, contain B vitamins, and are approximately 20 percent of the dietary fiber we need daily per serving.

Chia Seed Advantages
Today, chia seeds are used as an additive to many foods, their mild taste making them easy to use as a nutritional supplement in a wide variety of recipes. They can be sprinkled on salads or yogurt, ground up and baked into breads, mixed into puddings, soups, and sauces, or combined with fruits to make smoothies.

While flax seed is a good source of omega fatty acids and many vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, it must be ground to enable digestion. Chia seeds, however, are very easily digested in their natural form.

Chia is also used as a diet aid since seeds are quite filling and very useful for adding low-calorie bulk to food products.

Here's how we've been enjoying them lately:

Mixed in our banana pudding

Sprinkled on our veggie wraps

Whipped up in our morning oatmeal

And blended in our raspberry peach sorbet!

I personally LOVED chia seeds so much that I asked Don at ChiaSeedsDirect.com if he would mind if I wrote a review of their amazing little seeds! He not only said yes, but even offered a 1.5 lb bag of organic chia seeds to one of my lucky readers!

Giveaway time!!

Enter to win a 1.5 lb Bag of Organic Chia Seeds from ChiaSeedsDirect.com for your family as well!

Here's how to enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite way of using chia seeds or, if you've never used them, what you would like to try! This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options. Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.
Deadline to enter: Midnight on Monday, November 30, 2009 (US Residents Only)

2. Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:

Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog giveaway and ChiaSeedsDirect.com! It doesn't have to be anything fancy, a line or two is just fine! 5 Entries, leave 5 seperate numbered comments with a link back to your post! ;)
Follow my blog (on the right sidebar): 2 Entries
Subscribe to my blog via Reader and/or Email (on the right sidebar): 2 Entries Each
Enter one of my other current giveaways (top right sidebar): 1 Entry for Each giveaway entered (just let me know which one you entered)! ;)

Contest ends Midnight on November 30th and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Serenity's Giveaways is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. I will contact the winner on December 1st and they will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The winner's name and address will be forwarded. US ONLY.

Goodluck and Thank You so very much for visiting!

Jes

Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Gift Pack Giveaway! (Nov. 9)

2009-10-22T11:41:00.002-05:00

This Giveaway has ended! Thank you to all who entered!

I want to take a moment and write to you about how important it is for our children to read and be read to. As a mother of an 8 and 4 year old, one can do independent reading and the other enjoys being read to. To be able to read is such a gift. Books can take children to magical places, long lost civilizations, or teach them fascinating facts. Our family incoporates interest led choices at our local library and they even have their own library cards! After making their choices, we run home to enjoy a good book. Our library even had a reading program we participated in during the summer that rewarded my children for what they read, which in turn allowed them to keep the reading fluency up through the summer for the oldest, and snuggle time with the youngest! WIN-WIN!!!

Now, over the past eight years, Cheerios has given away more than 40 million children´s books by distributing them free inside cereal boxes and has donated $3.2 million to First Book, their non-profit partner, which provides books to children from low-income families. The program is part of Cheerios´ ongoing commitment to helping parents provide their children with a healthy, nutritional and educational foundation.

Are you ready...Cheerios is again bringing books to the breakfast table, by providing six million children´s books free inside Cheerios boxes. The books are for children ages 3 to 8 years old, and include a brand new book in the popular "Trucktown" series, available only inside Cheerios boxes. And for the first time, all five books have been specially printed in both English and Spanish.

When I was given the opportunity to review the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Gift Pack, I was THRILLED!!! This is what I recieved:

Spoonfuls of Stories gift pack, which includes a set each of the five Spoonfuls of Stories books (Junkyard Fort, Tea for Ruby, Sleepyhead, Ballyhoo Bay, What´s Under the Bed?), a box of Cheerios, and a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble! WOW!!!

So what is the verdict? My 8 year old LOVED Junkyard and What's Under the Bed? while the 4 year old just ADORED Tea for ruby and Sleepyhead! It was especially fun sharing laughter while reading it in Spanish to one another! :)

And how do we love our Cheerios? With bananas and rice milk of course! YUMMMY!!!

The plant nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber in whole grain work together to help keep us healthy. Yet, with all their benefits, nine out of 10 Americans don’t get the recommended three servings of whole grain each day.

Start your day the healthy whole grain way! ~Cheerios~

Quite frankly...I can't wait to make it to Barnes and Noble to pick out a lovely new addition!!!

Giveaway time!!

Enter to win a Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Gift Pack for your family as well which will include: Set of five Spoonfuls of Stories books (Junkyard Fort, Tea for Ruby, Sleepyhead, Ballyhoo Bay, & What´s Under the Bed?), a box of Cheerios, and a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Here's how to enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite childrens book and how often you read to your children! This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options. Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.

Deadline to enter: Midnight on Monday, November 9, 2009 (US Residents Only.)

2. Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:

Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog giveaway! It doesn't have to be anything fancy, a line or two is just fine! 5 Entries, leave 5 seperate numbered comments with a link back to your post! ;)
Follow my blog (on the right sidebar): 1 Entry
Subscribe to my blog via Reader and/or Email (on the right sidebar): 1 Entry Each
Enter one of my other current giveaways (top right sidebar): 1 Entry for Each giveaway entered (just let me know which one you entered)! ;)

Contest ends Midnight on November 9th and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Serenity's Giveaways is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. I will contact the winner on November 10th and they will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The winner's name and address will be forwarded. US ONLY.

Goodluck and Thank You so very much for visiting!

~Jes~

This giveaway was made possible by Cheerios providing Serenity's Giveaways with the free product, information, and prize pack through MyBlogSpark.